Message from the Principal
Dear Ryan Elementary Community,
I feel very fortunate to be the Principal of Ryan Elementary. The students and staff amaze me every day, and I look forward to continuing to get to know our parents and guardians. Last week, I was able to visit every 5th grade classroom, read a book and ask students to share two things (or more) they want me to know about them. This week, I will visit 3rd and 4th grade classrooms and then schedule 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten visits in the upcoming weeks. It’s really important to me to get to know all of our students.
The BVSD Health Services team has asked us to share that nationally, the recent Paqui “One Chip Challenge” has resulted in many young people requiring emergency care. BVSD has recently had to send multiple students home from schools due to adverse effects of eating this product.
The challenge involves eating an extremely spicy chip and then waiting as long as possible after consuming the chip before eating or drinking to relieve the burning - and some share videos of the challenge on social media. On September 6th, the New York Times reported a 14-year-old boy died hours after consuming the product. The next day, The Washington Post reported the company announced they were pulling the product from stores.
Please consider talking to your student about this product/challenge and the serious side-effects that may occur with its use or similar products. Contact our school health team with any questions. and please remind your child to not eat anything that a parent/guardian hasn’t said is okay. At school, students should not share food during snack or lunch unless a teacher has planned for that to occur.
Mr. Chavez, our Assistant Principal, joined me for the Wednesday announcements last week to help review new bathroom procedures when students are outside at lunch/recess. Click here to watch: September 6th
It’s a great day to be a Rhino! Go Rhinos!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Jackman
Principal
In this newsletter you will find details on the following:
- Picture Day details
- Late Start Wednesday Details
- Dining Out Fundraiser
- Bird Migration Event
- Thorne Nature Experience Information
- Rhino Choir Opportunity
- Mini Poms Camp Details
- Adventure Camps
- Health room Requests
- Art Room Requests
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Garden to Table Information
- PTA Updates
- Dental Screening Information
- Attendance Announcement
- Transportation Update
- Preschool Information
- BVSD Safety Reminders
- New FAQs Section from past newsletter information
- BVSD Calendars Link
If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000
Individual Picture Day
For ordering information click here.
Paper order forms MUST be collected by the photographer on Sept. 12, before 2:30!
Picture retakes will be on Thursday, October 26th.
If you would like to volunteer to help with Picture day, we have a couple positions open from 8:10-noon, please call Jamie Hanes at 720.561.7000
Wednesday Late Start - Before School Care
Dining Night Out - September 12
Our first Dining Night Out of the year will be at Mici Italian (535 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette) THIS 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!
Celebrating Bird Migration Event
10th Annual “Celebrating Bird Migration” at Waneka Lake and Greenlee Wildlife Preserve
Sunday, September 17, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Explore the wonderful world of birds in a beautiful place! See live birds of prey up close and view birds in the wild through spotting scopes and binoculars. Learn about migration, marshes and the role avian friends play in our lives. Enjoy games, art projects and a scavenger hunt (with excellent prizes). These and many other activities will be featured at the 10th Annual “Celebrating Bird Migration” at Lafayette’s Waneka Lake and Greenlee Wildlife Preserve Open Space. This year’s event explores the World Migratory Bird Day theme of “Water; Sustaining Bird Life.”
The free, public event will start at the following two locations at Waneka Lake and Greenlee Wildlife Preserve Open Space in Lafayette. (See both on this map):
- Waneka Lake east parking lot (where Emma St. ends at Caria Drive). Many entertaining and educational activities and exhibits from local organizations will be featured at the lot and along the 1/3 mile walking path to Greenlee Wildlife Preserve.
- The Waneka boathouse and playground area. This area will feature additional activities and exhibits as well as paddle boat rentals and an opportunity for kids (and adults) to compare their “wingspans” to that of a White Pelican and former Harlem Globetrotter, Nate Lofton!
Fun and understanding will be on tap with exhibitors and activities that include: Environment for the Americas, Boulder County Open Space, Boulder County Nature Association, Colorado Parks and Wildlife the Dark Sky Coalition, The Broomfield Birding Club, Lafayette’s Arts and Cultural Resources Department, and many more! (See complete list, below).
For more information, please contact Martin Ogle at Martin.Ogle@LafayetteCo.gov
In addition to organizations / individuals noted, above, the following will also have exhibits and activities at the festival: Nature’s Educators (live birds of prey); Stan Doctor (wildlife photographer and painter); Sarah Spencer (mural artist); Denver University Department of Physiology; JAX Outdoor Gear; Bird Conservancy of the Rockies; Feminist Bird Club; My Nature Lab (live reptiles); Front Range Birding Company (birding supply store); Lafayette Historical Society; Dawn Song Poets; Lafayette Library; Lafayette Bird Meetup; Lafayette Rec Center; Thorne Nature Experience; Plein Janes (Plein Aire Artists).
Thorne Nature Experience Information
Registration opened September 5th.
Please use this code: Thorne24
For more information and to Register click here
Rhino Choir Announcement
Mini Poms Camp at Centaurus!
School Aged Care Adventure Camps
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.
Health Room Announcement
Request from Ryan's Health Room
Please send your child a snack and water bottle EVERYDAY!
We are looking for HEALTHY SNACKS(items like: goldfish, granola bars, veggie straws,crackers) for the Health Room, please drop by with your donations in the front office and we will get them to the teachers. Thank you!
Trip, spills and thrills happen: please remember to send your child with a change of clothes, especially in our younger elementary grades, we have all sorts of accidents and often kiddos prefer clothes of their own. Thank you!
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.
Request from the Art Room!
Ms. Ross is in need of wood panels for a nail-and-string art project that she does with the 5th graders every year. Woodworking parents have helped her in the past with acquiring these. Do you have (or know someone who has) any woodworking or lumber connections? She needs close to 100 panels and is hoping for a donation if possible! Panels can range in size (i.e., 12"x12," 12"x16," 11"x18," etc.). The boards need to be 1"-1.5" thick. If you can help, please contact kearse.ross@bvsd.org. Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunities
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!
Garden to Table
You will also need to complete the Raptor Background Check.
PTA Update
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
The day is here! You can now register for our Ryan Rhino Stampede Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $20,000 for STEAM activities and resources, student activities, special events, field trips, and teacher organization. Registering is easy and free!
Be sure to check out the easy sharing functions on MYBOOSTER.COM to let others know how they can help support our school.
We will also need volunteers to help support our runners on the day of the event. Please click here for Rhino Stampede volunteer opportunities!
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!
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!
Preventative Dental Services
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
Attendance Annoucement
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 and remember to include the REASON FOR THE ABSENCE!
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.
Transportation Announcement
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.
Important Preschool Information:
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
Safety Reminders
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.
Ryan Elementary STEAM School
