Snoqualmie Valley youth learns home schooling can be a high-tech lesson
December 30, 2009
By Laura Geggel
NEW — 2:45 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Seventh-grader Sean Pilon works on an assignment from Washington Virtual Academies, known as WAVA. (Photo by Xiomara Pilon)
On a typical school day, North Bend seventh-grader Sean Pilon wakes up at 7 a.m., eats breakfast, plays his electronic games and begins his school day at 8 a.m.
The only untypical thing is that instead of going to school, Sean Pilon learns at home, using Washington Virtual Academies, known as WAVA.
His mother, Xiomara Pilon enrolled him in WAVA to avoid large class sizes at Twin Falls Middle School.
“Last year, we felt that even though his teachers said he did a great job, he just didn’t get enough education,” Xiomara said.
She wanted a focused learning environment where her son would have few distractions. Now, Sean studies lessons online, attends Webinars and reads assignments from his textbooks.
“It’s a lot header than regular school,” said Sean, who said one of his favorite parts was Study Island, a section of online mathematics games. He also liked reading because of its brevity.
Even better, “you don’t have any homework,” Sean said. He paused, before admitting, “Technically, it’s all homework.”
Students can still apply for WAVA for the 2009-10 school year, according to its Web site. The program is free — state money goes to WAVA instead of to the school district. Still, families need to provide their own computer, paper and have an Internet connection.
Lisa Lydon of North Bend decided to enroll her boys Jacob and Nicolas into the program. Enrollment was chaotic, she said, but well worth it.
“The enrollment part was pretty hectic because they’re a little bit disorganized,” Lisa said. “They had a lot of review to see where the kids were.”
Once enrolled, K-12 students can take classes in language arts, math, science, history, art and physical education. High school students also take a foreign language and have access to Advanced Placement courses.
Textbooks and instructional materials are included at no extra cost. As long as they meet state requirements, children can work at their own pace. If students finish all of their coursework before the end of March, WAVA administrators will send them lessons from the next level.
“Nicolas really likes history so he can really excel in history and go deeper into it,” Lisa said.
Lisa had a different reason for putting each son in WAVA. She wanted her eighth-grade son Jacob to concentrate more on academics instead of getting caught up with the social aspect of middle school.
As for her sixth-grade son Nicolas, “my fears were that transition from elementary school to middle school is hard,” Lydon said. “I feel sixth grade is still too young to be part of middle school. I feel they need the breaks and the recesses.”
Though the majority of learning happens at home, WAVA students can still take certain exploratory classes, like art and band, and after-school activities, like sports, at regular school. Even with these outlets, the boys said WAVA was missing an important social aspect. Jacob said he would like to go to Mount Si High School next year because he is used to the school climate.
WAVA students spend about 25 percent of their day online, according to the WAVA Web site, although high school students might spend most of their day online.
“I love it. I really do think it’s good,” said Lydon, whose only complaint was the amount of driving she has to do when taking her boys to and from Twin Falls.
“I think it’s actually more fun than I expected,” Jacob said. “I like the fact that it’s a lot more relaxed than the normal public school because you don’t feel so pressured. You’re at home, you’re just there with your family.”
Laura Geggel: 392-6434 ext. 221, or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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