Werner mom considers volunteering a part of parenting
Volunteering in her children’s school is more than a passion for Judi Urlocker, it is an important part of parenting. Judi Urlocker, February Volunteer of the Month, has been volunteering at Werner Elementary for 10 years and at Preston Junior 
High for three years. Urlocker has two sons in 6th and 9th grade. When her sons were younger, she volunteered in the classrooms. Now that they are older, she has transitioned to more of an outside role, which, she feels, allows them to grow in their independence. Urlocker says she volunteers to show her children how important education is.
For the past seven years, Urlocker has been leading 48 students in the Werner Chess Club. She also assists with coaching the Lego Robotics Team for the last four years, which recently resulted in the 5th- and 6th- grade team going to the State Championships. Urlocker says coaching Robotics allows her to use her engineering background as well as teach teamwork skills. She says that it is “very rewarding to see the progress kids make when they take on challenges. It’s not always smooth sailing, but with struggles comes rewards.” A special memory for her is the second year she coached the Robotics team. On competition day, which is usually filled with troubleshooting, repairs, and changing programs between trial runs, the team rose to the occasion and worked together with very little supervision from her. She was very proud of her team.
In addition to chess and robotics, Urlocker helps the art teacher hang art for the Werner Art Fair, the PSD Art Fair, and rotates art throughout the school during the year. She is also involved with the 4th- grade basket weaving project, in which she helps parents and students learn how to make basket starters and weave their own baskets. She has also helped, and is now supervising, Preston Junior High’s School Store.
Hayden Camp, Principal at Werner, says Urlocker is well deserving of this award because of her dedication, countless hours of service, and humble attitude of servant-hood. She has provided the students with great opportunities to grow and learn.
PSD facilities receive 19 Energy Star Awards
Poudre School District facilities continue to be a leader in energy conservation through its dedication to maintaining energy efficient buildings and schools. PSD facilities recently received 19 new Energy Star awards in 2007 from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.
Of the 19 awards, 17 were presented to schools and two were given for office buildings. Buildings need to achieve a score of 75 or above in the EPA’s energy performance rating system and meet industry standards for indoor air quality to earn the Energy Star for superior energy performance.
The following PSD facilities earned the Energy Star, consuming approximately 35 percent less energy than typical buildings while providing comparable comfort and services:
Bacon Elementary
Bauder Elementary
CLP Jr. High School
Dunn IB World Elementary
Fossil Ridge High School
Harris Bilingual School
Johnson Elementary
Kinard Core Knowledge Jr. High
Kruse Elementary
Linton Elementary
Lopez Elementary
McGraw IB World Elementary
Olander Elementary
Operations Building
Rocky Mountain High School
Johannsen Support Services Center
Traut Core Knowledge Elementary
Werner Elementary
Zach Core Knowledge Elementary
Stu Reeve, PSD facilities utilities manager, pointed out that the Energy Star Awards is one piece of the district’s energy management plan. “It’s definitely a team effort. We use this as a tool to measure the performance of every building, every year,” he says.
In addition, Reeve said PSD has been dedicated to managing increasing costs through energy conservation since 1994. Utility costs saved are redirected back into PSD’s general fund, making more money available for classroom use.
“The only thing we can control is usage,” Reeve says. “By diverting money from the utility companies, we can make classrooms better.”
Other PSD energy conservation facts:
Completed 139 energy efficient projects from 1994 to 2007.
On-going yearly savings from projects are $434,000. Accumulative savings 
from 1994 to 2007 are more than $1,876,000.
HVAC and irrigation procedures have reduced electric, natural gas and water costs by about $500,000 per year.
Since 2000, PSD schools have earned 66 of the 134 Energy Star labels awarded in Colorado.
Continued partnership with Fort Collins utilities in support of the school energy rebate program called “Energy Rules.” Through the program, about $27,400 was rebated back to 25 participating schools for saving energy.
Recycled 307 tons of office paper, newspaper, cardboard, magazines, aluminum, plastic, glass, computer monitors and keyboards and wood in 2007.
Energy Star Program
Energy Star is a joint program between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), helping consumers save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. In 1992, the EPA introduced Energy Star as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information about PSD energy conservation efforts, contact Reeve at 970-490-3502.
Students take pride in positive behavior
Lincoln IB World School students walk to class through hallways marked with street signs that indicate Pride Road, Positive Lane Respect Boulevard, Integrity Way, Diversity Drive and Excellence Avenue. Posting the signs is just one way to communicate the PRIDE code that is part of a new Positive Behavior Support (PBS) initiative adopted by the district.
Students who do the right thing and display the character qualities in the PRIDE code receive recognition slips that can be exchanged for the opportunity to be first in the lunch line, receive a free hall pass, or other special privileges.
“When you are looking for the positive, it comes more frequently.” Angie Dowdy, Lincoln counselor explains. The PBS initiative is also an effective tool for reducing discipline problems.
Poudre School District has joined 50 other districts across Colorado in implementing POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT, or PBS. Now in its second year in the district, PBS incorporates a broad range 
of strategies for increasing academic achievement, increasing pro-social behaviors, and increasing safety.
Linton Elementary is now in its second year using the PBS and it has made a notable reduction in discipline problems.
“I have been in this building for five years, and the number of students out of the classroom for discipline this year is “0,” says Linton Principal Marsha Gustafson. “It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.”
PBS is not a specific curriculum, a “package” approach, or commercial product. PBS offers a framework and a process for schools and districts to use in implementing, evaluating, and sustaining practices that support positive academic and social outcomes for ALL students. PBS emphasizes effective and efficient systems, evidence-based practices, data-based decision making, and family/community involvement.
Elementary schools implementing the initiative include Bauder, Beattie, Rice, Werner, Timnath, Olander Laurel, Lopez, Putnam School of Science, Lab School for Creative Learning and Riffenburgh Elementary schools. Junior high schools include Blevins, Kinard Core Knowledge, Lesher, Lincoln IB World School, Mountain View and PEAK.
Each school has a unique way to implement PBS, including a “Rocks Poster Party” at the Lab School, assemblies at Putnam, and staff recognition and appreciation at Beattie Elementary.
PBS is currently used in thousands of schools nationwide, and these schools show impressive positive results. On average, schools with PBS programs experience a 20-to 60-percent reduction in discipline over a 3- to 5-year period.
Ten sites are on the waiting list for implementation of PBS next year.
If you would like more information about PBS, please contact Paula Perrill, PBS Coach, 970-490-3138
pperrill@psdschools.org.