VLAC Family News
November 21, 2025
Upcoming Dates
November 27th and 28th-No School
December 5 - Robot Garage Event!
December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break
Message to Our Families and Success Tip
As we head into Thanksgiving week, I want to share my gratitude for our students, families, and staff. Your partnership, communication, and commitment make VLAC a strong and supportive learning community. We see the effort you put in each week. You are logging in, staying connected, and encouraging your student to keep moving forward. We are thankful for all you do!
The upcoming Thanksgiving break is a wonderful time to rest, reflect, and spend time with family. It can also be a great opportunity for students to catch up on missing assignments or get ahead in their courses. Because VLAC is flexible and self-paced, students can use this quieter week to review lessons, finish projects, or organize upcoming tasks before we enter the final stretch of the semester.
We encourage each student to take a balanced approach: set aside time for gratitude and rest, but also dedicate a few focused work sessions to help reduce stress later on. Even an hour or two of productive effort during the break can make a big difference when school resumes.
Thank you again for being part of our VLAC family. I hope your Thanksgiving week is full of rest, reflection, and connection.
Warm regards,
Amanda McKay, Ph.D.
Supervisor of Student Programs
🍁 Happy Thanksgiving, VLAC Families! 🦃
The VLAC office staff and VLAC Mentor Teachers will be off duty on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th.
Course Access During the Break
Students are welcome to continue working in their courses during the break. All platforms remain open, but content teachers will be off duty on the dates listed below. VLAC mentor teachers and Imagine/Lincoln content teachers (for grades 9-12) will not be available to clear teacher reviews during the break.
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Lincoln Learning (9–12): Lincoln content teachers will be unavailable from Wednesday, November 26th at noon through Friday, November 28th.
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Imagine Learning (9–12): Imagine content teachers will be unavailable on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th.
Students can continue logging in through Clever at any time to work in their courses or i-Ready.
We hope you enjoy a safe, relaxing, and meaningful Thanksgiving break! 🍂
How We Support Students in Virtual Learning
At VLAC, our work is grounded in MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports), a research-based framework that helps schools provide the right level of support to students based on their individual needs. In our virtual program, we put this into practice through our Student Success Meetings (SSMs). SSMs are monthly meetings where the VLAC team comes together to look closely at how students are doing academically, socially, and emotionally. These meetings help us make sure no student slips through the cracks. Mentor teachers bring updates on student progress, attendance, engagement, and any concerns, and our team works together to identify early supports when needed. The goal is simple: catch challenges early, coordinate the right help, and partner with families so every student can stay successful in our virtual program. If you ever have concerns or notice your student struggling, please reach out. We're always here to support you. kristi.mcallister@oakland.k12.mi.us cell: 248.410.2202
Contact the VLAC Team
Andrea Becker VLAC Teacher Coordinator 248-941-2224
Kimberly Mason: VLAC Project Assistant 248-209-2025
Kristi McAllister: VLAC Special Populations Consultant 248-410-2202
Christine Connell: VLAC Counselor 248-980-0831
Kim Wasilk: VLAC Counselor 248-980-0752
Technology Support: 248-209-2060
Email: info@vlac.org
Website: https://virtuallearningacademyconsortium.org
Location: 2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township, MI, USA
Phone: 248-209-2071
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VLAConsortium/
Twitter: @VLAConsortium