Ryan's Weekly Family Update

Dear Ryan Elementary Community,

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe, and happy weekend! Thank you for all your support and encouragement during Ryan’s Annual Halloween Parade last week. Be sure to check below for photos of our decorated classroom doors from the contest!

Staff Updates

We’re excited to welcome Cameron Weise, our new Special Education Paraeducator, who has joined the Autism ILC team.

We also want to share that Ms. Vanessa Centeno, our Head Custodian, resigned effective Friday, October 31. Ms. Vanessa is moving to Kansas and preparing to welcome a new baby—she will be greatly missed! The custodian position has been posted and closed, and we are currently interviewing for a replacement.

In addition, Ms. Lily, our Community Liaison and Instructional Paraeducator, has resigned from her lunch/recess paraeducator hours to take on additional Community Liaison hours at another school. We’re happy that she will continue at Ryan in her part-time Community Liaison role.

We are now seeking a two-hour Instructional Paraeducator to assist with Kindergarten through 2nd grade recess from 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. each day. If you’re interested, please let us know—we’ll inform you as soon as the position is posted on the BVSD website.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thank you again for attending conferences and meeting with our teachers. I’m happy to share that our staff met with 95% of our K–5 families! It’s exciting to see how our continued outreach is strengthening our connections with all families.

Upcoming Events and News

We have lots of exciting things happening this month! Our classrooms will be receiving new furniture this weekend—the final part of our bond project. It will be tables, desks and chairs for 1st-5th grade classrooms. I’ll share photos and updates next week.

Students in grades 2–5 will participate in the BVSD Climate Survey between November 12–19. Please read this letter for more information: Ryan Elementary: 2025-2026 Parent Notification Letter for the School Climate Survey

We’re also thrilled to announce that Ryan Elementary will once again host the Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC) on November 13–14 for students in grades 2–5. The NLMC is one of the largest math contests in the United States for elementary and middle school students. During the contest, students apply their problem-solving skills and classroom concepts to solve twenty creative math problems independently.

• The top scorer on each team will receive a Team Winner medal.

• The top 10% of students nationwide will earn National Honor Roll medals.

• The top 50% of students nationwide will receive Honorable Mention ribbons.

Participation is voluntary. You can learn more and find sample problems on the Noetic Learning Math Contest website.

It’s always a great day to be a Rhino! Go Rhinos!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Jackman

Principal

In this newsletter you will find details on the following:

• Letter from Principal Jackman
• Important Dates and Events
• Halloween Celebration Update
• School Breakfast is FREE Everyday!
• Candy for a Cause Opportunity
• Book Fair Information
• STEAM Night is Coming Up!
• Original Work Ordering form
• Dental Screenings at Ryan Details
• BVSD School Board Supports Free Meals
• Dia de los Muertos Exhibit at The Collective until November 9th
• PTA Updates & Store
• Parent Support Now Offered
• Important Parking Instructions
• Attendance Policy Information
• Volunteer Instructions
• BVSD Weather Delay/Closure System
• BVSD Messenger Notifications
• Calendar Links

If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000

November 1st- January 7th Open Enrollment, now called Choice Enrollment, window is open

November 10th District Professional Development Day - No School

November 11th Veteran's Day - No School

November 12th No School for Preschoolers only, Preschool Professional Development Day

November 12th Choice Enrollment Tour 4:00-4:45pm

November 12th Parent Teacher Association general meeting 6:30pm

November 17th-21st Book Fair

November 20th PTA STEAM Night 5-7pm

November 24th & 25th Fall Conference Exchange Dates - No School

November 26th-28th Thanksgiving Break - No School

December 10th Choice Enrollment Tour 4:00-4:45pm

Thank you to all the parents that joined us for the Costume Parade and celebrations!

You may have noticed, or heard your children talking about, the classroom door decorating contest, it was so much fun with great participation!

CLICK HERE to view our Halloween Ryan Doors

November 3rd-7th Ryan Student Council will be collecting extra Halloween Candy for the Denver Ronald McDonald House. Candy donations can be dropped off to the CANDY BIN located outside of Mrs. Lewandowski's classroom, room 100. These sweet treats will bring smiles to families staying there while their children receive medical care. Ryan Rhinos have BIG hearts turning their Halloween fun into an act of kindness and generosity!

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver is a home away from home, at no cost to families when they have a seriously ill child and need medical care far from home.

The Book Fair is coming to Ryan Elementary November 17-21, 2025! Book Fair is an exciting event when students are able to purchase books to keep. Each purchase benefits the Ryan Library as a fundraiser. The book fair is run by volunteers. Please visit Help At Schools for volunteer opportunities!

Hello Ryan Families!

The Original Works ordering instructions are being sent home, so be sure to look in your child’s backpack for this important information!

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 and there is no cost to families. To receive these services for your child, please fill out the attached consent form. No action is needed if you do not want to participate. If a paper consent form is completed, please return it to the school office. For questions regarding this school-based dental program, please contact:

Clinica Family Health - School Based Oral Health Team: sboht@clinica.org

Or Joanna Harrison, BVSD Medicaid Resource Nurse: joanna.harrison@bvsd.org, 720.561.8545

Link to Electronic Consent Form (English)

Link to Consent Form (pdf version English)

BVSD Board Supports Ballot Measures to Extend Free Meals Beyond 2025

This November, voters will consider two ballot measures, Propositions LL and MM, that aim to secure funding to continue the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program, which was originally approved by voters in 2022, via Proposition FF.

High participation and rising food costs statewide have required a funding adjustment to continue the program, which has provided free, nutritious meals to all students since the 2023-2024 school year. Since school meals have been free, lunch participation increased by 40% and breakfast by 90% district-wide. Read more.

Ryan Night at Bounce Empire

Ryan Family Night at Bounce Empire is Back! Join us Thursday, November 13th for a night of fun, food, and bouncing! This event is for Ryan families only with 15% of proceeds for the night going directly to our school.

Buy your tickets today at: https://feverup.com/m/430251

Mod Pizza Dining Night Out

Our next Dining Night Out of the year will be at Mod Pizza (1137 Diamond Circle, Suite 400, Lafayette) Thursday, November 13th. Mod Pizza will donate 25% of all digital and in-store sales back to the PTA! Just order using the coupon code MODGIVES25 online or at checkout!
Take a night off from cooking while supporting Ryan!

STEAM Night

Join us for STEAM night, November 20th! Join fellow Ryan families for a night of fun, pizza, and all things Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math! Register today at: Registration Link for STEAM Night

Next PTA Meeting: Nov. 12th!

All PTA members are invited to our November meeting, 6:30pm at Ryan Elementary, in the library. We hope to see you all there!

PTA Website

PTA Facebook

Ryan Parents Facebook

Ryan Spiritwear Store

Are you looking for some Ryan Rhino gear? Please click on the link below for tshirts, sweatshirts, mugs, etc! These items would make great gifts for your favorite Rhino.

PTA Family Store

The bus lane is reserved for buses only at all times!

Our school is a busy place! We have buses coming and going throughout the entire school day with Preschool pick ups and drop offs, field trips and early arrivals.

We also have the bus lane available to Emergency Vehicles, when needed.

Please use the Northeast parking lot or park in the neighborhood.

Also, do not park in the South parking lot, which is a staff parking lot, or in the Handicap parking spaces unless you have a sticker displayed in your vehicle.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Daily Attendance

Please help your child develop good attendance habits. Research shows that missing just two days per month severely impacts reading and math growth. To make expected academic and social emotional gains, students should be at school at a rate of 95% or more. Habits developed in elementary school often carry over into middle school and high school.

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If your child will be absent:

• Please let us know online via Infinite Campus OR call Ryan’s attendance line at 720-561-7002 by 8:05 a.m. If your student is arriving late, please note that in the comments section online. Always notify the office of an absence or late arrival, not just the classroom teacher.

• Attendance - Ryan Elementary School. Please include the following information in your voice message: your name, student’s name, grade & teacher, and the reason for the absence.

• As a safety precaution, all primary contacts of students marked as unaccounted absences will receive notification by BVSD’s automated attendance system to verify a child’s absence. Promptly calling in absences and tardies will prevent your home or workplace from being disturbed.

• If at all possible, make every attempt to schedule doctor and dentist appointments before or after the school day, as this tends to take away from a student’s learning time. If your child does have a medical appointment, providing us with documentation helps us code these absences properly.

• Automated calls are made by 9:00 a.m. for students who are marked as “unexcused absence”.

• Procedures and information about student absences are explain in the March 2024 Revised Board Policy, JH and Attendance & Engagement - Boulder Valley School District

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 through the portal or attendance line.

Attendance Letter Communication Details

When students in BVSD reach a certain number of absences (you can find the breakdown below), you will receive an AUTOMATED attendance letter. All absences excused or unexcused will receive these communications when the number of absences reach the particular threshold. Also please note, three (3) unexcused partial absences or five (5) unexcused tardies will equal one unexcused absence.

Letter Criteria:

• Friendly Letter after 5 days missed

• Letter A after 10 days missed

• Letter B after 15 days missed

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, bring breakfast and coffee to teachers for late start or volunteer for the book fair, the impact can be huge. Not only does it benefit the school but it benefits your kids and families in our community as well!

bvsd.org/volunteer

Volunteers and field trip chaperones that volunteer once and are under line-of-sight supervision by BVSD staff at all times only need to go through the front office Raptor check-in process.

Individuals interested in volunteering and interacting with students on an ongoing basis under line of sight supervision of BVSD staff, complete the appropriate yearly application; ENGLISH or SPANISH. Please note, there is a $32.00 background fee due at the time of submission.

For volunteers, partners, or field trip chaperones who will not be under line-of-sight supervision of BVSD staff at all times – CBI fingerprint check is required through a third party vendor (these background checks are now valid for 5 years), paid by the volunteer or partner AND volunteer must sign a BVSD volunteer agreement (Spanish) each year.

Please see the Volunteers/Visitors Flowchart and the Volunteer/Visitor FAQ for additional details.

BVSD weather delay and closure procedures

Under all but the most extreme conditions, school officials have a responsibility to keep school in session. During Colorado winters, snow and ice may result in a delay or closure if necessary. No notices means no closures or significant delays have been reported.

As always, BVSD respects a parent's decision to keep students home from school or delay their arrival due to weather conditions. Contact the school's attendance office and the absence will be excused.

BVSD uses School Messenger to communicate with families as needed via email, phone call and text message to those opted in to receive BVSD Communications.

Users can adjust their communication preferences and opt-in to text messages as desired via instructions found on the BVSD School Messenger Support webpage.

BVSD Calendar Link

• 2025-26 Parent -Teacher Printable (English)
• 2025-26 Parent-Teacher Printable Calendar (Spanish)

• 2025-26 Academic Calendar Printable (English)

• 2025-26 Academic Calendar Printable (Spanish)

• 2025-26 Preschool Calendar Printable (English)

• 2025-26 Preschool Calendar Printable(Spanish)

• Elementary ABC Specials Weekly Rotation Calendar (English)

• Ryan's Specials Schedule Color Rotation

• Calendario de clases especiales ABC (Español)

Website: https://rye.bvsd.org/
Location: 1405 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, CO, USA
Phone: 720-561-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanElemSTEAM