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Virtual school registration open

By DAWN HANKINS - dhankins@t-g.com
Posted 7/29/21

Part 2 of a series. One of the questions asked by parents when registering students for Bedford County Virtual School is whether students will be allowed to come to Cascade Middle in person for various needs? The school’s new principal, Meredith Gilliland, said the virtual school will be flexible in this and many other aspects with parents...

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Virtual school registration open

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Part 2 of a series.

One of the questions asked by parents when registering students for Bedford County Virtual School is whether students will be allowed to come to Cascade Middle in person for various needs? The school’s new principal, Meredith Gilliland, said the virtual school will be flexible in this and many other aspects with parents.

As for after school activities, like band, and club involvement like National Honor Society, Gilliland said BCVS learners will have to reach out to their respective zoned school for that assistance. For example, if a family registered for BCVS lives in the Shelbyville Central district, that is where they will need to discuss their involvement in sports or even honor clubs.

“I have to have a really good relationship and open conversations with principals in the district,” said Gilliland, who formerly taught in Murfreesboro City Schools district.

She said related arts (physical education) will still be needed within virtual learning. At this time, she will have to share or outsource educators willing to assist with those needs.

BCVS was recently approved by the Tennessee Department of Education to function as a separate school within Bedford County School System. The virtual school, to be located in Cascade Middle, will serve grades 3-8.

**What about other grades?

As for options for other grades to virtual learn, Gilliland said grades K-2 just requires a lot more hands on experiences, so virtual is currently not an option for those grades in Bedford County.

The high school students already have virtual opportunities, the educator explained. At this time, there is no separate virtual school for the older students.

The principal said being able to clearly hear the teacher is important for those younger grade students. “ A lot of user friendly materials have been put online. Those which weren’t readily available, now are abundantly available.

**How are grade reports accessed?

With the school system using Skyward parents have instant access to grade reports. She said last year was the big “something new.”

“I hope we’re getting to the point in technology where we’re not afraid to try.”

The virtual school will operate just like in-house classes, with the exception that BCVS students stay at home. Students will log in at the very beginning of the day.

Students will not sleep in, this veteran educator notes. They start at 7:45 a.m.; she’s asking teachers to begin at 7:30 a.m.

The same requirements go for virtual students as in-house students. Everyone’s day ends at 2:45 p.m.

BCVS will have a mascot. In fact, Gilliland is working on the school’s Facebook page and will likely start taking suggestions for the mascot from the community.

“This is the community’s school and I want them to have a part in making it what it is.”

**How about high schoolers?

As for 9-12 learners, Gilliland said there’s already has an online learning virtual platform, which is why they’re not included in BCVS. “I certainly don’t want to limit the possibilities of virtual school. I think that expansion is something that we’re planning for—a part of our vision for the school.”

The cap for BCVS is 50 students per grade level and two teachers per grade, but possibly more in middle school. This plays into teacher endorsements past the sixth grade, she said.

“At this time . . . with only seven teachers, spread through grades 3-8, we’re looking at four teachers in 7th and 8th and three teachers in grades 3-6.”

She said there’s enough space at Cascade Middle if a growth trend should happen. “I think that it’s going to take a little time.”

A professional focus of Gilliland’s is making sure that the community sees what BCVS is doing and that they’re transparent in all aspects of education. She said she does not want BCVS to be perceived as a “secret school,” but one that is doing good things—those things which meet their growth and even social and emotional needs.

“Any service that a brick and mortar school provides, we can do the same thing, it will just look different.”

Looking back on the last school year, Gilliland said she believes COVID may have pushed education into greater proficiency. She said an example is Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings, which worked out well last year virtual.

“If it is best for the family to come in person, we have room to do that. If it is best if parents . . . in their living room and we’re having that meeting virtually, great, they have that resource too.”

The reality of virtual school, she advised, is there are no pep rallies, assemblies or cafeteria time. The social aspect of virtual learning is going to be something completely different.

Gilliland says she still has her teaching lens on; she was a virtual teacher last year. That social-emotional piece of school . . . address, get creative. “Teachers that are passionate about kids and like to solve a problem . . . there’s a lot we can explore to meet the social needs.

She conducted Zoom lunches. Her virtual learners would eat lunch together and talk. Sometimes they just needed a platform to do that.

She ate her lunch, monitored students and graded papers all at once.

BCVS will be using Microsoft Teams to communicate with its students. “Every child will have a computer with a camera. If they do not have a computer at home, one will be provided for them. If they do not have reliable internet at home, we can also assist with that. They will be at home in front of camera; they’ll still get to see all their virtual classmates and teachers.

“I’m excited about the opportunity for our teachers to be creative and how they make connections with their students.”

She said there may be some students with medical needs — those who need social distancing — but she sees opportunities in the future for students to enjoy field trips. “I think we may even have a little more flexibility, than a brick and mortar school would — reserve buses, etc.

“I think we’ll have to find opportunities to connect our families and with our students.”