Shepardson Newsletter

It is hard to believe that next week is the last week of October! This means there is only 1 week left for students to complete their reading logs and collect donations for our Read-a-Thon! For more information about the PTO’s Read-a-Thon fundraiser, go to their website: https://shepardsonpto.weebly.com/read-a-thon.html. There are really cool experiential prizes this year… like being Principal of the Day! 😀Thank you to everyone who is contributing to the fundraiser!

We will wrap up our Reading fun with our Book Character parade on Friday 10/30/26 from 9:15-9:45. Families can come watch the parade in the media center or the gym. If adults wear a costume, they should not wear masks or face coverings. If you come for the parade, you will enter and exit the building through the front door. If you are staying to volunteer during the Read-a-Thon, you will need to check in at the office as a volunteer and wear a volunteer lanyard.

Please also remember that students need to wear a costume that is not scary, and has no blood or gore. If their costume has a mask, they may be asked to remove it and carry it with them during the parade. They should also have a book to go with their costume. If they don’t have a book at home to go with their costume, they can ask their teacher or Mrs. Schutt for one.

Our classrooms will also have parties on Friday afternoon. Only families that have pre-arranged to help with the parties, should plan to attend those. Ask your child’s teacher for more information if you have questions.

I need your help spreading information about our Open House and tour dates over the next several weeks. Our Open House is November 4th from 6:00-7:00 and childcare will be available. Tour dates are weekly until Winter Break and folks need to call ahead to schedule a time for their tour (970-488-4525). The school of choice and registration window will open early in November, and many families may be thinking about their child’s school for next year. Please share this information with anyone interested in learning more about our amazing school. Thank you for helping us spread the word!

Have an amazing 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... educating every child, every day by cultivating curious, inclusive, and thriving students who are prepared for the world.

• Mon, Oct 26 - 3:45pm - Book Club
• Tues, Oct 27 - 4:30-7:30pm Family Night at HP BOO Crew Haunted House
• Wed, Oct 28 - 8:00am - Coding Club
• Wed, Oct 28 - Kinder Field Trip
• Wed, Oct 28 - 3:45pm - Mileage Club
• Thurs, Oct 29 - 8:00am - Star Choir Rehearsal
• Fri, Oct 30 - 8:15am - Mileage Club
• Fri, Oct 30 - 9:15am - Read-a-thon Parade
• Fri, Oct 30 - Classroom Parties

- Kinder: 11:05am - 11:55am

- 1st: 12:15pm - 1:00pm

- 2nd: 1:35pm - 2:15pm

- 4th: 2:00pm - 2:40pm

- 3rd & 5th: 3:00pm - 3:40pm

• Mon, Nov 2 - 3:45pm - Book Club
• Nov 2 - Nov 13 - Star Squad FOOD DRIVE!!
• Wed, Nov 4 - 8:00am - Coding Club
• Wed, Nov 4 - 3:45pm - Mileage Club
• Wed, Nov 4 - 6:00pm - Shepardson Information Night and Open House
• Thurs, Nov 5 - 8:00am - Star Choir
• Thurs, Nov 5 - 5:00pm - ROLLERLAND!!
• Fri, Nov 6 - 8:15am - Mileage Club

I am Shari Lemesany, one of the Specialists, teaching Physical Education and Adapted P.E. This is my 13th year teaching at Shepardson Elementary, 21st year in PSD but have been involved in elementary and secondary education for over 4 decades. I enjoy teaching elementary physical education as it allows me to build foundational life skills, share high energy enjoyment and enthusiasm, and witness student milestone breakthroughs.

My family is originally from Hawaii, but I was raised in Illinois before coming to Colorado to attend the University of Northern Colorado where I met my husband. We are blessed with 2 children, both attended Shepardson Kindergarten through 6th grade and 4 grandkids, ages 7, 5, 4, and 10 months. Outside of school, I keep busy exercising, traveling, reading, spending time with the grandkids and playing bunco.

After School Enrichment Programs Hosted at Shepardson

Community partners often apply to host their programs at Shepardson. If you are interested in these programs please click the link below:

CLICK HERE to go to website for more information!

Oct. 1-30
Our annual Read-a-Thon concludes on Friday, October 30, with a Book Character Costume Parade at 9 a.m. We are well on our way to meeting our $20,000 fundraising goal — donate now! Don't forget to turn in your reading logs to be eligible for prizes — students earn one point for each day they read, or are read to, for at least 20 minutes outside of school. Volunteers are also needed to help welcome guest readers and escort them to the appropriate classrooms on Friday.

Thank you to everyone who made it to Snack Attack this week for Family Night!

Join the Shepardson Parent-Teacher Organization! Together, we make up the village that supports our

children — showing up, supporting teachers, building connections, and investing in our school community.

Dear Poudre School District Families,

This month the School Resource Officer team would like to speak to you about the safety of e-bike/e-motor transportation. There have been severe incidents involving students and children in our community. We believe parent awareness around the safety and laws regarding these modes of transportation is the first step in insuring our children are safe.

Here is a graphic of what is and is not allowed when it comes to electronic modes of transportation (See Photo)

We would like to note, any device classified as a low-powered scooter requires a driver’s license and insurance, and any device classified as an electric motorcycle requires a motorcycle license and insurance. In addition, any device in the class 3 e-bike category requires the ridder to be over 16 on a roadway.

There are several questions when it comes to these modes of transportation. The best advice we have is to research and ask questions BEFORE purchasing one for your children.

Have a great month,

SRO Dave Wilson

Summer EBT Program: https://cdhs.colorado.gov/summer-ebt

• Summer EBT (also known as SUN Bucks) gives eligible children a one-time payment of $120 to help pay for food the summer when school is out.

• Your child is eligible and will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT if...

• Your child attends a school participating in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Program (NSLP), AND one or more of the following:

• Receives SNAP or Colorado Works (TANF)

• Has household income ≤ 185% of the federal poverty guidelines and receives Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or your household submitted an income form to their school

• Is homeless, in foster care, is in the Migrant Education Program, or runaway

• Your child is between 6–17 years and does not attend an NSLP school but meets any of the above criteria.

All PK-8 schools are cell phone free zones from bell to bell. Students must keep phones, headphones, smart watches, 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. 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.

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

Sometimes life can be a little hectic, so it is important to make sure that your information is up to date and correct in ParentVUE, especially when it comes to proper contacts and authorized pickup information for your child or children.

Be sure to check this information in your ParentVUE account to ensure that the right people can be contacted when needed or a student can be released to the appropriate person.

Contact Dawnel Meyer, the Shepardson Registrar, if you need any assistance.

Poudre School District is planning for the next several decades of public education in our community. That work involves tackling questions about enrollment, facilities, and how we use our resources to serve every student well.

This page under the Community section of the PSD website brings that work together in one place. On that site you will find the committee leading it, the teams doing the detailed planning, the enrollment data behind it, and the timeline for what comes next.

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.