The Heart of a Poet

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

Poetry is one of the most beautiful art forms we have. It offers a way for individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and explore something in our lives in a new way. 21CCCS is proud of our very own resident poet, Tiffany Power, whose passion for poetry has led to a recent publication. Tiffany is inspired by the world around her, and loves expressing what she has experienced. We are so proud of her accomplishment: being published through the Poeticpower/Creative Communications contest.

Upon learning of Tiffany’s exciting news, I wanted to learn more about her writing process. In a recent interview, Tiffany shared how she started writing poetry, what she loves to write about, and what keeps her writing. Read below to learn more about her, and to view a sample of her poetry.

Q: When did you first start writing poetry?
A: I guess that I first really started writing at the end of sixth grade when we did a pretty extensive poetry unit in school.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A: Other writers, mostly. When you listen to a song on the radio and it describes exactly what you’re going through or thinking, it’s amazing. And songs are just poetry put to music. If someone can read or hear what I write and get something out of it, that’s just really cool.

Q: Where do your ideas come from?
A: My ideas come from what happens to me. Life itself, really. You write what you know. If some rich person who’s an awesome writer were to write about how hard life is when you have to work hard for a living or when you have to make the best out of the little that you have, it won’t be as good as if someone who’s actually had to go through it were writing. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be a good piece of writing, just that it wouldn’t mean as much since they’ve never actually felt what it is they were writing about.

Q: What topics does your writing mostly explore?
A: Lately, I’ve been writing a lot about love and, consequently, heartbreak. Oh, the woes of being a teenager!

Q: What do you hope to do in the future? Do you want to publish your poetry? If so, where? (What magazines, venues?)
A: I’ve had one poem published officially, so far for the Poeticpower/Creative Communications writing contest. I first entered the Spring 2012 contest they had and since received the book. I submitted another poem to their Fall 2012 contest in December. I recently got a letter in the mail saying they want to publish the second poem in this book. I would like to find some contests that offer college scholarships or money to the winners to get something towards school (college is expensive!).

Q: What would you say to other poets? How might you encourage them?
A: It doesn’t matter what you write about. You can write about anything you know! I’ve started reading some of the other poems in the book that mine is published in and so far I’ve seen some poems about relatives, holidays, the seasons, love, and even one about toast! There are no rules about what you can write.

Q: Why do you like writing poetry? What do you get out of it?
A: I like writing poetry, writing in general, really, because I’m good at it; it’s something I can do. I like words, random words, vocabulary (my favorite word is defenestrate), putting words together, etc. because it comes easy for me. Math and science… not so much. I get some pretty good memories out of it. Seeing all that a person has written you can see if they’ve gotten better and it’s like a timeline of their life. I can look back on the things that I wrote and be like, “Oh, I remember I was going through this when I wrote that” or “I wrote that about this person”.

Q: How has your life changed since you started writing poetry?
A: I’m not sure if this question is asking how my life has changed and that has affected how I write/what I write about or how the act of writing has helped to change my life since I started. I guess I’ll try to answer both. Looking at my writings from 8th grade or so, when I made the transition into cyberschooling, you can see that I wasn’t very happy. But as my life progressed and things changed and I met some new friends, you can see how my writing reflected this happiness. Writing has helped me to keep control of my emotions and get them out, rather than keep them pent-up inside of me.

Q: Are there any classes here at 21CCCS (or clubs?) that have helped you to develop your poetic nature?
A: I haven’t really had any classes that focused to much on the aspect of poetry. The English classes have a short unit on it. I tried attending the Poetry Club meetings, but I can never find the time between school and other things that I have going on.
The following two poems were recently published by the Poeticpower/Creative Communications contest.

This Must Be

I close my eyes and I can see
Your sparkling smile aimed right at me.
I feel the rush when I’m around you.
My head starts to spin from the adrenaline.

Butterflies in my stomach, I’m weak at the knees.
I’m not sure I can breathe with you this close to me.
This must be how it feels to be in love.

I look up and my eyes meet yours.
You smile and then you look away.
Thoughts of you race through my mind.
Can you tell I am dreaming about you and I?

Butterflies in my stomach, I’m weak at the knees.
I’m not sure I can breathe with you this close to me.
This must be how it feels, how it feels to be in love

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time we were in love,
Once upon a time it was enough.
Once upon a time you broke my heart,
Once upon a time we fell apart.

Once upon a time we were together,
Once upon a time we were forever.
Once upon a time we thought we’d last,
Once upon a time is in the past.

Once upon a time we were in love,
Once upon a time it really was true.
Once upon a time we were together,
Once upon a time there was me and you.

Once upon a time it was you I loved,
Once upon a time it was enough.
Once upon a time I broke your heart,
I don’t want us to fall apart.

Why I Love My P4SLs

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

To learn more about our P4SL Model and what it means to teachers, read below. These are some of the experiences of English teacher, Eileen Vice:

The name “P4SL” is likely unfamiliar to anyone outside of the 21st Century family. That’s right, I said “family.” That’s what we are like here at 21CCCS! Originally, our family knew the phrase P4SL stood for “Plan for Student Learning.” (I should know, because I’ve been here FOREVER!) The P4SL was a program our students entered to help them understand their unique learning styles. At some point in time, the program’s name shifted. Today, it is not the name of the program. Instead, a P4SL is the term we use to refer to our student mentees. Weird, right?

So what are P4SLs anyway? As I mentioned, they are essentially mentees. Teachers at 21CCCS act as a Learning Coach for their P4SLs. Being a learning coach is what makes my job especially exciting. I get to work closely with a smaller number of students outside of my teaching load. I communicate with them about grades, sure. But, I also get the chance to talk about other important topics like friendships, family, jobs, fears and anxieties, goals, and dreams. I dispense wisdom and advice they always appreciate and follow (okay, not always, but they make a good show of it.)

Why is the P4SL relationship so important? Having a Learning Coach means every student has a special point of connection with 21CCCS. It means every parent has the phone number and email address of the person who knows their child better than anyone else at school. As a result, I get a lot of calls from my P4SLs and parents alike. Although many parents feel the need to apologize for “hassling me,” they are never a bother. I love to talk to them about what is going on with their child, especially since kids sometimes forget to tell their parents the important stuff. Everyone who knows me knows that I do not like surprises. Open communication prevents surprises. It is one of the most crucial components of the P4SL relationship.

I find the best way to connect to my P4SLs is to torture them mercilessly. To get them to submit their yearbook head shots, I repeatedly send photos of myself from my high school days (those were some good years!). I like to start the year off right by sending my P4SLs postcards in the summer. That way, they don’t forget about me or their school! I force them to get their picture taken with me on field trips. I make them schedules, even if they don’t want them, and accuse them of “trying to kill me” when they procrastinate. They come to love my incessant nagging, and expect it by the end of the school year. They know I do it because I care.

On the other hand, there are many things my P4SLs may not know about me.

They may not know that I don’t lose sleep over their failures because I am disappointed or frustrated. I lose sleep because I know they are so much more than a grade on a piece of paper. My P4SLs may not know that I will forever remember what they’ve told me they want to be when they grow up. Some students have been my P4SLs for over 5 years. I am certain they do not always believe that I know what I am talking about, or that I could possibly understand what life is like for teenagers today. But, I have five daughters. Believe me, I get it.

I think my P4SLs are amazing. I think they are smart and funny, and strong and capable. I think they are brave for trying online learning and succeeding, even more so if they failed at first. I think they are pioneers in the fields of education and life. Most of all, I am more proud than they will ever know, that they are mine.

And when they walk across the stage at their graduation, I will cry like a baby.

Who Are Our Students?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

Read below to learn about the students of our school, as described by one of our English teachers, Kathleen Groff.

“So…what kind of kids do you teach?”

In my six years teaching here at the 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, this has to be the question I am most frequently asked. The concept of a middle or high school existing completely online is foreign enough to some people. Now try imagining what sort of students might attend such a school.

Luckily for them, I have a very thorough answer to this question!

I tell them that my students are athletes who are dedicated to their sport and training. They work hard each day, pushing themselves both physically and mentally to reach the next level and achieve greatness in their sport and passion. They need the flexible schedule we offer to accommodate their demanding practice schedule.

My students are also musicians and artists; they work their fingers raw perfecting a difficult concerto, while traveling to and from auditions to look for their next project. They need to be able to travel to New York City several times a week or attend lessons during the day to continue growing as artists.

My students are dealing with the emotional scars of bullying and gossip. They come to our school to find a safe, accepting atmosphere. They leave toxic and painful environments and make the brave choice to enter a new type of schooling. Our school is one where students are free to be themselves, learn, and build new friendships.

My students were once lost in a traditional classroom, as they silently watched the class move on to the next topic before they could gain understanding; they now thrive in an environment where they can receive one-on-one attention and work at a speed that is more comfortable for them.

My students were once tapping their pencils on a desk, bored by the pace of a brick and mortar classroom. They wanted to be challenged academically and move through the curriculum at their own pace. They need a rigorous course load that they can complete, given their strengths and abilities.

My students are members of families who value their homeschooling lifestyle and seek a superior education with certified teachers, which can still be delivered in their home environment; they are students struggling with medical issues who wish to learn while in the comfort of their own home; they are young mothers and fathers who are trying to care for their child while building a future through an education.

Ultimately, of course, my students are young adults who deserve a quality, flexible education that places them at the center. They are the reason we do what we do here at 21CCCS!

Keeping Active While Indoors

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

The winter doldrums are tough to beat. The cold weather makes it much more difficult to exercise outdoors. But, thanks to one of our physical education teachers, Mrs. Kennelly, we have a few indoor workout options to suggest for you! Here is a quick workout option you can do to stay fit, release endorphins, and maintain your healthy state of being, all from the comfort of your living room. You only need a small space, and this can be done without weights or gym machinery. Give it a try! If you like it, tell us how it worked out for you by commenting on our Facebook page.

Quick 30 Minute Circuit:

50 jumping jacks
30 sec. jump rope
20 alternating lunges
30 sec. jump rope
20 squats
30 sec. jump rope
60 sec. high knees
30 sec. jump rope
10 jump squats
30 sec. jump rope
10 burpees
30 sec. jump rope
60 jumping jacks
30 sec. jump rope
20 sec. mountain climbers
30 sec. jump rope
25 push ups
30 sec. jump rope
60 sec. plank
***Repeat 1 time

Not sure how to do a burpee? Take a look at the video below!

What’s A Hashtag?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

It's just a pound symbol. This should be easy enough to figure out! — It’s just a pound symbol. This should be easy enough to figure out!

I’m sure you’ve heard the word before. Hashtag. Or, maybe you’ve heard it used in a sentence. A friend casually makes a joke by saying, “Ugh, I have so much homework to do tonight! Hashtag– Life Is Hard!” You laugh with the best of them and say something like, “Yes! Totally! Hashtag times a million!” But inside, you might be asking yourself: What on earth is a hashtag? Where does it belong? And how do I use one? Never fear! 21CCCS knows all about the mighty hashtag. We can help!

Twitter.com offers a help center to help you understand what you’ve been missing out on. CLICK HERE to access their article. If you don’t feel up to reading that, here is all you need to know:

Hashtags are used to categorize Tweets, or group messages
There are lots of hashtags already in use, so you can usually add a pre-existing hashtag to your tweet
Hashtags may help you to find trending topics, or simply topics that may interest you
Yes, it is spelled as one word. I promise. I looked it up.

For more hot tips, follow us on Twitter @21CyberSchool

Student Spotlight!

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

21CCCS is proud to recognize our alumni after they leave the comforts of our school behind. The world is a great big place with plenty of opportunities! Read below to see what some of those opportunities look and feel like for our grads.

Meet Noelle Croner Nielsen! We asked her to sum up life after high school. Here’s what she had to say:

It’s difficult to sum up all that I have done or what I’d like to say (which I guess is a really great thing), but I will give it a try! I chose to seek an education through 21CCCS in order to further my opportunities and experiences in the professional dance world. This school gave me the ability to train and audition around the world while finishing high school. Upon graduation, I attended Cedar Crest College with a double major in Dance and Communications. I was continuing to work professionally in New York booking commercials and print ad campaigns.

After a year of college, I decided I wanted to dedicate all my time to working professionally. With the blessing from my parents, I left school and dove right into this crazy industry. Not long after, I booked a TV SHOW called “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” which aired on Lifetime and was a competition series between professional dancers. With America’s vote, I ended up winning that show! I found myself back in New York for a short time before a relocation to Las Vegas, NV (my current city) where I performed in JUBILEE!

After completing two six-month contracts, I was given the chance to cruise the world while performing aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines. I returned back to Vegas and joined the cast of yet another show for a little over a year and have recently taken on my newest and most proud achievement: I am performing in Franco Dragone’s LE REVE THE DREAM. We perform 10 shows a week, over 450 shows a year in the worlds most beautiful aqua-theatre located at the WYNN in Las Vegas! It’s absolutely remarkable and a dream come true!

I was also recently married, (August 3, 2012) which was an incredible experience. My husband’s name is Christian.

Feel free to search and visit my website to check out more details on past and current projects. Dream Big! Cheers!

We are proud that Noelle is pursuing her dreams. Best wishes to you in your future projects and aspirations, Noelle!

Beating Test Anxiety

Posted on January 30, 2013October 27, 2015 by Ben Ozgur

I’ll be the first to admit that I had severe test anxiety when I was in middle and high school. For many, the things I might describe are unfathomable– maybe crazy sounding. But, here are some of the things I used to experience:

In spite of hours of preparation, as the night before a test approached, my nerves started to jitter. I was nervous about performing well on the test, which is the most common fear for anxious testers. I would feel my heart pounding, and my fingers and arms shaky. I would think about the items I’d memorized for the test, reciting and writing them down, checking that I had remembered every last thing. Sleeping the night before a test was never an option. The adrenaline would pump through me just enough to get me through a sleepless night and to the test, after which I would crash, feeling exhausted and drained. Oh, and did I mention that these feelings were often shared for quizzes, too?

My mother tried, to no avail, to help me with my anxiety. She would remind me that I was over-prepared. That I knew the material. That my grades would be great. And if they weren’t it wasn’t the end of the world. But the sweaty palms, jittery body, nausea, and inability to eat beforehand were overwhelming– to say the least. When I finally got to the test, I would freeze. It would take a few minutes before I could feel ready to collect my thoughts start the test. I didn’t think there was a solution. And, I thought I was alone in my anxiety. I thought I was just plain crazy.

So, what has changed since the days when I was a kid? Well, for starters, there is perhaps more emphasis placed on testing. Kids are tested constantly, especially through state standardized testing. While offering more tests more frequently might help to diffuse student anxiety (because they are conditioned to take more tests more often) there may be some students who experience a compounding effect on their anxiety. But, more importantly, offering more tests means we have become more aware of test anxiety as an issue. This means that parents are getting better advise to help their children.

Among the suggestions are the following:

Encourage students to get plenty of sleep before the test
Ask students to draft about their fears or concerns on paper
Have students present the information they know. If they can teach the concept, they know the concept
Provide an ample breakfast the morning of the test
Encourage students to limit their distractions during the test (This might mean avoiding clothing or jewelry that a child may play with during the test. I am am earring twirler– so I never test with earrings in!)
Provide encouragement and feedback after the test. Share in students’ piece of mind after the test is over

Do you have tips of your own? Comment on our Facebook page! We’d love to know what you do to avoid or suppress test anxiety!

Get Facebook Ready for College

Posted on January 14, 2013October 27, 2015 by Ben Ozgur

Making college decisions are right around the corner for many of our seniors! If you have not already learned of your acceptance into the university or college of your choice, it is likely that admissions and enrollment staff are currently gearing up to make final decisions and send out those admissions letters.

What can you do to prepare, now that the applications and essays are signed, sealed, and delivered?

Clean up your Facebook page!

Hopefully, it’s no surprise to you that college admissions staff (and even prospective employers) are bound to hit “search” in Facebook. How much can they learn about you from your Facebook page? How much information are you giving away to the public?

The following article provides helpful hints as to what you can do to protect your privacy and prepare your Facebook profile page for your future. CLICK HERE to read more.

Socialization Worries? Cyber Students Don’t Live On An Island!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

The opinion is out there. Cyber school = no socialization. As a cyber school, we’ve heard the arguments and continue to believe that not everyone sees the whole picture.

21CCCS high school teacher, Mr. Bonnette, feels strongly that in spite of common beliefs that cyber schools limit socialization opportunities for students, we have a way of helping to engage our students through several mediums. Read below to learn more about this topic of interest, and what Mr. Bonnette has to say about it.

If you are a prospective parent and this is your first investigation into the possibility of sending your child to a virtual school, it is understandable you may have some concerns about socialization in a cyber world. Let’s face it; you are making a major decision, which is going to affect your child’s education, and life in general. So, understanding how we in the cyber community strive to ensure students have ample socialization opportunities is probably important to you.

There is a stigma existing in our world that cyber education isolates or eliminates the social opportunities children need in order to grow and mature into successful citizens. You may have had this thought brewing at the back of your own mind. As a parent and child it is important to understand that 21^st Century Cyber Charter School strives to pay particular attention to this facet of the cyber school experience. We understand social interaction is important and place a heavy emphasis on providing each student, regardless of geographical location, with both virtual and face-to-face opportunities to socialize with peers and staff.

According to Watson and Gemin, virtual schooling fosters a number of positive social developments for our youth. The cyber learning environment provides:

Greater collaboration amongst students across grade levels, leading to accountability and responsibility for older students.
Cross-curricular communication outside a grade level cohort.
The break down of social and ethnic barriers.
Interaction with a broad range of cultures, ideas, and perspectives (2013).

In addition to the benefits of virtual socialization, 21^st Century Cyber Charter School offers a host of activities in which students and parents may collaborate and socialize face-to-face. We host field trips each month, which are geared toward all grade levels and afford students the opportunity to meet with peers in an educational and social climate. Each week we host a community outreach program. These events welcome teachers and staff to various locations throughout Pennsylvania so that students may experience live tutoring and mentorship. We offer a number of clubs, which also provide students positive interactions with their peers. Finally, we encourage students to come into our main office location to work with their teachers during the school year. We’re always here for our students!

The possibilities for additional activities and socialization opportunities continue to grow. We are always learning, adapting, and changing. We welcome input as well! Students here have a voice and often help us to discover new trips, events, and outreach possibilities. We are a school of collaboration and exploration. We invite you to give us a try!

Hopefully this short segment has alleviated some of your concerns about socialization in a virtual school setting. By considering cyber school you are making a big decision, so be aware that 21^st Century Cyber Charter School will do everything in its power to make your child’s education everything he/she wants it to be.

Watson, J., & Gemin, B. (2013). Socialization in online programs. North American Council for Online Learning. NACOL, n.d. Web. 9 Jan 2013. Site available at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CG8QFjAG&url=http://www.inacol.org/research/promisingpractices/NACOL_PP_Socialization.pdf&ei=l7XtUPTeI8a70AHs1YHYDw&usg=AFQjCNHti2mBpBIi3UXFF_7bPAs5CT-rkA&sig2=yhE-M3CWemMvMP5gKcS-LQ.

Alumni Spotlight

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

21CCCS is proud to recognize the interesting jobs our alumni pursue after they leave the comforts of our school behind. The world is a great big place with a plethora of opportunity. This week, we’d like to feature an alumni who graduated in the spring of 2012. Since commencement, Jess has entered the cosmetology world. Read below to learn what she had to say about her life transition and what’s to come.

Jess:

After high school I didn’t think I wanted to go to school at all. But, I decided one day to go to beauty school. I spent nine long hard months working hard to get through it. Despite lots of struggles and tears shed, I made it through and took my boards. Now I’m working as a hairstylist.

You need to have patience when working with the public. I’ve always had patience, but in this industry there are a lot of times you have to bite your tongue.

I don’t have a lot of free time anymore due to the fact I went from being a full-time student to working full-time. When I do have days off, I like to spend them at home relaxing with my animals.

I’m always at work. But I love it. Sometimes I don’t get things as easily and I get frustrated but I’m brand new and I’m getting there.

We are so proud of Jess! She has followed her passion and embraced a career that allows her to work with people, challenge herself, and learn new things. We look forward to hearing more about her and her latest endeavors!

21st Century Cyber Charter School

Category: Students