Shepardson Community News

We had lots of learning going on around here this week! We celebrated Exceptional Children’s Week by learning about each student’s unique contribution to our community! Second graders went on a field trip to see The Wizard of Oz performed at Fort Collins High School and First Graders walked to study native birds. Kindergarteners are sharing the results from their PBL study about our Lost and Found. We also wrapped up CMAS testing for Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade. What a fun week!

I am excited to let you all know that Shepardson is a recipient of the John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award for the second year in a row based on our performance for the 2024 school year!

There are many important upcoming events. Here are some highlights about a few:

• We are hosting Kindergarten Open Houses during the school day so future kindergarteners (both those that are already registered and those that are still thinking about it) can view the school before we are out for the summer. Families sign up here for one of three time slots on either April 20 or May 11.

  - Please share with families that have future Kindergarteners!

• There is no school for students on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24.

• Shepardson is proud to partner with the Fort Collins Police Department School Resource Officers for a family Internet Safety Night on Tuesday, April 28th from 6:00-7:00pm. Officers Meg Savage and David Wilson will present at the same time - Meg to parents and David to students in 3rd-5th grade. Childcare is provided for students Kindergarten - 2nd grade. This event is free, but please sign up to help us prepare for the event.

• Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 4-8. Watch for information from your classroom Room Parent to know how to celebrate your child’s teacher. And don’t forget about the other amazing teachers in our school, too! We have the best staff!

There are even more fun things coming up. Thank you for staying connected with our community! Have a wonderful weekend!

Yours,

Laura

Laura Sutton

Principal, Shepardson STEM Elementary
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Web she.psdschools.org Email lsutton@psdschools.org
1501 Springwood Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525

Shepardson... cultivating curious, inclusive, and thriving students who are prepared for the world.

More information about events is on our website, including access to our Shepardson Calendar that you can add to your own google calendar. Some highlights of events for this week include:

• Monday, April 20th - 6:30pm - Spring Choir Performance
• Monday, April 20th - 9:30, 11:00, or 1:30 - Kindergarten Open House
• Tuesday, April 21st - 9:15am - 5th Grade Track Meet at Shep
• Tuesday, April 21st - 10:30am - 4th Grade Track Meet at Shep
• Wednesday, April 22nd 8:00 - Bike Bus - Meet up for this family-organized ride to school!
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 8:00am Last Choir Rehearsal
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 8:00sm Minecraft Club
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 3:45pm Mileage Club
• Thursday-Friday, April 23rd & 24th No School, Teacher Work Days
• Tuesday, April 28th 3:30-5:30pm - Lip Sync Auditions
• Tuesday, April 28th - 6:00-7:00 - Internet Safety Presentation
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 8:15am Minecraft Club
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 9am-2pm - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Dixon Reservoir
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 3:45pm Mileage Club
• Wednesday, April 22nd - 3:30-5:30pm - Lip Sync Auditions
• Thursday, April 30th - All Day PSD Special Olympics
• Thursday, April 30th - 5:00-8:00pm - Rollerland
• Friday, May 1st - 8:15am Mileage Club
• Friday, May 1st - PTO STAR STAMPEDE!!

My name is Leah Hromatka and I am lucky enough to be a second-grade teacher here at Shepardson. I grew up in Iowa and have taught in both Kansas and Iowa before our family moved to Colorado some years ago. We love living in Fort Collins and all of the opportunities for adventure that this location provides as well as the strong sense community.

You might see me walk around the neighborhood with my family including my husband, Tom (who has never met a stranger) and my two children who are nearly done with their time at Collins (and have ONLY met strangers). In my free time I love to do introvert activities: reading, baking, puzzles, watching marathon sci-fi series, enjoying the weather in my backyard, and taking overexposed selfies with my family. During the summer I love to travel the world with my people and visit our national parks.

Tuesday, April 28th - 6-7pm

We partner with the 1stDay School Supply company for families to order pre-packaged supply packs if they would like to. This is completely optional. Ordering will continue through May 31st and be delivered to school before the first day of school. Here is a document that lists what is in the packs for each grade level. Click here for ordering the supply pack.

Lip Sync Showcase Timeline

• Friday, April 3 This flyer is going home in your Friday Folder!

• Friday, Apr. 17 Deadline to sign up for an audition - AUDITION SIGN-UP SLOTS ARE FULL

• April 3 - April 27 Practice at home!

• Tuesday, April 28 OR Wednesday, April 29, 3:30-5:15 Auditions with Lip Sync Committee after school in Ms. Ulibarri’s music room

• Friday, May 1 All performers will be notified about next steps

• May 2-18 Selected groups will refine performances at home

• Friday, May 8, 12:20-12:45 Auditions for 5th grade Showcase Announcers

• Wednesday, May 13 MANDATORY dress rehearsal (approx. 3:45-4:45)

• Monday, May 18 Showcase Day at 9:15 AM!

Thursday, May 14,

3rd-5th Grades: 9:15 – 11:25 AM

K-2nd Grades: 1:15 – 3:25 PM

As we gear up for the end of the school year, the students begin to look forward to one of the most anticipated events, the annual Shepardson Spring Zing. The tradition of “Field Day” dates to our childhood and is still a popular event for physical education programs. Years ago, Shepardson switched the name from the traditional “Field Day” to “Spring Zing”. The philosophy of Spring Zing is to have fun and to celebrate a wonderful year at Shepardson. The emphasis is not placed on competition; instead, it is placed on cooperation.

Mileage Club will resume on Wednesday, March 25, 3:45 p.m.

Join us every Wednesday, 3:45 - 4:15 p.m. and/or Friday, 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. The program was started for students to value physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self – expression and social interaction. Mileage Club is open to all students, kindergarten through 5th grade with parent approval. Sorry, no pets are allowed! Participants in kindergarten through 2nd grade must have a chaperone in attendance with them. Students in 3rd through 5th grade can participate without a direct chaperone and will be supervised by our teachers. Parents and siblings are encouraged to attend with their child. Participation may be one day per week or both. Participants will meet on the 4/5 playground to check-in and begin walking or running around the designated course. Students mileage will be recorded each day and tokens will be awarded for their accomplishments. Milestones such as 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles will have an honorary award. Some of the walking/running dates will have a special theme (ex. School Day Stomp) and students will earn a special token if they participate that day. Permission forms for new participants are in the main office.

Upcoming Dates:

April 22

April 29

May 1

May 6 & 8: Flower Power

May 13

The Shepardson PTO is one of the strongest school support organizations in PSD! If you ever wonder how you can support Shepardson more, you should volunteer through the PTO! There are open positions for next year - check out the link HERE.

STAR STAMPEDE - our final PTO fundraiser of the year - is happening Friday May 1st! Fundraising envelopes went home Friday 4/17/26. Click here for online giving.

Did you know that our school community has earned over $21,000 since starting with Box Tops for Education? The best part is it comes from buying the groceries and household items your family already needs! Turn your weekly shopping trip into funding for our students - just download the app and scan your first receipt to earn $2.50 for the school using this link to sign up. You can also connect your Walmart account to Box Tops to earn without scanning a receipt. February's bonuses include 50 cents for buying any 3 Annie's products, with new bonuses coming each month.

Looking for something to do during the summer that doesn't cost a lot? Here are some of Fort Collins' best deals in the summer!

We are in need of donations for our Sunflower Fund. Please see below for details!

In today’s digital age, social media is a powerful tool that allows students to connect, share, and express themselves. However, with that power comes responsibility. One important “do” is to think before you post. Whether it's a comment, photo, or video, ask yourself if it's respectful, appropriate, and something you'd be proud to have seen by a teacher, coach, or future employer. Another key practice is to protect your privacy by using strong passwords, avoid sharing personal information like your address or school schedule, and adjust your privacy settings so that only trusted people can see your content.

On the flip side, there are critical “don’ts” to keep in mind. Never use social media to bully, harass, or embarrass someone. It can cause real emotional harm and lead to serious consequences at school or even with the law. Avoid engaging in or sharing inappropriate or illegal content, including threats, hate speech, or anything that promotes violence or discrimination. Also, don’t assume your posts disappear. Screenshots and digital footprints last longer than you think. By following these do’s and don’ts, students can use social media in a way that is safe, positive, and respectful for everyone.

Thank you,

SRO Dave Wilson

We’re excited to offer free breakfast each morning beginning at 8:30 AM for students who would like to eat at school. Students getting breakfast should enter the cafeteria, sit at the open tables, and remain seated while they eat. Breakfast time runs from 8:30–8:50 AM.

Please note that morning playground supervision is not available until 8:50 AM. Students who are not eating breakfast should not be dropped off before 8:50 AM, when staff begin playground supervision.

To help our mornings run smoothly in the cafeteria, we also ask students to:

• Clean up their area when finished
• Use indoor voices
• Stay seated until dismissed to go outside

Thank you for helping us keep our mornings safe, calm, and welcoming for everyone!

Help us keep our campus safe:

• Please "walk your wheels" around campus by not riding bikes or scooters on the blacktop around the school.
• Do not park and leave your car in red zones.
• "Kiss and Go" areas are for drive through traffic only - do not park your car in these zones.
• The north side "Kiss and Go" area for older students is marked with yellow paint on the curb to remind where there should be no parking.

On the week of February 23rd, Fort Collins Utilities will begin installing a new water main in the 3300 block of Pepperwood Ln. and this will impact traffic flow at Pepperwood and Springwood. This project is expected to take eight weeks but will be dependent on the weather. Throughout this time, you can expect to see heavy machinery, construction-related traffic, and stockpiles of materials. Crews typically work Monday-Friday, and occasionally weekends, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Families are welcome to join their child for lunch! We ask that families do not attend recess, though. We will offer a recess volunteer training that will be required before attending recess. More information will come soon about that training opportunity.

• Kindergarten Lunch 11:55-12:20
• First Grade Lunch 12:15-12:35
• Second Grade Lunch 11:25-11:45
• Third Grade Lunch 12:35-12:55
• Fourth Grade Lunch 1:00-1:20
• Fifth Grade Lunch 12:45-1:05

The Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC) is in the process of identifying factors and criteria that should be considered when making decisions about possible future school closures and consolidations in Poudre School District. To inform this work, the committee is seeking feedback from the community regarding criteria and what factors should be considered the highest priority when making recommendations about possible closure/consolidation.

Please complete this short survey to provide your feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C8GW7R8.

The survey will be available from April 11, 2026 through April 22, 2026.

More information about the work of the Comprehensive Planning Committee is available on the PSD website here.

Thank you for taking time to provide your input.

All PK-8 schools are cell phone free zones from bell to bell. This is a district-wide policy. Students must keep phones, headphones, and other electronic accessories out of sight and on silent unless approved by an administrator or specified in an IEP, 504 plan or Health Care Action Plan. This includes smart watches. If a student needs to get in touch with their family during the school day, they need to ask their teacher and/or the school office.

Please do not text your child during the school day. If they are using their watch or phone, it will be stored at their teachers desk for the day. If it continues to be an issue, it will be stored in the office until a parent comes to pick it up.

For full details, visit the PSD Code of Conduct page, found here.

In an effort to foster a culture of mutual respect, effective communication, and quality customer service, PSD has created a set of norms for staff, family/guardian, and community engagement. These norms aim to set a positive tone for interactions between staff and parents and community members, whether they happen in person, over the phone, or in writing.

The norms will be posted in all PSD schools and include expectations that:

• Calls or emails that are not emergencies will be acknowledged within three school days.

• Appointments between the parties involved will be established as a norm for addressing concerns or discussing important matters through direct communication.

• Appointments will take place as soon as reasonably possible. Adequate time is needed for preparation and research before an appointment.

• Communication will focus on collaboration and understanding – respectful language and non-confrontational behavior from all parties are expected.

• Boundaries between personal and professional life will be maintained, and sensitive matters will not be addressed in community settings.

It’s important for everyone in our schools and in our communities to feel welcome and engage in mutual respect to best serve students.

Be sure to submit a Free and Reduced Status application ahead of the first day back. Completing this form not only makes students eligible for waived school fees and benefits through Fort Collins City programs, but also helps PSD receive federal funding to support classrooms and learning opportunities; your child’s eligibility status is confidential and must be renewed annually.

To do this, parents can fill out two forms: the Free and Reduced-Priced Status online application, found here, as well as the Permission to Share form through ParentVUE.