Virtual Saints re-imagines teaching and learning to allow students the flexibility to participate from anywhere in the world and to complete the work within their own schedules.
Combining both real time meetings with at your own pace activities and assignments, St. Andrew’s teachers will leverage the best pedagogical practices with new technology to design a unique and engaging experience for all. In addition, students can expect to have weekly individual virtual meetings with teachers to receive further guidance and feedback, for a truly personalized learning experience. Required real time meetings (for whole class instruction, small group collaboration/discussion, or one-on-one consultation with faculty) will take place within a window of time outside of the traditional school day. Students can expect an average of 5 hours of work each week including the class meeting, with most of that time devoted to asynchronous activities.
Compelled by the unprecedented events of the past few years, we at St. Andrew’s are committed to creating high-quality virtual spaces for teaching and learning during the summer and school year months to facilitate safe and enriching opportunities for academically engaged youth around the world. We believe that school has always been a bridge between past and future, between young person to young person, between academic content and real life career plans. More than ever, we believe St. Andrew’s is a beacon of wellness, inclusivity, and innovation, and Virtual Saints can provide a space for youth to grow leaps and bounds academically and relationally, while also receiving course credit.
You should expect to spend about the same amount of time for this course as you would for any semester-long in-person course, around five hours per week dedicated to meeting, readings, doing assignments, etc. Intensive summer courses that cover a year’s worth of academic instruction will take more time.
We understand that sometimes unforeseen issues arise that inhibit a student’s ability to connect to a scheduled virtual class meeting. In this case, students will be asked to communicate with their teacher to propose an alternative plan, if needed. In addition, all students will have access to recorded real-time meetings to refer to on their own as needed.
As long as students attend the required real time class meetings, the rest of the work can be completed anytime. Clear deadlines for all work will be posted on the learning management platform.
St. Andrew’s students will earn credit upon successful completion of a course. Students from other schools are encouraged to check with their school to ensure that the school will accept a transfer credit.
The Virtual Saints program has been developed by highly qualified St. Andrew’s teachers and by educational professionals around the world. Students can expect to experience the same high standards and authentic engagement in content that they would find in a traditional in-person St. Andrew’s class.
Yes! Students will engage and collaborate with their peers in a variety of ways, such as through small group conversations, text-based discussions, and shared video and audio projects.
Yes! Because Virtual Saints classes are not bound to physical classroom spaces, you can attend your classes from anywhere. Virtual Saints teachers and athletic coaches will work together to ensure that you can participate in both VSS courses and athletic workouts.
Yes! Dual Enrollment courses are college courses. Students taking Dual Enrollment will enroll both in the Virtual Saints program AND in Mississippi State University.
Students taking Dual Enrollment courses take on the responsibility to complete work and attend synchronous class sessions with little oversight from teachers or administrators at their school. Dual Enrollment courses are for students who have a mature work ethic and are interested in the subject.
You will actually receive 2 transcripts — one from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and one from Mississippi State University. Your MSU hours can be used at most colleges and universities in the US as reciprocal credit for comparable courses.
Need-Based Financial Aid
St. Andrew's is honored to announce that Virtual Saints has an anonymous benefactor who is establishing an endowment to offer need based financial aid to its participants. Thanks to the generosity of our donor, all who register for these courses are eligible for financial assistance consideration.
This endowment will benefit students for years to come, and we could not be more appreciative of the forethought and kindness of the donor. We will begin to offer financial assistance this year starting with the virtual summer courses. If you would like to apply, please email Becca Meaders.
In pre-K and kindergarten caring, experienced teachers nurture St. Andrew’s youngest students, ensuring that every child receives the best possible start to his or her school years.
St. Andrew’s continues its tradition of innovation through transformative virtual, for-credit offerings creating more access and greater affordability than ever before.
St. Andrew's is the only school in Mississippi to have been granted membership in Global Online Academy, a consortium of leading independent schools from around the world that provides online courses which go beyond the confines of the traditional school curriculum.
At St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Global Studies is infused throughout all aspects of student experiences, helping them become knowledgeable and caring citizens of the world.
As a beacon of educational innovation, St. Andrew's is proud to be a member of the World Leading Schools Association, a community made up of students, educators, and leaders from some of the world's finest secondary schools and universities that collaborate and learn from one another through international and innovative experiences and programs.