Shepardson Newsletter

This week our Fifth Graders and 12 staff went to the CSU Mountain Campus for their Eco Experience trip! We had an amazing time and are so thankful that our students could be immersed in the mountains to learn valuable lessons. Thank you to all who support this trip. We couldn’t do it without the support from our PTO, Fifth Grade families, and the dedicated staff who give their personal time to make sure students get this opportunity.

PSD sent an email this week encouraging student attendance ahead of the Colorado Department of Education "October Count," which determines annual district funding based on enrollment. Daily attendance during late September and early October is critical for school financial support. To support attendance, Shepardson is hosting a Spirit Week from September 29 to October 2 with daily incentives. The themes for those days are:

• September 28th - no school (Teacher Work Day)

• September 29th - Tye Dye Tuesday

• September 30th - Wacky Hair Wednesday

• October 1st - Twinning Thursday

• October 2nd - Fort Collins Friday - wear your purple and gold

I hope your family has a wonderful weekend!

Yours,

Laura

Laura Sutton

Principal, Shepardson STEM Elementary
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Web she.psdschools.org Email lsutton@psdschools.org
1501 Springwood Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525

Shepardson... educating every child, every day by cultivating curious, inclusive, and thriving students who are prepared for the world.

• Sun, Sept 20 - 10:00am - SHEPARDSON 4K FUN RUN
• Mon, Sep 21 - 3:45pm - Book Club First Class!
• Tues, Sep 22 - 4:30-6:00 - SAC Meeting
• Wed, Sept 23 - 8:00am - Coding Club First Class!
• Wed, Sept 23 - 3:45pm - Mileage Club
• Thurs, Sept 24 - 8:00am - Star Choir Rehearsal
• Thurs, Sept 24 - School Picture Day
• Fri, Sept 25 - 8:15am - Mileage Club
• Mon, Sept 28 - No School, Teacher Work Day
• Sept 29 - Oct 2 - Spirit Week and Attendance Promotion!
• Fri, Oct 2 - PTO Movie Night

Hi, I’m Molly Kechter—yes, like the road! I’ve been at Shepardson for six years and have worked in Integrated Services for 26 years. I truly love my job and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

• Pre-Registration ONLINE ENDS on Friday, Sept 18th at 11:59pm.
• Walk Up Registration Opens at 9am on Sunday, Sept 20th.
• PLEASE PAY BY CARD!!! District does not accept cash or checks!

REGISTRATION

• Click on Picture Above to Register through School Pay
• Pre-Registration Preferred (PSD is CASHLESS!)
• Pre-Registration CLOSES on Friday, Sept 18th at 11:59PM
• All Pre-Registered Runners will receive a t-shirt upon registering. (Shirts available until gone.)

REGISTRATION COST

Individual: $12

Family (4+): $40

Race Day Details

9:00 am - RACE DAY WALK UP REGISTRATION (Pre-Registration is Preferred) - Card Only!

9:15am - Pre-Registered Check In

10:00am - 4K Run/Walk Begins

WE NEED ACTIVITY PRESENTERS. Read below for more information about how to help on this super fun STEM night!

After School Enrichment Programs Hosted at Shepardson

Community partners often apply to host their programs at Shepardson. If you are interested in these programs please click the link below:

CLICK HERE to go to website for more information!

Family Outdoor Movie Night: Minions and Monsters
Friday, Oct. 2 - Movie starts at 6:45 p.m.
Bring a blanket and join the Shepardson community under the stars for a movie night on the school lawn. Popcorn and concessions will be available for purchase, and the Kona Ice truck will be on site, with 25% of their proceeds benefiting the school. Sign up to help, or to lend items like coolers and twinkle lights.

Join the Shepardson Parent-Teacher Organization! Together, we make up the village that supports our children — showing up, supporting teachers, building connections, and investing in our school community.

Summer EBT Program: https://cdhs.colorado.gov/summer-ebt

• Summer EBT (also known as SUN Bucks) gives eligible children a one-time payment of $120 to help pay for food the summer when school is out.

• Your child is eligible and will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT if...

• Your child attends a school participating in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Program (NSLP), AND one or more of the following:

• Receives SNAP or Colorado Works (TANF)

• Has household income ≤ 185% of the federal poverty guidelines and receives Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or your household submitted an income form to their school

• Is homeless, in foster care, is in the Migrant Education Program, or runaway

• Your child is between 6–17 years and does not attend an NSLP school but meets any of the above criteria.

All PK-8 schools are cell phone free zones from bell to bell. Students must keep phones, headphones, smart watches, and other electronic accessories out of sight and on silent unless approved by an administrator or specified in an IEP, 504 plan or Health Care Action Plan. If a student needs to get in touch with their family during the school day, they need to ask their teacher and/or the school office.

For full details, visit the PSD Code of Conduct page, found here.

Sometimes life can be a little hectic, so it is important to make sure that your information is up to date and correct in ParentVUE, especially when it comes to proper contacts and authorized pickup information for your child or children.

Be sure to check this information in your ParentVUE account to ensure that the right people can be contacted when needed or a student can be released to the appropriate person.

Contact Dawnel Meyer, the Shepardson Registrar, if you need any assistance.

Poudre School District is planning for the next several decades of public education in our community. That work involves tackling questions about enrollment, facilities, and how we use our resources to serve every student well.

This page under the Community section of the PSD website brings that work together in one place. On that site you will find the committee leading it, the teams doing the detailed planning, the enrollment data behind it, and the timeline for what comes next.

Be sure to submit a Free and Reduced Status application ahead of the first day back. Completing this form not only makes students eligible for waived school fees and benefits through Fort Collins City programs, but also helps PSD receive federal funding to support classrooms and learning opportunities; your child’s eligibility status is confidential and must be renewed annually.

To do this, parents can fill out two forms: the Free and Reduced-Priced Status online application, found here, as well as the Permission to Share form through ParentVUE.