Summer Communication Kit
Does your summer school program include Michigan Virtual online courses? Let us make your life a little easier. Below you find a series of resources that may be useful to you as you send communications to students, parents, and staff regarding your school’s summer learning options.
If you’re interested in setting up an online summer school program, fill out the form at the bottom of this page to let us know!
Download .ZIP File HereDownload our summer school communication kit!
Our summer school communication kit is designed to make the busy lives of school counselors and program administrators just a little bit easier. This kit provides you with all the materials you should need to communicate information about Michigan Virtual online summer learning options to parents and students at your school This kit contains:
- 1 print-ready flyer that you can distribute around your school
- 1 summer course catalog with the list of all our online summer learning options
- 4 printable infographics that educate students and parents about best practices for and benefits of online learning
- 1 full-length email to parents
- 5 newsletter blurbs that can be included in your regular communications to parents and students
- 1 list of links to free resources for parents and students that will help students thrive in the online learning environment
- 1 folder containing Michigan Virtual logos and proper usage instructions
Explore our summer offerings!
During the summer, we offer online courses on over 150 different subjects, including core areas (i.e., science, math, English, and social studies), as well as a myriad of fascinating, career-oriented electives. Students have 10 weeks to complete summer coursework at their own pace and will be supported along the way by a highly qualified, Michigan-certified online instructor who is an expert in their subject area.
Summer School Flyer
You can download the following flyer to share with students and hang around hallways in your school! For best results, print out in full color and distribute in both your office and on prominent locations in school hallways.
Downloading instructions: You can right-click the image below and select “Save image as. . . ” to download a .png image file. Alternatively, you can left-click on the image below open up a link to a full-size PDF file in a new tab. This flyer is also included in the .zip file of our school communication kit.
Summer Course Catalog
You can download the following summer school catalog with the list of all our online summer courses. For best results, share a digital copy of this catalog with parents and students who are interested in exploring their online summer learning options.Downloading instructions: You can right-click the image below and select “Save image as. . . ” to download a .png image file. Alternatively, you can left-click on the image below open up a link to a full-size PDF file in a new tab. This flyer is also included in the .zip file of our school communication kit.
Printable Infographics
You can download the following infographics to educate students and parents at your school about their summer learning options and best practices for succeeding in their online courses. For best results, print these out in color to give to students and parents or share the digital versions directly in your email communications.
Downloading instructions: You can right-click any of these images and select “Save image as… ” to download a .png image file. Alternatively, you can left-click any of these images to open up a link to a full-size, interactive PDF file in a new tab. If you’d like to download all of these images, we recommend downloading the .zip file containing all of our summer school communications, which includes the PDF and PNG versions of each flyer and infographic.
Full-Length Email to Parents
Subject line:
5 ways to keep your child’s mind active over summer break
Email body:
On average, it is predicted that students lose about one month’s worth of learning over the summer. In math and English, in particular, these estimates are even more drastic, with some studies estimating up to two months of learning loss.
Summer break should be fun. . . but it shouldn’t be a vacation from learning.
With online learning, you can keep your child’s mind active over summer break, help them earn credit, and/or make room in next year’s schedule — all without missing out on the family trip or spending time with their friends!
This summer, Michigan Virtual is offering 5 online summer learning opportunities that could benefit your child:
- Over 150 online summer courses (Grades 6-12)
10 weeks | Flexible pacing | Taught by highly qualified, Michigan-certified teachers - Social & Emotional 360 (Grades 3-12)
A digital library of expert resources for parents and students on hard-to-talk-about topics including bullying, mental health, substance abuse, vaping, and more. - Minecraft Online Summer Camp (Grades 3-8)
4 weeks | Let them play their games and learn something, too, with this online summer camp - Innovation Online Summer Camp with the Henry Ford (Grades 6-9)
4 weeks | Harness their entrepreneurial spirit with this online summer camp - EdReady Math (Grades 4-12)
Target knowledge gaps & help them master math skills
You can explore all of Michigan Virtual’s online summer learning options on their Summer 2019 page.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in an online course this summer, please speak with their school counselor!
Newsletter Blurb on Online Summer Courses
Online summer courses — A great opportunity for your student to earn credits, fulfill prerequisites, or explore career interests!
This summer, your student has the opportunity to take a Michigan Virtual online course on over 150 different subjects, including core areas (i.e., science, math, English, and social studies) and a myriad of fascinating, career-oriented electives. Your student will have 10 weeks to complete coursework at their own pace and will be supported along the way by a highly-qualified, Michigan-certified online instructor who is an expert in their subject area. Taking an online summer course is a great opportunity for students to get ahead, learn at their own pace on a flexible schedule, and keep their minds active over the summer! Learn more: https://hubs.ly/H0fy2720
Newsletter Blurb on Credit Recovery Courses
Has your student failed a course required for graduation? — Enroll them in our online summer credit recovery program
If your student has previously failed a course they need to graduate, we encourage you to enroll them in online credit recovery course with Michigan Virtual this summer. Through our Essentials program, your student will be placed in a supportive online learning environment with a Michigan-certified online instructor who is highly qualified in their subject area. Students can use this program to recover credits in over 25 different subjects including algebra, geometry, chemistry, biology, English language arts, history, physics, economics, and more! Learn more: https://hubs.ly/H0fy2640
Newsletter Blurb on Summer Enrichment Programs
4 affordable summer learning opportunities for your child
You have the opportunity to keep your child’s mind active this summer with online camps and programs through Michigan Virtual. Each of the following affordable programs offers students engaging, online lessons and educational resources to help prevent summer brain drain:
- Social & Emotional 360 (Grades 3-12)
$49.95 per grade level | A digital library of expert resources for parents and students on hard-to-talk-about topics including bullying, mental health, substance abuse, vaping, and more. - Minecraft Online Summer Camp (Grades 3-8) —
$49.95 | 4 weeks | Let them play their games and learn something, too, with this online summer camp - Innovation Online Summer Camp with The Henry Ford (Grades 6-9)
$90 | 4 weeks | Harness their entrepreneurial spirit with this online summer camp - EdReady Math (Grades 4-12)
$40 per grade level | Target knowledge gaps & help them master math skills
You can explore all of Michigan Virtual’s online summer learning options on their Summer 2019 page.
Newsletter Blurb on EdReady Math
Did you know that most students lose 2 months worth of mathematical skills over the summer?
Studies show that most students lose 2 months worth of mathematical skills over the summer. One way to mitigate the dreaded “summer slide” is to provide them with outlets to flex their math muscles. One way you can do this is through Michigan Virtual’s affordable EdReady Math program — which helps students in grades 4-12 master mathematical skills and concepts they find challenging. Completely online, this web-based program provides students with online diagnostic testing and a personalized playlist of interactive lessons that will help them reach the next level in their math journey. Keep your student’s mind active this summer by enrolling them in EdReady Math! Learn more: https://hubs.ly/H0fy2NC0
Newsletter Blurb on EdReady English
Is your student on track for college English?
Summer break is an excellent time for students to practice their English language skills. By enrolling your student in Michigan Virtual’s EdReady English program, you provide them with the opportunity to practice skills like developing a thesis statement, correcting grammatical errors, using sources in reading and writing, and many more. EdReady English offers students online diagnostic testing and a personalized playlist of interactive lessons that help them reach their college and/or career goals. Keep your student’s mind active this summer by enrolling them in EdReady English! Learn more: https://hubs.ly/H0fy2NC0
Resources for Students & Parents
You can share the following list of free resources with students and parents to help students thrive in the online learning environment. For best results, print this flyer out in full color and share with parents and students, or share the digital copy of the PDF via email.Downloading instructions: You can right-click the image below and select “Save image as. . . ” to download a .png image file. Alternatively, you can left-click on the image below open up a link to a full-size PDF file in a new tab. This flyer is also included in the .zip file of our school communication kit.
Text Version
If your student is taking an online course this summer through Michigan Virtual, here are a few free resources that will help you support them:
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ list answers basic questions you might have about navigating Michigan Virtual’s Student Learning Portal — the platform you and your student will be using to access online summer courses.
Learn more: https://hubs.ly/H0fy2480
Student Guide to Online Learning
Virtual learning is a great option for students and can be an effective way to learn. Because taking virtual courses is quite different from taking courses in face-to-face classrooms, however, it’s important for students to understand what habits they should have or ought to develop and what support systems they will need to succeed. Research shows that students who are well-prepared and well-supported for this new experience perform better in their courses.
In this guide, you’ll explore answers to the following questions:
- What is it like to take an online course?
- What do students enjoy most about taking online courses?
- What challenges might you face in your online course?
- What are the characteristics of successful online learners?
- What should I do to prepare myself for online learning?
Free download: https://hubs.ly/H0fy3Xk0
Parent Guide to Online Learning
Parents often struggle to help their children transition into online courses. They want to know: Is this the best option for my child? What can I do to help him or her succeed? Designed for parents and guardians who are new to the world of virtual learning, this guide will help you map out the factors you ought to consider before enrolling your child in an online course.
In this guide, we explore answers to the following questions:
- What is online learning?
- What do students like about taking online courses?
- What challenges do students face in their online courses?
- What are the characteristics of successful online learners?
- How can you help your child prepare for online learning?
Free download: https://hubs.ly/H0fy3zJ0
Logos & Usage
Each of the logos is a representation of Michigan Virtual and as such should always remain consistent in clarity, presentation, and representation. The five logo options available provide users with alternative options to best suit various scenarios.
Regardless of which logo is selected, each should be used with caution to ensure a true, unaltered representation of the Michigan Virtual logo. All logos should never be turned upside-down, tilted, or skewed from their original orientation.
The elements of the logo should never be broken apart or changed. No additional elements should be added within the logo. Additionally, no attempts should be made to mimic typeface and fonts included in existing logo assets.
Want to learn more?
The flexibility of online learning makes it possible for your students to earn credits in advance of next school year without missing out on the family trip or spending time with friends during the summer! If your students have failed required courses — or are seeking to get ahead on graduation requirements — consider offering them our online courses as a flexible summer learning option.
Interested in setting up an online summer school program at your school?
If you’re an administrator or educational decision maker interested in setting up an online summer program at your school or district, don’t hesitate to fill out the form below to indicate your interest. One of our representatives will get back to you ASAP!