August 2026 Monthly Newsletter

Welcome OR Welcome Back to the Academy of Las Animas Online and the 2026-2027 School Year!!! We are very excited for you all to be with us. Please watch the video as well as read through the newsletter as there is important information about new programming, schedules, enrollment, back-to-school events and more! Thank you for trusting us with you student's education.

• Hexter 1 Begins August 17th
• Star Testing happening through Oct. 1
• Student Onboarding continues with soft launch of academics the first week (Aug. 17-Aug. 21).
• Click here of the 26-27 School Year Student/Academic Calendar
• August 24th - Academic classes in full swing with grades and assignments.
• ALAO State Fair Booth Aug. 28-Sept. 7!
• Come see us in the Ag Palace!
• August 28th - Not an official school day (Students can always work in the classes any time they want!)
• Sept. 1-Sept 3 = September Newsletter to come out.

Level Up Time in Advisory courses will begin in Hexter 2!

⛔These individual, skill-building pathways are part of the Advisory Class grade and assignments. THEY ARE NOT REPLACING STUDENTS' CORE CLASSES FOR ELA OR MATH. They are in addition to those courses.⛔

As always, we strive to provide the most personalized and appropriate experience for our students based on where they are at and what they need in order to reach graduation successfully. Click here for our Drop-in Zone Hours.

If you have any questions, please feel to reach out to our counselor and/or enrollment team:

Cindy Cowan - School Counselor

• cindy.cowan@academy-la.com

Michele Aragon - Registrar

• michele.aragon@academy-la.com

Nancy Bailey - Enrollment Specialist

• nancy.bailey@academy-la.com

Enrollment: 719-931-4377

enrollment@academy-la.com

Mentors and Teachers have been and will continue reaching out to students to complete the beginning of year STAR Reading and Math assessments. The STAR assessments provide information on students strengths and areas for growth.

Key benefits of taking the Star assessment include:

• Personalized Learning and Support: The test adapts in real-time, identifying exactly where a student excels or struggles, which helps educators create personalized learning.
• The academic interventions we utilize rely heavily on these test scores for an appropriate starting point to recover or build skills for every level of student.
• Accurate Growth Monitoring: Instead of just measuring proficiency at one moment, Star assessments track academic progress throughout the year to ensure students are meeting growth targets.

• If you like choice when it comes to your student's education and the option of having an online school like ours, here is your chance to share your opinion. In accordance with HB 26-1248, the State of Colorado is asking families for feedback on why they choose certain types of schooling, including online schools.
• The information gathered through this survey will play an important role in informing the upcoming State Board rulemaking processes and legislative priorities for part-time homeschool programs, online schools and beyond. Just as importantly, it will help policymakers better understand the diverse needs and choices of all families as they consider how state funding and resources can best support students and families.
• We HIGHLY recommend that you take the time for this survey.
• Click here for the Parent Letter from CDE asking for Participation (ENGLISH VERSION)
• Click here for the Parent Letter from CDE asking for Participation (SPANISH VERSION)

If your family needs help with resources such as housing, food, healthcare, and crisis support across Colorado, consider calling 211. 211 Colorado is a free, confidential, multilingual service that can help connect you this type of support.

Visit their website for more information at https://www.211colorado.org

Every school day matters and Colorado is focusing on improving student attendance in schools. Academic success for Colorado students starts with being in school on time every day. Every member of our community has a role to play in supporting student attendance, and the resource hub found on CDE's attendance campaign webpage is designed to help schools, parents, families, and local partners spread the word that every school day matters.

This Month's Focus: What it takes to be "Chronically Absent"

• Chronically Absent: A student absent 10 percent or more of the days enrolled during the school year is chronically absent. All absences are included – unexcused, excused and suspensions.
• To help prevent this, think about the following:
• Have logging in and doing some work in all of your classes 4 days a week a top priority.
• Let us know if there is a reason you can't log in and do your work so we can help problem solve.
• Communicate with teachers and mentors
• Being willing to ask for help.

ALAO would like to welcome Brenda Smith to the staff. She will be managing all of our ELL, 504, ALP, Read, and possibly some RTI plans for all 3 regions. She will also be facilitating our new Language Development program to students with goals on an ELL Plan. We are excited to have her on board with us!

She comes to us with a wealth of experience in many different field within Education including teaching, administration, consulting, and online learning.