Back to School
Summer is here but before you know it, it will be time to go back. Here is everything you need to know to get ready.
The First Day
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Please plan to bring the following items on your child’s first day of school:
Water bottle
Lunch if not buying school lunch
Gym clothes - 6th & 7th grade only - no gym clothes until Aug 11th
Snack for the day, and ASP snack if enrolled
School supplies if you didn’t pre-purchase or bring to Open House
Our focus for these first two weeks is making sure students feel safe, happy, and focused; allowing teachers get to know each of their students; and working toward an efficient carline during arrival and dismissal. Things like additional car line tags and a teacher's favorites list will be rolling out after we get into our routine.
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Organizational skills are key to each student’s success in school and in life. To that end, CCA is implementing a school-wide executive functioning strategy that will build over time. Students in grades K-4 will begin with a color-coding system that is consistent across classrooms and grade levels. Students in grades 5 through 7 will be introduced to a more in-depth organizational system that includes paperwork organization, time management, and forecasting. These skills will provide the foundation for success in high school and beyond. Students benefit most from this system when they all have the same materials.
To aid in teaching this executive functioning system, we ask you to purchase the exact items on the supplylist — no substitutions. This includes avoiding items with logos, characters, or decorative designs. All supplies must be plain and match the specifications provided.
Aside from these school supplies, the only additional item students will need is a backpack. While there are no specific style requirements, we do not permit backpacks with wheels.
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We appreciate all your willingness to help provide supplies for the classroom. At this time, we have all the supplies we need. If you would still like to send something into your classroom, feel free to send in snacks for the teachers lounge. It is always nice for the teachers to have a nice place to take a break and have a snack.
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Our leadership team has thoughtfully assembled our uniform policy and dress code for grades K-7. We have also worked closely with Tommy Hilfiger and Global School Wear to create an easy-to-use online store. Click here to shop.
Global School Wear offers frequent sales, so we recommend joining their email list in order to be notified when one of these sales is announced. Use our school code CHER02 when signing up.
Please review the uniform boards and policy notes thoroughly before placing any orders. Email uniforms@cherokeeclassicalacademy.org with any questions.
If your uniform will not arrive in time for the first day of school, DON'T WORRY. We understand and are here to help!
Please plan to have your child wear a red or blue polo shirt and khaki pants or khaki skirt/skort that can be purchased at local stores. Then please reach out to our Lower School Dean of Academics, Mrs. St. Hill at dsthill@cherokeeclassicalacademy.org and let her know your child’s name and grade, along with the estimated arrival date you were given on your uniform order.
Mrs. St. Hill will keep your teachers informed. For the most up to date information about uniforms, please check the uniform board here.
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If you would like to order lunch for your students, please click on this link to view the School Lunch page to get started.
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We want to be sure all eligible families have accessedFree and Reduced Lunch (FRL). All families who have applied for FRL have been processed.
If you believe you are eligible for FRL and the discount is not showing in your Boonli account, please review the Financial Assistance webpage and follow the instructions. You can also email frl@cherokeeclassicalacademy.org.
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We want to see your First Day of School photos!! Since there will not be an opportunity to take photos on campus in the morning, we hope all our families will take pictures at home. If you post to socials, please tag @cherokeeclassicalacademy
Carline and After School Program
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Morning drop-off will take place between 7:25 and 7:55am. Any vehicles arriving after 7:55 will not be permitted to enter the carline and will need to park in the parking lot and walk their students into the front office to sign them in.
Tardies will begin at 8:00a.m.
Afternoon pick-up will change slightly this year.
K–5 dismissal: Begins at 3:00 p.m.
Grades 6–7 dismissal: Begins at 3:15 p.m.
We will be asking parents not to stage on property until 30 minutes before the carline begins. If you are trying to stage before that time, we will be asking you to leave the property until it is time to start lining up.
Click here to view information about parking, carline, and more.
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Let’s be friendly neighbors. Please don’t block driveways.
We ask you to be kind to our neighbors during carline, so we ask that you please do not line up in front of our neighbors driveway. We really want to love on our neighbors and be good stewards of their entry and exit from their homes.
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If you are unable to pick up your carline tag at Open House, you will need to come to the front office just after drop-off, on the first day of school. You will need your drivers license to receive your tag.
Please note, you must have this tag in order to pick your child(ren) up in the afternoon on Tuesday.
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We are pleased to announce our After School Program (ASP) which will be offered Monday - Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Because our program will be managed internally, we can ensure that the instruction in virtue and character that our students receive during the school day will continue seamlessly in aftercare. Some members of our ASP staff will also serve on the school staff during the regular school day. This will allow us to know our students and families even better.
Pricing:
Full-time (five days per week): $13/day
Part-time (two days per week): $18/day
Drop-in: $25/day
Families that qualify for Financial Aid will receive a discount for ASP.
Anyone who does not pick up their child by the time carline ends will be charged the drop-in rate for ASP, even if it is only a few minutes.
Communicating with CCA
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Cherokee Classical Academy is committed to providing a classical education that produces students whose hearts and minds are focused on the good, the true, and the beautiful and who are able to reflect these things into the world around them. We recognize that, although CCA is a tuition-free institution, the costs associated with attending can present a major financial commitment for families. Therefore, we aim to provide assistance to all those who qualify in two separate ways: through our own Financial Aid program, and by participating in the Free & Reduced Lunch (FRL) program.
Information about both programs, including how to apply and frequently asked questions, can be found here.
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Volunteers are always critical to the success of our school, and are always so appreciated. There are still many needs we have to help make opening day perfect for our children. If you have time to spend even an hour helping out, we’d love to see you on campus!
Volunteer opportunities will be sent out to all Trained Volunteers as opportunities arise.
To join the group, please click here to access the training. Training is valid for 2 years, so if you completed training in 2025-26, you are still good for another year. If you have not yet completed your volunteer training, please do so now as this will be required to enter the school and volunteer around the children.
You may also contact the school Community Engagement Manager at jparrish@cherokeecharteracademy.org if you have special talents or just have an available block of time available that is different than what is listed on the signup page.
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Student & Parent Handbook
The Student and Parent Handbook has been developed by the governing board of Liberty Classical Schools, the parent company of Cherokee Classical Academy.
Please click here to view it.
Forms
Additionally, please note there a several required forms that will need to be submitted by August 30, 2026.
Student | Teacher | Staff Spotlight Nominee Form
CCA Name, Image, and Likeness Agreements_25-26
CCA Family Handbook Acknowledgement_25-26
CCA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) | Notice for Directory Information_25-26
CCA Medical Information & Authorization Form_25-26
CCA Right to Know Professional Qualifications of Teachers and Paraprofessionals_25-26
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Parents can access their student’s class schedules, attendance records, and grades, and update their contact information through Infinite Campus, our student information system.
For information on how to gain access or change information in Infinite Campus, please review our Infinite Campus page here.
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CCA will use ParentSquare to provide a simple and safe way for parents, teachers, program leaders, and administrators to connect.
With ParentSquare, you will be able to:
Receive school and classroom communications via email, text, or app
Complete forms and make payments
View the school and classroom calendar and RSVP for events
Easily sign up to volunteer and/or bring items
And much more… all in one centralized place!
How to activate your accountYou should have received an invitation email or text to join ParentSquare. Please click the link to activate your account: it takes less than a minute. You can use ParentSquare on any device, and we encourage you to download the free mobile app for iOS or Android. You can also use the desktop version at parentsquare.com.
ParentSquare uses contact information from CCA's student information system, Infinite Campus. You will be provided with information about Infinite Campus at the Open House.
If you did not receive an invitation or have trouble activating your account, have you had a previous log in at another school? This is usually the case. Please login without old account and make sure you can see your student and “Cherokee Classical Academy” below their name. If the school listed is still your old school, you may need to contact them and remind them to unenroll your child.
If you have any questions, please visit our ParentSquare page on our website.
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CCA will use the My Payments Plus software to manage forms, registrations, and payments for activities such as clubs, athletics, after-school care and more. Every family must set up an account.
You are encouraged to register for a MyPaymentsPlus account as soon as possible and complete the setup by adding your student(s) to your account.
To set up a MPP account, please visit the My Payments Plus page on our website and follow the instructions very specifically on how to create your account.
*Please note that purchase and payment of school lunches will continue to be managed through the Boonli platform and will not be facilitated through MPP.
Upcoming Events
Kindergarten Preview Day
Let’s get our rising Kindergartener’s ready for their first day of school. Wednesday, July 29th, from 9 to 11a.m., is your chance for the Kindergarten team to get to interact with you child and understand their needs for the coming year.
Please note dropoff will begin at 8:45a.m. and pickup will be promptly at 11a.m. in the front office.
Open House
School is almost here, it’s time to get all the information. Monday, August 3rd will be our Open House where you can meet your teacher, pick up your car tags and ask all the questions.
There will be two sessions, so be sure to click here for more information.
Kindergarten Tears & Cheers
Welcome to the first day of Kindergarten. Drop your students off through carline and then stay for coffee and refreshments while you get to know CCA Leadership. August 4th from 8 - 9a.m., click here to learn more.
New Student Orientation
On behalf of everyone at Cherokee Classical Academy, welcome! Our New Student Orientation is designed to help both students and parents begin the year with confidence by introducing you to the culture, expectations, and daily life at CCA.
Please click here for more information and to register to attend.
What Does it Mean to Attend a Classical School?
At Cherokee Classical Academy, we are not simply preparing students for college or careers—we are preparing them for life. Through a content-rich curriculum, traditional teacher-led instruction, and the daily cultivation of virtue, we seek to develop young people of wisdom, character, and civic responsibility who love what is good, true, and beautiful.
