As October approaches, we want to make you aware of a planned late start at each campus to allow our staff to participate in important security training. Each year, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Security Team visits our American Academy campuses to lead lockdown training and drills, and we are grateful for their partnership in keeping our community safe.
All staff are required to attend this before-school training session. Afterward, with guidance from DCSD Security, our K–8 and KindiePrep students and staff will participate in a carefully coordinated, age-appropriate lockdown drill to ensure everyone feels prepared and supported.
Please review the dates and times below for your campus, and read through the end of this email for helpful resources to guide conversations with your children about school safety.
DELAYED SCHOOL START DATES:
Castle Pines Campus: October 20, 2025
Lincoln Meadows Campus: October 27, 2025
Motsenbocker Campus: October 27, 2025
DELAYED START TIMES FOR ALL CAMPUSES:
K-8 Carpool Starts: 8:35am
K-8 Classes Start: 9:05am
*LM, no staggered carpool/start on this date
Grades K-8
- All morning K-8 extracurricular activities (including Morning Club) will be canceled.
- All staff and parent meetings scheduled before 9:05 am will be canceled — a staff member will contact you to reschedule.
- Morning K-8 carpool will begin at 8:35 am.
- K-8 classes will begin at 9:05 am.
KindiePrep (LM & MB)
- Morning KindiePrep ExtraCare (before-care) will be canceled.
- KindiePrep doors open at 9:15 am.
- KindiePrep classes begin at 9:30 am.
About the Lockdown Drill
With DCSD Security on site, students and staff will take part in an age-appropriate lockdown drill. The DCSD Security team always takes time to explain procedures, answer questions, and make the experience as reassuring as possible for students.
We know safety drills can affect students differently. To support families, resources are available on our Student Support Services webpage. If you have any concerns about your child’s participation, please contact their teacher or school counselor—we’re happy to help.
Additional Safety Information
We want to remind parents that information about school safety at American Academy is available on our website. In the event of an emergency at one of our campuses, American Academy, DCSD, and local law enforcement work together under the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to ensure everyone knows how to respond.
If a safety protocol is ever enacted, parents will be notified as quickly as possible, with follow-up communication provided to keep you fully informed. We encourage families to review the SRP protocols and, if you wish, discuss them with your child in a way that matches their age and readiness.
At American Academy, student safety is always our highest priority. By working together—with DCSD Security, local law enforcement, our staff, students, and families—we continue to strengthen the safety of our school community.