Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 | Poudre School District community newsletter | Translate / Traducción / ترجمة

A Bamford Elementary School teacher helps a student with school work at his desk.

three girls in aprons from a culinary class stand in a high school hallway with lots of natural light coming from windows

Superintendent's Message:

Looking forward to new year and building on our successes

After 25 years of work in some of the nation’s largest school systems, I can confidently say that Poudre School District is one of the strongest in America. This is what our community expects, and our students deserve. And at a time when it may feel like it’s hard to find things people agree upon, I think having high expectations – of our school system and students – is something we can all get behind.

Read Superintendent Kingsley's full Back to School message at psdschools.org.>>

School Starts Aug. 17!

Know before you go with these answers to frequently asked questions and quick links.

Students in grades 6 and 9 start Aug. 16, getting to know middle and high school.

Using ParentVUE

Do you have questions about changing information on ParentVUE or double-checking your registration status? Please contact your school directly: the registrar there will be able to assist you with your request.

School-day start and dismissal times

Visit www.psdschools.org/schools/schoolstart-dismissaltimes to confirm when the school day begins and ends at each school.

School supply lists

Please visit your school’s website for information regarding school supply lists.

2023-24 calendar	Transportation	Board of Education
Student Health Centers	ParentVUE/StudentVUE	Student Clubs
Athletics	Students Fees	AlphaBES T
Immunizations	SchoolPay	Medication Plans

You are not alone; there are resources available to help

If someone you know is struggling and needs help, ask how they’re doing, listen, and connect them to a trusted adult or a counselor. You can also talk to a family member or call or text 988.

SEE Something SAY Something. Together, we can build a safe, inclusive environment for everyone.

See Something, See Something, PSD!

Together, we can build a culture of safety in PSD and watch out for one another. See something concerning at school? Tell an adult. Send a tip to Safe2Tell. Or send a report using the district's incident reporting tool.>>

Updates on meals, safety and security in PSD

Poudre School District is one of the school districts participating in Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All program starting this school year. That means all PSD students can eat breakfast and lunch free of charge at school, regardless of their household income.

Estimating that we will serve 1.2 million more meals, speed is key. Students will scan (not fingerprint) their finger using a biometric pad to quickly check out. Families can opt out, and students will still get meals. Learn more about how the system works and the opt-out process.>>

Families who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals under federal guidelines should continue to apply for meal benefits in order to qualify for discounts on utility bills, school and community activity fees, and more. These applications also help ensure federal support for programming in PSD. Learn more about apply for school meals here.>>

School Resource Officer walking next to a student outside of a school.

Our district’s emergency management approach is rooted in culturally responsive, age-appropriate and emergency services best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human-made emergencies. Learn more about PSD's approach to safety and security on our web page. >>

The goal of the PSD School Resource Officer (SRO) program is to provide a safe learning environment and help reduce school violence while improving perceptions and relations between students, staff and law enforcement officials. Learn more about our SROs and the form to share feedback about experiences.>>

Visiting a school this year? You must enter through the front doors and check in with an ID using the Raptor system. Learn more about the requirements and how we keep everyone safe as possible.>>

five children laying on the ground in a circle reading books

Curriculum

PSD elementary schools are rolling out a new literacy curriculum this fall that will promote hands-on, high quality learning. The majority of our elementary schools will introduce the nationally recognized, teacher-developed Imagine Learning EL Education K-5 curriculum. Bilingual schools Harris and Irish will be using MGraw-Hill Wonders and Maravillas as companion programs, and Core Knowledge schools Bethke, O'Dea, Traut, and Zach will debut Amplify CKLA Skills K-2. Learn more about the new literacy curriculum on the PSD website, and learn about all PSD curriculum by subject here.>>

two kids wearing backpacks holding hands

Back-to-School Events

Back-to-School Nights are just around the corner! Visit your school's website for the most up-to-date information about times and dates. Information about back-to-school events can also be found at psdschools.org - information provided on this page is subject to updates from schools as we get closer the start of the school year.

school backpack with school supplies spilling out of it.

School Supply Drive

The annual School is Cool school supply drive brings the community and our partners at OtterCares, Colorado State University, and Realities for Children together to help send kids in need of a little extra help back to school with the tools and materials they need to succeed. Learn more about this year's supply drive here.>>

Code of Conduct and District Policies

PSD requires parents/guardians to review the Student Rights and Code of Conduct, available through ParentVUE. Parents and guardians can find more information about the Student Code of Conduct policy and acknowledgement in this document.>> District polices -- new and revised -- can be found at psdschools.org.

students pose in a high school common area

Student Voice Matters

Students who would like to share their experiences and ideas with the Poudre School District Board of Education in the 2023-24 school year should consider applying for the Student Advisory Council (StAC). The council will meet monthly to share what is going on in schools and offer insight on the student experience. Learn more and apply.>>

Don't forget to hydrate!

With warm days ahead, be sure to send your student to school with a full water bottle each morning. At school, students are asked to use hydration stations as the best source of drinking water. Learn more about PSD's ongoing water testing on the PSD website.>>

a water bottle on the back of a backpack that a child is wearing

A student examines a cup of liquid while wearing safety goggles.

An adult supervises as students sit at a table next to the MAC bus.

a student wearing a Camp Sol T-shirt holds a piece of paper

High school students work on building a set for a production of "Mamma Mia."

Summer 2023: Memories made

PSD students of all ages had opportunities to learn and grow this summer: performing "Mamma Mia" in the inaugural Barbara Lueck Musical Theatre Intensive (left photo); boosting confidence and skills at STEM-X (above left photo); learning on the go with the Mobile Academic Classroom (MAC) Bus (above center photo); having adventures at Camp SOL (above right photo); and more!

Poudre School District | www.psdschools.org

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