Dear Williamsburg Parents,
The 2025–26 school year is officially underway! We’re excited to see new and returning faces in our Zoom rooms and look forward to joining your student on their educational journey.
As Mentors and support staff, our greatest desire is to support you in educating your students. Our mentors are licensed, well-trained, highly qualified, and they genuinely care. We focus on teaching students how to think, not just what to think, and know that working with you leads to the best outcomes.
We ask for your help in setting your student up for success this year. Research shows that students are more successful when parents are actively involved in their education. Below are four focus areas that can greatly boost your student’s success:
FOCUS #1: Help Students Create a Quiet Area for Class and Homework
A quiet, distraction-free area helps students focus during class and while completing homework in Canvas. Each live class is only 50 minutes long, so a dedicated space allows them to be fully present and get the most out of their learning time.
FOCUS #2: Encourage Note-Taking
Note-taking improves learning, concentration, and memory. Active note-taking during class and while reading deepens understanding and helps students recall material for out-of-class assignments. Encourage note-taking to become a habit by providing adequate notebooks and offering praise during your weekly check-ins with your student.
FOCUS #3: Establish a Regular Reading Routine
Our educational model centers on interactive classes, engaging discussions, meaningful projects, and the original works of history’s greatest thinkers—making reading essential. While not all students love to read, what they read forms the foundation for learning. Students are best prepared when they read in advance and take their own notes on the material. Spreading reading throughout the week, rather than cramming into long sessions, improves engagement and preparation.
FOCUS #4: Implement the 3-Step Parent Support Plan
We have seen great success from parents who implement the 3-Step Parent Support Plan with their student. Following this plan can positively impact your student’s learning and often turns parents into co-mentors in the process. When parents, mentors, and support staff work together, we can better ensure student success.
Thank you for partnering with us in your student’s education. Please reach out to your student’s mentors with any information that can help them better support your student’s success this year.
Sincerely,
The Williamsburg Learning Academics Team
Action Items
Student Orientation and Benchmark Assessments: To ensure your student starts the year off strong, they must complete their Orientation coursework and three Benchmark Assessments in Canvas. Benchmarks are used internally to help personalize your student’s learning experience and improve our course curriculum. If they haven’t already, please work with your student to complete these as soon as possible.
Additional details about Orientation and Benchmark requirements are available on Page 6 of the WA Welcome Packet. Your student will need an SIS login to complete Orientation and Benchmarks. If they haven’t created one yet, you can find setup instructions on Page 5.
Note: If your student is enrolled through a California partner school, they’ll complete that school’s Benchmark Assessments—no need to take Benchmarks twice!
Upcoming Events
August 29: Course Add/Drop Deadline
September 1: Labor Day—No Live Classes, Offices Closed
