Northern BC

🎄~December 2024 News~🎄


A very short Christmas musing...

For me, this is a season of contrasts.  Of warmth and cold, light and darkness, joy and sadness, blessings and emptiness. In this winter season where  we live with eight actual daylight hours, and the darkness is present in my waking and sleeping, my heart feels more fully the passage of Mathew 4:16,

"the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, 

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, 

on them, a light has dawned."

I take comfort in the fact that in this season, Jesus shines his light upon us so that we may have the light of life (John 8L12).  He meets us in all our contrasts of what Christmas is.  This Advent season, as we journey through Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, may you experience the light and love of Christ.  And if you are journeying a hard road of darkness this Christmas, may our God of peace and unexplained joy bring you hope because of His great love for you. 

~Merry Christmas to you and your family~ Tara Klukas

Brightspace Closure

Brightspace will be closed as of December 20 (4:00pm) - December 30 (8:00am). Students will not have access to their courses during this time. 

At this point in the school year, students should be approximately 1/3 of the way through their linear courses.  If they are on a Semester course pace, they should be 75% of the way through their courses.  Reach out to me if support is needed. 

Christmas Break

In an effort to allow rest and restoration during the Christmas season, did you know at HCOS, we have a suggested Christmas Break for Home Learners? 

December 23 - January 3

Please note: I will take an extended break during this time to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends.   Mrs. Klukas will be out of office, December 16 - January 3.


Grad Information Night Recording

What a wonderful evening we shared to begin our preparations for Grad 2025. If you missed this event, you can find the recording at this LINK.

We also unveiled our HCOS Grad Hoodie for the 2025 Grad class.  You can order one at this LINK.

~November 2024 News~

"Hello Anxiety" Workshop

Friday - Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, 2024

This virtual event is an excellent opportunity for our youth to gain insight on how to not only cop e but thrive in a digital world. I have had several conversations with families from the North about how anxiety is impacting your child.  This is a wonderful opportunity for youth from the north to connect and discuss this topic. Please register for this event ASAP as it starts THIS FRIDAY.

 

https://web.cvent.com/event/d047ad02-f6ae-4140-bfd9-d902180dea6a/summary?RefId=VIR%20Hello%20Anxiety%20Girls%20%26%20Boys%20Fall%20Gr%209-12%2024%2F25

Virtual Christian College Fair

17 Christian Colleges and Universities from across Canada will participate over Zoom on November 12, 13, and 14th from 7-9 pm. You can find all the details here: HCOS Virtual Christian College Fair. 

This is an amazing opportunity for families 

of the North to preview Universities and Colleges from around the province.  Last day to sign-up is November 7.

Upcoming Grad Session 

Are you in Grade 12 and graduating with the class of 2025? We will be holding our first Grad Session this month!  It is time to start planning!  😀 Look for an announcement to come soon!

Save the Date - November 21-7pm 

Slight date change since last month.

~October 2024 News~

Student Success Center

The SSC is one of the most beneficial supports that we offer our HCOS Grad Program students.  If you have not been to a session yet, I encourage all my students to book an appointment in the early fall to help set-up a daily schedule for their courses. 

They also have exciting Fall workshops starting in  October.

Make it a priority to attend.

The New Pacing & Progress Widget

After much hard work from our technology department, we are introducing an exciting new tool to help parents and students track progress in their enrolled courses. Please use this as a communication tool; It is not meant to be a taskmaster.  But instead to help students pace themselves in a visual representation.  

The First Grad PlanningSession

Grad 2025 already?!

Save the date!

November 20 at 7 pm

HCOS will be hosting the first of our Grade 12 meetings to begin to plan and prepare for Grad 2025.

~September 2024 News~

Welcome back to a new school year at HCOS!

I am delighted to be a small part of the North Admin team to work with you to support and encourage your Grad level children for the 24/25 school year.  I consider it a privilege to journey with you this year. One of the highlights of my summer was meeting with many of you to plan courses and get to know the rhythms of home education in your home and in the North.  Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and invite me into your home virtually.  I am so grateful for the warmth and hospitality I have experienced from each family as I transitioned into this role.  

As we move into September, I look forward to ensuring that every family and student gets off to a great start.  I would love to hear from you!  Please email me your questions, comments, concerns, or anything you think I need to know to help me support your home education. If something is going differently than planned, please let me know.  I do want to hear from you.  

I also love meeting families over Zoom; don’t be shy about booking an appointment to come meet me on Zoom.  

Email: tara.klukas@onlineschool.ca

Meeting link: https://calendly.com/taraklukas_gradadvisor

I am praying for you that you and your kids have a great start this fall and school year.  

God Bless you,

Tara Klukas

Zoom/phone Meetings:

This is a very busy season for meetings with families and students to ensure that everyone has the courses they need.  I sincerely thank you for your patience in waiting to meet with me.

For those needing assistance choosing courses for your child, please book an appointment with me here: https://calendly.com/taraklukas_gradadvisor  These will be a quick 30-minute planning session.

For those students who have no courses at all, please follow the instructions below to choose at least three courses that you know you need or want.  This will give you a few courses to start while you wait for our meeting.


Course Planning:

For those families who still have not chosen courses for this school year, ensure this is done over the next week.

Course Library: https://courses.onlineschool.ca/

Course Planning Sheet: Drafting a Graduation Plan


~Grad 2024~

What a joy to celebrate with the HCOS 2024 Grads and their families over the past two weeks.  We rejoice in all the hard work and perseverance that students have demonstrated during their time at HCOS.  Here are a few photos of the fun and the memories that were made.  A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all our Northern Grads!  

Meeting new and old friends

A little Uno stress relief

Signing Yearbooks - HCOS first yearbook EVER!

Signing Yearbooks

Kelowna Grad

Photo Credit: Mrs. Laura Nelson

Langley Grad

Photo Credit: Mr. Steve Bastian

Photo Credit: Chelsea Robichaud 

Langley Banquet

Once meeting the formalities of pictures, yearbooks and the graduation ceremony were complete, student dressed in their finest attended a wonderful reception.  We were treated to a delicious buffet dinner, complete with buffet dessert table as well!  The event was hosted by Grads from the Student Counsel, and the HCOS Grad Advisor team. The Grads participated in friendly yet competitive game of Graduation Survivor. What a fantastic day to enjoy all the hard work and dedication students have invested throughout their schooling. 

Many Blessings to our North Graduates.


Hello Northern Students and Families!

 My name is Tara Klukas, and I am your Grad Advisor. I have worked at HCOS since 2011 in both teaching and Grad Advising capacities.  I am currently also the Career Life Education teacher and Adult Grad Advisor.  It is always exciting to see young people discover what gifts, talents and skills God has blessed them with and then help them set goals to journey the pathway they feel God is calling them to pursue.  

 I have three kids of my own, and wow are they different!  Every learner is a little different, an individual, with personal goals, interests, and learning styles. As such, a meeting to discuss these things is important. Together, we can make a plan for your grad years, a plan uniquely suited to you and dream about what comes after graduation, together. 

Here is my Introduction video: https://youtu.be/HP1x9hM5Rc8

This is what a grad advisor does:

• Communicate with you about courses and course selection.  

• Planning with you for what is needed for the completion of high school and your post-secondary goals.

• Connect you to important information as the year progresses. 

• Connect you to Learning Services and Special Education if needed.

• Make any mid-year course changes and help you sign up for Summer courses.


If you would like to an appointment, please go here: https://calendly.com/taraklukas_gradadvisor

I can be reached at tklukas@onlineschool.ca if you need anything from me.  

 I am excited to be walking alongside you on your graduation pathway.  Should you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out.  I am always happy to help. Mrs. Klukas


(*Image above is Above Lake Loise by W. J . Phillips https://wjphillips.ca/artwork/above-lake-louise/)

Course Planning:

We have course planning to do over the next month and a half for each student in the North region.  Please review the HCOS course library and the required and elective courses in the Course Planning Sheet below.

Course Library: https://courses.onlineschool.ca/

Course Planning Sheet: Drafting a Graduation Plan

 Let me know if you have any questions on course selection.