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Dear Poudre School District Community,
As we move further into the school year, I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible work happening across PSD. In classrooms, on stages, in gyms, and throughout our community, our students continue to shine. We’re seeing record levels of student achievement and graduation rates in many areas, an accomplishment that reflects the dedication of our students, educators, staff, families, and community partners.
We recently launched a webpage within our Choose PSD initiative that spotlights all of our exceptional schools and programs – each with its own unique strengths and sense of community. This site was designed to help families explore what makes every PSD school special, whether it’s an incredible neighborhood elementary school, a middle school with a strong arts program, or a high school offering advanced career and technical pathways. We’re fortunate to live in a community where every school offers something special. No matter where you live or what you’re looking for, you’ll find a PSD school where your student will belong, grow, and succeed.
Thank you for all you do to make PSD a place where excellence, belonging, and care come together for our kids and our community. I am grateful for each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
Brian Kingsley, Superintendent
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Every School Day Matters; Keeping track of time away
This month, in our continuing partnership with the Colorado Department of Education’s Every School Day Matters campaign, we want to remind families to communicate in advance with their child’s school about any vacations, holidays, or anticipated absences that might be coming up as fall turns into winter. This time of year, families often plan celebratory gatherings alongside various other events and appointments, and it is important to make sure that all absences are reported and your student is accounted for with your school’s front office.
Be sure to keep your school up to date if your child will be missing class and also work with their teachers to ensure they are not falling behind on classroom assignments and learning. We can all partner to help students stay engaged in their studies.
Learn more about excused absences and how to report them on our webpage.
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Choose PSD for the 2026-27 School Year
The first-round School Choice application period opened Monday, Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. and closes Monday, Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. A second round will open in mid-January.
Families who wish to enroll their students in schools with specific programs or learning models at other schools may do so through PSD’s School Choice process, based on space availability and eligibility requirements. Students must first be enrolled in their neighborhood school before submitting a School Choice application.
Poudre School District is home to exceptional schools and programs in every part of our community. Whether your student attends their amazing neighborhood school or another PSD school through the School Choice process, you can be confident they’ll receive a high-quality education that supports their growth, belonging, and success.
We are truly fortunate to live in a community where families have so many excellent options, a reality that isn’t common everywhere.
To learn more about all PSD schools, programs, and how to register, visit the new Choose PSD website, your one-stop resource for exploring everything our district has to offer.
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Superintendent and Board of Education community engagement listening sessions
Superintendent and Board of Education Community Listening sessions will continue this month as Superintendent Brian Kingsley and members of the Board meet with the PSD community to answer questions and hear feedback. These sessions are open to anyone, even if their child does not attend the school where the session is being hosted.
Superintendent Kingsley’s next session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Webber Middle School, 4201 Seneca St., Fort Collins. The next two Board of Education engagement sessions will be held in February 2026.
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Community engagement night
The PSD community wishing to learn more about what is being taught in classrooms and share their input will have the chance next week with the Curriculum department’s Community Engagement Night. This community event is focused on reviewing and discussing curricular materials for the district, allowing parents to learn more about the instructional resources being considered for classrooms and offering the chance to share thoughts, questions and ideas. Your input is essential as we work together to ensure the district’s curriculum reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of our community. Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or neighbor, we welcome your participation.
This year, the district is completing the curriculum adoption for K-5 Math, English Language Development, and World Language Level 1 (French, German and Spanish). This engagement night will be held on Nov. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Future Ready Event Center found inside Foothills Mall, 215 E. Foothills Parkway suite 510.
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PSD Theater makes history, brings back favorites
The Fall brings many things, but one thing the community can look forward to this time of year is some great student acting, including first-of-their-kind high school performances in PSD theaters.
The Fossil Ridge Theatre Company of Fossil Ridge High School is one such program, putting on the first, and only, high school version of Tony-Award-winning Kimberly Akimbo: The Musical High. Mikayla Assmus, director of Fossil Ridge Theatre Company, described this opportunity as “an incredible educational opportunity for our students,” allowing the community to be part of theater history. The production will take place on Nov. 13-15 at 7:00pm at Fossil Ridge High School, 5400 Ziegler Road.
Among other shows being put on by amazing PSD high-school student actors is the Poudre High School Theatre production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, which will show on Nov. 7-8 and 13-14 at 7:00 as well as Nov. 15 @ 2:30.
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Integrated Services parent learning community night
Families are invited to join PSD’s Integrated Services team for an evening of learning, connection, and support focused on dyslexia. This interactive workshop will include a presentation, group activity, Q&A, and time for parents to connect with one another.
Topics will include understanding dyslexia, instruction and intervention, IEPs and school supports, assessment and identification, and the social-emotional impacts of dyslexia and how to provide support at home.
The Dyslexia Workshop will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Transition Pathways Academy, 1630 Stover St.
| | Poudre School District voters approved more than just improvements to PSD buildings when they passed the 2024 Debt Free Mill Levy Override. They also made a direct contribution in classrooms. This includes art classrooms, where funds will create a stronger sense of equity for all students while providing the best equipment for artistic expression. | | |
Q: Hi, Brian! I am a Wellington Middle High School parent, and I'm hoping you can help get a "safe route to school" for where students are choosing to walk to and from WMHS in a way that crosses a busy and fast road (HWY 1).
I have connected with Fort Collins' Safe Routes to School coordinator Nancy, and she was great in terms of information, but since WMHS is not in Fort Collins, she said there is not much she can do. Then I tried connecting with PSD Transportation, who tried connecting me with a Town of Wellington Board Member, but that didn't turn out useful, since the board member did not follow up with me (more than once).
I understand this type of thing can be like a "hot potato" tossed from one budget entity to another, but a student safety issue shouldn't be like that. I do want to emphasize that the route needs to reflect convenience for students coming from the southeast of WMHS, or it will be a waste of time and resources, and the safety concerns will persist. Can you please let me know what you can do to address this issue and help keep the WMHS community safe? Thank you!
A: Thank you for raising this important concern—and for your persistence in keeping our students’ safety front and center. You’re right that student safety should never feel like a “hot potato.”
While roads like Highway 1 are managed by state and local agencies, PSD shares your concern about students walking and biking safely to school. We are committed to being a collaborative partner with the Town of Wellington, state transportation officials, and others to explore solutions that reflect how students actually travel, especially from the southeast side of campus.
Programs such as Colorado’s Safe Routes to School offer strong examples of how communities can make meaningful safety improvements through education, engineering, and partnership. These efforts take coordination, but our focus remains clear—protecting every student and staff member, every day, in Wellington and across PSD. We will continue to work on this issue and truly appreciate your question and advocacy on behalf of students.
If you would like to submit a question for “Ask Brian,” please fill out this Google form.
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Feedback
That’s a wrap on this month’s PSD Insider! We hope it gives you the key info you need – and a deeper look into our amazing school district!
Have feedback? Send it to in...@psdschools.org. See you next time!
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