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Information for Parents & Families
Parents and families play a vital role in their child’s educational success at VLACS. We are here to support you with the guidance and resources you need to help ensure a positive learning experience.
Learn More about VLACS at a Virtual Open House
If you and your child are considering learning with VLACS, you probably have a lot of questions! In addition to the information on this website, we offer live virtual open house events to help you get started.
An Introduction to VLACS for Part-time Students
Who it’s for: Parents and students in grades K-12
What you’ll learn: This open house is the first step for families and students who want to take any of our 400+ courses to supplement your learning at your local school. We’ll provide an overview of everything VLACS can offer you, from career courses and badges to dual credits and advanced placement.
How Do you VLACS? A Panel Discussion with VLACS Families
Who it’s for: Parents and students in grades K-12
What you’ll learn: Hear from other families about their VLACS experience during this panel discussion-style open house! Each family will share their experiences, like obstacles they have faced with their child’s education and the support we provide them with to address those challenges. This discussion includes a live Q&A session, so bring your questions!
Prospective Full-Time Student Information
Who it’s for: Parents and students in grades K-12
What you’ll learn: Make VLACS your official school of record and register full-time! This webinar offers everything you need to know about our full-time elementary, middle, and high school programs, like the admissions process, graduation and attendance requirements, and more.
Helping Your Child Succeed at VLACS
Teachers, VLACS staff, and parents or guardians each contribute to their students’ academic success in different ways. Here’s what to expect from VLACS, as well as how you can set your child up to thrive.
Supporting Your Grade K-2 Student
Your Child’s Teacher Will:
- Schedule and lead an initial welcome call
- Meet with you and your student weekly
- Guide your student through course content while they complete assignments independently
- Be available during office hours and by appointment
- Keep in contact via email or phone
VLACS Staff Will:
- Provide tech support via the Help Desk
- Provide academic counseling support for full-time students through the school counselor.
- Be available during school hours at 603-778-2500
Parents of Part-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and weekly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Supervise your child’s work
- Create a schedule for each course/subject
- Prompt your student on when to start doing school work and when to take breaks
- Help your student create a workstation with crayons, paper, and other materials
- Check in regularly with your student while they are doing their assignments
- Provide helpful hints to help your student complete lessons
- Maintain regular contact with your student’s instructor
Parents of Full-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and weekly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Supervise your child throughout the day
- Create a schedule for each course/subject
- Create a learning routine for each day
- Prompt your student on when to start doing school work and when to take breaks
- Help your student create a workstation with crayons, paper, and other materials
- Check in regularly with your student while they are doing their assignments
- Provide helpful hints to help your student complete lessons
- Maintain regular contact with your student’s instructor
- Help students check and respond to instructor emails/VLACS communication
- Be aware of and utilize VLACS resources as necessary (e.g. schedule extra meetings with instructors, contact the help desk, communicate with the school counselor, etc.)
- Help ensure that students are prepared for discussion-based assessments (DBAs) at the end of each learning module
- Encourage a growth mindset
Supporting Your Grade 3-5 Student
Your Child’s Teacher Will:
- Schedule and lead an initial welcome call
- Meet with you and your student weekly
- Guide your student through course content while they complete assignments independently
- Be available during office hours and by appointment
- Keep in contact via email or phone
VLACS Staff Will:
- Provide tech support via the Help Desk
- Provide academic counseling support for full-time students through the school counselor.
- Be available during school hours at 603-778-2500
Parents of Part-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and weekly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Supervise your child’s work
- Create a schedule for each course/subject
- Prompt the student on when to start doing school work and when to take breaks
- Help your student create a workstation with all necessary materials
- Check in regularly with your student while they are doing their assignments
- Provide helpful hints to help your student complete lessons
- Encourage your student to reach out to their instructor and ask questions in order to build independence
- Maintain regular contact with your student’s instructor
Parents of Full-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and weekly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Supervise your child throughout the day
- Create a schedule for each course/subject
- Create a learning routine for each day
- Be sure to include weekly activity meetings in your calendar. This is a time for your student to interact with other grade-level students in a fun, engaging activity
- Check in with your child’s advisor to ensure that your student is enrolled in all required courses
- Make a plan for “specials” courses (art, PE, technology) to make sure that they are part of your schedule during the year
- Prompt the student on when to start doing school work and when to take breaks
- Help your student create a workstation with crayons, paper, and other materials
- Check in regularly with your student while they are doing their assignments
- Provide helpful hints to help your student complete lessons
- Encourage your student to reach out to their instructor and ask questions in order to build independence
- Maintain regular contact with your student’s instructor
- Help students check and respond to instructor emails/VLACS communication
- Be aware of and utilize VLACS resources as necessary (e.g. schedule extra meetings with instructors, contact the help desk, communicate with the school counselor, etc.)
- Help ensure that students are prepared for discussion-based assessments (DBAs) at the end of each learning module
- Encourage a growth mindset
Supporting Your Grade 6-8 Student
Your Child’s Teacher Will:
- Schedule and lead an initial welcome call
- Meet with you and your student monthly
- Guide your student through course content while they complete assignments independently
- Be available during office hours and by appointment
- Keep in contact via email or phone
VLACS Staff Will:
- Provide tech support via the Help Desk
- Provide academic counseling support for full-time students through the school counselor.
- Be available during school hours at 603-778-2500
Parents of Part-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and monthly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Assist your student in creating a schedule, as necessary
- Provide the student with a dedicated space to work and all necessary materials
- Guide the student in organizing their workspace
- Check in with your student daily
- Provide helpful hints to help your student through lessons when necessary
- Be in regular contact with your child’s instructor
Parents of Full-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and monthly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Plan and encourage your student to follow a daily schedule
- Use the pacing tool for each course
- Provide a quiet workspace with few distractions.
- Engage with your student regularly to see how they are doing
- Check your student’s submissions on the guardian account to make sure they are submitting.
- Communicate with your students’ instructors and advisor regularly
- Read emails and respond when needed
- Make sure your student is prepared for and attends Discussion-based Assessments (DBAs) at the end of each learning module
Supporting Your Grade 9-12 Student
Your Child’s Teacher Will:
- Schedule and lead an initial welcome call
- Meet with you and your student monthly
- Guide your student through course content while they complete assignments independently
- Be available during office hours and by appointment
- Keep in contact via email or phone
VLACS Staff Will:
- Provide tech support via the Help Desk
- Provide academic counseling support for full-time students through the school counselor.
- Be available during school hours at 603-778-2500
Parents of Part-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and monthly meetings with your child and their teacher
- Encourage the student to create a schedule and provide support as necessary
- Provide the student with a dedicated space to work and all necessary materials
- Encourage the student to organize their workspace and provide examples as necessary
- Check in with their progress weekly
- Provide helpful hints to help your student through lessons when necessary
- Be in contact with the instructor as necessary
Parents of Full-time Students Will:
- Attend the welcome call and monthly meetings with your child and their teacher and/or academic advisor
- Encourage the student to create a schedule and provide support as necessary
- Provide the student with a dedicated space to work and all necessary materials
- Encourage the student to organize their workspace and provide examples as necessary
- Check in with their progress weekly
- Provide helpful hints to help your student through lessons when necessary
- Be in contact with the instructor as necessary
- Engage in conversation about future plans (college, work, etc)
- Support your student in setting goals
- Talk with your students about getting involved in the community by participating in extracurricular activities.
About VLACS Required Meetings
The initial Welcome Call and subsequent Weekly (at the elementary level) or Monthly (at the middle and high school level) Meetings are a required part of the VLACS experience. This is when the instructor will get to know your child’s strengths, goals, and learning style so they can provide the support needed throughout the course. These meetings are also a great time to review progress and discuss questions or concerns with instructors.
A parent or guardian is required to attend every meeting.
School counselors, teachers, or anyone else who is not considered your child’s parent or guardian cannot act as parent or guardian. Sometimes, a student may have extenuating circumstances with parents or guardians. If necessary, please contact [email protected] to determine who should attend Welcome Calls and Monthly Meetings.
Online Tools for Parents
There are two online platforms we use that you should familiarize yourself with.
Maestro: Student Information System
To begin enrollment, you and your child must manually create a Maestro account. This is where they will sign up for courses and where you will approve them. Your parent account allows you to have a hands-on approach to your student’s academic life at VLACS by offering 24-7 access to your child’s work submissions and grades.
Canvas: Learning Management System
Your child’s courses are hosted on Canvas, our Learning Management System. Here, they will access lessons, assignments, and assessments. Canvas also features tools, including a progress tracker and a pacing tool that your child can use to organize their coursework, track their progress, and maintain consistent submissions. You can review these tools with your child and use them throughout their time in each course.
Additional Resources
Open House for New Families
Are you ready to customize your education and start learning on your terms? Consider attending an …
A Guide for Parents: 18 Questions About Online Learning
Everything you need to know before enrolling your child in virtual learning If you’re a parent …
Attend a Virtual Open House
Have questions about how VLACS can support you and your child? Join us for a virtual open house to get all the information you need.
