Online Education Families: A Community Fueled by Passion

shoaglund's picture
Submitted by on Mon, 01/09/2012 - 2:12pm

People unfamiliar with online schooling often assume that online school students don’t have regular opportunities for socialization.  They have this vision of students holed up in their houses, on their computers with little to no interaction and think there couldn’t possibly be any sort of community to interact with – right?  Wrong.

A common trait among online education families is passion. Our parents are passionate about taking an active role in their children’s education.  Our students are passionate about succeeding, and our teachers are passionate about helping students thrive.  When you have a group of people who are fueled by passion, it’s only logical that a strong community develops.   

To help support our community, K12 and our partner schools offer many ways for students and families to connect both online and offline.  

Local Communities are stronger than ever!

School Clubs

Locally, K¹² Partner Schools offer many of the same clubs that are found in traditional brick and mortar schools.  Your school can provide you with information on what clubs are available and how to join.  

School Events and Programs

There are many opportunities to get together with local classmates through school sponsored events and programs.  Many of the school specific websites have event calendars listing out the many opportunities available throughout the year.

Local Chapters of National Organizations

Online school students can even be involved in local chapters of national organizations like the Girl Scouts of America and Model UN. It’s really no different than any other public school!

Our online community is growing!

facebook

Our national K12 facebook page is very active with new and seasoned families sharing experiences, questions and advice. We also are beginning to create school specific pages where local families can connect and share information about what’s going on in their state.  Also available are community groups created by active families wanting to reach out and connect with one another independent of their schools.

Online Clubs

Did you know that we offer 104 national enrichment clubs for students to join, including our newest club, Living Green, for students who have a passion about our environment? These clubs not only give kids the chance to get connected, explore hobbies and academic interests, but they also benefit from the leadership of a seasoned teacher in a safe online environment.

Each club meets regularly via an online session. Session topics can vary depending on the theme.  Last year, some of the clubs welcomed guest speakers, worked on group projects, completed weekly projects, and held mini-challenges.

National Contests and Programs

We also offer national contests and challenges for students to participate in including an annual art competition, a spelling bee, and a chance to perform on stage at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing-Along.

These online and offline opportunities are just a few of the ways that K¹² students and families interact with each other, create friendships, build support networks and develop critically important interpersonal communication skills. It’s time to dispel the myth of online students lack proper socialization.  Need more proof? Just ask one of our families…

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