Online school students, families and staff visit Como Park Zoo

More than 90 Minnesota Connections Academy students, family members, and teachers recently travelled to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul to explore the gardens and learn about different types of animals.

Each year Minnesota Connections Academy will arrange field trips to museums, science centers and sports venues across the state to offer students the opportunity to experience different regions of the state and to socialize with classmates. The Como Park Zoo visit is among the first in-person field trips the statewide, online public school has been able to arrange for the students since the COVID pandemic.

“One of the first questions we hear from parents who are considering online school is about opportunities for socialization and student engagement outside of the virtual classroom,” said MNCA principal Brad Swanson. “We are proud to offer our students the opportunity to visit many hands-on educational venues across the state. We also utilize technology which allows us to offer virtual field trips outside of our state.”

According to Rebecca Johnson of St. Paul, who is the aunt and learning coach for Isaiah Bell and his sister Cheyenne, she believes the field trips are a wonderful way to engage students. She added that the great teachers, who patiently work with the students, make enrolling in Minnesota Connections Academy the greatest decision they have ever made.

"I will say Minnesota Connections Academy teachers are the best and to see teachers reaching out and trying to include kiddos in the activities was great to see,” she said. “This kind of inclusion definitely went above and beyond my expectations and I look forward to trying to bring Isaiah to more activities due to this."

Minnesota Connections Academy is a free, fully-online virtual public school that students in grades K-12 attend from home. Virtual school is a great fit for a variety of students and each student is unique. Those who attend Minnesota Connections Academy come from different backgrounds and choose full-time online school for various reasons.

Some students prefer to take ownership of their education and benefit from the flexibility that virtual school offers, while others are looking for a consistent, safe learning environment. Interested parents and students can learn more about the school by visiting its website at www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com or by attending one of the online events that are currently scheduled.