Message from the Principal
Dear Ryan Elementary Community,
Safety is a top priority for our students and staff. With that in mind, we will have our second Lockdown drill on Tuesday. January 23rd around 1:10 PM.. Before each drill our staff will go through expectations with students. Right before the drill, we will announce it so that students are aware it's a practice, we’ll complete the drill, then ensure there is closure by making another announcement. Below is more information about Lockdown drills.
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. Student action during Lockdown is to remain quiet.
We request that you engage in conversations with your students about the significance of these drills and related procedures. For more detailed information, including your role in such situations, please refer to the following link on safety and security response within the Boulder Valley School District.
Here is a copy of the Standard Response Protocol poster that is hanging in all classrooms and throughout the building. Standard Response Protocol Poster with BVSD logos (English & Spanish)
If you have any questions about our safety drills or protocols, please feel free to contact me directly at stephanie.jackman@bvsd.org.
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:
- Movie Night at Ryan
- Karate Program Sign up Information
- Class Photos are coming up
- Ukulele Club Information
- Spelling Bee Details
- Message from the Health Room
- Author Events
- Trivia Night Information
- PTA Updates
- Composting in BVSD
- Attendance Announcement
- Volunteer Opportunities
- 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
Special Karate After-School Program/PE Fundraiser!
If your student is interested in participating in our after school Karate program please use the link below to sign up. Registration opens on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 3:00pm!
What: A 6 session after school Karate program led by Master Galloway from Success Martial Arts and assisted by Mrs. Cash, PE Teacher.
When: Two program choices, one in February and one in March.
February Dates: (Mon/Wed/Fri for two weeks) Feb 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, and 16.
March Dates: (Mon/Wed/Fri for two weeks) March 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15.
Who: All Ryan Elementary students are invited to sign up, but there are only 65 spots available in each program. First come, first serve for sign ups.
Where: The Ryan Elementary Gym from 2:55 - 3:35
Cost: $20 total and all proceeds go to the PE program at Ryan Elementary
Use the link above to register your student if they would like to participate. Spots typically fill up fast, registration opens on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 3:00pm!
A flyer will be going home with students this week.
Thank you!
-Mrs. Cash
Class Photos are Coming!
Friday, February 9th
We do need a couple parent volunteers, please email jamie.hanes@bvsd.org if you are interested and have done your Raptor background check.
Spring Ukulele Clubs starting at Ryan Elementary
If your child wants to learn how to play the ukulele or already knows how to play the ukulele then Mr. Lew has a club for you! Ukulele Club is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who are able to attend all 8 sessions listed on the Google form below. A beginner ukulele club will meet on Mondays after school (3:00 - 3:45) and an intermediate ukulele club will meet on Tuesdays after school (3:00 - 3:45) starting in February. A $10 donation is requested (but not required) to pay for ukulele tuners, extra strings and other supplies. Please fill out this form by Thursday, January 25th if your child is interested in participating. If more students apply than there are spots (max club size is 10 students per club), then Mr. Lew will hold a lottery for all students who signed up by January 25th at 3:00 PM.
Ryan Spelling Bee! Tuesday, Feb 13th
Spelling Bee registration and details > Click here. Participation is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
The preliminary online testing window to determine qualification for the Ryan Spelling Bee is Jan 9th - 29th.
The 12 students who score the highest will move on to compete at the school level on Feb 13th.For questions, contact Ms. Tisha at tisha.lin@bvsd.org
Author Matt de la Peña Events
Newbery medal winning author, Matt de la Peña, will be at the Lafayette Public Library on Thursday, February 1, 6:30-7:30pm. This is a free family-friendly event for all! Matt will also be visiting Ryan Elementary during a school-wide assembly on Friday, February 2! Students will get to listen to Matt speak about how a reluctant reader became an award-winning author, and he will read aloud one of his books.
Message from Ms. Chrystal in the Health Room
Healthy students are better learners, please keep your child home if they feel ill, CDPHE’s Illness Policy for Students and Staff in School and Child Care: Policy
Please remember to send your child a change of clothes, especially in our younger elementary grades but it would be great if every kiddo had a full set of spare clothes in their backpack including socks and underwear. We have all sorts of accidents and often kiddos prefer clothes of their own and don't forget gloves and hats too.
Also if you have gently used/new leggings or sweatpants/joggers boys and girls of all grades, please email our health room para chrystal.terhune@bvsd.org to add them to our back-up! We are completely out but only have room for a few sets so email to see if we can use them. Thank you
SAVE THE DATE FOR TRIVIA NIGHT - March 8
Ryan's annual Trivia Night fundraiser will be back this year! Save the date for Friday, March 8, at the Avalon Ballroom (6185 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder). Trivia Night is an annual fundraiser and community building activity. Teams of Ryan parents and teachers gather together (sometimes dressed in costumes!) to eat dinner and answer a fun variety of trivia questions. Trivia Night is a great way to meet new people and connect with other Ryan parents and staff. We also have a live auction and other activities and games. Don't miss out on this fun event! If you are interested in helping to plan this event, please contact leadership@ryanelementarypta.org. More information about tickets coming in February—stay tuned!
Online Auction
We will also be holding our Online Auction fundraiser again this year in March! The auction raises approximately $7,000 every year to support everything the PTA funds—classroom resources, tutoring assistance, after-school activities, field trips, assemblies, and more! The PTA is hustling to secure auction items now, and we would love to know what people would be interested in buying in the auction this year. Is there a brand you and your family can't get enough of? An item you've seen in another auction? Do you have a connection with a local business that might be willing to provide gift card or experience donations? Please share your ideas with us at leadership@ryanelementarypta.org—we'd love to hear from you!
PTA Update
Dining Night Out - Liquid Mechanics, January 29
Our next Dining Night Out will be at Liquid Mechanics (297 N. Hwy 287, Lafayette) on Monday, January 29, from 4–7pm! Liquid Mechanics will donate 10% of ALL beer sales (not food truck) that evening back to the PTA—no need to show a flyer or mention Ryan! Tell your friends!
Composting returns to BVSD!
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.
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!
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