Back-to-school time is here! Here's the latest info to help you get ready for the new school year

2018-19 Calendars and School Start and End Times (Bell Schedule) 

Key dates:
•   Friday,  Aug. 17: 9th grade transition day
•   Monday, Aug. 20: First day of high school (grades 9-12)
•   Tuesday, Aug. 21: First day elementary school (grades K-5); 6th grade transition day at middle schools
•   Wednesday, Aug. 22: First day of middle school (grades 6-8)

Check with your school regarding schedules for transition days and  kindergarten schedules

Transportation and Bus Schedules

Contact: 970-490-3232
Bus schedules are posted on the Transportation website.
 
Families who use PSD transportation should receive their student's bus information via phone/text and email. Once school starts, the route number will be posted in the window near the entrance door of each bus. Students use route numbers to determine their morning and afternoon bus. Route numbers for morning and afternoon buses may be different.
 
School Choice and Alternative Transportation applications are available on the PSD website along with information about bus routes and ridership eligibility.
 
Stay informed about where your child's bus is - download the Here Comes the Bus app! Full-access subscriptions are free to PSD parents! Learn more about the bus app here.

ParentVUE in Synergy

The Synergy ParentVUE portal gives parents web and mobile access to
real-time grades, assignments, and communication with teachers. Parents can stay
connected 24/7 with seamless access to a student's course history and health room visits (when available).

Parents should have recently received instructions on accessing ParentVUE accounts for both new and existing users.

For more information, visit the PSD Accessing Grades web page. You may access student information through the ParentVUE/StudentVUE portal or through ParentVUE/StudentVUE apps from the iTunes Store and Google Play!

Please contact your school for assistance or questions about your account.

SchoolPay - Pay your fees online!

SchoolPay offers an easy and secure way to make payments to your child's meal account AND their school electronically. The SchoolPay payment portal accepts payments for meals, as well as athletic participation fees, course fees and charges, field trips, yearbooks and merchandise. 

Payments can be made online with credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card) or at your child's school. A convenience fee of approximately 3.35% is added to credit/debit card transactions for non-meal related items, regardless of whether payment is made online or at the school. A $1 transaction fee is charged for meal payments to offset the credit card processing fee, rather than the 3.35% transaction fee noted above.

Parents must have an account to use SchoolPay, but registration is free. Visit the PSD website for more information and an FAQ about SchoolPay. 

Please contact your school if you need assistance with SchoolPay.

Student Rights and Code of Conduct

Each year, parents/guardians and secondary students must sign that they have read the Student Rights and Code of Conduct, which is a compilation of rules, policies and regulations involving student behavior. In years past, this signature has been in paper form.

Parents/guardians now need to indicate they have read the Student Rights and Code of Conduct when they log into the ParentVUE parent portal by providing an electronic signature. This needs to be done once a year to gain access to ParentVUE. Parents will not be given access until this is done.

Middle and high school students will also be asked to acknowledge that they've read the Students Rights and Code of Conduct when logging into StudentVUE for the first time this school year.

If you have any questions about the Student Rights and Code of Conduct or ParentVue access, contact your school.

Child Nutrition

Contact: 970-490-3557
PSD schools serve nutritious meals that exceed USDA guidelines and promote healthy lifestyles. Menus are posted monthly on the PSD website and sent home in school newsletters.
 
Meal Prices
Breakfast:
•    Full Price: $1.45
•    Free & Reduced: No Charge

Lunch:
•    Full Price, Elementary: $2.75
•    Full Price, Secondary: $3.00
•    Student Reduced Price (9-12): $0.40
•    Student Reduced Price (PK-8): No Charge
•    Student Free Price: No Charge

Paying for Meals
Students may pay when they get their meals or money may be put in their student account, which is debited when they purchase a meal. Checks for your child's account should be made to the school and turned into the cashier.
 
SchoolPay is PSD's convenient online payment partner for meal payments. Visit the SchoolPay website to set up an account to view meal activity and balances, which are updated each evening.
 
Free and Reduced School Meal Program
Families apply online for the Free and Reduced Meal Benefit Program. Applications must be submitted annually to remain registered for the program. Participation is confidential. A letter of eligibility for free and reduced price meals is mailed to qualifying students. Eligible families should apply even if they don't plan to participate in the meal program since students who qualify for the program may benefit from exemptions from other school fees and charges. To have these school fees waived, parents need to complete a "Permission to Share" form online, which is available in ParentVue under "Forms."

Waivers for School Fees 

Families who qualify for free/reduced school meals, may also be eligible for waivers for specific school fees.

Since a student's free/reduced meal status is confidential, families must give PSD permission to share that information with staff by completing the Permission to Share Information for Fee Waivers and Programs to Receive Goods and Services form. This form is available electronically through ParentVUE under "Forms."

You may also access and print the Permission to Share form here (both English and Spanish forms are in this pdf document). Forms may also be picked up at the Finance Department, 2407 LaPorte Ave, or at your child's school (once school begins). Forms may be submitted by email to ar@psdschools.org or dropped off at the Finance Department. 

Visit the PSD Parent web page for more information about ParentVUE, SchoolPay, Free and Reduced Lunch Applications and the Permission to Share form. Please contact your school with any questions.

School Supplies and Assistance

Contact: Partnership Center, 970-490-3517
Elementary school supply lists are available at each school, in school newsletters, from some local merchants and the School Supplies web page.

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

Interested in school supply assistance?
"Supply Our Students" is a collaborative effort of Volunteers of America, Colorado State University, the OtterCares Foundation, PSD,and Realities for Children. These organizations work together to provide close to 8,0000 backpacks filled with school supplies for students in need. Please call your school directly for assistance or more information on how to qualify for supplies.

Want to donate?
The PSD Partnership Center is accepting donations of new school supplies through August. Supplies are distributed to students in need through PSD's family liaisons. Call 490-3517 to schedule a time to drop off supplies

Communication in PSD

Contact: 970-490-3543
PSD uses several modes of communication to ensure families are informed about critical news, district topics and events, exciting student stories and inclement weather delays or closures.
 
Communication tools include:
•    PSD Website: The website is our primary hub of communication. We post alerts during a crisis, regular news items as well as calendars, menus and transportation schedules.

•    Emails: The bulk of district communication comes to parents through emails using the SchoolMessenger notification system. Contact your school to ensure your information is current in Synergy to receive emails and text messages, or visit ParentVUE to review/update your information.

•    Phone Calls: PSD uses the automated notification system to send phone calls to parents about district or school information including school closures, early releases or power outages. Parents are encouraged to keep all contact information updated throughout the school year. Contact your school to update your information or visit ParentVUE to update your information.
o    Voice Message Retrieval Line: All automated PSD and school phone calls come from one main number: 866-316-3462. (NOTE: you may still receive personal phone calls directly from your student's school number) If you miss a phone call or voice message from the district, you may call the number above and listen to the last 10 voice messages sent to your phone (most recent will play first).

•    Text Messages (SMS): To receive text messages from the school or district, parents must have an active SMS number on file in Synergy AND opt-in to receive text messages via their mobile carrier. 
o    To opt-in via your mobile phone, text "YES" to 67587 and you will receive a confirmation message.

•    Local media outlets: Snow day information will be available through local media.

•    PSD - TV (Comcast Channel 10 -- US Cable, YouTube Livestream): Provides updates and reports on district happenings, including airing sporting and musical events.

•    Social Media: Follow PSD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube! See fun moments from back-to-school with pictures on Facebook and Instagram, updates on Twitter and videos on YouTube.  

Facebook.com/PoudreSchoolDistrict

Twitter: @PoudreSchools

Instagram: Poudre_School_District

YouTube: YouTube.com/PoudreSchoolDistrict

Inclement Weather Notification

When inclement weather hits, PSD notifies you as soon as possible about changes to school schedules through the PSD website, social media channels, parent emails and phone calls. For more information about inclement weather procedures, visit the PSD Inclement Weather web page.

Immunizations and Student Health

Contact: Call the school nurse if you have any questions.

Immunizations
Colorado law requires students who attend school to be vaccinated against many diseases vaccines can prevent.

Parent Letter from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Students registering in a PSD school are required to present proof of immunization or a signed State of Colorado Exemption Certificate or Immunization Medical Exemption form, or a parent statement for personal or religious exemptions. Families with returning students must keep their child's immunizations current.  Full details on immunization requirements are available from the state of Colorado.
 
Immunization requirements are strictly enforced and students who don't meet requirements will be denied attendance according to Colorado Revised Statues 25-4-902.

To obtain immunizations free or at a low cost, call the Family Health Line at 303-692-2229 or 1-800-688-7777 or the Larimer County Health Department at 970-498-6700.

Student Health
Please inform your school's health care staff if your child has special health concerns, allergies, medications or dietary needs. A complete physical exam is required for students entering the preschool program and recommended for students K-4th.

Student Health and Wellness Center at Centennial High School

Do you know a student who needs a sports physical or well child exam? 

The Health and Wellness Center at Centennial High School offers medical care year-round for students, prioritizing the needs of students/families who are uninsured, under-insured or simply having a difficult time getting care. The Health Center bills insurances (including Medicaid and CHP+).  A cash pay option and a sliding fee scale is offered to qualifying families. No student is ever turned away for inability to pay!
 
To schedule an appointment or for more information, call the Health Center at 970-488-4950 or visit the Health and Wellness Center's website.

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Athletics

Contact: Call your school if you have questions about athletics. 

PSD offers athletic programming for students in grades 7-12 and for students in grade 6 in the sports of cross country, track and field, and golf.

Students participating in athletics are required to have sports physicals and submit the required check-out forms before the first practice to the school office manager or athletic secretary. Required forms are on the PSD website  (click on the link for high school or middle school sports).
 
Practice for high school fall sports begins August 6. Middle school fall sports begin August 22. Contact your school for practice times and details. 
 
Sports participation fees are $105/sport for athletes in grades 6-8 and $150/sport for athletes in grades 9-12. Lacrosse is an additional $180. Ice Hockey is a pay-to-play sport. Please contact Skip Caddoo at Fort Collins High School for the hockey fee structure. Athletic fees are higher for home-schooled, private school and charter school students participating on PSD athletic teams.  

Early Childhood and Preschool Programs

Contact: 970-490-3204 or visit the Early Childhood website.
Are you pregnant or the parent of a toddler? Interested in some no-cost support for you and your family? Families who qualify, based on federal income guidelines, can apply for PSD's Early Head Start program.
 
Early Head Start provides family-centered services through weekly home visits to families with very young children (ages 0-3). The program supports parents in their role as primary caregivers/teachers of their children. During home visits, mentors support families to develop life-long skills that promote healthy development and enhance parent/child bonding. 
 
Home visits consist of fun learning activities for parents and children. Families also receive support and referrals to community agencies that help them meet goals as well as receive information on child development, health, safety, and nutrition. Monthly Parent and Child Together events and parenting classes are also available.

Before and After School Programs (Provided by BASE Camp)

Contact: BASE Camp, 970-266-1734 or the visit the BASE Camp website.

BASE Camp provides licensed, safe, quality and affordable Before and After School programming on-site at your child's elementary school. Programs include a supportive social environment, academic support, physical activity and community engagement in a familiar environment with no transportation required.  
•    Available from 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM
•    No contracts or commitments - Pay as you go, and only for what you use
•    Drop-in options
•    Supportive social environment
•    Homework help
•    Tuition assistance available

Want to Get Involved?

Volunteer in PSD! 

PSD's online volunteer registration is available for parents and community members who want to volunteer at their child's school, chaperone for fields trips and be involved in education. Help shape the future - volunteer! Contact the Partnership and Volunteer office, 970-490-3517.
 
 

Committees

• School Wellness Teams - Looking to make an impact on health and wellness in your school? Join your school wellness team. For information, contact Wellness Manager Amanda Brantley, at abrantle@psdschools.org.  

• District Accountability Committee - PSD's District Accountability Committee (DAC) is looking to fill several important representative seats for the 2018-19 school year. The DAC consists of parent and school representatives who work together to offer recommendations about the district's spending priorities, improvement plan, and charter schools to the PSD Board of Education. For more information, contact PSD Curriculum Director Robert Beauchamp, 970-490-3667 or rbeaucha@psdschools.org

To see a list of all committees, visit the PSD Community Committees web page. 

PSD Insight Leadership Class

Applications due Aug. 31!

Community members interested in shaping education for children are encouraged to apply for PSD Insight, a leadership program designed to create informed and engaged educational leaders. PSD Insight covers the history, governance, budget, operations and curriculum of Poudre School District and its 50 schools.

The class meets eight times September through April, and requires full participation (full schedule is in application). The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31. A committee will review applications and select up to 25 participants by September 10.

For more information about the class, contact Beth Higgins, PSD community partnerships coordinator, at bhiggins@psdschools.org or visit the PSD Insight web page.

Executive Limitation 2.1

Executive Limitation 2.1 refers to treatment of Students, Parents/Guardians and the General Public. It has 14 different areas that the Superintendent is charged by the Board of Education with fulfilling including ensuring public input on material changes to district practices, consistent grading practices, communication to families about policies and procedures, collection and storage of student data, discipline policies and surveys of parents and the community.

A monitoring report detailing how the district fulfills the requirements of this policy is presented to the Board of Education each year. For more information about the policy, the Superintendent's interpretation of the policy as well as the most recent monitoring reports, visit the PSD Board Policies web page.

Sex Offender Registry Information

State law (C.R.S. 22-1-124) requires schools to notify parents about how to access records on registered sex offenders. Information about registered sex offenders includes:

•    List of offenders living inside city limits is available at the City of Fort Collins Police Services. The local Fort Collins sex offender registration list can also be accessed by going to the police station, 2221 Timberline Road, and filling out a request form.

•    List of offenders living outside city limits in Larimer County is available at the Larimer County Sheriff's Office administration building, 2501 Midpoint Drive. Books with information and pictures of sex offenders are available to view. A database is also posted on the Larimer County website.

•    Information about sex offenders via Colorado Bureau of Investigations statewide sex offender list is available on this State of Colorado registry. Follow the steps and select the city or county of interest for the information which is maintained by CBI.

Safe2Tell - Make a Report, Make a Difference

Anonymously report any issues that concern or threaten you, your friends, your family or your community - submit a tip by visiting the Safe2Tell website or by calling 1-877-542-7233. All reports are anonymous. Not sure if you should report your concern?  Visit the Reasons to Report web page.