Panda News
September 2026
French Elementary * Widefield School District #3
5225 Alturas Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80911
Telephone: (719) 391-3495
Attendance: (719) 391-3496
Fax: (719) 391-9141
Office Hours: 7:30-3:45
Principal: Michelle Blasko
Assistant Principal: Si'Mona Johnson
Counselor: Chrystal Hagedorn
Secretary: Barb Smith
Attendance Secretary: Jamie Barilli
Health Tech: Natasha Roach
Cashier: Jennifer Thomas
School website: https://french.wsd3.org/
Ways to Give Back
We are so lucky to have such an amazing Panda Community! If you are looking for ways to give back, but aren't able to volunteer, consider one of these options:
- Visit The Giving Tree in the front office. Staff put "wish list" items on the tree. Pick a slip and bring your donations to the front office.
- Record yourself reading a children's book and send us a YouTube link to share with staff. (email thomasjennifer@wsd3.org)
- Write a note of appreciation to a staff member and send it to school with your child or drop it off in the front office.
- Reach out to your child's teacher and ask if they have anything you could help with from home.
We appreciate your support and partnership!
Fund Run Sponsor Information
Must Have a Picture ID
Please know that you will be asked to show your picture id everytime you enter the building. This is a District Policy for the safety of our students. If you are going anywhere in the building other than the office we will have to scan your id in our Raptor System and give you a visitor sticker.
Traffic Safety
We Are in Need of WatchDOGS
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for a day. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. On the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. t-shirt. Please contact Jamie at the Front Office if you are interested.
Spirit Wear Orders - September Orders are Due Friday, Sept. 4th
Spirit Wear Orders
Order you Spirit Wear here! https://widefield.revtrak.net/elementary-payments/French-Elementary-School/spirit-wear/
Or you can pay at the Front Office with cash or checks made out to French Elementary.
Orders are open all school year and will be made once a month.
Pop Tab Collections
Join us in “Pulling for the Ronald McDonald House®”. When opening a can that has a pull tab, remove and collect the tab and give them to our House!
Why collect pop tabs? All the pop tab collections add up to make an impact for Ronald McDonald House Charities or Southern Colorado. An easy way to recycle, people of all ages can participate. RMHCSC receives funds when the aluminum tabs are recycled.
Our goal is to earn $500.00 through Box Tops this year.
Here's how you can help:
- If you haven't done so already, download the Box Tops app on your smartphone.
- Buy Box Tops products, scan your receipt with the Box Tops app within 14 days of purchase and earn for CANDICE A FRENCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL with every Box Tops product you buy.
- Refer your friends, family and other parents in the school to sign up for Box Tops. You'll earn Bonus Box Tops for our school when your referral scans their first receipt!
- Turn on notifications in your Box Tops app to get scan reminders and stay updated on special offers, new products and opportunities to earn for our school. Go to your Communications Settings by clicking on the person icon in the upper-right corner of the app.
If you shop online, you can earn with your digital or email receipt, too. Here's how!
Let's work together to give our students what they need to succeed — and see how much we can earn this year! Our referral code is QS7K3N3F.
Keep Up To Date
Please regularly check our calandar on our website to keep up to date on all of our activities. https://french.wsd3.org/calendar
Follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/french_elementary/
Important Dates To Remember
- September 2 - Kona Ice After School
- September 4 - September Spirit Orders Due
- September 7 - No School; District Closed
- September 11 - Red, White & Blue Spirit Day
- September 16 - Panda Express Fundraiser
- September 18 - No School; Staff Inservice Day
- September 23 - Kona Ice After School
- September 24 - Picture Re-Takes
- September 26 - 10:00 am District Parade
Reminders from the Principal
- Please allow 24 hours for a response when calling or emailing. Your questions and concerns matter, and we are working as quickly as we can to respond and maintain open lines of communication.
- Duty coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. Please make sure your child does not arrive prior to supervision.
- Please visit our school website, https://french.wsd3.org/, for an updated calendar of school events and more. We also send out updates and current information via email and text messages. Please make sure your information is up to date with our front office.
- Please don't hesitate to contact us for questions, suggestions, or concerns.
