Ryan's Weekly Family Update
8.4.25
Message from the Principal
📬 Welcome Back, Ryan Elementary Families!
Dear Ryan Elementary School Families,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! I hope this message finds you well-rested, healthy, and ready for an exciting 2025–2026 school year.
It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome both our returning families and those joining the Ryan community for the first time.
🎉 A Fresh Start
The first day of school is always a special moment—a fresh start filled with hope, learning, and new opportunities.
Our staff is eager to return to the building this week! Over the summer, only the administration and office team had access due to construction. Thanks to the continued support of the BVSD Bond, you'll notice some exciting updates both inside and outside our school.
👩‍🏫 About Me
This school year marks:
30 years in education
21 years as an elementary principal
I've had the privilege of serving as a classroom teacher, Literacy Specialist, District Title I Coordinator, and principal in two districts. Before joining Ryan, I spent 13 wonderful years at Lafayette Elementary.
Now entering my third year as Ryan’s principal, I remain deeply committed to the Boulder Valley School District and honored to be part of this caring, spirited, and committed school community.
🏆 Celebrating Last Year’s Successes
Together, we achieved so much last year! Highlights include:
đź“š Increased student achievement in reading (iReady and CMAS) and math (IXL and CMAS)
Starting June 11, families can access preliminary CMAS results through the CDE Family Portal. To log in, you will need a student's State ID (SASID), which is available in BVSD’s Parent Portal. An instructional message with access details was sent to guardians of students who participated in CMAS, during the week of May 19.
🤝 Stronger engagement with our behavior expectations through the Rhino Promise
🌟 More frequent student recognition with A.G.E. Awards (Achievement, Growth, Effort), READ to RIDE partnership with Lafayette Fire Department, and achieving No Place for Hate status through our year one student coalition work
These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our students, families, and staff. Thank you for being part of this shared success!
📉 Budget Updates & Staffing News
As shared last spring, Ryan was affected by district-wide budget cuts:
Our Assistant Principal role shifted to a Dean of Students
Our Science Lab Teacher position was eliminated
Mr. Mark Appling has accepted a middle school math position and will be missed—but we’re excited he plans to return for our Fall Festival!
đź’ˇ Stay tuned for more details on the following:
How we’ll honor Mr. Appling’s Science Lab Legacy
Our updated 2025–2026 staff list
What it means to be a STEAM school moving forward
Though budget constraints have impacted many schools, I have no doubt our community will rise to the challenge, and our students will thrive.
🔓 Open Door Policy
My door is always open. I am committed to:
Listening with care
Learning alongside you
Putting students’ well-being at the heart of every decision
I may not always have immediate answers, but I promise to respond with honesty and compassion.
Thank you for your continued support and trust. I am honored to serve as your principal and look forward to a year filled with: growth, laughter and learning.
With appreciation,
Stephanie Jackman
Principal, Ryan Elementary School
In this newsletter you will find details on the following:
- Letter from Principal, Stephanie Jackman
- Important Dates and Calendar Links
- Teacher Notification Instructions
- School Supplies Information
- Kindergarten Updates
- Preschool Welcome Days
- BVSD Messenger Notifications
- PTA Updates & Store
- Volunteer Details
- If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000
The Jackman Family
And handsome Ozzie, the Jackman Family's dog
Important Dates & Upcoming Events
BVSD Calendar Link
Ryan Elementary School Hours: 25-26 School Hours for PreK-5th
Important Dates for K-5th grade at Ryan Elementary School:
1st through 5th Grade Teacher notification will be on Friday, August 8th by 4pm. Please note that anything that is viewable now is not final until the notification goes live on August 8th. We are unable to take requests for specific teachers.
August 6th Front Office is Open 7:30 AM-3:00 PM
August 6th Kindergarten BBQ at Lake Waneka 5:00-6:30 PM
August 11th Meet the Teacher/Staff 4:00-5:00 PM, School Tour for new families 5:00-5:30 PM
August 13 First day of school for 1st-5th grade students 7:50-2:50 (NOT a Late Start Day)
August 20 First Wednesday Late Start for all students
August 27 BVSD Assessment Day-students attend classes
August 27 Back to School Night 5:00-6:15 PM
August 27 5th Grade Outdoor Education Parent Meeting 6:20-6:50 PM
September 10th, 11th and 12th: 5th grade students have Outdoor Education at Calwood
September 19 Fall Festival 5:00-7:00PM
Fall, October Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, October 7th
Thursday, October 9th
Tuesday, October 15th
Spring, February Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, February 19th
Thursday, February 24th
Tuesday, February 26th
Viewing Teacher Notifications in Infinite Campus
Here is how you can find this information. If you have any issues, please call the main office on Monday, at 720-561-7000.
Ryan Elementary has a very talented, dedicated and experienced staff. Any teacher your child works with during their time at Ryan will make a positive impact.
School Supplies Information
School Supplies
The school supplies for K-5 include the following for the 2024-25 School Year:
Full Sized Backpack
Headphones/Earbuds
Water Bottle with name on it
$50 Donation You can donate by clicking here or with cash or check written to Ryan Elementary
If you are in need of support with school supplies, please reach out to our community liaisons, Miriam Wright miriam.wright@bvsd.org, or Ana Lilia Lujan Castillo, She goes by Miss Lily, ana.lujancastillo@bvsd.org or call the front office.
Kindergarten Welcome Days
Please let us know your family's preference for the kindergarten welcome days half-day schedule on August 13th, 14th, and 15th. While your placement is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate everyone's first choice.
Option 1:
Half Day AM (7:50-10:45)
Option 2:
Half Day PM (11:50-2:45)
Note: There will be no lunch for kindergartners until full-day begins on August 18th, but please make sure to pack them a snack.
If you haven't already, please explore our Incoming Kindergarten Website! On our website, you will find:
Welcome Packet
Action items: Family survey and welcome days preference form
Ryan Welcome Days For Preschool Fall 2025
Preschool Welcome Days will be on Thursday August 14th and Friday August 15th.
There will be a parent sign up for one time slot on August 14th or 15th. Plan for one adult family member and your preschooler to attend the preschool welcome day. The welcome day session will be one hour. It will include: opening circle/story, small group activity, free choice, music activity, and outdoor play time.
AM Class Welcome Days:
Thursday August 14th 9:00am-10:00am
Friday August 15th 9:00am-10:00am
PM Class Welcome Days:
Thursday August 14th 1:00pm-2:00pm
Friday August 15th 1:00pm-2:00pm
Back to School Night:
Wednesday August 27th: It will be an open house for preschool families. If you have questions about Seesaw, Infinite Campus, Preschool Parent Handbook, want to tour the preschool classroom, etc.
BVSD's School Messenger support and notifications
Boulder Valley School District recently tested their emergency alert system.
The test alert included a phone call, text message and email to those opted in to receive BVSD Communications.
Users can adjust their communication preferences as desired via these instructions.
If you did not receive a text message, and would like to opt-in to receive text messages from the district and schools through SchoolMessenger, opting-in is a two-step process:
- The person's cell phone number must be in a cell phone field in Infinite Campus (students/parents) or Infor/Lawson (employees).
- They then send a text message from their cell phone to “67587” with the word “yes” in the message. They may opt-out at any time by texting “STOP” to 67587.
PTA Family Store Link!
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.
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, 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!
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.
Ryan Elementary STEAM School
Website: https://rye.bvsd.org/
Location: 1405 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, CO, USA
Phone: 720-561-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanElemSTEAM