Werner Weekly-Back-to-School

Stay up-to-date with the Werner School Calendar

• Aug. 14- 1st grade Sneak Peak (Last name A-G: 8:00-8:45; H-M: 9:00-9:45; N-Z: 10:00-10:45)
• Aug. 14- Kindergarten Welcome to School (Last name A-L: 9:00-9:45; M-Z: 10:15-11:00)
• Aug. 14- Meet the Teacher and Supply Drop-Off @ 3-4 pm
• Aug. 15- First Day of School 1st-5th (Kindergarten on staggered start), 9:05 am
• Aug. 15- Kindergarten Staggered Start (last name A-L)
• Aug. 16- Kindergarten Staggered Start (last name M-Z)
• Aug. 19- Kindergarten-all students
• Aug. 19- New Family Orientation and PTA Meet/Greet @ 9:15 am, Flex Room
• Aug. 27- Back-to-School Orientation- 5th grade: 5:30-7:00 pm, Gym
• Sept. 2- No School-Labor Day
• Sept. 3- Back-to-School Orientation- Kindergarten: 5-6 pm
• Sept. 4- Back-to-School Orientation- 1st grade: 5-6 pm, 3rd grade: 6-7 pm
• Sept. 5- Back-to-School Orientation- 4th grade: 5-6, 2nd grade: 6-7 pm
• Sept. 13- PTA Movie Night, 6-8 pm, Playground
• Sept. 28- Fall Fun Festival, 4:30-6:30 pm

Dear Werner Community,

I hope you had a wonderful summer and time to relax and recharge! We are looking forward to starting the 2024-25 school year and the opportunity to help our students connect and grow.

As we start this new school year, this newsletter will feature most things you need to start the school year. If it doesn't, please contact us.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we look forward to connecting with families at some important events. We will have the Open House and Supply Drop Off on August 14 (3-4 pm), our Back-to-School Orientation nights (see calendar), PTA Movie Night on Sept. 13 (6-8 pm) and our biggest event with the Fall Festival on Sept. 27 (4:30-6:30 pm). We hope that you'll join us for these times to connect as a community!

We look forward to seeing you all in two weeks to start the new school year! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Best,

Hayden Camp

Principal

PSD Calendar

You can access updated PSD calendars on the Poudre School District website.

Werner School Supply Lists

Supply Lists for next year can be accessed on our website and at retail stores such as Target, Walmart, etc. This year, we are offering an opportunity for you to purchase supplies, through EPI, that will be delivered to your child’s desk before school starts. For more information, go to this link.

Class Rosters

Parents will be able to access your student’s homeroom teacher by 4:00 pm on August 9 through ParentVue.

Meet the Teacher and Supply Drop-Off

Our annual Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 14 from 3:00-4:00 pm. Students will have the opportunity to drop off supplies and meet their teacher. Afterwards, take time to connect with families on Werner playground. Kindergarten and 1st grade will schedule separate times for their Back-to-School events. They will communicate separately.

First Day of School

The first day for elementary students is Thursday, August 15 for 1st-5th grade students. Kindergarten will be operating on a staggered start.

Werner Orientation and New Family Meet & Greet-August 19 @ 9:15 a.m.

Come meet other new families and learn more about Werner and our PTA. Call the office (488-5550) if you have questions.

Start/End Times

Start and End times will move to 9:05 am-3:43 pm. Students should not arrive before 8:50 am. If you need before/after school care, please check with AlphaBEST.

Communication

Our Werner Weekly is the best source for information about what’s happening with Werner, our PTA, and PSD. This will come by email each Friday and is on our school website. We utilize School Messenger and ParentVue for communication from PSD and Werner (email, phone, text). Please call the office (970-488-5550) if you have questions. It is important to keep your contact info updated to receive these. You can also see communication on our Facebook, Instagram, PTA Facebook and Twitter pages.

Each year, we ask our parents/guardians to provide a digital acknowledgment after reviewing the updated Student Rights and Code of Conduct, which is a compilation of rules, policies, and regulations regarding student behavior.

The 2024-25 Code of Conduct is now available on the PSD website in multiple languages.

Steps to complete your digital acknowledgment:

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 2024-2025 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.

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 our main office (970-488-5550).

At the beginning of every school year, we ask parents to review and update their student and family information online through ParentVUE.

Family Data Verification is a feature within ParentVUE that allows parents and guardians with active students to update their students’ demographic, health, parent contact information, emergency contact information, and upload documents to submit to their students’ school.

Once logged into ParentVUE, click on the Online Registration / Data Verification tab on the top right-hand corner of the screen and select the 2024-2025 Current Student and Family Data Verification process from the drop-down menu. Please review and update the information and finish by submitting your student’s data verification.

Bus requests for 2024-25 school year

PSD aims to transport as many students as possible to and from school. To ensure families needing transportation receive this service, riders must apply for busing each year, even if they’ve had busing before.

• Bus requests for the 2024-25 school year closed July 16. Bus requests will reopen Aug. 16.
• Bus request application (closed until Aug. 16) >>

Questions? See Transportation FAQs or email busrequest@psdschools.org

PSD bus protocols

To set our children up for a great year together, please take a moment to review these reminders and health and safety information about riding the bus.

Reminders about riding the bus:

• Please ensure your student arrives at the bus stop five minutes before the assigned stop time to ensure they don’t miss the bus in the morning.
• Buses will display a four-digit route number in the third student window of the bus behind the entry door. This number should match the route number listed in your student’s details.
• Buses leave between five to ten minutes after school dismissal. Please plan accordingly to pick up/meet your student at their designated drop-off point.

Ridership:

• Students who do not ride the bus for 10 or more consecutive school days may be identified as non-riders. We will notify you in an email if your student is identified as a non-rider and is subject to being removed from busing.
• Students need to scan on and off the bus to ensure they are not identified as nonriders subject to having their bussing removed.
• If you have a short-term absence contact Dispatch at 970-490-3232 to let the driver know not to expect you, though it is not required.
• If you have an extended absence from the bus (greater than 10 school days) and need to maintain your seat on the bus, please contact busrequest@psdschools.org with your student’s ID number and the reason for the absence.

Bus Scan-Card System Enhances safety for student riders

PSD’s Transportation Department's scan-card system enhances the safety for students who ride the bus.

Here's how the system works:

After the first day of school, schools hand out scan cards to students approved to ride the bus. The scan card has the name of the student, bus stop(s) and a unique QR code. To help kids keep track of them, cards are fastened to elementary students’ backpacks or bags.

High schoolers are issued a card but they can also use the barcode on their school student IDs, once they receive them. Additionally, any student can download the free, “Here Comes the Bus” mobile app and scan onto their bus.

Buses have been outfitted with scanners like those you see at grocery stores, and students will scan the QR codes and barcodes as they board and exit. Using information that appears on a mounted tablet, drivers will confirm that a student is on the correct bus to get to their correct bus stop – or direct them to where they need to be, instead. If a student loses their card, drivers can search for their name in the new system.

Technological enhancements like this complement PSD’s already safety-focused Transportation Department. Existing features include GPS systems in PSD buses that allow parents to securely track the real-time location of their student’s bus, and even get notifications when the bus approaches their students stop. They can sign up for this free service through the “Here Comes the Bus” app.

The app can be accessed through desktop or mobile devices. Information is secure and provided to parents through a private ID that grants access to only their child’s bus information.

Questions? See Transportation FAQs or email busrequest@psdschools.org

Learn about ingredients and other menu details

(Menus are subject to change based on availability of ingredients, supply or other factors.)

• PSD's Menu Website lets you search for your school's menus and gives you access allergens, carb counts, and nutrition details of each daily item.

• Ingredients in recipes are listed in the Ingredient Database.

• For details about nutritional data, allergens, meal exemptions and substitutions, visit our Special Food Needs web page.

Free Meals for Students, Plus Important Reminders for Families

For the 2024-2025 school year, Poudre School District will once again provide no-cost breakfast and lunch for all students.

Although all students will receive no-cost meals, it's still important for households to provide their income information when requested via a Free-Reduced Meal Benefits Application. Gathering this information allows PSD to receive the state and federal funding we qualify for. These funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits, receive discounted school fees, class materials, utilities support, and more. Providing household income information ensures you and your school receive all available financial support.

Be sure to fill out the Free and Reduced Meal Benefits form as part of your back-to-school registration! If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to Child Nutrition at 970-490-3557 for more information.

2024-25 Meal Prices

Student Meals

Breakfast - FREE!

Lunch - FREE!

Adult Meals

Breakfast - $2.40

Lunch - $4.85

Biometric Meal Program

Continuing in the 2024-25 school year, students at all Poudre School District schools will check out of the cafeteria line with a quick tap of a finger.

Families have the option to opt their student out of using this system, and you can find more info about that below.

We know that anything having to do with biometrics prompt questions, so here’s what you need to know:

If meals are free this year, why do PSD students have to check out of cafeteria lines?

• PSD is 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.
• Even though students don’t pay for meals, they need to stop at the register so PSD staff can verify that the items on their tray meet federal requirements for a balanced, nutritious meal. Every meal must be counted in order for PSD to receive state and federal funding.
• Although we can’t know for sure how many more students will eat meals at school now that they’re free, we are estimating that our Child Nutrition Department will serve about 1.2 million more this school year than last.
• Schools have limited time for breakfast and lunch and can’t flex too much without having to make school days longer. Rather than make a change like that, we are using technology to help us with speed. Enter the identiMetrics scanners.

Fast facts about PSD’s biometrics program

• identiMetrics scanners are integrated directly into PSD’s existing Point of Sale (POS) system.
• It takes about 2 seconds to scan a finger.
• This technology DOES NOT take or store a picture of users’ fingerprints. This is a finger scan, not a fingerprint.
• PSD does NOT have the ability or desire to store or recreate student fingerprints for any reason.
• The computer software develops a grid of intersection points from the swirls and arcs of the scanned finger, creates a template showing the finger’s unique points, and converts the template into a binary number that is encrypted and stored.
• The data collected will be maintained locally by PSD and NONE of the information is sent out externally/to the internet or to any agency.
• The system was found to be a more secure, accurate and convenient method of authentication. Meal-serving periods that used this technology were more consistent and faster than those using pin numbers.

Additional resources from the scanner manufacturer about identiMetrics’ finger-scanning process:

• Check out identiMetrics’ biometric-scanning FAQs
• Watch the “How Biometrics Work" video

Opting out – an option for families

• Families have the option to opt their students out of participation at any time.
• The form will be available in PSD Forms through ParentVUE, where other school and district forms are available.
• Those who need a paper copy of the form may call Child Nutrition at 970-490-3557 or email nutrition@psdschools.org.
• Students opted out will give the cashier their student ID number for entry.
• The scanners will NOT work for students who have been opted out.

Questions? Go to the PSD Website for School Meals or contact Child Nutrition-nutrition@psdschools.org

Parents/guardians and students access grades, attendance, schedules and other student information through Synergy parent and students portals. Complete secure logon through the ParentVUE/StudentVUE portal or through the apps, which can be downloaded from the iTunes Store and Google Play.

Parents/guardians can only see their student's information. Parents/guardians must have "educational rights" to access ParentVUE. Once educational rights are reflected in Synergy, parents will receive an email with a user activation code.

Learn how to access and/or activate your account on the "Accessing and Activating a ParentVUE Account" web page. If you have questions, refer to the "Frequently Asked Questions" posted below or contact your school.

July 2024

Dear Kindergarten Parents,

The beginning of the school year is right around the corner! We hope that you and your child are as excited about the upcoming year as we are!

The kindergarten team at Werner sets aside a few days before school begins to assess all the incoming kindergarten students. It’s important for us to get some baseline information on each child so that we can begin planning our instruction based on student needs. Class list will be created after these assessments. The class lists will be posted on our ParentVUE by 3:00 on August 13th.

With this in mind, we will be doing assessments August 7, 8, and 12. We have created a Sign-up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44AAA928A7F49-kindergarten#/.

You may need to copy and paste this link. If it does not work, please let us know!

If you cannot bring your child on these days, please email us as soon as possible.

We also wanted to let you know that kindergarten has a staggered start for the beginning of the school year.

• August 14: Kindergarten will have a welcome to school celebration. Students will come with their parents for an hour to explore the classroom and meet their teacher. Students will drop off supplies at this time. Students with the last names A-L will come from 9:00-9:45. Students with the last names M-Z will come from 10:15-11:00.

• August 15: Students with the last names A-L will come to school for a full day.

• August 16: Students with the last names M-Z will come to school for the full day.

• August 19: All kindergarten students will come to school for the full day.

Thank you so much! We look forward to working with each of you!

Sincerely,

The Werner Kindergarten Team

mhampton@psdschools.org

Dear First Grade Families,

We are so excited to meet you and our new first graders!

We realize we are just starting our summer but wanted to get a few dates and times on your August calendars.

The First-Grade Team would like to give our students a First Peek into their first-grade classrooms. This also gives us the opportunity to meet with our new students in a more relaxed and focused way.

Our First Grade Sneak Peek will occur on Wednesday, August 14th. You will attend a session based upon your last name. Please see the times below.

• A-G: 8:00 - 8:45
• H-M: 9:00 – 9:45
• N-Z: 10:00 – 10:45

Your child will be able to meet their teacher and a few of the other students in their class, take a short tour of the classroom, listen to a story, and draw/write about something they like to do.

Please bring in and drop off school supplies at these times as well. If you placed an order with the school for supplies these will be delivered right to the classroom. There will be a supply drop off/meet the teacher time for the whole school later this afternoon. You are welcome to come back and say hello to us at that time or drop off supplies if you are unable to attend the First Peek time in the morning.

We do not know class placements currently. Communication will be sent the week before our meetings to let you know who your child’s teacher will be.

We are looking forward to meeting all of you and starting a fabulous year in first grade!

-The First Grade Team

Immunizations

Your child should have received the following immunizations in elementary school:

· 5DTaP/Td/DTP–diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (4 is acceptable if 4th dose is given after 4th birthday)

· 4IPV/OPV–polio (3 is acceptable if 3rd given after 4th birthday)

· 3 shot series for Hepatitis B

· 2MMR–measles, mumps, rubella

· 2Varicella–chickenpox OR history of chickenpox confirmed by doctor or lab test

· Vaccines are recommended for hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal disease and human papilloma virus, but are not required.

Colorado law (Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009‐2) requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed childcares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed.

Exemptions

There are two ways to file a nonmedical exemption.

· File the certificate of nonmedical exemption WITH a signature from an immunizing provider OR

· File the certificate of nonmedical exemption received upon the completion of our online education module.

· Parents of students in grades K-12 claiming a nonmedical exemption must file one annually. Nonmedical exemptions expire June 30 each year. If you submit a nonmedical exemption on or before June 30, it will not be valid for the upcoming school year unless you signed the exemption during early registration.

· Provide a copy of the completed exemption certificate to the Werner front office.

Medical exemptions must be completed by a physician and only need to be completely once, not annually like the non-medical exemption.

Downloadable exemption (medical & non-medical)certificate link:

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions

Medication at School

All medication given at school, whether doctor prescribed or over the counter, must be accompanied by the PSD Authorization to Administration Medicine from (available on the PSD website under the Parent tab, Health Services), signed by both the parent/guardian and the physician. Medications must be provided and brought to school by a parent, in the original prescription bottle or over the counter container. Pharmacists may provide you with two bottles if you ask them to label one for school use. If medication changes or medication is discontinued during the school year, please have the child’s doctor fax us the new or correct orders.

Authorization for medication administration and health care plans MUST BE COMPLETED EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

If you have questions or need additional information, please call.

School Nurse: Lynne Ryan - eryan@psdschools.org (970) 556-5908

Health Tech: Katie Salter – ksalter@psdschools.org (970) 488-5550

Paying for school fees and/or lunches is easy using SchoolPay. Below is the link for signing your student up, paying fees and/or adding funds to your student’s meal account.

PSD offers an easy and secure way to make payments to your child’s school on-line with a credit/debit card for fees and other charges as well as your child’s meal account through the District’s payment portal, SchoolPay.* The Pay Fees/Charges web page has information and instructions on paying fees and other charges online or go directly to the SchoolPay website.

Fees may also be paid in person at your child's school, paying with cash or check.

Online Registration is open for 2024-25. Please go to the PSD School Registration and our Werner Registration site for more information. For Kindergarten registration, you can find more information on our Werner Kindergarten Information site. If you are interested in learning more about our school, call (970-488-5550) our main office to set up a personal tour with our staff.

Dear Werner Wildcats Families,

Welcome back to another exciting school year at Werner Elementary! We hope you all had a wonderful and restful summer break. As we prepare for the new school year, we want to extend a warm welcome to both returning families and those who are new to our school community.

The Werner Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) plays a crucial role in supporting our school, teachers, and most importantly, our students. We are dedicated to fostering a positive and enriching environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

**Why Join the PTA?**

The PTA is a vital part of our school community, and your involvement makes a difference. By joining the PTA, you have the opportunity to:

• Stay Informed: Receive updates on school events, activities, and important news.
• Connect: Build relationships with other parents, teachers, and staff members.
• Help fundraise for essential programs, events, and supplies that enhance our children’s education.
• Share ideas and provide feedback on how we can continue to improve our school community.

**Volunteer Opportunities**

We encourage all parents to get involved with the PTA. Whether you have a little time to spare or are looking for a more substantial role, there are many ways you can contribute:

• Event Planning: Assist with organizing and coordinating school events and fundraisers.
• Committee Participation: Join one of our committees focused on areas such as fundraising, community outreach, or hospitality.
• Leadership Roles: Consider serving on the PTA board or as a committee chair. We currently have open positions and would love to have enthusiastic individuals join our team.

**How to Get Involved**

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about how you can contribute to the PTA, please attend our upcoming PTA meeting on September 10th. This will be a great opportunity to meet other parents, hear about our plans for the year ahead, and find out more about open positions.

We are excited about the possibilities this school year holds and look forward to working together to make it a memorable and successful year for all Werner Wildcats. Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see you at our upcoming events!

Sincerely,

Werner PTA

Join the Werner Elementary Parent Teacher Association!

Receive a Wildcat’s Roar yard sign as a FREE GIFT when you register with our PTA! Membership is a $10 donation and does not obligate you to volunteer hours or to attend meetings. We'd love your support any way you can give it. Please fill out this Google form and submit your donation with our PayPal link (you don’t have to have a PayPal account). we'll be handing out the signs on the playground at the School Supply Drop Off, Monday, August 15th. (Registration is per person, not per household)

FREE MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL!

Did you know there are ways to donate money to the school by doing things you already do?

- If you shop at King Soopers with a loyalty card they will donate to Werner when you sign up here.

- If you shop on Amazon, you can sign up for Amazon Smile and they will donate 1% of purchases.

- If you like to eat out, the PTA hosts Werner Dines Out once a month and the restaurants we partner with will donate back to the school.

Your Werner PTA

Follow us on Facebook to stay engaged with School Events, Werner Families, and see what the PTA is up to.

Your 2023/2024 PTA Board

PTA President | Gladys Kanode

PTA Vice President | Caitlin Papp

PTA Treasurer | Patti Haswell

PTA Secretary | Juliana Potts

PTA VP of Community and Fundraising | Marissa McNulty

PTA Past-President | Nicole Kidd

Connect with us at PTAWernerElementary@gmail.com

There Is No Wrong Way to PTA. How Do You PTA?

Thank you for supporting the Werner Elementary PTA!

July 23, 2024

Dear PSD Community:

You’re invited to the Parent, Grandparent, Kin Caregiver Summit, a free educational event designed to empower caregivers with the knowledge and tools they need to support their children's development. The Summit will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Road in Fort Collins. Visit https://bit.ly/PGKSummit24 to register.

The summit will feature expert-led workshops on trauma-informed care, understanding the iGen generation, managing social media influence, and addressing school avoidance. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other caregivers and gain valuable insights to enhance their parenting and grandparenting skills.

The Parent, Grandparent, Kin Caregiver Summit is organized by the Center for Family Outreach in partnership with PSD, UC Health, Larimer County Behavioral Health Services, Embark Behavioral Health, Within, the Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and TAC 212. Contact (970) 495-0084 or Lauriek@tcffo.org for more information.

Sincerely,

Poudre School District

• PSD sends frequent emails to currently registered volunteers, but those are getting lost in some recipients' junk mail folders. If you are registered as a volunteer with PSD, please check your junk mail & mark those sent by "Volunteer Coordinator" as safe to receive.

• For those who are not yet registered to volunteer but want to help in our schools please visit - Volunteer Registration

One of many ways information is shared is through the PSD Now community newsletter, which features timely information about the latest happenings in the district. This is emailed to families and interested community members about every other Thursday.

Here is the most recent newsletter of PSD Now. For archived newsletters and information about how to sign up, go to: https://www.psdschools.org/department/communications.

An award-winning neighborhood school in Fort Collins, Colorado

Email: hcamp@psdschools.org
Website: https://wer.psdschools.org/
Location: 5400 Mail Creek Lane, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Phone: (970) 488-5550

Attendance: (970) 488-5551
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wernerwildcats/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/werner_elementary/
X (Twitter): @WernerWildcats