Ohio Connections Academy Recognizes Copley Students

Copley residents Ellieya Rivera and her twin brother Brandon, were recently selected to be among Ohio Connections Academy’s (OCA) Star Students of the Month for March in recognition of their hard work and leadership in the online classroom.

Ellieya and Brandon are currently in the eighth grade at the statewide online public charter school. They were both nominated for the award by their Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Wasserman, because of their hard work and determination to succeed in class.

As Star Students, both Ellieya and Brandon will be presented a certificate recognizing their achievement and be profiled in Ohio Connections Academy’s student newsletter and on the school’s social media platforms. Each month during the school year OCA will recognize students in grades K through 12 who are excelling in the virtual classroom.

“The faculty, staff and members of the board at Ohio Connections Academy are proud to recognize students like Ellieya and Brandon and the commitment they demonstrate to our school and their community,” said OCA Superintendent Marie Hanna. “Each of our Star Students is a leader in the classroom and demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to learning – they truly deserve this recognition.”

According to their mother, Nicole, they enrolled Ellieya and Brandon in Ohio Connections Academy at the beginning of the year to be in a learning environment where they could continue to control their academic schedules and plan their work in advance. Previously both Ellieya and Brandon were homeschooled.

Ellieye is a competitive gymnast which requires a lot of travel. She said she likes to work ahead on her lessons if she has a meet to avoid falling behind. Brandon said the flexibility helps him to spend more time practicing baseball.

“My mom and I like planning our week out so that we have a complete outlook on what our time looks like,” Ellieye said.

Both students said they appreciate the relationships they have with their teachers and appreciate how they are encouraged to ask questions and seek their teacher’s guidance.

“I am able to ask questions and dive deep into material without judgement or seeming like it is a problem,” Brandon said.

Virtual school is a great fit for a variety of students and each student is unique. Those who attend Ohio Connections Academy come from different backgrounds and choose full-time online school for various reasons. Some students prefer to take ownership of their education and benefit from the flexibility that virtual school offers, while others are looking for a consistent, safe learning environment.

For more information about Ohio Connections Academy or to begin the enrollment process, please visit www.OhioConnectionsAcademy.com or call (800) 382-6010.