Online school logs on
Author: Sandra Emerson , Staff Writer
UPLAND - Brian and Marie Oliver's interest was peaked when they heard an online charter school was opening in the city.
The Olivers' daughter, Jenna, 11, recently graduated from Sycamore Elementary School in Upland and has shown interest in attending junior high classes at Mercury Academy, a charter school that combines online learning with local on-site classrooms.
"I think since it's something new it's kind of hard to compare it," said Brian Oliver, a resident of Upland. "It sounds kind of exciting, because it sounds like there's a lot of room for acceleration and doing well. You don't have those options a lot of time in elementary, or even in junior high."
The Olivers' daughter, Jenna, 11, recently graduated from Sycamore Elementary School in Upland and has shown interest in attending junior high classes at Mercury Academy, a charter school that combines online learning with local on-site classrooms.
"I think since it's something new it's kind of hard to compare it," said Brian Oliver, a resident of Upland. "It sounds kind of exciting, because it sounds like there's a lot of room for acceleration and doing well. You don't have those options a lot of time in elementary, or even in junior high."
The school, which will include kindergarten through 11th grades, has moved into the former Pacific Christian School, 800 W. Arrow Highway. Pacific Christian closed in 2008 due to low enrollment.
Mercury differs from traditional public schools as well as home-schooling because is is taught online by credentialed educators.
The academy's online classes are individualized, so students excelling at a grade level can begin more advanced work as soon as possible.
Parents who wish to have their children home-schooled through the program can do so, but Mercury teachers are in charge of the lessons and grades.
Students also can take online courses in a classroom at Pacific Christian. Instructional aides will be present and provide extra help.
Mercury's only on-site location in San Bernardino County is in Upland, said Kevin Page, who is in charge of new school development with Mosaica Education Inc.
Mosaica Education provides Mercury's curriculum, teachers and educational services.
"It's an independent study program, which means that we can serve students in all of the neighboring counties that border Riverside County," Page said.
Mercury, which is chartered in Riverside, started renting classrooms in November from the Pacific Christian Center.
The school will provide classes for K-11 students starting Aug. 16, and 12th grade is expected to be added in the 2011-12 school year, Page said.
The students must log in every day at the time their classes start.
They are required to be in school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, instructional aide Carol Timm said.
Students follow a schedule, and will be interacting with their teachers online.
"The teachers talking with them might have a class of five and (students) ask questions just like in class," Timm said.
Mercury may not be the best option for all students, Page said.
"First, we recognize it's not for everyone," he said. "Our program is attractive to families that are looking for an alternative, for whatever reason that may be. Their student is wanting to work ahead and needs advanced curriculum, and they want the flexibility of an online platform."
The school is funded by the state of California, like any other public school, through per-pupil funding based on attendance.
Tuition is free and every student gets a laptop to use during the school year. The laptop has to be returned, Page said.
The school's capacity is 100 students.
"Right now, we're tabulating everything," Page said about enrollment figures. "It's hard to say, we still have some applications coming in. I think we're going to get close to that number."
Children have to meet on campus once a week for social studies and history lessons. The weekly meetings are called Paragon. Students utilize music, drama, debate and dance through Paragon.
"So often as they get into high school, they don't have so much hands-on, and yet this brings it back, which makes it a really fun curriculum," Timm said.
Last year, many parents participated in some of the Paragon events, such as shows and historically-themed projects, Timm said.
"In a public school, you don't always know all the people," she said.
"But this one, because it's a smaller school and you're limited to the amount of people in school, it makes it much more like a family. That's what we like it to be, more like a private prep school, but at public school prices - at zero."
For more information, visit www.mercuryacademy.com.
Mercury differs from traditional public schools as well as home-schooling because is is taught online by credentialed educators.
The academy's online classes are individualized, so students excelling at a grade level can begin more advanced work as soon as possible.
Parents who wish to have their children home-schooled through the program can do so, but Mercury teachers are in charge of the lessons and grades.
Students also can take online courses in a classroom at Pacific Christian. Instructional aides will be present and provide extra help.
Mercury's only on-site location in San Bernardino County is in Upland, said Kevin Page, who is in charge of new school development with Mosaica Education Inc.
Mosaica Education provides Mercury's curriculum, teachers and educational services.
"It's an independent study program, which means that we can serve students in all of the neighboring counties that border Riverside County," Page said.
Mercury, which is chartered in Riverside, started renting classrooms in November from the Pacific Christian Center.
The school will provide classes for K-11 students starting Aug. 16, and 12th grade is expected to be added in the 2011-12 school year, Page said.
The students must log in every day at the time their classes start.
They are required to be in school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, instructional aide Carol Timm said.
Students follow a schedule, and will be interacting with their teachers online.
"The teachers talking with them might have a class of five and (students) ask questions just like in class," Timm said.
Mercury may not be the best option for all students, Page said.
"First, we recognize it's not for everyone," he said. "Our program is attractive to families that are looking for an alternative, for whatever reason that may be. Their student is wanting to work ahead and needs advanced curriculum, and they want the flexibility of an online platform."
The school is funded by the state of California, like any other public school, through per-pupil funding based on attendance.
Tuition is free and every student gets a laptop to use during the school year. The laptop has to be returned, Page said.
The school's capacity is 100 students.
"Right now, we're tabulating everything," Page said about enrollment figures. "It's hard to say, we still have some applications coming in. I think we're going to get close to that number."
Children have to meet on campus once a week for social studies and history lessons. The weekly meetings are called Paragon. Students utilize music, drama, debate and dance through Paragon.
"So often as they get into high school, they don't have so much hands-on, and yet this brings it back, which makes it a really fun curriculum," Timm said.
Last year, many parents participated in some of the Paragon events, such as shows and historically-themed projects, Timm said.
"In a public school, you don't always know all the people," she said.
"But this one, because it's a smaller school and you're limited to the amount of people in school, it makes it much more like a family. That's what we like it to be, more like a private prep school, but at public school prices - at zero."
For more information, visit www.mercuryacademy.com.
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