Here is another of our talented winners from this year’s “YouTube/Writing Contest.” Congrats to 11th grader, Claudia, on her hard work! Read below to see her winning submission.

Saved by Cyber School

Both my parents and I were hesitant about enrolling me in a virtual high school, but now we all wished we had done it sooner. This was the best decision we ever made. My old school felt like a nightmare; I was suffering from poor grades, bullying, and a lack of real friends. If I was having difficulty with an assignment, I couldn’t ask a teacher, mostly because the assignments were done outside of classes or at home. If I was confused, that was my problem. Deadlines were tight as well. There were times when I had to study for a test, finish a project, read five chapters, and write an essay all in one day without teachers making themselves available to lend their assistance if I needed help. Then there was the distraction of social conflicts; I believe it is safe to say that I had no friends at my public school. There were no outlets for me to showcase my individuality, nobody with whom I could share mutual interests, nobody willing to give me a chance. All of this took place in a school that has painted itself in the media as a utopian paradise. In October, my life completely changed when my parents enrolled me in 21CCCS. Teachers were always free to explain complicated material, I was able to work at my own pace, clubs of all sorts were available, and I was introduced to a wonderful community of students who were eager to welcome new people into their groups. Since enrolling in 21CCCS, my grades have skyrocketed from Cs to As, I am an active member in a few clubs, and I have a wonderful circle of friends.

Here is another of our talented winners from this year’s “YouTube/Writing Contest.” Congrats to 12th grader, Nisa, on her hard work! Read below to see her winning submission.

Why Cyber Saves

It’s said that each individual life inspires that of another – roots intertwining to form an overall structure. That being said, wouldn’t you want the healthiest functioning roots of all to belong to the system in which you are involved, as compared to acrid brown, deprived of sunlight and water – perhaps someone who may not want to be there? As it is, each root and stem structure possesses individual needs that may not be identical to that of another. Amount of water, sunlight, position in landscape, etc. all determine whether it will flourish or decompose. This of course, is a thoroughly over reaching analogy, in which roots and plant systems are all a part of the message I hoped to convey. As our lives intertwine regardless of the desire for such, one would only hope for the healthiest, most enjoyable interaction. The lives involved in our own, those that act as a means of support as well an equal – i.e. roots – can act either as a force that inspires one to better oneself or one who brings another down, stifling their growth. When applied to schooling, the need only increases, as each student possesses individual needs and inclinations that may not be met by a structure set in stone. Rather, a system that caters to the individual needs of students – 21^st Century Cyber Charter School.

When provided with an alternative means of education, one in which more than accommodates the individual needs of students, taking note as to what works best for each individual, one will find an individual that previously wilted under prior conditions now flourishes. Given an environment in which education can really ensue, free of stimuli that are otherwise heavily distracting and quite possibly damaging, the student is now able to not only thrive in school life, but in personal life as well. When completing work with quality effort, one will find them with far more time to complete and engage in things important to them, whereas prior circumstances often occupied much of their time at home, as well.

I myself, quite possibly find this to be the most significant factor in the makeup of cyber schooling. Involved in such a fragile, significant stage in one’s development, it seems only logical to provide oneself with a system that allows you freedom to develop, on all levels. Factors that previously stifled one are now individualized, with much thought involved. You are not a number, nor are you merely a student in a specific class. Your voice, input, and success are all highly important to your educators, a feat that provides the student with a confidence that may have previously lacked. When provided with such abundant options, such as the endless choices of electives, for one, you find yourself enthused to engage yourself. In fact, your personal interests, that you now have much more time to pursue, can be brought into school, as well, with far more options than that of public school. The broad curriculum has proved not only thoroughly interesting as well as informative, but also far more well suited as to the needs of real world requirement, as compared to state requirements. In the short time that I have been a part of the 21^st Century Cyber School community, I have found my educational experience significantly improved, one in which I am able to flourish. In short, 21^st Century Cyber Charter School offers freedom, as well as an opportunity to engage in a community that is not only qualified to assist you, but excels and relishes in doing so.

21CCCS held its “YouTube/Writing Contest” earlier in the school year. Here is a look at yet another winner, whose well-written essay eloquently showed how cyber school has made a difference in her life.  Great job, Abigail!

Cyber Schooled

            Public school was never a great time for me. It isn’t great for a lot of students. Whether it’s the learning systems, the amount of work, or the other students, it can be rough for many kids. Cyber school has given me the opportunity to not only improve my responsibility, but it has given me a chance to escape the harsh realities of high school, and it has provided me with a way to learn while also being happy. Cyber School works for me.

Middle school was a rough time for me. Through out those four years, I was teased and verbally bullied, along with the occasional physical bullying. Although I had a small group of friends, I still never really felt like I truly belonged anywhere. I felt like I was just a waste of space. I felt like I annoyed everyone, even if I made them laugh or smile. I’m not a big people person, so I always felt like I was saying the wrong things. Basically, I just felt like a loser.

Eventually, the end of eighth grade finally came, and that summer I decided it was time for a break. So I asked my mom about home schooling. I begged, and I begged, and I begged some more, until she finally broke. She suggested cyber schooling. She searched the web and looked at lots of Pennsylvania charter schools, and she came across one in particular that seemed wonderful to us both.

When I started this school, I never thought that it would be this amazing. I think of everyone here as family, including my learning coach, Miss Elder. The students always help each other out and support each other, and the teachers are honestly the coolest teachers ever. They push you to move forward, and they always make sure you pass your classes. They make sure that you reach for your goals so that when graduation day comes, you can move on in life to be the best that you can be. Cyber School has made a huge difference in my life, and although I always fall behind, my teachers and fellow classmates pick me up and stand me right back on my feet.

Cyber School works for me, because I have had the chance to escape the harsh realities and drama of public school. I have been able to focus on learning and getting an education without having to deal with bullies, which is obviously an amazing feeling. School is about getting an education so that we are able to have great lives when we become matured adults. It shouldn’t be about worrying what to wear everyday, how to do your makeup, what kind of shoes you wear, and how to impress the “cool kids.” Cyber School works for me because I’m learning in a safe and happy environment, and that’s the way it should be.

Our school recently ran a YouTube/Essay contest to learn from our students why cyber school has made a difference in their lives. Why did they choose 21st Century Cyber Charter School? Why do they stay? This year, we had six winners! We will post winning submissions throughout the next two weeks! To start us off, read below to see what 6th grader Stephen Sloane had to say about cyber school!

In Stephen’s words:

I love the learning experience that 21^st Century Cyber Charter School provides. One of the reasons of why I love it so much is because of how you can make it fit your schedule. Even if you have a career or job situation that takes a lot of your usual school time out of your day, you can still make school work! Another reason why I love 21CCCS is because of how easy it is to organize what you’ve done and what you still need to do. The grading chart we use is simply wonderful because it lets you see how you did on each assignment and what you need to improve on.

Some other things I love about 21^st Century Cyber Charter School include having the ability to work at home on the laptop that the school provides. Another advantage is that even when you’re sick, you can still usually do your work, and no matter how bad the weather is outside, you can still stay current. You don’t have to worry about bullying or safety concerns, and you don’t have to waste your time being on a bus or having a parent drive you to school. The teachers are easy to reach for help if you have any questions.

Those are the reasons why I really enjoy 21^st Century Cyber Charter School. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for providing a great cyber school experience everyday.

21CCCS is proud to announce Rachel Bertoni has been awarded a scholarship to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s NSLI-Y program. She has earned the opportunity to study languages abroad, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish. To see the press release with more information, CLICK HERE.

We are so proud of her incredible accomplishment!

21st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS) has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the seventh time in the past eight years, making it the only cyber charter school in Pennsylvania to achieve this distinction.  The highly qualified staff, rigorous curriculum, and great students all contributed to the successful academic record of 21CCCS.

AYP is based on several measures, including PSSA scores and graduation rates, and is used to determine whether a school district is making sufficient annual progress.

21CCCS is a full-time, tuition-free, online public school.  All students living in the state of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply.  21CCCS provides students with an innovative, high quality education based on PA state standards and national core standards.  Students graduate with a high school diploma that meets all state requirements.  Teachers are highly qualified and state-certified in their subject areas.  Students attend weekly live classes and can receive individualized support from their teachers between the hours of 8am and 8pm.  All materials including laptops, textbooks, and other hardware are provided to students, free of charge.  There are monthly field trips and extracurricular activities available to all students as well.

21CCCS is continuing to accept 6^th-12^th grade students for the 2012-2013 school year.  For more information, please contact the Marketing and Recruitment Specialist, Lou Corominas, at 484.875.5464 or lcorominas@21CCCS.org, call toll free 877-WEB-CYBER (932-2923), or visit the school’s website at 21CCCS.org.