Regina Coeli Online Academy

What Our Families Say

How and where does the interactive instruction take place?

Classes meet once or twice a week using interactive live audio and text conferencing. Discussion initiated in live sessions are continued throughout the week through private email and private class conference centers.

What software is required for participation in RCA classes?

The necessary software for participation in RCA classes includes: a word processor, web browser and email program.

How is this software used?

RCA combines the following internet applications, allowing students a complete and excellent learning experience from their own homes: Live audio and text conferencing, Web Browsers, and Email. Students interact live with other students and our highly qualified teachers during regularly scheduled meetings each week.

How does a live class sessionwork?

During each 50 - 60 minute class session, teachers lead discussions with students using interactive audio and text conferencing capabilities. All students see and hear what the instructor is typing and saying as well as what the students type and say to one another. During live class sessions, teacher and student presentations are enhanced via the use of an interactive whiteboard.

What makes RCA live class sessions unique?

RCA combines the best of applications, text and audio with whiteboard, providing your student the most complete learning atmosphere possible.

Students use web browsers (Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer) to obtain weekly or daily assignments for each class. Preparation for live class sessions often includes completion of web-based exercises and postings of assigned homework. Most instructors also provide web-based auto-correcting quizzes to aid in preparation for exams. Classes use an interactive "white-board", accessible via web browser, to provide students a visual presentation of abstract concepts and to allow teachers to observe student work in progress. RCA also provides a web-based student conference center where students interact socially, posting comments and discussing a variety of subjects: favorite books, movies, apologetics, sports, politics, etc. Access to the conference center is available only to registered students and their families; RCA has established and maintains strict security of access for the safety of all our students.

Email:

Communication between students, teachers, and parents is maintained primarily by the use of email. Parents may request telephone conferences with teachers if the need arises.

I've heard about your "Mostly Dead Week." What is it and what is its purpose?

There are four "Mostly Dead Weeks" every year which occur at eight week intervals. The purpose of "Mostly Dead Week" is to allow the student to review and prepare for the upcoming quarterly exams. There are no live classes and no new material is presented. We have found that one week a quarter where students are given the opportunity to prepare for their exams results in much better exam scores and also helps develop long term memory, an absolute necessity in sequential instructional classes such as Latin and Math. The term, "Mostly dead" is from the movie, Princess Bride. Great movie. Check it out!

What can the student expect from RCA teachers?

RCA instructors understand the demands of home-schooling (most of our instructors are currently home-schooling or have home-schooled their own children). In striving to meet the need for a successful transition from home-school to college, they encourage academic excellence by challenging students with rigorous material and requiring accountability from the students and parents. Via audio/text discussions, exams, and written assignments our instructors teach from a Catholic perspective, nurturing the desire to know and live the Catholic faith in all areas of life. Practically speaking, your student can expect timely answers to questions by email or prearranged telephone conference as part of the instructor's commitment to encourage and inspire your student's success.

At the end of the academic year, college prep instructors will provide a score reflecting the student's performance. The numerical score will be placed on the student's RCA transcript; the transcript will become a part of the school's permanent records so that teachers may refer to them when writing letters of recommendation. Parents who do not plan to use RCA transcript when preparing for college admissions are encouraged to keep their copy of the score in their own permanent files.

What does RCA expect from students?

We expect our students to come to class prepared, to actively discuss the material, and submit homework, quizzes and tests by the dates assigned. Ideally, we hope that students will spend time discussing their readings with their parents, asking for assistance if necessary.

What does RCA expect from parents?

In order for a student to do well in RCA a parent or other supervisor must, at a minimum, do the following:

1. Check parent email address every 2 days.

2. Communicate with the teacher via email if there are questions about procedural issues or concerns about a student's understanding of the class material.

3. Help the student organize offline study time so work can be completed by the assigned due dates. Monitor free computer access time.

4. Ask to see the student's homework, implement incentives for timely completion of work and, where necessary, implement solutions to eliminate habitual neglect of homework.

5. Require students to seek teacher's assistance via email or conference center when necessary.

6. Contact the office (admin@reginacoeli.org) regarding communication issues between teachers and students. Generally, our teachers respond to email and conference center postings within 24-48 hours; untimely response could indicate technical issues that the administration can quickly resolve.

What is your refund policy?

100% refund is given, less the registration fee and class deposits, up to Friday of the fourth week of instruction. No refunds are given after Friday the 4th week of instruction.

What about cyber smut? Will my student be in danger of exposure to pornography?

No young person should be turned loose on the World Wide Web without reasonable supervision. Filtering software can provide busy parents invaluable aid in their God-given responsiblity of safeguarding their children's purity. No filtering software, however, should be used in lieu of reasonable parental involvement.