Last Thursday’s 7th annual Cyberschools’ Day at the Capitol was a day full of learning, socializing, and celebrating our choice in the online public school option in Colorado. Students, parents, families, teachers, administrators, friends and supporters of online education gathered to show our legislators that cyber schools are an important part of the public education system and to celebrate this choice.
This was our 2nd year in a row The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families (CCCF) partnered with The Colorado Cyberschool Association (CCA) to sponsor our Day at the Capitol.
According to the registration, we were joined by 12 different multi-district online schools.
Our day’s activities began at the Sherman Street Event Center. All throughout the morning Pre K- 12 student activities were available and made possible by our wonderful cyberschool teachers who were assisted by several high school student volunteers. Parents also had sessions available to them throughout the morning. We were privileged to be joined by Ben DeGrow, Independence Institute, for a very informative presentation on school choice and how and where to access resources that are available to parents. We heard from Eric Anderson, SE2, who presented a Talking to Your Legislator class and parents had the opportunity to write letters that were later delivered to their representatives. We had a legislative update from our Colorado lobbyists and then a college prep presentations from College in Colorado.
The weather was nippy but the sun became brighter as we came on the scene of the West Steps at the Colorado State Capitol for our Rally.
The Civil Air Patrol Valkyrie Cadet Squadron’s Color Guard brought a very special presence to our Rally this year. The presenting and posting of the Colors and the National Anthem was a great way to officially open our Rally.
Colorado Virtual Academy Graduating Senior, Sean Cooney shared how he credits his success to this model of learning, his teachers and other faculty, and his mentor.
Representative Tom Massey, representing the 60th District since 2005 and Chair of the House Education Committee spoke to our families. His support for this online public school option was evident as he shared his remarks.
Senator Shawn Mitchell who represents District 23 spoke next and he really rallied up our families as he shared his continued support of public online schools. His passionate remarks were powerful and we were very appreciative that he took the time to answer questions from our parents and our students.
Denise Mund, CDE’s Director of the Unit of Online Learning also joined us on the West Steps showing her continued and valued support of the online public school option.
In celebration of January’s National School Choice Week, The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families hosted an essay contest and at our capitol day we announced the winners. Congratulations to Aryana & Patricia J. who tied for second place with Bart Titlon. They each won a $100 gift card! The grand prize winner was Chase & Juanita Redfield. They won a $150 gift card AND their family is our 2011 CCCF Spokesfamily.
After our rally, our families gathered on the capitol lawn for a picnic lunch where there was a whole lot of networking among our online community.
It was a day full of appreciation for the choice in public school options that Colorado offers and a day to celebrate Our Children!
