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Student Spotlight: Andrew F.
Andrew doesn’t like to talk about the bullying he faced as a young child. But this seventh-grade student at Michigan Connections Academy does recognize that those unfortunate incidents were a turning point in his life—the point at which he decided to start wrestling.
Student Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Andrew F.
Few athletes ever achieve the kind of success Andrew has already achieved. Still just 13 years old, this Brownstown resident and Connections Academy seventh grader has racked up first-place finishes in local and regional tournaments and a third-place finish in a state-wide event. He also has three national championship titles as a key part of his club team.
Last April, he “took first place in the 12 & Under Folkstyle Individual Nuway Nationals.”
Always Looking Up
Andrew’s story already has a happy ending. The beginning was much more difficult. “It started with the neighborhood bullies picking on me, taking my stuff,” Andrew recalls, “just everything that a normal kid in the neighborhood would have to go through.”
Kids respond to bullying in a variety of ways. It’s difficult to imagine a better response than Andrew’s: motivation and remarkable determination.
He wakes up at 4:45 a.m. so he can get in a workout before school. During the week, he has track and wrestling practice, then competitions on weekends throughout Michigan, Ohio, and beyond.
As a sport, wrestling requires those same personality traits: motivation and determination. “He started at the bottom and worked his way up,” says Glenn Washington, Andrew’s coach. “Kids can get mentally fatigued with all of this. Andrew has an ability to comprehend things better than any kid I’ve seen in my 15 years.”
A Proud Father
Andrew’s father LaRue deserves credit as well. He’s the one who initially suggested wrestling to his then-young son, mostly as a way for him to stand up to the bullies. “When he first started, I was for a while ready to give up,” LaRue recalls. “But Coach Washington told me the cream was going to rise to the top.”
Andrew is still a long way from being fully grown; he wrestles in the 107-lb weight class. But he no longer worries about the neighborhood bullies. “Never,” Andrew says. “I haven’t seen them once.”
LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS
Ignite Your Child’s Passions With Michigan Connections Academy
Change is everywhere. At Michigan Connections Academy, we’re helping students see change as an opportunity—so they can thrive in the world that lies ahead.
Our tuition-free online public school offers students in grades K-12 a safe, engaging environment where they can learn in the way that works best for them. Not only will your child gain the knowledge and confidence they need for assessments like state standardized testing, they’ll build fundamental life skills they need to meet tomorrow’s challenges. As their learning coach, you’ll be by their side, supporting them along the way.
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Teaching students in grades K-12
Tuition-free and high-quality
Designed by online learning experts
ABOUT MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
SEE HOW A TYPICAL LESSON WORKS FOR STUDENTS:
Science 4th grade, Plant Structures
Social Studies 3rd grade, The Environment
4th Grade Plant Structures - Sample Lessons
4th Grade Science
Plant Structures
Connections Academy 4th Grade Online Learning Unit | Plant Structures
2 min video
In this unit, Connections Academy online students explore how plants have adapted to their environments, diversifying and changing to thrive in all kinds of locations. Guided through a series of individual lessons that use dynamic text, video and audio, students enhance their critical thinking skills and their ability to make connections in the world.
3rd Grade Social Studies - Sample Lessons
3rd Grade Social Studies
The Environment
Connections Academy 3rd Grade Online Learning Unit | The Environment
2 min video
In this unit, Connections Academy online students take a virtual journey around the world, learning how geography and climate come together to create our environment. Guided through a series of individual lessons that use dynamic text, video and audio, students increase their understanding of science and why it matters to their life today and the world of tomorrow.
Teachers Who Know How to Reach Students
Our elementary teachers love helping young students learn and grow. They'll also be the partners you need to fully support your child as their Learning Coach. State certified and specially trained in online learning, our teachers embrace the uniqueness of every student and guide them along the learning path that’s right for them, leading them to a future full of opportunity.
SCHOOL REVIEWS
What Parents are Saying About Michigan Connections Academy
There’s no better feeling than watching your child thrive. At Michigan Connections Academy, we give you the opportunity to be your child’s learning coach so you can be a part of their successes. Here’s what other parents are saying about the experience.
97%
Of students are satisfied learning with us.
95%
Of parents are satisfied with the live, real-time learning we provide.
96%
Of parents feel their students are making progress on their academic goals.
Can my student transfer to Connections Academy mid-year?
Absolutely! While we always recommend that students transfer at the beginning of the semester to have the smoothest transition possible, we also accept students a few weeks into both the fall and spring semester (if capacity allows). To learn more about the transfer process, including how to apply, please visit our enrollment page.
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Finding the Right Path for Each Student
Learning is a personal journey. And we take an individualized approach. However your child learns best, our teachers and curriculum will lead them forward.
School Transparency
The online Parent Dashboard was developed by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to provide a central, easy-to-use location that offers a balanced picture of school quality throughout the state of Michigan. View the Parent Dashboard.
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