Elementary Academy
Leadership Team: Sara Gonzalez, Principal
AT A GLANCE
Grades: 2-5
Student hours: M-F 7:20 AM – 2:20 PM
Office hours: M-F 7:10 AM – 3:40 PM
Enrollment: 275
Uniforms: The Columbia Heights Elementary Academy uniform includes a maroon polo and navy, black, or khaki bottoms.
A Welcome Letter from Your Principal-
Dear CHEA Families -
Believe it or not, we're just weeks away from the start of the 25-26 school year! My name is Sara Gonzalez, and I'm thrilled to be stepping into the role of Principal at CHEA. I've been a teacher and leader at the elementary level for the past decade, and actually began my teaching career at Prodeo as a kindergarten teacher. The CHEA team and I are so excited to have your child(ren) in our school community.
As you prepare to kick off the year, I want to share some key dates and reminders about the year ahead.
Key Reminders for the Year Ahead:
Consistent attendance is critical.
To make sure your child benefits as much as possible from all Prodeo has to offer, your child needs to be at school every day. Consistent school attendance is paramount in creating belonging and academic success. We want our average daily attendance to be at or above 94%, meaning no student will miss more than 1 day of school each month. Missing more than two days a month of school can impact a child’s learning, social development, and take them off track for developing attendance habits critical to long-term success in school. Please make sure to send your child to school whenever they are well enough to attend! Please know that we are here to problem solve and offer support however we can.
On-time arrival sets the tone for the day.
Every day at Prodeo Academy begins with time set aside for breakfast and connection. Please ensure that your child arrives at school each day before 7:35 AM so that they can enjoy breakfast with their peers and participate in Morning Meeting. During this special block, students engage in Social Emotional Learning lessons and set goals for the day. It is also an important time to build relationships and have fun with their peers!
Keep toys and distractions at home.
We kindly ask that students leave toys, electronics, and other personal distractions at home. While we understand that these items can be comforting, they often cause unnecessary disruptions and can be easily lost or damaged. Our goal is to create a focused, engaging environment where all students can participate fully and make the most of their time with us. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a positive and productive space for everyone.
Most importantly - read, read, read!
Our primary focus this year is building our students’ love of reading! We encourage you to take time each evening to read with your child. Whether it’s a bedtime story, a favorite picture book, or a few pages from a chapter book, this shared time can make a big difference in building your child’s love for reading and strengthening their reading skills. Reading together not only supports their learning—it also creates special moments of connection that children cherish.
This year, we are excited to announce that we are building a school library! When students find books they love, it opens the door to so much more learning. Please talk to your child regularly about what they’re reading, read with them, and make a date to visit our library together.
Thank you for choosing CHEA and for the partnership I’m confident we will build in the coming years. I’m looking forward to meeting you and your child soon!
With gratitude,
Sara Gonzalez
Principal, CHEA
