WVL Students Published in Poetry Collection

During the last month, Mrs. Michalsen’s Language Art’s 6 class has been studying and enjoying the many types of poetry.  Students have also written and shared some of their own creations!  Mrs. Michalsen encouraged her students to enter their creative writing in the contests posted for enrichment.  Three students; Anna Shillinglaw, Lillian Knoll, and Tomi Bestul have been chosen to have their poems published in the spring edition of “A Celebration of Poets.”  This is an honor for these students and they are all eligible for the next level of top ten poets that would receive an award as well!  Congratulations!

Summer, by Anna Shillinglaw

During the summer it's as hot as a stove,
So into the cool water I dove.
The moon shines as bright as a spotlight,
So I can dance throughout the night.
In a storm the thunder sounds like a giant's tread,
So I always curl up in my cozy bed.
Summer rain is a sweet sprinkle,
When it falls it makes the flowers twinkle.
The summer breeze is a rolling wave,
Sharing the sweet scent that the flowers gave.

Spring, by Lillian Knoll

Sunny days and fields of green.
Against a tree I shall lean.
The birds fly by and by.
And I want to ask why.]
The flowers so sweet.
A bumble bee to meet.
What is this amazing thing?
It's spring.

Spring Returns, by Tomi Bestul

With a gentle breeze
Like a thankful sigh,
Spring tries to come in with a please.
But Winter not ready to say goodbye,
Shuts the door with a cold, windy freeze.
Making Spring begin then to cry.
The tears of Spring form a gentle rain,
That melts the snow of Winter's heart.
Winter loses his grip on his long, cold reign,
And Spring brings out her art.
Art that refreshes colors faint from Winter's blinding refrain.
And finally, Winter will depart.

Wisconsin Virtual Learning Featured on Blog

Click here to take a look!

WVL Ad for the WICKED Playbill

WVL Student Wins Gold Medal!

WVL 8^th grade student, Dannylin Link, is a student of the martial arts. She trains at Link’s Martial Arts and holds the rank of Black Belt. Dannylin competed at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH on March 3, 2013. She won the gold medal in weapon forms and the silver medal in XMA.

 

Dannylin’s competitive weapon choice is the tessen, also known as a fan. The fan was used by the samurai for self-protection. The spines of the fan were sharpened into knives or had knives attached to them. An XMA form combines martial arts techniques with gymnastic tricking to create an exciting combination of moves set to music. Both form divisions require a series of precise movements against an imaginary opponent.

 

Dannylin’s win at the Arnold Classic qualifies her to compete at the nationals tournament held at Walt Disney World August 23, 24, & 25, 2013. Her next competition is April 20, 2013 in Indianapolis, IN.  Congratulations and good luck in your upcoming competitions!  

Check out our new advertisement in the Pinkalicious playbill at First Stage Theater!

Upcoming Events

WVL Upcoming Events                       Winter and Spring 2013  In this issue... Chinese Cultural Fair SMART Team Presentation Adventure Rock Family Link WVL Online School Store Optional Outings Open Enrollment Informational Events Children's Theater of Madison Pocahontas Brewers Weather Day UWSP Planetarium Virtual School Swim Chinese Cultural Fair Friday, March 8, 2013 Concordia University Ages 3-13 Time: 2-4:30 PM    Wisconsin Virtual Learning was fortunate enough to recently host students and faculty from Shanghai Normal University.  They were interested in learning more about online education in the United States.  We were excited to show them our live online classes and how we are able to personalize learning for each of our students.    To promote Chinese culture, history, and art, this group has developed interactive, hands-on activities for a Chinese Cultural Fair, designed for children, ages 3-13. School groups and families are invited to participate as their schedules allow. Activity stations will be available from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m., and participants may move between stations as they wish.    Please click here for more information and to request free tickets. WVL SMART Team Oral Presentations     Saturday, March 16, 2013 Medical College of Wisconsin Time: 12 p.m.    Come support WVL's SMART Team (Students Modeling A Research Topic) at the Medical College of Wisconsin! WVL high school science teacher, Mrs. Becki Van Keuren, and several of her students have been working very hard on their project, in which they are exploring a rare and lethal cancer, glioblastoma.  These students will also be going to Boston this spring to present their project!   Please click here for more information on their project and presentation! Adventure Rock! Pewaukee, WI Adventure Rock now has "Virtual School Student Day" every Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  During this time, WVL students will receive a $10 day pass or a $12 Clip'N Go pass.  For more information, please visit their website:  www.adventurerock.com. If you are interested in attending, please email Jessica Berish at jberish@nosd.edu.  If we have enough students that like this activity, we can create a high school rock climbing team for the 2012-2013 school year! FAMILY LINK!  We would really like to have events like this all across the state of Wisconsin.  As part of our Family Link program, many parents have started planning events in their area.  Do you have an event you would like to organize in your neck of the woods?  Contact us!  Please email Jessica Berish at jberish@nosd.edu for more information. WVL Online School Store Looking for WVL gear? Wisconsin Virtual Learning is pleased to announce the launch of its very own online school store. Hundreds of items are available. Pick out what you would like embroidered, and then choose from three logos when you checkout. Pay using PayPal or call the company directly. Enjoy shopping! Click HERE! Optional Outings WVL will sponsor optional outings, organized by teachers and/or parents, for students and families on a regular basis that enhance the curriculum/learning activities. While attendance is not mandatory, it is a wonderful opportunity to meet other school participants and have conversations about the children, programs and share practices that work. It is an opportunity for both the students and parents to socialize. It is our hope that the teacher and parents will work together to design and implement these activities.    For the 2012 - 2013 school year, outings will be scheduled throughout the year and will be posted on the online calendar with the specific dates, times and other details of the outings.    Parents are responsible for the cost of transportation and any entrance fees associated with optional outings.   Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children at all times.   Parents and students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all optional outings. Quick Links... WVL Website 4K-12 Enrolled Families * Tip: At the bottom of the Enrolled Families website, click "Subscribe" to automatically be updated when new announcements are posted! Greetings! Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend are ready for the next round of snow coming our way. I'm excited to share this newsletter of upcoming events with you. There are many, including student presentations from WVL's very own SMART Team, student performances in Pocahontas, Brewers Weather Day, and a free planetarium trip. Current and prospective families are both welcome to join us at any of the events below. Don't miss out on these great opportunities to connect with WVL!  Check your calendars.  If these events don't work, more will be posted soon!   "Like" us on Facebook or check out our website to stay informed! Hope to see you soon!    Sincerely, Jessica Berish Wisconsin Virtual Learning Director of Admissions Office Phone: (414) 688-4370 Email: jberish@nosd.edu Open Enrollment Informational Events   Interested in sending your child to WVL for the 2013-2014 school year or the remainder of the current school year?  Join us at one of our upcoming informational events to discover how Wisconsin Virtual Learning's student-centered approach can benefit your child!   ONLINE SESSIONS:   These sessions are held online via our Elluminate rooms, the program we use for live classes, from the comfort of your own home!   WVL OPEN HOUSE EVENTS:   Come learn what a typical day of a virtual school student might look like at one of our virtual open house events. Teachers and SLAs will be on hand to answer your questions. These Open House events are highly recommended for prospective families and a great introduction to the next level for current students!   FACE-TO-FACE SESSIONS:   If you would like to meet with us in person, we'd be happy to set-up a time to meet with your family face-to-face to discuss the benefits of our school and answer any questions you may have.  Please call us at 1.866.301.0401 to set up an appointment.   Please click here to view our Open Enrollment Event Schedule. We hope to meet your family soon!   Children's Theater of Madison Madison, WI And Then They Came For Me:  Remembering the World of Anne Frank March 14, 2013 10:00AM   Combining dramatic action onstage with historical footage, photographs and film, the story of Ed Silverberg and Eva Schloss and their childhood friend Anne Frank is told from the perspective of three teenagers who go through the dramatic events of the Holocaust. A moving tribute to courage and survival, this powerful play is an award-winning multimedia production unlike any other.   Most suitable for upper elementary, middle and high school students. Due to the mature content of this play, children under the age of 8 will not be admitted.   Registration is closed.  We look forward to seeing you at the event!   And Then They Came For Me Children's Theater of Madison- Overture Center 201 State St Madison, WI 53703 March 14, 2013 10:00AM-11:15AM The Legend of Pocahontas Milwaukee, WI We are excited to announce that THREE WVL students are in Spotlight Youth Theater's production of Pocahontas!  Discover the legend of the Algonquin Indians and the true story of Pocahontas: an Indian Princess who defied her tribe, and in doing so changed the world forever. Witness her story in a brand new way unlike anything seen before. Dynamic music, exciting dances and interesting characters make this show a truly unforgettable journey.   Mrs. Becki Van Keuren, WVL high school science teacher, will be attending on Sunday March 17th at 2 p.m.  If you would like to join her, please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online, and email her to let her know you will be attending: bvankeuren@nosd.edu.  Additional dates and times are listed below:   St. Thomas More High School Performing Art Center 2601 East Morgan Ave., Milwaukee WI  53207 Performance Dates & Times: Friday, March 15th - 7:00 pm Saturday, March 16th - 2:00 pm *** Saturday, March 16th - 6:00 pm Sunday, March 17th - 2:00 pm Saturday, March 23rd - 2:00 pm *** Saturday, March 23rd - 6:00 pm Sunday, March 24th - 2:00 pm    Public Advanced Sales Ticket Info $12 - Adults $ 9  - Children (2-17);        - Seniors (62+);         - Spotlight Alumni  *** - Family Day Show.  All tickets $9 Public sales at door +$2 per ticket or purchase in advance by CLICKING HERE. Brewers Weather Day at Miller Park SAVE THE DATE!  Make Sure Weather Day is on Your Radar!   Come out to the ballpark for a day of learning, fun and baseball as TODAY'S TMJ4 and the Milwaukee Brewers team up to host their 5th Annual Weather Day at Miller Park on April 18th. Students will enjoy a special Meteorology lesson from Storm Team 4 Meteorologists and a visit from Bernie Brewer and the Klement's Famous Racing Sausages, along with a special Science Fair featuring Discovery World and the Learning Shop before watching the Brewers take on the San Francisco Giants at 12:10 p.m.   Enjoy $1.00 hot dogs and $1.00 small sodas.   Time: 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cost: $16/ticket Parking: $9/car   Registration closes Wednesday, March 13th and payment is due by Friday, March 15th. Tickets are limited, so reserve yours now!   Register Now!     Miller Park 1 Brewers Way Milwaukee, WI 53204 Thursday, April 18, 2013 8:15 AM-3:00 PM UW-Stevens Point Planetarium Outing Join us for this FREE event!   An exciting afternoon has been planed at the U.W. Steven's Point Planetarium and Observatory on Friday, May 3 at 1pm.  We will be exploring the program Starship EARTH - sky motions (daily, annual, and latitude), reason for the seasons, and sky phenomena such as meteor showers, aurora, comets, etc.  This program is geared for middle school students, however all students are welcome. The program is approximately an hour in length. This program is not recommended for younger children. The planetarium is located on the second floor of the Science Building directly above the east main entrance. Cost- FREE! If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Trattner at jtrattner@nosd.edu. Looking forward to a fun afternoon!   Click here for the UWSP Campus Map.   Registration closes Thursday, April 25th.   Register Now!   UW-Stevens Point Planetarium and Observatory B-109 Science Building 1848 Maria Drive  Stevens Point, WI 54481 May 3, 2013 1:00PM-2:00PM Virtual School Swim at Country Springs Water Park   Country Springs Hotel and Waterpark runs a virtual school swim event on select Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon for a reduced price of $6.50 when you buy tickets in advance.     If you plan on attending, please email Jessica Berish at jberish@nosd.edu.    Please click below to purchase tickets and then click "Specials."  https://shop.accesso.com/countrysprings/

WVL Announces First Semester Honor Roll!

Wisconsin Virtual Learning is pleased to announce and recognize our high honor and honor roll students for the first semester of the 2012-2013 school year!  Congratulations on your achievement.  We are impressed by your hard work and determination.  Keep up the good work!

WVL HIGH SCHOOL HIGH HONOR ROLL

G.P.A. of 3.50 and Above

STUDENT NAME:

OLIVIA VANGALDER

MARGUERITE DIAZ

BETHANY A. SODERGREN

EMILY BOELTER

MEGAN EASTMAN

MORGAN EASTMAN

COLETTE FOX

MICHAEL J. MITCHELL

SYLVIA STUEBS

RYAN PADDOCK

MARY ANGER

CHEYANNE S. FINUP

MATTHEW P. JUNGWIRTH

JAIRO J. MEDRANO

MYKENZIE STRONG

ETHAN BLOMQUIST

MATTHEW NEFF

KYLA DELANEY

AMY E. BAUER

PAUL MARIK

CATHERINE MINTER

LOUISE STUEBS

JONATHAN D. SZCZESNY

JONATHAN L. VANHEESWYK

TIA BESTUL

ALEX S. TOWNSEND

CAROLYN MANRING

SOREN R. SIGURDSEN

CHRISTOPHER L. SODERGREN

EMILY L. BILLIN

EMILY M. KANGAS

KITHARA VOGEL

KIERA YOHE

WVL HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL

G.P.A. of 3.00 to 3.499

STUDENT NAME:

NOAH AMRO

ASHLEY SCHILS

DANIELLE K. TOWNSEND

JOSEPH T. VOGEL

MIKAELA BOLKER

LYDIA K. TOWNSEND

CALEB MARTIN

ELISABETH A. TOWNSEND

FORREST BELL-HEIDEN

PAYTON HOOKSTEAD

ISAAC ORTIZ

JILLIAN M. CERVANTES

TIMOTHY KANTER

ESTEFANI OLMEDO

BRITTANY N. KROLIK

HOLLY VAN GORDEN

WVL Middle School Honor Roll

Congratulations to the following students for earning a spot on the WVL Middle School Honor Roll.  All of these students have earned a grade of a B or higher for semester 1 of the 2012-13 school year:

 

 

 

Election Day 2012

Every four years, Americans have an opportunity that many around the world only wish for: to elect the leader of their country. Whether a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Progressive, Green, or any party affiliation in between, each and every American citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote for the President of the United States. And today, November 6, 2012 is such a day.

Although the majority of our students are not old enough to vote, it is never too early to discuss the importance of voting and talk about the lengths that those before us went through to ensure that all Americans, regardless of gender, race or religion, can cast their ballot.

While the election process has surely been a topic of discussion in all students’ social studies classes, the following are a list of resources that students and parents can check out today to learn more about the voting process, and election and presidential history. And there’s also a fun activity to do today, too.

•

   USA.gov| Learn About Elections and voting at USA.org www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Learn.shtml
Featuring resources and websites for teaching  kids about the Election Process and Government

•

   New York Times Education Blog | 2012 Presidential Resources & Teaching Tips

•

   Presidential Elections: Find an explanation of the United States presidential election process that is appropriate for elementary students. They'll learn the requirements for becoming president and how the election process works.

•

   Closest Presidential Races: An article comparing close presidential races in U.S. history.

•

   How a President Gets Elected: Use this article to help explain the U.S. presidential election process, including nominations, campaigns, caucuses and primaries, and more.

•

   Unusual Voting Results in the U.S.: The results of the1872, and 1876 presidential elections exemplify the difficulties of the electoral process.
• Election of the President & Vice President: Electoral College: This article explains the electoral college in the presidential election process in the United States. This is a great resource to use during the election season, when you're discussing current events in the classroom.

•

   U.S. Election Vocabulary: This election vocabulary will help teaching students about the U.S. Government.

•

   Election of the President & Vice President: Primary Election: An explanation of the primary facet of the presidential election process in the United States. Students learn all about campaigning, the nomination process, and more.

•

   Residency Requirements for Voting in the U.S.: A chart listing residency requirements for voting in U.S. federal, state, and local elections.

Pearsonschool.com 2012 Election Resource Center has information on

•

   Meet the Candidates: Learn more about our 2012 Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

•

   myWorld TikaTok Election Book: A fun resource for students to write their own digital book about the election.

•

   Interactive Constitution: Check out our Interactive Constitution to learn more about executive power and how it pertains to the President of the United States of America.

•

   Declaration of Independence Tour: As president it's important to know information about how the country was formed. Here get resources to help student study and learn more about the Declaration of independence.

•

   Prentice Hall America: History of our Nation: A hands-on, digital, customizable resources to help students understand the history of the U.S. and how democracy has helped form our nation.

•

   Mock Election: Get involved in the nation's largest civic education project – the 2012 My Voice National Student Mock Election.

•

   The Idea of America: Provocative questions and intriguing content around the history of elections from  our partner Colonial Williamsburg.

•

   Biographies: Learn about presidents of the past. Read biographies of past presidents.

•

   Symbols of America: Give your students a chance to interact with key symbols of our republic in a new and exciting way.

•

   TeacherVision.com | Understanding the Presidential Election Process  

This project teaches students about the electoral college and how presidential elections are decided by the electoral college, not the popular vote. (Ideal for students in grades 3– 8)

Students will:

o

   understand that elections are decided by the electoral college

o

   see that each state has a number of electors, and understand how this number is determined

o

   examine election trends.

Materials needed:

o

   Crayons or colored pencils

o

   Copies of U.S. map

o

   Website: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/index.html

Procedures:

o

   Ask if the students have heard of the Electoral College. If so, can anyone explain it? (The electoral college is technically responsible for electing the president.) Explain that each state has a particular number of electors, their numbers determined by how many senators and representatives a state has. On Election Day, as presidential candidates "win" a particular state by accumulating the most votes, they are awarded the number of delegates from that state. The candidate with the highest number of electoral votes wins the election. In December, the electors hold their own election to vote formally for President. The winning candidate will have at least half the electoral votes – or 270 delegates. (For a more thorough explanation of the Electoral College, see http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html.) 

o

   Have students look at the List of States and Votes on the National Archives and Records Administration site on the electoral college's website: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2008/. Ask a student to name a state that is physically large, then note the number of electoral votes. Try another state. By looking at California and Montana, for example, students will see that the physical size of a state does not correlate with its number of electoral votes. Why do they think this is? (Answer: Votes correspond to population, not size.) 

o

   Distribute a U.S. map to each pair and have students use the numbers from the National Archives website to fill in the number of delegates in each state on their map, using pencil or black ink. 

o

   Assign recent election years, starting with 2008 and moving back in time, to the pairs and direct them to the Electoral Votes by State section of the site (http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/historical.html). As a class, choose colors to represent republicans, democrats, and third-party candidates. Then have the students color in the states in pencil or crayon to show whether the electoral votes went republican or democrat for their year. 

o

   Hang the maps on the wall in chronological order. Identify and discuss voting trends and shifts in those trends over time, including regional differences. Has the South, for example, traditionally voted with a certain party? What do the students think the current presidential candidates might anticipate by way of votes? If they were running for president, would they spend more time in states that had traditionally voted for them or against them? Why?

(Sources: TeacherVision.comwww.teachervision.fen.com/elections/teaching-methods/56372.html#ixzz2BPSxhqRv,www.teachervision.fen.com/elections/lesson-plan/3246.html#ixzz2BPRqR3U7; Pearson www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PS1s6l)