ASU Prep Digital Middle Schoolers Walk for a Cause–Arizona Visionwalk

« Back  |  May 6, 2021 - ASU Prep Digital

On April 24th, ASU Prep Digital middle schoolers involved in the National Junior Honor Society program participated in the 2021 Arizona Visionwalk. The 5k event inspires students to walk for a cause, banding together to show their commitment to the Foundation Fighting Blindness‘ mission: to find treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases.

Pictured: Bonding with Guide dog Nebraska, ASU team Hooligrants (Robb and Sarah Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Chavez, Madelyn Chavez, Haylee Reed, Mrs. Reed and sister. Grant Williams and Guide Dog Nebraska), Hailey Reed being presented with a braille coaster for her fundraising efforts.

 

On Saturday morning, “The Hooligrants” Team, made up of ten members including guide dog, Nebraska, donned matching t-shirts and began their walk. In total, the team raised about $350 for the foundation. Team member Haylee Reed, raised the most money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness $285 and received a braille ASU coaster for her fundraising efforts.

Thanks to all of the students (and dogs) who participated in the 2021 Visionwalk! We are looking forward to next year’s fundraising event! Interested in participating next year? Visit the Visionwalk website to join a team!

How Do Students Socialize at ASU Prep Digital?

« Back  |  January 29, 2020 - ASU Prep Digital

Socialization is an important aspect of education, whether you’re learning in a traditional school setting or online environment.

But how is socialization embedded into the ASU Prep Digital experience?

ASU Prep Digital provides students with many opportunities to interact with their peers and teachers, despite myths that online students don’t socialize as much as their traditional school counterparts.

In fact, socialization in online learning isn’t much different than in a brick-and-mortar. Let’s take a look at the different ways ASU Prep Digital students socialize.

Live Lessons

Live lessons are one of the best ways for students to connect with their teachers and peers on a regular basis. Teachers use a video meeting platform called Zoom for live lessons. They can share their screen, present materials, and engage with all of their students at the same time.

“We like to present information in a variety of ways to benefit all types of learners,” said Kerri McMillen, a social studies teacher at ASU Prep Digital. 

Through games, mini group assignments, and other activities, students learn the skills needed to complete coursework on their own while building genuine connections with everyone.

Community Events

We love getting students and staff together for in-person events. This is why we’ve created a community engagement calendar for every semester!

From ASU campus tours to trips to pumpkin patches, students and their families can mix, mingle, and socialize with their peers and ASU Prep Digital staff!

Student Clubs

ASU Prep Digital offers over 12 clubs for students to choose from, including book club, yearbook, mythology, and student government. And if students don’t see a club that piques their interest, that’s okay—they can start one of their own!

We encourage our students to find ways to enhance their high school experience, and this is one of the best ways to do so. If you want to hear more about clubs from the student perspective, read this spotlight on Hannah Stewart, one of ASU Prep Digital’s first students!

‘Parents of ASU Prep Digital’ Facebook Group

As a way to empower our families to initiate conversations and interactions within our community of learners, we created a Facebook group specifically for parents of current and prospective ASU Prep Digital students.

In this space, they’re able to ask questions about enrollment, the student experience, and the process of switching from traditional schooling to online learning. Many parents also use it as a way to plan meet ups and events for students who live near the Phoenix area and are looking to make new friends.

 

Ready to join our community of learners? We always accept part-time applications on a rolling basis, which you can access here. And if you’re interested in learning more about our program for future full-time enrollment, please schedule a call with an admissions advisor.

 

What is Socialization Like in an Online High School?

« Back  |  January 22, 2020 - ASU Prep Digital

The myths of socialization in online learning have long been debunked, but the question still remains: what does socialization in an online high school actually look like?

For ASU Prep Digital senior Hannah Stewart, it looks like joining clubs that align with her interest, taking on leadership roles, and becoming a role model for other students in the community.

Coming from a traditional school background, the transition to online learning actually allowed Stewart to explore different ways of socializing and set her own boundaries.

“I’m an ambivert, so while I like being around people, school could be emotionally draining for me on the days I just wasn’t feeling the whole ‘being social’ thing,” Stewart said. “As an online student, I have clubs a few times a week and message with other students every few days, but I have the freedom to recharge when I need to, allowing me to be the best version of myself.”

As one of the first students to enroll at ASU Prep Digital, Stewart has made extracurricular activities a priority of her high school experience, immersing herself in the ASU Prep Digital community.

“My first year I joined the pen pal club and book club,” Stewart said. “I went on to become the president of the photography/yearbook club last year, and now I’m the president of student government and a writer for the student newspaper!”

Stewart likes keeping busy, but socialization is more than that for her—it’s a way to connect with like-minded peers and be a part of something bigger than herself.

“I like having a sense of community within a club,” Stewart said. “You see the same people every week, and you’re all invested in the same thing. You start to develop inside jokes and learn more about each other, so by the time you meet physically, you already know each other well.”

Stewart lives in South Korea, making it difficult to attend in-person events. But with senior year coming to a close, they’ll be a few opportunities worth making the trip to Arizona. 

“I am so excited to meet everyone at the end of the year when I go to Arizona for my graduation,” Stewart said. “And student government may be planning another event that will be a lot of fun to attend!” 

For those who are on the fence about online learning because of the socialization component, Stewart makes it clear that just like in a traditional school, it’s up to each individual to make the effort to be social and active in their school community.

“A lot of people are turned off of online school because they think it just involves holing up with your computer all day,” Stewart said. “By making an effort, joining clubs, and actively participating, I’ve been able to make some great friends and keep myself from getting lonely. I’ve never felt like I was at a disadvantage because of my desire to receive the right kind of education for me.”

 

Interested in learning more about how socialization works at ASU Prep Digital? Be sure to check out our next blog post where we’ll talk about ASU Prep Digital community events, student clubs, and more! In the meantime, sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on all things ASU Prep Digital.