OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich — If you’re a family looking for something different from traditional schooling options, West Ottawa Virtual Academy may be what you’re looking for. The online school is designed with the goal of providing a world-class education that is flexible and allows students to take advantage of robust extra-curricular options available through a well-established educational entity in West Ottawa Public Schools. Tung Nguyen joined us from WOVA to talk more about this unique learning experience.
Nguyen explained that students who reside in Michigan may enroll with West Ottawa Virtual Academy. They have flexible enrollment options for full time, split enrollment, dual enrollment, and partnerships with homeschooled students. Additionally, WOVA invites partnerships with private schools to offer students courses that may not be available at their home school. The goal is always to offer personalized learning options at no cost to students and families. Enrollment is open now for K-12th with partnership options for students who are from non-public entities. Nguyen described the homeschool partnership that excites so many WOVA families. “We are looking into opportunities to support homeschool learners in the greater West Michigan area. If you are a homeschool parent, I invite you to take a look at our website and curriculum guide. If you don’t see something that fits your child’s learning needs, please reach out to me for a conversation. We are at a unique juncture where we have the ability to develop unique programming to serve those that have been traditionally underserved in the public sector.”
New this fall, Nguyen said WOVA will be launching a community partnership program. “Part of the flexibility and customization that virtual learning offers allows our school an opportunity to have students pursue their areas of interest and learn directly from experts in the community,” said Nguyen. “Students who enroll in qualifying elective courses are eligible to apply for help to offset the cost of participating in courses with select community partners. This option provides our students with a unique opportunity to put their learning into action and also be recognized academically for participating in something that they like.”
WOVA students come from many different backgrounds and have a variety of reasons for selecting virtual learning. Many benefit from taking all or some courses in the virtual format because it frees up their schedules in a way that a traditional school schedule cannot achieve. Nguyen described some of the students who may benefit from what WOVA has to offer. “We have had students who are athletes competing at a high level where virtual courses that don’t meet at a designated time allows them to not have to choose between prioritizing school and training,” he said. “We have students who wish to max out their Advance Placement and post-secondary credit enrollment and by electing to take a couple of courses virtually, they are ensuring that they have more options at their fingertips and also more 1-on-1 attention from their teachers when they need it most.” Nguyen continued, “Some of our students come from families who enjoy traveling for large periods of time and a virtual learning platform that is built to be consistent with their in-person peers is a must for when they are not traveling.” He said, “Other students sometimes just need a break during the day from a full traditional in-person schedule and so by taking advantage of our split scheduling option with our in-person schools within the district, they are able to take care of their mental health needs while still fully engaging in school.”
Nguyen gave some examples of the kinds of flexibility offered to WOVA students. There is the full-time virtual enrollment option for students who are looking for a fully online experience. “However,” said Nguyen, “many of our secondary students (6th-12th) appreciate the option to select a split schedule with one of our schools at West Ottawa. We partner with the Tech Center at the high school level where students can utilize half of their day to learn hands-on, a skill or trade or work towards a college learning pathway.” At the middle school level, WOVA partners with the Hope College PATH program to assist students in accelerated learning options to gain credits toward a high school diploma while still in middle school. “This program allows our students to take advantage of as many AP and dual enrollment options as possible during high school which ends up potentially saving families thousands of dollars in college tuition,” said Nguyen.
As for the curriculum at WOVA, Nguyen said all three grade bands offer core content in math, science, social studies, and English. Elective options vary depending on grade level, but offerings are available in art, PE, world language, music, computer science, AP courses, with students at the high school level having access to a full range of elective options. WOVA also partners with vocational and higher ed organizations to offer dual enrollment. “Courses are designed to provide students with an asynchronous learning experience (students can learn on their own schedule, within a certain timeframe) so that they have the ability to focus more attention on the concepts and skills that are most needed, while being able to quickly demonstrate their mastery of learning on ideas that they already know,” Bguyen explained. “Students have the ability to connect with teachers one-on-one in order to receive direct help, engage in tutoring opportunities, and each student is assigned a mentor teacher who engages with each child on a regular basis.”
If you’re interested in enrolling or learning more about West Ottawa Virtual Academy, visit www.westottawa.net/schools/wova/ or call 616.786.2033. Enrollment for fall can be completed online and school starts on August 30.
This story is sponsored by West Ottawa Virtual Academy.
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