Anna Siftar, a senior at 21CCCS and member of National Honor Society, organized and lead a group of youth and adults in a “Maze Garden Clean Up Day” as a part of Bethlehem’s First Friday Festivities. The group and community enjoyed DJ Arm 18 and DJ Marcelino’s spinning while uprooting out of control thistles, taming overgrown grass and clearing weed-filled brick paths. At the end of the day, the group’s hard work was rewarded with a beautiful garden for all the community to enjoy. Mr. Miller, Mr. Petters and all the staff at 21CCCS would like to thank and congratulate Anna and her workers for their efforts in making their community a better place. Check out some photos of the event below!
Veteran cyber school teacher, Monica Frank, has an interesting perspective on cyber charter school. Not only has she been a cyber school teacher for the past 5 years. She also opted to enroll her son, Stephen, into a cyber charter school in 2012. Her experience and the path she’s taken with her son has not been easy. Read below for a touching account of what cyber school has meant to her and her family.
In Monica’s words:
I remember the moment my child was born. I held Stephen in my arms and told him that I was his mom. I talked to him about the amazing journey of life he was about to embark upon.
I promised him, and myself, that I would be there every step of the way: encouraging him, protecting him, keeping him safe, and pushing him to reach for the stars.
Along Stephen’s life journey, I have been challenged to keep that promise. Unfortunately, my decision-making has been especially difficult in cases when it comes to my son’s education.
Because I am a teacher, I could not wait to help Stephen reach his potential in school. He loved elementary school and before long, he was ready to enter middle school. Stephen was nervous and excited for the transition and immediately asked me if he could play midget league football. My husband and I agreed, thinking the experience would help Stephen build connections and make friendships before entering school. I did not realize how this decision would dramatically change our lives.
A month into the football season, Stephen was no longer as enthusiastic as he had been. He complained that the other boys picked on him. A few weeks later, he was threatened through a Facebook post. I found the post and took it to the coaches, who ignored the severity of the situation. His father and I instructed Stephen to delete all school friends from his Facebook account, hoping it would take care of the situation.
My husband and I thought to use the situation as a learning experience, and simply move on. But the boys continued to pick on Stephen once school began. The taunting and teasing worsened, and slowly, my child began changing in front of my eyes.
Once we recognized that this was a serious instance of bullying, we needed to do more. Being an educator in the state of Pennsylvania, I know about the laws pertaining to education. I knew that our home school district was responsible for providing a free and appropriate education for my child. When a child is being bullied day after day and no longer feels safe in his learning environment, that education is no longer appropriate.
I contacted individuals at the school whom I thought could help. I reached out to the vice principal in our school. He told me that if Stephen did not react to the bullying, and ignored the other boys when he was picked on, it would make things easier on him. The guidance counselor seemingly grew tired of hearing Stephen’s complaints and threatened Stephen with detention with the other boys if he continued to discuss what was going on.
As things became progressively worse, I asked that my son’s class schedule be changed. To my surprise, I was told this could not be done. So, things went unchanged for a while.
With the passing of more time, Stephen stopped eating. When we took him to the doctor, he had lost 40 pounds. It was at that time that we learned he had an eating disorder.
The doctor wrote a note to the school stating that he had been diagnosed with an eating disorder due to bullying.
I also wrote a letter to the school, this time demanding that Stephen’s classes be changed. I became increasingly vigilant. Through many emails and phone calls, I re-stated the law and fought for my son. By the time the school agreed to change his classes, the damaged had already been done.
By February of that year, my vibrant, funny child had no desire to do anything. I had let him down on the promises I made to protect him and keep him safe. I continued to try and work with the vice principal, but it was not getting us anywhere.
Then, one night changed things for us. While Stephen and I were chatting, he said,
“Mom, I now understand why kids kill themselves from being bullied.”
Talk about someone socking you in the stomach. I found myself on high alert because my son had made the connection between his pain and the pain of others who had been bullied. Something had to be done. My husband and I needed to keep our son safe. We decided he would go to the 21st Century Cyber School in the fall.
Fast-forward a year. Stephen now attends 21CCCS. He enjoys school again. He is able to complete schoolwork on a schedule that works best for him and really enjoys the interaction with his teachers and classmates. He has made distinguished honor roll each quarter because he is able to focus on his academics.
Most importantly, I have my son back. He is so happy and full of life. His smile lights up a room. I took that smile for granted until nearly a year passed before I saw it again. When I look at him today, I am reminded of where he was a year ago. While he has emotional scars that still need to heal, I know he is in a much better place.
This situation ultimately became a learning experience for my husband and me. I learned that there is hope even in the darkest moments. I learned that I have choices, even when the school district tells me I don’t. I learned that I need to be my child’s advocate and fight for what I feel is best for him. I learned the importance of knowing the law. Stephen attends 21CCCS without paying tuition. He is receiving an education that is safe, appropriate, and high quality. Sending our child to 21st Century has been one of the best decisions we could have made for our son. I’m glad we made it.
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.
