Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County Schools September 2017 | Page 5
Academy offers online learning for
grades 6-8
I n August, Gaston County
Schools will launch its first
online school.
The Gaston County Virtual
Academy is for grades 6-8
and offers personalized
learning and schedule
flexibility for students. The
school is free.
“We have heard from our parents and the community that they
want more school choices,” said Kathleen D’Avria, who is the Virtual
Academy coordinator for Gaston County Schools. “We believe that
online learning is the way of the future, and our Virtual Academy is
an innovative approach to teaching and learning for middle school
students.”
According to D’Avria, the Virtual Academy is ideal for students in
a homeschool setting because they receive additional academic
support while enjoying a flexible schedule and participating in
learning that is crafted to meet their academic needs. Courses will
be offered online and students will be involved in some regularly-
scheduled face-to-face enrichment activities, which creates a
dynamic blended model of instruction.
Students will be required to take at least three courses, but can take
up to six. Classes are aligned with the middle school core content
areas and focus on English/language arts, mathematics, science,
and social studies. World languages, elective, and Career and
Technical Education (CTE) classes will be available as well. Students
interested in participating in band, chorus, or CTE classes may do so
at the middle school they would attend based on residence.
All teachers in the Academy are qualified to teach in a virtual
setting. Classes are taught through interactive instruction, and
students will be engaged in learning while having flexibility to work
at their own pace. Tutoring is available.
There is no lottery to select students for the Virtual Academy, but
space is limited. Students who wish to attend must apply and be
screened to determine eligibility.
“We hope parents who are considering school options for their
middle schoolers will take a look at our Virtual Academy,” added
D’Avria. “The Academy is designed to provide the personalized
learning and schedule flexibility that some students and parents
are looking for, and we also feel like the Academy is a good fit for
students in homeschool programs.”
For more information and to apply to attend
the Gaston County Virtual Academy, call (704)
866-6231 or visit www.gaston.k12.nc.us/
virtualacademy.
National Childhood Obesity Awareness
Month Healthy Living Tips
September is National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month, and as a leading
community-based organization dedicated to
improving health, the Gaston County Family
YMCA offers the following tips to help families
in Gaston County incorporate healthy eating
and regular physical activity into their lives.
Ti
Y
The YMCA offers After School
Cost: together
The following tips will not only help families live healthier
• School-based sites*:
but also help prevent childhood obesity:
$48/week for members, $6
• YMCA pick-up sites*:
Eat & Drink Healthy: Make water the drink of choice
and
$58/week
for members, $7
encourage everyone to fill half their plates with fruits
and listed
vegetables
* Schools
in BOLD indicate DSS ch
by offering two or three colorful options at every meal. As a family
Year Round Registration
choose a new fruit and veggie every week to taste together.
Place a
You have the option to register for
full pitcher of water on the table during meals, and and
allow
children
to The weekl
2014 Summer Camp.
Please Note: registration for this o
pour their own water.
See at the
list below
to determine i
Play Every Day/Go Outside: Children should have
least
an hour
gastonymca.org or 704-865-85
a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat
at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous
physical activity. Join your children in games that get your hearts
pumping and bodies moving.
School-based sites:
Pick
Brookside
For
Gri
Carr
Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible.
Involve
HH
Gardner adults
Park
kids in meal planning, preparation and clean up. In addition,
Sherwood
should take a break from electronics and spend one-to-one
time each
day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company. * Schools listed in BOLD indicate DSS chil
Reduce Recreational Screen Time: Time spent in front of a
television, computer, tablet, cell phone or video games School-based
should be sites:
limited to two hours or less per day. Make a family plan Cherryville
to reduce
screen time at home (i.e. turn off screens during meals, go for a walk
after a meal, set a timer to remind you to power down the screen).
Cos
School-based sites:
Hope
Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular New
sleep
schedule;
Robinson to soft
unwind together in the evenings by reading a book or listening
music to ensure the body is preparing for sleep. Kids are growing and
need 10-12 hours of healthy sleep per night and seven to eight hours
for adults.
School-based sites:
Belmont Central
For more information on how your family can live a healthy,
Lowell active
life, visit gastonymca.org.
Page Primary
Pinewood
Creating a lifetime of healthy smiles -
one child at a time!
Thank you
for voting us as the
Best Pediatric Dental Office
in Gaston County!
1367-B East Garrison Blvd
Gastonia, NC 28054
Laetitia Sery, DDS
980.320.8479 • www.gastoniapediatricdentistry.com
Parent Teacher Magazine• September/October 2017• 3
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