Downingtown is a beautiful place to be on a Thursday!
On Thursday, May 2nd, I got home from school and found myself incapable of keeping my eyes open. I was sleepy, bored, and perusing my Twitter feed. Quickly I came across a tweet from #DowningtownDOES. (PS- I highly suggest adding all of the local blogs and newspapers to your own Twitter feed to keep you busy in a new area.) The tweet stated “First ever Downingtown Farmers Market tonight from 3-7 p.m.”
Being a complete foodie, I had to jump in my car and head over there. When I arrived, I couldn’t believe how many cars there were! I was happy to be amongst others who share in my beliefs of shopping local and eating healthy. I wandered around with other dog-friendly hipsters and taste-tested delicious cheeses and honeys. I closed my eyes and laid in the grass, enjoying the music of a young group of violinists. I’m happy to report that the farmer’s market will take place every Thursday in Kerr Park throughout the rest of the summer. I highly suggest checking it out sometime!
Read below to learn more about some of our spectacular alumni! Rachel has a lot of great things to say about college and making a life transition.
Rachel:
I’m currently a freshman at MIT in Cambridge, MA. Most of my first year here will be spent taking general intro classes, but I plan to get a biology degree and become a medical researcher. I love late-night sociopolitical discussions, sweet potatoes, and the BBC’s Sherlock. I’ve also been dancing (ballet and ballroom, mostly) since I was about 7, and I’ve continued that at MIT as well.
There are a lot of things I could say pertaining to the 21cccs—college transition, but I’m going to focus on time management. (Typical, I know, sorry.) Seriously, though, it’s been one of the most useful skills I’ve brought with me and I’ve noticed that it’s a challenge for some of my fellow freshmen. I was cyber-schooled throughout middle and high school, and I was a 21cccs student from 10th-12th grades. Online schooling takes a lot of self-motivation, especially in later grades. There is no explicit schedule, and no teacher at the front of the room. It’s up to you to finish that essay or take that math test. Teachers are always available for help, but you have to reach out to them; there’s no way for them to know that you’re struggling if you don’t say anything. It’s unbelievably easy to procrastinate, especially when the Internet is a click away. Most of these challenges are unique to cyber-schooling, and I think it’s really important to acknowledge that online education doesn’t work for everyone. It didn’t work for my siblings. It was perfect for me, however, and by the time I graduated I had gotten really good at managing my time, taking control of my own education, and asking for help when I needed it.
When I got to MIT, these skills were just as important! The workload here dwarfs anything I ever experienced in high school, but I’ve been able to stay on top of everything. My first week here, I knew that I needed to start my homework early, make sure I knew about deadlines and exam schedules, and ask other people for help when I didn’t understand a chemistry concept or a physics problem. I’m definitely not a model student, but I had a much smoother transition than some of my friends. I definitely attribute this to cyber-schooling and the fact that I learned how to structure my own schedule in middle school (instead of three weeks into my freshman year of college).
I’ve already exceeded my word limit by over 100 words, so I’ll stop there. If there’s anyone out there who’s applying to colleges or thinking about applying or wondering more about the relationship between cyber-schooling and college, you should email me! Seriously!
We are so proud of Rachel’s successes so far. Often times, that hardest part about transitioning to college is learning how to adapt to the schedule change, and find a routine that works well for you. Thanks for sharing, Rachel! And best of luck!
High school junior here at 21CCCS, Lexi Burkholder, is a speed skater. She has been training and practicing for years. As a result, she has a pretty atypical lifestyle. When I asked her to describe a few things for me about her life, she was happy to create a blog post for us. Read below to learn more about the complex, dedicated life of Lexi!
Photo from the AmCup Finals
Hi! My name is Lexi Burkholder and I’m a short track speed skater. I also attend 21st Century Cyber Charter School. I’ve been skating since I was 10 and went to public school until 8th grade, which was when I won my second age group national championship. At that point, my parents finally relented and allowed me to enroll in cyber school so I could have more time to train.
I trained on my home ice rink in Pittsburgh during my freshman year of high school, and qualified for my first junior world team. I had previously only competed at domestic meets, mainly in the Midwest and Northeast. These areas are hotbeds for speed skating. So I raced in Courmayeur, Italy at the Junior World Championships and learned the hard way just how different (and difficult) international racing was.
I continued training in Pittsburgh through October of my sophomore year. Later that year, I decided to stop ignoring the pain that had been building for months in my left knee. After various doctor visits, MRIs, and lots of physical therapy, it was determined that I had partially torn my quadriceps tendon and I needed surgery to “patch things up.” Believe me, going from training five hours per day to nil is pretty rough, and I think I jumped into things too quickly afterward! I was back on the ice that December, and raced a qualifier in late January for Junior Worlds (which was in Australia that year, and had been on my bucket list).
I didn’t make it. Around that same time, I lost my coach and needed to find somewhere else to train and rehabilitate myself. Washington DC was close and had a great team, so I trained there for the rest of that season and throughout the summer.
I liked DC, but couldn’t afford the training and living costs. At the beginning of my junior year (this year), I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to try out an experimental program they were starting out. I could hardly do off-ice training at this point, since I was still recovering from my knee surgery. I really had to figure out how to listen to my body and learn when to push and when to stop. I also had to learn to be diligent enough to stretch more and to strengthen my smaller muscles.
I raced two senior qualifiers this year, finishing around 11th place in both. I qualified for the Junior World team in late January. Then, my schedule really started to pick up. I trained in Salt Lake City for all of February, then left for Warsaw, Poland from there to compete at the Junior World Championships. I placed 35th, which I’m really not proud of at all, but I was super thankful for all the hard lessons I learned to even get there. I know that those lessons will serve me in the future. I finished this season up with the American Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska, where after some remarkably dumb racing decisions, I still came in 5th.
Since Omaha, I’ve been enjoying my off-season in Pittsburgh and planning my move to Salt Lake City. I’ll be driving cross-country mid-April and will be there probably until next March. I’m excited to train this summer since my knees are finally starting to cooperate. I’m also excited for next season because it’s Olympic season and people actually take some interest in speed skating!
Lexi is currently an eleventh grade student here at 21CCCS. She enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends. She hopes to pursue psychology as a major after graduating from 21CCCS.
One of our students, Badera, started to get apprehensive about the thought of beginning college. Since fretting can only do so much for a person, Badera got ACTIVE! She decided to build a blogsite to help other people who might share his thoughts and feelings, with college days looming. Read below to learn what she had to say about developing her new site. Also, click on the link below to check out this great new resource!
Badera writes:
“I have many mixed feelings about college. I am nervous, excited, and utterly terrified to leave home and be out on my own. Not only that, the SAT’s are coming up and I want to do really well. That is why I created this blog. I don’t really have anyone to talk to about college and the application process. I made this blog so that kids like me can talk and express our fears about college. We can discuss what colleges we want to attend, SATs/ACTs, college essays, and everything that has to do with post-secondary education.”
Read below for another student blog! We are excited to feature our very own students! See what they have to say!
Piece By Anna Shcherbakov
I’ve learned that different people experience inspiration in different ways, because it comes in many forms. For me, inspiration comes through beauty, and through my heart. I look out of my window and see the sunset, and to me, that’s breathtaking. And it inspires me to capture that sunset and put it into a painting, or a song, to take that moment and make it permanently mine. The amazing thing about inspiration is, it makes you want to do great things.
When we are born, we are thrust into an adventure. Many times, it is an adventure we didn’t necessarily want. We are presented with a life, and along with it often comes a hard wooden stick, prodding us along, choking out, “Move it! Now!”
For me, inspiration is a relief from that bruised back. You aren’t forced into something you don’t want to do. When you are inspired by your own creativity, instead of being pushed into a corner, you are welcomed into an ocean of possibilities.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration is the internet. I feel like a kid in a candy store, picking and choosing between my favorite pieces of information. It’s great that most of the inspirational quotes and stories I find online are written by other teens. They inspire me to write, dance, draw, smile, love, and live. And, even though most of it is really down-to-earth, it inspires me.
I read stories and see how other kids reach their goals by writing a clever or funny story, starting foundations that feed hungry kids, and more. When I read those stories, and see the websites of my peers, I think I could definitely do something just as big!
The problem with inspiration is, sometimes we only dream. An idea lodges itself in our hearts, and over time it fades away, as other junk piles on top of it. Uncovering that dream, pulling it out, and cleaning off the rust is hard work. We start working on something, then leave it half done and jump to our next dream.
Now, I’m not the most brilliant teenage girl there is. I don’t paint, dance, or play sports well, and I’m still half blind to the way life works. I’m a little girl with big dreams. But honestly, no matter where I get my inspiration, those dreams won’t get done if I sit around on my hands all day. So I’d advice you to get out there, get some inspiration, and then have a go at it. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.
There are plenty of misconceptions about cyber schooling. Unfortunately, one of the biggest misconceptions is that our teachers are vastly different from those in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. In reality, 100% of our teachers are PA state- certified, highly qualified, and highly credentialed in their subject areas. In fact, many of our teachers hold more than one certification, and continue to pursue higher educational opportunities after they begin working here.
Our teachers, much like our students, choose 21CCCS for a variety of reasons. But, what keeps them here is a variety of things. Teacher retention is affecting the country negatively, mostly for a general lack of support and organization. One recent Huffington Post article by Aaron Pallas said, “Teachers are more likely to consider leaving their classrooms if they believe they aren’t getting adequate support, and if they believe the school doesn’t function well as an organization.”
Several teachers at 21CCCS agree that one of the things that sets our school apart is its commitment to our beginner teacher mentorship program. It provides that added layer of support and organization that says, “We care about your progress, and we want to help you succeed in your virtual classroom.”
In an article recently published by Education Week, author Peter DeWitt explored the importance and benefits of “Instructional Coaches,” as he calls them. The overarching premise of his article expressed that individuals best learn develop in a new environment when they are shepherded by an older, wiser, more experienced mentor. Instructional coaches offer novice employees an opportunity to learn and grow as a result of intentional, regular, standards-based collaboration.
It’s no secret that the most critical years for a new teacher are the first two (if not a few years thereafter as well). In an effort to provide an adequate support system to welcome teachers into a new school, and aid their transition into the new environment, 21CCCS utilizes a set of on boarding standards outlined by iNACOL.
But how does this program work? What specific benefits do they provide? What is the big deal?
All beginner teachers are enrolled in a mandatory two-year induction program. He/she is paired with a veteran, master’s-degree-holding teacher, with whom the beginner teacher will meet outside of work for one hour per week. As the program’s leader, Mrs. Frank explains, “We pair new teachers with other teachers who can provide a nice compliment to his/her skills.”
Mentor time must be face-to-face, offering the opportunity to truly reflect and collaborate. Discussion may include lesson plan differentiation, cyber bullying, current educational events, and other valuable resources (to name a few). In addition to this, all new teachers meet every other Friday as a group. Sitting over lunch, they are able to discuss what they’re learning and engage in a relevant dialogue about teaching in their new environment.
Over time, new teachers compile a reflective presentation of their skills, strengths, weaknesses, and best lessons. These components are artfully woven together to construct a portfolio and presentation. In its largest sense, the portfolio catalogs what an individual has learned, and identifies what he/she still seeks to learn. It is an outline of growth and how that growth will continue and progress in the years to come.
The presentation and portfolio are given to 21CCCS’ curriculum committee, which is comprised of the school’s CEO, principal, and various teachers and staff members. The presentation and group help teachers to identify how they’ve cultivated a skillset, and masterfully woven it into a personalized teaching style.
When I asked teachers what they appreciate about this mentoring/onboarding process, they express: “It’s nice to meet with other teachers who are also getting their feet wet. There is a supportive structure in place here, so that teachers see and learn of the frustrations encountered in the first year.”
Another teacher said, “It’s great to have a designated go-to person to help me with the transition from brick-and-mortar to cyber.” Recognizing the differences between teaching models and strategies is important. Helping teachers to see how to integrate a new skill set into what they already do well is what really helps student success in the long run.
Other teachers have added that what is really special about the program is the fact that it is structured. “It wasn’t always like this,” one teacher commented. “We’ve made it more structured, and it makes a difference.” The prescribed organization not only adds value for its participants. It is also what sets the program from programs in other schools like it. 21CCCS has worked to build a support system that can inspire teachers and help them to achieve success here. They work together to become the best teachers they can be, while constructing a way to highlight and showcase their skills.
What have been the results of the program? For starters, we do not see a ton of turnover in our teaching staff. Folks return, year after year. This isn’t a definitive correlation, but it may say something about what we’re doing right.
Others will argue that the very best part about the program has less to do with just the teachers themselves. The program is great because the students are the ones who ultimately benefit. They have great, self-reflective, constantly growing teachers at their disposal. They get to learn from great people who are interested in making themselves better over time. That is something that makes us really special.
21CCCS is proud to announce the launching of our very own Pinterest page. Thanks to the hard work of Ms. Vice and Ms. Kennelly, there is now a space where parents and students can browse articles, events, educational resources, and more. Our teachers have developed separate “Pinboards” for each content area within our school, along with a few other areas of interest. Some of the boards include: Humanities, Student Showcase, Parent Resources, Math Department, Science Department, and Exceptional Learners. But, don’t take our word for it! Check out our page for yourself by CLICKING HERE. Enjoy!
Our school’s blog is not all about what our staff and teachers have to say. We want to give students a chance to voice their thoughts as well. This week, welcome to the “Eclectic Corner”: a new blog brought to you by Rachel Durs, a current 21CCCS student. Rachel’s blog for this week is about being different, and why that’s special. Enjoy a taste of something new and tune in for more blogs by Rachel to come!
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There’s no denying that Oscar Wilde said it best: “Be yourself – everyone else is already taken.” Wilde was not only well-spoken. He also a brilliant writer and wonderfully eclectic – two things I aspire to be in my own life. But, by-and-large, I’ll concentrate on just one of these things today (and I bet you can guess which one, given the title of this piece).
It may not feel like being eclectic is a critical issue affecting us today, but it is actually a very important topic worth discussing. This day in age, I feel that society teaches people (children and teens especially) that the most important thing in the world is “fitting in.” If an individual cannot fit in, others may make that individual feel as if his/her life is over. This thinking is not only dangerous. It is inherently wrong.
All our lives, we’ve heard words like “geek,” “nerd,” “eccentric,” and maybe even “eclectic,” thrown out to describe individuals. These terms set people apart because they imply that such individuals do not fit into a larger group. Instead, they are something different. But, not everyone should conform to a specific group identity. In fact, I will argue that being eclectic is not about identifying yourself by specific terms or restrictive character traits. It’s just the opposite.
I picked the term “eclectic” to describe myself because it’s not a negative word in any way, shape, or form. The word “eclectic” means “deriving ideas, styles, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources.” It sounds like something we might all want to strive to achieve. Unfortunately, because society asks us to all fit in, individuals who are eclectic are more often labeled as “weird” or “strange,” as opposed to being recognized for their unique and special qualities. I’ll argue that being “weird” is the best possible thing that could happen to a person, and I can guarantee that there are more of us eclectics out there than anyone realizes. All we need to do is find each other and embrace that so-called “weirdness,” and re-identify it as being “eclectic.”
The truth of the matter is that “normal” does not exist. There is no “normal” human being; everyone has his/her own unique spin on life. We have different interests and hobbies, loves and hates, or things that make us cry. Every person on earth is an individual, making him different in a number of ways. People are like puzzle pieces. Every puzzle piece has its own unique picture and surface. There are some pieces that absolutely do not fit with each other, making assembly more difficult. Individuals in society may reject the pieces that don’t seem to fit. But, a box of puzzle pieces will allow that a picture will emerge once all the pieces have been put in their proper spots. In the end, it’s all a matter of finding which pieces match up with each other, no matter how different they are.
I think life is that “bigger picture” and everyone here is an individual picture looking for another piece to bind to. You may think that piece on the other end of the board has nothing in common with you, but since you’re all part of the same picture, surely there must be something. Together, we all “fit in” because we are all a part of making the picture. How does this translate to our everyday lives? Above all, realize that being yourself is always the best way to go. Be true to who you are.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you back here soon.
For spring break this year, I decided to visit my alma mater. Since graduation was more than a few years ago, I felt ridiculously old walking around the old buildings where I once studied as a twenty-something and younger. While it was really fun to reminisce about the good old days, I got a chance to see something else special that I wanted to share with our seniors who are preparing to enter a college or university this coming fall. There was something more to college that I couldn’t quite put my finger on until now.
While on campus, I decided to attend a student-run event called “Homebrew.” It features student musicians, who play a set of about 45 minutes or so. I would venture to guess that around 150-175 students gathered that night (last Thursday) around the modest stage space to cheer on his/her classmates. The atmosphere was incredible. The crowd shifted throughout the night, welcoming newcomers, waving out folks with other places to be. Students brought homemade signs on neon tag paper with catchy phrases and accolades for their friends. One poster read, “I mean, I guess you sound ok #Sarcasm!” Screams and yelps cheered performers on as they hit beautiful high notes, masterfully strung guitar chords, or forgot lyrics. Encouragement was offered, regardless of the performance itself. Before a new performer got onto the stage, a circle of friends waited alongside the stage, offering hugs, smiles, waves, and joyful hoots. Everyone simply seemed happy to be there.
Between songs, performers also shared news about upcoming events across campus. “Don’t miss the baseball game tomorrow!” “New show at the Art Museum!” It was such a great out pour of community support. But somehow, it went beyond that. The encouragement was mind blowing. The acceptance, enthusiasm, and overall joyfulness permeating the room made me feel young again. And that’s when I realized that THIS is what I loved so much about college. The willingness, the acceptance, and the freedom from discouragement.
The students performing were welcomed by a crowd that was just dying to hear them. And I wondered what creates that sense of community. When students live together in a dorm, they have an opportunity to spend more time getting to know one another. They live and breathe together, often sharing many meals, and, in the case of a musician, hearing their friends practice for hours on end. As students in the same community, they become intertwined in one anothers’ lives. And wanting to support each other becomes a more natural happening.
This got me to thinking. Do we really get to know one another nearly as well as we do when we’re in college? Because when we stop experiencing that kind of closeness, the unconditional support and encouragement becomes much more difficult to come by.
Now, I’m not saying we all need to live on a socialist commune. That is not the idea at all. I love my home. I love having graduated and become a “grown-up.” But, perhaps there is something we can all take away from the community of a college campus. In the super fast, high-speed lifestyles that often follow the college years, how can we find a way to harness that incredible feeling of community support? One way to do that is to start the pattern early. Like, say, while in high school.
One of the things I hear all the time about our cyber school is that students and teachers feel very close to one another. There is something about your cyber presence that is very different from what is created in a brick-and-mortar environment. We get to know one another. We learn about each others’ passions and dreams. Teachers don’t just learn “what you want to be when you grow up.” They find students’ strengths and help hone them by modifying assignments that speak to students. Then, students utilize different forms of media to explore and show their passions and creative abilities to others. The social media explosion, especially, has made sharing information easy, fast, and much more common.
So, what is the moral of the story? What am I getting at here? I encourage students to take what they’ve learned here at 21CCCS, and let it carry with them into college and anything else they pursue thereafter. Support, engagement, and enthusiasm for your community can go a long way. It may make one brave performer a little more at ease for his first night on the stage. And it will definitely unite you with a larger body of people and make you feel at home.
Welcome to our “Alumni Spotlight” blog series! We will be featuring the amazing journeys of our alumni, after they leave the comforts of 21CCCS behind and enter the next chapters of their lives. Our alumni continue to amaze us! This month, read below to learn about Sarah, and see what she’s been up to!
Sarah:
I am proud to say that I was a pure-bred home-schooler! I never rode a bus, walked the halls of a school, stashed things in a locker, or sat in a classroom until my 8 a.m. American History class the first year of college (I showed up 20 minutes early). Since graduating from 21CCCS in 2006 (I can’t believe it has been 7 years) I earned my B.S. in Equine Studies from Wilson College (Class of ’10) and did the unthinkable for a home-schooler: I moved away from home!
To say I was nervous to relocate 622.4 miles (yes, I just Googled that) is a little bit of an understatement. But, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I permanently moved to Lexington, Kentucky (the horse capital of the world) in July of 2011 and started my job at a standardbred breeding farm. I have helped bring 25 baby horses into the world, learned how to perform a uterine infusion, observed several equine surgeries, and assisted in the breeding of countless mares. These days I get to hang out with 54 amazing yearlings (8 of which I foaled out) who I feed, groom, and care for. Sometimes they can be a little rough on me. This is because their weights vary from 500-800lbs. But, working with them is my favorite part of the job. The fact that they are absolutely adorable doesn’t hurt either!
So, I guess the moral of my story is to never be afraid to move away from the familiar! I have learned a lot about being a grown-up since leaving home. I’ve met many interesting people and discovered amazing things about myself. New experiences lead to adventures and until you put yourself out there, you will never know what the world has in store! Best wishes and good luck to the future alumni classes!
Congrats to Sarah in her successes thus far! We are excited to see what lies ahead! Keep up the good work!
