What an amazing presentation done by Jojo from Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things for our lucky students. They were beyond excited to see all these fun and unique animals up close – especially the friendly capybara, the wiggly lizard, and the tiniest little owl with the biggest personality. Jojo shared incredible stories about each animal’s journey and how they came to be ambassadors for wildlife education. Students were all eyes and ears, snapping photos, asking thoughtful questions, and clearly loving every second of the experience. There’s something magical about seeing animals in real life that makes the science click, and this presentation definitely brought the wild to life!

Even better, this visit lined up perfectly with the 9th and 10th grade climate projects currently underway. As students dive into the ways humans impact ecosystems and climate, getting to meet real animals affected by these issues gives them a deeper, more personal understanding. At CCPA, we love making connections between our projects and the real world—it keeps learning meaningful, memorable, and engaging. Enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year is now open—don’t miss your chance to be part of it all! For more information, call us at (530) 285-2003 or email isabella.brenneman@cottonwoodk12.org.

What a night! Our 11th and 12th graders premiered their documentaries at CCPA’s Documentary Film Fest, sharing powerful stories with family and community members. Meanwhile, our 9th and 10th graders worked the red carpet as press, conducting interviews and capturing the moment. Huge congrats to our student filmmakers!

If you know a high schooler who wants to be part of a school that values creativity, connection, and fun experiences like this, send them our way! We’re currently enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year. Contact us today at (530) 285-2003 or ccpa@cottonwoodk12.org to learn more about what makes CCPA such an awesome place to learn, grow, and play!

This week, our 9th and 10th grade students launched their second project of the semester with a collaborative “circle time” reading of

The goal of this project is to encourage students to explore practical and impactful solutions to climate change that they and their peers can implement. Students will investigate the key factors contributing to climate change, their impact on the planet, and how they, as individuals, can become responsible stewards of the environment. They will research a range of solutions, from large-scale initiatives to small, everyday actions that individuals can take. Ultimately, students will develop their own strategies to address climate challenges, create a call to action, and raise awareness about how small, individual changes can collectively make a significant impact on the global climate.

We are excited announce

Our 11th and 12th-grade students have been working diligently over the past few weeks to create compelling documentaries, and we are thrilled to premiere their work. This semi-formal event will offer a full red-carpet experience, including:

• Red carpet walk
• Interviews with news outlets (conducted by our 9th and 10th graders)
• Paparazzi capturing the evening
• Concession snacks
• A showcase of impressive student films

Join us for this special evening to celebrate the hard work and creativity of our students. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to announce to

Our 11th and 12th-grade students have been working diligently over the past few weeks to create compelling documentaries, and we are thrilled to premiere their work. This semi-formal event will offer a full red-carpet experience, including:

• Red carpet walk
• Interviews with news outlets (conducted by our 9th and 10th graders)
• Paparazzi capturing the evening
• Concession snacks
• A showcase of impressive student films

Join us for this special evening to celebrate the hard work and creativity of our students!

We would love for you to join us this Friday, March 14th, 2025, to celebrate “Pi”e Day with a slice of pie and learn more about our program at CCPA! Our “Pi”e Day Information Event will take place at CCPA, 3921 Sandstone Dr. #102, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM while “su-pies” last! We’ll be serving delicious pie to enjoy as you hear about the exciting opportunities we offer.

This is a great chance to ask questions, meet staff, and get a feel for what makes CCPA such a special place.

In addition to our “Pi”e Day event, we’ve also got a couple of other upcoming informational events that we’d love for you to attend:

• “Pop on by CCPA”: March 26th from 1:30 – 3:30 PM. Enjoy popcorn while you explore our after-school clubs and academic support in action!
• “Scoop Into CCPA”: April 3rd from 6:00 – 7:30 PM. Join us for an ice cream social and learn more about our program while enjoying a sweet treat.

We hope to see you at “Pi”e Day, and look forward to sharing more about what makes CCPA such a unique and welcoming community!

Recently at CCPA, students explored college and career pathways related to their latest hands-on project. They gained insight into potential majors, colleges, and career fields.

9th and 10th graders have been working hard by researching and developing an Artificial Intelligence Policy for CCPA as their most recent interdisciplinary project. Students developed a presentation of their policy for a panel of their fellow classmates, CCPA staff, and community members. Based on their project students learned more about Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy majors. For an AI major, students would study computing, machine learning, robotics, and cognitive psychology, with the AI field expected to grow by 26% from 2023 to 2033. Highlighted colleges included Cal Poly, SLO (Computer Science B.S. with an AI and Machine Learning concentration), and Folsom Lake Community College (AI & Machine Learning Certificate). For Public Policy, students would study policy-making, law, economics, and sociology, with careers in this field growing across sectors. Highlighted colleges included UC Irvine (Environmental Science and Policy, B.A. & Social Policy and Public Service, B.A.) and Sierra College (Political Science A.A. for Transfer).

11th and 12th graders are currently producing a documentary project about historical and modern-day conflicts for their interdisciplinary project. They have conducted interviews and gathered information to complete their documentary film. Based on their project, students learned more about a Political Science Major and Journalism Major. For a Political Science major, students would study US foreign policy, political philosophy, economics, ethics, political research methods, and judicial processes with the Political Science field expected to grow by 5% between 2018 and 2028. Highlighted colleges included CSU Chico (Political Science, B.A. with an emphasis in legal studies or us politics), and Pepperdine University (Political Science, B.A.). For a Journalism major, students would study digital storytelling, media law, layout and design, broadcast writing, research methods, print production, web writing, and copyediting with the Journalism field expecting 4,500 openings for news analysts, reporters, and journalists projected each year. Highlighted colleges included CSU Sacramento (Journalism, B.A & Political Science and Journalism, B.A.), and Consumnes River College (Journalism, A.A.-T, Broadcast Journalism, A.A.-T & Film, Television and Electronic Media, A.A.-T).

At CCPA, we pride ourselves on our future-ready culture. Students are always encouraged to keep exploring all of the possible majors, colleges, and careers to develop goals and a plan for post-secondary options!

Our 11th and 12th graders are deep in the production process for their powerful documentary project, “Peacemakers & Conflict in the U.S.” After weeks of planning, researching, and scheduling, they have officially started filming. These student-driven documentaries explore historical and modern-day conflicts, highlighting the individuals and movements that have worked toward peace. To bring their stories to life, students are conducting interviews with staff, community members, and even local experts in their chosen topics. As they gather information and shape their narratives, students are diving into every aspect of documentary filmmaking. All their hard work and creativity will come together at the

If you know a high schooler who would love to be part of unique, hands-on projects like this next school year, now is the time to learn more about CCPA! Our Montessori-inspired hybrid charter high school in El Dorado Hills, CA, offers engaging, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for the future. Contact us today at (530) 285-2003 or ccpa@cottonwoodk12.org to learn more about the 2025 – 2026 school year!

Meanwhile, the 9th and 10th grade classes are in the middle of their “Growing Solutions” project, which challenges them to construct a raised bed with vegetables and other plants to answer the essential question: How can raised bed gardens be used to promote community engagement, environmental stewardship, and food security? Students have been exploring the development of our food system and evaluating perspectives on its current state. They are addressing food needs by designing and constructing raised garden beds, embodying the project-based learning model that CCPA’s hybrid high school is known for. Additionally, students will create a website for a restaurant—including menus and a restaurant history—based on the produce they choose to grow in their garden beds. At the mock election night, our CCPA community members were able to preview prototypes of the raised garden beds showcased in the Innovation Lab.

This unique approach to learning emphasizes community engagement and hands-on projects, embodying CCPA’s mission to deliver meaningful, project-based learning experiences to students in the El Dorado, Sacramento, and Placer counties.