Family Handbook — La Cima Charter School
La Cima Family Handbook Snapshot

Everything a La Cima family needs to know, in one place.

This handbook holds our academic, safety, and community policies — from morning drop-off to how we handle a hard day. It's meant to be read once and returned to often.

For the Full Handbook Click Here →

Have a specific question? Jump to a policy below, or find who to contact in the reference table at the bottom of this page.

Main Office 718-443-2136

Address 800 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221
7:30–3:45
School hours, Mon–Thu
7:55am
Doors close · after this, it's a late arrival
90%
Attendance goal — below it, a scholar has lost a month of school
Nut-free
Every classroom, every day
Our character education program

Four principles guide every scholar interaction.

C.A.R.E. shows up in morning circle, in the hallway, and in how we handle conflict — it's the shared language of our school.

C

Community

We belong to each other. Scholars learn to see themselves as part of something larger than their own classroom.

A

Accountability

Owning an impact — intended or not — is the starting point for repair, not a punishment to avoid.

R

Reconciliation

When harm happens, the goal is to make things right with the people affected, not just to close a file.

E

Effective Effort

Growth comes from real, sustained effort — the kind that shows up even when a task is difficult.

Sample daily schedule

A day at La Cima, hour by hour.

Not every grade follows this exactly — ask your scholar's teacher for their specific schedule.

7:30 – 8:30

Morning Arrival & Community Connection

Breakfast, peer connection, and a one-on-one check-in with a teacher to start the day grounded.

8:30 – 9:30

CARE Circle

Scholars practice reflection, empathy, and leadership rooted in the CARE principles.

9:30 – 10:30

English Language Arts

Reading comprehension, vocabulary, and communication built through rich, high-quality texts.

10:30 – 11:30

Science Discovery Lab

Scholars design experiments and explore ecosystems, matter, and the forces of nature.

11:30 – 12:30

Creative & Movement Arts

Art, PE, Music, or African Dance & Drumming — creativity and movement as core, not extra.

12:30 – 1:30

Lunch & Recess

A real break — lunch with peers and unstructured play in the schoolyard.

1:30 – 2:30

Math Workshop

Real-world problems and hands-on strategies build number sense and confidence.

2:30 – 3:30

Creative & Movement Arts

Scholars return to specials to close the academic day with energy and joy.

3:30 – 4:00

CARE Reflection

The community comes back together to reflect on the day and set intentions for tomorrow.

The policies families ask about most

Key policies at a glance.

Tap any policy to open the details. This isn't the full legal text of the handbook — for that, see the complete document.

Appendix A

Who can answer my question?

Start here before reaching out — it'll usually get you a faster answer.

Schoolwork, tests, field trips, homework, or how to support learning at home.
Classroom Teacher
Music, PE, African drumming and dance, art, or a specials-class project.
Specials Teacher
Accommodations, special learning needs, services and supports.
Director of Special Populations
Enrollment, the lottery, records, uniforms, transportation, lunch, or updating contact info.
Main Office / Director of Operations
School culture, discipline, suspensions, or bullying concerns.
Guidance Counselor / Dean of Culture & Belonging
A sensitive family issue, or a concern about your child's feelings or behavior.
Guidance Counselor
School-wide policy, attendance, facilities, or security.
Director of Operations
Curriculum, report cards, or NYS assessments — after already speaking with the teacher.
Instructional Coach / Head of School

Questions this page didn't answer?

The Main Office is the fastest way to get a real answer from a real person — or reach out to your scholar's teacher directly.

Call the Main Office Back to policies
La Cima Charter School · 800 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221 Family & Scholar Handbook, SY 26–27