Here are a few exciting events that PSD schools participated in recently including Laurel's Walk-to-School Day, Beattie's Fall Frolic Run, FCHS Rachel’s Challenge, the grand opening of the FCHS Klyd’s Closet and Poudre Community Academy projects.

Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology celebrated International Walk-to-School Day on Oct. 3. Check out the slideshow below!

PCA Students Make Clothing and Blankets

Several Poudre Community Academy students are making clothing and blankets for people in need.  Students are making T-shirt dresses that will be shipped to Haiti, a Native American reservation in South Dakota, and a few other places in need of clothing. Students are also making no-sew blankets for children in Poudre Valley Hospital.

PCA students focus on their service projects every Wednesday. Donations of fabric for the dresses and blankets are being accepted at the school, 2540 LaPorte Ave.

FCHS Grand Opening of the New Klydaccino &  Klyd’s Closet

Fort Collins High School students held a grand opening of the new Klydaccino coffee shop, along with the kickoff of Klyd’s Closet (which is starting its fourth year of operation).  Both shops, located in the FCHS cafeteria, are run by students in the Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) program.

Klyd’s Closet is a general merchandise store selling various gently used items and clothing for a small price. Items are donated or on consignment. Parents and students are encouraged to participate by bringing in their used items to the store.

Klydaccino is a new coffee shop at the school this year. An espresso machine was recently purchased and students are being trained as baristas.

Beattie Elementary Students Enjoy a “Fall Frolic” Run

Beattie Elementary students participated in the one mile Fall Frolic race Oct. 2. Races for all grades were scheduled at specific times throughout the day. All students and most staff participated in the run, which began and ended at the Beattie Nature Center. Winners of the races were not those that finished first, but those that who guessed their finish time closest to their actual time.

FCHS Hosts Rachel’s Challenge for Students

FCHS students learned about the power of kindness and compassion during two “Rachel’s Challenge” assemblies on Oct. 1. The entire student body participated in the assemblies.

In addition, a group of approximately 100 students participated in a training to organize a FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club, a group dedicated to making a positive impact at FCHS by continuing a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. The FOR students came up with “Targeted Acts of Kindness” projects to focus on that will help them with their goals.

The “Rachel’s Challenge” organization and programs were created in memory of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine High School tragedy. In her diary, Rachel left behind a simple challenge for people to “treat others with kindness and compassion; you may change the world you live in.”