REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY student, Brennan Vecchio

(4.5) Student Experience

I loved Ontario Virtual School. I really appreciated how I was able to work on it at any time. I’m a busy person, and the flexibility that OVS offers was perfect for me. Just from the one class I took at OVS, I wouldn’t change a thing about the school. One thing I do wish I had known before taking an OVS course is how accommodating it is; everything is really based on what you're comfortable with as a student. If I could change one thing about my day school, I would say it’s the lack of personalized accommodations. Students should be taught in the way they learn best, instead of everyone being taught the same way. Overall, I had a great experience at Ontario Virtual School, and I think it’s a great choice for anyone who might be struggling with traditional school courses.

(5) School Leadership

I have 100% respect for the teachers and guidance counselors; they truly do their best to support their students. They make school an enjoyable place to be and play such a huge role in the character development of each student. One thing I wish they would do more of is offer more one-on-one check-ins. This could really help students who may not naturally put themselves out there but still need that extra support to take the next steps toward their goals. Sometimes, just having someone reach out can make all the difference.

(4.5) Teaching

I feel that teachers can sometimes ask either too much or too little from students. It can be overwhelming when there’s a lot to juggle between different courses and homework, and not all teachers fully understand that. On the other hand, some teachers don’t ask enough, and I think that can actually be worse. When students aren’t challenged or given meaningful assignments, they miss out on the opportunity to learn and grow. When teachers talk about student success, I believe they envision students giving their best. It’s not about perfection—it’s about putting in 100% effort. That’s what truly matters, and that’s what teachers care about the most. Overall, I believe every teacher has their own teaching style, and whatever approach they take, it’s usually with the students’ success in mind.

(5) Academics

For me, I feel the workload is just right. It’s not too hard and not too easy. I do face some challenges, but I think that’s important in both school and life. If the work is too easy, you’re not really learning anything, even if it feels better in the moment. Later on, you might look back and wish you had been pushed a little more. At the same time, the work shouldn't be too hard either, because that can overwhelm students, hurt their confidence, and even lead them to drop courses or lose interest in school altogether. I believe the learning I’ve done will be useful later in life—not necessarily because I’ll use every detail (like solving for x and y in math), but because of the problem-solving and perseverance it required. Figuring out how to navigate through challenges has taught me skills that I know I’ll carry into the future.

(5) School Life

(5) Admissions

The admission process for me was smooth and quick. I was able to complete everything I needed for the course I chose without any issues. One piece of advice I’d give is to take your time and make sure you fully understand what you're signing up for—be clear about the course you're choosing and what it involves. While I felt a bit stressed at first, the system is actually very user-friendly. The steps are clearly laid out, and it's easy to follow along. Overall, the admission experience helped prepare me for success, and my biggest tip would be: don’t stress—it’s more straightforward than it seems.