NEW PARENTS 2023-2024

Welcome to Collinswood

Hello Parents of 2023-2024 Kindergarteners – welcome to Collinswood Language Academy! The PTA wants to get you and your child connected to the school and other parents in the Collinswood Community. We’re here to ease the transition.

First things first

Let’s get signed up for a few things. If you want to get instantly connected to the school and other Collinswood families, these are the tools we recommend.

Get answers to most questions and communicate with other Collinswood parents through this group messaging service. You can either use the native GroupMe app (available on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone) or simply use the SMS text messaging service.

Each month the PTA sends out an email newsletter packed with news, upcoming events, important dates, ways to volunteer, and much more. Parents must sign up to receive the newsletter. Newsletters are prepared in both English and Spanish.
All parents are encouraged to join the Collinswood PTA ($10 annually/person or $20 annually/family) and actively participate in the committees and programs. The PTA typically meets three or four times during the school year. All parents are encouraged to attend.

ConnectEd is weekly email and/or recorded phone message sent out from the Collinswood principal and administrative staff. Parents will be enrolled automatically at the beginning of the school year. If you do not receive the ConnectEd email or recorded phone message, please contact the school office for assistance.

The Collinswood Language Academy PTA maintains its own social media channels. We encourage you to follow us for the latest updates, volunteer requests, and photos from the school.
Follow Collinswood PTA
Collinswood Language Academy maintains its own Facebook account with the latest school-specific information directly from the administrative staff at the school. Stay up to date!

Follow Collinswood (school)

Uniform Policy

Uniforms are expected for all students enrolled at Collinswood Language Academy except on scheduled non-uniform days or when special permission is granted by administration for Spirit and/or Picture days.

Uniform Policy

Connect

The Official CMS Collinswood Language Academy Website

For information directly from the school.

Additional Apps

Depending on your Kindergarten teacher, you might need the following apps. More information will be provided during the first week of school.

Communicate directly with your child’s teacher and receive important classroom news and updates (learn more). Your child’s teacher will provide you with a Remind code which you will need in order to connect. This is a stand-alone app for iOS and Android.

Canvas is a web-based learning management system, or LMS (learn more) that Collinswood students use to complete homework and other assignments given by their teachers. This app is primarily used by grades 3-8. Your child’s teacher will provide more information.

CMS has provided a user-friendly web app to help parents and families become more involved in education (learn more). Parents can check their child’s homework assignments, attendance reports, grades and other items from any computer, any time using PowerSchool.

Collinswood Logos

You’ll see these logos around Collinswood in the days to come. Here’s what they mean.

The Jaguar Cub

Just for Kindergarten—2nd Grade

The Main Jaguar

3rd—8th Grade and all other events

Volunteers

The Collinswood PTA relies completely on involvement from parents. To volunteer, first you’ll need to register with CMS.

FAQs

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What time does school start/end?

The bell schedule is 9:15am-4:15pm.

All students may arrive by 8:45am for a free breakfast. Class begins at 9:15am. School ends daily at 4:15pm.

Where do I find the 2023-2024 school schedule?

The full 2023-2024 academic calendar has been been approved by the CMS Board of Education.

May I walk my child to class?

If you have a child starting Kindergarten in the fall of 2023, you may walk your child to class for the first two weeks of school. After that time, parents will no longer be allowed to accompany their child to class.

If you live within a short radius of the school, you may be approved to walk your child to and from school. View more information on ASEP and Walkers Procedures.

What is the Collinswood uniform policy?

View the Collinswood uniform guidelines for a complete list of approved garments along with photos of each item.

Where can I purchase school uniforms?

School uniforms can be purchased through a variety of retailers including Target, Old Navy, Costco, Land’s End, A Child’s Place, and others. Uniform garments can also be found at consignment and thrift stores around the Charlotte area.

What medical forms are required?

You will need to visit your child’s primary healthcare provider and complete both the Required Immunizations/Vaccines form and the Physical Exams/Health Assessments form no later than August 31, 2023. Both forms must be completed and given to the school nurse.

Note: forms may be given to the school nurse as early as May 2023 as long as the provider visit was after 8/24/23 and is the 5-year-old Well Child Check.

Please do not wait to schedule an appointment with your child’s physician. Many healthcare providers will have full schedules the week before school begins.

For more information, email the school nurse, or call 980-343-5820.

 

How do I register to ride the bus?

Visit the CMS Transportation page for relevant bus rider forms.

Download and register for the Here Comes The Bus app to track your child’s bus route. View more information and helpful hints on the CMS website.

What about breakfast and lunch?

For the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast will be provided at no charge to every student. Lunch will be offered for purchase or may be brought from home.

Lunch payments may be made online using PayPams. You may apply for free or reduced meals.

View Collinswood breakfast and lunch menus.

My child has a special diet. What should I do?

If your child has food allergies or requires a special diet, please read and fill out the relevant forms on the CMS website. More information can be found on the School Nutrition Services page of the CMS website.

What school supplies will my child need?

View a full list of school supplies your child will need.

What are the carpool procedures?

View the Collinswood carpool procedures and familiarize yourself with the route through the parking lot.

My child takes medication for a chronic illness. What should I do?

If your child’s Chronic Illness (examples: Asthma, Diabetes, Severe Allergy) will be managed at school, there are 2-3 CMS forms that need to be filled out and signed by the doctor and the parent. These are located on the CMS website, under Health Related Forms. Please call the School Nurse at 980-343-5820 to ensure you are bringing the correct paperwork to the doctor.

Please note: we cannot give any medications, including emergency medications, if this paperwork is not correctly completed and turned in to the School Nurse. Medications include all over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, cough syrups, ointments etc. All medications must be in their original containers with appropriate CMS forms.

How do I volunteer at Collinswood?

Over the summer, we’ll post a full list of volunteer opportunies at Collinswood. To volunteer, you’ll first need to register with CMS at cmsvolunteers.com. More information can be found on the volunteer page of the CMS website.

How do I contact the school?

Collinswood Language Academy
5621 Flagstaff Drive
Charlotte, NC 28210
collinswoodla.com
P: 980-343-5820 | F: 980-343-5850

Principal: Dina Modine

Bell Schedule
Open: 9:15 AM
Close: 4:15 PM

Facebook Page
Contact Page

How do I sign up for the weekly ConnectEd email and phone message?
Each Sunday afternoon a Connect Ed email and/or phone message will be sent to all families detailing celebrations, important information and upcoming events. Please contact the front office at 980-343-5820 to verify that your phone number and email addresses are in Power School correctly so that you receive this important communication.

Questions?

Starting a new school can feel overwhelming. We want to make this a smooth transition for you and your child. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] with questions.

Our Mission

The mission of the Collinswood Language Academy PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

The Collinswood Language Academy PTA is:

  • A strong voice for the education and well-being of every child
  • A relevant resource for families and communities