Grades 1 – 12

Vista Virtual School (VVS) can be the school of choice for any Alberta family. We provide a complete distance learning experience. Our teachers deliver course content asynchronously, provide academic timelines for each course, and offer support to students via email, telephone and/or virtual meetings.

Students have access to a broad catalogue of courses designed to meet all of the learning outcomes in the Alberta Programs of Study. We report results to parents/guardians and Alberta Education like any other school in Alberta. All high school courses taken at VVS will appear in a student’s myPass account and on their Alberta transcript.

Are you an adult learner (20 years or older as of September 1 of the current school year)? Visit our Adult Upgrading page.
Are you an international student? Head to our International Students page.
Are you a school looking to enroll your students? See the Education Services Agreement (ESA) page.

GRADES 1-9 PRIMARY STUDENTS

Introductory Information

Check out this short introductory video of our Associate Principal, Treena Bradbury, describing the types of students we typically see enroll in our grades 1-9 programming.

Student Type Information

Primary students are students who are registered with VVS for a majority of their programming in a school year.
What’s my student type?

Registration Information

Registration Deadline: September 17*

Full-Year Registration: Grades 1-9 primary students are registered for the full school year and are expected to complete their courses in June.

Orientation: Students new to VVS must attend an online orientation session with an Academic Counsellor.

Enrollment is guaranteed for eligible students.

*After the registration deadline, for students to take courses with us, they must reach out to their local school about putting an Education Services Agreement (ESA) in place. If an ESA is in place with your local division, your primary school can register ESA students into Vista Virtual School courses.

Course Information

Courses & Format: Students are enrolled in compulsory core courses — Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies — at each grade level and Health is added for grades 7-9. Grades 1-6 courses are print-based with some online and grades 7-9 courses are online. Visit our Course Catalogue for a full list of our course offerings.

Coursework Submission: Students must work regularly in their courses and adhere to their provided timelines.

Suggested Timeline: Grade 1-9 students can expect to work at least 30 hours per week on schoolwork.

Personalized Learning Program: We offer a differentiated, adapted and/or modified personalized learning program for students who are unable to achieve success in regular programming. See our Personalized Learning page for more information.

Course Procedure Information

Withdrawals – To submit a withdrawal request, students (with their parent/guardian) complete the VVS Course Withdrawal Request Form.

Materials – Required materials are loaned to students at no cost but must be returned at the end of the school year in reusable condition. See the Textbooks, Materials & Fees section below for more information.

GRADES 10-12 STUDENTS

Introductory Information

Check out this short introductory video of our Principal, Steven Kaplan, describing the types of students we typically see enroll in our grades 10-12 programming.

Student Type Information

We offer Primary and Non-Primary registration in grades 10-12 courses.
What’s my student type?

Primary students are students who are registered with VVS for a majority of their programming in a school year. Please note that Primary students must be enrolled with Vista Virtual School by September 30 of the current school year. VVS cannot accept new primary students after the first semester registration deadline.

Non-Primary student registrations refer to high school students who are registered with a school in another authority (other than Pembina Hills School Division) and would like to take courses (up to 5 credits per semester) with VVS. Please note that Non-Primary students applying to Vista Virtual School must have a primary school enrollment (the student had to have been enrolled in another Alberta high school by September 30 of the current school year) in order for us to accept the registration.

We accept Non-Primary high school registrations directly from students and parents. We do not accept Non-Primary registrations from schools or school divisions.

Registration Information

Registration Deadlines: 

– First semester registration deadlines:

• • September 17 for Primary and Non-Primary students

– Second semester registration deadlines:

• • February 24 at 3pm for Non-Primary Students
  • VVS cannot accept NEW primary students for Semester 2

Prerequisite Course Requirements: Check our Course Catalogue (in the course descriptions) for prerequisite course and minimum mark requirements. Prerequisite course marks must be on a student’s Detailed Academic Report (DAR; found in myPass) prior to registration.

Orientation: 

– NEW Primary students without a high school diploma must attend an online high school orientation session

– NEW Primary and Non-Primary students must complete a 1-credit introductory course called E-Learning and Learning Management Systems (COM1255). 

Enrollment is guaranteed for eligible students.

Course Information

Courses & Format: We offer a full slate of core and elective courses — English, Social Studies, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science), Math, Physical Education, many CTS options, Music and French! Grades 10-12 courses are provided in an online format. Visit our Course Catalogue for a full list of our course offerings and required materials.

Suggested Timeline: Grade 10-12 students can expect to work 30 hours per week for a full course load of 15-20 credits, 8 hours per week for each 5-credit course.

Courses are Semester Based:

– First semester: September 1 to January 31

– Second semester: February 1 to the end of school year

Expected Course Load for Primary High School Students:

– Students in grades 10 and 11 (first and second years of high school) should register for a minimum of 35 credits per year.

– Students in grade 12 (third year of high school) should register for the remaining credits required for graduation and for courses needed for post-secondary entrance (if applicable).

– Students in their fourth year of high school can register for a maximum of 20 credits.

– Students in their fifth year of high school or beyond can register for a maximum of 10 credits.

Course Credit Limit for Non-Primary Students: Non-Primary students may take a maximum of 5 credits per semester during the regular school year.

– Students can expect to work at least eight hours per week to complete a 5-credit course.

– Non-Primary students requesting a 5-credit course with VVS may require approval from our Academic Counsellor if they are taking a full course load at their primary school.

– For Non-Primary students to take more than 10 credits with us, they must reach out to their primary school about putting an Education Services Agreement (ESA) in place. If an ESA is in place with your local division, your primary school can register ESA students into Vista Virtual School courses.

Course Procedure Information

Coursework Submission – Students must work regularly in their courses, submitting work throughout the semester and adhere to their provided timelines.

Reporting Marks to Alberta Education – Once a student has completed 50% of their course work, we report their marks to Alberta Education. Please refer to our Senior High Mark Reporting and Course Withdrawal Policy for more information.

Withdrawals & Course Mark Finalization – Students who do not complete their course by the end of the semester, or request to be withdrawn after the deadline, will have their mark finalized (zeros entered for assignments not completed) and mark(s) reported to Alberta Education. Please refer to our Senior High Mark Reporting and Course Withdrawal Policy for more information.

– First semester withdrawal deadlines:

• • November 4 for 3- and 5-credit courses

– Second semester withdrawal deadlines:

• • April 6 for 3- and 5-credit courses

– To submit a withdrawal request, students (with their parent/guardian) complete the VVS Course Withdrawal Request Form.

Materials & Fees Information

– Materials required for courses are listed in our Course Catalogue. These materials have a caution fee that is 100% refundable when they are returned to VVS within 90 days of course completion or withdrawal. Full payment is due within 48 hours of registration. See the Textbooks, Materials & Fees section below for more information.

  COURSE CATALOGUE             REGISTER    

Contact Us!

Have questions? Give us a call at 1-855-974-5333 x5317 or email vvsupport@pembinahills.ca.