Students from Rocky View Schools' (RVS) Online High School Leadership Class presented to the division's trustees about different ways they've developed and addressed student connection and wellness over the course of the year in an April 7 board meeting meeting.
Their presentation touched on ways the class has tried to cultivate a unique school culture in an online environment through a positive social media routine, online events for students, a mentorship program between RVS Elementary/Middle Online School and high school students, and through assisting with the school's Wellness Summit.
"Some students who began online were not feeling connected to their peers," said Grade 12 student Heather Beckett during the presentation.
"For me, it was very hard to switch to public in-person to school to online school, so it was very nice to be able to create a community and have friends. Going into this, I didn't have friends in this school."
Through the leadership program, the students felt they were able to better connect their peers and create an atmosphere where they could get to know one another despite online barriers.
The schools took part in a Terry Fox Run, had a virtual pumpkin carving and costume contest for Halloween, held a live Remembrance Day ceremony in November, and celebrated Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Pink Shirt Day.
"With an online high school, it's hard to know how things are going and whether students are engaged," said Ward 1 (Chestermere) Trustee Shali Baziuk. "It's more important than ever to have a leadership program to make sure that everyone feels welcome and everyone feels like they belong."
Ward 5 (west Rocky View County) Trustee Judi Hunter said the online schooling experience has been a learning curve for everyone.
"Just as you were learning your way to navigate your way through this online school, so were we as a board," she told the presenters.
Leadership students reported they have been pleased overall with how the course of the year has gone thus far. They said they felt the online school offered them more opportunities to explore their independence through synchronous and asynchronous learning.
They did note, however, that there should be more mental health checks built in for students learning in the online sphere, as some can feel more secluded than in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting.
They also said they felt both the RVS Online High School and combined Elementary/Middle Online School lack identity through their temporary given names, which has made it difficult for students to feel a part of school culture.
The board was happy to report that part of their meeting agenda included the adoption of names for both online schools, and two committees were created to help name the schools.
For the elementary/middle school, which home to 440 students, over 40 suggestions were submitted by a committee comprised of school staff, students, parents, and a board trustee representative.
The committee narrowed down the suggestions to five options to which Ward 4 (north Rocky View County) Trustee Norma Lang, who sat on the committee, proposed the name of Discovery Trails Online School.
The board agreed unanimously to the change, effective immediately.
The online high school, home to approximately 200 online students, was represented by Baziuk on the naming committee, along with a parent and three students.
The committee suggested the names of Rocky View Mountain Virtual Education, Rocky View Schools Online High School, and Alberta Virtual Education.
After much consideration, the Board Planning Committee recommended Summit Online in the end.
Lang added the high school should be named in synergy with the online elementary/middle school to become Summit Trails Online High School.
The majority of trustees voted in favour of changing the name to Summit Trails Online High School, with only Baziuk and Hunter voting against the motion.
