New Information
ACCESS TESTING
**FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ONLY (you will have received a letter from Mrs. Hawkins if your student is taking this assessment.) January 12th through 16th : ACCESS Testing for Kindergarten through 5th grade English Language Learner students only.
From the Health Office:
Hello Riffenburgh families, As we head into our winter months, when hats and gloves are worn outside, this is the time of year when we often see an increase in head lice due to the sharing of hats and coats. Please send your child with their own coat and hat so we can limit the sharing of outdoor clothing. If you have any questions or would like additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact the school health office. We’re happy to help! Thank you so much, Kelley-School RN
Repeat Information
SRO CORNER - January 2026
Rude vs. Mean vs. Bullying – What’s the Difference? As part of our commitment to creating a safe and respectful learning environment, we want to help families and students understand the difference between being rude, being mean, and bullying. These words are sometimes used interchangeably, but they mean very different things, especially when it comes to how schools address them.
1. Rude Definition: Rude behavior is when someone says or does something hurtful—often without thinking—because they’re being inconsiderate, careless, or self-centered in the moment. It’s usually not meant to hurt deeply or target a specific person repeatedly. Examples: · Interrupting someone while they are speaking. · Making a joke that offends someone without realizing it. · Cutting in line without saying “excuse me.” What helps? Gentle correction, modeling kindness, and practicing empathy usually turn these situations into learning moments. ---
2. Mean Definition: Being mean is when someone says or does something with the intention to hurt another person’s feelings, embarrass them, or put them down. It’s often a reaction to anger, jealousy, or frustration—but still a choice. Examples: · Calling someone an unkind name. · Making fun of someone’s appearance on purpose. · Deliberately excluding a friend from a game. What helps? Mean behavior should be addressed directly. Apologies, repairing relationships, and teaching conflict resolution are key.
3. Bullying Definition: Bullying is repeated, intentional harm—physical, verbal, or social—where there is a power imbalance. It’s not a one-time argument or an occasional unkind comment; it’s a pattern that can make someone feel unsafe at school. Examples: · Repeatedly spreading rumors to damage someone’s reputation. · Consistently pushing, shoving, or intimidating someone. · Targeting a younger or less confident student with ongoing insults. What helps? Bullying requires immediate adult intervention, clear consequences, and ongoing support for both the target and the student engaging in bullying behavior.
Why this matters When students and families understand the difference between these behaviors, we can respond appropriately and teach skills that prevent problems from escalating. One of our goals is to help students grow into respectful, compassionate, and responsible members of our school community. ---
If you or your child witnesses behavior that feels like bullying, please report it right away. Together, we can ensure our school stays a safe place for everyone to learn and thrive. Have the best month! SRO Dave Wilson
·
News from the Health Office
As we enter our Fall and Winter seasons, we often see increased illnesses in our students. Just a friendly reminder, please do not send your child to school if they are feeling ill. Several symptoms such as Diarrhea, Vomiting, Fever of 100.4 or greater, Flu-like symptoms, and Respiratory viruses are reasons for students to stay home, and they may not return to school until 24 hours after their last symptom and without using fever-reducing medications.
Any medications, whether prescription or over the counter, that your student may need at school must have a signed order from your doctor, this includes cough drops, ointments & eye drops. We have been seeing several cough drops at school and medications in backpacks.
Please reach out to the Health Office, 970-488-7941, with any questions.
Thank you for keeping all of our students healthy & safe.
.
Volunteering at Riffenburgh
If you plan on Volunteering at Rifenburgh, you must register or check that your status is current with Poudre School District (PSD) thru the following portal (renewals are every 3 years) before you come to school.
.
District News
New Information
Repeat Information
Choose PSD
.
.
.
.
.
District Menu
Nutrislice is updated by our district nutrition team each day, the links below will be the most reliable source for daily options.