Online Public School in Minnesota Offers Field Trips to Support Students Curriculum

May 22, 2009 - PRLog -- MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com, a free virtual school for K-12 students, has planned six field trips during the month of May to conclude the 2008-2009 school year and to encourage students and staff to come together to learn and socialize.

The students, who attend public school online through MTS Minnesota Connections Academy use the field trips to come together, support the principles and theories taught in the students’ lessons, and interact with other MTS Minnesota Connections Academy students and families.

In addition to visiting Jerry Dutler’s Bowl, which took place on May 6, 2009, and attending MTS Minnesota Connections Academy’s Creative Expression Night at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on May 15, 2009, students and faculty from the Minnesota cyber school will also have the opportunity to participate in the following field trips:

• The Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls on May 22, 2009
Participants can join Connections Academy staff for a day of fun at the second oldest zoo in Minnesota. The zoo is home to many exotic, native and domestic animals. Peaceful walking trails, fun on the playground and a picnic lunch will conclude the day.

• Lark Toys  in Kellogg on Thursday, May 28, 2009
Those who attend this field trip can partake in a day of old fashioned fun, including a carousel ride, a hot dog lunch, ice cream and a trip through Lark Toys, one of the largest independent specialty toy stores in the country.

• Hiking and Climbing in Bemidji on Friday, May 29, 2009
Students and families will meet at the Mary Gibbs Headwater Center at the Itasca State Park and will be guided on a historical walk along the Mississippi River and end the hike with a picnic lunch and game. In the afternoon, the group will go to Bemidji State University to try the rock-climbing wall.

• Park Point in Duluth on Monday, June 1, 2009
Students and families looking to have fun on one of the last days of school are encouraged to attend Park Point in Duluth for a picnic and games. Weather permitting, students may play kickball, fly kites, or bring their favorite equipment and get a game going!

Minnesota Connections Academy, http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com, with its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., combines the expertise of state-certified teachers, high quality curriculum, unique technology tools, and a vast assortment of electives, clubs and community experiences to create an individualized alternative to the brick-and-mortar classroom. Students enrolled in Connections Academy participate in state standardized testing, and the curriculum is aligned to meet or exceed Minnesota academic standards.

Connections Academy is designed to meet the needs of students and their families who are looking for a unique public school option—those who need a flexible schedule, learn at a different pace from their peers, need more individualized attention or live in isolated rural settings. Homebound and previously home-schooled students can also thrive in the program. Connections Academy operates its full-time Internet school program in Minnesota through a partnership with Minnesota Transitions Charter School.

Families interested in free online school, with some similarities to home schooling, but with the support of state-certified teachers and the accountability of public education are encouraged to learn more by calling 800-382-6010, or visiting http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

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Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual public schools in fourteen states operated in partnership with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education. Connections Academy schools deliver top quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences to create a supportive and successful environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. In 2008-09 Connections Academy serves students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri (through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program), Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.