Ryan's Weekly Family Update
9.8.25
Message from the Principal
Dear Ryan Families,
We are so grateful for your continued support and all the ways you help your children — and our school — grow and thrive!
This week, we look forward to connecting with you at two important events:
Families and Educators Together (FET) Meeting on 9/8 at 6:00 PM
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting on 9/10 at 6:30 PM in library
📘 Ryan Family Handbook
If you haven’t yet reviewed the Ryan Family Handbook, you can find it here:
👉 Ryan Family Handbook 2025-26
🚗 Arrival & Dismissal Reminders
Use the Hug-n-Go Lane for safe and efficient drop off/pick up.
Please review our procedures: 25-26 Ryan Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Recess Before & After School: Students must be supervised by a parent/guardian if playing on school grounds before or after school. Staff are only available to supervise breakfast in the mornings — not recess activities. We do have two staff members on the playground in the morning, starting at 7:40 am (8:40 am on Wednesdays) to monitor 1st through 3rd grade students, but not enough staff to monitor recess. 4th and 5th grade students line up outside their classroom doors before school.
🚴♀️ Walk Your Wheels on Campus
We love seeing students ride bikes and scooters to school! A few important reminders:
Walk your wheels once you’re on the sidewalk or school property.
Lock bikes/scooters and take them home daily.
Helmets are encouraged for all riders.
🐶 Animals on Campus
For everyone’s safety:
No dogs are allowed on campus, except for service animals.
For full guidelines, see :Dogs on School Property - What's Allowed?
🅿️ South Parking Lot (Near Portables)
This lot is staff only — please do not park or drop off students here.
Respect signs for bus and neighbor zones on nearby streets.
🔒 Safety Drills
Student safety is a top priority. Per BVSD and state policy:
Fire Drills – Monthly
Lockdown Drills – Twice per year (first drill: Sept. 23 in the morning)
Shelter in Place, Lockout, Secure – Two times per year
You can learn more at: 👉 BVSD Safety and Security
You may also see friendly visits from the Lafayette Police Department, and each school is supported by a School Safety Advocate (SSA).
Ryan Elementary is a vibrant and caring community, filled with incredible students, families, and staff. Thank you for all you do to make it such a special place!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Jackman
Principal
- Letter from Principal Jackman
- Important Dates and Events
- Student Council Information
- Batle of the Books Information
- Ryan's Choir Announcement
- Wednesday Care Registration
- School Supplies Information
- School Accountability Committee (SAC) Information
- Attendance Letters Explained
- More Attendance Policy Information
- Arriving & Leaving Ryan Map
- Lost & Found Information
- Volunteer Instructions
- PTA Updates & Store
- Health Room Information
- Transportation Information
- Free & Reduced Lunch Application Details
- Free Dental Care Information
- BVSD Messenger Notifications
- Calendar Links
If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000
Selfie Celebrations for Rockin Rhinos!
Important Dates & Upcoming Events
September 10th, 11th and 12th: 5th grade students have Outdoor Education at Calwood
September 19 Fall Festival 4:30-6:30 PM
October 3 Rhino Stampede Fun Run
October 8th Bike, Walk or Roll to School Day
Fall, October Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, October 7th
Thursday, October 9th
Tuesday, October 15th
Spring, February Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, February 19th
Thursday, February 24th
Tuesday, February 26th
Student Council Information
If you want to make a difference in your school and community while having fun and encouraging school spirit, then Student Council is the club for you! All interested 4th and 5th grade students should come to the Student Council info session held on Monday, September 8th from 2:50-3:30pm in Mrs. Lewandowski's kindergarten classroom, room 100. Parents please plan on picking up your child from this meeting right at 3:30pm. Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Lewandowski if you have any questions amber.lewandowski@bvsd.org.
Student Council Info Meeting 9/8 (2:50-3:30)
Student Council Campaign Session 9/12 (2:50-3:30)
Student Council Applications DUE 9/12
Campaign Posters DUE 9/12
Campaign Speeches DUE 9/12
Elections 9/16
Meeting Dates have Changed from Wednesdays to MONDAYS:
1st Meeting 9/15
1st Event Fall Festival 9/19
Meetings will be held each Mondays 2:50-3:30pm in room 100.
Battle of the Books Time!
The 2025-2026 Battle of the Books list has been released! More to come on this library program soon!
RHINO CHOIR ANNOUNCEMENT
Hello Ryan Families!
Choir is open to all 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in group singing. Together, we’ll explore vocal technique, learn to sing in multiple parts, and enjoy a wide variety of songs.
Rehearsals will take place in the Music Room on Wednesdays after school until 3:45 p.m., beginning September 24 and running through March 11. Students will perform in two concerts: December 17 and March 12.
We are requesting a $20 donation to help cover materials. Each student will also receive a Choir t-shirt if they don’t already have one. Donations can be made here. Please note, a donation is not required for participation.
To join, please review this document for rehearsal and concert dates and complete this form by September 24.
Questions? Contact Shauna Keene at shauna.keene@bvsd.org or 720-561-7031.
Registration IS NOW CLOSED for Early Care on Wednesdays
EVERY Wednesday morning is a Late Start, school begins one hour later, buses arrive one hour later.
LATE START CARE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED, we have reached our capacity.
Ryan Elementary provides care on Wednesdays for pre-registered Kindergarten-5th Grade students. The care is provided by two instructional paraeducators from 7:40-8:40 a.m. Students must arrive between 7:40-7:50, and must be signed in by a parent, to be part of the late start care group.
This is a one time registration for the 2025-26 school year.
The schedule is as follows:
7:40-7:50 a.m. Sign In
7:50-8:30 a.m. Recess (usually outside)
8:30-8:40 a.m. Breakfast
8:40 a.m. Students may go outside or finish breakfast in the Rhino Cafe
School Supplies Information
The school supplies for K-5 include the following for the 2025-26 School Year:
Full Sized Backpack
Headphones/Earbuds
Water Bottle with name on it
$50 Donation You can donate by clicking here or with cash or check written to Ryan Elementary
If you are in need of support with school supplies, please reach out to our community liaisons, Miriam Wright miriam.wright@bvsd.org, or Ana Lilia Lujan Castillo ana.lujancastillo@bvsd.org or call the front office.
Attendance Letter Communication Details
When students in BVSD reach a certain number of absences (you can find the breakdown below), you will receive an AUTOMATED attendance letter. All absences excused or unexcused will receive these communications when the number of absences reach the particular threshold. Also please note, three (3) unexcused partial absences or five (5) unexcused tardies will equal one unexcused absence.
Letter Criteria:
Friendly Letter after 5 days missed
Letter A after 10 days missed
Letter B after 15 days missed
Attendance Policy Information
Daily Attendance
Please help your child develop good attendance habits. Research shows that missing just two days per month severely impacts reading and math growth. To make expected academic and social emotional gains, students should be at school at a rate of 95% or more. Habits developed in elementary school often carry over into middle school and high school.
If your child will be absent:
Please let us know online via Infinite Campus OR call Ryan’s attendance line at 720-561-7002 by 8:05 a.m. If your student is arriving late, please note that in the comments section online. Always notify the office of an absence or late arrival, not just the classroom teacher.
Attendance - Ryan Elementary School. Please include the following information in your voice message: your name, student’s name, grade & teacher, and the reason for the absence.
As a safety precaution, all primary contacts of students marked as unaccounted absences will receive notification by BVSD’s automated attendance system to verify a child’s absence. Promptly calling in absences and tardies will prevent your home or workplace from being disturbed.
If at all possible, make every attempt to schedule doctor and dentist appointments before or after the school day, as this tends to take away from a student’s learning time. If your child does have a medical appointment, providing us with documentation helps us code these absences properly.
Automated calls are made by 9:00 a.m. for students who are marked as “unexcused absence”.
Procedures and information about student absences are explain in the March 2024 Revised Board Policy, JH and Attendance & Engagement - Boulder Valley School District
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.
Arriving and Leaving Ryan Elementary
- If your child is planning to take the bus to school, please be at your bus stop 5 minutes early and also at the end of the day to greet your child as they are dropped off at their stop.
- If you are driving to the school to walk them up to the building, please carefully park in the hug & go parking lot or park in the neighborhood and be mindful to not block any driveways.
- Always use the crosswalk to cross the street.
- If you are staying in your car to drop off/pick up your student(s), please use this map and only use the hug and go lane, NOT the bus lane.
Lost & Found
PLEASE remember to label your child's items, it helps us to get the items back to the owner.
Please come and check the Lost and Found bin often, items are donated monthly.
The lost and found bin is located in the vestibule outside of the office next to the Longmont Dairy milk cap collection bin.
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, bring breakfast and coffee to teachers for late start or volunteer for the 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!
Volunteers and field trip chaperones that volunteer once and are under line-of-sight supervision by BVSD staff at all times only need to go through the front office Raptor check-in process.
Individuals interested in volunteering and interacting with students on an ongoing basis under line of sight supervision of BVSD staff, complete the appropriate yearly application; ENGLISH or SPANISH. Please note, there is a $32.00 background fee due at the time of submission.
For volunteers, partners, or field trip chaperones who will not be under line-of-sight supervision of BVSD staff at all times – CBI fingerprint check is required through a third party vendor (these background checks are now valid for 5 years), paid by the volunteer or partner AND volunteer must sign a BVSD volunteer agreement (Spanish) each year.
Please see the Volunteers/Visitors Flowchart and the Volunteer/Visitor FAQ for additional details.
PTA Update
We are excited to start off another great year of PTA! The families and staff at Ryan Elementary School are committed to building community and creating a positive learning environment where our children can grow and thrive. The PTA is an active part of the school and the community.
Our first community meeting will be September 10th starting at 6:30 in the Library. All are welcome to join!
To join or renew your membership, please click here.
Fall fest is right around the corner! Please follow the link below to sign up to volunteer to make this event amazing!
https://bvsd.helpatschools.com/schools/16/events/16152
The Ryan PTA invites your student to participate in the National PTA Reflections Student Art Showcase for the 2025-2026 school year! In Reflections, Ryan students will submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories (TBD;) selected from among Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts in the following program divisions: Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5), and Accessible Arts (all grades welcome). The theme for the 2025-2026 program year is “I Belong!”
Reflections is a National PTA cultural arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas; develop artistic literacy; increase confidence and creativity; develop critical thinking and problem solving skills; and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school, but in life. See the following short video for an introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30WEbPSYIs
The PTA is committed to using community businesses whenever possible. In an effort to expand our reach, we've created a survey for you to share your business' information. Please fill out this interest form to let us know who you are, what you do, and if you are willing and able at this time to donate to our school. Thank you!
PTA Family Store Link!
Are you looking for some Ryan Rhino gear? Please click on the link below for tshirts, sweatshirts, mugs, etc! These items would make great gifts for your favorite Rhino.
News From the Health Room
If your child needs medication at school, Ryan's Healthroom Para, Chrystal Terhune, would be happy to receive medications and Dr. orders from a parent/guardian at the front office.
MEDICATIONS MAY NOT BE SENT TO SCHOOL WITH STUDENTS*
2025-2026 School House Letter, outlines Immunizations Policy, Medications and Health and Vision Screening, you can find that here (Spanish)
Questions? Email our healthroom para, Chrystal Terhune
Transportation Information
For assistance with transportation inquiries, trans.helpdesk@bvsd.org or 720.561.5126
Free and Reduced Lunch application now open, provides other important cost savings for families who qualify
Breakfast and lunch at BVSD continue to be free at least through December 2025 (pending a state vote). Every BVSD student currently may enjoy breakfast and a hot lunch entree, which includes unlimited salad bar access each school day. Second entrees can be purchased when available with money from your student’s meal account.
Even though meals are free, we strongly encourage eligible families to apply for the Free and Reduced Price School Meal program. It may qualify families for additional services and reduced fees, and improve funding for schools. More information and directions to apply.
Free Dental Care Available
Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) is a nonprofit organization that hosts a large-scale, two-day free dental clinic in a different Colorado community each year. Since 2007, COMOM has served more than 20,000 patients and provided over $18 million in donated dental services.
The clinics are open to anyone in need and are held in large venues—such as schools or event centers—that they transform into fully functional, 125-chair dental facilities. Over two days, patients receive cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, dentures, and ceramic crowns—all at no cost. This effort is made possible through the support of nearly 200 volunteer dentists, along with hygienists, assistants, lab technicians, healthcare professionals, and hundreds of community volunteers. Beyond relieving pain, they restore oral health and appearance—helping patients regain confidence, dignity, and even employment opportunities.
This year, the clinic will be held in Loveland at The Ranch on October 17–18. They expect to serve more than 1,600 patients with the help of over 2,000 volunteers. Because of Loveland’s proximity, this could be a valuable resource for many BVSD students and families.
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