With today’s youth, it seems that school has really become more about the grades rather than the fun, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

One of the reasons for this is that students don’t feel there are enough options of classes that allow them to have fun. However, what many of the students here don’t know is that this school offers a wide range of classes from Portuguese to Oceanography to Genes and diseases, peacemaking and video game design using game maker. The only difference is, these classes are taken on the computer through VHS (Virtual High School).

VHS Advisor Ms. Amy Maniscalco, who doubles as the schools library media specialist, has been running the program for about seven years.

“It offers specialized courses that aren’t offered in school so you have the opportunity to take courses that wouldn’t normally be available. Also, students gain valuable experience taking online courses, which prepares students to take similar courses at the college level,” Maniscalco said.

I started with VHS in the second half of my junior year and I regret not taking it sooner like my older sister advised me to. Not only is VHS extremely fun as you can choose which class you get to take; it also helps with your academic standing. There are even honors and AP VHS classes that you can take if you want some harder subjects. The classes are spaced out and enjoyable while also being extremely helpful in that specific subject area. The grades you achieve help accumulate your GPA and also help you gain some extra credits. It is also reported on your transcript as an online course, which is growing in popularity among colleges.

VHS ranges from 15-week classes to 33-week classes. You get to interact with people all across the United States who are taking the same class. The students range in age, gender, location, religion, and VHS not only teaches you about the subject you’re learning about, but about the different areas of the world through the people you meet.

If you’re one of those people who are extremely worried about college and are trying to find more activities to put on your resume, VHS is the perfect thing for it. Not only does it help your GPA, it also shows colleges that you’re taking the initiative to take more classes than are required. It impresses them even more if you decide to take classes in the subject you are planning to major/minor in.

Senior Gina Romana took the VHS course Criminology in preparation of her time at The College of New Jersey studying forensic chemistry.

“Since I am looking to study Forensic Chemistry, I would need to have knowledge of the criminal justice system, and the concept of crime,” Romana said. “Taking this criminology class allows me to gain this knowledge while I am still in high school.”

VHS doesn’t have to be solely for taking classes in subjects you want to focus on in college; it could be solely for the fact of just having fun and learning about new things or for potentially figuring out what you want to do in the future. Senior Erica Antebi, while planning to study design in college, took the course American Popular Music.

“I thought it was a class that would interest me, and I could potentially do something with it in college or as a career, but after taking the class, I learned that it isn’t something I want to do. It was a good learning experience,” Antebi said.

VHS could be more appreciated now than ever with all of the schedule changes. I have been planning since freshman year to take the Creative Writing course here at Pascack Valley in my senior year. However, with the schedule changes and Creative Writing being taken away during my senior year, my plans had to change. Luckily for me, I was accepted into the creative writing VHS class and I loved every minute of it.

Many kids at Pascack Valley don’t know that we offer VHS and the ones that do know but don’t seem to care are truly missing out on an amazing opportunity. Registration for the spring 2015 semester is still open and is open until Feb. 3, while the actual classes start January 28th. See Maniscalco for details.