Celebrations & Successes, Winter Weather Reminders, Family Resources, PV4PV.

The second semester is well underway, and it is clear that both students and staff have started with strong momentum. We deeply appreciate the pride our community takes in supporting public education. Our commitment remains firmly centered on educating students and fostering excellence. We strongly believe in the idea of American Exceptionalism—and recognize that such exceptionalism is built upon a thriving local public school system. With that in mind, we are excited to share several celebrations with our community.

First Semester Academic Celebrations. Because this is our first communication following the end of the semester, I want to take the opportunity to share some end of semester celebrations and celebrations from across the district:

FFA National Award Winners. For the first time in Platte Valley School District’s history, we had two students place at the National FFA Convention. Mesa Arnold and Zemery Weber finished 7th overall in the FFA Social Science Division at this fall’s national conference.

Additional Celebrations. Platte Valley Schools also had a number of additional celebrations we are proud of from the first semester. They include:

Winter Weather Reminders. Winter has officially finally hit! The last week of January finally brought a little snow and colder temperatures. A reminder to our families and community our goal is always to have school. We take a number of considerations into account when making these decisions which include: road conditions, buses and their ability to start and run during inclement weather, wind chill, timing of weather, and many more. When storms are forecasted we make the best decision possible at that time on whether to call school the night before or wait to make a decision early in the morning. Myself, our CFO/COO Justin Decker, and head mechanic Kenny Stutts get up between 3:30 and 4:00 am to drive and check roads if/when necessary. We will do what we can to have school, however if weather warrants it we will either do a delayed start or cancel. When we have delayed start or cancellation we will send out direct communications through Edlio, our website, and our Facebook page. We will also communicate with CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox News in Denver. Please help us ensure your child is prepared and dressed appropriately when we do have school during cold winter days.

Cook Center and Family Resources. We want to remind families of the partnership with Cook Center and ParentGuidance.org., a non-profit organization that works to provide resources to families to help guide their children through all of the issues they will be confronted with as the grow up. These issues include dealing with social media, anxiety, body image, grief and loss, divorce, and much more. It is not uncommon for anxiety to increase during the holidays, both for adults and children. The resources are specific to parents and guardians and is being funded for two years through a grant with the Weld Trust. Please see the information below on how to access the resources available to our families.

• Parent Coaching. Parent Coaching offers families confidential, one-on-one support from a trained coach. Parents can receive guidance tailored to their unique needs and challenges, including anxiety, school-related concerns, behavioral issues, family transitions, and more. To sign up go here: How to Sign Up for Parent Coaching or google “Cook Center, How to Sign up For Parent Coaching”

PV4PV Education Foundation. We are pleased to share with our community the creation of a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Positive Voices for Platte Valley (PV4PV) Education Foundation. The foundation officially obtained its federal tax-exempt status on August 18^th, 2025. The organization’s mission is to support the students, staff, and community involved with Platte Valley School District. Initially, PV4PV is focused on providing scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors from Platte Valley High School. This May, PV4PV will offer two $1,000 scholarships to graduating Platte Valley seniors.

The organization is a separate operating entity from Platte Valley School District, with a focus on alignment in the vision and mission for supporting the District. PV4PV has an oversight board consisting of five people: President, Dan Buderus; Vice President, Janet Niederkorn; Treasurer, Glenn McClain; Secretary, Christina Decker; and Platte Valley School District Board Representative, Robin Meireis. The Platte Valley Superintendent serves as an ex-offico member and does not have voting rights with the Board. Anyone interested in supporting this new organization may contact Jeremy Burmeister to help be steered in the appropriate direction. Contributions are tax deductible.  

In closing, I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the Platte Valley community. We are a destination district because of the focus on education we have in addition to having great students and families. We look forward to continuing our strong start to the second semester.  

Yours in Education,

Jeremy Burmeister, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

“To get better you have to struggle. The way your body and mind learn, adapt, and grow is to be slightly embarrassed. That frustration is the signal that our brain/body needs to adjust. If you want to learn and adapt, embrace the struggle”

Steve Magness – Author: Do Hard Things; Win the Inside Game

January Technology Tips for Families:

Protecting Privacy and Managing Screen Time: As we begin a new year, January is a great opportunity for families to reset digital habits at home. Many national technology safety organizations recognize January as a time to focus on data privacy and healthy technology use, making it ideal for simple conversations and small changes that can support students all year long.

Protecting Your Child’s Online Data: Children use technology daily for learning, communication, and entertainment. As device use increases, so does the importance of protecting personal information.

Helpful reminders for families include:

• Avoid oversharing student information, locations, or daily routines online
• Review privacy settings on apps, games, and social media accounts
• Remind students never to share passwords or personal details
• Only download apps and games from trusted sources

DID YOU KNOW?: Many apps, games, and websites collect personal information by default. Privacy settings can change with updates, so reviewing them regularly helps families stay informed about how student data is used and shared.

Resetting Screen Time After Winter Break: Cold weather and school breaks often lead to increased screen time. January is a natural time to reset expectations and build healthy routines.

Consider these screen-time tips:

• Create tech-free times, such as during meals or before bedtime
• Encourage short breaks during homework, gaming, or streaming
• Balance screen use with reading, movement, and creative activities
• Model healthy device use as adults

Keep the Conversation Going: Open communication remains one of the most effective ways to support students online. Talking regularly about technology use helps children feel comfortable asking questions or reporting concerns.

A Simple January Tech Reminder: Small steps—reviewing privacy settings, resetting screen-time routines, and keeping conversations open—can help families build safer, healthier digital habits that last well beyond the new year.