Columbia Elementary School

First Day!

Tomorrow is the big day! 🎉 All students will meet us on the playground at 7:30 AM

Doors open at 7:40 AM for Morning Meeting, and the tardy bell rings at 7:50 AM

Let’s start the 2026–27 school year together and on time—we can’t wait to see you! 💙

We are at Columbia elementary or they're back to school night. They're blowing up a large hot air balloon for the kids. Will be serving till after five.

Welcome Back, Columbia! Let’s Make a Splash!

We are SO excited to welcome our Columbia families back for another amazing year! This year, we are riding our “Wave of Possibilities”into the new school year, and we’re kicking things off with a Back-to-School Ice Cream Social filled with sunshine, smiles, and a little beach-inspired fun!

Get ready for beach balls, sunglasses, leis, and LOTS of excitement! Every student will receive a lei when they arrive, and we’ll gather outside for announcements and a chance to reconnect with our Columbia community.

To help things flow smoothly, we’ll have signs at each entrance:

PK–Kindergarten: Enter through the Preschool door on the east side of Columbia
1st–2nd Grade:Enter through the back door just east of the gym— the same entrance students use in the morning.
3rd–5th Grade:Enter through the western-most back door

Families with more than one Columbia student: Please start with your youngest student and then work your way up through the grades. This will help everyone find their classrooms and get settled.

More Than Ice Cream!

Inside the gym, you’ll find tables with lots of resources and ways to connect:

Leading Edge
PTCO
Columbia T-shirts
Free backpacks
Free & Reduced Lunch application support
And more!

**📚🎉 Back to School is Almost Here! 🎉📚**

We can't wait to welcome our Columbia Cougars back for another amazing school year! Mark your calendars with these important dates:

🍦 **Monday, August 10 | 3:00–5:00 PM**
**Back to School Ice Cream Social**
Come meet your teacher, say hello to our staff, enjoy a sweet treat, and kick off the school year together! Enjoy a food truck and a surprise on the kick ball field! This event is open to all **PK–5 families**.

⭐ **Tuesday, August 11 | 7:50 AM–2:50 PM**
**Kindergarten Jump Start**
This special day is **for Kindergarten students only** to help our newest Cougars get comfortable with their school, teachers, and classmates before the first day.

🎒 **Wednesday, August 12**
**First Day of School for Grades 1–5**
Students should enter through the **back gates**. Morning Meeting begins at **7:40 AM**, and the **tardy bell rings at 7:50 AM**.

🧸 **Wednesday, August 19**
**First Day of Preschool (PK)**

We are looking forward to an incredible year of learning, growing, and creating together. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we'll see you soon! 💙🐾

🎒✨ We're So Excited to Welcome Everyone Back to School! ✨🎒

The countdown is on, and we can't wait to see our Columbia families for another amazing year!

Once again, District 11 will be providing students with the majority of their school supplies. To help our classrooms run smoothly, we ask that each student comes to school with:
🎒 A backpack
🥪 A lunch box
💧 A reusable water bottle

Please make sure all items are clearly labeled with your child's name.

Be sure to check your child's grade-level supply list for any additional classroom-specific items that may be needed.

As always, if purchasing these items creates a hardship, please let us know. We are here to support our Columbia families in any way we can.

We can't wait to kick off another incredible year of learning, growing, and making memories together. See you soon! ❤️🦁

🎉 You're Invited to Columbia's Back-to-School Meet & Greet! 🎉

The countdown to an amazing school year is on, and we can't wait to welcome our Columbia families back!

📅 Monday, August 10
🕒 3:00–5:00 PM

Join us for a fun afternoon where you can:
✨ Meet your child's teacher
👋 Reconnect with friends and welcome new families
🌟 Meet our newest Columbia staff members
🏫 Explore the school before the first day of classes
🍦 Enjoy a free ice cream treat for all Columbia students!

This is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted, ask questions, and celebrate the start of what promises to be our best year yet!

At Columbia, we're more than a school—we are a community. We can't wait to welcome everyone back for another incredible year of learning, growing, creating, and thriving together.

We hope to see all of our Columbia families on August 10 from 3:00–5:00 PM! Let's kick off an amazing school year together! 💙💛

🌟 Columbia Elementary Families! 🌟

We are excited to partner with Leading Edge Kids for after-school care during the 2026–2027 school year — We are GOOD TO GO for the fall!!

✨ Why families love Leading Edge:
🎨 Arts, STEM, reading, games, and enrichment labs
📚 Homework help & academic support
⚽ Physical play and social time
💛 Safe, nurturing environment with caring staff
🕕 Flexible scheduling options
👨‍👩‍👧 Discounts for siblings, military, and school employees
💲 Affordable rates with tuition assistance opportunities

PLUS — on non-student days, Leading Edge offers full-day care at another nearby location for added family support!

Families across D11 are sharing that Leading Edge has become their child’s FAVORITE part of the day!

📢 If after-school care would benefit your family, please consider registering today so we can bring this amazing opportunity to Columbia Elementary!

👉 Register at: LeadingEdgeKids.com
📞 Questions? 1-800-341-5791
📧 [email protected]

Register Today
at LeadingEdgeKids.com Program

Super exciting news for our community! We've been hoping for a program like this for a long time! It's a great opportunity for our families!!

Register at: LeadingEdgeKids.com
📞 Questions? 1-800-341-5791
📧 [email protected]

¡Noticias súper emocionantes para nuestra comunidad! ¡Llevamos mucho tiempo esperando un programa como este! ¡Es una gran oportunidad para nuestras familias!

For the second year running, the Columbia Special Education Team has been recognized for its outstanding inclusion practices. Well done to Room #3 for ensuring learning is accessible for everyone!