Werner Weekly

• Aug. 26- 5th grade Back-to-School Night, 5:00-6:30pm
• Aug. 26- Werner Dines Out, Papa Johns (see flyer below)
• Sept. 1- PTA Meeting, 9-10 am
• Sept. 7- No School, Labor Day
• Sept. 8- Kindergarten Back-to-School, 5-6 pm
• Sept. 9- 3rd Grade Back-to-School, 5-6 pm
• Sept. 9- 1st grade Back-to-School, 6-7 pm
• Sept. 10- 2nd grade Back-to-School, 5-6 pm
• Sept. 10- 4th grade Back-to-School, 6-7 pm
• Sept. 25- Fall Fun Festival, 4:30-7:00

Each year, parents/guardians and secondary students must acknowledge that they have reviewed the Student Rights and Code of Conduct. Parents/guardians are not given access to ParentVUE until they electronically sign the acknowledgment.

Here's how to complete your acknowledgement:

• Parents/guardians:
  • Log into the ParentVUE parent portal.
  • Read the Acknowledgement text box.
  • Click on the link at the bottom of the page to download the Code of Conduct.
  • Write your name on the signature field exactly as it appears on your ParentVUE account.
  • Click “Yes.” Parents/guardians will not be given access to ParentVUE until they electronically sign the acknowledgment.
• Parents of secondary students (6-12): Your student will also be asked to acknowledge having received and reviewed the Code of Conduct when logging into StudentVUE for the first time this school year.
• Families new to PSD who have never accessed their ParentVUE account will receive a separate email with instructions for how to log into ParentVUE.

Drop-Off Procedures:

• School begins at 9:00 am with the tardy bell at 9:05 am. Students may arrive no earlier than 8:45 am.

• Make sure students are prepared to immediately exit with their backpack, etc.

• Students should exit the passenger side of the car if dropped off in Drop-Off Lane.

• Keep pulling forward in the drop-off lane until you get near the front entrance.

• Students will proceed directly to the classroom door and may leave their backpack and go play on the playground.

• Breakfast will be available in the cafeteria and students will go through the office to access cafeteria. Breakfast begins at 8:45 am.

• Parents may walk their students up to the building if they need assistance (please park in appropriate areas). If you need to assist your very young child out, please park in south parking lot, or along surrounding streets (Roma Valley, Highcastle, or Mail Creek)

• Students arriving after 9:05 will need to enter through the main office.

• If your student rides their bike, please remind them to walk it while on school grounds.

Pick-Up Procedures:

• Students are dismissed at 3:43 p.m.

• Students will walk out the exterior classroom door to where you have agreed to pick them up (Pick-Up Lane in South Parking Lot, Highcastle Lane parking area, Roma Valley Lane, Mail Creek Lane north of school).

• If you are picking up in the Pick-Up Lane, please wait patiently in your car and keep pulling forward. Please do not get out of your car while in the Pick-Up Lane. If you have difficulty finding your student, please find a staff member. Staff will be on duty to help direct students. Staff will help students find you and get in the car on the passenger side.

• If you are parked along one of the surrounding streets, parents may wait on school grounds after 3:35 pm. (Please note, there is no parking along Mail Creek Lane adjacent to the parking lots.)

Other Notes:

Please do not drop-off or pick-up in the north parking lot unless you have a disability parking placard. This lot is for staff parking and buses.

Please do not bring your pets on school grounds. If you do have one, please wait off school grounds. Service animals are permissible.

Please avoid using a cell phone while dropping off and picking up.

Be patient, understanding, and kind. Our staff will do our best to load kids safely and efficiently into cars.

PSD schools are cash-free. You can pay for fees, activities, and other charges online at any time using a debit card, credit card, or bank account, with no additional fee. Cash and check payments are accepted at the cashier at the Support Services Center, 2407 LaPorte Avenue, Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If getting there is not possible, call (970) 490-3648 or email finance@psdschools.org and staff will arrange another option. Colorado provides free school meals to all students, so families often skip the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application. Please complete it anyway. To receive fee waivers, a student must be approved for free or reduced-price meals and have a Permission to Share form on file. Please visit the Student Fees and Charges page on the PSD website to learn more.

And finally, attached is the flyer for our 2026 Spirit Wear. Note that orders are due by August 25th so that we can be geared up for the Fall Festival on September 25th. Orders are placed directly through our vendor and 10% of proceeds will come back to support the school.

Hello from the Werner Health Office!

Welcome to Werner or welcome back! As we look ahead to next school year, this is an overview of information and documentation our health office needs each school year:

• required immunizations,
• immunization exemptions,
• ParentVUE, and

• medications (if needed) for Werner’s health office.

Please bring a copy of your student’s most updated immunization record or completed immunization exemption certificate or form.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Colorado law requires students to be vaccinated against many diseases that vaccines can prevent, unless a certificate of exemption is filed.

Your student must be vaccinated against:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP, DTP)

• Hepatitis B (HepB)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Polio (IPV)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Vaccines are recommended for hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal disease, and human papillomavirus but are not required.

Colorado follows recommendations set by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

• Students entering kindergarten must receive their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR and varicella.

If you cannot get in to see your doctor before school starts, you can also get the required immunization at Walgreens, King Soopers, and Costco, etc. For more information on immunizations, please visit the following links:

CDPHE Immunization Requirements for School Entry

PSD Immunizations Webpage

Centers for Disease Control Vaccine Schedule Webpage

IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS

If you choose not to vaccinate your student with any of the required immunizations above, you must submit a new non-medical exemption every school year starting July 1st and bring a copy of the completed certificate to Werner before school starts. Visit https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/vaccine-exemptions for more information and to download the certificate or to complete the online education module.

*There are two different ways to submit a non-medical exemption to any Colorado school:

1. Submit the Certificate of Non-Medical Exemption WITH a signature from an immunizing provider who is a medical doctor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, advanced practice nurse or delegated physician’s assistant.

OR

2. Submit the Certificate of Non-Medical Exemption received upon the completion of CDPHE’s Online Immunization Education Module (print out). If you submit a Certificate of Non-Medical Exemption on or before June 30th, it will not be valid for the upcoming school year.

PARENTVUE

You can view most of your student’s health records on the ParentVUE website or Parent VUE app.

In ParentVUE – under Health:

• You can view Nurse Visits – how many times your student has visited the health office.

• You can view Health Conditions – anything you need to add/change here, you can do so at the beginning of the school year or anytime during the school year, and we highly recommend you update this information with us annually.

MEDICATION

If you need forms for any health conditions for the upcoming school year, please visit the https://www.psdschools.org/programs-services/health-services/medications-and-health-care-action-plans, review and print the forms for Medications and Health Care Action Plans (HCAPS). If your student is managing a specific health condition, you will find resources and required forms available in the specific sections as you scroll down the web page.

Medication paperwork is needed every school year and the completed paperwork:

• Should be filled out by your healthcare provider

• Should include all required signatures

• Must accompany the medication in its original bottle (please bring 50 pills or fewer and double-check expiration dates, as we cannot accept expired medications)

• Can be turned into the Werner health office at the beginning of the school year.

If you have any questions regarding immunizations or health needs for Werner during the upcoming school year, please contact:

Rhonda Betts, Werner Health Technician, rbetts@psdschools.org or 970-488-5550

• In the health office daily during the school year

Lynne Ryan, RN, Werner School Nurse/PSD School Nurse, eryan@psdschools.org or 970-556-5908

• In the health office once a week during the school year

The Werner Fax Number: 970-488-5551

As you prepare for building routines with your child with walking/biking to school, please consider using the site for Safe Routes to School site. The City of Fort Collins' nationally recognized Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program helps students walk, bike, roll or take the bus to school safely.

Choosing a Safe Route

Use their interactive map to plan your trip to school. It shows:

• Bike lanes and trails
• Crosswalks and signals
• Crossing guard locations
• Bike racks at schools
• Transfort bus routes and stops

Tips For Students

Walking

• Walk with friends or family when you can
• Use locations with crossing guards and crosswalk signals
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
• Wear bright or reflective clothing

Biking

• Wear a helmet
• Ride on the right side of the street, with the flow of traffic
• Ride on sidewalks if needed
• Use hand signals
• Check that your bike works properly before riding
• Walk your bike across streets and in busy areas

Riding the Bus

• Arrive a few minutes early
• Stay on the sidewalk or road shoulder while waiting
• Let people off the bus before you get on
• Sit near the front if you’re riding alone
• Cross streets safely when getting to and from the stop

Tips for Parents and Caregivers

• Walk or bike with young children whenever possible
• Organize or join a walking school bus or bike train
• Choose routes with crosswalks, signals and lower-speed streets
• Make sure your child wears a properly fitted helmet
• Make sure your child’s bike fits properly and is in good working condition
• Encourage your child to wear reflective clothing or lights if traveling in low light
• Review bus stop safety with your child, including safe crossing behavior and proper bus etiquette

Throughout the year, we ask our community for photos that could be used for our yearbook and/or social media. This relates to school events only (e.g. classroom parties, field trips, school events, spirit days and enrichment opportunities). You can upload pictures to our 2026-27 Werner Photo Album throughout the year. Please be mindful to not include photos of students that may not have permission.

We often get questions about what are some of our favorite things for staff. You can find out more at this Staff Favorites link. This is also located under the "About Us" tab on the Werner website.

PTA President | Alison Aristoff

PTA Vice President | Nikki Erickson

PTA VP of Fundraising | Tabitha Nikolaev

PTA Treasurer | Ashley Kure

PTA Secretary | Juliana Potts

PTA Secretary Shadow | Sam Boran

PTA Past-President | Gladys Kanode

Connect with us at PTAWernerElementary@gmail.com

There Is No Wrong Way to PTA. How Do You PTA?

Thank you for supporting the Werner Elementary PTA!

Dear Poudre School District Community,

We hope that everyone has had an incredible summer and is eager to start another fun school year! With the start of school almost here, we wanted to remind you of some important updates and changes that happened over summer as well as some general information to remember as the year starts.

A full list of back-to-school information can be found on the district website.

First day of school

The first day of the 2026-27 school year is Wednesday, Aug. 19. All sixth- and ninth-grade students will have a Transition Day at their middle or high schools on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

Make sure to check the bell schedule at your child’s school before the first day to ensure you get them to school on time. A list of start and dismissal times can be found on the district website.

Learn more here.

Heat protocol information

While next week marks the start of a new school year, fall weather can’t be expected right away, so it is important for the community to understand how PSD manages early release and full school closure due to high temperatures.

If one or more of the following conditions are met, the district will consider calling a two-hour early release or full school closure:

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Heat & Health Tracker for Larimer County indicates major or extreme levels of risk of heat-related impacts to individuals. The NWS HeatRisk Index defines major and extreme levels of risk using a color-coded system. Red indicates major risks associated with heat, and magenta indicates extreme risks associated with heat.
• HeatRisk Index for Larimer County is Red (3) or Magenta (4) level
• National Weather Service forecasted highs of 95°F or above for zip code 80525
• National Weather Service forecasted highs of 90°F+ for three consecutive days, including weekends for zip code 80525

Whenever possible, PSD will notify families and staff of a possible early release or closure 12-24 hours in advance of the closure or early release.

Learn more here!

New District website

As construction and building improvements were made at schools across the district this summer, we also gave the PSD website a complete revamp. We designed the PSD site from the ground up to make the information you rely on easier to find, easier to use, and accessible to everyone — whether you're a family member, a student, a staff member, or a community member.

The new site is organized around the questions people ask most and the PSD-related tasks they complete most often, with clearer navigation so you can get where you're going in just a few clicks. You'll find the same information you count on, now in a place that's simpler to search and works efficiently on a phone, tablet, or computer.

Like any good website, this one is a work in progress. We'll keep updating and improving it over time as we add content and hear from you. If you come across a broken link, spot an error, or can't find something you're looking for, please tell us using the website feedback form linked at the bottom of every page. Your input helps us make the site better for our whole community.

View the new website here!

Free and Reduced Lunch registration

It is important to apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch program annually, even though school meals in Colorado are already free. Completing this form does more than make students eligible for waived school fees and benefits through Fort Collins City programs. It also helps PSD receive federal funding to support classrooms and learning opportunities. Your child’s eligibility status is confidential and must be renewed annually.

Families who apply and qualify can also receive reduced internet and utility rates, P-EBT payments, Fort Collins recreation center and city pool discounts (including classes and youth sports leagues), grocery tax rebates, waived college application fees, waived fees for school sports and field trips, and more.

Families should apply for the program regardless of whether they think they will qualify. Registration can be completed online.

Learn more here!

New ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps

Parents and students will have an updated way to keep track of their education this year with the new ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps. Beginning July 16, the district rolled out updated ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile apps that offer enhanced real-time access to grades, assignments and attendance through improved, more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for iOS and Android.

Those using Android devices can download the latest app versions from the Google Play Store. For iOS users, if the updated app was not automatically installed, it can be found on the Apple App Store!

With the start of the school year, it is also important to make sure all information, including contact information, is up to date. Keeping your information current ensures you can fully benefit from the tools and resources ParentVUE provides. Anyone with difficulty accessing ParentVUE can contact the front office of their child's school for help.

New fee framework

A new fee framework for all PSD schools is being implemented this school year. It applies to optional activities such as athletics, clubs, school-sponsored trips and events, which are meant to help offset program costs.

This new approach to fees is meant to ensure fairness and transparency by defining the types of fees schools may charge, setting maximum limits for those fees across all schools, and requiring that all school fees be listed on the school websites and comply with the same standards regardless of school.

Learn more here!

Sincerely,
Poudre School District

Dear PSD Families and Staff,

We're excited to announce that Poudre School District's new website is now live at psdschools.org. We redesigned it from the ground up to make the information you rely on easier to find, easier to use, and accessible to everyone — whether you're a family member, a student, a staff member, or a community member.

The new site is organized around the questions people ask most and the tasks they come to do, with clearer navigation so you can get where you're going in just a few clicks. You'll find the same information you count on, now in a place that's simpler to search and works efficiently on a phone, tablet, or computer.

Like any good website, this one is a work in progress. We'll keep updating and improving it over time as we add content and hear from you. If you come across a broken link, spot an error, or can't find something you're looking for, please tell us using the website feedback form linked at the bottom of every page. Your input helps us make the site better for our whole community.

Thank you for being part of Poudre School District. We hope you enjoy exploring the new psdschools.org.

Dear PSD Families,

Based on current federal and state funding, Poudre School District will continue to provide a no-cost breakfast and lunch for most students during the 2026-2027 school year. Due to federal regulations, PSD Options students will not be participating in this program and will be required to pay for their meals. Most schools will also participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.

Students who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing Breakfast and Lunch to all students, we better support their learning.

Poudre School District’s Child Nutrition program is recognized nationally as a leader in providing quality and healthy daily meal options. Our school meals exceed the U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. Check out our Child Nutrition Newsletter and our website https://www.psdschools.org/programs-services/school-meals for menu links, meal prices and department information.

While most students will continue to receive free meals at school, it's still essential for families to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits application. Submitting this information annually helps our district secure vital state and federal funding that directly benefits our schools. These funds help cover meal program costs, support after-school activities, and expand nutritional services. In addition, eligible families may qualify for Summer EBT benefits, reduced school fees, assistance with utilities, and other valuable resources. By providing your household income information, you are helping ensure both your student and their school receive the full support they deserve.

Qualifying Students may Apply for Fees/Charges Waivers

Did you know? If your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals in Poudre School District, you may also be able to take advantage of another fantastic benefit: waivers for some school fees and charges. To be eligible for these benefits, you must be approved to receive free or reduced-price meals and complete an additional form each school year.

• Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Application: Families can apply on-line at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application or pick up a paper application at your child's school. Applications must be completed annually to stay registered for the program. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here - Letter to Parents. Your child's free or reduced-price meal eligibility status is confidential.
• Once approved for free and reduced-priced meals, complete PSD’s Permission to Share Information for Fee Waivers and Programs to Receive Goods and Services Form. This form is available on-line through the PSD ParentVUE portal. Completing this form gives PSD's Child Nutrition Department permission to share your child's eligibility status with other district officials. These officials must also maintain confidentiality of your child's eligibility status. You must fill out the Permission to Share form each year.

Waivers are available for some but not ALL school fees and charges, including summer school tuition, extra-curricular activities and supplies, curricular supply costs and more.

After you submit the form and your child is approved, SchoolPay will automatically update fees/charges that are eligible for a waiver, displaying a $0.00 balance due once you proceed to checkout in SchoolPay.

Many community programs and businesses (City of Fort Collins Parks and Rec, Comcast, Fort Collins Soccer Club) also waive or reduce fees with proof of free or reduced meal eligibility.

Meal Account Payment

SchoolPay is Poudre School District's online payment partner. SchoolPay allows convenient online payment to all Poudre School District fees. To set up an account, view meal activity, view balances or make payments visit https://psdschools.schoolpay.com. Purchase activity and balances are updated each evening.

Students may bring money to school and pay during mealtimes. Checks should be made out to the student's school and note the student's name and/or ID number. Cash payments will be accepted but all change will be added to the student's meal account. Milk only, entrée only and water (secondary) will be the only ala carte items offered this school year.

Please email refund requests to nutrition@psdschools.org and include your student’s name and ID number.

Special Food Needs

For those families with students who require meal modifications, please visit the Special Food Needs website for more information.

• Medical Statement for Meal Modification
• Discontinuation of Meal Modifications

Have a question and you’re not sure who to contact? Send your question to nutrition@psdschools.org and we will get it forwarded to just the right person.

PSD Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment Services

Poudre School District's Medicaid program supports our mission to "educate every child every day" by personally helping families complete the application process for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), CHP+, and SNAP.

How we help

• Removing barriers that prevent families from completing new applications and renewal paperwork
• Explaining complicated paperwork sent from the state regarding coverage
• Checking status of completed applications
• Connecting to resources when coverage is not possible through Medicaid or CHP+

How to find our help

Please submit an Outreach and Enrollment Form and the Outreach and Enrollment Specialist will be in touch with you to talk through your needs and, if needed, to schedule an appointment. More information can be found at psdschools.org/Medicaid-outreach-enrollment-services.

Have a great school year! We look forward to seeing you In the Café!

One of many ways information is shared is through the PSD Insider community newsletter, which features timely information about the latest happenings in the district. This is emailed to families and interested community members that sign up. To sign up, or review past newsletters, go to the PSD Communications website.

Email: hcamp@psdschools.org
Website: https://wer.psdschools.org/
Location: 5400 Mail Creek Lane, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Office Hours: 8:00-4:30

Phone: (970) 488-5550

Attendance: (970) 488-5551
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wernerwildcats/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/werner_elementary/