Dear Cottonwood Families,

Summer has officially arrived, and while our newsletters take on a lighter rhythm in these warmer months, “Kindly, Kara” will still be here every other week with gentle encouragement, helpful tips, and fresh ideas to support your homeschool journey.

This is a beautiful season to step back, exhale, and rediscover the joy in learning outside the box and outside the house. Whether you’re planning structured summer schooling, leaning into life skills, or simply embracing everyday learning, remember that growth often blooms in the unplanned moments.

Here are a few easy ways to keep learning alive this June:

• Choose a weekly theme like nature, cooking, or creative writing and build simple activities around it.

• Involve your kids in life skills like meal planning, budgeting, gardening, or organizing shared spaces.

• Create gentle routines: a morning read-aloud, a daily walk, or a quiet afternoon project time can bring rhythm to long summer days.

Each edition this summer will include more simple ideas, inspiring links, and friendly reminders to help you:

• Keep learning going through play, projects, and curiosity

• Stay connected to our Cottonwood community

• Prepare for a smooth and confident start to the new school year

Here’s a peek at what’s ahead in the “Kindly, Kara” summer series:

• June 18 – Summer Schooling, the Gentle Way
  Ideas for relaxed academics, family projects, and educational outings.

• July 2 – Freedom to Explore
  Celebrating curiosity through books, hobbies, travel, and nature.

• July 16 – Planning, Prepping, and Dreaming Ahead
  Low-stress strategies for organizing and planning for fall.

• July 30 – A Soft Start to the New School Year
  Tips for easing into August with confidence and calm.

Wherever you are in your homeschool rhythm, I hope this space continues to feel like a friend by your side.

Kindly,
Kara

Wednesday, June 11: Cottonwood Regional Park Days

• Promontory Park in Folsom, 10 am
• Glen Willow Park in Roseville, 9:30 am
• Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin, 10 am
• Horseshoe Park in Elk Grove, 9:30 am

Wednesday, June 18: Cottonwood Regional Park Days

• Promontory Park in Folsom, 10 am
• Glen Willow Park in Roseville, 9:30 am
• Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin, 10 am
• Adreani Park in Elk Grove, 9:30 am

Instructional Materials Purchasing Events:

Opportunities for families to choose curriculum and educational resources in person, supported by their instructional budgets.

• Brighter Child – Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024, 5 – 8 pm

• Brighter Child – Monday Aug 5, 2024, 5 – 8 pm

• Lakeshore Learning- Thursday, Aug 8, 2024, 9 am – 12 pm

*Registration Coming in July

Lending Library opens July 7th!

Visit the Lending Library section of this newsletter for more details.

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 and more.

Even during the summer months, you’re not on your own! A dedicated group of HSTs and our Family Liaisons are here to support you. Beginning in July, the Lending Library staff will also be available.

You should have received an end-of-year communication from your current HST letting you know who your Summer HST contact is. If you didn’t receive this information, please reach out to infor@cottonwoodk12.org so we can ensure you’re connected.

In the next Wednesday Weekly edition (June 18), we’ll be adding Family Liaison bios and introductions to help you get to know the friendly faces behind the names and find the right people to reach out to. The best way to get to know them this summer is to meet them at your regional park day!

? Looking ahead: Your assigned HST will return the first week of August. During that time, they’ll be engaged in professional development and preparing for the year ahead. You can expect to hear from them by the end of that week, and full collaboration will begin on August 14, the official first day of school.

Our Wednesday Weekly Newsletter is now on a biweekly summer schedule, arriving in your inbox on:

• Today, June 4

• June 18

• July 2

• July 16

• July 30

These lighter editions include field trip announcements, park day info, and key updates to help you stay in the loop all summer long. Our full weekly version resumes August 13 to help you gear up for a strong start to the new school year!

A note about our mailing list: The Wednesday Weekly is sent to the Primary Parent email on file and a new list is generated weekly to reflect current enrollment. There is no way to subscribe or add additional emails to the mailing list. If another parent or guardian would like to stay informed, we encourage forwarding the newsletter to them directly.

Important: Please do not share this newsletter outside your immediate family, as it may contain internal or specific information about when and where students will gather. Keeping this information within Cottonwood families helps ensure student safety.

During the week of July 7, you’ll receive a Back-to-School Forms Newsletter. These required forms are essential to ensure a smooth start to the school year and to keep everything running on time, including instructional funds and service orders.

? Don’t miss it! Even if you skim other summer emails, this one is time-sensitive!

✅ To prepare, start gathering your proof of residency now.

Accepted documents include:

• Utility bills

• Lease or mortgage statements

• Property tax bills

• Homeowners’ insurance

Not accepted:

• Cell phone or internet bills

• Vehicle registration

• Driver’s license or passport

• Water bills

? Be sure your document includes a service date of June 1, 2025, or later.

The Instructional Planning Newsletter arrives in your inbox the week of July 14, with everything you need to get ready for curriculum requests and instructional material ordering.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Step-by-step instructions for Procurify, our instructional material ordering system

• Key policies and reminders

• Links to approved vendors and helpful planning tools

• Info on timelines, budgets, and tips for smooth instructional material ordering

? Curriculum Requests & Ordering opens the week of July 21.

While browsing and planning ahead is welcome, you’re not expected to place orders before meeting with your HST. If you’re working with a Summer HST, they can help you think through options. Your assigned HST will collaborate with you in the fall to finalize selections that best support your child’s learning goals.

While the library is closed to the public until July, you can return materials during designated hours in June. Take a look at the graphic below for all the important dates and details!

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

• ?️ Free Field Trips – Explore animals, art, science, and history at no cost to families.
  Summer Park Days & Field Trips 2025
  (Registration required – see links at the bottom of this newsletter)

• ? Weekly Park Days – Relaxed, drop-in gatherings hosted by our Family Liaison team in every region.
  Upcoming Field Trips & Events
  (No registration required)

? New Faces This Summer:

• Lina is now hosting Elk Grove park days.

• Jana, our new Sacramento Region Liaison, joins in July, bringing us to five weekly park days by midsummer!

? Helpful Resources:

• Summer Park Days & Field Trips 2025

• Year-at-a-Glance: Cottonwood Presents & Academic Adventures 2025–26

? 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)

• Sacramento Coming Soon

Come connect, play, and make memories with your Cottonwood community all summer long!

Starting this fall, families can join regional Community Groups led by our Family Liaisons. These smaller groups meet nearly every week for park days, field trips, and local gatherings, offering a chance to build deeper connections with the same families throughout the year.

Originally piloted in Roseville, this model was a huge success and is now expanding across all regions, including a Slavic Community Group led by Maria Obolonchik.

? CCG members get access to exclusive field trips in addition to our school-wide events!

(Each region has its own flyer and form—just find the one closest to you. Families may sign up for one group.)

• 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.

• 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