Windsor Charter Academy Elementary School
2023-24 Back-to-School information
We are excited to start preparing for the 2023-24 school year! To ensure a seamless start to the school year, parents are asked to review the following information carefully and ensure that each action step is complete 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 2023-2024 School Calendar for all official dates. Some important dates to remember in August are:
July 31st: Athletic Registration Night for Fall Sports from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.--MS/HS Commons
Open to 5th Grade Students Participating in MS Athletics
Required for All Fall-Sport Athletes - Choose One Session Only
August 3rd: Athletic Registration Night for Fall Sports from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.--MS/HS Commons
Open to 5th Grade Students Participating in MS Athletics
Required for All Fall-Sport Athletes - Choose one Session Only
August 14th: Kindergarten Parent Information Night from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.--Elementary School
August 14th: Fall Athletics Meeting @ 5:30 p.m.--MS/HS Gymnasium
Open to 5th Grade Students Participating in MS Sports
MS Cross Country Meeting - MS Room #145; MS Boys’ Soccer Meeting- MS Room #147
August 16th: 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 18th: First Day of School for Kindergarten
Cheers and Tears Breakfast for Kindergarten Parents @ 8:15 a.m.--ES Cafeteria
August 21st: First Day of School for 1st through 5th Grade Students
August 30th: Picture Day
Formal Dress Uniform Required with French Toast Tie
August 30th: 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 to 6:15 p.m.
Summer Office Hours
The front office of our elementary school will be closed from June 9th to August 3rd. While our offices are closed to the general public, parents may have questions around enrollment and/or registering for classes. If you have enrollment questions, please email our registrar, Tammy Fagler or call 970-833-5190 ext. 218. Our Registrar’s Office will be closed from June 30th through July 14th.
Back-to-School Open House
On August 16th, 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 classroom, meet their teacher, and drop off school supplies. Parents are welcome to visit our information booths to learn more about volunteer opportunities, food services, Infinite Campus, purchase formal uniform ties (limited quantity available), 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 16th. Students and parents/guardians need to complete the 5th Grade WCA Locker Agreement prior to the open house and bring their combination lock to the open house.
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 and learn more about our curriculum, classroom procedures, expectations, and volunteer opportunities in an adult-only setting. Parent Information Night is an important opportunity for parents to meet with their child's teacher and explore the mission of Core Knowledge and our vision of educating, empowering, and equipping students to reach their highest potential. 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 14th: Kindergarten Parent Information Night from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
August 30th: 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.
required for all parents: Submit Parent Agreement Form
Each year, our parents are asked to complete an Elementary School Parent Agreement Form for each of their students enrolled at our school. To make the process convenient, everything is in one place. This agreement form gives permissions and acknowledgements 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 looked through 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. Any student who does not have a signature form on file by the last day of August may have their account access revoked.
required for all parents: set up or update Infinite Campus account
Infinite Campus, commonly referred to as IC, is a student information management system used by Weld RE-4 School District and Windsor Charter Academy. All families have an IC account - 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, communicate with parents, and send emergency messages (snow days, infectious disease spread, building closures, etc.). It is imperative that parents access their IC accounts often and also keep their contact information up-to-date. If you have any questions regarding your IC account, please contact Tammy Fagler or Paula Ridout.
Infinite Campus Links: Please bookmark the links below.
Returning WCA Families: All returning families are asked to verify that their contact information is current in Infinite Campus. Instructions on how to update this information can be found on our website.
New WCA Families: New families to WCA will receive information on how to create an Infinite Campus 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.
Required for all Parents: Review important information
Pink Days on 2023-2024 School Calendar: Pink Days have been added to the elementary school calendar only. Elementary school students will not attend school on Pink Days. Pink Days were approved by the Executive Board to equalize the amount of planning time elementary and middle/high school teachers have each year. On Pink Days, staff will be working in classrooms, planning with teams, preparing material and attending professional development opportunities.
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: There are new pick-up times based on the first letter of your family’s last name. Please be sure to review our new procedures.
Dress Code: 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: In an effort to align with Executive Board Policy JE: Student Attendance that was revised in 2020, we want to remind parents/guardians about student attendance at Windsor Charter Academy. It is the obligation and responsibility of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under their care and supervision attends school as required by Colorado statutes, Executive Board policies, and school regulations.
The following will be considered excused absences:
A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences will be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
A student who is absent for an extended period due to a physical disability or a mental or behavioral health disorder.
A student who is pursuing a work-student program under the supervision of a public school.
A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
A student who is suspended or expelled.
An unexcused absence shall be any absence that is not found within the foregoing exceptions listed in this policy.
Tardy Policy: As stated in Executive Board Policy JE: Student Attendance, the only tardy that shall be considered excused is for a medical or dental appointment. Each student will be allowed five unexcused tardies every semester. Additional unexcused tardies will be addressed with the student and parents/guardians.
BACKGROUND CHECKS & Fast Passes
Windsor Charter Academy welcomes family members and friends to volunteer or participate in all of the exciting activities at our schools! We prioritize school safety and want to ensure that all those who enter our buildings are committed to keeping our community safe. We require all visitors who come to our school during school hours to have a current background check on file. 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 easily show their pass to enter all of our large elementary school events. 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, Fast Pass will be printed and sent home with the student. A lanyard and plastic sleeve will be provided for all Fast Passes.
During all Fast Pass events, visitors will be asked to show a photo ID. We recommend making a photocopy of your driver’s license, cutting it out, and placing it in the plastic sleeve behind the Fast Pass.
Please note, all visitors who have submitted a background check at least 48-hours prior to an event, but who have not received a Fast Pass, will be required to check in at the front desk.
Food SErvices
Windsor Charter Academy students will receive free breakfast and lunch starting the 2023-24 school year!
In November 2022, Colorado voters passed the Healthy School Meals for All program (Proposition FF). Below is a summary of what families should know about this program:
Breakfast and lunch for the 2023-24 school year will be free.
Meals will continue to be free for students who qualify for free and reduced meal benefits.
Linq Connect (Formerly Titan) School Lunch Accounts
Windsor Charter Academy uses the Linq Connect (formerly Titan School Solutions) software program for student meals. Students are asked to have active accounts on Linq Connect. Although breakfast and lunch are free to all students this year, keeping funds in their lunch account is recommended for purchasing:
An extra entrée
Items from the MS/HS snack shack
Milk
Cookies
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: Click here to set up your family portal. Please enter “Windsor Charter Academy” as the school district.
Returning WCA Families: Your family’s username and password from Titan will be the same for Linq Connect. All funds will automatically transfer from the previous school year.
Free or Reduced-Price School Benefits
The Healthy School Meals for All Program will provide the opportunity for students to access free breakfast and lunch. Even though the Healthy School Meals for All Program provides free meals, it is important for families who qualify to still apply for the Free or Reduced-Price Program to access additional benefits. Families who qualify may receive additional discounts on:
school fees;
class materials;
field trips;
bus passes;
and other city recreation discounts.
Families who are eligible can apply for Free and Reduced Benefits. Click here to learn more. On the application, please enter “Windsor Charter Academy” as the school district.
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 will be required to submit a Meal Modification Form signed by their medical provider. The Food Services Department will only modify meals if this form has been completed.
School Supplies
The 2023-2024 Student Supply List is available for all families!
This year, we are also starting a school-wide Health & Wellness Amazon Wish List to help provide necessary health and wellness products to our students. If you choose to purchase from this list, all items can be shipped to the school. 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 2023-2024 Student Fees were approved by the Executive Board. Fees can be paid online through Infinite Campus, or by dropping off cash/check to the office. For new families to our school, fees can be paid 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 30th. 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 school, 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 online store for K&W Printing will open July 7th and will close on July 28th. Orders that are placed in July will be delivered to your child’s homeroom teacher by August 16th at our Back-to-School Night.
During the school year, K&W Printing will open up the school store during the first two weeks of every month. 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 on a daily basis. To help promote the importance of AVID with our students, parents are invited, but not required, to purchase an AVID t-shirt for their student. Students can use their 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 our families for the entire school year!
5th Grade Students Participating in Middle School Athletics
All 5th grade students are eligible to participate in a variety of middle school athletic programs. This year, our season dates are:
To register, please follow the Athletics Registration Instructions. More information can be found on our athletics webpage. For questions, please reach out to Chris West, Athletic Director.
Registering for Extracurricular Activities
A variety of extracurricular activities are offered at our elementary school. This year, there will be a registration window where parents/guardians can register. Please visit our website for these dates. Our activities tend to fill up quickly (sometimes in less than 20 minutes!), so please mark your calendar for the day and time registration opens. For questions, please contact Chrissy Jones, Dean of Students.
Kindergarten-Only Information
Download our Kindergarten Readiness Packet: The kindergarten teachers at Windsor Charter Academy put together a special summer packet for all of 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 with the email address provided during enrollment. Relatives can also subscribe to our email list to receive newsletters. If you would like to confirm that you are on our email list, please contact Sara Sanders, Director of Communications with the email address you would like added and the current grade level of your student(s).
Parents and legal guardians can also join our private, grade-level WCA Facebook Pages. Please make sure to complete the 3-question membership form when requesting admission to our private Facebook groups.
Parent Volunteer Hours
Parental involvement and volunteerism are strong components of WCA. Every family is expected to serve 35 hours per school year. All hours should be logged here.
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, an individual volunteer account needs to be created for the candidate running. Service hours fulfilled must be by the candidate themselves, and not other family members. WCA volunteer hours will be verified via our HelpCounter Volunteer Portal.
Making a donation 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. To make a donation, please fill out our online form, and in the notes section, specify that your donation is to cover volunteer hours.
Board & Support Committees
Board committees support Executive Board members in their work in governance and oversight. There are four Executive Board committees—School Accountability, Student and School Safety, Education, Finance and Election.
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 the level of safety at our schools.
Education Committee: The Education Committee serves to strengthen the overall educational program of the school. This committee assists the administrator and teachers to provide 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.
School Accountability Committee (SAC): If you are interested in serving on the School Accountability Committee, please email Dr. Rebecca Teeples, Executive Director of Schools.
Finance Committee: If you are interested in serving on the 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 Election Committee is responsible for oversight of the annual Executive Board Elections. If you are interested in serving on the Election Committee, please email Dr. Rebecca Teeples, Executive Director of Schools.
Additional committees meet each month that support our school that are not Board committees. Support committees support the day-to-day work of staff at Windsor Charter Academy.
Parent-Teacher Club (PTC): Our Parent-Teacher Clubs support our students with memorable activities throughout the year such as Sweets with Santa, Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, Mayfair, After-Prom and other events. There is one PTC per school.
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 contact Hannah Mancina.
If you are interested in serving on any of the above committees, please sign up below.
Transportation
Parents who are 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 who are interested in having before or after-school care can register with ABC Bright School Age Centers.