As the days lengthen and the sun warms our virtual classrooms, I find myself reflecting on the incredible amount of work our teachers do to ensure student success throughout the school year. I will remind you again in a couple weeks, but if you have not done so already, please find a way to let your child’s teachers know how much they are appreciated. Our teachers are the compass guiding our students through the digital landscape. Their dedication transcends screens and pixels, leaving an indelible mark on each child’s heart. Take a moment to send them a virtual bouquet of gratitude—they deserve it more than ever. Now for a few announcements and reminders:

Testing is coming! As we look ahead towards May, state testing season looms ominously like a distant storm cloud. Fear not! Dr. Markell has diligently dispatched information about testing dates and locations. If you’re unsure, reach out to her; she’s always there to help get the information you need.

GetRdone! We are now only five weeks away from the end of the school year. While the official last day is May 31st, our aim is to have all students complete their courses by May 24th. Encourage your child to stay focused, keep up with assignments, and make the most of their learning opportunities.

Inspect what you expect! As always, I encourage you to actively monitor your child’s progress on the FLVS platform. By this point in the school year, students should be approximately 75% complete with their coursework. Let’s finish strong together! 

That’s all I have for this week. Please scroll down to read about our remarkable students, teachers, and community partners, as well as some important information you’ll need as we near this critical point in the school year.

Thank you for reading.

Dr. Serianni 

Our sincere apologies to the Hazelbaker family. In the last Foxhole Flyer we accidentally posted the wrong picture with our Family Spotlight… 

The Hazelbaker’s, Tim (dad), Sandy (mom), Stella (sister- 19), Sophia and Frosty, their adorable, playful Jack Zhu dog. They love camping as a family in their travel trailer, enjoying, relaxing, and exploring the great outdoors. Sophia is currently an 11th grader at VOL who is working her way towards a black belt in karate and is a Marvel fan. Sophia aspires to go to college like her sister Stella who is a first-year college student at UNF.

In middle school, Sophia started expressing interest in virtual school. When COVID forced schools to shut down, it seemed like the perfect time to try online education. Once enrolled in VOL, Sophia loved it and thrives in the virtual setting and continues to choose VOL to fulfill her educational needs.

Students vote for Students here

Parents vote for Parents here

You may now schedule your sitting for Senior Portraits with Dean Stewart Photography in Daytona Beach. Use the link below.

volusiaonlinelearning is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT for the 2024-2025 school year. You can apply at www.volusiaonlinelearning.com.

Orders can be placed on the Herff Jones website (www.herfforlando.com) or you may order in person at their Winter Park office (address below). No appointment is necessary. All items ordered EXCEPT the cap and gown will be shipped to your home. Caps and gowns will be distributed at VOL during the second semester. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Herff Jones at the number below.

https://bit.ly/407hpua - CAP & GOWN PRICING & PACKAGES

https://bit.ly/48SfoWX - GRADUATION CATALOG

https://bit.ly/47PKYnO - CLASS RING CATALOG

Stenhouse Roofing & Construction

for their generous donation for the Graduation Class of 2024! VOL appreciates you!

Stenhouse Roofing and Construction based out of Deland, FL. Proudly serves Volusia County and its surrounding areas since 2012. Our expertise spans from both residential and commercial roofing and construction. The exceptional craftsmanship in projects ranging from new construction to remodels.

We operate on a word of mouth and referrals. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We have been approved and certified with the state of Florida as a minority owned A+ business. License # CCC 1331441 and CBC1264367

Phone number - (321) 356-9698

Website – Stenhouseroofing.com

Email: Stenstromconstruction@gmail.com

Did you check out a Volusia County School laptop or hotspot for your child this school year? If so, you are responsible for returning it at the end of the school year.

Seniors can return their VCS issued laptops between 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM daily at our VOL building located at 250 Enterprise Road beginning on May 21st. Additionally, staff will be present at our Graduation Rehearsal on May 22nd at the Ocean Center for students to return their devices.

Our primary students can return their devices on May 31st during their End of Year Celebration at our VOL building.

Families may return their devices and chargers the week of June 3rd at one of two locations:

• Eastside families please visit us at Campbell Middle 8:00-10:00 AM or 4:00-6:00 PM

• Westside families please visit us at our VOL building located on Deltona Middle School’s campus 8:00-10:00 AM or 4:00-6:00 PM

If you are unable to return your VCS issued device during these times, please contact Laura King at 386-506-0014, extension 43324 to schedule a time to return your device.

In-person state testing will continue in May. Personalized testing emails were sent to students and parents in early March with the students’ exact tests listed and site-specific details. Letters about the tests were also emailed in April. Students were registered to test either at their zoned school or at our VOL building in Deltona. Please reach out to Dr. Markell if you have any questions.

Writing test scores will not be available until the summer, but all other computer-based state test scores should be available on the parent portal within 24-48 hours after test completion.

*** Spring State Testing Schedules ***

April 4th: B.E.S.T Writing Grades 4-7 and Grade 9

April 5th: B.E.S.T Writing Grades 8 and 10

April 24th: Classic Learning Test CLT (Only select seniors)

April 29th-May 4th: K-2 PM3 STAR Testing (Remote)

May 1: Algebra 1 Retake Grades 11 and 12

May 2: FAST ELA Retake Grades 11 and 12

May 7: Statewide Science Grades 5 and 8 (Additional accommodated small groups on May 8th)

May 7: Biology End-of-Course Exam (Additional accommodated small groups on May 8th)

May 9: Civics End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 9: US History End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 14: PM3 FAST Reading Grades 3-7 and Grade 9 (Accommodated small groups on May 16th)

May 15: PM3 Math Grades 3-7

May 16: PM3 ELA Grades 8 and 10

May 17: PM3 Math Grade 8 (Accommodated small group on May 20)

May 17: Algebra 1 End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 17: Geometry End-of-Course Exam (EOC) (Accommodated small group on May 20)

May 20: 8th Grade PM3 FAST Math/Geometry Accommodated Small Groups

* Makeups occurring on various days through May 31st as needed.

April 4th: BEST Writing Test (Grades 4-10)

April 29th-May 4th: K-2 PM3 STAR Testing (Remote)

May 1: Algebra 1 Retakes (Grade 12 Only)

May 2: FAST ELA Retake (Grades 11 and 12)

May 7th: Statewide Science (Grades 5 and 8)

May 7th: Biology End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 9th: Civics End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 9th: US History End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

May 14: PM3 ELA Grades 3-9

May 15: PM3 ELA Grade 10

May 16: PM3 Math Grades 3-8

May 16: Algebra 1 and Geometry End-of-Course Exams (EOC)

May 21: Algebra 1 Retakes (Grades 9-11)

* Participation in state testing is a required condition of enrollment at VOL. If you have any questions or concerns about state testing, please contact our VOL testing coordinator, Dr. Markell, at (386) 734-7190 ext. 72701, or bgmarkel@volusia.k12.fl.us

Please keep in mind that students in grades 3-12 are required to report for in person testing in May for state assessments. If you have specific questions regarding your child’s testing schedule, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Dr. Bonnie Markell sooner rather than later.

• Cap and Gown Distribution at Volusia Online Learning in Deltona on Wednesday, May 1st from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.

• Graduation tickets and parking passes are now on sale in Parent Portal through Monday, May 20th at 12:00 PM. Purchased tickets and parking passes will be distributed at Senior Awards.

• Senior Awards at the Athens Theatre in Deland on Monday, May 20th at 7:00 PM. Students will wear their cap and gown to the Senior Awards Ceremony. Students should plan to arrive at 6:30 PM.

• Graduation Rehearsal at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Wednesday, May 22nd at 9:30 AM.  

• Graduation at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Thursday, May 23rd at 4:00 PM. Students should plan to arrive no later than 9:30 AM.

We are in the home stretch of the 2023-2024 school year and the fourth nine weeks is upon us. Please plan to finish the year strong. Seniors, students in grade 12, have a target completion date of May 3rd. Students in grades K-11 have a target completion date of May 24th. This allows all students to complete their coursework and DBAs prior to graduation and the last day of school on Friday, May 31st.  

Our full-time application is open for the 2024-2025 school year. Full-time families do not need to reapply unless they were advised to do so. If you know someone who is interested in joining our VOL family, please feel free to share the link:

Did you know that VOL has our very own virtual store where students and families can purchase school related apparel and products? Feel free to check it out here: VOL Store.

DBAs are a required element of all FLVS courses in order for students to be eligible to earn a passing grade and course credit for completing the course.

Students must complete an absolute minimum of two DBAs per course for all core courses (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) per segment (semester), and a minimum of one DBAs per elective course per segment. *

K-11th Grade students must have ALL Segment 2 coursework completed BY 5/24/24.

Have your student log in to their Edgenuity account through the VCS vPortal. Once logged in ask the student to click on one of their course icons to show you the Course Report. This report is located on the right-hand side of the course map page (see screenshot below). The report is used to set goals for a student to complete a course by the targeted date.

• Student Progress: The completed percentage by time. Shows how far along in the course the student has progressed.

• Target Progress: The percentage a student should have completed by the current date. This date determines if a student is ahead or behind pacing.

• Activity: Assignment list within the course for each activity.

• Due: The date when each assignment should be completed in the course.

• First Attempt: The date the student first began the activity.

• Submitted: The date the activity was submitted to the teacher.

• Attempts: The number of times a student completed the activity.

• Est Time: The approximate time it would take a student to complete the activity.

• Total Time: The total comprehensive time it took the student to complete the activity. Will include multiple attempts.

• Category: The weighted category to which the activity is associated.

• Score: The counted score the student earned on the activity.

Bachelor’s Degree from Ferris State University

Certified in Art, Science, Biology, Math, and Agriculture

Mr. Chapple has been teaching for 13 years and was Volusia Online Learning’s Science Teacher of the year in 2019. Prior to teaching Mr. Chapple worked in advertising and graphic design.

Mr. Chapple enjoys interacting with students during art live lessons or helping them on a 1 to 1 basis. He enjoys talking about art and opening students minds to being creative, hoping that they realize that art is not just being able to draw but looking at things in a different light and thinking outside the box.

When he is not working he likes to spend time with his family and 2 dogs, He also likes surfing, swimming, traveling, scuba diving, mountain biking, and fly-fishing.

The Kakade/Medina’s are a family of 4 with lots of pets, mom and dad, Kandi and Vaibhav and their sons, Xavier and Kiaan. In their leisurely time, the family likes playing old school Super Mario Brothers, watching movies, cooking out, and playing outdoor games. Xavier and his dad love to play cricket. Xavier’s little brother is non-verbal autistic. Xavier decided to take ASL this year so he would be able to teach Kiaan some sign language. After having to go online when COVID originally hit, mom saw that Xavier was doing a lot better on his schoolwork and learning in an online setting. So, the next school year Xavier was enrolled in Volusia Online Learning. This is the families 4th full year with VOL.

Mom, Kandi is Xavier’s learning coach. Every Sunday she makes a schedule of what’s due the next week, and a few extra assignments to try and stay ahead. Xavier likes to sleep in. He gets up around 8am and gets ready for the day. He attends all of his live lessons and tutoring session and then starts on his assignments for the day. Throughout the day mom make sure Xavier is going to his meetings and working on schoolwork. When he needs help understanding, Mom tries to put it in terms he understands or looks up the meaning of things so he can see it in writing.

Mrs. Kakade believes Xavier has been successful because he has the freedom to do his work throughout the day. Plus, there is always the weekends to get caught up if you get behind. However, mom says, “the main reason they are successful is because she stays on top of what Xavier is doing and she has him redo assignments if he hasn’t put his best effort into it. Mom plans to stay with VOL until Xavier finishes school.

Mom loves that Xavier can work at his own pace in a non-stressful environment. The teachers are helpful with tutoring and explaining errors. “Being with VOL has really helped with freeing up time so I am able to take Xavier’s little brother to and from school and therapy.” Xavier can help more out around the house, and I can teach him everyday responsibilities he needs to know as an adult. We can see him learning and growing with his schoolwork. Plus, I know he’s safe.

Some tips from the learning coach, Mrs. Kakade, make a schedule of what you expect to be done each day, check your child’s work daily, set alarms for their meetings, and talk with them on what they are learning for the day and how they are doing with it.

Abel Gonzalez is a Volusia Online Learning 12th grade student. His nominating teacher, Mrs. Beasley, says “Abel is an excellent student and always ready to participate in our class discussions. He works well with his peers and is highly respectful. Abel is an absolute joy to have in class and a fantastic artist! It's an honor to work with him!”

Ella Clifton is a Volusia Online Learning 6th grade student. Her nominating teacher, Mrs. Woodward, says “Ella is slaying semester 2. I can see she has improved her work ethic, turning in quality work that is a true reflection of her capabilities. She attends live lessons, participates, and has important things to contribute. She is well mannered, fun, and so encouraging with her peers. I love the Ella flare and am so proud to see her excelling in ELA, particularly this semester."

Haddie Pearson is a Volusia Online Learning 4th grade student. Her nominating teacher, Coach Tindal, says “Haddie consistently gives her best effort in every exercise and activity during Physical Education live lessons. She is always eager to participate and is a role model for her fellow students. The videos she submits for assignments are fantastic and she provides stellar narration."

Elijah Hiffner is a Volusia Online Learning 1st grade student. His nominating teacher, Coach Tindal, says “Elijah is a model student in computer science. He attends live lessons every week and is excited to learn and participate. He also completes all of his assignments on time and is usually ahead of pace. His enthusiasm is contagious and his love of learning is appreciated. Thanks for being awesome, Elijah."

Median U.S. weekly earnings and unemployment rates for 2023 by level of education:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (just released this past week for 2023) Access data

Footnote for our VOL families: Once per year about this time, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases their annual findings for median weekly earnings and monthly unemployment rates by level of education. While the data will change slightly year-to-year, the pattern you see above does not. This holds true even during economic recessions. Overall, those with more education earn higher paychecks and have less chance of being out of work. Of course, individually this can be affected by industry, where you live, the financial condition of the organization you work for, your time on the job, quality of your work, and other factors, but in the U.S., this pattern generally holds true for the population—the odds of economic success rise with greater education.

Copyright Notice

Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and Volusia Online Learning is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Volusia County Schools and especially Volusia Online Learning. Please contact Dr. Serianni at aaserian@volusia.k12.fl.us with any questions related to the program.

Volusia Online Learning | Dr. Serianni, Principal | 386.506.0014 | VOL Website