Online Back-to-School
Hello Crosslake Online 9-12 Students and Families!
Dear CCS Online 9-12 Community,
I am so excited to welcome you to a brand new year at Crosslake Community Schools. This year brings a wonderful transition: with Monique VonEnde stepping in as the principal of our K-8 program, I am thrilled to be able to focus entirely on serving as your High School Principal. This shift allows me to dedicate all my energy toward creating the absolute best high school experience possible for our online students.
Since joining the CCS community in 2021, I’ve been consistently inspired by the strong relationships and deep commitment to student success that define this school. I have always believed that no matter where you are logging in from, community is what makes people thrive.
This year, my primary focus is on belonging. My goal is for every single student to know, without a doubt, that they belong at CCS. Building on the incredible energy of our first-ever high school prom last spring, we are committed to creating even more ways for you to connect. We will be expanding our student clubs and planning more opportunities for both virtual and in-person meetups. Your high school years are about making memories and finding your people, and we want to provide the spaces for you to do just that.
Because true community is a two-way street, we also want to hear from you and your families more than ever. Please be on the lookout for invitations to our new Principal Pop Ups. These will be casual, drop-in virtual sessions where you can hop on, ask questions, share your ideas, and connect with me directly.
I’m honored to be part of this work and can’t wait to see what we accomplish together. Here’s to a strong start and an amazing year ahead at Crosslake Online High School!
Warmly,
Rose Bierce
Principal
9-12 Online School
Hello Crosslake Online K-8 Students and Families!
Dear CCS Online K-8 Community,
You may recognize my name from my work last year as the K-12 Assistant Principal. This year, I’m very excited for the opportunity to focus my time and energy on the unique needs of our youngest online learners as K-8 Online Principal.
I joined CCS as a middle school language arts teacher and learning coach in 2020. I, along with many of our staff, chose an online school for some of the same reasons our students do. I deeply value the personal connections and individual attention that our program provides. And while I cherish the opportunities to connect in-person at our field trips and events, I thrive working from home. I believe I am at my best while wearing comfy pants with a cat on my lap.
Since I started with CCS, we’ve added K-5 classes and seen continued growth in the K-8. To better serve the needs of our students, we’ve made some curriculum and learning management system changes this year. Instead of Edgenuity, our K-8 students will be using the Buzz LMS. While the course curriculum will look a bit different, the system will look familiar to our K-5 students. It is intuitive, easy to use, and will provide a great deal of support for your learner.
This year, I will be joining high school principal Rose Bierce in her focus on belonging. My personal goal is to connect with students and their families to learn more about each unique student and how we can make CCS a place they feel welcome and successful. We will continue to add virtual and in-person opportunities for our students and their families to connect, and I hope to see you there!
Communication is key to the success of an online student. Please reach out to me at any time with your questions, concerns, and suggestions. Let’s have a great school year!
Monique VonEnde
Principal
K-8 Online School
Important Dates
First Day of School
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Required Meetings: August 27-28, 2026
All 6-12 students are required to attend a meeting with their coach. Parent or guardian attendance is strongly encouraged. Coaches will be reaching out to students and families once they return the week of August 24th. At that time, you’ll receive information about who your coach is and how to schedule your meeting. There’s no need to take action until then. K-5 students will begin with their Language Arts lessons, orientation activities, and teacher and group meetings. The 2026-2027 Online School Calendar is linked here. Please take a look at the calendar and plan accordingly.
Focus for First Two Days:
- Connection
- FastBridge, Star or Capti Screeners
- Orientation and Seminar (login information to be provided by coaches)
All District Calendar
We’re in the process of moving our school calendars into a more streamlined digital format, making it easier for families, students and staff to stay up to date.
Below, you’ll find upcoming events from across Crosslake Community Schools. Select View Full Calendar to see all events, explore individual school calendars and subscribe or add calendars directly to your computer, phone or other device.
About Our Screening
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Star is a computer-based test that gives teachers a full picture of a student's reading and math abilities. The test adjusts to each student, making it a good fit for all learners. The results help teachers see what each student already knows and what they're ready to learn next. Star screening helps make sure that all students are on track with Minnesota's learning standards. It’s like a report card that helps teachers give each student exactly what they need to succeed!
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Capti ReadBasix is a special screening for students in 4th through 12th grade who are struggling with reading. It is based on a method called the "Science of Reading" to find the specific skills a student needs help with. This test looks at things like decoding words, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The results help teachers give students targeted support so they can build a strong foundation and become more confident readers.
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Fastbridge is a quick and easy way to check how students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade are doing with their reading skills. Think of it like a quick health checkup, but for reading! It helps teachers see who is doing well and who might need a little extra help. The test is taken three times a year, and the results help teachers plan lessons so that every student can become a strong reader. This screening is part of a new Minnesota law called the Minnesota READ Act.
F&Qs
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Students do not need to register for their core classes. These courses are automatically added to each student’s schedule.
Elective selections are based on the student interest survey that students completed last semester. Once schedules are finalized, courses will appear in the learning management system (LMS).
We encourage students and families to review the schedule together with their learning coach and reach out with any questions.
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Online Program students are provided with a Chromebook and charger for use throughout the school year. Additional technology accessories may also be provided as needed.
New students will receive information about technology distribution as part of the enrollment and onboarding process. If you have questions or need to request a device, please contact Molly Papillon.
Students may also choose to use their own personal computer, provided it meets the technology requirements needed to access coursework and participate fully in the Online School.
