NEEDED! Please sign up for a shift for concession at a Fred Nats game! Here's the link: SIGN UP HERE! Take a look and see what's still open. We are responsible for 2 folks at the Taco Stand and one Runner at each game listed. Its easy. Set up. Make and sell nachos and tacos. shut down. That's it. And someone will be there to provide instruction. 

Sat Jul 18, 2026 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Taco Stand 

1 – Shelly McCullough

2 – Heather Scott

Runner

1 – Justeen Pierce

Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Taco Stand

1 – Yvette Roman

2 – Santiago Forero

Runner

1 – Mike Berkeley

Sat Aug 8, 2026 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Taco Stand 

1 – Joanna Crawford

2 – Mike Berkeley

Runner

1 – Samuel Crawford

Sat Aug 22, 2026 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Taco Stand

1 – Yvette Roman

2 – NEEDED

Runner

1 – NEEDED

Sat Sep 5, 2026 4:30pm – 9:00pm

Taco Stand 

1 – Shelly McCullough

2 – NEEDED

Runner

1 - Ryan McCullough

RSVP HERE!!!

Photos - Everyone should have received their printed photo packages and/or digital download access by now for both "school pictures" and graduation photos. If you have not, let me know and I will get you connected with the photographer. 

Yearbook - Here is the PREVIEW link for the high school book. (K-8 in in progress)

We will send out an order link soon. Each family will be able to add their own personal photo pages if desired, select their cover and shipping preferences, and place their own order through Mixbook.

You will need to make a mixbook account -free and easy- so that you have unique access and let us know if you would like to add your own pages of photos to your personal books! If so, we will send you a duplicate project that is unique to you so that you can upload your own photos on your account and make as many pages as you'd like before you order. It's easy, we can show you how as needed.

We will schedule a book signing party over the summer! 

Between now and January we will be reviewing applications for new tutors for 2026-27. Before extending the offer to the public, we prefer to give our current families the option to apply to take on a paid tutoring role for the high school program. (It's a great way to help balance the cost of tuition!) Check your email for the list of classes that we know we would like to offer if we can find the right tutors for them, but if you have a different idea for a class to offer, we would love to hear it! To get started, follow this link to get to the application. Fill it out, click submit, and we will be in touch! You can share it with others, too. We will send out the public invitation after Thanksgiving.

Please don't wait! We aim to have the schedule complete and ready for distribution in February.

There is a new promotional opportunity availible to registered Ad Astra members!

Click HERE to find out how you can earn referral credits toward your family's Program Registration Fee!

Ad Astra Leadership Office hours

In an effort to balance our family and personal life with the demands of running the Ad Astra program, we ask that you please respect our office hours.  During the program year, we will be available during Ad AdAstra Program Hours (8 am - 3:30 pm) on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 12 pm-2 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.  If there is an emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out by phone or text, but please reserve such for true emergencies.  

• Parent Service Duty is required for each family in the High School Program that is not participating as a tutor or active on the K-8 side of the Program. There are estimated to be no more than (8) shifts for 2026-2027. Each shift is 4 hours. The updated details regarding service duty can be found in the handbook. We encourage you to read this as it is updated annually. The sign up for Parent Service Duty opens July 15. This allows for families who register over the summer to take their share of the Parent Duty shifts. The Parent Service Duty Accommodation Request is available for those who are unable to serve the required shifts. Click here for Parent Duty Sign-up Instructions. 

COMMITTEES

• Participation in Parent Committees is required for each family in the High School Program. Last year we saw those who stepped up and helped and those who were silent passengers. Please participate in your selected committee - this is where your family invests in the program. Failure to do so will impact future enrollment for your family and your student's ability to graduate with Ad Astra. You can sign up for a committee here.

Program Calendar Summary:

2026-2027 Academic Year:

High School Orientation Night (MANDATORY*): August 4, 2026 4:30-7:00pm

K-8 Orientation Night (MANDATORY*): August 6, 2026 4:30-6:00pm

*These meetings are mandatory for all Ad Astra families, even those who are returning, so please plan to be there. All students with at least one parent are expected to attend. Students should bring a backpack or bag to cary home the papers and books they collect throughout the night. Families that do not attend will lose priority registration for the following year and may be waitlisted in their desired classes. Please put it on the calendar right away.

Board / Committee Meeting Aug 11 ( details TBD)

Pool Party Aug 13 (details TBD)

First day of Academic Year: August 18, 2026

Break: Sep 29 & Oct 1, 2026

Break: Nov 24 & 26, 2026

Break: Dec 22-31, 2026

Break *Feb 16 & 18, 2027 - makeup days for snow

Break: Mar 30 & Apr 1, 2027

Last day of Academic Year: May 6, 2027

High School Graduation: May 7, 2027

2027-2028 Academic Year:

High School Open House Session 1: TBD

High School Open House Session 2: TBD

K-8 Program Information Meeting: TBD

K-8 Registration Renewal: TBD

Annual Buisness Meeting (Current Members Only): TBS

K-8 New Member Registration opens: TBD

High School Program Information Meeting (REQUIRED for Priority Registration!): TBD

High School Priority Registration, online: TBD

High School Regular Registration, online: TBD

High School New Registration, online: TBD

In-Person Registration (Payments due): TBD

**Inclement weather is unpredictable, so we build in planned make-up days. Additional days could be added in extreme circumstances.**

All class Supply Fees and Ad Astra Program Fees are due up front at the time of registration.

Tuition may be paid using one of the following Payment Plan options for 2026/27:

Paid in Full - All fees and tuition for Ad Astra are paid at the time of registration, April 9, 2026. This option includes a $40-per-class tuition discount. 

Semester Payments - All fees and first semester tuition for Ad Astra are paid at the time of registration, April 9, 2026. Second semester tuition payments will be due December 1, 2026. This option includes a $20-per-semester tuition discount.

Quarterly Payments - All fees and first quarter tuition for Ad Astra are paid at the time of registration, April 9, 2026. Second quarter tuition payments will be due September 1, 2026. Third quarterter tuition payments will be due December 1, 2026. Fourth quarterter tuition payments will be due March 2, 2027.

Default invoicing will be for the quarterly schedule and amounts. Applicable discounts should be noted on checks as well as emailed receipts, and quarterly invoices should be marked as paid for the full invoiced amount.

Full refunds are offered for course registrations canceled on or before May 31.

Supply fees and first quarter tuition are non-refundable after May 31. 

Cancellations on or after June 1 are subject to one quarter tuition if canceled on or before August 17, 2026. 

After classes start on August 18, 2026, all tuition and fees are non-refundable.

In rare cases, tutors have life events come up that require a new tutor to replace them. In this case Ad Astra will make every effort to replace the tutor and the new tutor will follow the original course description for the class. After the drop date, a tutor replacement does not constitute a refundable action. The class fee is still nonrefundable. In such a situation where a suitable replacement cannot be found, Ad Astra will support families in requesting refunds for the affected class. Please note: The financial agreement is strictly between individual families and individual tutors. Ad Astra cannot issue refunds on behalf of tutors, nor make payments on behalf of families.  

Inclement Weather Policy & Modified Schedules

In the event of inclement weather, Ad Astra leadership will make a decision regarding classes, and members will be notified via email, forum, and website by 6:00 am the morning of Co-op. If snow/sleet starts while classes are in session, classes may be dismissed early for everyone’s safety. Ad Astra does not follow any school district cancellations. 

**NOTE- regardless of the leadership decision, use your discretion. If classes are NOT canceled, but you feel your route is not safe for travel, please stay home. Please notify the coordinators via text of your plans so they know what to expect for your students.** 

• Option 1- Ad Astra cancels for the day and would require a makeup day. Anyone working parent duty on the day canceled would be rescheduled to work on the makeup day or asked to reschedule to any available date. 

• Option 2- Delayed schedule- no makeup day required. Parent duty schedule will be adjusted to the shortened schedule.

• Option 3- Virtual Classes or Alternative Assignments, this would count as a regular day of classes- no makeup day required. Parent duty would be asked to reschedule to any available date. 

The “Option” exercised by the program on the affected days will be communicated with the inclement weather directive for all to be aware. 

Snow Day Policy: Since we have a limited number of snow days built into our school schedule, we MAY use our delayed schedule if the main roads are clear. Please check your email before you start out for class. A Coordinator will always post to the Ad Astra forum to announce whether we are canceling classes for the day or using the delayed schedule.