Building School Community
Keeping Kids Engaged with Lessons and Each Other
We recognize that a successful school program is about more than just students' lessons. It's about building a connected, supportive school community--one that lets students rely on each other for help, and discover their own passions outside of their courses.
Social Skills in the Online Learning World
The "Evaluation of the Social Skills of Full-Time, Online Public School Students" report, completed by Interactive Educational Systems Design, Inc. in September 2008 states that:
“Results across all SSRS measures indicate that in most categories, social skills of students enrolled in full-time, online public schools were either significantly higher or not significantly different when compared to national norms.”
To help build school community, K12 creates opportunities for students and parents to participate in both online and offline activities.
thebigthinK12
To help high school students engage as part of a big community, we have created thebigthinK¹².
This new online community provides students, teachers, parents, and administrators with the opportunity to be active participants in the K12 universe, on both a school and global level, in a fun and safe environment.
thebigthinK12
lets participants connect through threaded discussions, polls, news feeds, blogs, and more! It's a place where students can get involved in student government, the school newspaper, national affairs, political action, service leadership—almost anything they can think of.
Other School Community Opportunities
- The K¹² Community Chest is a treasure trove of information for everyone in the K¹² family. It’s a place for students and parents to share their thoughts, learn from others, and connect with each other and with the minds at K¹². The Community Chest features discussion boards, Bror's Blog , games for students, competitions, and lots more.
- Monthly activities and outings
- Special Events and Programs including the Making Waves Leadership Conference and K12 Operation Lemonade
- School-sponsored clubs, such as a photography club, chess club, student council, or book club
How a Photography Club Opens a Door to the World
Clara is a 9th grader in the K12 International Academy and a member of the K¹² Photography Club, where students study photography techniques and then post and share their own photos. A password-protected online gallery hosts the photos, allowing students to present their work, discuss tips, and share feedback with classmates.
Photography Club may help Clara realize one of her goals: "When I grow up, I want to work in the field of photography or in teaching, like with history or PE," she says.
Imagine: through the creative medium of photography, Clara is connecting with kids around the world and building the 21st century skills she’ll need to succeed. K¹²’s students do this every day, much as students in regular schools meet in hallways and chat around someone’s locker.