Dear Cottonwood Families,

It’s that time of summer when we start to feel the quiet pull toward fall. The notebooks and planners begin to appear on tables, Pinterest boards fill with new ideas, and we catch ourselves daydreaming about fresh starts.

One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is that planning doesn’t have to mean rigid schedules or detailed spreadsheets (unless you love those!). It can simply be an invitation to imagine what we want our days to look and feel like.

As you start thinking about the year ahead, here are a few ways to plan and prep while still holding on to that summer ease:

Dream first, plan second.
Take some time to imagine: What rhythms do you want this year? What subjects or projects light up your student’s eyes? What do you want more (or less) of in your days?

Ease into curriculum thoughts.
Start browsing materials and options without feeling pressured to decide everything right now. You don’t have to have it all figured out before day one. You can wait until your HST returns in August to partner with you on a plan that fits each student’s needs and interests. And remember, you don’t need to jump into a formal curriculum immediately. Even in traditional schools, textbooks aren’t opened on the very first day.

Organize your learning spaces slowly.
Maybe it’s clearing off a shelf, setting up a cozy reading nook, or tidying up an art area. Small steps now can make a big difference later.

Deschooling: a gentle reset.
For new homeschooling families especially, “deschooling” can be a valuable step. It’s a period where both students and parents let go of traditional school structures and rediscover the joy of learning together. Give yourselves permission to unlearn old patterns and explore new possibilities without pressure. Click here to read an insightful blog on the de-schooling concept.

Hold space for joy.
Amid all the planning, remember to savor these last weeks of summer. Spontaneous outings, messy projects, and long afternoons outside still count as learning and help fill everyone’s cup for the year ahead.

As you dream and plan, know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. You’ve got this, and you don’t have to do it alone.

✨ Before you dive into the details, take a moment to ask yourself:
What is one thing you’re most excited to explore or experience with your student this year?

Kindly,
Kara Parkins

We’re excited to offer a playful and connected summer across all regions of Cottonwood with:

• 🛝 Weekly Park Days – Relaxed, drop-in gatherings hosted by our Family Liaison team in every region. We are thrilled to be joined by Summer HSTs at various park days this Summer.
  (No registration required)

July 23

Promontory Park – El Dorado Hills –10 am No Host

Glen Willow Park – Roseville – 9:30 AM

Johnson-Springview Park – Rocklin – 10 am

Backer Park – Elk Grove – 9:30 AM

Garcia Bend Park – Sacramento – 10:00 AM

July 30

Promontory Park – El Dorado Hills – 10 am

Glen Willow Park – Roseville – 9:30 AM

Johnson-Springview Park – Rocklin – 10 am

Oasis Park – Elk Grove – 9:30 AM

Tahoe Park – Sacramento – 10:00 AM

📲 Stay in the Loop – Join Your Local Remind Group:

• REMIND: Rocklin/Roseville/Lincoln Park Day

• REMIND: 50 Corridor: Folsom/Placerville/Rancho Cordova
• REMIND: Elk Grove Park Day
• REMIND: Antelope/Fair Oaks/Citrus Heights (Slavic Speaking)

• REMIND: Sacramento

Last week, you should have received the 2025-26 Back to School Forms Newsletter.

Completing your Back to School forms activates access to all essential Cottonwood resources, including:

• Ordering: Instructional Funds and Service Orders

• The Parent Hawks’ Nest

• Lending Library

• Our full field trip and event registration platform

💬 If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to our Enrollment Team at enrollment@cottonwoodk12.org.

📥 Access the Back to School Forms Newsletter HERE.

All forms must be submitted within 5 days of your student’s first day. Our 2025–26 school year begins on Thursday, August 14.

This morning, you should have received the Instructional Planning & Ordering Newsletter, packed with everything you need to prepare for ordering educational materials for 2025–26.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Links to planning tools, recommendations, and approved vendors

• Links to step-by-step instructions for requesting curriculum, materials, and services in Procurify, our online ordering platform.

• Tips for smooth, timely, and accurate ordering

🗓️ Ordering opens the week of July 21

Access the Instructional Planning & Ordering Newsletter HERE.

Join us for these special in-person opportunities to select curriculum and educational resources using your instructional funds — with support available on-site from HSTs, liaisons, and our purchasing team. You’ll even be able to take your materials home the same day!

A Brighter Child (Fair Oaks)

• Thursday, July 24, 2025 • 5–8 PM

• Tuesday, August 5, 2025 • 5–8 PM
  👉 Please note: A Brighter Child events are kid-free. Plan accordingly.
  💡 Tip: You may visit A Brighter Child ahead of time to pre-select your items, then return on your scheduled event date to finalize and pick up. (Early selection is not available for Lakeshore.)

Lakeshore Learning (Roseville)

• Thursday, July 31, 2025 • 9 AM–12 PM
  Children may attend Lakeshore, but parent supervision is required at all times. We highly encourage attending without children if possible for a smoother shopping experience.

✅ Registration is required!

Families must complete their back-to-school paperwork before attending. Forms take about a week to process, so please submit them as soon as possible to ensure you’re ready.

👉 Sign up here!

We can’t wait to see you there and help you kick off your school year with the perfect materials for your students!

The Lending Library has reopened, and the shelves are stocked with full curriculum sets, kits, manipulatives, educational games, instruments, and so much more! Visit us Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM.

The Lending Library Catalog opens on July 21 — less than a week away!

The Library on Location Van will begin deliveries to a park near you in August. Check out the image below for the new 2025–26 schedule.

Need help setting up your library account? Please reference the link below for step-by-step instructions.

Looking to build deeper connections with other Cottonwood families? Our Community Groups (CCGs) are the perfect way to stay engaged and create meaningful local friendships all year long.

Led by your regional Family Liaison, these groups offer consistent opportunities to:

• Attend local park days and events

• Participate in exclusive field trips open only to your group

• Connect with the same families throughout the year and enjoy familiar faces

💡 These field trips and activities are designed just for your CCG, creating a close-knit community experience for both students and parents.

📍 Choose and sign up for the group closest to you (one per family). See the map below to help pick the group that is right for you.

Click a link below to sign up now!

50 Corridor CCG

Elk Grove CCG

Slavic Speaking CCG

Roseville Area CCG

Sacramento CCG

Already signed up? CCG newsletters will go out next Monday, and will include details about CCG event registration!

If your plans for the 2025–26 school year have changed, please email enrollment@cottonwoodk12.org as soon as possible so we can update our records and your enrollment status right away. Please don’t wait for your HST to return in August to communicate any changes to your enrollment.

Are you a member of our private Cottonwood Homeschool Community Facebook group? If you haven’t joined yet, you can use [this link](Cottonwood Homeschool Community Group) or search the title on Facebook to request access!

As a reminder, this group is for Cottonwood staff, parents/educators, and students only, creating a safe and supportive space just for our school community.

✅ We recently completed our membership cleanup to ensure that all members are current and active. If you find yourself mistakenly removed, no worries — simply request to join again, answer the membership questions, and we’ll get you added back right away.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, tips, fun tidbits, and connect with fellow Cottonwood families. Be sure to check out the "Events" tab for upcoming activities and the "Featured" tab for important announcements pinned by our moderators.

Our Facebook group is a wonderful way to start building community and feel connected before the school year begins!

• 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.

Our Wednesday Weekly is on a biweekly summer schedule—the last edition will hit your inbox on:

• July 30

These lighter editions include field trip announcements, park day info, and key updates to keep you connected all summer long.

📬 Please note:
The newsletter (and all school communication) is sent to the Primary Parent email on file. A new list is generated each time based on current enrollment. If another caregiver would like to stay informed, we encourage you to forward it to them directly.

🔒 For safety reasons, please do not share this newsletter outside your immediate family. It may contain internal details about student gatherings, locations, and times.

General Resources for Parents

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

• Past Wednesday Weekly Newsletters
• 2025-26 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

Phone: (530) 285-2003

email: info@cottonwoodk12.org