REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY parent, Grace Meli

(5) Student Experience

The experience was great. The course was well organized, and the teacher was very professional and gave great support. Whenever my son had any questions, concerns, or something he did not understand, she took the time to address it and made sure he was okay moving forward. My son enjoyed the online aspect of the schooling because he could work at his own pace and on his own time. He didn’t feel the pressure of having to learn while being rushed at school in a classroom, or having other students distract him, or even just losing interest. This way, online, he's in charge and learns in his own way and at his own time. OVS is the perfect school for this type of situation and many others for sure. We will definitely use their services again.

(5) School Leadership

What stands out with Ontario Virtual School is, first and foremost, their amazing reputation. The reviews from others who have participated are 5+++, all extremely satisfied and willing to use it again in the future. While in the course, response times and problem-solving were handled in a timely manner, and it was a totally positive experience. Their communication was very adequate, and my son had no concerns whatsoever with the online schooling program through OVS. He looks forward to using it again if needed.

(5) Teaching

The teaching at Ontario Virtual School was extremely organized and professional, and the program was easy to navigate and learn from through the teacher’s explanations. The teachers are very passionate and knowledgeable, from the one who taught the course to the one who marked all the assignments and culminating tasks. The teacher communicated very effectively, and her feedback on assignments and tests was constructive and easy to understand. My son felt challenged by the course, but comfortable with it as well. He enjoyed the calming voice of the teacher who ran the program. He hardly needed their support, as he didn’t have many questions throughout the lessons; they were explained very thoroughly and were easy to understand at his age level.

(5) Academics

This question is very difficult to answer, as the course my son Gianluca took was a Business course taught solely online. I can tell you that even through online learning, Ontario Virtual School demonstrated professionalism, high competence, and a strong skill level. He never felt uncomfortable or judged while taking the course. The school’s online culture was positive. It can be described as a feeling of success, joy, and accomplishment. There was never a doubt that the teachers enjoyed what they were doing. They seemed excited to work at Ontario Virtual School, and that helps put students in a better position mentally and emotionally to learn. The school culture also allowed for parent involvement, which helped foster positive feelings between the school and the parents.

(5) School Life

Throughout the four years of on-site high school learning, my son always stressed to me how he did not like going to school. He didn’t like the hours, the teaching process, and he was, at times, bored with certain courses. While learning through Ontario Virtual School, I did not hear any complaints from my son. This was music to my ears. I didn’t have to worry about how he felt or what he was doing because I knew he enjoyed it and had no problems doing the work and tests on his own. If you have children who have a hard time learning in a fast-paced social environment, the Ontario Virtual School program is where to enroll them. I promise they will love it.

(5) Admissions

The advice I would give someone planning on applying to Ontario Virtual School is that it’s quick, simple, and affordable. You register online after reviewing the courses they offer, make the payment, and then the teacher sends an email letting you know you’re ready to begin. She explains what to do if you need support or have any concerns. I wouldn’t change anything because it was clear and understandable for both students and parents. Again, the admission fees were affordable and reasonable for the services provided.

(5) University placement and counselling

We didn’t need to go through counselling at OVS because that was handled at my son’s day school. However, when we enrolled in the program, the OVS website and teachers were incredibly helpful in guiding us. They helped us understand which courses would benefit my son, which ones he would enjoy and do well in, and which were required for graduating Grade 12 or for university and college prerequisites. The support was clear and helpful from beginning to end.