Citizens Connection

Happy January, Citizens! We look forward to seeing the students back in the building tomorrow!

Included in this week's newsletter:

• Parent Puberty Night - Tuesday, January 13th
• PBL Showcase - Friday, January 16th
• 2026-2027 Middle School Preview - Friday, January 16th
• MOCSA Presentations
• 2026-2027 Enrollment
• December Board Meeting Summary

As part of our commitment to supporting students’ healthy development, puberty education lessons will be taught to 5th–8th grade students this winter. Lessons will provide accurate, age-appropriate information about physical, emotional, and social changes during adolescence and will be taught by trained staff in a supportive setting. All 5th-8th grade families are invited to attend a Parent Information Night on January 13 from 5:30–6:30 p.m., where lesson content and resources will be shared. Please RSVP here so that we can plan ahead for food!

More information and details are included in this letter!

Our 2nd-8th grade students will be working hard this week and next to prepare for our first semester PBL Showcase on Friday, January 16th! Students will be presenting projects based on the first semester theme of water conservation, and all families are invited to attend. More logistical information will be shared in next week's newsletter.

Following the PBL Showcase, all 5th-7th grade caregivers are encouraged to stay for a short chat with Mr. Butler regarding some exciting things on the horizon for our middle schoolers next year! Learn about new opportunities with academics, electives, service learning, and more. If you are not able to attend but would like more info, please reach out to Mr. Butler. Another meeting will be planned if there is additional interest.

During the week nof January 12th, MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault) will be visiting CWCKC to present age appropriate programming to help keep children and youth safe from sexual abuse and harassment. Check your child's backpack for a letter with the specific date for your child's class.

Kindergarten through 4th grade will participate in Project Aware, which is an educational program that teaches children about different ways to keep their body safe. Students learn the differences between good, bad and confusing touches. Children are taught three safety rules to use if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable: SAY NO, GET AWAY, and TELL SOMEONE. Children are encouraged to identify trusted adults they can talk with. An age appropriate video is shown in class and materials are provided for each child to take home.

5th grade through 8th grade will learn about sexual harassment. They will learn the four types of sexual harassment (physical, verbal, non-verbal, written) and will identify examples in each category. They will discuss consequence of sexual harassment as well as how it might make someone feel if they are harassed. They will also learn strategies to deal with sexual harassment if it happens to them.

If you have any questions concerning either of these programs, you can contact the MOCSA Coordinator of Education and Outreach at 816-285-1354 or projectaware@mosca.org.

If you DO NOT want your child to attend their class's presentation, please contact Johanna Chambers, Director of Student Support at 816-537-1634 or johanna.chambers@cwckansascity.org.

For students who are currently enrolled at Citizens:

• All currently enrolled PreK-7th grade students will have the opportunity to re-enroll for next year beginning February 1st. This is done through your Parent Portal.
• Current students are guaranteed a spot for next year if re-enrollment is completed by February 28th. After that, all remaining spots will be made available to newly enrolling students, though students are still encouraged to re-enroll as space allows.
• All currently enrolled families will need to provide one recent proof of residency (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, property insurance receipt) that confirms their address is within KCPS boundaries.

• If you are considering moving sometime soon, please use the Find My District tool to ensure that you will continue to live within KCPS boundaries so that your child can continue to attend Citizens.

• All newly enrolling students should complete an application in SchoolAppKC.
• PreK is available to children who are 3 or 4 years old on or before July 31st, and kindergarten is open to students who will be 5 years old on or before July 31st.
• If the child is a sibling of a current student, please be sure to notate that so that the new student can be given sibling priority.
• In order to be included in the lottery, which will give your student the best chances of an offer, complete the application by March 1st. Applications will continue to be accepted after this date, and spots will be offered as space allows.

Please reach out to Katy Lineberry with any questions regarding enrollment!

Here are some highlights from the December meeting of the Board of Directors:

• Mr. MacDonald reviewed the 2024-2025 fiscal year audit ; the Board approved it. The school received an "unqualified/clean" opinion - the best possible!
• Dr. Miles asked the board for input on both non-academic and academic goals to include in our charter renewal application.
• Dr. Miles updated the board on rebranding progress, including the surveys and focus groups that took place in December, and there will be a presentation of data in mid-January.
• The board discussed the designation of "Diverse by Design" in the charter renewal.
• Mr. Brennan presented information regarding DESE's recent prior year funding corrections for charter schools. Citizens is expected to pay back approximately $280,000, which is considerably lower than other charters in the area.
• Despite this setback, we are still in positive financial health with 59 days of cash on hand.

• Ms. Lineberry gave an overview of the 2026-2027 enrollment season. The holiday season is typically a slow season with new applications, but we expect it will pick up in January. Re-enrollment starts February 1st, so we will have better projections about enrollment for next year at that time.

Members of the community are always welcome at monthly board meetings. Board meeting Zoom links, agendas, minutes, and other materials are available on the new Board of Directors Materials Public Portal!

Don't forget to check the Family Dashboard for the full calendar, including upcoming field trips!

January 6th - School Resumes & 3rd Quarter Begins

January 13th - Debate Tournament en Español (Citizens of the World)

January 13th - Parent Puberty Night, 5:30 pm (5th-8th Grade Families)

January 15th - Debate Tournament (NKC Norclay Building)

January 16th - First Semester PBL Showcase, 2-3 pm

January 16th - '26-'27 Middle School Preview, 3-3:30 pm (5th-7th Grade Families)

January 19th - No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

January 22nd - Pop-Up Food Pantry, 3:30-6 pm

January 22nd - Board of Directors Meeting, 6 pm (Virtual)

January 29th - Debate Tournament (Gateway 6th Grade Center)

January 29th - Family Skate Party, 6-8 pm (Skate City Shawnee)

January 30th - Debate Tournament (Antioch Middle School)

Email: info@cwckansascity.org
Website: www.cwckansascity.org
Location: 3435 Broadway Boulevard, KCMO, 64111
Phone: (816)499-8000

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwckansascity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cwckansascity