NRE PRONGHORN PRESS

A Note From Mrs Armijo: Celebrating Our First Week Back

What a whirlwind these first three days have been! If your house looked anything like mine—where getting two teenage daughters ready for middle school and high school felt like an Olympic event—I completely sympathize. Getting back into the groove of early alarms and morning routines is always an adjustment, but our students have jumped right in and are settling wonderfully into their classrooms.

Thank you so much for your partnership as we roll out our new morning entrance procedure. We know change can be intimidating, especially for our younger students who are navigating a bigger environment, but please rest assured that we are keeping a close eye on how things go and will fine-tune the process as needed. Your patience means the world to us as we work through the initial bumps. As a quick reminder, if you need to speak with a staff member or have a scheduled meeting, please hold off on entering the building until after 8:45 AM so our team can focus entirely on safe morning arrivals.

We also got to experience our very first lightning dismissal of the year! Thank you for handling the sudden weather pivot so smoothly. Moving forward during car loop pick-ups—whether during standard or rainy-day dismissals—please ensure drivers remain inside their vehicles. This keeps the traffic line moving safely and efficiently for everyone.

Additionally, the bus loop is strictly off-limits for student drop-off and pick-up, as it is reserved exclusively for our district buses and emergency vehicles.

Finally, Principal Lehnert wanted me to pass along that she misses the students terribly and is looking forward to being back in the building with everyone very soon.

Thank you again for a warm, resilient, and energetic start to the school year!

Upcoming Events

August 17 - Tears and Cheers for our Kindergarten Parents Only

August 21 - Back to School Carnival

August 26 - SAC Meeting 8:45AM to 10:15AM

August 26 - Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5PM to 6PM

August 26 - ColdStone Teacher Scoop

Important Reminder: Friday Late Starts are Now in Effect!

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! As we settle into our new routines, we want to remind all families that our 45-minute Friday Late Start schedule is now officially in effect for all DCSD elementary and middle schools.

Why the change?

This dedicated time allows our teachers to participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). By collaborating weekly, our educators can better analyze student data, share best practices, and ensure every student at Northridge Elementary receives the targeted instruction they need to thrive.

Quick Facts for Fridays:

• Start Time: School begins 45 minutes later than the Monday-Thursday schedule.

• Transportation: Bus routes run exactly 45 minutes later on Friday mornings.

• Child Care: BASE is available for elementary families needing morning care.

We appreciate your support as we implement this valuable time for teacher collaboration and student growth. For more details on logistics, please visit the district’s PLC webpage. Here’s a downloadable 2026-2027 school-year calendar which lists late-start Fridays.

CMAS Score Reports

Beginning this school year, schools will no longer send CMAS paper score reports home. Parents can access their student's scores through the Colorado Pearson Family Portal. Directions were shared with families over the summer, but you may want to remind parents how to access their reports at the beginning of the school year.

Resources to share with families:

• 2026 Access Your Student’s CMAS Score Reports through Pearson’s Family Portal

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the Douglas County Library Summer Reading Program this year!

NRE won $500 to go towards new books! Whoo hoo!

I'm so excited to tell all the kids next week!

If your student has their flyer and would like to bring it in, I will reward them with an extra prize! ( I will also accept an email from a parent if you cannot find your logs :)

Regarding the Douglas County School District Summer Reading Program, please make sure to have your students turn this form in before Aug 21st. That is the last day I can turn in for this program. If you cannot find your log, you can always use this link. (Staff and Students!)

DCSD Summer Reading Program

Participants will be put into a drawing and winners will be notified via DCSD email on or after August 31, 2026.

Treat your student to a delicious Friday snack! Popcorn Fridays are coming, and you can purchase popcorn pre-orders for the year directly through MySchoolBucks.

Bus # 53

Week of August 17 - August 21

Week of September 14 - August 18

Week of October 19 - August 23

Bus # 56

Week of August 31- September 04

Week of September 28 - October 02

Week of November 02 - November 06

How to Receive Emergency Messages from DCSD

Log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and click on the “person” icon in the top right-hand corner of the page. Navigate to “Contact Preferences” and review your contact information. If you see an incorrect phone number or email, please update it in Infinite Campus, or contact the registrar at your child’s school to request an update.

Mental Health Resources

Below is a list of resources, should you have a concern that a loved one (or yourself) may be experiencing behavioral changes, mood swings, depression, or suicidal thoughts over the break.

Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others

• 988 - Suicide and Crisis Hotline

• Call or text “988” any time, 24/7 for free, confidential support.

• Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

• Trained Crisis Counselor Hotline: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255

• Chat online (open from 4pm-12am daily): Click Here

• Walk-in Locations (open 24/7): Location List

• Information About Types of Services and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Crisis Services

• DCSD Mental Health Intervention website

• Mobile apps for wellness and recovery

• Let’s Talk Colorado

• iMatter (free virtual counseling sessions)

Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.