As we are half way through the last official week of the school year, I find myself filled with gratitude for everything we’ve built together over the past ten months. From the very first park days of August to the incredible momentum of virtual classes, HST meetings, field trips , events, assessments, and so much more, this year has been marked by meaningful connection, steady growth, and a deep commitment to both learning and community.

We navigated testing season with excellence and grace, saw families lean into field trips and enrichment opportunities, engaged in virtual classes, and watched students of all ages thrive in creative, flexible learning environments. We cheered each other at project-based events, art and talent shows, heritage celebrations, and now promotions. We rolled out new programs, launched electives and Heritage Ambassadors, and welcomed hundreds of new families into our Cottonwood family — all while keeping our hearts aligned with the values that make this homeschool community and The Cottonwood School so special.

Whether you attended multiple events and park days or focused on quiet progress at home, your presence and participation mattered. Each email answered, question asked, sample submitted, and memory made contributed to a greater story — one of dedication, collaboration, and the quiet, powerful work of raising whole humans.

As you wind down the school year, here are a few resources to support reflection and planning ahead:

• End-of-Year Reflection Prompts for Homeschool Families

• Simple Year-End Portfolio Ideas

• Free Printable for Your Summer Learning Bucket List

Thank you for showing up — not just for your children, but for each other. We are so proud of the year we’ve had together and so grateful to be on this journey with you. Whether you’re counting the days to summer adventures or wrapping up a final project or two, know that everything you’ve done this year has mattered.

We’ll see you in the sunshine, at park days and field trips. But for now — here’s to the final week of school, and all that it represents.

Kindly,
Kara Parkins, Parent Support Supervisor

• Cottonwood Community Groups: Join a Cottonwood Community Group this Fall!

• What to Expect This Summer: Summer Communication, Field Trips, Park Days

• Assessment Updates: Final Push for Spring STAR Testing!

• TK-8 Instructional Programs: Class Request Form

• RISE/CVHS: End-of-Year Wrap-Up

• National Honor Society: Program Updates for 2025-26

• High School Counseling: Concurrent Enrollment Info

• CTE: Congratulations, 2024-25 CTE Completers!

• CCPA: CCPA Climate Summit

• And Much, Much More…

And always at the end of The Wednesday Weekly

• Event 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.

Friday, May 23

• Lending Library Items Due
• Last Day of School!

Wednesday, May 28

• Library on Location Van – Fair Oaks & Placerville

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.)

This is the final Wednesday Weekly for the 24-25 School Year. The Wednesday Weekly will shift to a biweekly format for the summer. It will continue to bring you:

• Inspiring Kindly, Kara reflections

• Encouragement and resources to prep for next year

• Fun opportunities to keep your family engaged and connected

➡️ Note: There will be no academic updates during the summer edition.

The full Wednesday Weekly with school-wide updates from all departments will return in August—packed with everything you need to kick off the new school year.

• July – You’ll receive your Back-to-School Forms and the Ordering Newsletter & How-To Guide

• Coming Soon – Dates for two Shopping Days at A Brighter Child and one Lakeshore Learning Day in late July/early August
  These highly anticipated events allow families to shop in person, consult with school and store staff, and take items home same-day!

We’re thrilled to offer a playful and connected summer across all regions of Cottonwood, including:

🎟️ Free Field Trips – Registration Required (See links at the bottom of this newsletter)
Explore animals, art, science, and history—all curated and no-cost to families.

🛝 Weekly Park Days – No Registration Required
Relaxed, drop-in style fun where friendships blossom and families connect.

👋 New Faces This Summer:

• Lina will host weekly park days in Elk Grove starting in June.

• Jana, our new Sacramento Region Liaison, joins in July to add even more regional connection.

That brings us to FIVE weekly park days by midsummer!

• Summer Park Days & Field Trips 2025 (Registration links at the bottom of this newsletter)

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

Stay tuned, stay connected, and enjoy every bit of your summer with Cottonwood!

A big, giant, COTTONWOOD KUDOS to ALL of our students and families! You showed up, did your best along the way, then wrapped up a successful school year by flexing your academic chops on our final Star assessment. For kiddos still tackling the last few questions on their year-end Star test, we’re rooting and cheering for you! You’ve got this!

We hope you celebrate your wins and unwind into an awesome summer vibe!

With appreciation and admiration – The Cottonwood School Staff

We wrapped up our 24-25 school year this week, and here’s what students had to say about their experience in RISE this year:

🌟 My teachers are really great, my classes are great, and I really enjoy RISE. I’ve made a lot of friends in RISE, and really grew a lot.

🌟 I like that the teachers were very kind and wanting to help.

🌟 I had an amazing experience in my first year and I’m excited to do it again!

🌟 The teachers are extremely helpful, kind, and supportive. I also appreciate the homework help and office hours that the teachers provide.

🌟 I have really great teachers, and my friends and classmates always help me when I need it.

🌟 One thing that has helped me succeed this year is having teachers who are approachable and supportive when I’ve had questions or needed extra help.

🌟 The teachers are amazing, the classmates are all encouraging, the program is so efficient, and I will miss my teachers when I go to the next grade! You’re the best!

The TK-8 Instructional Program Class Request form is still open (linked above). We hope your middle schooler will consider joining our awesome RISE community in 25-26!

Here are the resources you need to get a jumpstart on registration:

• 2025-2026 CVHS Program Details

• 2025-2026 CVHS Live Class Schedule

• CVHS 2025-2026 Class Request Form

National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) have a few important updates to share for the upcoming school year.

📅 Application Drive Moved to September

To better align with the school calendar, our application period will now take place in September instead of December. This change allows new members to begin participating earlier in the year.

Important: Students interested in applying will need to use their Spring 2025 semester report card.

📚 Updated Application Requirements

• NJHS (Grades 7–9): Minimum 3.5 GPA

• NHS (Grades 10–12): Minimum 3.75 GPA

• Leadership or Service Experience is Required
  Students must have prior leadership or service experience to be eligible. Those without experience should consider seeking out opportunities this summer; students who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

📣 Resources

• Application Requirements (Grades 7–12)

• NHS – Who Are We? Slideshow
  (Includes info on meeting times, participation expectations, and more)

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the advisers:

• NHS Adviser: Mr. L – kyle.lutkemuller@cottonwoodk12.org

• NJHS Adviser: Mr. Clark – evan.clark@cottonwoodk12.org

Students taking spring concurrent enrollment classes, do not forget to order official transcripts and have them sent directly to your high school counselor!

Students planning to enroll in summer or fall courses through concurrent enrollment should submit their Special Admit permission forms as soon as possible. Registration has already begun for both summer and fall at Sierra College and Los Rios Community Colleges. Students should contact their counselor for support with the process.

Get your applications and Special Admit Forms in before summer break to avoid any delays in the process! Take a look at our Concurrent Enrollment Guide for more information!

* Los Rios includes Folsom Lake College, Sacramento City College, American River College, and Consumes River College

Lindsey Romero, School Counselor | Schedule an Appointment

This kind of night is exactly what CCPA is all about — interdisciplinary, student-driven projects that bring real-world issues into the classroom and beyond! From science and English to history and design, students wove together knowledge from multiple classes to create something meaningful and relevant. It’s one thing to learn about climate change in a textbook. It’s another to research it, build a message, and present that message to your community. These are the moments when education feels alive, and our students get to see the power of their own voices. Do you know a high school-age student interested in project-based learning? Discover what’s next and reach out to us at (530) 285-2003 or email isabella.brenneman@cottonwoodk12.org to learn how to join us for the 2025 – 2026 school year!

This year marked a meaningful step forward in our commitment to celebrating our differences and building a culture where every student and family feels seen, heard, and valued. Through the Everybody Belongs program, we made intentional efforts to amplify underrepresented voices, foster a sense of belonging, and highlight the richness within our diverse school community.

Each month, we celebrated a different cultural or heritage group with the help of our incredible Family Ambassadors, who shared stories, resources, and traditions that brought learning to life. These monthly highlights were paired with field trips and activities designed to spark curiosity, encourage connection, and make space for shared joy.

One of the most beautiful moments of the year was our International Festival, where families came together to showcase and honor their cultures through food, dress, music, and conversation—a true celebration of the vibrant tapestry that makes up our Cottonwood community.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue creating opportunities for students and families to learn, celebrate, and connect. Thank you for being part of this journey—and for helping make our school a place where truly, Everybody Belongs.

As the school year winds down, don’t forget to return any borrowed items by May 23rd—the last day the library will be open before our summer inventory closure.

✅ Curious about overdue items, summer checkouts, or using borrowed curriculum over the break?

📅 Check out these key dates for May–July:

• 📕 Last day to return materials to the library: May 23

• 🎓 Lending Library Van at Graduations: May 22

• 🚌 Last Library on Location Stop: May 28

• Fair Oaks Park 10 am
• Lions Park 12:30 pm

• 📦 Library closed for inventory in June

• ✅ In-person checkout reopens July 7

• 🛒 Online catalog reopens July 21 to place new orders

We’re here to help you wrap up the year smoothly and gear up for a great summer of learning!

Park days will pause next week and will restart on June 4th! Please refer to the linked summer park day schedule or the Upcoming Field Trips & Events spreadsheet for summer park day information. These park days will be hosted by Cottonwood’s Family Liaison team in our different regions. Come out to connect with Cottonwood staff and families!

Summer Park Day Schedule

Upcoming Field Trips & Events

Check out the Park Day line-up for June 4:
📍 Elk Grove – Derr-Okamoto Park, 9:30 am (with Lina P.)
📍 Folsom – Promontory Splash Park, 9:30 am (with Saralynn D.)

📍 Roseville – Johnson-Springview Park, 10 am –12 pm (with Amanda B.)

🔔 Stay in the loop all summer and into next year:

Join your local Remind group to receive updates on Family Liaison-led park days, cancellations, and more!

REMIND: Rocklin/Roseville/Lincoln Park Day

REMIND: 50 Corridor: Folsom/Placerville/Rancho Cordova

REMIND: Elk Grove Park Day

REMIND: Antelope/Fair Oaks/Citrus Heights

We’re excited to share our Year at a Glance flyers, giving you a preview of some of the engaging events and learning opportunities we have planned for the 2025–26 school year! While this isn’t a full list, it offers a snapshot of what’s to come. Trust us, there’s even more in the works.

You’ll notice we’ve introduced two event categories this year to help you navigate our offerings more easily:

• Cottonwood Presents: These are school-hosted events designed and led by our amazing staff and programs. They foster community, connection, and creativity—think assemblies, seasonal celebrations, showcases, and enrichment gatherings.

• Academic Adventures: These are educational field trips and experiences led by trusted vendors and community partners. They offer hands-on, real-world learning opportunities that tie into academic goals in a fun and interactive way.

Take a look, mark your calendars, and get ready for another amazing year of learning and connection at Cottonwood! Registration will begin in July.

• 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