Blevins Bulletin
August 18, 2023
Principal's Message
Hello Blevins Families!
We are so excited to have students back in the building! Our Admin Team enjoyed welcoming our 6th Grade Bruins!!
Please take a few moments to look through this newsletter, which contains some helpful information to prepare for the year. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at mtrujill@psdschools.org or 970-488-4004.
Please click here for my August 18th video.
Proudly,
Joe Zappa
Principal
Let's Go, Bruins!
Welcome Back Bruins
7th Grade Lunch Rec Fun
Important Dates
Friday, September 1st: Picture Day
- Students will bring home picture packets on Wednesday, August 23rd. You may also pay in advance with a credit card on the Skillman website. Use Access Code BLEV2023.
Monday, September 4th: NO SCHOOL/Labor Day
Friday, September 22nd: NO SCHOOL/Teacher Professional Learning Day
Back To School Night Feedback
Thanks for joining us at Back to School Night on Monday, Aug. 14th! We hope that the evening met your needs and helped you to be as excited as us for the return of school at Blevins. Please take a few minutes to complete this feedback form regarding the event:
Blevins Student/Family Handbook 2023-2024
Bruin families,
Please access our 2023-2024 Student Handbook by clicking this link. Please take time to review as it has important information students and families should be aware of for our school year.
Bruin Club - Our New After-School Program
Interest Survey
We are incredibly excited to share that Blevins will be offering an after-school program for our students this year called "Bruin Club." This program will run on school days, Monday through Thursday, beginning in mid-September until mid-April. Bruin Club will be centered around Homework Help, a means of academic support and tutoring for students, and include clubs based on student interest. Transportation home will also be available for students at the end of each day's programming. While we cannot guarantee bussing for each student, we consider it probable!
Please consider taking a few moments to complete this Interest Survey, Spanish Interest Survey so we can plan Bruin Club best for students and families.
Fall Athletics
- Volleyball (7th & 8th Grade)- Questions? Coach Sam Alexander samralexander19@gmail.com
- Football (7th & 8th Grade)- Questions? Coach Bruce Holbert bholbert@psdschools.org
- Cross Country (6th, 7th, 8th Grade)- Questions? Coach Anna Carolina Johnson acjohnson@psdschools.org
- Tennis (6th, 7th, 8th Grade)- Questions? Coach Andrew Kiser akiser@psdschools.org or Syndey Boschert sboschert@psdschools.org
Silver Cards are required to participate in all sports. To obtain a Silver Card, students will need to complete the following 3 steps:
- Students must have a hard copy of the Physicians Certification form on file in the Front Office.
- Students must have paid the athletic fee. Payment can be made through Schoolpay at https://psdschools.schoolpay.com or cash and check payments can be made in the Front Office. If it is a cut sport then you would pay to tryout then be refunded if your student doesn't make the team.
- Students must have completed the online registration at https://www.psdathletics.org/msreg or complete and return registration packet to the Front Office.
Paperwork and Fee Questions- Nicole West 970-488-4007
Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Please see the Map for Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Who To Contact
Joe Zappa, Principal
970-488-4004
Dusti Sanger, Assistant Principal
970-488-4002
Scott Schreiner, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
970-488-4036
Michele Trujillo, Office Manager
970-488-4004
Anna Burris, 7th Grade Counselor & 6th Grade Panda Den Counselor
970-488-4091
Meg Stump, 8th Grade Counselor & 6th Grade Polar Den Counselor
970-488-4010
Erin McCain, Academic Dean* & School Counselor
*Guidance for academic supports for Blevins students
970-488-4009
Show Your Bruin Pride
Gear up at our Bruin Store by Clicking Here
2023-2024 Calendars
Information from Poudre School District
Medicaid/CHP+ Coverage
If you or your children have health insurance through Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), there are important steps to take now that the public health emergency is ending. Medicaid renewals were paused due to COVID, but they’re back.
1. To ensure you receive critical mail, update your contact information by:
• Visiting Colorado.gov/PEAK
• Use the Health First Colorado app on your phone. This free app is for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members.
• Health First members can call 800-221-3943
• CHP+ members can call 800-359-1991 (State Relay: 711)
2. Be on the lookout for a renewal letter in the mail from Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+),This renewal letter will tell you one of three things:
• Your Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage is being renewed, or
• Your Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage is ending or
• They need more information to determine if you or your family member still qualify for Medicaid or CHP. If so, a renewal form will be included.
3. Families should make sure to check the mail, fill out a renewal form if they receive one – which could happen at some point this year or early next year – and return it ASAP to avoid losing Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage. Update your contact information so you won’t miss this important communication.
What to know about PSD’s biometric meal program
Getting food with the touch of a finger: What to know about PSD’s biometric meal program
Starting in the 2023-24 school year, students at all Poudre School District schools will check out of the cafeteria line with a quick tap of a finger. After a biometric scanning system reduced line wait times as part of a spring pilot program, PSD is installing the system in all schools. The system should be up and running first in all schools that participated in the spring pilot program (Dunn and Linton elementary schools, Kinard Middle School, and Rocky Mountain High School) and all elementary schools by about October. It will be installed in secondary schools thereafter. Families have the option to opt their student out of using this system. Visit the School Meals web page on the PSD website for more information.>>
Free Meals for '23-'24
We are excited to share that all students will receive one free breakfast and lunch daily starting in 2023-24 through the Healthy School Meals for All program! This new statewide program, approved by Colorado voters, is helping Colorado children and teens have access to nutritious food at our school.
Families do not need to complete an application to receive these meals. More information to come on how this process will take place.
**Please still consider applying for Free and Reduced Meals. If qualified, students will benefit from other waivers, such as athletic and activity costs.
Read more about meals and apply for Free and Reduced Meals here.
Bus requests now open for '23-'24
PSD aims to transport as many students as possible to and from school. To ensure that families needing transportation receive this service, riders must now apply for busing each year, even if they’ve had busing before. Families may submit a PSD bus request for the 2023-24 school year here.
Questions? See Transportation FAQs or email busrequest@psdschools.org
Code of Conduct
Each year, we ask our parents/guardians and secondary students to provide a digital acknowledgement after reviewing the updated Student Rights and Code of Conduct, which is a compilation of rules, policies and regulations regarding student behavior.
The 2023-24 Code of Conduct is now available on the PSD website in multiple languages.
How to complete your digital acknowledgement
- Parents/guardians
- Log into the ParentVUE parent portal.
- Read the Acknowledgement text box.
- Click on the link at the bottom of the page to download the 2023-2024 Code of Conduct.
- Write your name on the signature field exactly as it appears on your ParentVUE account.
- Click “Yes.”
- Parents/guardians will not be given access to ParentVUE until they electronically sign the acknowledgment.
- Parents of secondary students (6-12)
- Your student will also be asked to acknowledge having received and reviewed the Code of Conduct when logging into StudentVUE for the first time this school year.
- Families new to PSD or those who have never accessed their ParentVUE account will receive a separate email with instructions for how to log into ParentVUE.
- If you have questions regarding ParentVUE or StudentVUE, see the ParentVUE FAQ or contact your school.