Dear LAU 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
Order Your Student’s Fall Books! Parents are responsible for ordering all books through our Amazon book order process. For step-by-step instructions, visit our Ordering Books & Materials web page. If you need help, contact the LAU Supply Coordinator after you have your book list ready and have confirmed your shipping address in SIS.
Student Orientation and Benchmark Assessments: To ensure your student starts the year off strong, they must complete Orientation in Canvas. Students in grades 6–11 must also take three Benchmark Assessments in Canvas. These assessments 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 assignments as soon as possible. Additional details about Orientation and Benchmark requirements are available on Page 6 of the LAU Welcome Packet.
Note: 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.
Announcements
Update to Digital Literacy (MS) and Digital Studies (HS) Requirements: In April 2025, the LAU Board approved that students can earn a Digital Literacy/Studies credit by completing LAU live online classes, rather than taking a separate Digital Literacy/Studies course. This change takes effect this school year (2025-26).
The following comes directly from the Digital Studies Requirements Policy:
Middle School Students who successfully complete five credits (one school year) of LAU online courses will be awarded the 0.5 credit required for the Digital Literacy Credit.
High School Students who successfully complete six credits (one school year) of LAU online courses will be awarded the 0.5 credit required for the Digital Studies Credit.
Note: “Successfully complete” means the student earned a C- or higher in their LAU live online courses.
Back to School Carnival: Kick off the school year at LAU’s first-ever Carnival on Friday, August 29, from 6:00–9:00 PM MT at Pioneer Park in Kaysville, UT. Enjoy corndogs, cotton candy, face painting, games—and even a chance to dunk your student’s mentors! LAU students attend free; friends and family can join for a $5 cover fee. Registration closes Wednesday, August 27, or sooner if full. Visit the Back-to-School Carnival web page for details and to save your spot.
LAU School Climate Commitment: LAU is committed to maintaining a school climate that is free of harassment and discrimination. If you have concerns about harassment or discrimination, please contact our Executive Director, John Tripp.
August Counseling Update and Mental Health Minute: Each month, our school counselors share two valuable resources for students: the Mental Health Minute newsletter, with tips for managing stress and maintaining a healthy mindset, and the Counseling Update, which includes scholarship opportunities and other important academic counseling information. These resources will be available in the Weekly Parent Update and the LAU Hub each month. Please take a few minutes to review them!
Upcoming Events
August 15: Splash Summit Event (Provo, UT)–4:00-8:00 PM MT
August 29: Back-to-School Carnival (Kaysville, UT)–6:00-9:00 PM MT
August 29: Course Add/Drop Deadline
September 1: Labor Day—No Live Classes, Offices Closed
