Oct. 21, 2015
Start Of A New School Year - Getting Closer To Graduation
(Provided by CalPac, Monday, September 21, 2015)
The start of a new school year is always an exciting time for most students. Some see the start of a new semester as a way to leave their academic troubles behind while others see the beginning of the school year as a stepping-stone to graduation. Earning that high school diploma is by no means an easy task and it takes a lot of hard work and discipline.
Students taking online courses can get complacent because they have the freedom to create their own schedule asides from attending teacher live lessons. The students who do not keep a consistent school schedule tend to fall behind and stress out last minute catching up on missing assignments before the end of the semester.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping a schedule because it will really keep you focused and hold you accountable to accomplishing your academic goals each day. 
An online student should be doing schoolwork for least 5 or more hours similar to a brick and mortar school. They need to login each day, check emails, respond back to teachers and work on assignments in each course. Each course has a lesson to complete, videos to watch, and a quiz or test to complete.
The teacher will host a live lesson each week that students must attend in order to get additional information on the lesson. Teachers are also there to answer any questions students may have regarding the lesson that is due that week. If a student cannot attend the live lesson, they should watch the recorded lesson.
Each teacher also has a drop in session where students are able to ask teachers for additional help. You may also contact your teachers directly by calling them or sending them an email. All teachers will respond within 24 hours of receiving your email.
Working on the computer all day can get a little stressful if you don’t learn to balance schoolwork with physical activity and social gathering with friends. You should exercise at least 40 or more minutes a day even though you are not enrolled in PE.
Numerous studies show that students who are physically active do better academically than students who are not active. It’s very important to stay active while taking online courses. 
So what makes a successful online student? Below are some tips and advice for starting the semester at an online school.
• Contact your teachers
• Create a daily schedule
• Familiarize yourself with your courses
• Keep a consistent school day schedule and spend 5 or more hours a day doing school work
• Attend all teacher live sessions
• Attend tutoring hours if you need help
• Do not fall behind the class pacing
• Email your teachers back if they ask you a question.
• Keep your parents/guardians involved in your schoolwork
• Submit all assignments on time
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions especially if you do not understand a lesson
Contact Us Today @ (855) 225-7227.
Email - enroll@cal-pacs.org
