Prairie Ridge Parent Post

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we embark on this new school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the tremendous show of support from our school community. We were thrilled to see over 90% of our families attend the Meet the Teacher events—your presence truly set the tone for a positive and collaborative year!

In these first few days, our students have already started engaging in learning activities designed to build connections and establish a positive classroom culture. Seeing their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn has been inspiring.

I wanted to take a moment to emphasize our commitment to the safety and security of our students, staff, and school community. Ensuring a secure learning environment is a top priority, and we have implemented a comprehensive set of safety measures to achieve this goal. One important aspect of our safety strategy is the use of Standard Response Protocols (SRPs). These protocols provide clear and consistent guidelines for various emergency situations, allowing our students and staff to respond effectively should the need arise. To learn more about the protocols, click on the link:

SRP Parent Information (English)

SRP Parent Information (Spanish)

Our school staff participates in annual training with these protocols, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle an emergency situation. We will also conduct drills throughout the year to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the procedures. This proactive approach builds muscle memory which helps maintain a calm and organized response during emergencies.

Remember, your involvement is crucial in maintaining a safe environment. We encourage you to talk to your children about the importance of following safety protocols, both at school and in other settings. Additionally, please keep your contact information up to date so that we can reach you quickly in case of an emergency. Please contact me directly if you have questions about our safety protocols.

We are incredibly proud of our school and look forward to partnering with you throughout the year. Together, we will ensure our children are safe, supported, and able to focus on learning and growing at high levels.

Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community. Here's to a fantastic school year ahead!

Warm regards,

Carole Oliphant

Principal

Our kindergarten parents made connections during the Boo Hoo Woo Hoo event on the first day of kindergarten. It was a mix of tears and joy as we celebrated this significant milestone together.

• Use the crosswalks

• Watch for pedestrians

• Respectfully follow the directions of crossing guards and staff who are outside monitoring safety before and after school

• Use the designated Hug ‘n Go lane near the main entrance of the school for student pick-up and drop-off only; no parking allowed in this lane

• The parking lot which faces St Vrain Ranch Blvd is reserved for buses and staff

• Respect Our Neighbors by not parking in the residential areas across the street from the school

Students who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing breakfast and lunch to all students, we better support their learning. Students who wish to receive breakfast should go to the cafeteria doors at 8:50 a.m.

It is important for households to still provide income information when requested. While meals will be provided at no cost to all students in participating schools, SVVSD must continue to gather this information to receive full access to state and federal funding. Additional funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals, after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits and to receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support, and more.

Applications for free and reduced-price school meals, instructions and an informational letter to households are available online. Only one application is required for all students in the household. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for determining eligibility and verifying data.

To encourage outstanding attendance, we will be celebrating students who maintain 5 or fewer absences for the whole school year with “Outstanding Attendance” brag tags that students can display on their backpacks.

• Students will earn their first tag at the first trimester assembly in November if they have 5 or fewer absences.

• They will earn their second tag at the second trimester assembly in February if they continue to have 5 or fewer absences.

• And finally, students will earn their third tag at the third trimester assembly in May if they still have 5 or fewer absences for the whole school year.

Students who collect all three brag tags during the year will be invited to an end of school year attendance celebration in May!

Last year, we were proud to celebrate 145 students– nearly 40% of our school—who achieved “5 or fewer absences.” Let’s make this year even better! Our goal is to exceed last year’s record and see even more students proudly displaying their Outstanding Attendance brag tags around school. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students achieve their best!

PRESley greeted students and families at our 1st-5th grade Meet the Teacher event this week!

Please help us keep our school safe for all of our children by following these protocols:

• Students line up outside of the classroom door upon arrival. No playing on the playground or frisbee/soccer/baseball on grassy areas.

• No Pets Allowed on School Property

• No Smoking or Vaping Allowed on School Property

• WALK bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other equipment with wheels

Calling all 4th and 5th grade singers!

Soaring Singers Choir is a group of students who LOVE to sing. The Choir rehearses each Tuesday morning before school at 8:00-8:45am from Tuesday, August 27th to Tuesday, January 27th and Tuesday, March 4th to Tuesday, May 6th from 8:15-8:45am. The choir will perform in TWO concerts on Wednesday, December 4th and Wednesday, May 7th @ 5pm at PRES in the gymnasium.

BIG NEWS!!! The Soaring Singers were one of three performing ensembles selected to perform at the Colorado Music Educators' Association State Conference in January at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. This prestigious honor required a recording submission from the Soaring Singers' May concert followed by the state General Music Council listening to and selecting only THREE ensembles from around the state of Colorado to perform at the CMEA Conference. Not only will the Soaring Singers perform at the Conference, we are in the works to visit the Planetarium at the U.S. Air Force Academy in conjunction with the Conference performance. The last time the Soaring Singers performed at the CMEA Conference was in 2015...a decade ago! No other elementary school from SVVSD has performed at CMEA in the past 15 years!!!

To sign up for Soaring Singers, please click on this LINK and submit the form by Monday, August 26th!

Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly, striving for five or fewer absences.

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school--regardless of the reason--it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent. Research shows:

• Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

• By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.

• By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month. Going to school regularly matters!

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN!

The costs of IPad repair or replacement can be significant, especially without insurance. Insurance coverage helps reduce these expenses and provides peace of mind knowing that your child's device is protected.

The cost for 2024-2025 LTP Student iPad Insurance is $25. If your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, there will be adjustments to these fees.

We encourage all families to take advantage of the insurance option to avoid unexpected costs.

Read more about the LTP Student iPad Insurance Program