New staff member- Marti Burnham, GT Coordinator

Welcome Marti Burnham, GT Coordinator, to Lopez Elementary!  Mrs. Burnham will be working 50% at Lopez as part of our WIN schedule, primarily serving 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for gifted and talented/enrichment.

Educational and Professional Background:
I am so pleased to be the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Lopez. I have lived in Fort Collins for the last ten years, but I also attended CSU many years ago. I have an undergraduate degree in fine arts and an MA in elementary education. I hold endorsements for elementary education, art education, and gifted and talented education. I have ten years of teaching experience in a variety of subjects. Most recently, I spent the last three years at Kruse Elementary School teaching advanced and enriched reading and math. I am looking forward to the coming school year and settling into my new home at Lopez!

Personal Interests & Hobbies:
I love spending time with my husband, Joe, and our two daughters, Holly and Lucy. I have several hobbies that allow me to be creative including drawing, cooking, and writing. I also enjoy traveling, gardening, biking, running, and reading. On weekends, you will often find my home full of friends and family sharing meals, playing games, and having fun.

Back to School information

Monday, July 28, 2014

Back to School!


I've started to see the ads for school supplies, so that signals it is time to give you an update about Back to School at Lopez Elementary.  Scan the information below for important dates as well as links to school supply lists and other information.

New families
If any families are new to the Lopez community, they can come by the school to register anytime on August 5 and 6 between 7:30 - 4:30. 

First Day of School – Tuesday, August 19, 8:25 a.m. – 1:08 p.m.The First Day of School is Tuesday, August 19, from 8:25 – 1:08 p.m.  The first bell will ring at 8:25 and students will be considered tardy at 8:30 a.m. Students will line up outside of their pod or classroom doors to enter the building.  After dropping your students at their new classrooms, please join the Lopez PTA for their Welcome-Back Coffee. 

Kindergartners have an alternate orientation day schedule on the first two days of school.  Their personalized schedule will be communicated by the kindergarten teachers. 

Kindergarten Playdate-  Tuesday, August 12 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Kindergarten students and families are invited to the Lopez playground for a special playdate to meet one another.  A Popsicle treat will be provided!

Early Release August 19 - 29, 2014:  
Please be aware that all PSD elementary and middle schools will release two hours early the first two weeks of school to address the heat.  Your child will be dismissed from Lopez at 1:08 p.m.  Breakfast and lunch will be served.  BASE Camp is currently accepting reservations for their after school program on the early release dates until August 1.  Contact them at 970-266-1734 or on their website at www.mybasecampkids.org

School Supply Lists:  
Supply lists can be found on our Lopez website at http://tinyurl.com/nw58qko

Class Lists: – Emailed August 11; Posted at School Monday, August 18
Careful planning and teacher recommendation goes into determining your child’s class placement each year.  We will finalize class lists after August registration, and you will receive an email communicating your child’s classroom placement by August 12.  In the event that we have an incorrect email address or do not have that information on file, we will post class lists by the front doors and on classroom doors before our Ice Cream Social on Monday, August 18.

Ice Cream Social: – Monday, August 18, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Please join us for our Welcome Back Ice Cream Social is Monday, August 18, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.  You and your students may bring school supplies and meet your teachers.  Then, please return to the front lawn to enjoy ice cream provided by our wonderful PTA.  Teachers will need every minute to set up their classrooms, so please wait until 4:00 to arrive.
 
Breakfast
Breakfast is served beginning at 8:00 a.m.  Student breakfast is $1.25 per day, no charge for students qualified for the Reduced or Free Lunch program.  We have requested the bus arrive at Lopez no later than 8:15; however, if the bus arrives later, student will still be afforded time to eat.

Lunch
Hot lunches will cost $2.35 per day for students including milk and juice.  Students with cold lunch may purchase milk or juice for 45¢.  The adult lunch price is $3.25 and you are welcome to join us any day.  Students may pay for lunches daily, weekly, monthly or for the entire year.  Our lunch system maintains a running tally of each student’s account and the teachers will collect money in their classrooms daily for her.  Please write your child’s name, homeroom teacher’s name and student ID number on ALL checks and envelopes containing cash.  Parents may also pay by credit card by going to the Student Snapshot under the parent tab on the PSD Website:  www.psdschools.org.

Parents may complete the free/reduced meal application online beginning August 4.  Go to the Poudre School district page at www.psdschools.org and under “Schools/Programs” drop down to “Child Nutrition”.  Next, click on “Free and Reduced” and finally on “Apply Now” to access the form.


Food Allergy Awareness
Please be mindful of school-wide, potentially life threatening allergies to foods containing or made in a kitchen containing peanuts and tree nuts. A convenient list of safe peanut/nut free snacks will be included in your Parent Handbook and 1^st Friday Folder as well as available on the website.  We provide nut free lunchroom tables and parents are asked to always check with your child’s teacher before bringing classroom treats.

Bus Information
In mid-August, our Skyview families may access the bus schedule online using the link on the front page of the district website www.psdschools.org/ as well as on our web page www.psdschools.org/lopez.
Space Available and Alternative Transportation applications will be available on the PSD website and at the transportation office.  Requests are processed on first-come, first-served basis and are based on the space available on existing bus routes.  Parents are encouraged to apply as soon as applications are available.  Applications are available on the PSD website www.psdschools.org.  For more information, contact the transportation routing department at 490-3155.

Student Rights & Code of Conduct Booklets
The Student Rights and Code of Conduct booklet is being distributed electronically.  It is listed in multiple locations online: on the web front page under NEWS, as well as on the STUDENT and the PARENT pages under Student Conduct.  Please reference one of these so you can sign and return the verification sheet included in your first Friday Folder.

Back to School Night – Thursday, August 28, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Our Back-to-School Night will be on Thursday, August 28, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. for all grades, K-5^th.  Teachers will present two informational sessions that are the same.  The first session will be at 5:00 - 5:30.  The second session will be 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.  The fifth grade team will have a special presentation about Eco-week.

Ongoing Communication
School communications will be sent to you by email.  Register at www.psdschools.org , parent tab, email alerts, choose Lopez under the elementary tab.

I look forward to connecting with everyone soon!

As always, feel free to call or email me if you have any questions.

Dr. Traci Gile,  Principal
tgile@psdschools.org
970-488-8800  

Stephen Boese- Assistant Principal

Poudre School District made the decision to provide Assistant Principals to elementary schools in order to help with the increasing evaluation workload related to recent legislation.  Lopez Elementary will have a 50% Assistant Principal, Stephen Boese.  Please join me in welcoming Mr. Boese!

I have most recently been a Poudre School District teacher at Harris Bilingual and Putnam Elementary Schools.  I taught 5th grade and one of the parts of my job I loved most was being the 'Science Guy' at Harris. I received my principal's license in 2007 from Colorado State University.

My wife also works in the district as a speech language pathologist. We have two boys, a rising third grader at Harris Elementary and a 4 year old. When not at work, my wife and I love spending time outdoors with our boys. You might run into us on the bike trails or at the pool. 

I will be at Lopez on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday AM. I have heard so many wonderful things about Lopez, and I am truly excited for this opportunity. I can't wait to get to know you all soon.