February 28, 2019

Dear Springs Ranch Elementary School Families,

On Thursday, at approximately 11:00 a.m. our law enforcement partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department alerted SRES administrators about police activity east of the school. SRES administrators immediately placed the school on lockout status when they received the alert. Students and staff remained inside the buildings, and the school restricted visitors, which follows our lockout procedures.

The CSPD has cleared the area, and the lockout was lifted at 12:45 p.m., approximately an hour and 45 minutes after the initial alert. A normal release is planned for Thursday.

While following lockout procedures Thursday, SRES operated without disruption while placing safety at the highest priority for our students and staff.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

Sincerely,

David Nancarrow
Director of Communications

December 19, 2018

Dear Springs Ranch Elementary School Families,

This morning at approximately 10:40 a.m. our law enforcement partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department told D49 safety and security, as well as SRES administrators, about an active investigation in a nearby neighborhood. Out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of CSPD, administrators immediately initiated a lockout status at SRES. Students and staff remained inside the building, and the school restricted visitors, which follows our lockout procedures.

CSPD concluded their initial investigation and determined there was no threat to the safety of the SRES campus. After getting the all-clear, SRES administrators lifted the lockout, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. SRES operated as normal under lockout status during the investigation and our students and staff are safe.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

Sincerely,

David Nancarrow
Director of Communications

November 14, 2018

Dear Springs Ranch Parents,

An article was published in today’s Gazette regarding allegations referring to an unsubstantiated incident occurring in April 2018 at Springs Ranch Elementary School.

A Notice of Claim Under Colorado Governmental Immunity Act was presented to District 49 on October 19, 2018 regarding the allegations and contained a broad description of a possible perpetrator, but did not name a specific employee. D49 was not in receipt of any allegations regarding this issue until the notice was sent by the family’s attorney.

Colorado Springs police have investigated, and no one was arrested. “The case status is inactivated and unfounded,” Lt. Howard Black stated in the article. The police plan to take no further action.

We take situations like this seriously and can affirm that no one currently employed at D49 in the preschool program fits the vague description provided by the attorney for this family. Again, no individual perpetrator has been identified.

We have cooperated, and will continue to cooperate with the authorities and the family’s counsel to the extent that this situation requires. Thank you for your continued support and trust.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nancy Lemmond
Executive Director of Individualized Education

Sean Dorsey
Sand Creek Zone Leader       

5:15 p.m. UPDATE:

Dear Springs Ranch Elementary School Families,

At 5:00 p.m. our partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department concluded their investigation at an apartment complex near SRES. They did not provide additional information about the incident, but assured SRES staff the area is safe. The early dismissal from SRES went smoothly with your cooperation.

School will resume as scheduled for Wednesday.

We encourage you to talk with your students if they have questions about what happened today. Please check your email for important information about having these kinds of conversations.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

We thank you for your trust and understanding,

Jim Kyner

Principal, SRES

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2:45pm UPDATE:

Dear Springs Ranch Elementary School Families,

On Tuesday at approximately 1:13 p.m. our law enforcement partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department alerted SRES administrators about police activity in an area west of the school. Staff immediately initiated a lockout upon getting this alert and students were moved to the east side of SRES, away from the police activity as a precaution. Students and staff remained inside the buildings, and the school restricted visitors, which follows our lockout procedures. At 1:50 p.m. administrators initiated a reunification to release children from the school.

The CSPD remains active in the area.

Prior to the early release, and while following lockout procedures, SRES operated as normal while placing safety at the highest priority for our students and staff. D49 will provide updated information when it is available.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

Sincerely,

David Nancarrow
Director of Communications

August 7, 2018

Dear Springs Ranch Elementary School Families,

On Tuesday at approximately 1:13 p.m. our law enforcement partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department alerted SRES administrators about police activity near the school. At 1:50  Administrators initiated a reunification to release children from the school. SRES will take the following steps to manage the early release of students:

• PLEASE FOLLOW THIS SCHEDULE TO EASE CONGESTION:

• STUDENTS KINDER - 2ND GRADE: 2:30 p.m.

• 3rd Grade - 5th Grade: 3:00 p.m

• Parent Pick-Up: Parents wishing to pick-up their children will need to pull into the kiss-and-drop lanes. Please come to the front door with proper identification where staff members will greet you, or designated emergency contact, and direct you to your children. Please follow all guidance from staff members once you are onsite and adhere to this process to keep the release of students as efficient as possible.

• Bus Riders: The District 49 transportation team is sending buses to the school at the normal time. Students who ride the bus home will remain in a safe place at SRES until they can be picked up and dropped off at their normal bus stop location.

The CSPD continues to remain active in the area. SRES are operating as normal during the investigation and our students and staff are safe. D49 will provide updated information when it is available.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

Sincerely,

Jim Kyner
Principal, SRES

UPDATE: D49 Safety and Security lifted the lockout at 2:15 p.m. CSPD continues to monitor the situation that created the initial alert Wednesday afternoon, but does not believe there is a threat to SRES students and staff.

April 18, 2018

Dear Sand Creek Zone Families,

On Wednesday at approximately 1:19 p.m. our law enforcement partners at the CSPD told SCHS administrators and the SCHS SRO a person who is considered armed and dangerous was seen in the area. Administrators initiated a lockout status at SCHS, Remington Elementary School, Springs Ranch Elementary School and Creekside Success Center as police searched the surrounding neighborhoods. Students and staff remained inside the buildings, and the schools restricted visitors, which follows our lockout procedures.

The CSPD continues to search the area for anything suspicious. Schools are operating as normal during the investigation and our students and staff are safe. D49 will provide updated information when it is available.

D49 thanks our law enforcement partners and encourages all of our staff, students and families to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. We’ll continue to be proactive and partner with local law enforcement to ensure a safe learning environment awaits every District 49 learner.

Sincerely,

David Nancarrow

Director of Communications

We hope that you were able to have a restful Spring Break and are ready to get back to our last quarter of the school year. We have a full April and May and we want to finish the year well. We are excited about this coming month as we kick off One School, One Book. Each family at Springs Ranch will receive a copy of The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. You also received a letter that paces out the reading schedule and has topics and questions to help get the conversation going. We want to highlight that April 12 at 6:30 will be a family reading night with Humphrey. We hope you can join us then. And yes, we have an actual Humphrey the Hamster traveling around the school from class to class. We hope you enjoy this school wide activity and have a chance to spend some great family time together.

There are many ways to be involved in your child’s education as well as the improvement and accountability of our school. Here are some opportunities in which we encourage you to take part.

School Accountability Committee or SAC - Our School Accountability Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the principal concerning priorities for spending school funds, making recommendations concerning the preparation of the school’s performance plan, and providing input into the overall operation of the school. Our next SAC meeting is Monday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the SRES Library.

Parent Teacher Organization or PTO – Our Parent Teacher Organization supports the school through fundraising efforts, organizing special events (movie night, pizza bingo, staff appreciation, etc.…) and is one way of keeping in communication with the school about upcoming initiatives, plans or events. You are a member of our PTO and we welcome and appreciate your involvement.

Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for January 23 at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Karissa Hengst, our PTO President, for ways to be involved. Springsranchpto@yahoo.com.

Visiting and Volunteer – As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. Asking them about their day, encouraging them, reading with them, and having them at school ready to learn should not be underestimated. We also encourage you to keep open lines of communication with your child’s teacher. Kids love it if you are able to come have lunch with them. If wanting to volunteer on a consistent basis, please contact your child’s teacher or PTO and remember all volunteers must be fingerprinted.

September 13, 2016

Dear SRES Families,

Thank you for your patience as we have adjusted our dismissal procedures.  I have received positive feedback on how the process is going. As time goes on, the routines and procedures will become second nature. Remember to keep the middle, front walkway clear and stand behind the grade level signs. This will help us be able to connect you with your children in a safe manner.

In addition, please be aware of our policy of no dogs at arrival and dismissal times.  Even though your dog may be very sweet and gentle, please don’t walk them on school grounds.  Some students may be allergic and some students feel scared by dogs. We appreciate your attention to this.

Parking is a premium and we are looking at ways to create more parking for Springs Ranch. We do have handicap parking spaces on the south end of the building. We have many families that use these spots, so please be respectful of not parking there unless you have a designated handicap parking permit.

Also, remember that we only have supervision in the morning on the back playground starting at 8:15. The staff members on the playground at that time will begin to line kids up to enter the building.  If you bring your children prior to 8:15, please remain with them. We encourage you to time your arrival between 8:20 and 8:25. Students enter the building at 8:25.

Once again thank you for working with us to ensure a smooth and peaceful start and end to the school day for our students.  As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,

Jim Kyner, Principal
Springs Ranch Elementary

Dear Parents,

We have had a few days of our new dismissal procedures.  Thank you for your patience as we work to make our dismissal procedures efficient and safe.  We do have a few tweaks that we hope will make the process better.

1.    If you are out front waiting for your students, please wait near the grade level signs.  This should alleviate some congestion near the front door.
2.    All students will be exiting out the front doors
3.    If you have multiple students, older students will move to the younger students.
4.    Once you have received your child(ren), please vacate the front so we can be sure we have reunited all families.
5.    Communicate with your child and their teacher afternoon plans (picking up, walking home, kiss and drop lane, etc…)
6.    If you are in the Kiss and Drop lane, please pull down. All children except bus riders will be at the south end of the building.

Once again, thank you for your patience as we endeavor to smooth out this process.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Jim Kyner, Principal
Springs ranch Elementary