Traut student wins PSD spelling bee; 11 students move on to state bee

Fourth grader Nikhil Ganta is the 2024 champion of the Poudre School District Spelling Bee. The Traut Elementary School student successfully spelled "fluoride" to win the title after competing through 17 rounds with second place winner Ellie Dunigan-Atlee, an eighth grader at Ridgeview Classical Middle School. During the district bee, participants were asked to spell words such as: campanology, doldrums. cauterize, coiffure, dysgraphia, Halifax, and tercentenary.

Congratulations to these 11 students moving on to the Colorado State Spelling Bee:

PSD to expand student apprenticeship opportunities 

Between classes at Colorado State University, Nic Schountz can be found changing oil or resealing a rear differential on a bus in the Poudre School District Transportation Department.  

Schountz started work as a student apprentice in PSD through CareerWise Colorado last year, when he was a senior at Rocky Mountain High School. Working as an apprentice has allowed him to learn new skills, earn money, and explore his options after graduation, all while doing what he loves to do every day. 

Middle to high school transition guide

As a student, the transition from middle school to high school is a huge milestone. It is a time of excitement, growth, and new opportunities. However, it can also be a daunting experience for many students, with the change in environment, academic expectations, and social pressures.  

Pre-Fall Preparation 
With all the changes going into the fall of your freshman year, your mind might be spinning. This is why it might be helpful to have a game plan before that first week of school. Here are some tips from Poudre School District. 

Calming stations help children process feelings - how you can create one

When a child misbehaves, we often assume they are acting this way because they want to; however, it’s often because they haven’t learned the tools needed to process their feelings and manage their reactions. 

As parents and caretakers, we can support them in fostering healthy emotional regulation strategies. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This article is from Sarah Mowder-Wilkins, PSD mental health coordinator, and Liz Davis, PSD student services director.

PCA grad inspired to help other struggling youth

Tayia Evans exudes a quiet, powerful energy. It's visible to those around her but, perhaps, not yet fully apparent to herself.  

Compliments and words of affirmation seem to take the 2023 Poudre Community Academy graduate by sincere surprise. Her humility acts almost as a shield against what the world sees: a strong, compassionate young woman who has overcome more by senior year than many do in a lifetime.