Blog Posts

OVS posts helpful blogs on a variety of topics to help you make the most of your high school career! Check back regularly for new postings.

The Courage to Learn: Taking Ownership of Your Education

The Courage to Learn Taking Ownership of Your Education (1)

It’s no secret that each of us has our individual preferences when it comes to learning. For this reason, the traditional classroom doesn’t always meet the needs of all learners. Whether it has to do with the structure of a traditional school day, the time allotted to each subject or course, or the pacing of the material, there is no doubt that traditional education leaves little room for individualized learning pathways.

With OVS, students can learn online in a flexible environment that suites their needs.

6 Benefits of Virtual Labs

6 Benefits of Virtual Labs Header

When you think of science class, you may conjure up images of lab coats, animal dissections, and chemistry sets. However, as a significant number of students turn to online schools, like the Ontario Virtual School, teachers have had to adapt the methods in which students perform practical activities. These hands-on learning experiences are not always possible in the virtual learning environment, so teachers have opted to utilize virtual lab simulations. Hands-on approaches have been the standard until recently, which is causing many students and parents to wonder: do virtual labs measure up?

Balancing Nutrition and Academics: A Guide for Students

As an educator with Ontario Virtual School (OVS), I recognize the importance of teaching students how to effectively balance their nutritional goals while completing online OSSD credits. In HFA4U, Nutrition and Health, once students learn about the significance of nutrition during adolescence and its pivotal role in long-term health, they are eager to follow nutritional guidelines highlighted in Canada’s Food Guide. However, the main barrier I encounter is a lack of time. Here are a few strategies to stay on track without compromising your nutrition and health!

Strengthening Global Connections: OVS Signs Partnership with Nissei High School in Kyoto to Offer Dual Diploma Program

Strengthening Global Connections

Last week marked a significant milestone for Ontario Virtual School (OVS) as we proudly signed a partnership with St. Joseph Gakuen Nissei High School in Kyoto, Japan. The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo on March 28, 2025, in a celebration of international education and cultural exchange.

This new partnership will allow students at Nissei High School to enroll in OVS’s fully online Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) program, while continuing their local Japanese studies. Upon completion, students will graduate with dual diplomas—both the Japanese high school diploma and the internationally recognized OSSD, greatly enhancing their post-secondary options domestically and around the world.

Celebrating Success: Eric Manikhouth Awarded OVS University Acceptance Scholarship

Ontario Virtual School (OVS) is proud to announce Eric Manikhouth as this year’s recipient of the March 2025 OVS University Acceptance $500 Scholarship! We are thrilled to celebrate Eric’s acceptance into the Computer Science program at the University of Ottawa, where he will continue his academic journey and pursue his passion for technology and innovation.

OVS-Turkiye Dual Diploma Program 2025

OVS-Turkey Dual Diploma Program (2)

Our most recent partnership has been with the Crown International Education and Consultancy, an organization that has been providing services for over 18 years. Working together OVS and Crown International have been operating the OSSD Canada Dual Diploma Program, in collaboration with reputable Turkish institutions since September 2024.

How OVS Helps Support High Performance Athletes With Their Education

Being a high-performance athlete require intense training, focus, and dedication. When you’re still in high school, you also have the added stress of classes, studying, and passing your exams. Doing both can be overwhelming, and often students find themselves either struggling in school or having a hard time maintaining their training for their sport.
With OVS, students don’t have to give anything up and can succeed in both their academics and their athletics. Students can customize their education to fit their needs, giving them more freedom to pursue their goals.

Understanding Business and Finance: High School Courses to Help You Succeed

Understanding Business and Finance High School Courses to Help You Succeed (1)

Whether your interested in a career in business or finance, starting your own company or brand, or just want to get a better understanding of how to navigate your own finances, there are many courses you can take at the high school level to help you learn about the world of business and finance.
At OVS, we have several courses at different grade levels that students can take to help in all different areas of the business world.

Balancing Academics and Athletics

Balancing Academics and Athletics (1)

One of the most difficult parts of being a young athlete is finding the balance between athletics and academics. With all the time spent practicing or at games and events, not to mention the travelling and logistics, it can be tough to find enough time to dedicate to your academic life. Here at Ontario Virtual School, we have many student athletes, and we’re dedicated to supporting them

Podcast S4 Ep 1. Ai Vs. Machine Learning & Toronto Metropolitan University

A Brighter Future Podcast - OVS Podcast

In this episode, podcast host and Ontario Virtual School teacher Alicia Cuzner explains the difference between machine learning and artificial intelligence, diving into their current applications, potential future developments, and how they may appear at schools. The episode also includes a Post Secondary School Spotlight with Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), offering a look at their

Benefits to Hybrid Online Learning

Benefits to Hybrid Online Learning

In the last several years, many students have adopted a hybrid approach to their high school education. This means that while they still attend a traditional physical school for at least some of their courses, they also take some courses through online schooling options. Students and families who are not familiar with this model may be surprised, but there are many reasons students decide to turn to online schooling, while still attending a regular physical school.

4 Tips for Test Taking

Many students dread test day, and it’s easy to understand why. Tests are important, and students may feel that they just aren’t good at “test taking.” Test anxiety can indeed be a significant challenge, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few tips, students can ease their anxiety and make writing a test much less intimidating.

Master the Art of Essay Writing: 5 Tips to Boost Your Skills

Master the Art of Essay Writing 5 Tips to Boost Your Skills

For some students, the word “essay” brings to mind the most feared and hated form of schoolwork. Essay anxiety is very common, and it is easy to understand why students may be apprehensive about writing one. by keeping a few easy tips in mind, students can better understand why essays are helpful, enhance their essay-writing skills, and soon come to find essays are not as scary as they seem, but can actually be simple.

The Role of Parents and Families in Online Schooling

The Role of Parents and Families in Online Schooling Header

As online learning continues to grow in popularity, more students and families are choosing this form of education. However, many families might be unsure of the role they can play in online learning. One of the main advantages of online learning is that parents can be more involved in the learning process. At the same time, online learning provides a valuable opportunity for students to learn and practice independence. These two aspects don’t have be contradictory; in fact, they can complement each other, depending on how parents and families engage in the process.

University Scholarship Applications for 2024-2025

2024-2025 Scholarship Opportunities

For students applying to university next year, it’s important to focus no only on university applications and senior courses, but also the financial cost of attending. University tuition costs are at an all-time high, which means many students struggle with the financial burdens of post-secondary education. However, opportunities exist to lighten this load through scholarships, bursaries, and other grants from both government-funded and privately funded programs.

2024 High School Graduation Requirements

This year, there have been some fundamental changes to the graduation requirements for students who are just entering Grade 9. So, while students who entered high school last year will still be working off the original graduation requirements, new students have a different set of criteria they need to meet.

In order to help parents and students navigate these changes, this article breaks down these new and previous requirements.