Summer To-Do's | American Academy

We hope you're enjoying a great start to your summer!
To help you stay organized and make the most of the months ahead, we've put together this checklist with everything you need to prepare for a successful new school year. We recommend bookmarking this page for easy access throughout the summer. Keep an eye on your inbox as well—we’ll be sharing more updates and important information as the new year approaches! You can print the checklist here.

Click on the arrows to view the drop-down information for each checklist item.

1. Know your family's important account access information.

Infinite Campus login credentials
- Lost or forgot your IC login info? NOW is the time to reset it!

American Academy SchoolMint Information
- Instructions and login info were sent to families to complete the American Academy Annual Registration, which takes place in April prior to the new school year.
MySchoolBucks Login Info (for student fees)

American Academy parents will use the MySchoolBucks application to make online payments for the following:
- Student fees (during DCSD Express Check-in)
- DCSD school lunch payments (if applicable)
MySchoolbucks SignUp Instructions

IMPORTANT! Keep all these numbers and logins safe and in an accessible location for use throughout the year.

2. Familiarize yourself with emergency communications.

American Academy uses Finalsite (voice, text, and email) for all emergency communication and school-wide messaging. All enrolled families are automatically included via Infinite Campus, which updates nightly.

We strongly recommend NOT opting out to ensure you receive all critical updates and important school information.

Please note that the school district (DCSD) also sends out communication using FinalSite. Many times you will receive important communication (snow delays, school closures, etc.) from both American Academy and DCSD.

3. Download the school year calendar and note important summer dates.

Review and bookmark our board-approved upcoming school year calendar so you can start planning for no school days, parent conferences, and school breaks
Please note that information and dates are subject to change. We will communicate clearly any changes to the below dates and other important info.
Take note of all the important upcoming summer/fall dates on our school event calendar! We've listed the big ones below; please check the website events calendar for details about times and locations (and any updates). We will also send out detailed info on events below where needed.
*All dates subject to change and as much advance notice as possible will be given

4. Start summer reading, math (and history, for middle school only) assignments.

All American Academy incoming K-8 students have summer assignments for reading and math (as well as history for incoming grades 6-8 only). KindiePrep students do NOT have summer reading assignments, but we encourage parents to read with them on a regular basis.

Visit the Summer Assignment web pages on our school website to view the assignments for each grade level and to download any related worksheets.

5. Sign up for an American Academy summer camp.

We hope your kids can join us for one or more of the fun camps offered and run by American Academy teachers and staff! Some camps are full, but there is limited space available in a few of the camps. For more details, visit the American Academy Summer Camp page on the website.

Participation in summer camps is open to ALL enrolled K-8 American Academy students who will be at least five years old by the start of the camp. Parents of students new to American Academy in upcoming year must complete all registration paperwork before signing up for a summer camp. Students may attend a camp at ANY campus and are not limited to the campus where they attend school.

6. Find a summer tutor.

Want a little extra help with academics this summer? American Academy teachers* sometimes like to offer private tutoring sessions during the summer months. We have listed those teachers here for your convenience and to give our wonderful, hard-working teachers a helping hand.

*American Academy is not responsible for or involved in these private tutoring arrangements in any way. To make arrangements for summer private tutoring, parents must contact teachers directly using the contact info provided.

7. Buy school supplies.

Order Online

To order online, visit the School Tool Box website and search for your American Academy campus. Parents may shop the full list or choose just a few individual items. Orders will be delivered right to your home within 10-14 business days. The deadline for online ordering is July 25 to ensure enough delivery time; parents will need to shop locally after July 25.

Shop Local

Download the school supply list below for your campus, find your grade level, choose your favorite local store, and enjoy.

Castle Pines K-8 Supply List

Lincoln Meadows KP-8 Supply List

Motsenbocker KP-8 Supply List

8. Get Ready for the Annual Summer DCSD Online Express Check-In

DCSD Express Check-in: Online (K-8) - Dates TBD

American Academy families with students (new and returning) who will be in grades K - 8 in the coming year must complete two registrations annually. These are required in order to secure your K-8 student's spot at American Academy for the coming school year. KindiePrep, our preschool program, is NOT included in these events and will have their own registration event. American Academy All-School Registration already took place in April. DCSD Express Check-in will happen late summer.

Deadlines for both K-8 registrations must be met by all families; failure to meet these deadlines may result in your child being unenrolled from American Academy and an offer extended to another child on our waitlist. In the event that your student is unenrolled, you will be required to add your student back to the American Academy waitlist to wait for a future opening at the school.

Read more about K-8 school registration.

9. Get medications and immunizations ready for school.

Medications for 2025-2026

If your child will need medication administered at school during the 2025-2026 school year, please have your healthcare provider complete a medication authorization form, including parent signature. Middle School students wanting to self-carry their medications, please have your provider fill out this self-carry form. Medication authorization forms are updated every school year.

This includes over-the-counter medications, which are all supplied by parents. We DO NOT keep a stock of any medication (ex: Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl) for students at school and can only administer their own medication with proper forms. Please plan to bring these completed forms and medications in their original pharmacy labeled/new unopened containers, in a plastic bag labeled with your child’s name to drop off in August at Open House. We cannot accept or administer expired medications (please check expiration dates) or medications with incomplete paperwork.

Immunizations- Incoming Kindergarten and 6th Graders

Many immunization updates are necessary by the time school starts in August. Summer is a great time to plan to see your primary care provider to update immunizations.

Incoming sixth graders are required to have an immunization booster for Tdap prior to starting 6th grade. Please bring updated records to school in August at registration event.

Incoming Kindergartners also have necessary immunizations that should be updated prior to starting school in August. Please bring updated immunization records to school in August at registration event.

For immunization information, please call: Douglas County Health Department, Stride Community Health Center 720-643-2403

Immunization Exemptions

Immunization exemptions are required to be renewed annually. There are two ways to submit a nonmedical exemption- bring copy of completed forms to the nurse/front office. Please visit the CDPHE vaccine exemptions webpage for more exemption information and requirements.

Submit the Certificate of nonmedical exemption WITH a signature from your healthcare provider who is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, advanced practice nurse or delegated physician’s assistant.
OR submit the Certificate of nonmedical exemption form received upon the completion of Online Immunization Education Module

10. Get ready to wear our student uniform.

Review the American Academy Uniform Policy on our BOD Policies webpage
Educational Outfitters
Educational Outfitters offers a local store front and online purchasing options. Purchase anytime by visiting their website at denver.educationaloutfitters.com. Simply click on "School Uniforms" and scroll to American Academy.

Or shop their local store at:
159 W County Line Rd
Littleton, CO 80129
Map
Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger: Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger
No events this year, but sign up to receive sale info throughout the summer and school year.
*Be sure to join their mailing list so you never miss a sale!
Join American Academy Marketplace - Parents can post approved American Academy uniform items in our new American Academy Marketplace Facebook group. Select Join and then once approved, you can buy, sell, or search for what you need (current members of the American Academy Community Facebook group are automatically approved to join Marketplace.) It's a great place to ask questions about uniforms, too.
Learn about Dress of Choice Days and Spirit Days - Students are required to wear our American Academy uniform every day! However, we like to make fun exceptions with regular Spirit Days and Dress of Choice Days. Learn when they are and what to wear on each of these uniform exception days!
Extra Help - For those families that qualify, there may be assistance for purchasing uniforms and other services. Apply for assistance through DCSD Nutrition Services (the application typically opens mid-summer) and contact our business services team with your DCSD approval letter. If you qualify, you can receive some additional help paying for services/uniforms at American Academy. Please contact Business Services to submit forms and ask any questions.

11. Learn about ordering American Academy spirit gear.

We know families and students get excited to show off some American Academy spirit while looking forward to the new American Academy school year. So save the date for the next Spirit Gear Store (ordering window dates below)!

Spirit Days take place each week on Friday, and we have one planned Dress of Choice day each month which usually takes place the last Friday of the month. Check out the guidelines for both on our website and in our Student Uniform Policy listed on the BOD Policy page.

Spirit Gear Store Open Dates for 2025-2026

Back-to-School/Fall: Aug. 14 - Sept. 1
Winter: Oct. 24 - Nov. 2
Spring: Feb. 20 - March 1, 2026

12. Get connected to American Academy.

We like to stay in touch with our families at American Academy! We post frequently on our school website and we send out all-school newsletters once a week throughout the school year and occasionally through the summer months. Our teachers also update grade-level news on their individual pages. And of course, we have emergency communications. Here are some good tips for staying connected in other ways!

Looking for something on our website? Try our site search tool (upper right of any web page) or look through QuickLinks (main menu) > Parents for an alphabetical list of subjects.

Clip of web page with search tool circled in red

Want to keep track of American Academy events in your own personal calendar? Visit our school website and select Campuses > Your Campus > Events and then select the Subscribe option just above the calendar. Any updates made on our end will show in your calendar when you open it.

Got questions? Ask other American Academy parents on American Academy Community. This is a private page so you MUST answer the 3 simple questions to gain access. The info is only used to verify your connection to American Academy.
Get an inside look at day-to-day school activities on the official American Academy Facebook Page.
Need uniforms and other school items? Join the American Academy Marketplace.
Stay connected to more fun stuff at each campus by liking our other Facebook pages:

For any questions you just can't find the answer to (after looking on the website), email [email protected] and someone will get back to you.

Have a wonderful summer!

Summer To-Do Checklist - Summer 2025