No action was taken.

Heidi provided an overview of Excel’s activities and updates for December. Key points from the presentation include:

• Enrollment & Events: The school maintains strong enrollment at 1,698 students. Several holiday events were held across counties, bringing staff and families together for face-to-face interactions and celebrations.
• Counseling Updates: The school remains committed to supporting families, teachers, and staff, ensuring resources and guidance are continuously available.
• EagleTalk (YouTube Channel): Lauren shared Episode 3 of Eagle Talk, featuring an interview with a student discussing their classes, with a particular interest in Voting & Elections and Creative Writing.
• Student Engagement: Outdoor classrooms celebrated holidays around the world, offering immersive experiences across different communities.
• Staff Recognition: Heidi highlighted Jola, the payroll manager, for her dedication, kindness, and contributions to the school, recognizing her role in payroll and operations.

The presentation emphasized community building, student engagement, and appreciation for staff efforts throughout the month.

The Layton family, represented by mother Dyanamaria and her two children, Odinn (5th grade) and Anders (2nd grade), shared their positive experience with Excel Academy’s Virtual Path program.

Background & Challenges

• Odinn has medical conditions affecting his immune system, making traditional in-person schooling challenging.
• Initially, the family tried public school with a 504 plan, but accommodations were inconsistent.
• Due to Odinn’s treatment, they transitioned to Excel Academy’s independent study but later switched to a public virtual school when their district offered one.
• When that virtual program was discontinued, they returned to Excel Academy’s virtual path, where they have been thriving for the past two years.

Benefits of Excel’s Virtual Path

• Academic Flexibility & Accessibility:
  • Odinn can participate fully in class without missing lessons due to medical needs.
  • The flexible schedule allows both children to engage in extracurriculars and homeschool meet-ups.
• Engaging Learning Experience:
  • The curriculum is technologically advanced, helping students master digital tools like Zoom, Google Docs, and educational platforms.
  • They have access to Spanish immersion, music programs, and hands-on elective courses.
• Independence & Motivation:
  • The children are developing intrinsic motivation for learning and managing their own assignments.
  • Their education is personalized and enriched with experiences that wouldn’t be available in a traditional school setting.
• Parental Support & Involvement:
  • The program allows Dyanamaria to balance Odinn’s treatment needs without the added burden of full-time lesson planning.
  • Educational funds provide access to additional learning opportunities that wouldn’t be financially feasible otherwise.

Student Testimonials

• Anders (2nd grade) loves his teacher, music class, and daily reading sessions, and enjoys meeting homeschool friends after finishing work.
• Odinn (5th grade) appreciates the use of technology, self-paced learning, and monthly projects where he researches topics of personal interest (e.g., birds, chess, clouds).

Overall Takeaway

The Layton family is deeply grateful for Excel Academy’s virtual path, which has not only met their children’s educational needs but also allowed them to thrive academically, socially, and personally. They see Excel as their long-term educational choice.

The board expressed strong appreciation and support for Excel Academy, highlighting key points:

• The school operates smoothly and efficiently, with everything well-structured.
• Acknowledgment of the hard work put in by the team, particularly in managing compliance issues, which are crucial.
• Gratitude for the behind-the-scenes efforts that ensure success, even aspects not always visible.
• Praise for the enthusiasm and positivity within the school community.
• Overall sentiment: Excel Academy is a great school, and the board is proud to be associated with it.

Heidi took a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the staff for their hard work and dedication. She specifically mentioned:

• Jenny Craig, appreciating her presence in person.
• April Saade, the elementary principal, for her contributions.
• Heather Ferenc, the new director of education, for seamlessly stepping into her role.
• Megan and Joe, for their behind-the-scenes efforts.

She concluded with excitement for the future, stating that the team is energized and ready to move into 2025, already beginning plans for the next school year.