Students Summer Altiery and Jabulani Adebo and Family Engagement Coordinator Susan Powers take to the ice together. (Courtesy Greater Commonwealth Virtual School) 
Students and family members gather for a group photo at the ice rink in Worcester. (Courtesy Greater Commonwealth Virtual School) 
Members of the GCVS ESports team stand together at the ice rink. (Courtesy Greater Commonwealth Virtual School) 
A young man holds onto to the boards for support as a parent who is also a hockey coach provides him with pointers on skating. (Courtesy Greater Commonwealth Virtual School) 
Family Engagement Coordinator Susan Powers shares a laugh with a father and son as they make their way around the ice. (Courtesy Greater Commonwealth Virtual School)
WORCESTER — Family Engagement Coordinator Susan Powers is pleased to share that Greater Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) students and families gathered across the state last month to go ice skating.
Students and families gathered at four locations on Thursday, Dec. 22 — Asiaf Skating Arena in Brockton, Buffone Skating Arena in Worcester, Fitzpatrick Arena in Holyoke and Collins-Moylan Memorial Rink in Greenfield — to enjoy skating and time together.
In all, 108 students attended, highlighting GCVS’ footprint across the state with 23 students attending in Greenfield, 21 in Holyoke, 40 in Worcester and 24 in Brockton.
Greater Commonwealth Virtual School students live in communities across the entire state and attend classes remotely. The skating event allowed students and their families to meet, and to venture out onto the rink. Supporting one other from slips and falls provided a natural ice breaker. There was also ample opportunity for conversations off the ice, and opportunities for students to meet each other, learning coaches and staff members.
Family engagement is a top priority of GCVS, with a dedicated Family Engagement Team that seeks to support the school community by organizing meet-ups. GCVS’s Family Engagement Team includes seven liaisons who live in different geographic areas throughout the state, allowing them to focus on GCVS families and students who reside in the same region.
“The Family Engagement Team is a fundamental part of GCVS. Being a virtual, public school, communication and relationship building is key to student success and creating a positive school culture,” said Powers. “Our Family Engagement Team focuses on supporting our learning coaches in their role, supporting students with ways to have a successful experience in school, and connecting families to resources in their community.”