Your Poudre School District staff newsletter | Third Quarter 2023-24

Spotlight on classified colleagues

This Classified Staff Appreciation Week, get acquainted with three of the hundreds of classified staff members who help make PSD work. Learn more about Digital Equity Liaison Humberto Cruzado-Novoa, Fort Collins High School Music Paraprofessional and Accompanist Anna Hermanson, and Child Nutrition Warehouse Supervisor Travis Tucci and what they love about their professions by following this link to the PSD website.>>

Portrait photo of a woman seated at a piano in a classroom.

"I just really like being able to play piano in a school setting where I'm working closely with the choir teacher and with the students as well. I get to do what I love to do and also what I'm good at."

-Anna Hermanson, FCHS Music Paraprofessional

Portrait photo of a man standing and putting his hand on a forklift.

"If we weren't doing what we we're doing, the kids wouldn't be eating school lunches, so I get satisfaction from knowing that we're providing kids with meals that they need to stay strong, healthy and get through the day."

-Travis Tucci, Child Nutrition Warehouse Supervisor

Portrait photo of a man seated at a desk working on a computer.

“To achieve a good education based on values, it is crucial to create strong relationships between families, the community, and schools, which we can achieve with teamwork based on equity.”

-Humberto Cruzado-Novoa, Digital Equity Liaison

ICYMI: Watch the video below for a special message during this Classified Employee Appreciation Week from our superintendent, Brian Kingsley.>>

A message from Poudre School District Superintendent Brian Kingsley: Thank you, Classified Employees!

An image of the inside page of a brochure with a map of the school district on the left side and a chart on the right side listing schools all the way down and programs all the way across, with dots for schools that have certain programs.

Above, a copy of the new PSD at a Glance four-page guide.

Get to know PSD

Whether you've been in Poudre School District for days or decades, there's always something new to learn! Check out the new, four-page "PSD at a Glance" guide to find out more about our schools, programs, statistics, and community. Be sure to download a copy at this link and share it with your friends!

Mental Health slides, stall fliers revamped

Students asked for more mental health information in more places, and PSD answered with new mental health materials in 2023-24. Thanks to input from more than 200 Poudre School District students, principals, and mental health professionals this fall, these PSD-produced materials continue to get better with each new edition. Restroom stall newsletters, like the one pictured at right, are now simpler to read and understand and more grade-appropriate (with versions for K-1, older elementary students, and middle and high schoolers). In addition, slides for school announcement screens and staff presentations have been redesigned and are available on the PSD Mental Health web section for staff.>>

Image of a flier with the headline "Brain Break Bulletin." The flier contains three pieces of advice about resiliency, has a dark blue, light blue, and white background with orange accents, a circle containing information about support services numbers for mental health, and QR codes leading to digital versions of the flier and the PSD mental health web page.

Brain Break Bulletins like the one above were distributed to schools last month.

Slide that looks like blue waves and a sunset background. Words on image: Employee Assistance Services, for all PSD employees and their eligible household family members. 970-488=4925, free confidential support, you are never alone.

EAS Slide

Ask, Listen, Connect Slide

A dark blue slide with two light blue arrow shapes and a headline in yellow: You are never along, there is help. One arrow says, In school and struggling? Connect with a trusted adult, such as a counselor, teacher, or coach. The other arrow says Not at school and struggling? Connect with a trusted adult, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat if you or someone you know needs support, call text or submit a tip to Safe2Tell (safe2tell.org) for safety concerns. There's a QR code in a square at the bottom right corner. In the center, a stack of two polaroid photos, the bottom one is pink and the top show a student sitting across from a counselor.

Where to Find Help Slide

A group of people stand to pose for a group shot in the Board of Education meeting room.

Board of Education members recognize PSD bus driver Tracy Hernandez (center) at their Feb. 6 meeting.

Recognizing amazing PSD staff

A hero bus driver who helped save the life of a preschooler, a teacher recognized as the best of the best in our Congressional District, and physical education teachers getting statewide accolades have all been recognized this winter by the PSD Board of Education. Follow these links to watch board recognitions for November 2023, January 2024, and February 2024, and look for more to come!

A preschool student raises his hand while seated in a circle on a rug.

Staff who live outside PSD eligible for PreK in 2024-25

Staff members who live outside PSD may now apply to participate in PSD's Early Childhood Program. Staff who live outside of PSD boundaries can qualify for Universal PreK (UPK) or tuition. Applications for PSD preschool programs are open now, and can be filled out at any time. We will coach families on applying for state funding when the UPK portal opens. Visit the ECE website to learn more or call 970-490-3204.

A screenshot of the Worker's Compensation web page.

New way to report work- related illness or injury

Risk Management has a new online system for reporting work-related injuries and illness. Links to the paper and online version of the Employee’s Report of a Work-Related Injury are currently available. However, we encourage you to report work-related injuries or illness through the online portal at this link. Please contact Tiffony Long at tlong@psdschools.org if you have questions.

Stock photo of 4 people in business attire sitting at a table to have a meeting.

Negotiations process continues March 1

Topics such as employee pay and benefits, staff evaluations, leave protocols and employee-related policies are discussed during the annual Employee Agreement Process. The process for 2024-25 negotiations kicked off in December. Find updates after each session of negotiations (including the updates already posted from Dec. 5 and Jan. 18) on the PSD staff website.>>

Save the Date: Celebrate the best of PSD staff on April 2

PSD Celebrates brings together PSD staff from across schools and departments for one big celebration of dedicated PSD staff. This second annual celebration will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 2, 2024, at the Lincoln Center Performance Hall in Fort Collins. No reservations or tickets are needed, and all PSD staff and their families are welcome!

A close shot of the side of a yellow Poudre School District bus.

School start, end times may change

Hiring and retaining school bus drivers is a challenge for school districts nationwide. If PSD changes school start and dismissal times, one driver could cover multiple routes. Take a survey about school times by Feb. 21 here.>>

Words "Understanding PSD: Episode 2: Total Program Funding" over a gray background on top of a drone image of PSD buildings. A pie chart is in the corner of the image

Understand PSD with new videos

It can be hard to summarize big topics in education, but the new video series "Understanding PSD" aims to do just that. Check out the first two videos in the series, which cover enrollment trends and school district funding, now on YouTube.

A middle school student wearing safety goggles looks into a beaker

Last Call for 2023-24 flier packets

Are you organizing (or know of someone else organizing) an upcoming enrichment opportunity for students? Now is the time to submit a flier for the final flier packet of the school year. Send submissions to Cassie Phelps.>>

graphic image of a calendar with a circle and a line through it

Employee Special Offers

988 línea de prevención del suicidio y crisis

Call 970-488-4925, ext. 1 for 24/7 crisis response from Employee Assistance Services (EAS) or email eas@psdschools.org, or visit the EAS web page to schedule a non-emergent appointment with a counselor. EAS is available to all PSD employees.