IRONWOOD -- At All Saints Catholic Academy, some students are learning in a whole new way. The virtual classroom is a full or part time online school. A full variety of classes, personal tutors, and a flexible schedule... the virtual classroom has it all.
All Saints started the program almost two years ago for grades seven through twelve.
"A few students were coming just for one class at a time," says Niki McRae, the Virtual Instructor at All Saints Catholic Academy. "If they were struggling with something, they came here and they were able to enroll in just a single class."
Now the virtual classroom has five full time students. They use "Catholic Schools K-12 Virtual," the only accredited Catholic virtual school.
Students log on to the website and are able watch video lessons, see examples, and chat with a personal teacher. They're able to work anywhere there's internet and can submit assignments through a digital drop box, which benefits those that may not be able attend a regular class.
"So if you're sick, that's one way that this program can help because it reaches kids who are homebound, ones that are in hospitals," says McRae.
Some students still come to All Saints for one on one with Ms. McRae if they need extra help and to bounce ideas off of each other.
By taking a purely online course load, some of the students agree that it eliminates common difficulties that would be seen in a normal classroom.
"Gradewise, I'm doing better because I feel like I can pay attention a lot more than if I was actually in a bigger school," says 8th grader Michael Perhalla.
The Virtual School also allows students to work at their own pace.
"You can just keep looking over the video over and over and over, as much as you need to," says 9th grader Kyle Holmquest.
Students do not need to be in Ironwood to enroll through All Saints. For information on how to enroll, call All Saints Catholic Academy at 906-932-3200 and ask for Niki McRae.
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