Ryan's Weekly Family Update

Dear Ryan Elementary Community,

Thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged, and presented during our Dare to Dream Week. The interest from guest speakers was so high that we ran out of spots and had to share some presentation slots—WOW! It was truly a wonderful week at Ryan, and the learning will continue with lessons led by Ms. Short or Ms. Trippe.

Safety is a top priority for our students and staff. With that in mind, we will have our second Lockdown Drill on Thursday, January 22nd, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Prior to the drill, staff will review expectations with students. Immediately before the drill, we will announce that it is a practice drill so students know we are preparing. At the conclusion of the drill, another announcement will be made to let everyone know all steps have been completed.

What is a Lockdown?
Lockdown is a classroom-based protocol that requires locking the classroom door, turning off the lights, and placing students out of sight of any corridor windows. During a Lockdown, students are expected to remain quiet.

For more detailed information, including your role in such situations, please refer to the safety and security response within the Boulder Valley School District. You may also view the Standard Response Protocol Poster with BVSD logos (English & Spanish), which is displayed in all classrooms and throughout the building.

Stay tuned for our kickoff video for Ryan’s READ to RIDE program, which will be shared with students and our school community on Monday, January 26th. We partner with the Lafayette Fire Department to select students to ride a fire truck to school! More information will be coming soon about this exciting program that encourages students to read more at home.

Last week, students received recognition for participating in the Fall Noetic Math Contest. In addition, we held our first round of A.G.E. Awards Celebrations for Kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th grade. This week, we will celebrate 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. Students will bring home certificates recognizing Achievement, Growth, and Effort in reading and math. Every student enjoys a red-carpet moment, and we finish the celebration with teachers dancing across the carpet!

We are incredibly proud of our students’ hard work during the first semester and know that the second semester will be even better.

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
• Kinder and Neighborhood Registration NOW OPEN!
• Preschool & SAC Registration information
• Noetic Math Announcement
• Spelling Bee Information
• Important Details for Upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Ryan's got Talent details
• Reading Program Opportunity
• Free Safety Webinar
• Health Room Reminder
• Original Works Extension
• Community Resources & Parent Support
• PTA Updates & Store
• Centaurus High School STEAM Night
• Parent Portal Information
• BVSD Weather Delay/Closure System
• Health Insurance Resources Available
• Important Parking Instructions
• Attendance Policy Information
• Volunteer Instructions
• BVSD Messenger Notifications
• Calendar Links

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

February 2-6 Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive

February 16th NO SCHOOL for President's Day

February 17th NO SCHOOL for Parent/Teacher Conference Exchange Day

February 18th Wednesday, NO SCHOOL FOR PRESCHOOL for a pk teacher professional development day.

February 19, 24 and 26 Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

March 12 - Ryan's Got Talent Show

Dear Ryan Families,

Do you have a child who will be an incoming Ryan Rhino next year?

Do you have friends, family members or neighbors with a rising Kindergartener?

If so, NOW is the time to register and help us plan ahead to ensure we have staffing for the number of students starting their journey at Ryan!

To register, please click here.

Get to know our wonderful Kindergarten teaching team by checking out the Kindergarten Website!

Please also Join us for the KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE!

Wednesday March 4th, 5:30-6:30pm

Families can explore Kindergarten classrooms, gather welcome packets and information and connect with other rising rhino families

Please reach out with any questions!

The Universal Preschool Program (UPK) application for four year olds is now open. The pre-registration period for children returning for a second year of preschool, preschool siblings of children already attending, and parent employees closes on February 2nd. Returners will have a spot reserved for them but they must apply through the UPK website to keep it. Siblings and parent employees will be enrolled first come, first served. Apply here.

The Preschool Tuition Lottery window for three year olds closes on December 17th at 4 pm. Children must turn three by October 1st, 2026 to be eligible. Apply here.

In 2026-27 we will continue to offer half-day Preschool sessions five days a week, morning and afternoon, at all of our sites. The majority of our sites also offer Preschool Enrichment to extend the day.

Families who are paying tuition for more than one child can apply for a 15% sibling discount in either Preschool or Preschool Enrichment. A 15% discount to Enrichment tuition will be offered to parent/guardian employees. (Please note that only one discount can be applied.)

Children do not need to be potty trained to enroll in a BVSD preschool!

Email us at preschool@bvsd.org or call 720-561-5075 if you’re interested or would like to find out more.

Families may sign up for the Lottery any time during this window to be considered in the tiered selection process. After 2:00 pm on April 24, any remaining available spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All details are posted on the SAC Lottery Webpage. Families are encouraged to review the timeline and instructions in advance, and may direct any questions to the Child Care Enrollment Team (720)561-5974.

Questions? Contact Jasmine Bailon

BVSD School Age Care (SAC) week-long, full-day camps will run from June 1-July 24 at Douglass Elementary in Boulder. Kids enjoy daily themed crafts and outdoor fun, with two days per week of off-site adventures or special activities brought right to the campsite. Find all the details on the Never Bummer Summer webpage or call (720) 561-5974 with questions.

Ryan has been celebrating the Noetic Math participants!

Click HERE to watch the grade level videos.

Ryan's Qualifying Round is taking place this week in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Classrooms.

For more information click here.

Ryan's Spelling Bee is happening February 5th at 9am in the Library.

More details coming.

Boulder Valley Regional Spelling Bee officials - volunteers needed

Parents and community members, we are looking for volunteers for this year's BVSD Regional Spelling Bee which will take place on March 7th in the New Vista High auditorium.

Volunteer Roles and duties include: On the day of the spelling bee, organizers are needed to do everything from checking in spellers, setting up the stage and physical event space, and receiving appeals and communicating them to the officials, to answering questions from parents, spellers and audience members. We cannot do this work without our amazing volunteers! Please fill out this interest form if you are interested.

Parent/Teacher Conferences Information

Spring Conference dates are February 19th, 24th and 26th.

For all Preschool to 5th grade students, you will be receiving an email invite from HelpatSchools on Saturday morning, February 7th. You will sign up for a conference time through that personalized email.

NEW! Available to all 5th Grade Parents: You have the opportunity to sign up for a Spring Conference with our school counselor, Mrs. Short, for a 5th to 6th Grade Transition Meeting. This is an optional opportunity to discuss ways to prepare your child for the transition from 5th grade to 6th grade in Middle School.

If you are not a 5th grade parent, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A CONFERENCE WITH MRS. SHORT

The sign up window will be 2/7 6am - 2/15 11pm.

If you need assistance, please contact your child's teacher or Jamie Hanes at 720.561.7007/jamie.hanes@bvsd.org

Ryan's Got Talent is back on March 12, 2026! All students are invited to audition for the show during Music Class. Please click here for all the information. Click here to submit the required audition form. Contact Ms. Shauna at shauna.keene@bvsd.org or 720-561-7031 for any questions or concerns.

The Louisville Public Library has an exciting opportunity for all 1st graders! 50 Books in First Grade is a free program for any 1st grader. Register for the program, read books and submit a reading log. Students will earn a free book of their choice when they finish. Visit this link to register and read more!

A Webinar is being offered by the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking and the Boulder Police Department for Parents and Caregivers.

Please click here to learn more.

As temperatures drop, we want to remind all parents and guardians about the importance of dressing children

warmly for school. Children must come to school prepared with warm winter clothing, including a heavy coat,

gloves, a hat, and other appropriate layers for the classroom and comfort outside, please make sure all items are

labelled in case they are lost.

We no longer need clothes for the health room! However, if you have extra gloves or unworn socks we

would love to get extras of those

Healthy Students are Better Learners

We support the well-being and academic success of all students through health promotion, disease

prevention, health care coordination and advocacy for the health and wellness of the whole child. How Sick is Too Sick?

We have GREAT NEWS! Our Original Works Online Direct Program is still open for Late Orders!

If you missed the earlier order deadline or just want to order more, now is the time to do that!

Order by January 31, 2026

CLICK HERE to order.

Enter your student’s access code that is found on the Original Works ordering instruction flyer that was sent home previously.

If you don’t have your student’s access code, you can email CS@originalworks.com and provide your school name, city and state and your child’s name, grade and teacher. Your student’s access code will be emailed to you.

The orders will ship to your home.

Keep in mind, the items make great gifts for any special day like Birthdays, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day! And our school continues to earn a profit on every late order placed.

Thanks for supporting our school with your order!

Ryan's First Annual VIP Dance

We are excited to invite all currently enrolled Ryan Elementary students to our very first VIP (Very Important Person) Dance, hosted and sponsored by the Ryan PTA. The dance will be held on Thursday, February 12 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the gym and is free for all students and their VIPs! The evening is designed to be a special one-to-one experience, so each Ryan student must attend with their own VIP who is 18+ (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, relative, or family friend). The event will include a DJ, dancing, and a photo booth. The Eats and Sweets truck will have food and treats available for purchase. Dress your best, or come as you are! We can’t wait to celebrate a fun night together with our Ryan community.

If you are able to volunteer some of your time to help our PTA with set-up, dance festivities, or clean-up please sign up here.

Have you linked your King Soopers card to Ryan PTA yet? King Soopers Community Rewards donates thousands of dollars annually to our PTA, nearly 10% of the PTA income. The Ryan Community would be so grateful if you would enroll your card for Ryan Elementary. Enrolling is absolutely free. To connect your account, I've listed short steps below, you can view detailed instructions here, or you can email us with any specific questions.

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

Starting on January 1st, you will not be able to add/change emergency contacts for your student(s).

Please contact Jamie.Hanes@bvsd.org for assistance with adding/changing emergency contacts or updating address information.

You are still be able to update your own parent email and phone number by following these instructions.

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 Health Services is sharing the following information for families who may be in need of health insurance or would like to explore their options, knowing that preventive and supportive services provided through this coverage helps keep students healthy and ready to learn.

Open Enrollment for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado is happening now through January 15, 2026. This is the time when individuals and families can find affordable health coverage for the coming year.

We’ve included helpful flyers with information about both Connect for Health Colorado and OmniSalud, a program that offers health insurance options for Coloradans regardless of immigration status.

Families who would like support can contact the Boulder County Enrollment Center for free assistance with Connect for Health Colorado, OmniSalud, Health First Colorado (Medicaid), and CHP+. The Enrollment Center provides confidential, unbiased guidance in English and Spanish, and in other languages through an interpreter.

To schedule an appointment with a Health Coverage Guide, visit boco.org/HealthCoverage, call 303-441-4530, or email HealthCoverage@BoulderCounty.gov.

Questions? Contact Joanna Harrison(joanna.harrison@bvsd.org), Resource Nurse

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!

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.

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.

​

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

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

Printable Calendars

• 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