Are you ready!! 7 more days!!

Please remember that it is extremely important that all new and returning students make time to come to the Virtual Academy Open House Orientation. We will be reviewing a lot of information for a successful school year!

Please check out this document. to preview all that we will cover!

Date: Monday, August 19, 2024

Time(s): Choose ONE of the following:

9:00 am - 10:30 am

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Location: Virtual Academy Professional Development Center located at 20833 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653

RSVP: Please RSVP using this LINK, space is limited in each session.

What to bring: Students need to bring their fully charged laptop and mouse (optional). New students to the VA may swap out their home school laptop up to 30 minutes prior to the Open House Orientation to ensure it is fully set up.

We're asking students and families to RSVP (let us know when you're coming) by using this Google Form.

Additional details can be found on this flyer

Resharing to have a smooth start to the school year! Please fill out the Authorized Usage Policy for SMCPS, which you can find here to gain access to Google tools beyond what is available in the first list of tools!

Due to recent changes in Google Workspaces for education, students who would like to use Google Tools beyond the basics of:

• GMail
• Google Calendar
• Google Documents
• Google Spreadsheets
• Google Slides
• Google Drawings

Will need to have a parent sign the Authorized Usage Policy for SMCPS, which you can find here. These applications include platforms such as (but not limited to):

• Google Books
• Google Earth
• Google Maps
• Google News
• Google Translate
• Third-Party App Backups
• YouTube

If you need additional information regarding these changes you can find them by Google Workspace for Education St. Mary’s County Public Schools

Our Student and Family Guide has been updated for the new 2024 - 2025 can be found here. Students (and parents/guardians) are encouraged to review it and make a list of questions that you can ask at our Open House Orientation on August 19th.

In case you missed it, the last thing on the "School Supply List" shared last week, was to ensure you are in a location best suited for a Google Meet (not in the car, a restaurant, salon, etc).

While this expectation is not new, it is being made explicit (clear). Students are to be a location free of distractions when they attend their Google Meets. We will address this with individuals as well as parents/guardians starting at the beginning of the school year.

Whether you are new or a returning school, you'll undoubtedly have a bit of confusion when you look at your schedule when the Home Access Center Opens on Friday, August 16, at 5 pm.

Please know we will help you make a copy of the class schedule on our bell schedule during our Open House Orientation. The best thing you can do is to make sure the scheduled classes are what you should be scheduled for. Remember, we don't offer all of the courses available at the home school, so we have very little flexibility to make changes, but will ensure that every class you have meets a graduation requirement

Here's the items on your supply list!

• A good night sleep each school night
• A self-managed routine that allows you to complete your assigned work on time.
• Understanding our Shark Expectations (will review at open house/orientation).
• Accountability for one's actions (including completing honest and authentic school work).
• A quiet place to work and attend your Google Meets
• Responsibility for ensuring your computer is charged and working
• Ensuring you are in a location best suited for a Google Meet (not in the car, a restaurant, salon, etc).

These will be linked whenever they are available.