Entries by Justina Janas

Visions Featured In School Pathways Case Study

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Mother and daughter smile while working together on laptop, School Pathways and Visions logos partnership

Visions Featured In School Pathways Case Study

A few years ago we partnered with leading student information system provider, School Pathways. As our enrollment grew we needed new tools to support virtual instruction, organizing student data and collecting documents. Our strong partnership allowed us to create a custom system that better serves our students, families and staff.

“We needed products that would support our programming enhancements so we could put more focus on some of the key pieces of virtual and personalized instruction,” said Michael Brubaker, Visions’ Director of Operations.

Read the full case study here.

From The Case Study:

The partnership between Visions In Education and School Pathways is rooted in a shared commitment to helping every student find their individual path to success. The organizations embrace individualized, online instruction and view this method of education as highly desirable for an ever-increasing number of families and students. Together, Visions and School Pathways provide the care, educational expertise and the technology to provide great personalized education experiences for the students they serve.

Visions continues to work with School Pathways to improve our systems for families and staff.

February Is Black History Month

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Black History Month with illustration of african american girl on laptop sitting on stack of books

February Is Black History Month

2021 Theme: The Black Family

Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) develops a theme for the month. This year’s theme recognizes the representation, identity and diversity of the Black family.

“The story of the African-American people is the story of the settlement and growth of America itself, a universal tale that all people should experience.” – Henry Louis Gates

Virtual Festival

ASALH has organized a free virtual festival with various events to acknowledge and educate on Black history. Highlights include:

February 3 @ 2 p.m. PST
A Celebration of Life and History: A conversation with trailblazer Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space

February 6 @ 3 p.m. PST
From the Continent to the Americas: Food, culture and traditions in the African American family

February 24 @ 3:30 p.m. PST
Diving with a Purpose: a conversation with divers that salvage artifacts from sunken slave ships

Click here to see the full schedule of events

History In The Making

Keep your eyes on our News section and social media! Throughout the month we’ll be sharing more achievements from our students and sharing additional resources to recognize Black History Month.

Learn More

Watch this video to learn how Black History Month came to be.

Visions Proudly Celebrates National School Choice Week

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National School Choice Week celebration badge

Visions Proudly Celebrates National School Choice Week

January 24-30 is National School Choice Week, a time to celebrate schools, students and families that choose personalized learning! Visions In Education is proud to be a public charter school that offers school choice and flexibility in our Independent Study, University Prep, and Home School academies.

2020 made it clear that students need access to a variety of education options. Many charter schools were prepared to make the transition to distance learning and had the resources to support students remotely. Visions saw a record number of applications for the 20/21 school year as did many other alternative learning schools. Being able to keep students learning during difficult times is something to celebrate!

Celebrate School Choice

Social media badge: show your support for school choice by posting this badge on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #SchoolChoiceWeek.

#VisionsProud: read articles in our Student Spotlight series.

Watch: learn more about what school choice is and why it’s important. Watch this video and share it with friends and family.

Looking To Switch Schools?

Learn more about charter schools here. If a charter school seems like a good fit for you or your student fill out the “Get Started” form on this page to receive more information about Visions! Fall 2021 enrollment will begin in February. Program options include:

  • Independent Study (grades 9-12): receive a FREE Chromebook to compete classes online, 1:1 teacher and counselor support, flexibility to work part-time and learn.
  • University Prep (grades 9-12): receive a FREE Chromebook to compete college prep classes online, 1:1 teacher and counselor support, community college opportunities.
  • Home School (grades TK-12): parent is the primary educator, provided a budget to purchase supplies and curriculum (currently have a waitlist).

Student Spotlight: Visions Athlete Scores Big On and Off the Field

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Danna Restom, online university prep student, smiles while celebrating her appointment to the San Jose State Spartans soccer team

Student Spotlight: Visions Athlete Scores Big On and Off the Field

A striker for the IR Academy of Soccer Development in Elk Grove, Danna R. has helped her teammates score for six years. But when the time came to choose a high school that would allow her to be an athlete, she turned to Visions In Education.

At Visions, Danna found the flexible learning schedule helpful when it came to balancing her responsibilities as a high school student and her passion for soccer. “I prepare a schedule for my week on Sundays and strictly keep to that schedule throughout the week,” says Danna. “This allows me to get my work done on time and keep up with my strength training.” 

Scoring On and Off The Field

Danna’s hard work and commitment has paid off in major ways. In the classroom, she’s taken multiple honors classes and plans to take advantage of Visions’ community college program to get a head start on university coursework. 

“My relationship with my teacher and counselor are great,” Danna says of teacher Mitch Weathers and Counselor Julie Winalski. “We have check up calls a few times a month to make sure everything is running smoothly.” 

On the field, Danna has helped lead her team to victory. In 2019, she was named to the NPL Best XI Girls Players Team. Danna and her teammates took the league championship as well as the Silver Lakes and Las Vegas Showcase Brackets. Her team currently stands as the number one team in their league (19th nationally). 

“I love pushing myself to be better than I was the year before,” Danna says. “I also love the strong bond and chemistry shared between my teammates.”

The Next Chapter

After graduation, Danna plans to attend San Jose State University. Her goals include majoring in kinesthesiology and, of course, playing soccer for the San Jose State Spartans. She credits Visions with helping her gain time management and organizational skills and supporting her personal and academic goals. 

“Visions is one of the many reasons I am the person I am today,” says Danna. “I was not just able to better myself as a student athlete but also as an individual.”

Virtual Teacher Job Fairs

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African American male student smiles while doing school work with teacher

Virtual Teacher Job Fairs

Visions In Education is holding virtual job fairs for prospective teachers to meet with faculty and staff. You’ll learn more about our school and meet representatives from our Independent Study, University Prep, Home School, Special Education and Human Resources departments.

Why Attend?

Whether you are interested in helping students who are struggling to graduate or those who are already at the top of their class, Visions provides every teacher with rewarding teaching assignments.

We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits including medical, dental, vision, STRS and PERS. Visions is a non-site based school so teachers have the flexibility to meet with students in their community.

Virtual Job Fair Details

The virtual fairs are organized by county and credentials. See the schedule below for time options.

Sacramento County – Single Subject
February 17, 2021
San Joaquin County – All Credentials
February 24, 2021
Contra Costa & Solano Counties – All Credentials
March 3, 2021
Sacramento County – All Credentials
March 10, 2021

Schedule

To accommodate schedules, each virtual job fair date will have two webinar sessions to choose from. Attendees will also be able to request an optional 10 minute one-on-one interview.

Webinar Session 1 – 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Includes presentation and Q&A.

Webinar Session 2 – 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Includes presentation and Q&A.

Individual Interviews – 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
10 minute interviews for interested attendees will be scheduled during this time. 

RSVP

To RSVP for a virtual Zoom job fair webinar and optional interview, please complete this Google Form. We will email you a Zoom link within two working days.

If you have any questions, please email hr@viedu.org.

About Visions In Education

Visions is a free WASC accredited public charter school that proudly serves approximately 7,200 students. Our service area includes Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Established in 1999, Visions is celebrating over 20 years of serving students.

8th Grader Elissia Declared Winner of 2020 Spelling Bee

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8th grader Elissa winner of 2020 spelling bee poses with certificate in front of large tree

8th Grader Elissia Declared Winner of 2020 Spelling Bee

Visions is proud to announce that 8th grader Elissia is the winner of our 2020 Visions Spelling Bee!

The Spelling Bee, which was held on December 15, was the fifth Visions Bee that Elissia competed in since third grade. It was also her last opportunity to participate since the Bee is open only to 2nd – 8th graders in accordance with Scripps, the Bee’s rule officiators.

“It feels incredible to finally win,” said Elissia. “Knowing this was my last year to compete in the Spelling Bee made me study harder and made me more determined to win.”

The Bee Goes Virtual

Due to COVID-19, schools all over the nation were unable to compete in the Bee in person. To adapt to the parameters of distance learners, Scripps created an online version of the Bee wherein students were able to compete from the safety of their homes.

A total of 42 students participated in the Visions Spelling Bee, with five competing in a finalist round. Elissia said she liked that the online version of the Bee decreased her nerves since she didn’t have to stand in front of a crowd.

To prepare for the Bee, she [amazingly!] studied the 450-word list provided by Scripps three times a day everyday since October.

Elissia advises that students wishing to participate in a Spelling Bee should do the same. “I also suggest that you say a word, spell a word, and say a word,” Elissia added. “Those things really helped me every year that I’ve competed in a Bee.”

#VisionsProud

Elissia will go on to compete in the Central Valley Spelling Bee for a chance to advance to the National Scripps Spelling Bee to be held in Washington DC in June. Scripps is monitoring the pandemic and will decide in Spring if the national Bee will be held in person or adjusted to an online format.

Runner-ups for the Spelling Bee were 7th graders Sadia P. and Chloe F., with 5th grader Reja B. and 8th grader Keely M. also receiving top honors for competing in the finalist round.

Congratulations to Elissa and to all our participants in the 2020 Visions Spelling Bee!

Student Spotlight: Small Business Owner Hones Her Craft

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Briyannah, a female Independent Study online high school student, smiles at the camera

Student Spotlight: Small Business Owner Hones Her Craft

Not many students can claim to have started a business before graduating high school, but Briyannah “Bri” Elich has taken her love of crafting and turned it into a successful online jewelry store.

“I started playing around with different ideas and putting my creations together, to find what makes me happy,” says Bri. “And it turned out to be that I really like making customizable jewelry.”

Balancing creativity with being a full time student isn’t easy, but Bri takes advantage of Visions’ flexible schedule to make the most of her time and stay on track academically.

“I balanced [my business] with a routine and a plan to make sure I get everything done in school and my orders without feeling overwhelmed,” Bri says.

High School Her Way

At Visions, Bri worked with her learning team to create a personalized learning plan that lets her stay on top of schoolwork while expanding her craft. Bri worked with her teacher, Mindi Rold, and counselor, Karla Gonzalez, to determine her academic and professional goals to come up with a plan to achieve them.

“My relationship with my teacher was great,” says Bri. “She helped me get through some of the toughest times in my subjects and went over and beyond to make sure I understood everything.”

Bri also got the opportunity to grow creatively in Visions’ Find Your Voice writing class which allowed her to participate in a writing program with other students her age.

“Being a part of that class allowed me to grow and put together my feelings in writing and I was able to contribute and share ideas with other people I was working with,” says Bri.

Turning the Page

After Visions, Bri’s plans include going to college to continue her academic and personal growth. She hopes to explore and find a career that makes her happy and plans to continue making jewelry.

“I’m glad I was a part of this learning experience,” Bri says of her time at Visions. “It was what I needed to grow and succeed.”

Visions Closed For Winter Break 12/21 to 1/4

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School closed for Winter Break December 21 - January 4 snowflakes and snowy trees on blue background

Visions Closed For Winter Break 12/21 to 1/4

On behalf of our Visions’ family, we wish a very merry and happy holiday season to you and your family. Our winter break will begin Monday, December 21 and we will return on Monday, January 4, 2021, when school will resume.

May the holiday season fill you with time to enjoy family and friends and offer moments of renewal and rejuvenation as you welcome in the New Year! Wishing your family every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

Warm regards,
Jody Graf
Superintendent

Visions Sees Record Number of Applications For 20/21 School Year

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Serving 20+ years Visions In Education logo established 1999

Visions Sees Record Number of Applications For 20/21 School Year

Visions has been providing distance learning programs for over 20 years. Visions is one of the most stable nonclassroom-based charter schools in California serving over 7,000 students in Sacramento County and the eight surrounding counties. We offer TK-12 Home School and two high school options, Independent Study and University Prep. Watch this video to learn more about our school.

Consistent Student Engagement During COVID-19

In March, Visions decided to briefly “close” the school to address impacts of COVID-19 and give allowances to students that may be negatively affected by the pandemic. After creating a plan, teachers began engaging with families virtually and students continued their studies. During this time, 96% of our students continued to be engaged in their learning. Our education model made it easy for teachers, staff and students to adapt. Our systems also allowed us to continue offering extra benefits to our students virtually including online field trips, group meetings, one-on-one teacher meetings, tutoring, writing and math classes.  

Increased Demand

Over the past summer, Visions enrolled over 2,100 new students across our three academies for the 2020/21 school year. The number of enrollment inquiries and applications skyrocketed, and our summertime waitlist for fall enrollment approached 2,000 students. We usually have a Home School waitlist but historically we’ve been able to enroll most of the students that apply for Independent Study and University Prep. This year was the first time in our school’s history that we had waitlists for all three programs. It’s clear that the need for nonclassroom-based distance learning schools, like Visions, has increased due to the pandemic.

Read our success stories here to see how Visions’ flexible programs help students thrive.

Technology and Connectivity

Visions is proud to provide access to technology, MiFi internet devices, laptops and more to our families. Approximately 50% of our student body is “unduplicated” which includes low income, foster youth and English Learners. In our Independent Study and University Prep programs students are given a free Chromebook to complete their work in SchoolsPLP, our robust online learning management system. With these services, access to learning is possible for students when otherwise access is a barrier. Our technology team has also created a custom online system that allows families to easily order curriculum, register for enrichment services and much more. Being able to offer these support services makes distance learning possible for our students.

About Visions In Education

Visions is a free WASC-accredited public charter school that serves TK-12 students in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Established in 1999, Visions offers flexible and personalized educational programs in their Independent Study, University Prep and Home School academies. Learn more at viedu.org and connect with Visions on Facebook.

This article was contributed to a California Charter Schools Association email newsletter.

Thanksgiving Break November 23-30

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Thanksgiving break with pumpkin and leaves November 23-30

Thanksgiving Break November 23-30

On behalf of our Board, and the entire Visions In Education family I would like to wish you a happy holiday season. As we enter into Thanksgiving, my hope is that you would know how grateful we are to partner with you in your child’s education. This has been an extraordinary year of changes and a fair share of challenges. Thank you for your continued grace and understanding as we work together to provide a continuity of care and service to you and each other.

Thanksgiving Break for families will begin November 23 and we will return on November 30, when school will resume. Office staff will be available on Monday, 11/23 but will be unavailable the rest of the week.

Enjoy the opportunity to celebrate the holiday with your family and the time to relax and take stock of life’s bounty of blessings.

Warm regards,

Jody Graf
Superintendent