Lesher Middle School

Spring Break!

3/9/24 -- 3/17/24

March 6, 2024

Dear Poudre School District community:

Board of Education directors voted (5-2) Tuesday night to modify bell schedules at 31 schools. The new times will go into effect at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

This decision preserves busing for students at a time when neighboring districts are cutting services and saves about $1 million in the face of districtwide financial challenges. It is also the first step in a multi-year plan to align bell schedules by grade level, with the goals of saving additional money and expanding busing services in future years.

The board voted to adopt the Scenario A schedule, which was favored by those who took a communitywide survey asking for feedback on two scenarios. Watch the staff presentation and board discussion here: https://youtu.be/5c34J6f4Yfc

As a result, school start and dismissal times will shift by:

· 5-10 minutes at 10 schools

· 11-20 minutes at 14 schools

· 21-30 minutes at seven schools

· Eighteen school schedules will NOT change.

· See bell times for each school: www.psdschools.org/schools/school-start-dismissal-times

We empathize with students, parents/guardians, staff and others who will navigate these changes and recognize that current bell schedules may have been a factor in families’ decisions to attend a certain school. We plan to communicate directly with families who submitted applications as part of the School Choice process as soon as possible. It is our intent to answer questions that this news will likely prompt regarding choice school enrollment.

Why this change, why now?

As part of an ongoing commitment to improvement and annual budget development, schools and departments look for ways to prioritize students and operate as efficiently as possible. Working with an outside firm specializing in routing, the Transportation Department determined that it could save money and minimize disruptions to busing services due to staffing shortages through a routing optimization process.

If PSD didn’t optimize and reduce the number of routes, there was a real risk of not being able to run all routes every day. The ongoing, nationwide and local shortage of bus drivers could lead to interruptions in service. Making this change now also results in savings of about $1 million to $1.5 million.

PSD is facing fiscal challenges because of the decline in student enrollment, inflation, and increasing benefits costs. Fewer students mean fewer dollars. In a district where about 85% of a roughly $400 million budget goes to pay for people, any cut is felt acutely, and any savings are even more critical.

What’s next?

The bell schedule changes approved by the board go into effect for the 2024-25 school year. Along with its vote Tuesday, the board also charged staff with looking for even more optimization within the Transportation Department and making districtwide changes to create long-term consistency for our families.

By making steps toward a system where bell times are standardized to the maximum extent possible – as in elementary schools start at the same time, middle schools start at the same time, and high schools start at the same time, PSD could reduce the overall number of bus routes and drivers currently needed from 122 to about 85.

The hope is that PSD could then offer busing to 100% choice schools for the first time ever; this has not been possible under the current model. Currently, about one in four families choose to send their students to a school other than their neighborhood school, known as School Choice. PSD has historically only been able to provide busing services to neighborhood schools for students who meet certain requirements and for whom transportation is legally required.

Expanding busing services is beneficial for families who might not have the ability to transport their students to a 100% choice school.

We recognize that students, families, staff and community members may face challenges while adjusting to the newly approved bell schedules and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding in advance.

Sincerely,

Poudre School District

PRIOR TO March 18th ALL students must obtain a GOLD CARD from the main office:

1. Complete the Online Athletic Registration each season(fall, winter and spring):

   https://poudreathletics.sportngin.com/middleschools

2. Turn in a hard copy of Current Physical from your Doctor’s office to Ms. Roth in the main office. Physicals cannot be uploaded or completed online. A physical is good for 364 days.

1. If you have questions about your current physical, please see Ms. Roth.

3. Pay the Athletic fee on school pay or by cash or check to Ms. Lamb in the main office. You will need to show Ms. Roth your receipt (you can print receipt or show Ms. Roth a picture).

1. Fees will be refunded if you do not make the team.

2. Checks should be made out to Lesher Middle School

Golf Tryouts - 6th, 7th & 8th graders welcome to tryout for boys and girls golf team

• Boy's Coach - Coach Mitchell - mmitchell@psdschools.org

• Girl's Coach - Coach Noehl - snoehl@psdschools.org

• Drop in clinics (optional)-March 5th 3:-4:00/ March 7th 3:-4:00 Room 16

• Tryouts are:

• Boys-3-20, Collindale tee times start 2:20

• Boys-3-22, City Park tee times start 1:00

• Girls-3-19, Collindale tee times start 2:40

• Girls-3-21 Mountain Vista tee times start 1:40

Transportation is not provided for tryouts or regular season matches.

Softball Tryouts - 7th & 8th grade girls are welcome to tryout

• Coach Weiss - aweiss@psdschools.org

• Preseason Days Camp: March 6th & 7th at 2:45pm in Mrs. Weiss’ room (37)

• Tryouts are: Monday, March 18th through Thursday, March 21st from 2:45-4:30

• Family Meeting: Tuesday, March 26th at 4:30 (Spring Park)

Track & Field - 6th , 7th & 8th graders welcome - Must obtain gold card by Monday, March 25th (same steps as above)

• Coach Swann - jswann@psdschools.org

• Preseason Camp: 3/26, 3/27, 3/28 from 2:55-4:00pm. Meet in Main Gym.
  

• Practices: begin Monday, April 1st and are Monday-Friday from 2:55-4:45PM.

• Family Meeting: March 20, 2024, from 5-6pm.

Girls Soccer - Must obtain gold card by Monday, March 25th for the FIRST PRACTICE

• Coach Spear - rspear@psdschools.org
• Coach Reyes - areyes@psdschools.org
• Coach Groves - dgroves@psdschools.org

• Tryouts: March 19th - 21st from 3:00-4:30pm

Lesher students will be taking the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments in April - see the calendar below . All students will take 3 English Language Arts assessments and 3 Mathematics assessments. Additionally, 8th graders will take 3 Science assessments.

As you plan ahead, we would greatly appreciate your help avoiding student appointments or other student absences on these days. A more detailed and specific calendar of testing days and times will be released after Spring Break. If you have questions about the CMAS assessments, please contact Deana Kochis, School Assessment Coordinator, at dkochis@psdschools.org or (970) 472-3854.

What is CMAS?

The state assessment system, Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), is designed to measure student mastery of Colorado’s academic content standards. Colorado’s academic content standards indicate skills and knowledge necessary to prepare students for success from early school readiness to postsecondary competencies, reflective of both workforce readiness and 21st century skills. Student progress toward these outcomes is measured through CMAS, which provides information to teachers as they incorporate the content standards in their daily instruction. CMAS results are also used for school and district accountability.

Our remarkable Head Custodian Chriss Renzoni is the PSD Don Morford Awardee this 2023-24 school year. She is awarded because of her investment in students and for her excellent work ethic. Congratulations Mrs. Chriss!

We had 45 students compete on Saturday at the Regional Science Olympiad Competition at Fossil Ridge. Lesher came in 3rd place and qualified 30 students for the State Competition. We had 12 students medal in their events!

3rd Place Finishers - Levi Hayward, Eden Kleier, Maya Leisz, Odem Aurian, Milo Singleton, and Milo Shannon.

2nd Place Finishers - Grayson Allen-Sibold, Kaleb Bravo, Lincoln Phillips, and Theo Von Fischer.

1st Place Finishers - Eden Kleier and Maya Leisz.

The Lesher Wrestling Team captured the District Championship for the SIXTH straight year. Lesher had 16 wrestlers in the finals out of 21 weight classes. We are so proud of you!

Individual District Champions:

Cash Helgerson 85lbs

Emmet Brennan 100lbs

Grant Glaser 105lbs

Stratton Hay 135lbs

Josh Richen 140lbs

Holden Irby 145lbs

Performance Details:

What? Pre-Music For All performance!

When? Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 @ 7:00 PM

Where? Timberline Church

What else? This performance will also feature the OUTSTANDING Fort Collins High School Symphony, which is also going to the 2024 Yamaha Music For All Festival. We are thrilled to share this concert with FCHS (which features several Lesher Alumni).

Here is the link to register

From Mrs. Champagne...

Sewing Supplies Needed for Art Room/Sewing Class:

• thread (all colors)
• buttons
• fabric (quilting cotton, jersey, fleece, canvas)

• any sewing supplies you don't need or use anymore

• any good working sewing machines you don't use anymore

These items can be dropped off to our main office!

Share your thoughts at a listening session this spring

A series of listening sessions will be held this spring. These are opportunities for members of the public, including staff, families, students, and community members, to provide feedback on the scenarios that the PSD Facilities Planning Steering Committee is developing. All sessions will follow the same format, which includes an overview presentation, followed by small-table conversations and a questionnaire.They will not be shared publicly, in part or whole, before then.

Those unable to attend a listening session will have an opportunity to watch a video presentation and submit feedback through an online questionnaire.

Please note that changes have been made to the schedule of listening sessions:
The committee will present possible options publicly for the first time at the March 19 PSD Board of Education meeting, which is open to the public. There is limited seating, so we strongly encourage people to tune into the livestream on YouTube.

• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Timnath Middle-High School, 4700 East Prospect Road, Timnath
• 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, March 25, at ITC Aspen 1 and 2 at the PSD Support Services Complex , 2407 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins
• 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 25, at Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Road, Fort Collins
• 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Online
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Lincoln Middle School, 1600 W. Lancer Drive, Fort Collins
• 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at PSD Future Ready Center, Suite 510 in the Foothills Mall, 215 E Foothills Parkway (for those who speak Spanish)
• TBD session for those who speak Arabic

Board of Education Listening Sessions

School board directors want members of our communities to have additional opportunities to give feedback about the possible scenarios developed by the PSD Facilities Planning Steering Committee. Therefore, the board is hosting two listening sessions:

• 5:30- 10 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, in the auditorium at Poudre High School, 201 S. Impala Drive in Fort Collins
• 5:30- 10 p.m., Tuesday, June 4, in the auditorium at Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way in Fort Collins

Microphones will be available at each session so any attendee may share their thoughts with the board. Both sessions will be recorded, and recordings will be posted on the PSD website.

The Facilities Planning Steering Committee is leading this work and will make two to three recommendations to the school board. The board will be asked to make a decision about how to proceed at its June 11 meeting.

Registration is now open for GirlsGetMath@CSU, a free weeklong, non-residential summer math camp in the Department of Mathematics at CSU! The camp will run June 10-14, 2024, Monday-Thursday 9am-3:30pm and Friday 9am-5pm. Students will explore a variety of topics in mathematics (such as cryptography, data science, image processing, fractals, and graph theory) in a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where they engage with hands-on activities and computer labs. During the camp, students will also take a campus tour, eat lunch in dining halls, and hear from successful women in STEM careers. There is no cost to attend the summer camp, and we will provide all materials, daily snacks, lunch, and a camp t-shirt.

Please direct any interested students to https://mathematics.colostate.edu/girls-get-math/ where they can fill out a short application to attend the camp. The deadline is Friday, April 26.

Thank you in advance for helping to spread the word. Feel free to reach out to jamie.juul@colostate.edu or liz.arnold@colostate.edu with any questions.

Sincerely,

Jamie Juul

Liz Arnold

Future 8th graders (current 7th graders) - are you interested in traveling to Boston? How about not just learning about history, but walking the paths of those who made history happen?

Preston Middle School takes 8th graders to Boston at the end of October with EF Tours - and they'd like to invite anyone from Lesher who might be interested in joining.

Follow this link to our informational slideshow (enrollment link is on the last slide) and https://www.efexploreamerica.com/tour-website/2675491UE to our website to enroll.

Please direct any questions to Laura Johnston (ljohnston@psdschools.org). Thanks - and happy traveling!

High School Course and Planning Worksheet – Digital Copy

High School Recommendation Guide

-This are pulled from Fort Collins High School Presentation Recommendations

High School Planning Guide

If you or a person you know need to talk to someone when not at school, you may consider:

• Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Connections (CAYAC): 970-221-3308

• SummitStone’s Community Crisis Center, 2260 W. Trilby Ave. Fort Collins: 970-494-4200

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

• 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and crisis resources for your loved ones

• Text or call 988 to talk with a trained counselor

• Website: 988lifeline.org

• Help in Spanish: 988lifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol

• Help for people who are deaf and hard of hearing: 988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing

• Colorado Crisis Services

• Free, confidential support from trained professionals available 24/7 for those with a mental health, substance use, or emotional concern

• Text “TALK” to 38255

• Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

• Website: coloradocrisisservices.org

• I Matter Colorado

• Youth get up to six free virtual counseling sessions (some in-person appointments available too).

• Websites: imattercolorado.org/ or yoimportocolorado.org/ (la versión en Español)

Spaces of belonging, opportunities to learn and grow

Our connections to other people, areas of interests, and passions are critical to wellness.

• Poudre River Library District

• There are activities for all ages over the break. Check out the LEGO Brick Build Club, Board Game Night, play scrabble, build your own maze or fairy garden, enjoy story times, visit Evie the mobile library, and more. More information on the Poudre Libraries site.

• Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

• Special spring break hours: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday March 9-17.

• In addition to exploring the museum, there are multiple events, including planetarium shows, animal meet and greets, and programming in Spanish.

• More information at fcmod.org/events/month/.

• Teen Activity Center (TAC) 212

• Extended hours for Spring Break: open March 12-16 2-8 p.m.

• TAC 212 is a safe space for teens 13-18 to hang out, make connections, find resources, enjoy free snacks, and have fun. After Spring Break, the center will host a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tournament for teens from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 22 (16 player limit, $5 entry).

• Parents and guardians of students ages 12-18 are invited to stop in between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to speak with Center for Family Outreach parent specialists and case managers experienced in adolescent development and TAC youth specialists about family conflict resolution, therapeutic intervention, youth positive alternatives, and more.

• More information at tac212.com.

• The Matthews House

• Drop-in services for youth ages 15-21 experiencing homelessness will begin after Spring Break, on March 20. These services include resource navigation, meals/food pantry, laundry, showers, gear and supplies, plus opportunities for additional support, include physical and mental health support.

• Dates and times: Noon to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays

• More information at www.thematthewshouse.org.

We've had an increase in broken laptop screens. Families, please make sure that you speak with your child about being safe and responsible with their laptops. Below are our school wide technology expectations that you can review with your family. Thank you!

Hello Families of Lesher 8th Graders!

This is the first call for short videos of your child in their element!

At the end of the school year, a video collage presentation is compiled to celebrate all of the out-of-school / extracurricular activities that our 8th graders participate in. This video montage will be shown during the end of the year celebration just for our departing 8th graders in May.

Do you have a short action video snip (10 seconds or less) of your 8th grader? Maybe you have a moment from a sporting event, engaged in favorite hobby at home, playing with a pet, doing something adventurous -- or a fun moment from a vacation? Anything goes, as long as we can see your child in the video! Horseback riding, theater, magic tricks, biking, hiking, skiing, volleyball, dance, football, surfing, cross country, wrestling, water sports, ziplining, basketball, softball, baseball, track, soccer, trampoline jumping, baking, gymnastics, rubik’s cube speed, unicycling, musical instruments, chess, gaming, disc golf, and weightlifting are several of the moments that have been received and used in years past!

If your child has an event- be sure to grab a few seconds of video and send it along! Sound will not be included in the video, so keep that in mind. Ideally this video montage will have a 2-10 second ACTION video of EVERY 8th grade student! You can submit 2 snips if you can’t pick your favorite- I will try to get all of them in. This is a chance for students to shine in ways that aren’t seen during the school day.

Please email your short video snips to the 8th Grade Day Viking Variety Show Coordinator, Ms. Julie Thompson - juliat@psdschools.org – she will be collecting them throughout the year, up until May 1st.

This week, updates have been rolled out to all student laptops. To apply these updates, you'll be required to restart your laptop multiple times. To determine if a restart is necessary, click on the Windows button; if prompted, choose "Update and Restart" or "Update and Shut Down." Ensure your laptop is plugged in and charging before initiating the restart. The process will take approximately 20-30 minutes, with some restarts potentially lasting several hours. Keep the screen open throughout the update. Note that these updates will occur on the second Tuesday of each month. If you encounter any problems or have issues, feel free to reach out to Ed Tech Coordinator Becky Knips at rknips@psdschools.org. Thank you!

Here is a link to our academic honesty police. Please take time as a family to read through this information and let us know if you have any questions! Thank you!

Academic Honesty Policy

Follow this link to this year's Club information!

This link will be updated when student initiated clubs get approved throughout the year.

Please Click Here

Click here for more information

Please follow this link!

Please Click Here

We would like to compile a spreadsheet of Lesher Businesses for our school and community to utilize. If you own a business, work for a business, or simply want the community to know about services you offer please fill out this form.

Instagram @leshervikings

Website: https://les.psdschools.org/
Location: Lesher Middle School, Stover Street, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Phone: 970-472-3800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesherMiddleSchool
Twitter: @Lesher_MS