Shark Bytes
An update from the Virtual Academy
Week of March 4, 2024
Student Spotlight
Each week we share a reason to celebrate a Virtual Academy classmate. Do you have something great to share? Do you have something you'd like to share about another Virtual Academy student? Please fill out this form.
Celebrate Jayden Hughes!
This week we celebrate Jayden Hughes (CHS '26). Jayden has been with the Virtual Academy since the beginning, and has been a straight A student. He is always committed to getting his work done and a very conscientious student. He enjoys Okinawan Karate on evenings and weekends. Jayden has been a model student and family member and we're so proud he is a SHARK!
Top Five in Five
The top five things you need to know for this week!
1. Mark your calendar
Students are invited to join the staff of the Virtual Academy from 8:30 - 10:30 on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 for donuts as we celebrate ALL of our Virtual Academy students during International Day of Happiness. Come by the Virtual Academy (20833 Great Mills Road) for donuts, games, chat, and to hang out with each other and the teachers of the Virtual Academy. RSVP required. Please use the RSVP in the event below.
Donut Day of Happiness
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024, 08:30 AM
20833 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, MD, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
2. March Period Recovery!
If you have any active MPR classes in Edgenuity, you have just two weeks to finish them! Courses will be closed at the end of the day, Friday, March 15, 2024. Remember you must get at least a 60% relative grade to pass the marking period.
3. Summer Sports Academies
4.Tyto Club: REMINDER!!
Are you interested in learning through game-based inquiry? Consider joining the Tyto lunch time club on Wednesdays in March.
Learn Science With Your Friends: Wake up from cryosleep on an alien planet set far in the future. Start building your new life as a Tyto Academy student, working to solve problems in the city and learn from the mistakes of our past.
The Tyto Club will meet on Wednesdays in March from 12:00 - 1:00 (Ms. Barker will report your attendance to your homeroom teacher) in a Google Meet. We will be playing with the newest addition to Tyto, an immersive science education game. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how online games are developed!
Club dates will be March 6, March 13, and March 20 (Tentative). At the end of the March 20 meeting, we will determine if the club would like to continue to meet after Spring Break. If you are interested complete the Sign Up Form in order to receive a calendar invite to the Google Meets.
5. Tech Tip of the Week
Record videos directly in Google Slides thanks to this new feature - no third party extensions or Google Meets required! The video below shows you how. Consider trying this feature out when you have a big project to do OR ask your teachers if you could use this feature to demonstrate your learning!
Upcoming dates
- Sunday, March 10, 2024 - Daylight Savings Time - SPRING ahead!
- Friday, March 15, 2024 - Marking Period recovery for MP2 is due
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - Onsite MTSS student celebration
- Friday, March 22, 2024 - Two hour early dismissal
- Monday, March 25 - Monday, April 1st - Spring Break - no school for students
Reminder::::::::State Testing is Coming Up
- Algebra 1
- Government
- Biology
- Biology Honors
- World Literature
If so, you will be expected to be on site at the Virtual Academy on two different Wednesdays in April or May for each course you're enrolled in.
More information will be forth coming, with direct emails to students and their families.
TECH HELP!
Having trouble getting to Google Meets, Schoology, using your camera, mic or other tech problem? If so, reach out to Ms. Barker for help! Contact her at ajbarker@smcps.org or call the Virtual Academy at 301-863-4090 and dial 16122 to talk to her directly.
Ms. Barker is also reaching out to student whom the teachers have reported are having difficulty.
College and Career Counseling Corner
New Scholarships Added to Naviance
The following scholarships are now available through Naviance. Take a moment to check them out if you are considering the financial impact of a post-secondary school will have on you.
- Abott & Fenner Business Scholarship
- Charlotte Hall Military School Scholarship Application for 2024
- Delegate Brian Crosby Academic Scholarship 2024
- Elks Trade School Scholarship 2024
- *Coming Soon* The St. Mary's County BECA Scholarship Application will open on January 15th!
- Dinah K. Somerville Scholarship Deadline is Jan. 26th
- Delegate Todd Morgan Academic Scholarship 2024
- 2024 Model Railroad Scholarship Program
- 2024 Senator Jack Bailey Scholarship
- SMECO Scholarship
- Miss Utility of Maryland/DC Scholarship
- 2024 Delegate Matt Morgan Scholarship
- 2024 LOTT Enterprises of Maryland Scholarship
- 2024 Zaching Spirit Award Scholarship
- Joseph A. Egans Lodge 104 2024 Scholarship
- National Capital Environmental Scholarship
- PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program
- So MD Chain (MD) Chapter the Links, Incorporated Scholarship
- The Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship
- 2024 Margaret Brent High School Alumni Scholarship
- 2024 7th District Optimist Club Scholarship
- 2024 Elaine's Gift Scholarship
To view all scholarships, login to Naviance via Clever. Click Colleges >> Scholarship Search.