Weekly Family Update

Dear Ryan Elementary Community,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Thank you for attending our 2023 Back to School Night event. If you were unable to attend and/or would like the slides/information presented, please click this link: 2023 Slides from Back to School Night

As we continue to welcome students back into our building for the 2023-2024 school year, we want to make sure to reiterate that BVSD has zero tolerance for discrimination and sexual harassment including sexual violence, which has no place in our school. We are dedicated to creating equitable learning spaces for all in our community.

I shared in the last message, that we will have video announcements every Wednesday for students. Right now, it’s only been me on these, but that will change in the future. If interested, here is the one from last week: August 30th

If you are interested in joining our School Accountability Committee, please contact our SAC Chair, Marissa Seuc-Hester at seuchester@gmail.com. Our first meeting is September 14th, from 6:00-7:00 PM in person at Ryan Elementary.

We have many amazing events in September. Stay tuned for more details about the PTA Fall Festival on Friday, September 22nd from 5:00-7:00 PM and our Rhino Stampede Fun Run during the day on September 29th. As a reminder, September 25th is a no school day for students due to a BVSD Professional Development day for staff.

Did you know that Ryan’s PTA (Parent Teacher Association) pays for all field trips and donated $9000 to help with the costs of our 5th grade outdoor education trip to Calwood? WOW! Thank you PTA!

It’s a great day to be a Rhino! Go Rhinos!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Jackman

Principal

stephanie.jackman@bvsd.org

In this newsletter you will find details on the following:

• Student Council Announcement
• Thorne Nature Experience Information
• Picture Day details
• Rhino Choir Opportunity
• Late Start Wednesday Details
• Mini Poms Camp Details
  
• Adventure Camps
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Gardent to Table Information
• PTA Updates
  
• Thank you to Complete Care Chiropractic
• Counseling Corner
• Dental Screening Information
• Attendance Announcement
  
• Health room information
• Student Device Guidelines
• Ryan School Hours
  
• Be a Good Neighbor
• Arrival & Dismissal Procedure
• Transportation Update
  
• Preschool Information
  
• BVSD Safety Reminders
  
• School Supplies Donation
  
• Message from Food Services
  
• BVSD Calendars Link
  

If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000

If you want to make a difference in your school and community while having fun and encouraging school spirit, then Student Council is the club for you! All interested 4th and 5th grade students should come to the STUCO info session held on Tuesday, September 5th from 2:50-3:30pm in Mrs. Lewandowski's kindergarten classroom, room 100. Parents please plan on picking up your child from this meeting right at 3:30pm. CLICK HERE for the STUCO club calendar to see what the club commitment entails. Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Lewandowski if you have any questions amber.lewandowski@bvsd.org.

Thorne will be held at Ryan on Thursdays starting September 28 through December 14th, 2:55pm-4:55pm.

Registration opens TODAY, September 5th.

For more information and to Register click here

Please use this code: Thorne24

School picture day will be September 12th

For ordering information click here.

Paper order forms will be coming home with your students this week, if you prefer to use the paper form, the photographers have to collect them on Sept. 12, before 2:30.

Hello Ryan Families! I'm having a great time making music with students. There will be several extracurricular music opportunities this year. Rhino Choir is open to all 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students who are interested in group singing. We will explore vocal technique, singing in multiple parts and learning a variety of different songs. Rehearsals are in the Music room on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school from 3:00 - 3:45 September 26 - March 20. There will be two concerts. A $20 donation is requested to pay for a student t-shirt and piano accompanist for our concerts. A donation is not required for a student to participate. Please see this document for more information and fill out this form by Friday September 22 if your child will participate. Ryan Ringers is on pause for this year, but Ryan's Got Talent will return in the spring. Stay tuned for more information!

For before school care on Wednesdays, please check in your child at the front office between 7:35-7:50. The children will be supervised on the playground (or gym for inclement weather), until 8:35-8:50 when the cafeteria will be open for breakfast and there will be adult supervision on the playground.

Calling all PreK-7th graders who love to dance! The Centaurus Varsity Dance team is hosting a Mini-Poms Camp on Sept 28th and 29th. Join the squad on the field for a halftime performance during the Sept 29th 7pm Centaurus football game. Clinic times are Sept 28th and 29th from 4:30-6:30pm at Centaurus. Participants receive a T-shirt, bow, poms, and dance training. Registration ends Sept 12th. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yc35mceh. Please contact kathleen.cole@bvsd.org with questions.

SAC will provide Full Day Adventure Camps on non-school days in line with the 2023-24 BVSD calendar.

Each camp date has a registration deadline. SAC before and after school care is not available on Adventure Camp dates.

Please click here for more information and instructions to register.

Volunteering is a fun, simple way to get involved within the Ryan community. We have all sorts of opportunities to get involved. Whether you volunteer regularly in your teacher’s classroom or the office copy room or just as needed, the impact can be huge. Not only does it benefit the school but it benefits your kids and families in our community as well! Please take a moment to fill out the background check through raptor: https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/get-involved/volunteers and click here to see what opportunities we have available Help at School

We appreciate your help! Thanks!

Our School is looking for volunteers to help with the Garden to Table program. Volunteers will be helping us with programming and caring for the garden. Program volunteers will help teachers with lessons and the overall running of the program. Garden volunteers will help garden tasks and general upkeep during the growing season. For further information and questions contact our Parent Lead Chelsea Mandel email: mandel.chelsea@gmail.com

You will also need to complete the Raptor Background Check.

There are many PTA events coming up in September! Please see below for all the upcoming activities and volunteer opportunities!

Dining Night Out - September 12

Our first Dining Night Out of the year will be at Mici Italian (535 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette) on Tuesday, September 12, from 11am–9pm! Mici will donate 20% of your purchase when you mention Ryan Elementary PTA for dine-in, takeout, delivery, or catering orders!

***Online orders MUST be placed using this link! The code to use is SCHOOL.***

Take a night off from cooking while supporting Ryan!

PTA Community Meeting - September 20

Come join us for our first community meeting of the 2023–2024 school year on Wednesday, September 20, from 6:30–7:30pm in the Ryan Library! Our new principal, Ms. Jackman, will share her goals for Ryan, and the PTA will introduce ourselves and our plans for the year. These meetings are an excellent way to stay connected to the school and its current events. Childcare and pizza will be provided for kids. All members of the Ryan community are welcome!

Fall Festival - September 22

The PTA will be hosting our annual Fall Festival on Friday, September 22, from 5–7pm! Join us on the Ryan playground for food trucks, fun activities, music, bake sale, and Mr. Appling's famous garden soup and popcorn. Bring the whole family!

We will need volunteers to help run this event. Please click here for Fall Fest volunteer opportunities!

Rhino Stampede - September 29

Our Ryan Rhino Stampede Fun Run fundraiser is kicking off soon! Lookout for more information in the coming weeks. For now, mark your calendars with these key dates!

● REGISTRATION OPENS - September 6

Register on MYBOOSTER.COM

● Ryan Rhino Stampede Fun Run Kickoff - September 20

● Event Day - September 29

We will also need volunteers to help support our runners on the day of the event. Please click here for Rhino Stampede volunteer opportunities!

Join the PTA!

There's still time to join the PTA or renew your membership! We welcome all Ryan family members to join the PTA and get involved in whatever way works best for your family! For $6.97 per year, you will formally be a member and have the opportunity to vote on local and statewide PTA initiatives. In addition, membership qualifies you for a variety of discounts nationwide! Parent membership is vital in keeping our charter, and it needs to be renewed each year. Please click here to join or renew your PTA membership!

Email PTA Board

PTA Website

PTA Facebook

Ryan Parents Facebook

Thank you very much for your donation from the Back to School Drive.

The supplies you delivered to Ryan Elementary will be put to good use in our classrooms!

This school year BVSD is partnering with Clinica Family Health to provide preventative dental services at our school. Dental services may include screenings, fluoride applications, sealants, and referrals for additional care not available at schools.

All students are eligible to participate. To receive these services for your child, please fill out the attached consent form and submit by 12/15/23. If you have questions regarding this school-based dental program, please contact:

Milagros Medina

Dental Operations Manager, Clinica Family Health

303-650-4460, ext 6803

mmedina@clinica.org

Link to Electronic Consent Form (English)

Link to Consent Form (pdf version)

Good habits start early! Research shows regular attendance at school has a DRAMATIC impact on student progress. Please see the How Sick Is To Sick guidelines as well as the BVSD attendance policy.

To report your child's absences, please enter it through your Parent Portal or call the Attendance Line 720.561.7002.

We understand sometimes our students need to be out for an extended period of time. We ask, if you know your child will be out for more than 3 days, to please fill out this form in addition to reporting the absence throught the portal or attendance line.

If your child needs medication at school, our healthroom para, Chrystal Terhune chrystal.terhune@bvsd.org would be happy to help you in the front office. You will need Doctor's orders and the Medication Authorization form as well.

Please do NOT send medication to school in your child's backpack.

Your child should not be contacting you through their phone/watch/device during school.

These items should be kept at home or in a back pack during school hours.

If students need to contact a parent or are not feeling well, they can ask a teacher or come to the office.

2023-24 Ryan Elementary School Hours for K-5th

Beginning in August 2021, BVSD moved to a new daily schedule. All elementary schools now have a seven-hour school day four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) with the same start and end times.

On Wednesdays there will be a district-wide 1-hour late start for all schools. This will allow professional learning time for teachers. The district will provide student supervision for elementary and PK-8 schools during this time if it is needed.

Ryan Elementary School Hours:

Kindergarten through Fifth Grade

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 7:50 AM-2:50 PM

Wednesday: 8:50 AM-2:50 PM

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays

• The first bell rings at 7:47, second bell at 7:50.

• Students that arrive after 7:50 will need to check in at the main office if their classroom door has closed.

Wednesdays:

• Buses will run on the late start schedule on these days.

• On Wednesdays, the first bell rings at 8:47, second bell at 8:50.

• Students that arrive after 8:50 on Wednesdays will need to check in at the main office and will be considered tardy.

• Teachers are in professional learning on Wednesdays during the late start and will not be available during this time.

• For before school care on Wednesdays, please check in your child at the front office between 7:35-7:50. The children will be supervised on the playground (or gym for inclement weather).

When you are parking in the neighborhood, please do not block driveways, walkways or stop signs.

Also please triple check before pulling away from the curb to look for pedestrians.

When you are walking, please use the crosswalk lights if possible.

Be safe Ryan Rhinos!

School Day Hours

• M/T/TH/F: 7:50-2:50

• W: 8:50-2:50

• K-5th grade school hours: 23-24 School Hours

Parking

• Ryan has two parking lots.

• Most of the spots are utilized by staff, substitutes and volunteers.

• If you will walk your child to school and pick up at school, we recommend parking on a nearby side street.

• The small parking lot to the south of the school is closed from 7:40-8 and 2:40-3:00.

Arrival Procedures

• Buses will arrive between 7:40-7:45. Supervision begins at 7:40 AM. If a bus arrives earlier than this, students will remain on the bus until 7:40 AM.

• Walkers and car riders can be dropped off from 7:40-7:50 a.m.

• Students may line up at their designated spot prior to the first bell ringing at 7:47 a.m.

• Kindergarten students will go to the fenced in playground prior to school starting.

• 1st-5th grade students will line up outside their classroom doors.

• Breakfast will be served from 7:35-7:50 (8:35-8:50 on Wednesdays). Students who would like to eat breakfast MUST arrive before 7:50 a.m. Students will walk in the front doors and go into the cafeteria to eat breakfast.

• Free childcare will be offered on late start Wednesdays. Students attending Wednesday morning childcare must arrive between 7:35-7:50.

Dismissal

• 3rd-5th grade students are encouraged to pick up their younger siblings from the front of the building and return with them to their designated pick-up area.

• Parents/Guardians (or designated pick up adult) will enter the parking lot in a single file line.

• Students can be picked up in the sidewalk areas closest to the building. We will not permit students to walk out into the parking lot.

• Please be sure your child's teacher knows your child’s after school plan. Students will only be released to adults listed in Infinite Campus. If your child's after school plan changes, please call the office no later than 2:40.

• We will closely watch and monitor arrival and dismissal procedures the first two weeks at school. If any additional changes need to be made, communication will be sent out to families.

• School Day Schedule: Classroom teachers will share their specific grade level/classroom schedules. This will include lunch times.

• Reminders: We understand that mornings and afternoons are often a stressful time for families. Please be mindful that our number one priority is to keep all students, staff and their families safe.

  • We ask that you are attentive when you are in the school zone. Please take extra caution to look around when pulling out of a parking spot and stay off of cell phones when in our parking lots.

  • Only cross the street in designated crosswalks.

  • All wheels must be walked until off of school property.

  • Be kind and patient to staff and other Ryan community members.

  • There is no parking in the smaller lot (by the playground) before or after school.

  • Cars may not park in the bus lanes in front of the school.

Student will no longer be able to ride the bus home with a friend.

The transportation department explained that some of our buses are too full to have guest riders.

Transportation assignments are in Infinite Campus.

For assistance with transportation inquiries please contact transportation@bvsd.org or 720-561-5120.

Enroll in Preschool Today!

Colorado families now have the opportunity to enroll their children in the state’s new preschool program. Kids who will be four years old by October 1, 2023 will receive 15 hours of preschool for free in the Boulder Valley School District. Three-year-olds that meet specific eligibility factors may also qualify for free preschool. We also have tuition spots available for 3 year olds who may not qualify through the state.

Start by filling out a state application: https://upk.colorado.gov/

For more information check out: BVSD UPK

Call or email our Preschool Community Liaison

Missy

720-561-5826

alice.cowan@bvsd.org

S A F E T Y R E M I N D E R S

BVSD is committed to keeping our school communities safe. As our students and staff return to school, we remind everyone about our layered approach to school security and our plan for emergencies.

Opt in to receive emergency alert texts

BVSD's Emergency Plan

Your role during a crisis

More about Safety at BVSD

School Supplies

The school supplies for K-5 include the following for the 2023-2024 School Year:

• Full Sized Backpack

• Headphones/Earbuds

• Water Bottle with name on it

• $45 Donation ($40 goes towards classroom school supplies/$5 to our specialists)

You can donate by clicking here or with cash or check written to Ryan Elementary

If you are in need of support with school supplies, please reach out to our community liaison, Miriam Wright miriam.wright@bvsd.org or call the front office.

Free school meals!

Yes, school meals are now free! Other important cost savings available for families who qualify and complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application

Thanks to Colorado voters, school meals will be free for all BVSD students beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Even though lunch is now free, it is still very important that families complete the free and reduced meal application, as it waives and reduces fees district-wide for families, can impact transportation for some families, and impacts important funding for individual schools.

It also qualifies families for a 50% reduction in Lifelong Learning tuition, and waived tuition for BVSD Online classes (excluding the $50 registration fee). Child Care families will continue to apply for financial assistance through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

Visit the Free and Reduced Price Meals webpage for information on applying for free or reduced meals or contact your school directly.

Families are also encouraged to visit the BVSD Help Center August 10-12 and 14-15 for assistance with free and reduced lunch applications, and additional enrollment support. Read more at BVSD.org.

Link to log in to your meal account

If you have further questions, please refer to the FAQs page.

BVSD Calendar Link

• Parent- Teacher Printable Calendar (English)

• Academic Calendar

• Preschool Calendar (English)

Website: https://rye.bvsd.org/
Location: 1405 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, CO, USA
Phone: 720-561-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanElemSTEAM