Student Stories
Check out stories from our students and teachers and read about their recent achievements.
Do you want to share your story? Email it to us at vvactivites@pembinahills.ca or click here to tell your story in our google doc.
We would like you to meet Joy Li, a dedicated VVS student who proves that passion, discipline, and flexibility can turn ambitious dreams into reality.
Splitting her life and training between Calgary, Alberta, and Phoenix, Arizona, this high-achieving student seamlessly balances high school academics with pre-professional training at the Master Ballet Academy and Phoenix Ballet.
When did you realize that ballet was something you wanted to dedicate so much time to?
I started dance, and especially ballet later than most dancers, at 11, almost 12 years old. In a way, this forced me to make up my mind early on about whether ballet was truly something I wanted to pursue as a profession, because I knew I would have to work hard and dedicate a lot of my time as well as doing a lot of catching up. I think I realized ballet was something I wanted to dedicate almost all of my time to early on because it challenged me in a way nothing else could. I could see and feel that I was improving and growing as a dancer, but at the same time, I realized that there was no limit to how much I could improve and grow, both as a dancer and as an artist or even person. That endless opportunity to work hard, learn, improve, and push myself is what made me realize this was what I wanted to do and has made me fall in love with this art form.
What does a typical week of training look like for you?
A typical week for me training down in Arizona consists of dancing Monday through Thursday from 2 to around 8:30p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Occasionally I will have a weekly private lesson which is usually an hour before class. Now that we have started nutcracker rehearsals, my schedule is getting even busier. We have started having rehearsals on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays although sometimes during the week we will also rehearse a little bit.
What is it like balancing your ballet training with your studies at VVS
Most of my week revolves around ballet which can make it hard sometimes to accomplish my school work through VVS. It can be very demanding but I have learned how to be able to complete my school work on time by working ahead when I am not dancing as much. This is also why I really am grateful for a school platform like VVS, it has allowed me to adapt quite a lot to my own busy schedule while still being able to complete high school.
You train between Calgary and Phoenix. What is it like having your life and training split between two cities?
Training between these two places has taught me a lot about adaptability and stepping outside of my comfort zone. It can be challenging because when I am in Arizona I am away from home and my family which has taught me to become a more independent person. This includes time management and being able to keep myself on track with school through VVS and my dance training.
Tell us about the Nutcracker production you are participating in this winter. What role will you be performing?
This winter, I will be participating in Slawomir Wozniak’s “The Nutcracker” presented by Phoenix Ballet as well as Master Ballet Academy. I will be performing Arabian, Waltz, and Snow corps as well as Snow Queen and Arabian Princess. I am really excited to be part of this production again this year as well as the opportunity to perform two lead roles I have never done before! This year there will be 9 shows, four being held at the Herberger Theatre Centre and five being held at the Arizona Financial Theatre.
What is something people might not realize about the amount of work that goes into preparing for a production of this scale?
I think people don’t always realize how much work happens behind the scenes before a production even reaches the stage. There are so many hours of rehearsals, repeating the same choreography, making small corrections, and constantly working to improve, all while maintaining your regular training schedule as well as school.
What has ballet taught you that you think applies to other areas of your life?
I think ballet has taught me a lot about discipline, perseverance, and learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and because of ballet I have learned to be able to apply this to all aspects of my life, not just ballet.
What advice would you give to another student who wants to pursue something they’re passionate about at a high level?
I would tell them to just focus on your own growth, work hard, and stay patient with yourself. If you truly love and are passionate for something, just keep showing up for yourself and you will be able to see how far you have come.
Sydney Johnson, a parent, shared her family’s experience with Vista Virtual School (VVS) in an interview with us on June 23. Her son and daughter began attending VVS a few years ago when her son was in grade 7 and her daughter was in grade 9.
Their journey with VVS began when Sydney began researching home-schooling options for her son. After calling various online schools, she connected with our associate principal, Treena Bradbury, who listened to her concerns as a parent, provided solutions, and made her feel comfortable. Around this same time, the pandemic began to take hold, so Sydney and her husband decided to enroll their daughter with VVS as well. They were pleased that VVS was an established online learning school and did not have to work out kinks for online learning as brick-and-mortar schools did during the pandemic.
Sydney was impressed with the support that VVS staff provided to her children with medical conditions. She found that our teachers were always willing to help them achieve their goals. Ms. Johnson wanted to highlight many of the staff who made a difference in her children’s education, including, Mr. Frechette, Ms. Blagdon, Mr. Pethybridge, Ms. Miller, Mr. Brobrosky, and Ms. Klemmer. These teachers understood that Sydney’s children could succeed, but they had to do so in a way that fit their needs. Sydney wanted to give a special shoutout to Ms. Watchel, who implemented oral testing for her daughter after one discussion. With oral testing, her daughter’s exam mark increased substantially from her initial writing of the exam. Sydney’s daughter gained confidence and has achieved marks ranging from the 70s to 90s in her courses ever since.
Sydney’s children were able to smoothly adapt to online learning. They appreciated the flexibility in pace and also the course timeline to follow so they were not left to flounder. A secret to their success is that they would often create a calendar for the month to ensure they followed their course deadlines.
We thank Sydney for her kind words and are elated at the success her children have had with us.
Noor S. is a curious and self-motivated learner who enrolled at Vista Virtual School as a non-primary student!
How did you hear about Vista Virtual School? Why did you decide on online learning?
I heard about Vista Virtual in Grade 10 from my guidance counsellor who recommended I complete the course CALM online. After completing CALM, I loved the flexibility of online learning so I decided to do a blended program for grades 11 and 12.
Do you have any tips or advice for students to be successful in online learning?
Time management skills! You are responsible for keeping yourself on track in the course, and because it’s online, it’s extremely easy to fall behind. It is not fun having to cram months of content into the last two weeks before the course deadline. Also, ask for help! Like many students, I was under the impression that online learning meant teaching myself, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Your teacher is available to help you through difficult concepts and answer your questions, so make sure you are emailing/calling when you get stuck.
Are you happy with the course selection at Vista Virtual School? What other courses would you like to see?
As a non-primary student, I was very happy with the course selection at VVS. They offer a wide range of core subjects and electives, allowing students to explore their interests.
Are you happy with the course structure/format at Vista Virtual School?
Yes! I was quite impressed with the course structure at VVS. It’s easy to follow along and there are plenty of resources to guide your success. For example, Chemistry 20 included 5 units, and each unit was divided into 2-4 smaller sections. Each section was then broken down into multiple individual lessons which consisted of a variety of learning resources such as written information, teacher videos (explaining a concept, performing an experiment, or solving a question step-by-step), realistic online lab simulations, practice questions to prepare you for the assignments and exams, with in-depth, step-by-step, typed solutions, at-home experiments you can try on your own, resources that relate the topic to real-life examples (for example, online articles about current events) etc!
What has been your favourite course at Vista Virtual School?
My favourite courses at VVS were Chemistry 20 and Physics 20.
We wish Noor continued success in her future and are proud of her amazing accomplishments!
Spur Cottingham is an accomplished high school student who is passionate about rodeo. Currently in grade 11 at Vista Virtual School, Spur resides in Onoway, AB, and competes in Bareback Riding, Tie Down Roping, and Team Roping. Despite his young age, Spur has already qualified twice for the National High School Finals Rodeo, finishing 21st in the world in 2022.
We sent him some questions to answer to learn more about his experience as a rodeo competitor, and how he manages to balance this with his academic pursuits.
1. Tell us about yourself
2. How did you get started participating in rodeos?
I started my bareback career when I was about 11 years old, at first, I wanted to ride bulls. I didn’t start riding bulls right away though, I started riding bucking ponies first to get the feel of rodeo. After my first time getting on and… falling off… I was hooked, I wanted to continue to ride and always looked forward to the next time I was able to get back on. After a while, I started riding a couple of bulls here and there, but I found myself liking the ponies more, so I stuck with it. Years went by and I went from the ponies up to horses. I joined the AHSRA and started my roping career. I started Team Roping for a year then started Tie Down Roping.
3. Are you involved in other extracurricular activities?
Other activities I am involved in are,
· I am currently working for a horse trainer out of Onoway.
· I do quite a bit of mechanical work on not only my vehicle, but also my parents.
· Also, I continue to ride my horses, whether it’s doing obstacle races or just keeping them fit and healthy.
4. How do you balance school work and participating in rodeos?
I am fortunate enough that most of my rodeos are Saturday and Sunday which gives me the opportunity to do school Monday through Friday. I also keep a physical calendar in front of myself so I can plan out my day, and the next few days, to keep me on top of my school but still have time for other activities like riding horses, or training for my rodeo events. Another thing I have found to help me is speaking to the Academic Counsellors, as they were always understanding and found ways for me to continue doing what I love but also keep up with my schooling.
5. Are you happy with the course selection at Vista Virtual School? What other courses would you like to see?
Throughout the years of being part of Vista Virtual School, I have been very happy with the course selection. A course I feel would be good to include and feel it would get some attention would be an Advanced Animal Husbandry course, especially for animal lovers or people who are thinking of taking similar courses in post-secondary.
6. What is your favourite course you have taken (or are currently taking) at Vista Virtual School?
There have been many courses that I have taken that I have really enjoyed, and maybe there were some I didn’t enjoy as much, but my favorite course I have taken has to be Biology. I surprised myself when I came to realize how much I enjoyed learning how plant and animal lives work. I enjoyed Biology 20 so much that I am more than excited to start Biology 30 next year.
7. What advice do you have for other students trying to balance school and extracurricular activities?
Some advice to someone who is trying to balance school and other activities that I could give would probably be to plan ahead. Plan how you want to see your day go, maybe you’ll wake up early and do school till lunch, then go participate in extracurricular activities. Or you could even plan days for yourself, like on Monday I am going to do my schoolwork until supper and take a break for lunch, then Tuesday I am going to maybe do a little school in the morning then go have some fun with other activities. One tool that I found to be super helpful in planning my days has been having a calendar, and not one that is just on your phone or your computer, but one that will be in front of you, one that you can look at in the morning and say to yourself, “Ok, this is what has to get done for me to do this”. This is also why I enjoy being part of Vista Virtual School, your time is flexible too and as long as you are in good standing with school and getting things done effectively; Then you can go do all these fun activities with your friends and family.
8. What are your goals for the future?
I have been making goals continuously since I started rodeo. My future goals are to,
· Qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo, held in Gillette, Wyoming, in Bareback Riding this year.
· Make provincial finals in either Team Roping or Tie Down Roping.
· Get a scholarship to a college or university in the United States or Canada.
About Shandelle:
Shandelle is a 15 year old VVS student. She is an inspiration to many students as she juggles schoolwork and the firewood business that she has been running with her mother since she was 7 or 8 years old!
Shandelle’s words of wisdom for other students looking to juggle school with their own businesses are to try to always stay ahead in their courses. She also encourages students to take that jump out of their comfort zone to pursue their dreams!
Interview with Shandelle:
1. Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Shandelle and I am 15 years old.
I have always been taught that if you want something; you have to work for it. I am pretty stubborn, straightforward, independent, and most of the time, I say what’s on my mind. This is how I was taught to be growing up and even now.
2. When did you start your firewood business? How did it start?
My mother started the firewood business for me when I was 7 or 8 (we had a wood burning fireplace so we needed the wood anyways), it started with just the local gas station and campground in Irricana.
As I got older and knew how to run everything we moved out to Acme. When we got to the campground in Acme, there were a lot of customers that found our ad on Facebook, plus the locals that knew me and my mom as the, “firewood ladies”, helped spread the word.
3. How do you balance your firewood business and school?
Balancing the firewood business and school used to be a lot harder, I used to have to go all the way out to Sundre 3-5 times over the weekend depending on how busy I’d get. Now, we get a semi load in from Sundre which saves me time on the weekend and on truck repair costs.
The biggest thing that helps me balance everything with school is I try to get ahead and stay that way so I am not as worried about falling behind or not finishing my semesters.
4. Are you happy with the course selection offered at VVS?
The courses that VVS offers are exactly what I’m looking for with work experience, green certificates, agriculture courses and all the main ones I take. I have no complaints.
5. Do you have any tips or advice for other students out there who want to start a business?
Starting your own business isn’t easy and requires a lot of patience, work and time. I can say that what I do definitely requires some help but, I work my own hours and I work for myself which is a lovely thing to be able to say.
If anyone has something they want to pursue, I’d say take the jump because you won’t get there by staying in your comfort zone.
6. Why would you recommend VVS to others?
VVS is a great school if you don’t like sitting in a classroom for 8ish hours a day, 5 days a week. You can finish school a month early if you want as there is lots of flexibility in hours for doing your school work and I personally find it a lot less stressful. Plus, the teachers are always there if you need them.
Former VVS grade 12 student Tate McRae is reaching for the stars!
Congratulations VVS grade 12 student Maria A. on winning the Kermet Archibald & Jacob Van den Brink Entrance Bursary!
Finn, Nico and Milo are part of the Colebrook 5, exploring the world while learning through home education and Vista Virtual School. Check out the family’s blog at https://www.bigbluedot.xyz/.
The McFerrin family took an epic year-long cycling trip across 18 countries, all while continuing with their education with Vista Virtual School: Globetrotting Calgarians Back Home After Pedalling Their Way Through 18 Countries in 12 Months.
The family also took year-long trips through Mexico and Japan, and are not done yet.
Biking Around the World Sure Has Its Ups and Downs
Meet the Calgary Family Wrapping up a Year Abroad Cycling
Ride of Their Lives – Calgary Family Set to Return from Two-wheeled Odyssey
Calgary Family Spends a Year Cycling Around the World
Calgary Family Set to Return Home From 16-Country Cycling Adventure
As a former student with Vista Virtual School (VVS), Sakariye Mohamed is using the skills he learned with VVS as he pursues a science degree at the University of Calgary. In addition to this, he’s part of Let’s Talk Science, a national program aimed at engaging students (children and youth) and educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Locally with the University of Calgary, Sakariye volunteers his time to help educate students across the region.
“Vista Virtual School prepared me for my post-secondary career (I’m in my second year right now),” says Sakariye. “I took all three sciences with the school and it gave me the opportunity to explore my options.
“I was able to talk with our academic counsellors and the other teachers, and they helped me learn what I might be interested in based on how I was doing and from the classes I liked and was interested in.”
And he uses those skills to help when he presents to students interested in learning more about science.
“Let’s Talk Science helps expose students to the things that they really don’t see.”
Working with DNA, he was able to present challenging concepts and hands-on experiments to current VVS students through the Let’s Talk Science program.
Prepared for University
“Going to university was a shift,” he says. “I was well-prepared to engage in independent learning, and the kind of lifestyle of what I needed to do to stay on top of things.
“Because it (learning through VVS) goes more into an independent study than in a conventional classroom, it is more about me and how I can better study. (For example, one of my classes has over 400 students right now and you are not really studying with 400 students.)”
How to Study
It is those study skills that have helped in his learning at the University of Calgary.
“Vista Virtual helped me, in that it gave me the sense of what works for me in terms of studying and what doesn’t. And that helped me transcend into what is this next chapter in my life.”