Principal's Message

Kumusta, mga pamilya ng CRES (Filipino)

As the weather cools down and we head into October, we are excited for all the amazing events coming up for our students - from Halloween parties to the Book Fair, it’s going to be a fun month for our Coyotes!

I also want to take this opportunity to recognize our extraordinary community. From our dedicated staff and amazing students to our supportive families, your kindness, care and commitment are what make CRES a truly special place. I am incredibly grateful to serve as principal.

We look forward to connecting this month during parent-teacher conferences. Please review the details below, and note that our conference format will look a little different in the spring. Looking forward to another incredible month with our pack!

Luke Jones

Principal, Coyote Ridge Elementary: An IB World School

MISSION STATEMENT

We provide our students with a challenging inquiry-based education to:

Pursue academic excellence
Embrace differences
Encourage lifelong learning
Become responsible world citizens
Foster personal growth and reflection

Coffee Talks

Mr. Jones will be hosting coffee talks throughout the year. See the schedule below.

Kinder and 1st Families (Second Semester TBD)

October 19th at 8:05am 2nd and 3rd Families

November 9th at 8:05am 4th and 5th Families

Important Dates

October at a Glance

Thursday, Oct 1: Picture Day - Individual Photos

Wednesday, Oct 6:

CRES SAC and PTO Meeting - SUIP (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM)

Friday, Oct 9: Teacher Work Day - No Students (All Day)

Tuesday, Oct 13: Scholastic Book Fair Begins (All Day)

Wednesday, Oct 14:

Scholastic Book Fair (All Day)
Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30 PM - 7:00 PM)

Thursday, Oct 15:

Scholastic Book Fair (All Day)

Parent/Teacher Conferences (7:30 AM - 7:00 PM)

Friday, Oct 16: Teacher Work Day - No Students (All Day)

Monday, Oct 19: Coffee Talk w/ Mr. Jones for 2nd and 3rd Grade Parents

Friday, Oct 30: Halloween Parade & Parties (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

Looking Ahead

Monday, Nov 2: Staff PD Day - No Students

Tuesday, Nov 3: Teacher Plan Day - No Students

Monday, Nov 9: Coffee Talk w/ Mr. Jones for 4th and 5th Grade Parents

Tuesday, Nov 10: CRES PTO Meeting (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM)

Friday, Nov 13: Individual Retake Photo Day (All Day)

Tuesday, Nov 17: Family Lunch (11:15 AM - 12:25 PM)

Friday, Nov 20:

Turkey Round Up (7:40 AM - 8:00 AM)
Turkey Trot (2:10 PM - 3:00 PM)

Monday, Nov 23 – Friday, Nov 27: Thanksgiving Break - Schools Closed

Family Reminders

CRES Spelling Bee

Calling all 3rd-5th grade spellers!

If you have a student who is interested in participating in the 2026-27 spelling bee, please fill out this online form by Friday, October 16th.

The CRES Spelling Bee will take place during the school day on Thursday, December 10th. This will be a written spelling test.

The top 25 spellers in the district will move on to the District Spelling Bee in January.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Opfer at kim.opfer@tsd.org

Scholastic Book Fair

Book Fair Dates: October 13th-15th

Shopping Hours: Tues. 7:30am-4:00pm, Wed. 8:30am-7:00pm, Thurs. 7:30am-4:00pm

***The book fair ends at 4:00pm on the second day of parent/teacher conferences***

Book Fair Website: www.scholastic.com/bf/coyoteridgeelementary1

In order to make payment by students easier we are offering eWallets. Go to our book fair website to set up an eWallet for your child. Any unused funds at the end of the fair will be donated to the “Share the Fair” fund which is used to purchase books for classrooms, the library, and students in need.

Conferences - look for a sign up from your child's teacher

Fall Conferences

Wednesday, October 14: 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Thursday, October 15: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday, October 16: No Conferences

Spring Conferences Invite ONLY

Note: Total conference time is reduced by 4 hours due to the furlough day. Priority will be to meet with families of students who have READ plans.

Monday, March 2: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, March 3: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday, March 4: Furlough Day (No School / No Conferences)

Student-Led Conferences
Tuesday, April 28: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (2 Hours)

Halloween is Coming!!!

General Halloween Information

Halloween Parade: Friday, Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Classroom Parties (K-5): Immediately following the parade

Party volunteers may enter classrooms beginning at 1:45 p.m. Families attending classroom parties should sign in at the office and receive a visitor sticker before the parade. Families attending only the parade may go directly to the bus loop on the north side of the school.

Halloween Costume Guidelines

Participation is optional
Costumes should be safe and school-appropriate
No excessive blood, gore, weapons, or weapon-like props
Students should arrive in costume with makeup/hairspray already applied
Costumes must allow students to participate in regular school activities
Small costume additions may be put on before the parade if students can do so independently
Inflatable costumes may be worn for the parade only
Please leave valuable items at home
No high heels
Costume headphones are allowed, but phone and other electronic devices should remain at home

Food Policy

The district requires that all food brought in for celebrations be pre-packaged and commercially sealed, and consist primarily of healthy options (fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc.). Water shall be promoted as the main beverage choice.

Thank you for helping us make Halloween safe and fun for everyone!

Around Coyote Ridge

NEW: QR CODE for Sign-in/Sign-out

The Attendance Team at CRES has been working on improving our processes for recording student attendance to align with new district protocols and procedures. We want to let you know about some of the changes you can expect in the upcoming days and weeks. The biggest change is that we will be moving from a paper sign-in/sign-out process to a digital one.

Starting in late September, we will begin testing out using a QR code that will link to a Google Form for guardians to sign their student into or out of school. Guardians will be asked to bring in their phones in order to complete this process. We will continue to have a paper sign-in as a backup through October as everyone adjusts to this new system. Starting November 1st, we will complete the roll-over process to be fully digital.

Note: Parents and guardians are required to come into the school to sign students in when they arrive late or sign them out when leaving early. Please bring your phone with you, as it will be needed to complete the sign-in or sign-out process.

Update on the Kinder consolidation

Kindergarten has been fully consolidated with Mrs. Bozic as the classroom teacher.
Ms. Edwards now provides support in both Kindergarten and the Lunchroom.
Mrs. Vandenberg officially took over Mrs. Schell’s classroom starting September 29th.
Mrs. Schell now teaches 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade math classes by splitting the groups with homeroom teachers.
Mrs. Schell’s classroom is situated across the hall from the 4th and 5th grade classrooms.
Changes will be fully implemented building-wide by October 1st, following the 5th graders' return from Ecoweek.

Our Attendance HERO campaign is going strong!

Attendance HEROs are students who are Here, Everyday, Ready and On-time for an entire week. Attendance HEROs will receive a voucher for a ticket to a Colorado Rapids soccer game. Chances to earn a HERO prize take place from 9/14/26-10/9/26. Contact Lauren.Myers@teamkse.com with questions.

The IB Learner Profile

The Learner Profile is an essential component of the IB programme at all levels. These are the qualities the International Baccalaureate (IB) encourages students to develop so they can grow into well-rounded, caring, and capable learners and people. These attributes include:

1. Inquirers
Students develop curiosity and a love of learning. They ask thoughtful questions, explore ideas, and enjoy finding out new things both inside and outside the classroom.

2. Knowledgeable
They build a strong base of knowledge across many subjects and use it to understand ideas that matter in the world, not just in school.

3. Thinkers
Students learn to think critically and creatively to solve problems and make good decisions.

4. Communicators
They express themselves confidently in different ways—speaking, writing, drawing, and more—and they also listen carefully to others.

5. Principled
Students act with honesty, fairness, and respect. They take responsibility for their choices and do what is right, even when no one is watching.

6. Open-Minded
They appreciate their own culture and history but are also open to learning from others. They respect different perspectives, beliefs, and traditions.

7. Caring
Students show kindness and compassion. They think about others’ needs and work to make a positive difference in their school, community, and the world.

8. Risk-Takers
They are willing to try new things and step outside their comfort zone. They approach challenges with determination and resilience.

9. Balanced
Students understand the importance of caring for their minds, bodies, and emotions. They also value spending time on schoolwork, hobbies, family, and friends.

10. Reflective
They take time to think about what they are learning and how they are growing. They celebrate successes and set goals for improvement.

This year, we will be recognizing students for exemplifying the IB Learner Profile Attributes each month throughout the year. Each month will have a different focus area. This is a merit-based award, and students and staff have the opportunity to nominate two students per grade level each month for these awards! Specialist teachers will each nominate a student each month as well. It is possible for a student to receive two awards in one month, if their classroom teacher and a specialist nominates them!

Our monthly focus areas are:

September: Thinker and Principled
October: Open-Minded and Caring
November/December: Inquirer and Risk-Taker
January: Communicator and Reflective
February: Caring and Balanced
March: Inquirer and Knowledgeable
April: Risk-Taker and Knowledgeable
May: Reflective and Open-Minded

If you have any questions about the Learner Profile Attributes, please reach out to Katy Wynn, IB programme coordinator, at katy.wynn@tsd.org, and click here for more information!

Thank you to our families and Mr. Carter for cleaning up our garden!

PTO Info

New Spirit Wear Store!

A portion of every purchase will be donated to CRES PTO!

GET YOUR CRES GEAR HERE

Join us for PTO & SAC

All parents are encouraged to attend PTO and SAC meetings. Join us on Google Meets if you cannot make it in person. Links are in the FAMILY CALENDAR.

October 6th - PTO / SAC 5:00-6:30PM

November 10th - PTO 5:00-6:30PM

January 12th - PTO / SAC 5:00-6:30PM

February 9th - PTO 5:00-6:30PM

March 23rd - PTO / SAC 5:00-6:30PM

April 13th - PTO / SAC 5:00-6:30PM

May 11th - PTO 5:00-6:30PM

September Minutes

Check out the minutes from our September PTO meeting here! Our next meeting is combined with SAC on October 6 from 5pm-6:30pm in the CRES library. Childcare will be provided during the meeting by LHS Key Club students. Hope to see you there!

Coyote Campaign!

Support this year's Coyote Campaign now through October 19th! 100% of your tax-deductible donation will support CRES teachers and students. Each class who raises an average of $25/student will earn a PJ/stuffy day reward, and if we reach our whole-school goals, Mr. Jones will get in on the fun:

$5000+ total: Mr. Jones wears an inflatable costume all day
$6000+ total: Mr. Jones works on the roof of the school
$7500+ total: Mr. Jones will become a human ice cream sundae

Please sign up to bring conference meal food items or help with set-up/clean-up.

District Info

TSD Bond

The TSD Bond Director recently walked us through the work that would be done at CRES from the 2025 Bond. The three main projects they will be working on are:

Chiller
Lighting
Masonry Repairs

This work is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027 (right after the last day of school) and to be completed by August of 2027. For more info please visit the bond website: https://www.tsdbond.org/about

CRES Quick Links

Luke Jones, Principal

Coyote Ridge Elementary: an IB World School

7115 Avondale Rd

Fort Collins, CO 80525

P: 970-679-9403

The Coyote Howler

October 1st, 2026

Principal's Message

MISSION STATEMENT

Coffee Talks

Important Dates

October at a Glance

Looking Ahead

Family Reminders

CRES Spelling Bee

Scholastic Book Fair

Conferences - look for a sign up from your child's teacher

Fall Conferences

Spring Conferences Invite ONLY

Halloween is Coming!!!

Around Coyote Ridge

NEW: QR CODE for Sign-in/Sign-out

Update on the Kinder consolidation

Our Attendance HERO campaign is going strong!

The IB Learner Profile

Thank you to our families and Mr. Carter for cleaning up our garden!

PTO Info

New Spirit Wear Store!

Join us for PTO & SAC

September Minutes

Coyote Campaign!

Please sign up to bring conference meal food items or help with set-up/clean-up.

District Info

TSD Bond

CRES Quick Links

School Links

Parent Resources

Coyote Community

Principal's Message

MISSION STATEMENT

Coffee Talks

Important Dates Important Dates

October at a Glance

Looking Ahead

Family Reminders Family Reminders

CRES Spelling Bee CRES Spelling Bee

Scholastic Book Fair Scholastic Book Fair

Conferences - look for a sign up from your child's teacher Conferences - look for a sign up from your child's teacher

Fall Conferences

Spring Conferences *Invite ONLY*

Halloween is Coming!!! Halloween is Coming!!!

Around Coyote Ridge Around Coyote Ridge

NEW: QR CODE for Sign-in/Sign-out NEW: QR CODE for Sign-in/Sign-out

Update on the Kinder consolidation Update on the Kinder consolidation

Our Attendance HERO campaign is going strong! Our Attendance HERO campaign is going strong!

The IB Learner Profile The IB Learner Profile

Thank you to our families and Mr. Carter for cleaning up our garden! Thank you to our families and Mr. Carter for cleaning up our garden!

PTO Info PTO Info

New Spirit Wear Store! New Spirit Wear Store!

Join us for PTO & SAC

September Minutes September Minutes

Coyote Campaign! Coyote Campaign!

Please sign up to bring conference meal food items or help with set-up/clean-up. Please sign up to bring conference meal food items or help with set-up/clean-up.

District Info District Info

TSD Bond TSD Bond

CRES Quick Links CRES Quick Links

School Links School Links

Parent Resources Parent Resources

Coyote Community Coyote Community

Important Dates

Family Reminders

CRES Spelling Bee

Scholastic Book Fair

Conferences - look for a sign up from your child's teacher

Spring Conferences Invite ONLY

Halloween is Coming!!!

Around Coyote Ridge

NEW: QR CODE for Sign-in/Sign-out

Update on the Kinder consolidation

Our Attendance HERO campaign is going strong!

The IB Learner Profile

Thank you to our families and Mr. Carter for cleaning up our garden!

PTO Info

New Spirit Wear Store!

September Minutes

Coyote Campaign!

Please sign up to bring conference meal food items or help with set-up/clean-up.

District Info

TSD Bond

CRES Quick Links

School Links

Parent Resources

Coyote Community