Message from the Principal
Dear Ryan Elementary Community,
Ryan’s STEAM night was a wonderful community event focused on math skills and fun. Thank you to our PTA, Tisha Lin and Mark Appling for making it happen. The winners from the guessing jars will be announced on Tuesday.
Connectors - 222, closest guess was 200
Green marbles - 199, closest guess was 198
Jenga blocks - 111, closest guess was 107
Macaroni - 444, closest guess was 332
Cheerios - 1,108, closest guess was 1,128
Last week, Centaurus Computer Science students and teachers visited Ryan Elementary and completed lessons in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes as part of our participation in Computer Science Education week. CSEdWeek Computer Science Education Week is focused on inspiring K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. Scroll down to see photos.
Our 3rd-5th grade students that are in choir with Ms. Shauna Keene have two performances coming up. They will sing at Josephine Commons during the day this week and have an evening performance at Ryan Elementary on Wednesday, December 20th.
This past month we have welcomed back two staff members that were on leave, Sabrena Miller, our psychologist, and Kori Esplin, our BCBA that works with our Autism ILC program. After winter break, we welcome back Katie Stauch as our literacy teacher. Kristin Mullen has been our literacy teacher last year and this fall. We are so grateful for all the staff members that we have at Ryan. For a complete staff list, please click here.
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:
- Winter Break dates
- Toy Drive Information
- Ryan Spiritwear Store Instructions
- Eco-Cycle Holiday Guide
- Choir Announcement
- Open Enrollment Information
- Counseling Corner
- PTA Updates
- Original Works Information
- Art Supplies Needed
- Health Room Requests
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Attendance Announcement
- Connect for Health Colorado
- BVSD Meals & Messenger Notification Details
- FAQs Section from past newsletters information
If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000
Stay Safe & Healthy for break!
We want you to be safe and healthy
during break! We're seeing a lot of illness with increased cases of strep and
flu being reported this time of year, please as a reminder keep your child home
if they have symptoms, been vomiting or have a fever. The best way to prevent the spread of infection is by staying home when
sick and through good hand washing.
Please take a moment to review the school policy “How Sick is Too Sick?
Have questions or need more information? Visit the Health
Services page.
The Ryan Spiritwear Store is LIVE!
Ryan t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats are now available for purchase! Orders will ship directly to your home, and a small percentage of each sale will benefit the PTA. This link will be open year round, but spiritwear makes a great holiday gift for your Rhinos—and their families! Check out our online store!
Eco Cycle Zero Waste Holiday Guide
Now that the holiday season is in full swing, we’d like to share with you our Holiday Guide!
It is full of waste-reduction tips specific to the holiday-related festivities coming up (and year-round) so you can celebrate with loved ones AND show your appreciation for the Earth at the same time! It also features answers to common questions like: “What do I do with crumpled wrapping paper and broken string lights?” It’s a great resource – check it out!
A Note from Ms. Shauna (Our wonderful Music Teacher)
Join Rhino Choir in January! All 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students who are interested in group singing are welcome. We meet in the Music room on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school from 3:00 - 3:45 starting January 16 until our concert on March 20. A $20 donation is requested (but not required) to pay for a student t-shirt and other materials. Please see this document for more information and fill out this form by Friday January 12 if your child will participate.
BVSD Open Enrollment Window now through Jan. 9th
BVSD believes in providing our students with the opportunity to attend the school that best fits their needs, as long as there is space available. During our open enrollment period, now through January 9, 2024, families with K-12 students may apply to a school of their choice for the 2024-25 school year. Learn more and apply here: BVSD Open Enrollment webpage.
Current KG through 4th grade Ryan students do not need to do anything for their enrollment for next school year, so long as they have not moved out of the Ryan attendance area this school year. All KG through 4th grade Rhinos who are currently open enrolled to Ryan or living in the attendance area will automatically roll-up for next school year. If you have moved out of the Ryan attendance area this school year, or know you're going to, and wish to have your child remain at Ryan, you will need to register for Open Enrollment. Questions? Reach out to Jamie Hanes at 720.561.7007 OR jamie.hanes@bvsd.org.
PTA Update
Dining Night Out - December 19
Our next Dining Night Out will be at Noodles & Company (534 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette) Tuesday, December 19, from 4-8pm! Noodles & Company will donate 25% of all online and in-restaurant sales back to the PTA. Just visit the restaurant and mention the Ryan fundraiser at checkout, or order online on the Noodles & Company app or website with the digital coupon code GIVING25 (you must be signed into a rewards account to use this code online). Take a night off from cooking while supporting Ryan!
Staff Members' Favorite Things
The holidays are here! Check out this updated list of Ryan staff members' favorite things to help you with your planning and shopping. Information for some staff members is still missing, but we will update this document as responses come in!
THE RYAN SPIRITWEAR STORE IS LIVE!
Ryan t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats are now available for purchase! Orders will ship directly to your home, and a small percentage of each sale will benefit the PTA. This link will be open year round, but spiritwear makes a great holiday gift for your Rhinos—and their families! Check out our online store!
Original Works
Our Original Works Deadline has gone by, but you can still place a Late Order!
The Late Order Deadline is: December 31, 2023
Please Note: Late Orders may not arrive in time for the holidays.
Products make great gifts for any time of the year like Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!
Follow the instructions on the Order Instruction Flyer
Health Room Requests!!
Request from Ryan's Health Room
Please send your child a snack and water bottle EVERYDAY!
We are looking for HEALTHY SNACKS(items like: goldfish, granola bars, veggie straws,crackers) for the Health Room, please drop by with your donations in the front office and we will get them to the teachers. Thank you!
Weather, trips, spills and thrills happen: please remember to send your child with a change of clothes, especially in our younger elementary grades, we have all sorts of accidents and often kiddos prefer clothes of their own. Thank you!
If your child needs medication at school, our healthroom para, Chrystal Terhune chrystal.terhune@bvsd.org would be happy to help you in the front office. You will need Doctor's orders and the Medication Authorization form as well.
Please do NOT send medication to school in your child's backpack.
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 or bring treats and coffee to teachers for late start or volunteer for the upcoming 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! Please take a moment to fill out the background check through raptor: https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/get-involved/volunteers and click here to see what opportunities we have available Help at School
We appreciate your help! Thanks!
Attendance Annoucement
If your child has an appointment during school hours, please ask the medical office for a school excuse note and bring it to the Ryan office.
To report your child's absences, please enter it through your Parent Portal or call the Attendance Line 720.561.7002 and remember to include the REASON FOR THE ABSENCE!
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.
Good habits start early! Research shows regular attendance at school has a DRAMATIC impact on student progress. Please see the How Sick Is To Sick guidelines as well as the BVSD attendance policy.
Connect for Health Colorado Health Insurance Open Enrollment - November 1 through January 15, 2023
Connect for Health Colorado Open Enrollment - November 1 through January 15, 2023
From preventative services to the security it provides during a medical emergency, health insurance affords stability to families as they build and plan for the future. Free, in-person help is available from certified Connect for Health Colorado enrollment experts located throughout Colorado to help you get the right health insurance coverage.
Find an Enrollment Assister - Assistance Network Scheduler
Certified Enrollment Assisters can help you apply for financial help and are very experienced with complicated situations, such as when one family member receives Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or other public assistance while the others do not. They can also provide education about affordable health insurance and help you enroll in a Marketplace plan.
Meals are still free, but the payment system is changing
Free meals are still free, but the payment system is changing! Please be advised that on November 13th, the Food Services Department will be switching software systems from MyPaymentsPlus to School Cafe. If you have a balance on your account it will automatically transfer into School Cafe on the 13th. Meal account funds are not necessary for your student to receive a free breakfast and lunch every day, but are necessary to purchase items like second entrees, a la carte items, and side salads. Starting on November 13th, if you would like to add money to your student’s meal account, you will have to create a School Cafe account and do it there. Beginning on November 11th, MyPaymentsPlus will turn off and it will not be possible to add funds to your student’s account.
Please see the resources below to help with the transition.
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.
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