Become part of a connected community
When you enroll in The Cottonwood School, you and your student become part of a connected community of families, children, and educators. At Cottonwood we are reimagining community — a network of caring, like-minded people who come together virtually and in person — to support your choice to homeschool your children. Through events, field trips, activities, workshops, and training for parents, we make sure that your child’s social and emotional development keeps pace with their academic achievements.
Communication:
Parent Connect
Our Parent Support Advisor and Family Liaisons are available at our weekly Storytime and Craft Club at our Lending Library. During these CONNECT events, parents are invited to seek support and get questions answered by our dedicated staff members who are also homeschooling parents. All parents and staff are invited. Once a month we also feature a Parent Connect Book Club during this time. It’s a great way to connect with others to build community and give and get support.
Wednesday Weekly
Each Wednesday our Parent Support Advisor sends out a newsletter to all those within the Cottonwood community. This newsletter contains relevant community information about upcoming events, resources, and homeschooling in general.
Regular Communication with your Home School Teacher (HST)
Your HST (homeschool teacher) will communicate with you regularly via email and possibly text. You will receive updates and offerings of special events and activities.
Activities:
Community Connections
Each month our Community Coordinators provide opportunities for students and parents to gather for unique events that build community. Prior events have included a science fair, a spelling bee, and a maker’s market. During the pandemic, our virtual events included cooking classes, LEGO challenges, scavenger hunts, and virtual field trips.
Field Trips
We believe community makes our homeschooling experiences that much better, and field trips are one avenue to get there! Our school-sponsored field trips bring your child’s education to life. From the arts to athletics, science to living history, and nature to outer space, we explore the world around us together to enhance learning and build community.
And the fun doesn’t stop in summer! Our Family Liaison Team offers regular park days and a limited number of free field trips in the summer so kids can keep that connection with friends they’ve made throughout the school year.
Check our event calendar for an overview of the types of field trips and events we offer each month! Each month during the school year we offer approximately two dozen opportunities to connect with other homeschooling families, including field trips, park days, and special events. Cottonwood families can find details for these events in the Wednesday Weekly newsletter, which always has the latest field trip and event information.
Social-Emotional Learning Foundations (SELF)
We nurture social, emotional, and physical wellness, in addition to academic excellence, to maximize your child’s holistic growth and future success. We do this through Mindset Mondays, workshops, and events for students to learn about the 7 Mindsets, Home Educator Workshops, our weekly SELF Talk newsletter, and support.
Everybody Belongs
We are committed to lifting the voices of those who may not have historically been recognized or valued, and providing diverse perspectives on both historical and current events. Through monthly workshops and events, we create opportunities for conversation and understanding, as well as supply tools to help staff and families take actionable steps toward positive change.
Educational Design Experts
Educational Design Experts (EDE) serve as a valuable resource, providing education and support to both parents and staff in various homeschooling methodologies. EDEs assist parents in their exploration of different approaches to homeschooling, with each team member specializing in a unique educational learning approach, including Classical, Montessori, Unit Studies, Unschooling, Waldorf, and Inquisitive Learners.
