ICON School Blog

Transitioning to a new school can be incredibly difficult for some children, especially when it’s mid-year and they’ve already established a base in their mind for how their year will be, what friends they have, and so on. Taking this a step further, if you’ve decided to transition your child from a brick-and-mortar school to an online school, there are going to be even more unique changes to adjust to. However, there are ways to help alleviate the stress and the frustration your child may feel (and you may also feel as a parent/guardian).

At ICON, we understand the various reasons our students choose our program. While many students enroll for the flexibility that comes with online schooling, others enroll due to the fact that ICON has created an alternative graduation program that allows students to get a jump start on their post-high school goals at the pace that's right for them.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Oct 7-13 is Mental Illness Awareness Week, so we wanted to take a moment to discuss the impact mental health can have on a student's ability to perform and participate at school. A number of ICON students have faced their own mental health issues and found they are much more successful in the online school environment.

MENTAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL: THE INVISIBLE ILLNESS

A devastating and largely silent epidemic is sweeping America’s schools. Today, 1 in 5 children have emotional, behavioral or mental health disorders. Despite their numbers, an astounding 80% of them will go without the mental health support and care they need. Unsurprisingly, these staggering numbers mean many children fall behind or drop out of school because of their seemingly insurmountable mental health challenges.

Sometimes we avoid new things, like online public school, because we don’t know what to expect, and that can make us a little nervous. It’s totally natural.

To help, I’ve created this video that shows you what it's like to work in ICON’s online education platform.

Video Length: < 7 minutes

Many students only dream of finishing high school early not realizing that it’s very possible to do, especially in Idaho. It can be an exciting and challenging process, but if you have the drive to do so and are in a program that supports you, you can do it! The key to success is to understand why you want to graduate early and create a solid plan to make it happen.

Listen: The Top 10 Types of Students Who Choose ICON 

Listen time: 8 minutes 30 seconds

Listen: Answers to Common Questions About Online School

Listen Time: 8 minutes

There was a time not so long ago when it was a dig to suggest someone went to school online. It was a way of questioning the legitimacy of someone’s education during a time when the internet was considered by some a fad and there wasn’t much infrastructure around online schooling. Today, many people use the internet to do traditionally place-bound things such as work, education, and communication. It’s no longer unusual for someone to work, learn, date, and socialize online; in fact, there’s a chance we do these things more online than we do in “real life.”

I had recently been given the opportunity to take part in the annual Idaho Prevention and Support Conference. Once there, I was instantly treated to numerous stories and seminars, task groups and educational leaders, all gathered to express and discuss the same goal: how do we, as members of the educational and youth community, strive do our utmost in keeping our children, teachers, and all the unsung cogs of our educational system motivated and informed.

After spending time with these hardworking and dedicated individuals, all striving towards these goals, there were several takeaways that I felt warranted special recognition and reflection.

At Idaho Connects Online School, we recognize that every Idaho student is unique. Some students use ICON to complete basic courses in a safe, quiet environment free from distraction—and some of these students even shoot for an accelerated approach to graduation.