December Feature Teacher

Branson School Online is home to the most talented and dedicated teaching staff in Colorado! 

Each month we introduce you to one of our incredible Branson School Online teachers or counselors. 

Our Feature Teacher for the month of December is:

Liz Ellingson

Mrs. Ellingson is the BSO counselor for 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th grades.  Read on to learn more about this talented BSO counselor.

Name: Liz Ellingson​

Years Teaching: 13​

Years with BSO: 7​

Favorite food: Black Tie Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory  

Favorite color: Blue​

Pets: Hamster ​

Hobbies: ​Reading, Bargain Hunting, Couponing, Going to Movies

What do you love about teaching? I love being able to work with my students to help them discover their future career interests and mapping a path to get there. I also love getting to know my students and helping them overcome obstacles that may make it difficult for them to be successful in school. 

What do you love about teaching with Branson? I love that Branson allows students to pursue interests outside of school such as dancing, gymnastics, music, traveling, working, etc which I believes makes them a more well rounded individual and student. I also love that Branson works with non-traditional learners that may have different learning styles and needs and supports students to achieve their goals and learn in a way that makes sense to them. 

Favorite season? Why? I love fall because of the beautiful colors and slightly cooler weather. I also enjoy sitting outside at our fire pit and roasting marshmallows with my husband and boys this time of year. 

Favorite place you have traveled to? Bahamas ​

# 1 item on your bucket list: Hawaii ​

Favorite book/author: I enjoy mystery books and my favorite author is Sue Grafton.  ​

Favorite sport: Hockey ​

Anything else you’d like to share: I am so thankful to be part of the Branson family and wouldn't wish to be anywhere else! 

BSO Student Spotlight: Jack H

Our unique educational setting provides Branson School Online students the opportunity to participate in a variety of exciting extracurricular activities.

We love to celebrate and encourage our students as they pursue their dreams!

Student Spotlight

BSO student Jack H. recently competed in the 2016 Football University National Championship. His team is now moving on to the final rounds and Championship in Naples, FL!

Details below are courtesy of Dave Nagy, Director of Football Operations for the Warriors Black & Warriors Fire.

Our 8th graders has been hand-selected to the Football University (FBU), Team Colorado.

They have received the honor of being selected as one of the nation’s top youth football players and earned the chance to participate in the 2016 Football University National Championship played Dec 1-5 in Sacramento, CA representing TEAM COLORADO .  The youth teams for Colorado were from all over Denver representing the youth leagues of Warriors, Spartans and Cherry Creek which is coached by high school coaching staff from Valor, Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch and Cherry Creek.

We were picked in the bracket from teams from Nevada, Oregon, CA and Colorado and were also picked to be sleeper team and not anticipating a win…………………. BUT we

Beat Sacramento 45-6

Beat Bay Area Metro 20-6

Beat San Diego (#2 ranked powerhouse) 35-0 in the finals

Total Scored = 100

Total Allowed = 12

Average score per game = 33-4!! We left the opponents completely shocked!

Not bad for a bunch of Sleepers!! 

We are on our way to Naples Florida to play in the national tournament.  We one of the top 8 teams in the nation.  

Congratulations Jack! The BSO community is so proud of you! Good luck in Florida! 

BSO Student Spotlight: Anna S.

Our unique educational setting provides Branson School Online students the opportunity to participate in a variety of exciting extracurricular activities.

We love to celebrate and encourage our students as they pursue their dreams!

Student Spotlight

This week the BSO Student Spotlight is on Anna S. Anna is a 5th grade student with BSO. She has attended BSO since kindergarten and loves the flexibility of attending school from home. Anna's favorite things about attending BSO are the flexible schedule and going to school in her PJs.

Anna also loves to dance. The flexible hours of BSO enable Anna the opportunity to advance this talent. She typically dances between 15 - 20 hours each week.

Anna recently auditioned for and earned the role of the white rabbit in her dance studio's upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland.

Performances are open to the public. If you are a resident of the Denver Metro area and would like to come support one of our hard working BSO students, please see below for information.

Alice in Wonderland
North Middle School
12095 E. Monteview Blvd
Aurora, CO 80010

Saturday, December 3rd

Matinee: Doors open at 1:30 pm, show starts at 2 pm
Evening: Doors open at 5:30 pm, show starts at 6 pm

Tickets: $15 each

November Feature Teacher

Branson School Online is home to the most talented and dedicated teaching staff in Colorado! 

Each month we introduce you to one of our incredible Branson School Online teachers. 

Our Feature Teacher for the month of November is:

Alisa Alfonso

Mrs. Alfonso teaches high school math for Branson School Online. Read on to learn more about this talented BSO teacher.

Name:  Alisa Alfosno

Years Teaching:  20

Years with BSO:  8

Favorite food:  Green chili

Favorite color:  Blue

Pets:  3 cats, 1 donkey, 1 horse

Hobbies:  Traveling, Scrapbooking, Crafting

What do you love about teaching?  I love helping students to become excited about learning.  I encourage students to be engaged in the learning process and to excel in all that they do. I also want to instill a love of learning in students, so that they will always have a desire to grow and develop.

What do you love about teaching with Branson?  I enjoy working with students around the state of Colorado.   

Favorite season?  My favorite season is fall. I love the changing colors of the leaves.

Favorite place you have traveled to?  Italy

# 1 item on your bucket list:  Travel to Costa Rica

Favorite book/author:  Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

Favorite sport:  Volleyball & Basketball

Congratulations!

Branson would like to congratulate Binyamin and his team for taking 2nd place at the State Gymnastics Championship!

Branson School Online has its FIRST TROPHY at the STATE LEVEL!  

WAY TO GO BINYAMIN!  

We are so proud of you!

Haiku Contest Winners

2016 Haiku Contest

K-5 Winners

1^st Place

Quiet Snow, by Karen B.

Quiet snow falling

Bells ringing on sleigh, laughter;

Warm memories forever.

2^nd Place

My Dad, by Keeton E.

On a hot day

My dad drives an excavator;

He works for Tezak

6-8 Winners

1^st Place

Pink Dancers, by Jasmine J.

Flamingos shining,

In the bright sun’s rays they glow;

Dancing gracefully.

2^nd Place

Fall going onto Winter, by Bridger D. 

Red, Green, Yellow, Orange

The birds fly south for Winter.
White blankets the ground.

3^rd Place 

Autumn, by Asma A.

Golden shimmering

the leaves drop so gracefully

against auburn sun

9-12 Winners

1^st Place

Dying Season, by Sadiqah A.

Leaves die and fall down;

Fall is a dying season

Trees stand tall, empty 

2^nd Place

Escaping Nightfall, by Kristiana G.

Through the vast meadow,

The birds are flying freely-

Fleeing from the dark.

3^rd Place
Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, by Erica D.
Pumpkin- Spiced Lattes
Swirling crisp sunburnt leaves;
Flannels and sweaters.

Happy Election Day!

Happy Election Day from the BSO Kindergarten! Here is how we voted in our own practice election! We also voted on some other important issues to see where we stand as a class.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

iFly

The second annual iFly indoor skydiving field trip was a huge success! Nearly thirty students from 7th through 12th grade participated. The trip included an interactive math and physics lesson where students learned about the forces acting on an object in free fall, as well as the effects of an object's shape and its frontal area inside the wind tunnel. Students also participated in a safety class to learn how to "fly" safely and read hand signals from the flight instructors. We took turns in the flight tunnel and did a science lab about our experience. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we hope to see you back again next year!

Check out pictures from our awesome day below!

(Click to enlarge images)

InterestEd

InterestEd 2016/2017 kicked off on October 20th with many wonderful topics! Students had the opportunity to choose from several different sessions including time management, making pumpkin dip, exploding volcanoes and creating awesome arts and crafts!

Click on the link below to watch a video of one of our BSO students making his pumpkin dip, then check out the pictures of students and teachers participating in all of the different sessions.

Watch your email for an invitation to the next round of InterestEd sessions.

Next InterestEd Opportunity: Dec 1st

If you are unaware of or have not tried this amazing enrichment opportunity, please do so! It is a great way for students to get a break from regular classes and have some fun with their classmates and teachers.

Pumpkin Dip

(Click on an image to enlarge)

Tips and Tricks

Interested in ideas from successful Branson students? Click on the links below to read some of the tips and tricks submitted by our NHS students.

Tools for Online Students

Useful Tools You Already Have

New in Education

Creative Thinkers!

Our BSO 3rd Graders are sharing information about Native American tribes.  Check out this student's informative self-made video that he created using Minecraft!  Who knew Minecraft could be so educational?

Click on the link below to see the student's video. 

Pueblo Native Americans

Counselor's Corner

Each month our BSO counselors publish a newsletter that provides important information for our high school students. Please click on the link below to view this month's Counselor's Corner. 

Counselor's Corner

Count Day Fun!

Branson School Online Kindergartners celebrated Colorado's Count Day by being counted while creating class graphs together! Get to know some of our school's newest online students by learning about a few of their favorite things on the graphs below.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

October Feature Teacher

Branson School Online is home to the most talented and dedicated teaching staff in Colorado! 

Each month we introduce you to one of our incredible Branson School Online teachers. 

Our Feature Teacher for the month of October is:

Jennifer Pierce

Mrs. Pierce teaches 6th grade Social Studies and 4th - 6th grade electives for Branson School Online. Read on to learn more about this talented BSO teacher.

Name:  Jennifer Pierce

Years Teaching: 18 years

Years with BSO: 14 years

Favorite food:  rhubarb custard pie a la  mode

Favorite color:  yellow

Pets:  2 dogs, too many cats

Hobbies:  Reading and enjoying nature

What do you love about teaching?  Seeing kids "get it" and hearing their creative ideas.

What do you love about teaching with Branson?  Awesome kids!!

Favorite season?  Spring; it is fun to watch everything start to grow again.

Favorite place you have traveled to?  Oregon

# 1 item on your bucket list:  I want to visit New York!

Favorite book/author:  I don't have a favorite book.  However, my favorite genre is historical fiction.

Favorite sport:  Volleyball

September Feature Teacher

Branson School Online is home to the most talented and dedicated teaching staff in Colorado! 

Each month we introduce you to one of our incredible Branson School Online teachers. 

Our Feature Teacher for the month of September is:

Kristen Sim

Mrs. Sim teaches 6th grade for Branson School Online. Read on to learn more about this talented BSO teacher.

Name: Kristen Sim

Years Teaching: 5 years

Years with BSO: 1 year

Favorite food: Anything Chocolate 

Favorite color: Purple

Pets: A turtle, named Teddy, that I have had for 27 years!!

Hobbies: I love being outside.  In the winter that means skiing.  In the summer I like hiking, swimming, and camping. 

What do you love about teaching? I love that I can help a student who had a bad experience in the past realize that they have to potential to do anything and change their mind about what they were previously told. 

What do you love about teaching with Branson? I love that I can help students who struggled in a traditional school realize that learning can be fun again. 

Favorite season? I love Fall because I think that pumpkins smell great!  I don't like to eat it, but I love the smell of pumpkin pie. 

Favorite place you have traveled to? I loved when I lived in South Korea for 2 years.  I got to learn and experience a new culture every day.  It was awesome!!

# 1 item on your bucket list: Travel to Spain

Favorite book/author: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 

Favorite sport: Hiking

Anything else you’d like to share: I am trying to learn to speak Korean!  I have a 9 month old son who keeps me very busy.  I come from a huge family and already have 9 nieces and nephews.

Counselor's Corner

Each month our BSO counselors publish a newsletter that provides important information for our high school students. Please click on the link below to view last month's Counselor's Corner. 

Counselor's Corner

Digital Learning Day 2016

Happy Digital Learning Day! 

Let's celebrate by sharing why we love learning online! Reply to this post and/or post on Facebook or Twitter, and tell the world why you love Branson School Online! 

Make sure to include #BransonSchoolOnline and #OnlineLearningDay in your posts!

Join the party!  

On Thursday, Sept 15, join us on Twitter for a National Online Learning Day Twitter party!

CONTEST RULES

Use #OnlineLearningDay during participation.
Winners are chosen at random.

Only participants during the #Twitterparty are eligible to win (1-3 PM Central Standard Time on 9/15/16).

US residents only. No purchase necessary. Each contestant agrees to a complete release of Twitter and National Day Calendar. You also Acknowledge that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Twitter. Entrants agree their name will be posted if they are selected as a winner. Sponsoring company handles prize administration. 

First Day of School!

Welcome Back!

2016 Back to School Picnic 

WELCOME BACK BRANSON SCHOOL ONLINE! 

(Click on the image to enlarge the picture.)

Poetry Contest Results

Great job to all students who submitted a poem to the 2016 Branson School Online Poetry Contest. There were so many  great poems to choose from! The decision was not easy!  

The results are in!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following winners:

Elementary 

Graham G.

Grade: 2nd

Poem: Indiana Jones Ride

Upper Elementary

Mariah S.

Grade: 5th

Poem: Spring Time

Middle School

Asma A.

Grade: 7th

Poem: Ode to the Morning Sun

High School

Sadiqah A.

Grade 9th

Poem: Ballerina's Bliss

Each of the winning poets will receive a certificate and a gift card in the mail. We will also post the winning poems on our school website.

Thank you to everyone who participated! 

May Feature Teacher

Branson School Online is home to the most talented and dedicated teaching staff in Colorado! 

Each month we introduce you to one of our incredible Branson School Online teachers. 

Our Feature Teacher for the month of May is:

Melissa Nedved

Mrs. Nedved teaches high school math for Branson School Online. Read on to learn more about this talented BSO teacher.

Name: Melissa Nedved

Years Teaching: 4

Years with BSO: 2

Favorite food: Anything with cheese :)

Favorite color: Pink and sparkly

Pets: None at this time

Hobbies: Anything involving water, I love to water ski and wake board.

What do you love about teaching? I love sharing my passion for math with students and especially helping students who are "bad at math" understand a topic.

What do you love about teaching with Branson? The flexibility that BSO offers allows me more time to spend one-on-one with kiddos. I have the time to create really meaningful lessons that allow me to connect with my students.

Favorite season? Summer; so I can spend it on the boat :)

Favorite place you have traveled to? I love all things Disney, so I'm going to have to go with Disney World in Orlando, FL. My family took a trip there over spring break this year, it's fun for all ages!

# 1 item on your bucket list: Travel Europe with friends 

Favorite book/author: Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Favorite sport: Swimming, I grew up on the swim team and also spent some time teaching swimming lessons.

Anything else you’d like to share: I am not a Colorado native, I was born and raised in South Dakota, but moved here 2 years ago and have fallen in love with the state! The weather is so much nicer than back home and I love all of the activities this state has to offer.