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Bailey Bastyr, a new 10th grade student to BlueSky this year, is featured as this month’s BlueSky Star because she is a shining example of a well-rounded student. She is engaged in her schooling, works hard to stay on pace and does well in all her classes. I always enjoy her responses to my communications as they are always positive and usually make me smile. See below for what Bailey says about her experience here:

What I like about being a student at BlueSky is the flexibility I have and that the teachers are always there to help and want me to be successful. I chose BlueSky because I was trying to find an online school that would help me be successful in my academics. What I like most is that I can work at a pace that is best for me and that I can always reach out to my teachers for help at any time. What helps me shine as a student is to set goals and a checklist every week and to always reach out to my teachers whenever I need help. Some things I do in my free time include volleyball, hunting, and fishing. I also work part-time in childcare. My future career will likely be in the nursing field.

Congratulations Bailey! 

~ Nominated by Dawn Nicol

 I am honored to highlight Sophie Crayford, a junior, as a BlueSky Star this month. Sophie’s ambition, integrity, and kind heart are just a few of the many positive qualities that shine in her as a student and person. Sophie is a joy to work with, excellent communicator, and often inspires others (including her Advisor!) to try new things and work toward goals. 

Sophie values the flexible schedule at BlueSky and uses it to her advantage by completing lessons early in the week which allows her time to maintain a job, pursue her  interests, and relax. Sophie’s positive experience at BlueSky includes having access to support, unique elective courses, and various opportunities outside of classes. She shares, “The teachers, advisors, and counselors are always there for you when you need help.” In addition to her coursework, Sophie enjoys participating in National Honor Society, yearbook committee, and book club.

Outside of school, Sophie enjoys creating art, designing things digitally, going to the gym, traveling, and spending time with her cat! Sophie has a bright future ahead of her, and hopes to attend a 4-year college for either interior design or graphic design. We are so proud of her and are excited to be a part of her journey. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor, Sophie! 

~Nominated by Hanna Coleman

Brayden Jordan has been selected as a BlueSky Star for February because of his strong work ethic, excellent time management habits, and solid communication skills. These outstanding qualities have helped him successfully and consistently navigate his high school career thus far. Brayden, a current 10th grade student, came to BlueSky because he was seeking out local online options. At BlueSky, Brayden likes that he can have a flexible school schedule, can set his own pace in courses, and that his teachers are readily available to assist him if he has questions. When asked how he finds success at our school he shared that he does so by, “Sticking to my to do list and reaching out for help when needed.”  In his free time, Brayden enjoys doing almost anything outdoors.  He enjoys hunting, fishing, and trapping.  In the future Brayden is interested in becoming a heavy equipment operator. Keep on shining, Brayden!

~Nominated by Carrie Ostman

Carlie Rehnelt is being recognized for high academic achievement! Carlie is in 8th grade and had an amazing quarter 2 and finished her classes with all A’s! This is an improvement from the previous quarter. She joined BlueSky in late September because she wanted to try school in an online environment versus going in person. You could say that BlueSky has been a great fit for Carlie and we are so lucky to have her here! “Coming to BlueSky helped my mental health and getting good grades,” said Carlie when asked about her online school experience. In addition, Carlie mentioned that she switched to an online environment because she was witnessing students treat each other very badly. 

Carlie enjoys playing softball, which is her biggest hobby, and hanging out with her friends. When asked about what she likes to do Carlie shared, “I spend my time outside of school getting into comfy clothes (I’m probably already in them) and watching shows and movies.” The most important things in her life are her family and friends. 

Carlie has experienced many positives since coming to BlueSky including receiving this nomination for a BlueSky Star and being acknowledged for her hard work and commitment to her academics. She shared that she likes getting good grades because of how good it makes her feel. “Everyone is so nice and students and teachers are very helpful whenever you need them”, said Carlie about why she likes BlueSky so much. She stays motivated by writing down at least 5 assignments each day to make it less stressful. A tip to other students that Carlie shared is to have a mindset that after you are done with your homework for the day, you will have all the free time you want! And the earlier you get it done, the more free time you will have. Congratulations Carlie on all of your successes with BlueSky. I am excited to see more!

~ Nominated by Rashel Lane

I am honored to share Beth Her, a sophomore, as our January BlueSky Star. Beth chose BlueSky this year after looking through multiple Minnesota online schools. She was finding it hard to succeed in her local school district due to social anxiety and lack of mental health support. At BlueSky, we have seen Beth shine! She has qualities of integrity, determination, strong communication, and work ethic. 

Beth shared that “Self discipline is a very important skill to be successful in an online school”. She enjoys hanging out with family and friends, playing video games, paper crafting, watching crime documentaries, and listening to scary podcasts. Beth wanted to give a shout out to her English teacher, Molly Kinnamon, for always responding to any questions she’s had, as well as her math teacher, Laura Welciek, for noticing her effort in math class.

As a 10th grader, Beth already has some wisdom  for her 9th grade self. “Don’t get peer pressured from trying to fit in with the crowd, focus on discovering who you are and express it.” Once she graduates in a few years, Beth is looking forward to pursuing a college degree in education or psychology. Please join me in celebrating Beth this month as our well deserved BlueSky Star!

~Nominated by Abby Henderson

It is with great pleasure that I have selected Dan Binder, 8th grader to be a Middle School BlueSky Star! I am so proud of how far he has come in the first part of this school year. Dan shared that his “experiences this year have been a little stressful, but working with teachers has helped me adapt a little to online learning.” Dan joined our school this fall, and had a bit of a learning curve with moving to more independent learning. 

When Dan was provided opportunities for more support, he took advantage of that and it has paid off!  His grades have improved dramatically and is on track to make the B Honor Roll. Advice he would give to other students struggling is to “not be afraid to seek help and to never give up.”

He said “Online has changed my school experience a lot, it’s been making life easier.” He stays motivated through positive self-talk. 

In his freetime Dan enjoys practicing music, which is something he is very passionate about. Dan has persevered through tough times, and has been a great addition to our school. 

~ Nominated by Dawn Mensing

This month we celebrate senior Ashley Heinen as a BlueSky Star! Good things come to those who wait as Ashley proved over two years ago while placed on the waiting list at BlueSky. Online learning made sense as she’s managed a chronic illness her entire life. In 2021, she missed a tremendous amount of school. It was clear her previous setting was not equipped to help students with chronic issues. Ashley shared, “BlueSky helped me get back on track with my school work. They also have worked with me very well through my many doctor appointments and surgeries to make sure that I never fall too far behind.” She believes being self-motivated is the key to online success. Her team consistently sees her perseverance and resilience when facing and balancing her health issues.

Communication is a strong skill she possesses. Ashley gave a teacher shout out to Darren Sonenstahl who helped her with math classes along the way. Her consistent messaging to staff makes her an ideal student thus allowing her team to best meet her needs. Ashley’s advice to her younger self was insightful – Life how it is now is not how it will be in the future. Words of an optimist.

Ashley is busy. Hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, horseback riding and listening to music are activities bringing her joy outside of school. The Selection Series by Kierra Cass landed at the top of her favorite reading list. When thinking about her post-high school plans, Ashley wants to first work at a bakery and become one of the decorators. Her work ethic and ability to manage so many deadlines and unexpected health issues make her well qualified to eventually run that bakery. Thank you for choosing BlueSky, Ashley.

~ Nominated by Julie Endersbe