Forging a New Path: Iowa Virtual School is Now Stellar Oaks!
A school should never stop growing, adapting to better serve the families that trust them. Just like the students we serve, schools thrive when we listen to our community and adopt strategies to overcome challenges together.
That’s why Iowa Virtual School is getting a new name: Stellar Oaks Virtual Academy!
This is our first step in growing for the sake of better representing who we are and how we serve families across Iowa. Keep reading to understand why we’re making this change, what this will mean for families, and how the new name is the best next step.
Why Change the Name?
A name is the first impression parents and guardians have of a school, regardless of whether the school is virtual or brick-and-mortar. But, without a physical location to visit, virtual schools lean even more heavily on something as simple as a name. It becomes a representation of who we are and what we stand for: Iowa Virtual School is simple, straightforward, and made our intent clear, but didn’t give a sense of who we are.
Stellar Oaks speaks to a stronger school identity, grounded in a familiar Iowa symbol – the oak tree. Leaning on this connection makes our position that much more clear to prospective and existing families. Our roots are embedded in Iowa, with local teachers led by a Principal that knows Iowa families well.
Grounding the school in its state identity isn’t a change in our approach, but rather a current standard better reflected in our new name. Every teacher, counselor, and staff member shows how dedicated they are to helping students reach for the stars, while keeping them grounded in a safe, familiar environment. Stellar Oaks says all of that – and with a cool new logo!
FAQ: What Does This Means for Families?
The name change will bring with it a few changes for current and prospective families. Lets walk through a few things you may notice in this transitionary period.
Q: What changes will all families notice?
A: You might see a school communications with the new name and the old name. It might take a second for all of our systems to adjust.
You’ll also see the new name in the website URL. If you have the Iowa Virtual School URL bookmarked, it will redirect you to the right place. But you still might want to update your links!
Q: What changes will prospective families notice?
A: Families interested in joining Stellar Oaks might notice enrollment emails from Iowa Virtual School and Stellar Oaks Virtual Academy in your inbox. This won’t affect any enrollment communications, and should be fixed within a week or so! You’ll still be able to communicate with the enrollment team through the emails regardless of the school name used.
You may also see changes in the Enrollment portal. Which should also settle in a week or so.
Q: What changes will current families notice?
A: Our existing families will see a slow roll out of changes, including new email addresses for students and teachers.
In fact, you probably have an email announcement waiting for you! Please take the time to read through the email carefully, as it will have more detailed information and a clear timeline.
By the end of the summer, all of the updates should be settled. So don’t worry if you come back from summer break to a new name – it’s still us, just with a new look.
What’s Next?
Now, all of this change might leave you feeling a little unmoored. That’s normal! Even small changes ripple out in a community as tightly knit as ours. But that doesn’t mean change is bad, or frightening.
We made this change with our families at the forefront of our mind. We want to be a school our families can recognize for all the right reasons. Stellar Oaks Virtual Academy speaks to the people we serve and the heights we’re hoping to reach with them. All strong communities are built around an identity that resonates with them. This is who we are, and we’re excited to share it with you.
