Ryan's Weekly Family Update

Dear Ryan Elementary Community,

Thank you for your continued support in helping students come prepared for Colorado’s ever-changing weather. Please remember to write a name on items/clothes students bring to school to help increase the return of these items. If there is a name on something, we return it to the student before the lost and found is donated each month.

Report Cards & Conferences

• Report cards for students in 1st–5th grade are now viewable in Infinite Campus.

• Directions for accessing report cards are linked HERE.

• Parent-teacher conferences will take place in mid-February — more details coming soon.

If you would like a hard copy of your child’s report card, please contact your child’s teacher and/or the main office.

🌟 Dare to Dream Week/Month

Today, we kicked off our Dare to Dream Week/Month with an assembly!

Throughout the week and month, lessons taught by our counselor and librarian will focus on themes related to career exploration. On Thursday, we will welcome many guest speakers who will share about their careers with our students. We had an overwhelming response and not enough slots for everyone this first year. Thank you to our amazing Ryan community for your enthusiasm and support.

You can read more about how this initiative aligns with BVSD and Ryan’s goals here: Career exploration for every student, at every age | News Article

🏆 Middle of the Year A.G.E. Awards

This week, students in Kindergarten, 3rd and 5th grade will be honored during our third annual Middle of the Year A.G.E. (Achievement, Growth, and Effort) Awards.

Students in 1st, 2nd, and 4th Grade will have their celebrations next week.

Classroom teachers and I will recognize every student as they walk across the red carpet and receive their certificate(s).

💜 No Place for Hate Initiative

You may have noticed the small purple flags lining our playground. These represent our No Place for Hate Initiative. Students who signed the pledge earlier this year also wrote their first name on a flag to help unite our school community.

You can view the pledge here: NPFH-pledge-FINAL.pdf.

I love that these flags stayed in place through the recent windstorms — a powerful visual reminder of how strong and resilient our school community truly is.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

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:

• Letter from Principal Jackman
• Important Dates and Events
• Ryan's got Talent details
• Reading Program Opportunity
• Life Long Learning, time to sign up for next session
• Free Safety Webinar
• Health Room Reminder
• Preschool Enrollment Information
• Original Works Extension
• Community Resources & Parent Support
• PTA Updates & Store
• Parent Portal Information
• BVSD Weather Delay/Closure System
• Health Insurance Resources Available
• Spelling Bee Opportunity Details
• Important Parking Instructions
• Attendance Policy Information
• Volunteer Instructions
• BVSD Messenger Notifications
• Calendar Links

If you have an immediate need, please call the main office at 720.561.7000

January 12th 6-7:30pm TONIGHT! FET Meeting (Families and Educators Together)

January 14th 6:30pm PTA Meeting in the Ryan Library.

January 19th - NO SCHOOL for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February 2-6 Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive

February 16th NO SCHOOL for President's Day

February 17th NO SCHOOL for Parent/Teacher Conference Exchange Day

February 19, 24 and 26 Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

March 12 - Ryan's Got Talent Show

Fill your student's spring with Chess, Robotics, Sports, Cooking and more!

Register by January 14 for the first session.

Click to see your options:

Ryan LLL Classes

Call (720)561-5968 or email lifelong.learning@bvsd.org with any questions.

A Webinar is being offered by the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking and the Boulder Police Department for Parents and Caregivers.

Please click here to learn more.

The Louisville Public Library has an exciting opportunity for all 1st graders! 50 Books in First Grade is a free program for any 1st grader. Register for the program, read books and submit a reading log. Students will earn a free book of their choice when they finish. Visit this link to register and read more!

Ryan's Got Talent is back on March 12, 2026! All students are invited to audition for the show during Music Class. Please click here for all the information. Click here to submit the required audition form. Contact Ms. Shauna at shauna.keene@bvsd.org or 720-561-7031 for any questions or concerns.

Regional Spelling Bee Only

Parents and community members, we are looking for volunteers for this year's BVSD Regional Spelling Bee which will take place on March 7th in the New Vista High auditorium.

Volunteer Roles and duties include: On the day of the spelling bee, organizers are needed to do everything from checking in spellers, setting up the stage and physical event space, and receiving appeals and communicating them to the officials, to answering questions from parents, spellers and audience members. We cannot do this work without our amazing volunteers! Please fill out this interest form if you are interested.

As temperatures drop, we want to remind all parents and guardians about the importance of dressing children

warmly for school. Children must come to school prepared with warm winter clothing, including a heavy coat,

gloves, a hat, and other appropriate layers for the classroom and comfort outside, please make sure all items are

labelled in case they are lost.

We no longer need clothes for the health room! However, if you have extra gloves or unworn socks we

would love to get extras of those

Healthy Students are Better Learners

We support the well-being and academic success of all students through health promotion, disease

prevention, health care coordination and advocacy for the health and wellness of the whole child. How Sick is Too Sick?

The Universal Preschool Program (UPK) application for four year olds is now open. The pre-registration period for children returning for a second year of preschool, preschool siblings of children already attending, and parent employees closes on February 2nd. Returners will have a spot reserved for them but they must apply through the UPK website to keep it. Siblings and parent employees will be enrolled first come, first served. Apply here.

The Preschool Tuition Lottery window for three year olds closes on December 17th at 4 pm. Children must turn three by October 1st, 2026 to be eligible. Apply here.

In 2026-27 we will continue to offer half-day Preschool sessions five days a week, morning and afternoon, at all of our sites. The majority of our sites also offer Preschool Enrichment to extend the day.

Families who are paying tuition for more than one child can apply for a 15% sibling discount in either Preschool or Preschool Enrichment. A 15% discount to Enrichment tuition will be offered to parent/guardian employees. (Please note that only one discount can be applied.)

Children do not need to be potty trained to enroll in a BVSD preschool!

Email us at preschool@bvsd.org or call 720-561-5075 if you’re interested or would like to find out more.

We have GREAT NEWS! Our Original Works Online Direct Program is still open for Late Orders!

If you missed the earlier order deadline or just want to order more, now is the time to do that!

Order by January 31, 2026

CLICK HERE to order.

Enter your student’s access code that is found on the Original Works ordering instruction flyer that was sent home previously.

If you don’t have your student’s access code, you can email CS@originalworks.com and provide your school name, city and state and your child’s name, grade and teacher. Your student’s access code will be emailed to you.

The orders will ship to your home.

Keep in mind, the items make great gifts for any special day like Birthdays, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day! And our school continues to earn a profit on every late order placed.

Thanks for supporting our school with your order!

Mark your calendars for our new event, the "VIP Dance!" Coming February 12th. Interested in helping plan this event? Please join us at our next PTA Meeting this Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30 in the Ryan Library. See you all then!

Have you linked your King Soopers card to Ryan PTA yet? King Soopers Community Rewards donates thousands of dollars annually to our PTA, nearly 10% of the PTA income. The Ryan Community would be so grateful if you would enroll your card for Ryan Elementary. Enrolling is absolutely free. To connect your account, I've listed short steps below, you can view detailed instructions here, or you can email us with any specific questions.

PTA Website

PTA Facebook

Ryan Parents Facebook

Ryan Spiritwear Store

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.

PTA Family Store

Starting on January 1st, you will not be able to add/change emergency contacts for your student(s).

Please contact Jamie.Hanes@bvsd.org for assistance with adding/changing emergency contacts or updating address information.

You are still be able to update your own parent email and phone number by following these instructions.

BVSD weather delay and closure procedures

Under all but the most extreme conditions, school officials have a responsibility to keep school in session. During Colorado winters, snow and ice may result in a delay or closure if necessary. No notices means no closures or significant delays have been reported.

As always, BVSD respects a parent's decision to keep students home from school or delay their arrival due to weather conditions. Contact the school's attendance office and the absence will be excused.

BVSD Health Services is sharing the following information for families who may be in need of health insurance or would like to explore their options, knowing that preventive and supportive services provided through this coverage helps keep students healthy and ready to learn.

Open Enrollment for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado is happening now through January 15, 2026. This is the time when individuals and families can find affordable health coverage for the coming year.

We’ve included helpful flyers with information about both Connect for Health Colorado and OmniSalud, a program that offers health insurance options for Coloradans regardless of immigration status.

Families who would like support can contact the Boulder County Enrollment Center for free assistance with Connect for Health Colorado, OmniSalud, Health First Colorado (Medicaid), and CHP+. The Enrollment Center provides confidential, unbiased guidance in English and Spanish, and in other languages through an interpreter.

To schedule an appointment with a Health Coverage Guide, visit boco.org/HealthCoverage, call 303-441-4530, or email HealthCoverage@BoulderCounty.gov.

Questions? Contact Joanna Harrison(joanna.harrison@bvsd.org), Resource Nurse

The bus lane is reserved for buses only at all times!

Our school is a busy place! We have buses coming and going throughout the entire school day with Preschool pick ups and drop offs, field trips and early arrivals.

We also have the bus lane available to Emergency Vehicles, when needed.

Please use the Northeast parking lot or park in the neighborhood.

Also, do not park in the South parking lot, which is a staff parking lot, or in the Handicap parking spaces unless you have a sticker displayed in your vehicle.

Thank you for your cooperation!

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!

bvsd.org/volunteer

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.

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.

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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.

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

BVSD uses School Messenger to communicate with families as needed via email, phone call and text message to those opted in to receive BVSD Communications.

Users can adjust their communication preferences and opt-in to text messages as desired via instructions found on the BVSD School Messenger Support webpage.

BVSD Calendar Link

• 2025-26 Parent -Teacher Printable (English)
• 2025-26 Parent-Teacher Printable Calendar (Spanish)

• 2025-26 Academic Calendar Printable (English)

• 2025-26 Academic Calendar Printable (Spanish)

• 2025-26 Preschool Calendar Printable (English)

• 2025-26 Preschool Calendar Printable(Spanish)

• Elementary ABC Specials Weekly Rotation Calendar (English)

• Ryan's Specials Schedule Color Rotation

• Calendario de clases especiales ABC (Español)

Website: https://rye.bvsd.org/
Location: 1405 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, CO, USA
Phone: 720-561-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanElemSTEAM