One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is the flexibility to shape our children’s education in a way that works best for our families. But with that freedom comes the ongoing process of reflecting, adjusting, and planning ahead.

At this point in the year, you’ve likely settled into a rhythm—some things are working well, and others may need a little tweaking. Maybe you’ve discovered a curriculum that’s been a perfect fit or a new learning style that’s clicking for your child. Or perhaps you’ve realized that your schedule could use a little more breathing room or that your child thrives with more hands-on experiences. Wherever you are in the journey, this mid-year point is the perfect time to pause and ask: What’s working? What’s not? And what do we want to carry forward into next year?

As you reflect on this school year, it’s also a great time to start planning ahead! Our Intent to Return window is opening soon, along with priority enrollment for siblings of current students. If your family is ready to commit for another amazing year, be sure to mark your calendar!

We understand that planning for the future takes time, and we’re here to support you every step of the way! We are grateful to be part of your journey and look forward to what’s ahead!

However your journey is unfolding, know that you’re doing an incredible job, and your children are learning and growing in ways that can’t be measured only by checklists and lesson plans.

Here’s to finishing this year strong while looking ahead with confidence!

Kindly,

Kara Parkins

As we begin planning for the 2025-26 school year, it’s almost time for current families to complete the Intent to Return process and enroll any siblings who wish to join our school next year. Please review the important dates and details below, as these deadlines are firm and time-sensitive.

🔹 Intent to Return for Current Students: March 3 – March 7
All currently enrolled students must complete their Intent to Return form during this window to secure their spot for next year. Be sure to watch for an email from your HST with instructions and complete the process on time.

🔹 Sibling Enrollment: March 3 – March 14
Siblings of current students must be enrolled through our open enrollment process, but they will receive priority placement as long as all required documents and forms are submitted by the deadline. Now is a great time to start gathering any necessary documents to ensure a smooth enrollment process.

🔹Questions about TK age eligibility or Kindergarten age cut-offs? Please visit the enrollment page on our school website.

We encourage all families to carefully track these dates, pay close attention to email communications, and complete all required steps on time to secure enrollment for next year. If you have any questions, please reach out—we’re here to help!

• School Updates: 2025-26 School Year Updates
• Testing: Testing Tip of the Week, Test Prep Parties
• TK-8 Instructional Programs: Introducing Creative Arts Collective, TK Spring Event and More
• HS Counseling: UC For Everyone, Community College Resources
• CVHS: Igniting Innovation & Get Ready to Glow! + Prom
• CCPA: Capturing Memories: Yearbook in Action
• Everybody Belongs: Exploring Vibrant Black Art
• Lending Library: Upcoming Storytime & Craft Club
• And More…

And always at the end of The Wednesday Weekly

• Registration links and schedules for Park Days, Mondays at the CCC, and the Lending Library.

You can find more info about dates and events throughout the newsletter or on the Hawks’ Nest calendar.

Remember, this list does not include all events hosted by The Cottonwood School. Please check your personal calendar and email for field trip reminders, class reminders, and more.

• Mon, Feb 24:
• Mondays at the CCC, 10 am – 2 pm (see Mondays @ CCC section for activities)
• Mindset Mondays (See SELF Talk Newsletter for details)
• Storytime & Craft Club at The Lending Library, 2 – 3 pm

• Weds, Feb 26:
• Library on Location Van: Fair Oaks & Rancho Cordova
• Regional Park Days: Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Antelope

Looking Ahead:

• Mon, March 3:
• Mondays at the CCC, 10 am – 2 pm (see Mondays @ CCC section for activities)
• Mindset Mondays (See SELF Talk Newsletter for details)
• Storytime & Craft Club at The Lending Library, 2 – 3 pm

• Weds, March 5:
• Library on Location Van: Fair Oaks & Rancho Cordova
• Regional Park Days: Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Antelope
• Thurs, March 13: Field Trips Registration Opens @ 12:30 pm
• Fri, March 14: Deadline to submit Service Orders for April in Procurify

• Fri, March 14: The Cottonwood School’s Annual Science Fair
• Wed, March 26: Ordering closes for all orders except Amazon Punchout
• Fri, April 4: The Cottonwood Hollywood Red Carpet Ball
• Fri, April 11: The Cottonwood School’s Annual Maker’s Market
• Wed, April 30: Amazon Punchout ordering closes

SAVE THE DATE:

📅 Kindergarten Promotion – Tuesday, May 20, 2025 (Morning) – Location TBA

📅 8th Grade Promotion – Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 1:00 PM 📍 William Jessup University

📅 High School Graduation – Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 4:00 PM 📍 William Jessup University

📅 Friday, March 14th – Deadline to submit April Service Orders in Procurify

📅Wednesday, March 26th – This is the final day for families to request all service orders and non-Amazon product orders for the remainder of the school year. After March 26th, only Amazon Punchout orders will be available.

Don’t wait—plan ahead and submit your orders early! ✅

We are pleased to announce that our school board has approved a $200 increase in instructional funds for every grade band! For the 2025-26 school year, our homestudy students will be allocated:

✅ $2,600 for TK
✅ $3,000 for grades K-8
✅ $3,400 for grades 9-12

But that’s not all! Did you realize beyond these funds, every Cottonwood student receives over $3,000 in additional educational value—for free?

📚 Curriculum & Learning Resources ($1,100+ Value)

• Superstar Reader Program (full K-2 Language Arts curriculum)
• Mindset Mondays (7 Mindsets curriculum) & Let Grow!
• Live and asynchronous virtual instructional
• Access to a fully stocked Lending Library
• Curated curriculum guides and consultation with experts
• Parent education opportunities
• Field trip resources and supplemental learning materials.

💻 Technology & Digital Learning ($1,200+ Value)

• Free Chromebook for every student
• Access to premium learning apps: IXL, BrainPOP, i-Ready, Renaissance Learning, Lexia, Generation Genius, Learning Ally, Epic! Books, Microsoft 365, Adobe Express, Nearpod, and more!
• Sora eBooks & Audiobooks subscription
• Pear Deck Tutor (Live tutoring support)

🌱 Community & Experiential Learning ($650+ Value)

• Mondays at the CCC – Hands-on crafts, teacher-led lessons, and social learning experiences
• Storytime & crafts at the Lending Library
• Multiple free weekly classes
• Opportunities for in-person and virtual enrichment
• Hundreds of park days, field trips and events at discounted rates or offered for FREE!

💡 This means every Cottonwood student has access to approximately $6,000 in total educational value! We are committed to ensuring our families have the tools, technology, and experiences to thrive.

We hope you take full advantage of these resources throughout this year and in the future! 🎉

My name is Samantha Woodbeck and I’ve been an HST with Cottonwood for the past 6 years and have served in the Mobile Youth Coordinator role for the last 4 years. I am also a homeschool mom.

Three things I’d like you to know about what I provide as the Mobile Youth Coordinator.

• I am here to support families experiencing homelessness and unique and transitional living situations, as well as offer support to our foster youth.
• Part of my job is to ensure that there are no barriers to these students accessing educational services, per the McKinney-Vento Act.
• I have established relationships with many local community resources within the five counties that our school serves and can help make sure families are connected in times of need whether it’s for food, medical, clothing, or other resources.

I am very passionate about the work I do within our school community. I am also extremely resourceful about finding ways to help families get what they need. Lastly, I am very sensitive to the varying nature of unique circumstances that many families may be experiencing during these times. Please reach out to me at any time.

Reserve a Chromebook by completing the RSVP form

Once complete, our team will process the order and notify the HST and parent with other details.

Quick help for logging into student Chromebooks:

Visit https://bit.ly/device-login OR scan the attached QR code!

Does your student have an i-Ready or Lexia account? These amazing programs can really help boost student achievement. The CAASPP testing window opens in six weeks. That is plenty of time for your student to make big gains in their academic skills! We encourage you to strive to increase your student’s usage of i-Ready/Lexia over the next six weeks. Not only will it boost their academic skills, but they will also walk into the CAASPP feeling more confident in their knowledge.

If your student does not yet have i-Ready or Lexia, reach out to your HST, and they can sign you up. These amazing programs are FREE!

7. Model Opinion Writing

Show your child how you might write an opinion piece. For example, you could write an opinion on a simple topic, such as “Should pets be allowed in the classroom?” as a model. Walk your child through the process of forming an opinion, supporting it with reasons, and concluding with a summary.

8. Encourage Reflection and Discussion

Before your child starts writing, engage them in a discussion about the topic. Talking through their thoughts will help them clarify their opinion and the reasons behind it. Use questions such as:

• "What do you think about this topic?"

• "Why do you feel that way?"

• "Can you think of any reasons to support your view?"

These discussions will help your child think more deeply about their opinion and prepare them for the writing process.

9. Celebrate Their Effort and Improvement

Writing can be challenging, so be sure to acknowledge and celebrate your child’s effort, improvement, and persistence. Praise their ability to support their opinion with strong reasons and evidence, and encourage them to keep practicing!

The CAASPP opinion writing assessment is an opportunity for your child to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills. With your guidance and support, your child will not only be prepared for the test, but also become a more confident and effective writer in everyday life.

Thank you for being an active participant in your child’s learning process!

Happy prepping!

Looking for a fun and active way to prepare for CAASPP testing? Join us for an exciting Test Prep Party! These events are designed to help testing-age students (grades 3-8 and 11-12) feel confident and ready—all while having a blast!

🏆 Choose Your Adventure:
🧗 Rock Climbing
🤸 Trampolines
🎳 Bowling

Each event includes a fun-filled activity plus a hands-on test prep session to build confidence before state testing. Parents, you’re invited too! You’ll participate in the prep portion so you can better support your child at home.

📅 Spots are limited! Check out the registration buttons below and sign up today!

Never fear! All of the Testing Tips of the Week are available in the Nest!

Where to Find It: Navigate to the Academics section of The Hawks’ Nest > Test Success Tips

Whether you have experience or you are brand new to playing instruments and singing, we have something to offer you. All levels of experience are welcome to participate in these fun classes!

• Piano (1st-3rd grade): Mondays 2:30, March 17th – April 28th
• Ukulele (4th-8th grade): Tuesdays 2:30, March 17th – April 28th
• Choir: (8th-12th grade): Meets asynchronously, Email jamin.coller@cottonwoodk12.org for more details.

Last week the registration opened for our spring science event: "A Bug’s Life" which will take place on March 20th. Our Explorers will get to celebrate the first day of spring by learning about insects, enjoying fun and engaging activities and much more. Space is limited so we encourage our families to register early. Please click on the link below to learn more and to access the event registration.

Students who currently have missing assignments or low grades can take advantage of the final two weeks of the quarter by viewing their grades and submitting their missing work in Canvas.

This free virtual event on Tuesday, February 25th from 6-7:30 pm is your opportunity to learn more about the UC experience. Hear from current students to discover the academic, social and experiential learning opportunities that await you at the University of California. The event content will include:

• An overview of the UC system and the value of a UC degree

• Undergraduate campus presentations

• Live panel with current UC students

• An overview of admission requirements for first-year and transfer applicants

• Admission tips and guidance

• Admission representatives from all nine undergraduate campuses will also be available during the event to answer your questions.

Space is limited, so be sure to register today at this link!

Sierra College is hosting Zoom sessions to help support future students with application and enrollment questions. You can drop into the Zoom hours to receive help with admissions, financial aid applications, navigating mySierra, and getting ready to register for classes. Here are the dates listed below with the Sierra College calendar invite linked to access the Zoom link needed.

Thursday February 20th 1-3pm

Tuesday February 25th 9-11am

Thursday February 27th 1-3pm

Need help completing your 2025-2026 Financial Aid Application (FAFSA or CADAA)? Folsom Lake College is hosting a Financial Aid Workshop on Thursday February 27th from 3-6 on Zoom! Drop in anytime during the event to get assistance.

More info here and RSVP for 2/27 (online)

Have questions about FAFSA or CADAA? Attend one of thefree CSAC Statewide Cash for College Webinars! These webinars will provide students and their families with information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Click here for more information!

• February 24 5:30pm-6:45pm (English with Mandarin translation)

• March 3 5:30pm-6:45pm (English with Spanish translation)

Jonas Heppner, School Counselor https://calendly.com/jonas-heppner/counseling-appointment

Kiyoshi Mizutani, School Counselor https://calendly.com/kiyoshi-mizutani/counseling-appointment

Lindsey Romero, School Counselor https://calendly.com/lindsey-romero-cottonwoodk12/30min

🌿 Sign Up Now for the In-Person CSUS Sustainability Tour! 🌍

🚶‍♂️ Join us on March 6th for an exciting walking tour of CSUS’s groundbreaking sustainability initiatives! Discover how the university is leading the way in eco-friendly innovation and creating a greener future.

📢 Spots are limited—sign up now using the button below to be part of this inspiring experience! 🌱✨

🌟 High Schoolers, Get Ready to Glow! 🌟

Cottonwood students in grades 9-12 are invited to the 2nd Annual Glowetry Poetry Event—an exclusive glow-in-the-dark experience designed just for teens!

✨ What to Expect:
🎨 Glow-in-the-dark art projects
🕯 Glowing poetry lanterns
📖 Create your own glow journal
📝 Explore spoken word with blackout poetry
🎶 Enjoy great music, snacks, and drinks in a blacklight-lit CCC!

🌙 Let your creativity shine in this one-of-a-kind fusion of art, poetry, and fun!

📢 This event is FREE, but registration is required! Sign up below to join the Glowetry Poetry Slam! 🎤✨

PROM 2025: Hollywood Red Carpet Ball, April 4th. TCS teens will walk the red carpet, shine like a star, and dance the night away while creating lasting memories with fellow high school students. Don’t miss the most anticipated event of the year!

Our talented student photographers are hard at work capturing the moments that make this school year unforgettable! From clubs to candid classroom shots, they are dedicated to creating a yearbook that truly reflects the essence of CCPA. Their attention to detail and creativity are bringing our school’s story to life, ensuring that every student has a lasting collection of memories to look back on. Yearbook is more than just taking photos—it’s about storytelling, design, and teamwork, and our students are rising to the challenge with enthusiasm and skill.

📢 Considering high school options for next year? CCPA, our Montessori-inspired hybrid charter high school in El Dorado Hills, CA, offers a dynamic learning environment where students engage in hands-on experiences, real-world skill building, and a strong sense of community. With opportunities like Yearbook, Pottery, Robotics, Model UN, and more, students can explore their passions while preparing for their future.

To learn more about how CCPA can be the right fit for your high schooler, reach out to us at (530) 285-2003 or isabella.brenneman@cottonwoodk12.org. Help spread the word about this innovative and engaging learning community! 🎓✨

Check out the details for next week’s Park Days on Wednesday, February 26th:

📍 Elk Grove – Kammerer Park, 12 AM (with Alaynah M.)
📍 Folsom – Econome Family Park, 10 AM (with Saralynn D.)
📍 Roseville – Woodbridge Park, 10 AM – 12 PM (with Amanda B.)
📍 Antelope – Dry Creek Park (Roseville), 11 AM – Join us for crafts! (with Maria O.)

🔹 Stay Updated! Join your local Remind group for updates on activities led by the Family Liaison team, including weather-related cancellations and upcoming events.

Sign up to receive Park Day reminders and stay in the loop all semester long!

REMIND: Rocklin/Roseville/Lincoln Park Day

REMIND: 50 Corridor: Folsom/Placerville/Rancho Cordova

REMIND: Elk Grove Park Day

REMIND: Antelope/Fair Oaks/Citrus Heights

Join Saralynn on the first Wednesday of every month for a special park day! Each month, she’ll introduce your kiddos to a fascinating person or place in history through a captivating read-aloud, fun facts, and a hands-on craft.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! 🌳 Join Saralynn every Wednesday at parks across Folsom, Cameron Park, and Orangevale where families can connect, play, and build friendships.

📅 Mark Your Calendar for History & Crafts!
📖 3/5 – Albert Einstein
📖 4/2 – George Washington
📖 5/7 – The Transcontinental Railroad

Come be part of the fun, learning, and connection every week!

From 10 AM – 1 PM, Mondays at the CCC have an “Open House” vibe—feel free to drop in whenever you’d like!

For our guided activities from 1-2 PM, we ask that you reserve your spot using the signup so our specialty staff can prepare a great experience for your students. (Note: February 24 is an exception, as we have two special activities!)

🔹 Check out the signup to see what’s coming up, but please only sign up for activities you plan to attend so we can allocate resources appropriately.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

• OFFICIAL Facebook Community Group
• Official and private, moderated by Cottonwood School staff.
• Ensures accurate information and verifies active members as parents/legal guardians.
• A secure space for information, updates, and community connections.
• Public Instagram
• Pinterest – Tons of resources and ideas to be found.

Click the links below to add yourself to our REMIND list for our Park days. A weekly text will be sent to remind you of our upcoming event. Additionally, if there are last-minute location or time changes, you will be updated.

REMIND: Mondays at the CCC

REMIND: Rocklin/Roseville/Lincoln Park Day

REMIND: 50 Corridor: Folsom/Placerville/Rancho Cordova

REMIND: Elk Grove Park Day

REMIND: Antelope/Fair Oaks/Citrus Heights

• The Parents Hawks Nest – Everything you need to know and more is found here.

• Past Wednesday Weekly Newsletters
• 2024/25 School Calendar

THE COTTONWOOD SCHOOL

Serving transitional kindergarten through 12th-grade students in El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Placer, and Sacramento Counties.

Location: 3921 Sandstone Dr. Ste 100, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762, USA