Summer School
We offer online summer school core and elective courses to all eligible, school-aged, high school students across Alberta. These courses are condensed to fit within the limited time frame of the summer term, while maintaining Alberta Education standards.
Our summer term is suitable for students wanting to upgrade course marks, catch up on missed courses or earn extra high school credits and create room in next year’s schedule!
Is Summer School right for you?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Watch as our Associate Principal, Frank McCallum, describes what a student can expect from a summer term with Vista Virtual School. Students currently enrolled in the summer term may also reference our Summer School Information document.
2024 SUMMER SCHOOL DATES
May 1 – Summer Semester Registration Opens
*Check back for the remaining important summer school dates for 2024.
AVAILABLE COURSES AND COURSE LOAD
Students can enroll in a maximum of 10 credits at Vista Virtual School in the summer term. Note: they are eligible to take summer courses at more than one school.
- During the summer term, students are only allowed to take ONE core course.
- Students can expect to work at least 20 hours per week to complete a 5-credit course.
- There are no extensions for summer courses.
Students must work regularly in their courses, submitting work throughout the summer term and adhere to their provided timelines. Students should not be away for more than 3 days at a time with no more than 6 days away total from the course.
Students who do not complete their course by the end of the summer semester, or request to be withdrawn after the deadline, will have their mark finalized (zeros entered for assignments not completed) and mark(s) reported to Alberta Education.
Those looking to withdraw from a course must fill out and submit a Course Withdrawal Request Form. Students under 18 must have their withdrawal form filled out by a parent or guardian. Withdrawing from a course does not automatically cancel a diploma exam registration. This must be cancelled directly in myPass.
*Students can enroll in Career and Life Management or Physical Education in addition to another core course at Vista Virtual School in the summer term.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Students cannot be registered in the same course in the summer term with another school. All registration eligibility requirements and admission process information are listed on the Registration webpage.
Click here for a list of prerequisite requirements for core courses offered in the summer term. For elective course prerequisite requirements, please visit the VVS Course Catalogue.
- To register for a course, students must have prerequisite course marks on their Detailed Academic Report (DAR) or provide an official grade nine report card for grade 10 courses (screenshots, progress reports, or emails from school counsellors or teachers cannot be accepted).
- Students transitioning from grade 9 to grade 10 may request courses that do not have prerequisites such as: Career and Life Management (CALM), Physical Education 10, and introductory CTS.
To register, please review the following bullet points to determine the process tailored to your specific student type.
- NEW or ESA students must complete our Registration Form.
- Current students must use the Request Courses feature in VVS SIS to request Summer School courses (with their parent/guardian if under 18).
- Students who are 20 years of age, or older, as of September 1 of the current school year need to register as an adult learner.
- Summer School is not available to international students.
Due to high demand, some summer courses will have enrollment caps. If a course is full, eligible students will be given the following options:
- You will be added to the waitlist and contacted if a spot becomes available. Note: being on the waitlist does NOT guarantee a placement.
- You can request a different summer course by emailing vvsupport@pembinahills.ca before Monday, June 19 at 9:00 a.m. MST. Note: course change requests must come from a guardian’s email for students under 18.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT
Due to condensed course content and a compressed summer timeline, exam accommodations and support may be limited. Please discuss accommodations and supports with your teacher upon registration.
If you require extensive and/or unique exam accommodations/support, you are encouraged to speak to an Inclusive Education teacher or the course teacher prior to registering.
Flexible timelines and significant changes to assignment submission due dates, for core courses, will not be an available accommodation.
MATERIALS, FEES, AND REFUNDS
REGISTRATION FEES
There are no tuition or registration fees for Summer School courses.
TEXTBOOK AND MATERIAL FEES
Required materials have a caution fee that is 100% refundable when materials are returned within 30 days of completion/withdrawal and in reusable condition.
Refer to our Course Catalogue for materials and pricing.
– Note: Full payment for materials is due within 48 hours of registration.
SHIPPING FEES
Students residing in the Calgary region are required to pick up their materials from the VVS Calgary campus or pay a $15 flat rate shipping fee. Those residing outside of Calgary but within Alberta will have materials shipped to them at no cost. Out-of-province students are responsible for shipping fees.*Materials that are ordered for Summer School courses are shipped as they are ordered.
REFUNDS
Grades 10-12 materials must be returned, in reusable condition, within 30 days of completion/withdrawal to receive a refund.*
*See our Policies page for more information on textbooks and material returns, refunds and shipping fees.
AUGUST 2024 DIPLOMA EXAM INFORMATION
Check our Diploma Exams webpage for more details on dates, times and locations.
Reminder: Diploma exams are not the same as course final exams; students must write both.
– Diploma exam writing centers in Calgary may be heavily populated and, in most cases, we do not offer isolation. Please refer to the Diploma Exams page for more information.
CONTACT US
Have questions?
Give us a call at 1-855-974-5333 x5317 or email vvsupport@pembinahills.ca
Last Updated: August 17, 2023