Back-to-School Basics Help Families Prepare!

Welcome back to Poudre School District for another exciting school year! School starts on Monday, August 21 for secondary students (grades 7–12) and on Wednesday, August 23 for elementary students (grades K–6).

Exceptions: Kinard Core Knowledge Junior High and Poudre High School both start on Wednesday, August 23.  Lincoln Jr. High 7th graders only attend on August 21, and will be joined by 8th and 9th graders on August 22.

New students register at each school

If your student is new to PSD or if you have moved from one school to another, please contact your neighborhood school and register as soon as possible. Elementary student walk-in registration dates are August 14 and 15; secondary walk-in registration dates are August 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16.

If you are unsure which schools serve your neighborhood, please call (970) 490-3232 or go to www.psdschools.org and look under Schools -> School Listing -> Which schools serve my neighborhood?

When registering your child, please bring your child’s birth certificate (original or certified copy), Social Security number, emergency contact information, immunization records or a signed exemption statement of religious or personal objection, and a copy of your student’s academic history or current report card. We encourage you to make an appointment with a school counselor when registering your child at a secondary school.

If your child is transferring from another school within PSD or from another school district, PSD school personnel will request your child’s school records from the previous school after your student is enrolled.

School supply lists available at schools

Elementary school supply lists are available at each school, are listed in school newsletters, and may be available from local merchants.

Secondary students should bring a notebook, paper, pencil, and pen the first day of school. Classroom teachers will announce specific supplies required.

Food Service provides many meal choices

Nutritious lunches and many meal choices are provided daily at all schools. Some schools provide breakfast. Meals are priced at:

Elementary – $1.75; Reduced – $0.40
Secondary – $2.00; Reduced – $0.40

Breakfast at participating schools is priced at:

Elementary – $1.00; Reduced – $0.30
Secondary – $1.00; Reduced – $0.30

Prices vary at secondary schools for a la carte items.

Lunch menus are posted under the Quick Links pull-down menu on the PSD web site at www.psdschools.org, in school newsletters, and printed weekly in the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

Lunch program available to qualifying families

Applications for the federal free and reduced-price school lunch program were mailed home to all heads of households in late July/early August. Students participating in the program during the previous school year may be automatically enrolled in the program for the first 30 days of school. Parents must submit a new family application each school year and are required to complete only one application per household. The application may be returned to a school or to the Food Service Office. Identity of students participating is kept strictly confidential.

Eligible families should complete and return the form even if they do not plan to participate in the lunch program. Students who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price school lunch program are also exempt from other fees and charges. A letter of eligibility for free and reduced-price meals will be sent to the parents/guardians of qualifying students. An information release form will be included with the eligibility letter. Complete the information release form and return it to your school office. Information: (970) 490-3560

Keep immunization records up to date

Students registering for the first time in PSD must present proof of immunizations or provide a signed exemption statement of religious or personal objection.

Call your healthcare provider, the Larimer County Health Department at (970) 498-6700, or visit www.co.larimer.co.us/health/chs for information. A walk-in children’s immunization clinic is offered at the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive. Call for specific times.

Update schools with student health information

If your child has special health concerns, diagnoses, medications, or dietary or toileting needs, please keep school health care staff informed so they can develop a school health care plan for your child. Complete physical exams by a family physician are recommended for students entering kindergarten and 4^th grade.

Update phone numbers and parent contact information

Parents are encouraged to keep phone numbers, addresses, and emergency contact information updated throughout the school year. Watch for a student information form to come home with your child the first week of school.

Sports physicals required for athletes grades 7–12

Students playing sports at PSD junior high and high schools are required to have sports physicals before the first practice. Authorization for Athletic Participation forms are available at all secondary schools or at the PSD Johannsen Support Services Center, 2407 LaPorte Avenue. Information: (970) 490-3106

Practice for fall sports begins August 14

PSD offers 27 competitive sports for boys and girls throughout the school year. Practice for fall high school sports begins August 14. Contact individual high schools for practice times. Practice for 7^th- and 8^th-grade football begins August 16. Practice for 7^th- and 8^th-grade girls softball begins August 21.

Sports participation fees are $50/sport for athletes in grades 7–8 and $75/sport for athletes in grades 9–12, with a family maximum of $200 per year. Fees are higher for home-schooled, private school, and charter school students participating on PSD athletic teams. Information: (970) 490-3106

Register online to volunteer

PSD’s online volunteer registration is available on the PSD website at www.psdschools.org. The system is easy to use for parents who want to volunteer at their child’s school and for community members who want to be involved in education. Help shape the future – volunteer! Information: (970) 490-3208

Before- and after-school care available

All elementary schools offer before- and after-school care and/or enrichment programs. Call your student’s school starting August 14 for details. If your student is not in a before-school program, please drop off students only after morning playground supervision begins.

Pinnacle Internet Viewer (PIV) helps families, schools communicate

Pinnacle Internet Viewer (PIV), a secure web page containing information from PSD’s electronic Gradebook, allows secondary students (grades 7–12) and parents to view grades and missing assignments in real time. Teachers have the critical role of inputting and maintaining their Gradebooks to keep each student’s grades current.

How to access PIV

1. Use information from a letter you will receive this fall from your student’s secondary school. (Contact the school if you didn’t receive the information or have misplaced it.)
2. Open your internet browser to access the PIV viewer at www.psdschools.org/students/piv.aspx
3. Enter confidential student information from the letter: student ID, secure PIN code, and school name.
4. Request report such as Report Card, Class Grades, or Missing Grades.
5. If you have questions, ask your student, student’s teacher(s), or school.

Online help/tutorial: www.psdschools.org -> Students -> Pinnacle Grade Viewer

Note: PIV is not available during the summer. You may access it again after the school notifies you of its availability.