The PAC Mission:
To serve as the front line of RVA family communication while in collaboration with the RVA administration and school board.
Well, first of all, what is the PAC? The state of Wisconsin will tell you that the PAC is the Parent Advisory Council, a mandate that every charter school has available for you as parents. So if there are questions, concerns or feedback to be offered, you as a home mentor have someone to go to.
My name is Angie Wolosek and I will be serving in the RVA as the Parent Advisory Council President. It is the PAC that works in collaboration with the administration team and RVA School Board to create the best possible school experience for our students and families. I can be reached at angie.wolosek.rec@ruralvirtual.org or 715-254-8599.
The PAC in the RVA is a community of home mentors working together to inspire each other and grow. This is how the Mentor Series came to be. We heard from our RVA families about a desire to learn and grow as a home mentor and the Mentor Series was created!
You Have a Voice!
Throughout the school year there will be four open forum discussions known as PAC meetings. These sessions are not recorded and designed with you in mind. This is a time where you as parents can discuss how you are doing, how you feel the school year is moving along, as well as how you are implementing what you have learned to be best practices in your household. PAC meetings are also a good time to brainstorm together, revisit Mentor Series webinars or follow up with questions regarding Board Meeting topics. These sessions are all for you. RVA parents having time to talk.
You can also anticipate a quarterly newsletter throughout the year updating you on what is going on within the RVA. In this newsletter you will find many important details including any updates that pertain to you as a home mentor or topics brought about from other home mentors.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me; The RVA’s PAC President, Angie Wolosek at angie.wolosek.rec@ruralvirtual.org or 715-254-8599
Quarter 3 Parent Advisory Council Meeting Date:
January 3rd 2023 - 2PM
RVA Events
Throughout the year, the RVA organizes group events that encourage students to build relationships and create lifelong memories with one another.
Since the RVA serves students statewide, it is important to have a number of activities throughout the school year so all students can have opportunities to participate. Check out the RVA Website under the Activities tab for more information on all the RVA Events. This Group Events Calendar will provide you with the links and RSVP forms that are needed for attending these events. We hope to see you and your family soon!
RVA Learning Center
Join us at the RVA Learning Center for some Great Events and Opportunities
Intentionally located in the center of Wisconsin in Mosinee for ease of access, we created this space for families and our consortium partners to get connected. This RVA Learning Center serves as a means for group events, curriculum enrichment opportunities, individual student support and those looking to form in-person relationships with other students during the RVA school year.
Keep an eye out on the RVA Learning Center Calendar for upcoming events. For more information and to learn more about this facility, check out the website linked here: Learning Center Website.
The Book It! Reading Program through the RVA Learning Center
I am pleased to present the opportunity for RVA families to participate in the Pizza Hut Book It program in collaboration with the RVA Learning Center!
Book it is a reading incentive program created by Pizza Hut in 1984. The purpose is to motivate students to read by providing Reading Award Certificates good for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut. This program is available for grades PreK-6th grade and ages 4-12.
Families will choose a reading goal for each student for the months of November - May. For example, it could be the number of minutes, the number of pages, or the number of books read in a day or month! Also, parents can read with kids who are not yet reading independently.
If you would like to sign up, please fill out the Book It 2022-2023 Google Form.
*Please fill out one entry PER student participating. If you have multiple students, you will need to fill out a form for EACH student.
Parent University
Have you ever wanted to learn more about the technology that your child/children use everyday here in the RVA? Now is your chance! New this year will be the opportunity to become a student of the RVA Parent University.
Mark your calendars with Parent University Dates and Times
January 18th, 2023 - @ 1PM
February 1st, 2023 - @ 1PM
February 8th, 2023 - @ 1PM
February 15th, 2023 - @ 1PM
February 22nd, 2023 - @ 1PM
March 1st, 2023 - @ 1PM
Join us here: Mrs Mukerji’s Zoom Room Mrs Mukerji's Zoom Room
Academic Progress Checks
What is a Progress Check? Progress Checks are done for all Middle and High School students. These are done to make sure that at a certain time of the year students are meeting expectations in their coursework progress and receiving a 75% or higher in all of their classes. In order to monitor student progress and ensure all students are meeting reasonable academic expectations, the RVA will conduct Academic Progress Checks. If any student is earning two or more failing grades in any classes at the time of the Academic Progress Check, they will be placed on Academic Probation and will be notified with a warning letter. By the next Academic Progress Check, if the student is still earning two or more failing grades in any classes, it will result in the RVA considering the dismissal of a student from school for failure to participate in accordance with State Statute (118.40 (8)(f)(g)) and RVA policy RVA-JE. This keeps all middle and high school students on track for a successful school year. For more information please reference guidelines listed in the PreK-8 Student Handbook and 9-12 Student Handbook
Academic Progress Check Dates for 3rd Quarter
January 2nd, 2023- Middle School Progress Check
January 12th, 2023- High School End of Semester 1
February 6th, 2023- Middle School Progress Check
February 13th, 2023- High School Progress Check
February 27th, 2023- Middle School Progress Check
Earned Flexibility - Home Mentor Input
Currently, in the RVA High School, students have the ability to "earn flexibility" in their attendance to daily live classes by obtaining good grades (above a 75%) and keeping up good pace (having no late work, etc.). Currently, as noted above, high school grades are run through Academic Progress Checks every 4 weeks. Students who are in good standing at these checkpoints are told by their teachers they have "earned flexibility." At times and increasingly, home mentors who learn of this earned privilege revoke it stating they want their child to remain in daily attendance. Additionally, some home mentors are not aware of their child's attendance expectations at any given time leading to communication concerns between home and school.
To improve this process, we are considering placing the home mentor as the primary decision maker for "earned flexibility" in the high school. For the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, we are proposing to change the high school handbook to read something to this effect:
**Students can earn flexible attendance and the right to work at their own pace from their teachers by demonstrating academic proficiency, on schedule or advanced pacing, and obtaining home mentor permission. Daily attendance requirements to specific classes can be decreased for students demonstrating proficiency of the concepts following any formal Academic Progress Check where the student has earned a grade of at least a 75% and the ability to follow the minimum pacing guide. Upon achieving these benchmarks at any given Academic Progress Check, the home mentor may contact the teacher and request that their child be given “earned flexibility.” It is up to the teacher’s discretion to affirm or deny this request based on the student’s performance.**
We welcome all (Prek-12) Home Mentor input on this proposed change in our student handbook. Please take a moment to contribute your thoughts here: RVA High School Earned Flexibility
Note: You will need to be logged into your school issued gmail account to fill out this form.
Mentor Network and Mentor Series
What is the difference between Mentor Series and Mentor Network?
Mentor Network- The Mentor Network is a collaborative Home Mentor experience facilitating relationships, the sharing of ideas and tips from Mentor to Mentor. Whether you are a new or an experienced Home Mentor, you are welcome and encouraged to take part in our Mentor Network!
Mentor Series- The Mentor Series is a Home Mentor developmental opportunity designed for professional and personal growth through a series of online webinars. Home Mentors with a goal of enriching the home learning environment are encouraged to attend.
For more information on what the Mentor Network or Mentor Series will entail please check out our Group Events Calendar.
Mentor Network Meeting Dates:
January 3rd, 2023 - 1PM
January 26th, 2023 - 1PM
February 7th, 2023 - 1PM
February 23rd, 2023 - 1PM
Mentor Series Dates:
January 17th - 5:30 PM - Social Dilemma - Watch Party. To learn more and RSVP to this hybrid event click the link.
February 16th, 2023 - 6:30PM - Internet and Social Media Safety. To learn more click the link.
To view past Mentor Series webinars click the link to navigate to our Mentor Series Resource Library
Other Important School Dates
Quarter 3rd No Live Classes
January 12th, 2023 - End of 1st Semester
January 16th, 2023 - Start of 2nd Semester
No Live Classes (Work Day) - January 13th, 2023 (Teacher Inservice)
No Live Classes (Work Days) - February 9th & 10th, 2023 ( Teacher Inservice)
Community Service
It is a goal of the RVA to instill the value of volunteerism in students by providing experiences which require the effort of giving back to positively impact our communities.
All RVA Students are required to complete a minimum of eight hours of annual community service. The hours may be invested as each student chooses and may be acquired in a one-day project or over the entire school year. Community service projects are to provide students access to meaningful work that focus upon giving back to their local communities.
Group opportunities will be provided through the RVA in order to provide assistance to those students who would prefer not planning their own service project. For more information regarding community service and opportunities head over to our Community Service Page.
RVA Learning Corner
Are you looking for super fun Winter activities or crafts? Check this fun craft corner out!
Winter Bird Feeding Outdoor Ornament
Click on this link to get all the information needed so you and your child can do this winter bird feeder craft. These also would make an amazing community service project.
Crystal Snowflake Science Experiment
Winter has officially arrived and why would you not want to hang these super creative science projects around your home? For instructions on how to make these crystal snowflake science experiments click on this link.
RVA Recipe Discovery
Check out these super YUMMY recipes for the CHILLY Winter Season!!
Bubble-Up Pizza Bake
This super simple pizza bake is a favorite in my house. Grab all your favorite pizza toppings and make memories around your dining room table.Click on this Link to get the full recipe. I hope that you enjoy this family friendly dinner idea.This is a family favorite in my house.
Soft and Chewy M&M Cookies
Grab a giant glass of milk and sit down with your family and enjoy these monster m&m cookies. Click this link to get to the whole recipe.
Where in the World is Roary!!!
RVA we need your help locating Roary!
Roary has gone on vacation and now he's missing oh no. What are we going to do? All we know is that Roary set off on a fantastic adventure and has sent us some great pictures and clues, but we are unable to figure out where he is. We need your help to bring him back to school. With these helpful clues, we are looking for the RVA pride family that can help return Roary safe and sound.
Please send guesses to angie.wolosek.rec@ruralvirtual.org to see if you were able to locate Roary for an incredible reward. The first five families with the correct answer will be notified for a reward.
The answer to the questions will be placed in the next RVA PAC newsletter. Please keep an eye out for that information to see if you were able to locate Roary.
Helpful Clues from Rory
You can visit the amazing park all year long.
I can't wait to go and check out all the cool ice caves. I will have to come back in the summer to take a boat tour.
It's so hard to believe that you can walk to this great site.
November’s Where in the World is Roary answer was Maine at Acadia National Park.
The History of the RVA
Relationships. Values. Academics… in that order, no apologies.
In this new section of the newsletter, we will dive deeper into the backstory of how the RVA was started, and answer questions about how we choose things such as curriculum and rules, and why we use some of the technology that we do. Our own Charlie Heckel has taken the time to provide us with the answers that all of the Home Mentors are inquiring about.
How did the RVA start? What are some additions that have been made to get us to present-day RVA?
The RVA started out of a conversation held between 5 school districts in central Wisconsin in and around 2003 and 2004. At this time a number of political and technological changes were rapidly changing and schools were looking to pivot to meet these opportunities. In 1993, as part of the 1993-1995 budget, Wisconsin lawmakers adopted Act 16 allowing for the authorization and creation of public charter schools. In 1994, the first commercial "web cam" hit the market along with very basic web conferencing tools. In 1997, Wisconsin legislators passed Act 27 which created the first statewide inter-district open enrollment program allowing parents options as to where to send their children to school beyond the boundaries of the district from which they resided. In 2002, the first virtual charter schools started to open in Wisconsin allowing families to choose broader options as to where they would choose to send their children to school. In reaction to the changes, the Rural Virtual Academy Charter School Inc., as a consortium of 5 school districts, under the authorization and fiscal agency of the Medford Area Public School District, was permitted to begin enrolling students in 2005. Today, the RVA's consortium has grown to 61 public school districts serving over 2,000+ full-time students and 5,000+ part-time students participating in various courses and services to District Connect.
How is the curriculum chosen at the RVA? What are all the steps that are taken before it's implemented here at the RVA?
Curriculum is chosen for the RVA through pilot programs oftentimes initiated by either parents or teachers. In addition, school principals and other administrators are connected to organizations such as the Wisconsin eSchool Network, whose primary purpose is to help support, vet, and procure the highest-quality online curriculum options. In any given year, the RVA reviews the usage and outcomes both subjectively and objectively of all of its curriculum products. Those that are under-utilized or do not positively affect student academic growth are removed and sometimes replaced. If the RVA is provided with a recommendation of either a core or supplementary curriculum, it is first vetted by the administration. If the curriculum is secular, meets State academic standards, and is varied from current offerings enough to be different in terms of addressing unique learning styles, the materials are user-friendly, and the cost is not prohibitive, the curriculum advances to a pilot stage. A pilot consists of a select group of teachers, students, and parents who volunteer to use the curriculum for all or part of a school year and report and share those findings with each other and the administration. If the pilot is successful, the curriculum is put through a final vetting process ensuring the company is able to support the ordering, shipping, and other administrative demands the RVA needs in order to successfully deploy a curriculum to a student's home whether that be books or online content.
Why is the school mascot a lion? Were there other ideas for the mascot?
The discussion over a school mascot stretched over 5+ years. It was on my office whiteboard as a task to accomplish for so long that the marker ink permanently soaked into the board. There were a multitude of ideas presented over the years, but in the end, the mascot of the "Pride" was chosen and approved by the Board because it was believed that it best represented our school. It represents different families, people, colors, sizes, etc. but at the same time, stands as a representation of a cohesive unit. Anecdotally, cats have been the unofficial mascot of the RVA for quite some time. Cats are the most frequent pet seen traipsing across student screens, represent the independent nature of our school in comparison to more traditional modes of public education, and are commonly portrayed as having characteristics such as leadership, majesty, strength, family, and courage.
Why does the RVA have to have a PAC? How is the PAC president chosen?
Under Wisconsin statute 118.40(8)(e) it states, "Parent advisory council. The governing body of a virtual charter school shall ensure that a parent advisory council is established for the school and that it meets on a regular basis. The governing body shall determine the selection process for members of the parent advisory council." Here in the RVA, we select a volunteer parent to run a parent advisory council and to have a voting seat on the governance board. The person has been selected in the past by survey to all active parents of the school, or in the need for immediate replacement due to resignation, by appointment. The current PAC President has a term of 2 years on the Board.
The RVA Administration Spotlight
Mr. Charlie Heckel
How long have you been with the RVA?
I have been involved with the RVA since 2005 when the Medford School District sent me to some training to learn how to operate a charter school and learn more about the nuances of running a school virtually.
What jobs have you held within the RVA?
I started as the teacher, principal, and janitor of the school in late 2005 and 2006. When the RVA was presented to me as an opportunity to run, I was a full-time assistant principal in a brick-and-mortar middle school. At that time, I was the only RVA employee. I held those positions simultaneously until 2017 when the Medford School Board and RVA Governance Board graciously offered me the opportunity to pick one of the two jobs. It was at that time, I began working in the RVA as my full-time and only job. As a little fun fact, our first RVA employee after me was Sandy Pope. If you have yet to meet her in-person, when you call the school, chances are that she is the friendly voice on the other end greeting you. Sandy was hired in 2009 as a 15-hour-per-week employee where she supported RVA students and families during the day when I was largely unavailable. We are so fortunate to have Sandy still with us today.
What does your job entail?
My job consists of keeping pulse and assisting in the daily decision-making surrounding all aspects of the school and its operations. My primary focuses have continued to evolve over time as new leaders have emerged in the RVA. Today I primarily oversee policies, finance, our consortium partnerships, and assist with the supervision and evaluations of staff. Overall, however, my job is to ensure the mission of the school, "Relationships, Values, and Academics" is being implemented and adhered to in our daily interactions and decision-making.
Most beneficial part of your job?
The people I get to work alongside and serve. I try to view and treat the people I get to serve as an extended family which makes coming to the RVA each day feel like going home.
Most challenging part of your job?
The people. :) As a school, we are in the service industry. With that comes the demands to meet the priorities and needs of our families, districts, students, school board, DPI, taxpayers, staff, etc. at an exceptional level of performance every moment of every day. I know that I don't always meet these expectations, and that ends up being the most challenging part of this job. When I fail to meet the priorities and needs of those with whom I have been charged to serve, I feel as if I have left a family member disappointed in me and I take it personally. As a shared belief with the staff, we expect the RVA to be the best school; period. To some that is an unrealistic and unattainable goal, but I appreciate the challenge of trying to make it so.
Where do you see the RVA heading in the next 5 years?
With the evolution of technology combined with more and more people wanting on-demand educational options, I am cautiously optimistic that the model of education RVA brings people will continue to sustainably grow. With growth, however, I predict that we will continue to purposely moderate the expansion of the RVA in an effort to keep our level of service high to everyone we serve.
Where have you worked and what positions have you held within the educational field?
I started my career in education as a long-term substitute 4th-grade teacher in Westfield, Wisconsin. Later that year, I was offered a full-time 6th-grade teaching position in Williams Bay, Wisconsin which I accepted. I lived and worked in Williams Bay for several years before moving back to the Northwoods. By my late 20s, I was anxious to get back closer to home and I landed a job in Medford, WI. I have lived and worked in Medford since 2001. In conjunction with teaching, I have held other jobs as well. One of my favorites of which was working in masonry during the summer months. Today, I still very much look forward to also cutting pulp in the winter months on the weekends with my brothers and family.
RVA Clubs
Are you looking to become involved with RVA’s growing list of clubs and online activities?
RVA has many options to become involved. Clubs and online activities are yet another way to make friends and share common interests. Check out what offerings are available and get involved. Take a tour of the different opportunities waiting for you in the RVA!
Tech Corner
Helpful reminder to update your RVA chromebooks every month. Follow these simple steps for greater device performance: How to Update Your Chromebook. Here is a link to a video of this same process.
For additional help with a variety of technology questions, go to the RVA-Help! menu. Here you can find an array of useful videos specific to frequently asked questions. Please send other technology related questions to the new RVA technology email. rvatechnology@ruralvirtual.org
Internet Reimbursement Information and Dates
Internet Reimbursement - The Rural Virtual Academy Governance Board supports the monthly reimbursement for home internet usage for full time RVA students.
RVA families are eligible for quarterly reimbursements of $90 to a maximum of $360 annually if able to meet all of the the following criteria:
Complete signed “Statement of Understanding” regarding the RVA’s internet
reimbursement guidelines upon initial and all subsequent student registrations.
Have at least one child actively enrolled in the RVA on these dates:
December 1
February 1
April 1
June 1
Have no outstanding unpaid balances or fines owed to the RVA or any consortium school district.
Prior to set deadlines, successfully respond to quarterly emailed surveys requesting confirmation to either receive or decline reimbursement and to verify current home mailing address. Emailed surveys are only sent to RVA parents and/or guardians via their designated ruralvirtual.org school domain email address. This is to confirm active participation, compliance with communication expectations, and demonstration of successful use of required school provided communication systems.
Late submissions may be approved at the discretion of RVA Administration for rare, unforeseen, and unavoidable conflicts.
Checks are mailed following the regularly scheduled Medford Area Public School District’s monthly Board of Education meeting. The Rural Virtual Academy Governance Board reserves the discretionary right to deny reimbursement to any user and to adjust the rate at any time.
Feedback
Attention RVA Families
Any and all feedback is welcomed and can be emailed directly to angie.wolosek.rec@ruralvirtual.org.
Have a recipe or a craft you would like featured? Feel free to submit this as well for upcoming newsletters.
Thanks for being a part of this wonderful schooling experience and for making the RVA the best school ever!