Werner Weekly

• Sept. 28- No School, Staff Work Day
• Oct. 1-14 Werner Read-a-Thon Fundraiser (see details below)
• Oct. 1- Odyssey of the Mind Info Meeting, 5:00 pm, Media Center
• Oct. 6- PTA Meeting, 5:30 pm, Media Center
• Oct. 7-9- 5th grade Eco Experience Field Trip
• Oct. 15-16- No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences

Dear Werner Community,

Thanks for showing up for last night's Fall Fun Festival! Thanks for your patience with our weather delay and for staying through the end. It was great to see the smiles, fun, and feel of community.

A BIG "Thank You" goes to our PTA and countless volunteers. Their hard work in planning and serving created the magic we felt last night. This event is not a fundraiser, but only an event to promote community. We hope to bring back the Ninja Nation later this year so that our students can get more opportunity for enjoying it.

Thanks, again, for your support and embracing the challenges to see the rainbow on the other side!

Gratefully,

Hayden Camp

Principal

• No School on Monday- This is a friendly reminder that there is no school for elementary students on Monday, Sept. 28, for a staff work day. School will resume on Tuesday for our students.
• Odyssey of the Mind- If your student would like to participate in Odyssey of the Mind (OM), please see the Werner OM flyer and 26-27 OM problem options for more details. We will have an informational meeting on October 1st in the Werner Media Center from 5:00 - 5:45 for families who would like to learn more about Odyssey of the Mind (OM).
• Please use this link to provide the following information indicating your student's interest in participating in Odyssey of the Mind at Werner during the 2026-2027 school year. Registration closes on October 19th. After 10/19, we will review everyone's preferences and create teams. Please consider how your family can volunteer to support our OM teams and review the Student and Parent Agreement. Family participation is critical to the success of OM teams.
• Our goal is for teams to practice once a week, starting in late November. The initial cost is $50 and can be paid on School Pay. If you have questions, please contact Butterscotch Culhane at bculhane@psdschools.org.

• District Advisory Board (DAB) Help Needed- If you are interested in helping with Poudre School District's DAB, please contact our principal, Hayden Camp (hcamp@psdschools.org). The DAB advises the district on a number of issues and is made up of parent representatives from each school and acts as a link between the community and district. For more information, go to this site.
• KioskVUE- We are slowly shifting to new system to check in and check out students during the school day. Please see the info below for more details. Thanks for your help in supporting with this shift to help streamline our process more.

Dear Werner Families,

We are excited to announce that Werner is transitioning to using the KioskVue system for student check-in and check-out. This new system will streamline the process for recording late arrivals and early dismissals, offering families the flexibility to check in or out of school with ease.

How the KioskVue System Works:

• QR Code Scanning: Parents can use the ParentVUE mobile app to display their QR code, which can be scanned by the iPad in the front office. This will quickly record their late arrival or early dismissal.
• Manual Entry: Parents can manually enter their user ID and password into the iPad's on-screen keyboard to complete the check-in or check-out.

All options are simple and convenient, ensuring that students' tardiness or early departures are recorded accurately and efficiently.

What You Need to Know:

• ParentVUE Access: Ensure that you have access to the ParentVUE app, as this will allow you to view your child’s QR code. If you have any trouble accessing your account or need assistance, please contact the front office.

We hope this new system will provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for all families. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the school.

Thank you for your continued support!

Download the app from the iTunes Store or Google Play.

PSD ParentVUE resource https://www.psdschools.org/academics/parentvue

Throughout the year, we ask our community for photos that could be used for our yearbook and/or social media. This relates to school events only (e.g. classroom parties, field trips, school events, spirit days and enrichment opportunities). You can upload pictures to our 2026-27 Werner Photo Album throughout the year. Please be mindful to not include photos of students that may not have permission.

We often get questions about what are some of our favorite things for staff. You can find out more at this Staff Favorites link. This is also located under the "About Us" tab on the Werner website.

PTA President | Alison Aristoff

PTA Vice President | Nikki Erickson

PTA VP of Fundraising | Tabitha Nikolaev

PTA Treasurer | Ashley Kure

PTA Secretary | Juliana Potts

PTA Secretary Shadow | Sam Boren

PTA Past-President | Gladys Kanode

Connect with us at PTAWernerElementary@gmail.com

There Is No Wrong Way to PTA. How Do You PTA?

Thank you for supporting the Werner Elementary PTA!

Dear PSD Families, Students, Staff, and Community Members,

I am writing today to share that we are moving forward with a proposal to close or consolidate a number of Poudre School District schools. This is difficult news for everyone in our community and I want to share the recommendation made by the Comprehensive Planning Committee directly and openly.

Recommendation

Over the past seventeen months, the PSD Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC) has conducted a comprehensive analysis of enrollment trends, facility utilization, facility condition, transportation impact, program capacity, among many other factors, across the district. That analysis has informed the following preliminary recommendation for the 2027-2028 school year:

• Beattie Elementary School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Lopez Elementary School and Bennett Elementary School.
• Irish Elementary School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Cache la Poudre Elementary School and Bauder Elementary School. A specific cohort of multilingual language learners from Irish will be offered the opportunity to go to Harris Bilingual Immersion Elementary School.
• Johnson Elementary School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Olander Elementary School and McGraw Elementary School.
• Putnam Elementary School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Dunn Elementary School and Tavelli Elementary School.
• Livermore, Red Feather Lakes, and Stove Prairie Elementary Schools (the Mountain Schools) will close and students within the neighborhood boundaries of each school will be assigned to Cache la Poudre Elementary School.
• Timnath Elementary School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Linton Elementary School and Bamford Elementary School.
• A boundary change will be implemented for Bacon Elementary School.
• Blevins Middle School will close and students within the neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Webber Middle School and Lincoln Middle School.
• Centennial High School and Poudre Community Academy will consolidate to form a new school. The future location will be determined in early 2027.

An executive summary of the rationale supporting this recommendation can be found here.

Please view a video overview of the recommendation here.

A formal presentation of this recommendation will be shared with the Board of Education at their meeting on October 13. The packet for that meeting will be posted on the Board of Education page of the PSD website October 6. In it, community members will find the detailed rationale that supports this recommendation. I want to emphasize that this is a recommendation, not a final decision. The Board of Education will not act on this proposal until the Board of Education meeting on October 27.

Why This Is Necessary

Over the last several years, we have shared information with our community about the sustained enrollment decline that our district faces. While PSD is one of the highest performing districts in the state and nation, there are simply fewer children being born in our community, the cost of living is high, fewer families are residing here, and that trend is expected to continue. We are committed to offering our students robust educational experiences and to continue doing so responsibly and equitably, we must close schools.

To Our Students

I know this news is difficult. For many of you, your school is your home away from home, a place where you belong and where you experience the joy of learning alongside your classmates each and every day. While the school building you attend may change for next school year, I can assure you that the sense of belonging you feel in your school will not. The teachers and staff at your new school are ready and excited to welcome you.

I also know that it may be difficult to come to school each day in a school that you know is closing. The feelings that you are having about this change are valid. If you need support, please let the front office or your school counselor know. You have a community of support surrounding you that is ready to help!

To Our Families

I know this change is difficult for you as well. You entrust us with the care of your children every day and we do not take that responsibility lightly. The district is committed to supporting your students and each PSD family impacted school closures.

There are undoubtedly many questions about what this change will mean for families. To help answer those questions, the district will host meetings for families at affected schools. The dates/times of these meetings will be sent to impacted families. These sessions are open only to the families of the schools where they are scheduled.

PSD’s student Mental Health team will also be in attendance to provide support and guidance for you and your student. An FAQ with information is also available on the PSD website here. We appreciate your partnership as we navigate this period of change together.

To Our Staff

I acknowledge that, for many in our staff community, this is life changing news. And, I know that it is you — the people of PSD — who make our schools and the district exceptional. You serve our students and families as well as one another with professionalism, care, compassion, and dedication every day. The success of our schools is built on the relationships you create and the care you show our students.

I know that this recommendation creates uncertainty, concern, and difficult emotions and all of those feelings are understandable and are being taken seriously. To support you as we navigate this change together, the district will host meetings for staff at affected schools. The dates/times of these sessions will be shared directly with impacted staff. These sessions are open only to the staff of the schools where they are scheduled.

During these meetings, the Human Resources team will present information about staffing and will answer questions. Support from our Employee Assistance Services (EAS) team will also be available.

Listening Session Opportunities

The following opportunities to engage with the Board of Education regarding this recommendation prior to their vote on October 27 are open to all PSD families, staff, and community members, not only those connected to the schools recommended for closure above:

• October 12, 6:00-7:30pm, Timnath Middle-High School (Auditorium), 4700 E Prospect Road, Timnath CO, 80524
• October 14, 6:00-7:30pm, Rocky Mountain High School (Media Center), 1300 W Swallow Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526
• October 15, 6:00-7:30pm, Poudre High School (Event Center), 201 N Impala Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80521
• October 19, 6:00-7:30pm, Fort Collins High School (Theater), 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, CO 80525

What Happens Next

• September 25: Districtwide announcement (today)
• Beginning September 28: Staff and family meetings at closing, receiving, and consolidating schools
• October 12-19: Board listening sessions
• October 13: Board receives formal presentation on CPC recommendation at Board Meeting
• October 27: Board votes on CPC recommendation

Resources and Information

• For questions specific to impacts for your student, please call 970-490-3005 or email info@psdschools.org.
• Frequently Asked Questions
• For mental health support services for students, families can contact the front office of their school and ask to be connected to a member of your school’s mental health SSP team (Counselor, Mental Health Specialist, Psychologist or Social Worker). Community-based mental health resources are also available below for those who may find them helpful:

• Longview Behavioral Health Urgent Care, 2260 W. Trilby Road in Fort Collins: 970-494-4200
• I Matter Colorado (up to six free, virtual counseling sessions): imattercolorado.org or yoimportocolorado.org (la versión en Español)
• Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Connections (CAYAC): 970-221-3308 - CAYAC empowers families to navigate behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults across Larimer County.
• Health Info Source - https://healthinfosource.com/ - Source for Your source for mental health resources and information for Larimer County, Colorado.
• Connections – Adult Services: 970-221-5551
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 24/7 free, confidential support. Call or text 988 to reach a trained counselor. Help in Spanish: www.988lifeline.org/es/inicio/

We know that some may have questions about why this recommendation was released at the end of the day on a Friday. This choice was intentional and was designed to give our students, staff, and families the opportunity to hear and process this information outside of a regular school day.

I recognize that change like this affects our community deeply — it touches memories, routines and relationships built over years. I do not take that lightly, and my commitment is to walk through this process with honesty, urgency, and care for every student and family affected.

With appreciation,

Brain Kingsley

Superintendent of Schools

September 17, 2026

Dear PSD Community,

With the school year off and running, we are proud of our students for showing up each and every day.

We are fast-approaching an important attendance milestone that occurs every year: the Colorado Department of Education’s official “October Count.” October Count measures how many students are enrolled and attending in districts across the state; the official count date is Thursday, October 1.

The data collected during this period is the basis for determining how much funding each school district receives for the year. In other words, every student in class means resources for our schools – funding that supports students, teachers, and programs. We encourage all students to be in class each and every day and their attendance during the next month is important, as it will have a tangible impact on the funding the district receives to serve every student in our classrooms.

We also recognize that getting to school every day is not always easy. Challenges such as transportation, work schedules, or health concerns can create barriers to student attendance. We are here to help. If your student is struggling with attendance, please reach out to your school’s front office, teachers, or counseling staff for resources and support.

We are committed to working together so every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

Sincerely,

Poudre School District

One of many ways information is shared is through the PSD Insider community newsletter, which features timely information about the latest happenings in the district. This is emailed to families and interested community members that sign up. To sign up, or review past newsletters, go to the PSD Communications website.

Email: hcamp@psdschools.org
Website: https://wer.psdschools.org/
Location: 5400 Mail Creek Lane, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Office Hours: 8:00-4:30

Phone: (970) 488-5550

Attendance: (970) 488-5551
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wernerwildcats/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/werner_elementary/