Windsor Charter Academy Elementary School
2024-25 Back-to-School information
We are excited to start preparing for the 2024-25 school year! To ensure a seamless start, parents are asked to review the following information carefully and ensure that each action step is completed prior to returning in August. This webpage serves as a single point of communication for everything our Firebird families need to begin the school year!
Important Dates
Please download our 2024-25 School Calendar for all official dates. Important dates to remember in August are:
July 24th: Firebird Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.—Firebird Facility Building, 810 Automation Drive
August 9th: Kindergarten Parent Information Night from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.—Elementary School
August 12th: K-5 Grade Back-to-School Open House from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.—ES Gymnasium and Various Classrooms
Last Names A through M - 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Last Names N through Z - 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
August 12th: Freddy Fundraiser to Support HS Jazz Band—Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
August 14th: First Day of School for Kindergarten
Cheers and Tears Breakfast for Kindergarten Parents @ 8:15 a.m.—ES Cafeteria
August 15th: First Day of School for 1st through 5th Grade Students
August 28th: Picture Day
Formal Dress Uniform Required with French Toast Tie
August 28th: 1st through 5th Grade Parent Information Night (Choose One Session)
Session 1: 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Session 2: 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Summer Office Hours
The elementary school's front office will be closed from June 3rd through August 2nd. While our offices are closed to the general public, parents may have questions about enrollment. For questions, please email our registrar, Tammy Fagler, or call 970-833-5190 ext. 218. Our Registrar’s Office will be closed from June 25th through July 15th.
Back-to-School Open House
On August 12th, our Back-to-School Open House events will be split by last name.
Last Names A through M from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Last Names N through Z from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Families are invited to visit their student’s classrooms, meet their teachers, and drop off school supplies. They are also welcome to visit our information booths to learn more about volunteer opportunities, food services, Infinite Campus, purchase formal uniform ties, and pay registration fees. We can’t wait to see you there!
5th Grade Students Only: Fifth-grade students will be assigned a locker at the Open House on August 12th. Students and parents need to complete the 5th Grade WCA Locker Agreement before the event and bring their combination.
K-5 Parent Information Night
Parents are invited to attend our Parent Information Nights! This event is for parents only. Each year, we invite our parents to come meet their student’s teacher and learn more about our curriculum, classroom procedures, expectations, and volunteer opportunities in an adult-only setting. Kindergarten will have one session, and 1st-5th grade will have the option to choose a session time. The same information is shared in each session, allowing parents with multiple students to attend.
August 9th: Kindergarten Parent Information Night
4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
August 28th: 1st through 5th Grade Parent Information Night
Session 1: 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Session 2: 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.
PARENTSQUARE
We are excited to announce that we will be rolling out a new communication tool called ParentSquare! ParentSquare is a comprehensive tool for families to communicate with teachers and coaches, log volunteer hours, and sign up for events. To learn more about what to expect, click here. Families will receive an email invitation to register. We will begin using ParentSquare in August!
required for all parents: Submit Parent Agreement Form
Each year, our parents are asked to complete an Elementary School Parent Agreement Form for each student enrolled. To make the process convenient, everything is in one place. This agreement form gives permissions and acknowledgments for:
Acceptable Use of Technology
Student Data Privacy
Walking Field Trip Permission Form
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Code of Conduct
Once you have reviewed our Windsor Charter Academy Parent & Student Handbook, please complete the Elementary School Parent Agreement Form.
Parents are asked to complete one form for each student enrolled before the start of the school year. Students must have a signature form on file by the last day of August to avoid having their Google account access revoked.
Required for all parents: set up or update Infinite Campus account
Infinite Campus, commonly called IC, is a student information management system used by Weld RE-4 School District and Windsor Charter Academy. All families have an IC account, which includes one for each parent and one for each student. Windsor Charter Academy uses IC to assess student fees, post grades, track attendance, send report cards, and verify emergency contacts for pick-up. It is imperative that parents access their IC accounts often and also keep their contact and emergency contact information up-to-date. If you have questions regarding your IC account, please contact Tammy Fagler or Paula Ridout.
Infinite Campus Links: Please bookmark the links below.
New WCA Families: New WCA families will receive information on creating an IC account at our back-to-school events. At these events, new families will be issued an activation key. Once an activation key is issued, please visit our website for information on how to set up your account.
Returning WCA Families: All returning families are asked to verify their contact information is current in IC. Instructions on how to update this information can be found on our website.
Required for all Parents: Review important information
School Start Time: The school day will begin at 8:00 a.m. Any student arriving after 8:00 a.m. must enter through the front office to receive a tardy pass to class. Parents must walk students into the building and sign them in after 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. will be considered tardy.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures: Pick-up times are based on the first letter of your family’s last name. Please be sure to review our drop-off and pick-up procedures.
Dress Code: Please review the Elementary School Dress Code.
Health Services: If your child has had a change of health status since the last school year, please contact Sara Ibarra, School Nurse.
Student Attendance: Student attendance policies will be strictly enforced. Please review our attendance and tardy policies here: Executive Board Policy JE: Student Attendance.
BACKGROUND CHECKS & Fast Passes
Windsor Charter Academy welcomes family members and friends to volunteer or participate in all our schools' exciting activities! We require all visitors who come to our school during school hours to have a current background check on file and be listed in Infinite Campus. All new parents and parents who need to update their CBI background check will need to complete a Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) Background Check.
Fast Passes
Fast Passes are issued to elementary school visitors only. Fast Passes allow visitors to enter large elementary school events quickly.
If you are new to Windsor Charter Academy this year, we encourage you to apply for a Fast Pass by October 14th. After October 14th, Fast Passes will only be issued if they are expired or need to be replaced.
To receive a Fast Pass, please:
Ensure that the school has a current CBI Background Check on file.
Complete the Fast Pass Request Form.
Once these two steps are complete and the background check is certified, a Fast Pass will be printed and sent home with the student. A lanyard and plastic sleeve will be provided for all Fast Passes.
Visitors will be asked to show a photo ID during all Fast Pass events. We recommend photocopying your driver’s license, cutting it out, and placing it in the plastic sleeve behind the Fast Pass.
Please note that all visitors who submit a background check at least 48 hours before an event but who have not received a Fast Pass will be required to check in at the front desk.
Farm-to-School Food Services Program
Windsor Charter Academy students will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 school year!
Linq Connect School Lunch Accounts
Windsor Charter Academy uses the Linq Connect software program for student meals. Students are asked to have active accounts on Linq Connect. Although breakfast and lunch are free to all students, keeping funds in their lunch account is recommended for purchasing an extra entree, milk, cookies, and other a la carte items. If a student does not have a Linq Connect account, they will need to pay for these items with cash.
To Create an Account:
New WCA Families: If your student is in kindergarten or new to WCA, they will not be listed in the Linq Connect software system until a few days before school begins. Once they are listed in the system, families can create an account.
Click here for instructions on setting up your family portal. Please enter “Windsor Charter Academy” as the school district.
Please note that students will receive a free breakfast and lunch regardless of whether they create an account. In addition, families can access the menu without an account.
Returning WCA Families: Your Linq Connect account funds will automatically transfer from the previous school year.
Free or Reduced-Price School Benefits
Although meals are free, it is essential for families who qualify to still apply for the Free or Reduced-Price Program to access additional benefits. Eligible families can apply for the Free and Reduced-Price Benefit Application. Once on the site, click “Start Meal Application” and follow the registration prompts. Please enter “Windsor Charter Academy” as the school district on the application.
Once your application is approved and the letter is received, please submit a copy to Lauren Miller, Business Manager.
Please note that if your family has been approved for this program in the past, you are required to reapply every year. Paper applications and instructions are also available at the front desk of each of our schools. For questions, please contact Jeannine Davison, Director of Food Services.
Food Allergies
Students who need their school meals modified to accommodate food allergies or preferences are required to submit a Meal Modification Form signed by their medical provider. The Food Services Department will only modify meals if this form is completed.
School Supplies
The 2024-25 Student Supply List is available for all families!
This year, we also have a school-wide Health & Wellness Amazon Wish List to help provide our students with necessary health and wellness products. If you purchase from this list, all items can be shipped to the school by entering our address (Windsor Charter Academy, C/O Central Administration, 810 Automation Drive, Windsor, CO, 80550). For questions, please reach out to Sara Sanders, Director of Communications.
School Fees
School fees for Windsor Charter Academy students are due at the start of the school year. The 2024-25 Student Fees were approved by the Executive Board. Fees can be paid online through Infinite Campus or by dropping off cash or a check at the office. New WCA families can pay their fees at our back-to-school events. Fees may be waived/reduced for those families that qualify for our Free and Reduced-Price Benefits Program. For more information on how to apply to this program, please click here.
Picture Day
Picture Day is scheduled for August 28th. Students are required to wear formal dress uniforms for picture day. Parents must purchase a French Toast school tie for their student to wear to all formal dress events. A limited number of ties are available for purchase at our back-to-school open house events, at the front desk, or can be ordered via the links below:
Order Uniforms and spirit wear
Parents have the opportunity to purchase uniforms at any store but all garments must follow our Dress Code Policy. Parents generally purchase uniforms at Old Navy, Target, Kohls, Costco, or A Children’s Place. Items can also be purchased online through our official WCA French Toast Online Store.
At the elementary and middle schools, students are allowed to wear WCA spirit wear tops in lieu of uniform shirts. WCA spirit wear can be ordered online from K&W Printing. The K&W Printing online store will open on July 7th and close on July 28th. Orders placed in July will be delivered to your child’s homeroom teacher by August 16th at our Back-to-School Night.
K&W Printing will open the school store during the first two weeks of every month during the school year. Ordered items will be delivered to the school during the first week of the following month.
In addition, Firebird Fan Apparel can also be purchased from our BSN Sideline Store. Purchases made through this site are shipped directly to your home. Please note that all spirit wear worn during the school day needs to comply with our Dress Code Policy. For instance, sweatpants or hats may be sold in our spirit stores but may not be allowed to be worn during the school day.
AVID T-Shirt Orders
Windsor Charter Academy is proud to be an AVID school! Our teachers incorporate AVID strategies in our classrooms daily. To help promote the importance of AVID with our students, parents are invited, but not required, to purchase an AVID t-shirt for their students. Students can use the same AVID t-shirt throughout their elementary school experience. Please click here to order a t-shirt.
Cost: $12.50 per shirt
K&W is giving this discounted price to WCA families for the entire school year!
Registering for Extracurricular Activities
Our elementary school offers a variety of extracurricular activities! Please visit our website for registration details. Our activities tend to fill up quickly, so please mark your calendar for the day and time registration opens. For questions, please contact Chrissy Jones, Dean of Students.
Kindergarten-Only Information
The kindergarten teachers at Windsor Charter Academy put together a summer packet for our incoming kindergarten students! Please note that completing this packet is not required and does not need to be turned in at the start of school.
Email lists and facebook groups
All families are automatically subscribed to our email list during enrollment. Relatives can also subscribe to receive newsletters by joining here. If you would like to confirm that you are on our email list, please contact Sara Sanders, Director of Communications, with your name, email address, and the school you would like to be associated with.
Parents and legal guardians can join our private, grade-level WCA Facebook Pages. Please complete the three-question membership form to request admission to our private Facebook groups.
Parent Volunteer Hours
We have a strong culture of service in our schools! Every family is expected to volunteer 35 hours per school year. All hours can be logged in your ParentSquare account.
A few important points about volunteering:
A 35-hour commitment is required per family, not per student. Grandparents or other relatives can help fulfill a family’s service commitment.
If you plan to run for WCA’s Executive Board in the spring, hours need to be tracked individually. Service hours must be fulfilled by the candidates and not other family members. All volunteer hours will be verified.
Donating to the school can count towards your family’s volunteer commitment. Every $10 counts towards one volunteer hour. In other words, a one-time $350 donation would cover your volunteer hours for the year.
Board & Support Committees
Board Committees
Board Committees support Executive Board members in their work in governance and oversight. Each committee has one Executive Board member liaison and a committee member who serves as the chairperson.
Safety Committee: The Safety Committee’s purpose encompasses a variety of areas, including, but not limited to, physical safety, environmental safety, internet safety, and emotional safety. The committee focuses on diligent exploration and research to develop appropriate options and safeguards to increase our schools' safety.
Safety Committee Meeting Dates:
August 26, 2024
December 9, 2024
April 14, 2025
Education Committee: The Education Committee serves to strengthen the school's overall educational program. This committee assists the administrator and teachers in providing students with the highest quality educational program possible by 1) researching new and existing curricular and instructional approaches, 2) evaluating and synthesizing information, and 3) sensing parent and school/community needs.
Education Committee Meeting Dates:
October 24, 2024
November 7, 2024
December 5, 2024
School Accountability Committee (SAC)
If you are interested in serving on the WCA School Accountability Committee, please email Dr. Rebecca Teeples, Executive Director of Schools.
Finance Committee
If you are interested in serving on the WCA Finance Committee, please email SarahGennie Colazio, Director of Finance & HR. Members of this committee need to have a background in finance. This committee is by invitation only.
Election Committee
The WCA Election Committee oversees the annual Executive Board Elections. If you are interested in serving on the WCA Election Committee, please email the WCA Election Committee.
Support Committees
Support Committees support the day-to-day work of staff at Windsor Charter Academy. A staff member in a leadership role leads each committee. Parents and stakeholders, as members, work with staff to support the work of the committee.
Parent-Teacher Club (PTC): Our PTCs support our students with memorable activities throughout the year, such as Sweets with Santa, Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, After-Prom, Field Day, and other events. If you are interested in joining the PTC at each of our schools, please fill out the Committee Sign-Up Form or visit the PTC webpage.
High School Athletics Booster Club: The High School Athletics Booster Club supports our athletics program. If you are interested in joining the Booster Club, please fill out the Committee Sign-Up Form or visit the Booster Club webpage.
If you are interested in serving on any of the above committees, please sign up below.
Transportation
Parents interested in joining our Way-to-Go Schoolpool carpool program can register online! Join Windsor Charter Academy’s Schoolpool program to connect with other families to drive, walk, or bike to school together. This is a free service, and there is no obligation to participate. Schoolpool is a service of Way to Go, a federally funded program of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
Before and After-School Care
Parents interested in before- or after-school care can register with ABC Bright School-Age Centers.