December 2024 Newsletter

The holiday season is here and the end of the semester is near! While it’s an exciting time filled with celebrations and winter fun, it’s also your chance to wrap up your classes strong. Just like decorating a tree or baking holiday treats, finishing your assignments and studying for finals takes focus and effort—but the rewards are worth it!

Remember, the hard work you put in now will set you up for success when we return in the new year. Take it one step at a time, stay organized, and don’t hesitate to ask your virtual coach or teachers for help if you need it. Let’s head into the holidays feeling proud of what we’ve accomplished. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the new year!

We are quickly approaching the end of the semester and want your student to succeed. Here are seven ways to help your student develop good study habits from Amanda Morin:

1. Help your child learn to identify distractions.

2. Teach your child how to create an effective study space.

3. Keep track of your child’s strengths and encourage them by telling them their strengths.

4. Show understanding when helping with your child’s challenges and help them brainstorm ways to improve.

5. Start making checklists of work/studying to do with your child.

6. Help your child prioritize.

7. Teach your child specific study skills like breaking assignments down in smaller parts or how to organize their binder.

Are you thinking about going to school for a 2 year degree or a certification field? Want to go for free? If so check this out!

The WV Invests Grant is a state-funded grant program that pays toward the full cost of basic tuition, mandatory fees and academic program fees for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution. Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. This is a last-dollar-in program, meaning it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships and institutional tuition waivers.

To apply, you must complete the FAFSA and apply for the WV Invests Grant here:

To stay eligible for the grant, you need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in college, take at least 6 hours each semester until you earn your degree or certification, pay for and pass a drug screen, and complete two hours of community service each term you are awarded the grant.

Speaking of community service… Did you know you can earn cords at graduation for doing community service? In Kanawha County if you earn 150 community service hours, you can receive a cord at graduation. Each school has a person who keeps track of community service hours that have been turned in. You can use a school form or you can have the person/organization you are doing the community service for write a letter with dates and hours of service. If you do 500 hours of community service during your high school career, you can earn a plaque for your service. What better way to keep away the holiday blues than to do something to help others!

The final day to submit work in your current courses is January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM.