Parent Info Center

Upcoming Events

• October 3
  LACO Student Council (Every Monday) – 2:00 PM MT
• October 6
  Inspiration Hour – 3:00 PM MT (Find details in Homeroom)
• October 7
  All pre-midterm assignments from live classes are due before 9:00 PM MT
• October 10
  Study Day – No Class
• October 11-12
  Midterms – No Class
• October 12
  All pre-midterm assignments from self-paced classes as well as all midterms are due before 5:00 PM MT
• October 13-14
  Fall Break – No Class, Offices Closed
• October 26
  LACO Parent Booster Club Meeting – 10:00 AM MT

September 30, 2022

I hope you and your family enjoy the Williamsburg Learning curriculum and that your student has shared a TLE (Transformational Learning Experience) with you! As the executive director of Leadership Academy of Colorado (LACO), I am grateful to be able to review the TLEs that our students submit. Reading the TLEs brings me joy and inspires me in my work!..

Here are a few TLEs from our LACO students this past month that I share with their permission:

"I love how her teaching style just makes sense, and role-playing different governments was the best."
-Meredith, LACO 8th Grade Student, speaking about the mentor, Kelli Oka.

"I learned some constellations in astronomy, and a few nights ago, I was able to find them and point them out to my family."
-LACO 9th Grade Student

"My mentor has made learning exciting and even fun, which is not how I have felt about school in the past."
-Logan, LACO 8th Grade Student, speaking about mentor Kent Schwager

A quick reminder: There is only one week before the mid-semester submission deadline! This deadline is October 7 at 9:00 PM MT for live courses and October 12 at 5:00 PM MT for self-paced classes.

I encourage you to have a check-in meeting with your student to see if all their previous assignments are complete. The Weekly Progress Report sent through Canvas is beneficial. If needed, please have your student sign up for office hours or email their mentors, and create a plan for submitting all work before these deadlines.

Our mentors and the Student Success Team are always here to help! If I may be of support in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Warmly,

Cynthia Cox, LACO Executive Director


Action Items

View the 5-minute LACO Graduation Requirements video: All our LACO students are on a pathway to graduation. You can learn more about the credits needed to graduate and the required SAT/ACT scores or Capstone Project by watching this video presentation, delivered last week by Heather Evans.

Action Items & Announcements

• View LACO Graduation Requirements Video

Please read full email for details.

September 23, 2022

I've been spending this past week in Park City, Utah, and have enjoyed time with my adult children and grandchildren. It amazes me to see how quickly the years fly by! Though our Leadership of Colorado (LACO) students are now in middle and high school, the college years are fast approaching! ...

LACO's accredited program includes a pathway to graduation for each student. Have you had the opportunity to review your student's Graduation Plan in our Student Information System (SIS)? In the plan, you can find each course your student has taken, and you'll see an open slot if your student still needs a class in that subject area to meet graduation requirements. The Graduation Plan is a great way to monitor your student’s progress!

For more information on the LACO graduation requirements, I hope you'll join us for a presentation by Heather Evans on Monday, September 26, at 10:00 AM MT (details below)!

Thank you once again for entrusting your student's education to Leadership Academy of Colorado! We are inspired each day by the opportunity to work with you and your student.

Warmly,

Cynthia Cox
Executive Director, LACO


Action Items

Make sure your student is on track to graduate: Please join us this coming Monday, September 26, at 10:00 AM for a presentation about graduation requirements by Heather Evans, which will happen during our LACO Parent Booster Club meeting. Heather will demonstrate the process for reviewing your student's LACO Graduation Plan! Check your inbox for a Zoom link.

Please take a moment to review LACO's Post Secondary Information Letter: This information is compiled by Heather Evans, LACO's Academic Counselor. Heather is available to meet with parents and students to discuss the LACO Graduation Plan or post-secondary placement opportunities. Please email heather@williamsburglearning.com to make an appointment.


Announcements

The Denver National College Fair is coming up on September 25: This is an excellent opportunity for your student to find schools that will be a good fit! See this link to register.

Action Items & Announcements

• Is your student on track to graduate?
• LACO's Post Secondary Information Letter
• Denver National College Fair

Please read full email for details.

September 16, 2022

It was thrilling to meet with students and parents during our Leadership Academy of Colorado (LACO) in-person ice cream/pool parties last week! I enjoyed hearing what you find inspiring about LACO, and your ideas about how we can strengthen our program. It truly is a team effort as we build LACO throughout Colorado! ...

I hope you enjoyed meeting with mentors this past week during Parent-Mentor Conferences, and that you feel engaged as part of the LACO team to support your student's education. Our mentors are dedicated to helping your student succeed. We understand how important it is for students to have support as they learn to manage their time, tasks, and energy with an online curriculum.

The Williamsburg Curriculum has a higher percentage of students who successfully finish their courses than any other online curriculum we’re aware of. We think this is primarily due to the kinds of students and families we attract, but it is also because we work hard to keep students and parents informed about student progress.

You can find information about your student’s progress through the weekly reports sent out via Canvas. If your student has a course in the "Red Zone,” it indicates they may need more support from parents, mentors, or our Student Success Team (studentsupport@williamsburglearning.com).

Please reach out to us when you need greater support, and together we will find a way to differentiate instruction or implement a plan to help your child succeed! For a list of our LACO Team Members' Contact Information and details about the roles they play, see this document. We look forward to hearing from you!

Warmly,

Cynthia Cox, Executive Director of
Leadership Academy of Colorado


Action Items

Explore the LACO Pathway to Graduation: Join us Monday, September 26, at 10:00 AM for a presentation on graduation requirements by Heather Evans, which will be held during our LACO Parent Booster Club meeting. Check your inbox for a Zoom link.

Parents of 12th-grade students: Attend LACO Capstone Project Meeting: This meeting is for senior students who need the LACO Capstone Project and their parents. It will be held on September 28 at 3:00 PM. Check your inbox for a Zoom link.

Tell your student about LACO Student Council: The LACO Student Council meets each Monday at 2:00 PM. During Student Council Meetings, we will put our leadership skills into action as we discuss ways to help LACO thrive, plan in-person and online events, and get to know other students. Check your inbox for a Zoom link. I hope to see your student there!


Announcements

LACO Team Contact Reference Sheet - Check your inbox for a link to the reference sheet. Please reach out to us with any questions. We look forward to working with you!

Action Items & Announcements

• LACO Pathway to Graduation
• LACO Capstone Project Meeting
• LACO Student Council

Please read full email for details.

September 9, 2022

I've had the wonderful opportunity to speak with many of our LACO families over the last few months. I'm impressed and grateful to each of you for your dedication to providing your student with the best education possible. Your support for Leadership Academy of Colorado and your student is clearly evident.... Our families value education and are highly committed to ensuring each child has the best possible opportunity.

The LACO/Williamsburg Learning team supports your family in this journey. We love working with your students and value each of their unique talents and capabilities. We believe a focus on leadership and academics sets our students apart as future leaders. I am honored to partner with you in developing citizens who will be ready to lead our communities and solve our future challenges.

Next week are our Parent-Mentor Conferences. This opportunity allows you to visit with a mentor and ask questions about your student's progress in their course. As LACO's executive director, I also look forward to speaking with our families about student celebrations, challenges, or concerns. We remain committed to our students and invite our families to partner with us as we work to elevate education. I am always eager to learn as much as I can to enhance our students' educational experience!

Warmly,

Cynthia Cox, LACO Executive Director

P.S. With our school's focus on student leadership, I'd like to invite our junior and senior LACO students to consider applying for the 2023 U.S. Senate Youth Program. Students who are selected will be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship and the chance to participate in a week-long leadership program with some of the nation’s top leaders in Washington, D.C. You can find more info in the “Action Items” section below.


Action Items

Parent-Mentor Conferences are happening next week! Request a Parent-Mentor Conference or Parent-Mentor Email Update below:

If you’re happy with your student’s progress but still want a personal update from their mentor, request a Parent-Mentor Update by emailing your student’s mentor in SIS. The mentor will send you a detailed email describing how your student is doing and informing you of any concerns by September 16.

If you have a specific concern or in-depth question regarding one of your student’s courses, sign up for a Parent-Mentor Conference. These are 10-15 minute online meetings with the course mentor to get personalized insights on your student’s performance. Please check your inbox for the link to schedule a PMC.

Make a splash with us at one of our LACO Ice Cream Pool Parties! Make a splash with other families from LACO in one of the following locations:

Highlands Ranch: Saturday, September 10 from 4:00-6:00 PM MT at Eastridge Recreation Center

NEW: Grand Junction (Fruita), Colorado: Monday, September 12 from 3:00-5:00 PM MT at Fruita Community Center

Important Note: Our previously scheduled pool party in Durango has been canceled. Families from the Durango area should feel free to register for a different location.

Encourage your 11th or 12th-grade student to apply for the 2023 Senate Youth Program! This is an exciting opportunity for high school juniors or seniors interested in careers in public service to attend a week-long leadership program in Washington, D.C., with some of the nation’s top leaders. To be eligible, students must have demonstrated leadership experience (such as serving on a student council or as a National Honor’s Society representative). Students selected to participate in the program receive a $10,000 scholarship toward their college education. Applications are due on Wednesday, Oct. 12. For more information on eligibility, Colorado’s selection process, and application, visit the U.S. Senate Youth Program webpage.

Make sure your student gets credit for attendance: We measure attendance by logging in to Canvas. Please remind your student to log in each day to Canvas, so they receive credit.


Announcements

NWEA MAP Assessments: All of our LACO students are being given the opportunity to participate in NWEA MAP Assessments. As one measure of student learning, the tests provide information about the skills students have mastered, and can help guide us as we plan instruction. All students are automatically registered by our school, but need to select a time to attend. Each student will be sent a document detailing instructions of how to access the test and when available testing sessions are being held. Students must take the test at one of the listed times, as the test is proctored. If a student is not able to attend one of the proctored sessions, they can contact the Assessment Specialist (whose contact information will be in the email).

No LACO Student Council Monday September 12: There will be no meeting on Monday, September 12, due to the LACO Ice Cream Pool Party event that day.

A note on student immunization records - Our LACO School Nurse Consultant, Kelly Gonda, will be reviewing the immunization records and waivers that were submitted during the enrollment process. She will reach out to parents, as needed. We welcome Kelly to LACO, and are grateful she is a part of our team!

Action Items & Announcements

• Parent-Mentor Conferences
• Parent Booster Club Meeting
• Ice Cream Pool Party
• Senate Youth Council
• Student Attendance
• Capstone Project Meeting
• NWEA MAP Assessments

Please read full email for details.