Cougar Community Connection
Principal, Shannon McPherson
Dear CRUNFamily,
We are at the point in the year where we are making decisions about next year. One big decision that we are super excited about is the hire of our new Campus Security Specialist. Thank you, once again, for helping to pass the 5A measure that not only has allowed for more fair compensation of our staff, but 6 million dollars of the measure went directly towards increasing security in our elementary buildings. We went through an interview process where we had some great candidates who all had first responder experience and also have experience working with kids. It is always a great problem to have when you have folks show up who are lovely Humans AND love working with kids. We are excited to announce that our new Campus Security Specialist is one of our own CRUNFamily members. Mr. Matt Schueneman has retired from fire fighting and has dedicated his time being a substitute teacher in DCSD for the past 3 years. We scooped him up immediately once we had him in our building as a guest teacher and found out how truly amazing he is with our kids. Matt certainly doesn't have to do this gig, but has chosen to be a difference maker for kids in our school as one of our SSN EAs. Matt's patience, ability to connect with kids and dedication to our school for the past 3 years made him the perfect fit. This position will be a combination of front facing security for the 8 hours a day we are at CRUN, plus be another male, trusted adult to help students and staff with problem solving conflicts, anti-bullying programming and skill building. He will finish out the year a part of our SSN team and will go through security training with our district security team, being ready to hit the ground running as the CRUN CSS in August. We couldn't be more excited to have this extra layer of safety and security at our school. Mr. Matt will be uniformed in security gear, but will not carry a weapon. The other layer of 5A we are excited about is the increase in time at our school from our SRO, Ryan Koski. More SROs were added because of this measure allowing our SROs to have less elementary schools so they will be present more often in our buildings. Together, these two men will work to increase safety for all in our school. We hope you are as excited as we are about this added layer of security. Please congratulate Matt for officially and permanently joining the CRUNFamily.
A Note From PTA
March's PTA Meeting is Friday, March 8th at 8:45am in the Learning Commons. We will be putting the finishing touches on the Glow Dance preparation and discussing board positions that we will be voting on in April. We would like to create a full board slate during the March meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend this important discussion.
- 2 co-presidents
- 1 lead co-treasurer (need to be proficient with quickbooks)
- 1 secretary
Fifth Grade Community Butter Braids Fundraiser for Outdoor Ed
Mark those calendars for the fifth grade’s annual Butter Braids community fundraiser! The fifth graders are selling Butter Braids to benefit the WHOLE fifth grade for their upcoming sixth grade Outdoor Ed trip this coming fall. They will be selling Butter Braids, Kona Coffee, and gluten free cookie dough after school Monday, March 4th, Tuesday, March 5th, and Wednesday, March 6th. Come place your order! Your order will arrive just in time for Easter! Orders will be delivered to Cougar Run for you to easily pick up. Thanks for helping the fifth graders!
PHOTOS Friday March 1
DR-Photo will be taking Class Group Photos, Spring Individual Photos and Club Group Photos (ie ROCKS Council, Battle of the Books, Green Team, Choir, Girls on the Run, Crane folding, etc.)
Students should dress for their class group and individual photos and also BRING the shirts for any clubs that they participated in to change into for those specific group photos.
Katie Busch~ Volunteer Coordinator
Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities:
Spring Class, Club, and Individual Photos
We are looking for parents who would be willing to take morning or afternoon shifts on Friday, March 1st to help with Class, Club, and Individual Photos. If you are interested, please contact me at the information below.
Watch D.O.G.S
For those dads and father-like figures out there, please sign up for Watch D.O.G.S for the remainder of the school year. We can work with ANY schedule! Sign up for ANY amount of time to be a Watch D.O.G. (Dads of Great Students). Sign up HERE!
Teacher Appreciation
The PTA is looking for one more volunteer to help organize Teacher Appreciation week in May. Please contact Katie Busch (Info Below)
Glow Dance Party
The PTA is planning an amazing community event on March 14th. The PTA Committee would love more help in planning this fun event. Please reach out to Katie Busch if you are interested (Info Below).
End-of-the-Year Carnival
The PTA is throwing an end-of-the-year carnival celebration on May 23rd. If you would like to help with the party, please contact Katie (Info Below)
Donuts with Grownups & Muffins with Mentors
If anyone is interested in helping with two, one-day events or just one of the events that are cherished by our community, Nate Biggs (he has Donuts with Grownups and Muffins with Mentors down to a science), please reach out to Katie Busch (Info Below)
Katie Busch
Volunteer Coordinator
Cougar Run Elementary School
From Green Team
Way to go, Cougar Run! We recycled 3, 410 Longmont Dairy milk caps! That brought in $170 for Cougar Run! Keep sending in those milk caps in a zip loc bag and drop them off in the bin by the front office.
Counselor's Corner~ A Note from Mrs. Boisson
Enrichment topics/lessons this week (Blue Feb. 26th - March 1st)
K: Career Exploration
1: Career Exploration
2: Career Exploration
3: Cooperative Learning/Teamwork
4: Career Exploration
5: Cooperative Learning/Teamwork
6: Cooperative Learning/Teamwork
The Temporary Rental Assistance Grant, which will provide $30 million in temporary rental assistance to Coloradans at risk of eviction or displacement or who meet income limits and other qualifying factors is accepting applications. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to submit a pre-application by visiting the Colorado Temporary Rental Assistance Grant page.
We would love to host Girls On The Run again for the spring of 2024. If you are interested in volunteering as a coach and/or would like more information on the program, please reach out to me at tboisson@dcsdk12.org
Updates from Office Team
Order your YEARBOOKS! It’s that time of year where we have to collect yearbook orders so that we know the correct quantity to order! The order deadline is February 29! HERE is the direct link to order online!
What Are Your Plans For Next Year?
It is that time of year where we start planning and budgeting for next school year. We need to know if your child will be with us for the 24-25 school year. Please fill out THIS form by February 23 sharing if you will be returning and your important feedback about your child in order to assist us in placing your child in the best classroom fit for them. MAKE SURE YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE DOC AS THERE IS A SECOND PAGE TO THE SURVEY. Teachers and admin work together to build these classes in a balanced way and your feedback helps with that. Where we cannot honor teacher requests, we do consider parent feedback when balancing classrooms.
A Note From Char-Our Registrar at CRUN
Registration for the 24-25 school year is now open!
If you have an incoming kindergarten student or know of someone who has a NEW student to register for the 24-25 school year - NOW is the time to register! Spots are filling up quick for open enrollment so be sure to tell your friends that when that window opens again on January 22nd, they need to HURRY to get a spot!
Go to this link to register your NEW 24-25 student.
See our Registration Page for more information.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
March 1-Class Group Photos
March 4-8- CRUN BUS CANCELED
March 8- 9:00 PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
March 11-15 Spirit Week!!!!
March 12-CRUN Restaurant Night
March 14- 6:00 Family Glow Dance at Cougar Run
March 18-22- Spring Break
April 8-12- CMAS Testing Grades 3-6
April 12- PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
April 15-19- CRUN BUS CANCELED
April 26-No School for Students-Teacher Professional Development Day
May 6-10 Staff Appreciation Week
May 10-PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
May 14-CRUN Restaurant Night
May 16- ROCKS Assemblies (Invitations will come in April) 9:00 LC, K, 1, 2, 3/ 2:15 4th-6th
May 17- 9:30 Kindy Graduation
May 17- 6th Grade DCSD Hexathalon Competition
May 20-24 CRUN BUS CANCELED
May 23- 9am 6th Grade Continuation
May 23- Last Day of School for Students
May 23- 3:30End of Year Carnival Sponsored by PTA