Catholic Impartial Faculties Renew VHS Studying Partnership
The Catholic Independent Schools Consortium continues to work with VHS Learning
Boston – March 16, 2021 – Even without the current need for distance learning, high quality online educational options can expand the curriculum for students and prepare them for the post-secondary world. For these reasons, the Consortium of Catholic Independent Schools has extended its partnership with VHS Learning for the 19th time in a row. The consortium has renewed its VHS Learning membership with 213 virtual enrollments for the 2020-21 academic year. Your students are enrolled in 97 different VHS learning courses.
The following schools currently benefit from participating in the Consortium of Catholic Independent Schools:
· Notre Dame Academy, Tyngsboro, MA.
· Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree, MA.
· Arlington Catholic High School, Arlington, MA.
· Bishop Fenwick High School, Peabody, MA.
· Cardinal Spellman High School, Brockton, MA.
· Fontbonne Academy, Milton, MA.
Mount Alvernia High School, Newton, MA.
Notre Dame Academy – Worcester, MA.
· Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School, Lawrence, MA.
· Saint Joseph Preparatory College, Boston, MA.
· Stephen T. Badin High School, Hamilton, OH.
Sister Kristin Hokanson, the consortium director, acts as the primary site coordinator in the partnership with VHS Learning. Hokanson said her decision to join the online program was made when she had the opportunity to visit a physical classroom with students taking VHS study courses in the late 1990s. “I honestly felt like I was going from one century to the next,” she recalled. “I saw that technology will be an important tool and that students need a solid education with technology. One option was to take an online course. “
At that time, Hokanson was the principal of Pope John XXIII High School, a private school in Everett, MA. Her school and about five others participated in the program together, but they did not use the consortium model until a representative from VHS Learning suggested it in 2001. “The advantage of a consortium is that you can purchase semester enrollments in bulk so you have a reduced fee,” said Hokanson.
In addition to expanding curriculum options and preparing students for the technological world, Hokanson cited the ability to expand students’ worldview as another significant benefit. “It introduces you to a much wider global community,” she said. “The students get to know different cultures and learn how to deal with different groups of students. They meet and form peer networks. “
“This 19-year partnership is testament to our extensive course catalog and industry-leading customer service,” said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. “The ability to quickly add more than 250 courses to a school’s curriculum helps these parish schools offer more variety than some of their larger public school counterparts. These schools are very familiar with what our quality online classrooms can add to the high school learning experience and we are delighted that they have extended their partnership with us to further help their students. “
About VHS learning
VHS Learning is a 25 year non-profit organization providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. VHS Learning offers more than 250 unique online courses, including 24 AP® courses, credit recovery and enrichment courses, and a choice of two credit options. It is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission for Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC), and Cognia. The courses are approved by the NCAA for first-time eligibility. For more information on VHS Learning, please visit the website and follow us on Twitter @VHSLearning.
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