Poudre School District update | Thursday, December 17, 2020
We wish you kindness, love, respite during winter break and beyond 
We hope all our families can take some respite over the winter break, Dec. 21, 2020-Jan. 4, 2021. As the calendar turns to January, staff will be working hard to prepare for the return of students. We cannot wait to see everyone’s smiling faces. Until then, be safe, be happy and be well. 
What you need to know after PSD’s recent announcement  
In case you missed it 
You can read the full Dec. 15 announcement about PSD’s shift to in-person education in January here. Access other important 2020-21 school year information, including about each phase of education, on the PSD website, as well. 
Watch assistant superintendents Dr. Todd Lambert and Scott Nielsen share PSD’s philosophy about the importance of in-person learning >≥
Board of Education names interim superintendent finalist

The Board of Education has named one of Poudre School District’s top administrators as the sole finalist for interim superintendent, a step that follows the board's Dec. 7 approval of a mutual agreement for Dr. Sandra Smyser’s retirement. The school board selected Dr. Todd Lambert, assistant superintendent of elementary schools, as the finalist for the position during a Dec. 16 public meeting, and also directed that Dr. Lambert temporarily assume the superintendent's duties until the interim superintendent is appointed. Read More >> 
Want to keep up to date with the hiring process for a new permanent superintendent? We will post updates on the new PSD Superintendent Search web page as they are available. 
How COVID-19 case protocols will shift  
Due to recent changes to state and county public health guidance for schools and to prepare for the return of students after winter break, PSD staff are updating the district’s COVID-19 and illness protocols. We aim to complete this work prior to the start of in-person education in January so staff, students and families have the information they need to have ownership in our culture of safety and keep one another as safe as possible. If changes are made to existing district protocols, updated information will be available on our website.
PSD COVID-19 Data and School Information: (Previously the “School Status and Information page.”) Several significant updates have been made to PSD’s COVID-19 data dashboards that inform decisions made about education this school year. One among multiple new dashboards is the “PSD 14-Day COVID-19 Location Screening.” Using this tool, PSD can review the number of cases and 14-day case trends to see if cases are rising, declining, or staying flat by location. Following winter break, when a school has a case percentage that goes over 1%, district leaders will monitor the location closely and consult with school administrators to determine the level of disruption to learning and whether partial school or whole school temporary closure is necessary. This is one significant change families should prepare for as we look ahead to in-person learning in January. 
Show you care, reduce risk
It is incumbent upon us all to keep one another safe and to protect and support our healthcare workers and hospital staff so they can continue to have the capacity to help us when we need it. Here is how we show we care: 
Stick with only the people you live with at home and when you're out. Now isn't the time to have people over or to go out in groups. 
Wear a face covering. 
Watch your distance. 
Wash your hands.  
School Choice deadline is Jan. 15
Families have a wide array of wonderful schools to choose from in Poudre School District. School of Choice applications are being accepted for the 2021-22 school year. The first consideration period deadline for new and renewal applications is approaching soon. For both elementary and secondary schools, the deadline is noon, Friday, Jan. 15. More information >> 
Read more information on kindergarten registration, which will be available online starting Jan. 8, 2021. Middle and high school options, as well as the High School Planning Guide, will go out soon to incoming ninth-grade students and families.
Cool School News: Ukuleles, Kruse snowflakes, FCHS No Place for Hate signing and other events!
Great things are happening in our schools! Read more >>
PSD Mission Moment: Explore wrinkles in space and time
Check out what our 4th grade Advanced/Gifted and Talented WINN class at O’Dea Elementary has been up to! 
We are reading "A Wrinkle In Time"  by Madeleine L'Engle and using Zome Tools as models to explain the concepts of dimensions. What's interesting is that when using shadows, we lose a dimension. For example, a shadow of a 2D object is 1D; we only see a line. A 3D object would have a 2D shadow. Would a 4D object have a 3D shadow? Not really, but now you can begin to see the dimensionality of 4D. Here is a "3D" shadow of a Hypercube or an exaggerated 4D - space time event. - Debbie Goodwin, Gifted and Talented at O’Dea Elementary 
Share what makes you #PSDproud on Twitter and Facebook  
Help us celebrate Mission Moments
At PSD, your mission moments of how you support "Educate ... Every Child, Every Day" are important to us. Telling the positive stories about what is happening in the district during this challenging time is valuable not only for our staff but also for the community. We want to be able to display the good work that you are doing and know that it is appreciated! You're what makes us #PSDproud! Submit a Mission Moment today. >>
Free Mental Health: Mind Matters Exhibit at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery 
Be part of this meaningful conversation about mental health awareness, and help it be understood that mental illness is real, common and treatable. Visit the special exhibit "Mental Health: Mind Matters" at the Museum of Discovery in Fort Collins. The museum and exhibit are FREE, and will be open to the public until January 10. Find out more about the exhibit and reserve your tickets in advance on the museum's website: www.fcmod.org. 
Ask for help if you are having a tough time and remember you are not alone.  
Mental Health 101: Take care (of yourself!) this holiday season 
So, you tried to smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving, and you were not really crazy about it. We’ve had to do a lot of things differently because of the global pandemic. Some we will repeat, and some we will be glad to put in the rearview mirror. This upcoming holiday season does not have a road map or recipes for success. We do not want to diminish that this is hard. Some will not see family; others will experience the change of traditions, and some will feel more alone than usual. However, this holiday season you can be the author of your own story. More Mental Health Resources >> 
Meals will still be available to any PSD students  
The district will provide free meals to PSD students (PreK-12) through the end of the 2020-21 school year. PSD Meals During 2020-21 web page >> 
  • All current PSD meal programs will continue at schools/kitchens as they are now in Phase 1-3.  
  • Elementary school kitchens will transition to only serving students who are in-person when schools move to Phase 4.  
  • Secondary sites serving meals now to any PSD students will still do so in Phases 2-3.  
  • Mobile meal sites will continue in January as they are now. 
Transportation as we look ahead 
Busing will continue as it is now: 
  • The weeks of Jan. 5 and 11 for PreK-5 students  
  • The weeks of Jan. 5 and 11 for 6-8 students 
  • The weeks of Jan. 5, 11 and 18 for 9-12 students 
Those who were bused in Phase 1 and Phase 3 are not guaranteed transportation as phases change by grade level after winter break. Busing is guaranteed for students for whom transportation is legally required (i.e. those with Individualized Transportation Plans (ITP) and some foster students). As additional available seats are identified, Transportation Services will notify PreK-5 families if their students receive bussing around Jan. 8. We anticipate that Transportation will continue to add riders through February. More information >> 
Early Childhood Education transitions to four days a week in January 
PSD’s preschool program is currently in an A/B hybrid in-person model but will switch to full-time (four days a week, no school Fridays) starting Jan. 19, as preschool and K-5 students transition to Phase 4 with health protocols. 
PSD’s preschool program still has open spaces for the 2020-21 school year, and ECE’s compassionate and professional teachers can’t wait to work with the children in your lives. More families may qualify now than ever before. To learn more and begin an application online, visit the Early Childhood Education web page or call 970-490-3204. 
Learn how you can help students experiencing 
homelessness 
The COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s unprecedented wildfire season impacted many Poudre School District families, displacing many from their homes or putting them at risk for homelessness and not being able to meet their basic needs. Over 900 PSD students have already been identified this school year as qualifying to receive services related to homelessness, and you can help. Read more >> 
Supporting our students with disabilities 
See how staff support the learning and growth of students with disabilities in any educational phase, get answers to frequently asked questions and more. Read more >> 
PSD Alumni - stay #PSDconnected
Did you graduate from PSD? As a PSD alumnus, we invite you to join our PSD Alumni group on LinkedIn to stay connected with PSD after you graduate. Join here>>
Tag us in your acts of kindness this holiday season #PSDgives 
Complete PSD’s Student Connections Survey: Deadline extended 
We believe it is critical that our students feel connected in PSD; in fact, it is so important that the district tracks specific connections-related data to help determine how best to support students. The fall 2020 PSD Student Connections Survey deadline was extended to Friday, Dec. 18. Fifth- through 12th-grade students received an email “PSD Student Connections Check-In Fall 2020.” 
PSD Community Tech Portal: Technical support information, how-to guides, documentation and more.  
Technical Support and Resources: General overview of tech support, teacher learning pages and links to Poudre River Library videos. 
Email: 
Phone: Family and Student Support Line at 970-490-3339 
Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions are available on the PSD website. Read more >>
In case you missed it

Watch assistant superintendents Dr. Todd Lambert and Scott Nielsen share PSD’s philosophy about the importance of in-person learning >≥
Translate
To translate the linked district web pages included in this newsletter, please click the linked text, then click on “Translate” in the top green bar, then click “Select Language” and choose your language. Once selected, the entire PSD website will be translated.
Traducción
Para traducir las páginas web del Distrito que están vinculadas a este boletín, hagan clic en el texto que contenga el enlace (por ejemplo, “hacer clic aquí”). Enseguida hagan clic en "Traducción", situado en la barra verde superior, después hagan clic en "Select Language” (Seleccionar idioma"), y hagan clic en el idioma que seleccionen (“Spanish” para español). Una vez lo hayan seleccionado, todo el sitio web del PSD se traducirá.