From the Hawk's Nest

One of the things I appreciate most about the Jeremy Ranch community is the incredible dedication of our families, PTO, and volunteers who generously give their time, creativity, and resources to create memorable experiences for our students. Over the years, our October celebrations have been a wonderful example of that commitment, and I want to sincerely acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed to making these traditions special.

As we continue to grow and evolve as a school community, we also have opportunities to build upon our traditions in ways that reflect our shared commitment to student wellness, safety, inclusion, and belonging. This year, we are excited to transition to a Fall Festival, joining other schools in our district in creating a celebration that brings students and families together.

Mark Your Calendars! Our Fall Festival will take place on Friday, November 6, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. We are looking forward to an evening of fun, connection, and community! Please continue to watch for more information about the event, opportunities for parents and families to sign up and volunteer can be found at JRES PTO Volunteer Opportunities. Your involvement and support are what make these celebrations possible, and we would love to have you be part of this exciting event!

While traditions may evolve, what remains unchanged is the heart behind them: the generosity of our families, the joy of our students, and the sense of community that makes Jeremy Ranch such a special place.

I am incredibly grateful for the continued support, enthusiasm, and partnership of our families and PTO. I look forward to celebrating together and creating new memories as a school community!

We are excited to welcome families to our annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th! To ensure a smooth process and keep our students safe, please review the details and instructions below:

• Pre-Register for Your Visitor Badge: If you plan to attend, please complete our Halloween Parade Visitor Sign-In Form in advance so we can prepare a visitor badge for you. All visitors must wear a badge at all times during the event.

• Arrival & Parade Location: Parents may begin arriving at 8:45 AM and enter through the east gate only (Kindergarten side). The parade starts promptly at 9:10 AM.

• Parade Setup: Spectators will form two long lines facing each other across the blacktop on the entire backside of the school, creating a path down the middle for our students to walk through during the parade.

• Exiting the Event: Once the parade concludes, all visitors will exit through the east gate.

• Classroom Party Volunteers: If you have arranged with your child’s classroom teacher to stay and volunteer for a class party, you must enter through the front office and sign in using the Raptor system at the front desk. Visitors are not permitted inside the school unless they are an approved volunteer and have scanned their driver’s license at the front desk.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping Jeremy Ranch Elementary safe and fun for everyone. We look forward to seeing you there!

To ensure all of our Hawks have a fun, safe, and positive day, please keep the following costume expectations in mind:

• School Dress Code: All costumes must align with our standard school dress code (comfortable, safe, and appropriate for regular school activities).

• Masks: For safety and visual awareness, masks may only be worn during the parade. Students must remove masks before and after the parade so faces are clearly visible during class time.

• No Accessories or Toy Weapons: Please leave all hand-held accessories, props, and toy weapons (swords, guns, wands, sticks, etc.) at home.

• Keep It Family-Friendly: Costumes should be positive, non-violent, and appropriate for elementary students of all ages. Please avoid blood, gore, or overly scary/frightening costumes.

• Mobility & Comfort: Ensure your child can comfortably sit, walk, move, and participate in learning throughout the day. If wearing an inflatable costume, please make sure your child can easily see and navigate safely.

Thank you for helping us make Halloween at Jeremy Ranch Elementary a fun, safe, and memorable celebration for everyone!

We are thrilled to share that Jeremy Ranch Elementary was recently honored at the Utah State Capitol, where our school was officially awarded the prestigious Label France Éducation distinction by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs!

JRES is one of only three elementary schools in Utah to receive this elite international seal of quality, which recognizes exceptional French Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs. The official ceremony brought together JRES students, educators, and distinguished leaders, including Her Excellency Ms. Valérie Brisset, Consul General of France in San Francisco. To mark this milestone, the delegation presented our school with a commemorative edition of Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince).

This incredible recognition unlocks unique grants, international pen-pal opportunities, visiting artists, and enriched learning experiences for our students. Earning this distinction is a true testament to the passion and dedication of our extraordinary DLI teachers, students, and families. We are so proud of our Hawks for continuing to lead the way as global citizens!

Every day in our halls and classrooms, we see the tangible difference the Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) makes right here at Jeremy Ranch Elementary.

Through PCEF’s generous support, our school benefits directly from essential programs that enrich our students' daily learning—including our French Dual Language Immersion (DLI) resources, hands-on STEM and coding activities, classroom student grants, express art and music opportunities, and critical literacy support. With an incredible $1.8 million invested across our district this year, PCEF empowers our educators to bring innovative ideas to life so every Hawk can reach their full academic and personal potential.

To celebrate and sustain this vital support, PCEF invites you to join them at this year’s Red Apple Gala on Saturday, November 14th. It’s a wonderful evening to connect with fellow parents, educators, and neighbors while directly investing in the future of our students' education.

• Tickets & Details: You can purchase tickets and learn more on the PCEF Red Apple Gala Event Page or go directly to Ticket Registration.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, teachers, and school community!

Don't throw those jack-o'-lanterns in the trash! Jeremy Ranch Elementary is excited to partner with Momentum again this year for our annual Pumpkin Composting Drive to help keep food waste out of our landfills.

• Collection Dates: Friday, October 30th – Friday, November 13th

• Where: Look for the 4 designated collection bins located outside JRES.

After Halloween, bring your carved or uncarved pumpkins to the bins at school. Momentum will haul them away on November 13th to turn them into nutrient-rich compost! Please remember to remove any candles, tea lights, wax, or non-compostable decorations before dropping them off.

Thank you for helping our Hawks care for our environment and keep Park City green!

Living in our beautiful mountain community means weather can change quickly! While student safety is always our top priority, we also understand the importance of physical movement and love getting our Hawks outside whenever possible. When indoor recess is necessary, teachers ensure students still get movement and active brain breaks throughout the day.

Please note: Because our local climate changes rapidly, school staff may occasionally need to adjust these guidelines to account for real-time conditions.

🌧️ Rain & Storm Procedures

• Morning Drop-Off (Heavy Rain): The eastside gate will be closed. Students should enter through the main front doors and head directly to the cafeteria for supervision. Bus riders will be met out back and guided to the cafeteria as well.

• Light Rain: We will continue to go outside for lunch and grade-level recesses.

• Heavy Rain / Indoor Recess: If rain is heavy enough that clothing will become soaked—preventing students from staying warm and dry for the remainder of the day—recess will be moved indoors.

⛈️ Lightning & Thunder Safety

The safety of our Hawks is always our priority. When thunder or lightning is present during recess, PE, or other outdoor activities, students and staff will immediately return indoors.

We follow the “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” safety guideline. If thunder is heard or lightning is observed, outdoor activities will be suspended. Students will remain indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or observed lightning. If thunder or lightning occurs again during that window, the 30-minute timer restarts.

❄️ Cold Weather & Outdoor Recess

Whenever possible, we want our Hawks outside enjoying recess—even during our Park City winters! Please send your child with appropriate winter gear: winter coats, gloves, hats, snowpants, and boots.

School staff monitor temperature, wind chill, precipitation, and playground conditions closely:

• Temperature Threshold: As a general guideline, when the temperature or wind chill ("feels like") falls below 10°F, recess will be moved indoors.

• Outdoor recess may also be shortened or moved indoors at higher temperatures if wind, snow, ice, or other conditions make outdoor play unsafe.

🌬️ Air Quality & Outdoor Recess

Our school follows the Utah Air Quality Recess Guidance for Schools by monitoring PM2.5 levels:

• PM2.5 below 35.5: Outdoor recess for all students.

• PM2.5 between 35.5–55.4: Students sensitive to air pollution or experiencing respiratory symptoms may remain indoors.

• PM2.5 at 55.5 or higher: Recess and outdoor activities move indoors for all students.

Parents are encouraged to notify the school and school nurse if their child has a health condition that makes them sensitive to poor air quality.

No School, Friday, Oct. 23rd — Teacher Professional Work Day

Food and Beverage Guidelines (English)

Food and Beverage Guidelines (Spanish)

JRES Student Handbook (English)

JRES Student Handbook (Spanish)