MODA Middle School Newsletter

Vision: To be Missouri’s premier virtual school choice that meets the needs of K-12 students across the state.

Slogan: MODA BEARS: Building Educated and Responsible Students

SY 26.27: C.L.I.M.B. (Commit to Learning, Improve Daily, Make Progress, Believe)

🍂 October at MODA Middle School: Finish Quarter 1 Strong!

It is hard to believe we are already wrapping up Quarter 1! This is an important time for students to check their grades, complete missing work, and make the most of these final days of the quarter. At MODA Middle School, we focus on progress, not perfection—and there is still time to finish strong!

💻 Live Classes + Asynchronous Work = Success

One of the most important things students can do to be successful at MODA is attend their required live classes consistently. Live classes provide direct instruction, opportunities to ask questions, teacher support, interaction with classmates, and help with the skills students need to master.

But live classes are only one part of the virtual school day. Students should also plan to spend approximately 30–40 minutes per course, per day working asynchronously. This includes completing Canvas lessons and assignments, practicing skills, reviewing teacher feedback, and working in IXL.

Research on online learning consistently shows that regular participation, active engagement, time on task, and interaction with teachers are important contributors to student success. In a virtual school, simply logging in is not enough. Students need to attend, participate, complete their work, and ask for help when they need it.

🍁 Fall Break — October 16

Students will be out of school on Friday, October 16, for Fall Break, but MODA courses will remain open and accessible.

Teachers will be sending emails to students and Learning Coaches with information about what students can work on to improve their grades and get to passing. If your student has missing assignments or is currently failing a course, this is a great opportunity to use some of the break to catch up before we begin Quarter 2.

Our goal is for every student to finish Quarter 1 knowing that their effort matters and that improvement is always possible.

🐻 Together, We CLIMB!

At MODA Middle School, we CLIMB together:

C — Commit to Learning
Show up, participate, and make learning a priority.

I — Improve Daily
Every class, assignment, and practice opportunity is a chance to get better.

M — Make Progress
Small steps add up. Keep moving forward!

B — Believe
Believe in yourself, ask for help, and know that your MODA team is here to support you.

Let’s finish Quarter 1 strong and CLIMB into Quarter 2 together! 🐻💙

October 8, 2026--Principal Talk (Testing with Fidelity: Why is this important for my student?)

October 15, 2026--Last Day of 1st Quarter

Course work in Canvas will remain open for students to work over their 3 day weekend.

October 16, 2026--No School for Students--Fall Break

October 19, 2026--First Day of 2nd Quarter

October 23, 2026--Virtual Outing at 12:45 pm-1:15 pm

9/11 Thoughts from a First Responder

🐻 Mark your calendars and watch your MODA communications for additional details!

We recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of everyday life and is not going away. One of the challenges this creates in education is determining what a student truly understands versus what an AI tool may have helped produce. While it can be tempting to use AI to complete schoolwork, doing so makes it difficult for teachers to accurately assess a student’s learning and identify when additional support is needed.

Although AI tools are new, this challenge is not. Similar concerns have existed for years—many of us remember using resources like CliffsNotes. The difference today is how quickly and easily AI can generate full responses for students.

Teachers want to hear each student’s own voice in their assignment submissions. As part of the learning process, teachers WILL return assignments that show unusually high AI use and ask students to revise them. A grade of "0" will remain until a student submits their own work. After 2 attempts, the score of zero will remain. As this is a third offense, the student will meet with the principal and the learning coach to discuss consequences. This policy is cumulative and not per course. This is the policy used by our partner school, Laquey R-5.

We appreciate your partnership in continuing conversations at home about the difference between using AI as a learning tool and using it in a way that replaces a student’s own work. Together, we share the goal of helping students receive the best possible education in support of their future plans and dreams.

We love reading at MODA!

"Reading daily for a minimum of 20 minutes and having conversations with children about what they are reading will help build fluency, enhance vocabulary, and foster a deeper comprehension. Children who read regularly do better in school, not just in reading but in all subjects." (Scholastic, 1/13/23)

Stride/K12 Customer & Technical Support

Phone: (866) 512-2273

Website: https://www.help.k12.com/s/

Submit a Ticket: https://www.help.k12.com/s/submit-a-case

You can contact me at sdasal@missourida.org or by phone at 314-806-2231. Thank you!