Iowa Connections Academy, a K-12 tuition-free virtual public school graduated its first class of high school seniors on May 18 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Family, friends, teachers and school representatives attended the ceremony to celebrate the students’ successes, along with Principal James Brauer, teacher Aaron Bane and senior Zach Walker delivering graduation speeches.
The school’s 2013 graduating class comes from across Iowa, including Moravia, Burlington, Independence, Fayette and Davenport. Graduating seniors will go on to pursue higher education and careers in fields such as architecture, entrepreneurship and fashion design. College bound students are headed to Iowa State University, Harvest Baptist Bible College, and New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) in Concord, N.H., among others.
“Graduating our school’s first senior class is a milestone. These students are pioneers in education who have fully embraced and excelled in our virtual school environment,” said James Brauer, principal at Iowa Connections Academy. “We are incredibly proud of them and are confident that they will enter their adult lives with a strong academic foundation.”
Iowa Connections Academy, which opened in August 2012, offers an individualized approach to education and a flexible learning environment that enables students to work at a pace that supports their learning style. The school provides high-quality curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. State-certified teachers are committed to students’ success and work with each family to create personalized learning opportunities.
The school is also hosting an end of the year party for all grades at Adventureland in Des Moines. The party is one of several social events that Iowa Connections Academy hosts for students to interact with their peers. The school frequently organizes field trips across the state and encourages peer-to-peer interaction and team work through various clubs and activities, including chess, robotics, poetry, art and the environmental club.
Many of Iowa Connections Academy’s juniors and seniors used the school’s flexibility to their benefit while exploring and applying to college. Many students adjusted schedules to accommodate ACT study and test-taking time, and were able to coordinate multiple college visits while staying on top of their studies. Iowa Connections Academy also offers a wide variety of AP classes and unique electives, such as Web Design, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Sports Management.
For more information about Iowa Connections Academy, please visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.
About Iowa Connections Academy Iowa Connections Academy is a tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 throughout Iowa. Connections Academy is a division of Connections Education, which is accredited by AdvancED. The school opened in 2012 and operates in partnership with CAM Community School District. Iowa Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere with an innovative curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of state-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, unique electives such as the Juilliard eLearning program, technology tools and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. For more information, call 712-762-3496, visit the school’s website or visit the teaching center located at 807 3rd St., Anita, IA 50020.