Elementary Program
Welcome to our Elementary Back to School Homepage!
As a reminder, our Elementary programs are divided into:
- Lower Elementary, which includes 1st - 3rd grade
- Upper Elementary, which includes 4th - 6th grade.
The Back to School information provided here is for all Elementary (1st - 6th) families on both campuses at Compass Montessori. Whether you are a new or returning family, please read ALL of the back to school information provided below, and complete the necessary steps.
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- Complete your Annual Update - This is the process of clicking through your entire account in Infinite Campus to confirm contact information, emergency contacts, opt into text messages, etc. (This is very important, as we communicate with you using the contact information you provide in IC!)
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- Pay your fees - Once you're logged in, click "Payments" in the left column, then "Jeffco Student Fee Payment," to review and pay your list of fees.
For a step-by-step guide to navigating IC, click the Step-by-Step Guide.
- 2. Complete the Compass Blanket Permission Form for 2025-26 - ALL families 1st - 12th grade must complete our2025-26 Blanket Permission Form no later than August 19, 2025.
- 3. Complete the Photo Opt OUT Form (optional) - Only complete our 2025-26 Compass Photo Opt Out Form if you DO NOT want your child in any photographs at school. Please complete it by August 19, 2025. If you give permission for them to be in photos to represent our school, no action is required.
- 4. September Hot Lunch Order Forms are OPEN (due Aug 23rd) - Hot Lunch service begins September 2, 2025 for all students and staff.
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- Order forms for Sept lunches are open and due August 23, 2025.
- Click on Hot Lunch in the top right corner of our website to place your orders.
- Please plan to pack lunch until Sept 2nd.
- Each month, orders will be open on the 1st and due on the 10th (no late orders!)
- Remember, we do NOT use School Cafe to pay for lunch through Jeffco’s Infinite Campus. All hot lunches are paid for in our hot lunch order forms directly on our website.
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- 5. Review & Bookmark the Hours of Operation -
- During the school year, Elementary drop-off begins at 8:00 AM and school begins promptly at 8:15 AM.
- School ends at 2:45 PM, and all students must be picked up no later than 3:00 PM. (Unless you are registered for Before/After Care.)
- You can always double check these times, and our half day hours in our Hours of Operation link in Contact Us on our website. (bookmark this page!)
- 6. Review & Bookmark the Attendance, Tardy, Early Release & Extended Absences - If your student is absent, tardy, leaving early or planning extended absences, please complete the appropriate forms. These forms will always be on the homepage of our website, and are the preferred method for notifying the school.
- Wheat Ridge Campus Attendance, Tardy & Early Release Form
- Wheat Ridge Campus Extended Absence Form (one or more full days absent)
- Golden Campus Attendance, Tardy & Early Release Form
- Golden Campus Extended Absence Form (one or more full days absent)
(If you are scheduling an ongoing early release or tardy for your child’s sports program at another school, therapy or other medical appointments, please use the Attendance, Tardy & Early Release Forms)
- 7. Review the Compass Family & Student Handbook
- All parents must read and acknowledge the parent handbook each year.
- The handbook includes policies for attendance, hours, enrollment, fees, conferences, student support, trips, safety and more! It's a great place to look if you have questions throughout the school year.
- The 2025-26 handbook is pending board approval, and we'll share a copy with you after it's approved by our Board.
- For now, you may review the 2024-25 Family & Student Handbook.
- 8. Submit Immunizations/Exemptions - Each year, EVERY student must submit a copy of their Immunization records (or exemption documents).
- Send our clinic aides the most current immunization record or your exemption certification at the beginning of each school year.
- It's always best to pull a fresh immunization record and give it to our clinic aides, just to be sure we have everything on record!
- Submit to the clinic aides: Golden Campus: Serra Draper at [email protected];Wheat Ridge Campus: Lisa Krieg at [email protected]
- 9. Submit Athletics Physical (if applicable) - If your child plans to participate in (6th - 12th grade) athletics, they also need a sports physical on record prior to their team's first practice. Read the Athletics Physical requirements.
- 10. Submit Med Forms (if applicable) - If your child has ANY medication which needs to be administered at school, please have your medical provider complete this one or all of the following forms and return to the clinic aide with the medicine in its original container by the first day of school. Reach out to our clinic aides with questions. See forms below.
Serra Draper Golden Campus Clinic Aide
Wheat Ridge Campus: Lisa Krieg at [email protected]
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- Open Campus Hours Aug 8th (7:30 AM - 9:30 AM & 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM on both campuses) - Stop by with questions, to see campus, drop off documents, etc. Our Admin team will be there to help.
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- Welcome Back Work Day - Saturday, Aug 16th 8AM - 12PM (both campuses) - A fun day to spruce up the campuses as a whole community before the first day of school.
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- Back to School Picnic Aug 29th 4PM - 6PM @ Anderson Park - We will be grilling hot dogs (veggie and GF too) and playing in the park to kick off the school year! (No long lines in the food truck this year!)
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- Montessori Overview Education Night for Parents/Guardians/Caretakers - Sept 3rd 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM @ the Golden Campus (all parents, guardians, grandparents, etc welcome) - A great way for those new to Montessori (or those who want a refresher) to learn about the basics of the Montessori philosophy and begin to understand the “why” behind this beautiful way of learning. RSVP
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- Website - Our website will always be updated, and is the first place you should look for whole school calendar dates, reminders and deadlines.
- Classroom Newsletters - Classroom specific calendar dates will come to you via the classroom newsletters every two weeks throughout the school year.
- Intrinsic Notification - You'll also receive an all-school newsletter called The Intrinsic Notification every Friday school is in session.
- Phone, Email, Text - We email, call and text families as well, and we pull that information from your Infinite Campus portal, so make sure that info is updated (see above). Please opt into texts from the school if you’re comfortable with it!
- Instagram - You can follow us on Instagram for celebrations and reminders as well! (@compass_montessori.org)
FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL
Lower Elementary (“LE” aka 1st - 3rd) August 18th - 22nd
*Lower El Assessment Day is not a school day, but an assessment day in which each student will have an appointment time to come to school for their individual academic assessment for the beginning of the school year. Standby for more details on your child’s assessment time. Teachers will be in touch the week of August 11th.
** Golden Campus 3rd Graders will stay for lunch & trip meeting. Golden Campus 3rd Grade parents/guardians should plan to arrive at 1PM for the trip meeting, and then take your child from there.
** WR campus 3rd Graders will stay for lunch (but not trip meeting since their trip is in the spring). WR campus 3rd graders should be picked up at 12:30 PM on Aug 19th.
Upper Elementary (“UE” aka 4th - 6th) August 18th - 22nd
What time does Elementary school start and end this school year?
Same as last year - Morning Drop Off is at 8AM; school begins at 8:15 AM. School ends at 2:45 PM; pick up no later than 3PM.
What classroom will my student be in?
You will be notified by email the week before school begins; stay tuned!
Does Compass require school supplies?
“Material & Supplies Fees” are added to your Infinite Campus Parent/Guardian Portal fees list, in lieu of school supplies. We do not require parents to purchase a traditional school supply list in addition to that fee. Some classrooms create an additional wish list, and families may contribute to that voluntarily.
What fees will I pay at Compass?
Fees at Compass for Elementary students typically include fees for materials, day and overnight trips, occasional team building and community events, field day. Read more about Compass fees Learn more.
When does hot lunch begin?
September 2, 2025; please pack a lunch until then. Order forms for the Sept lunches will open by August 12, 2025, and will close on Sunday, August 23rd. Watch for monthly menu orders throughout the school year, which will open on the 1st of each month and close on the 10th of each month (with the exception of the first one). Deadlines are strict, and we cannot accept late orders, so please mark your calendar!
When do after school Enrichment classes, offered by outside vendors on campus start?
The week of August 25th. (Registration will be open soon!)
What is after school Enrichment?
Enrichment classes are after school class opportunities beginning at 3:00 PM (usually one hour long) in six week sessions throughout the school year. Class examples include Art, Soccer, Music and more! Outside vendors come to our school to teach these classes, carry their own background checks and insurance and registration is completed directly to those vendors. We facilitate registration links for families, so watch our newsletter and website for Enrichment registration information the first week of school!
When does Before & After Care begin?
Monday, August 25th at both campuses.
Information about Before & After Care for both campuses may be found Learn more.
What if my child goes to After Care, but I sign them up for an Enrichment class?
Your child will be taken to after care immediately following their enrichment class, and you may pick them up from there. No after care refunds will be issued for enrichment overlap.
What’s the difference between Before & After Care and Enrichment?
Before and After Care is a child care program for those who need to pick up their child later than, or drop off earlier than school hours. Enrichment is after school classes hosted by outside vendors, such as art, soccer and music. Enrichment classes usually last about one hour after school.
What sports/clubs can my elementary student play at Compass?
Our 6th graders may register to join the following sports/clubs:
- Flag Football (Aug - Oct) - Register Learn more
- Cross Country (Aug - Oct) - 4th - 8th grade - Register Learn more
- Destination Imagination (DI) (Sept - March) - All Elementary through High School. Learn more Learn more (We need coaches, so email [email protected] if you want to help out this year!)
- Ultimate Frisbee (Aug - Oct) - Learn more Learn more
- Volleyball (Oct - Dec) - Registration opens in September
- Basketball (Jan - March) - Registration opens in November
- Soccer (March - May) - Registration opens in February
- Track (March - May) to 4th - 8th graders - Registration opens in February
All sports are located at the Golden campus, so WR Campus athletes will need a ride to practices. All athletes must register and upload a sports physical to participate. No previous athletic experience required! DI meets at the WR campus as well as the Golden campus, depending on the teams.