Newsletter

Apr 24 | 2nd Grade Zoo Field Trip, Cougar Committee Burrito & Ice Cream Sales

Apr 26 | Chalk the Sidewalks with Teacher Appreciation Notes

Apr 27-Apr 30 | Teacher Appreciation Week

Apr 27 | Tacky Tourist Spirit Day: bring teacher/staff appreciation note, Book Return Round Up Begins

Apr 28 | Fashion Week in Paris Spirit Day: bring teacher/staff a flower, 4th Grade Science Fair, 3rd Grade Field Trip Nature & Science Museum

Apr 29 | Greek Spirit Day: bring teacher/staff favorite beverage

Apr 30 | PJ Spirit Day: bring teacher/staff a gift card

May 1 | Aappl Testing 3rd-8th (sign-up), Percy Jackson Musical 6:00pm

May 2 | Percy Jackson Musical 6:00pm

May 4 | Musical Cast Only Spirit Shirt Day

May 5 | Formal Uniform Day, PTO Meeting 6:00pm, Board Meeting 6:30pm

May 8 | Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

May 12 | 8th Graders Attending CVHS Move Up Ceremony 2:00-3:00pm

May 13 | Smart Cow Spirit Day, 8th grade Continuation Practice, Breakfast (students only) & Walk (wear HS colors), Talent Show 2-3:30pm

May 14 | 8th Grade Awards 2-3:25pm (informal uniform) & 8th Grade Continuation 6:00pm (formal uniform)

May 15 | 6th Grade Ocean Fair, Early Dismissal 12pm, Cougar Committee Ice Cream Sales

May 18 | K-7th Field Day (5,6,7 8:30-10:30am) (2,3,4 11:00-1:00pm) (K,1 1:20-3:20pm)

May 19 | Kindergarten Graduation 8:30-1:30pm

8:30am Maurice | 9:30am Seda |10:30am Stern |11:30am Weber |12:30am Garcia

May 21 | Trimester 3 Portal Closes to Parents

May 22 | Last Day of School Early Release 12:00pm

May 25 | Trimester 3 Portal Opens to Parents

As we wrap up the school year, please note that the last day for student book checkout is April 24th. Starting April 27th, we will begin our annual "Book Return Roundup" to collect all library materials.

With the last day of school on May 22nd, this window gives Mrs. R the time needed to check in, shelve, and inventory our entire collection. Thank you in advance for your help in ensuring all books make it back to the library!

Available Year Round

We have some exciting news for our Cougar families! We are officially launching a brand-new online apparel store that completely changes the way you shop for WCA approved informal uniform apparel and gear.

Gone are the days of waiting for a specific two-week window to order your spirit wear. We know our students grow fast and school spirit doesn't have an "off-season," so we’ve moved to a permanent online platform that is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

What’s Available?

Whether you are prepping for the new school year or looking for summer gear, the store has you covered:

Uniform Approved Outerwear: You can now order the approved WCA crewneck sweatshirt and hoodie (MS 5-8 only) and zip up hoodie (MS 5-8 only) anytime you need a replacement.
Cougar Spirit Wear: Show your pride all summer long! The store features a wide variety of items including T-shirts, baseball hats, bags, and more.

Why the Change?

We wanted to provide a more convenient experience for our families. No more rushing to meet a deadline or missing out on a "pop-up" sale. Now, you can order exactly what you need, exactly when you need it, and have it shipped directly to your door.

We are so excited to bring this new level of flexibility to our community. Head over to the link below and grab your new favorite WCA gear today!

Order Apparel Here

Go Cougars!

Nominate World Compass Academy

The nomination link for the Colorado Parent Magazine Family Favorites list is here! Go to bit.ly/WCA2026 and nominate World Compass Academy as many times as possible now through May 15!

Directions:

👉 Click this link: bit.ly/WCA2026

👉 Scroll to the "Schooled" category

👉 Find "Favorite Charter Elementary School" and enter "World Compass Academy"

👉 For "Favorite Charter Elementary School Principal," enter "World Compass Academy (Bethany Merkling)"

👉 Repeat for "Favorite Charter Middle School" and its principal with the same entries

💚💙 We’re encouraging everyone, families, staff, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all WCA supporters, to nominate WCA in these four categories. This is our first time participating, and every nomination counts! Strong support in April and May helps us reach the summer voting round. Let’s show Colorado what Cougar Pride is all about!

Nominations are open to families, staff, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who believes in World Compass Academy! Let's show Colorado our Cougar Pride!

World Compass Academy Board of Directors is seeking engaged community members to serve. We are especially interested in candidates with experience in fundraising, charter school marketing & strategy, or community outreach. If you are interested in supporting WCA’s mission, please apply here.

Looking for a great way to get involved and build connections? Every WCA family is automatically a member of our PTO, and there are many opportunities to participate for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

Whether you’re interested in serving as an officer, leading a committee, or simply being a general member, there’s a place for everyone. All positions are elected annually, so every role is open—and some positions may even be uncontested. Our next PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 PM in the WCA cafeteria. All are welcome to attend.

Please visit the PTO website: https://www.worldcompassacademy.com/apps/pages/PTO

Or contact us at: pto@worldcompassacademy.com

Honoring Nomination: Colorado Teacher of the Year

We are thrilled to share that Kate McLaughlin has been nominated for Colorado Teacher of the Year! Kate is a passionate advocate for her students and a true leader in the teaching profession. She inspires her classroom and her dedication to growth and learning shines through in everything she does. Congratulations, Kate.

Colorado League of Charter Schools Finalist

We are thrilled to celebrate Heather Fortelka for being named a finalist for the Colorado League of Charter Schools’ award for Most Valuable Charter Contributor! This recognition highlights Heather’s unwavering commitment to excellence and her significant impact on our school community. Congratulations, Heather, on this incredible honor and for all you do to help WCA thrive!

8th Graders Headed to High School Athletics

Congratulations to Amelia and Eden for making the Douglas County High School Varsity Cheer Team for the 2026-2027 season! We are so proud to see our MS Varsity athletes taking their talents to the next level as Huskies. Your WCA family is cheering for you! Way to go, ladies! ✨

Earth/Agriculture Day! 🌎

Our students explored the "Web of Life" through hands-on activities that connected our local actions to the global ecosystem. From interacting with animals to learn the universal language of gentleness and studying the ancient indigenous wisdom of regenerative grazing, our Cougars practiced showing "HEART" to the land. We also dove into water conservation, modeling how local pollution affects our global oceans and building food webs that include migratory species. Students created 100% biodegradable planters and seed bombs to support local pollinators, proving that whether we are conserving water or planting seeds, our care for the planet is a shared experience that connects us all! 🐾🌱💙

Rocky Vista University

Our 3rd graders recently took an exciting field trip to Rocky Vista University, where they got a hands-on look at the world of medicine and science. Students had the unique opportunity to explore the campus, interact with medical professionals, and see firsthand how the human body works. It was an inspiring day of discovery that brought our science curriculum to life and sparked plenty of dreams about future careers in healthcare!

Egg-cellent Adventures in 2nd Grade

Our 2nd-grade classrooms are buzzing with excitement as we welcome some fuzzy new friends! After weeks of patient waiting and careful observation, our chicks have officially begun to hatch. This hands-on experience has allowed our students to witness the miracle of the life cycle up close, from monitoring incubator temperatures to hearing those very first chirps. It’s been a wonderful lesson in responsibility and gentleness as our young Cougars welcome these tiny additions to the WCA family! 🐣🐾

Volleyball Summer Camp

Registration Link Coming Soon

WCA Theatre Camp

Registration Link

Flag Football Camp

DC High School

Summer Strength Camp

Youth Police Academy

Bike Safety Event

Registration Now Open

DC Cheer Camp

2026 Huskie Pup Summer Cheer Camp dates have been set and registration is LIVE! Sign up below to lock in your spot for camp May 29th & 30th.

Details:

Friday, May 29th @ 4-7pm (snacks and dinner provided)
Saturday, May 30th (9am-3pm with lunch and snacks provided)
Final Performance will be May 30th at 3:05pm
Ages: 3 years old (must be potty trained) through 8th Grade
Location: Douglas County HS - South Building Commons

Important Information: You must sign up and pay to be fully registered for camp. There are two separate links so please complete both! :)

Info page: CountyCheer.org. Registration: Sign Up Here! Cost: $100 - pay here!

(includes lunch - day 1 & 2 and snack both days + t-shirt)*DC Rec athletes receive the discounted rate

It's not too early to think about Summer Reading! Students can register beginning Friday, May 1 for Douglas County Libraries Summer Reading 2026. Kids can earn prizes for themselves and compete for a cash gift for schools. Visit DCL.org for

At WCA, we hold our alumni close to our hearts and are always delighted to hear about their accomplishments and adventures! We celebrate our alumni's successes and are proud to have been a part of their journey. Keep soaring, Cougars, and don't forget to keep us updated on your latest achievements! Go Anywhere! Do Anything!