Cougar Community Connection
A Newsletter From Your Principal, Shannon McPherson
A Letter From Shannon 9/2/2022
We are so proud of the hard work our kids put into completing their beginning of the year assessments. We will be sending home one of the reports for you to peruse before conferences called the "iReady For Families" report, in both reading and math. Those will come home in Friday Folders on Friday, September 9th for grades 1-5. 6th graders, yours will come home when you return from Outdoor Ed and Kindies' reports will come home following their assessment window closing on September 9th. Classroom teachers will have a more detailed report to go over with you at conferences that talks about student one year's growth goals and strength areas within the reading and math domains. Again, we value a body of evidence when it comes to assessing how our kids are growing as learners, so keep in mind this is simply a snap shot for us to use as a baseline for where we want to go next with our students. On another note, we are excited about our first fund raising event that is centered around a promotion of reading. Our Read-a-Thon is a great way for families to help their kids get excited about reading, challenging them to read like crazy and raise a little money for our school. Thank you for taking a look at the PTA section of the newsletter for directions on how to get your kiddo registered for the Read-a-Thon.
#CRUNFamily
4th Graders engaged in their math work.
3rd Graders working together on spelling.
5th Graders engaged in their writing projects.
3rd Graders reading about current events.
5th Graders turning drafts into typed pieces.
PTA Updates
The READ-A-THON runs from September 2-16! Make sure your student is included, and help our school by getting registered today: REGISTER HERE
- Friday, September 2: Start logging your reading sessions & collecting donations - Our goal is to raise $75 per student!
- Students are challenged to complete 10 reading sessions in 14 days
- 15% of donations go to the student to spend at the Prize Store
- REGISTRATION TUTORIAL - Teachers are listed by LAST NAME!
- We would love to see our Cougar Run Readers to promote the READ-A-THON on social media. Please send your pictures to crunpta@gmail.com. Thank you! You can post on your own page using #crunreaders.
The Parent-Teacher Conferences POTLUCK is back! It is a Pre-COVID Cougar Run tradition to provide a potluck dinner to our teachers during conferences. Let's provide a delicious meal to our hardworking teachers and staff: SIGN-UP
If you would like to contribute, but can't make it to the store, then please consider contributing funds to pay for dinner HERE
Upcoming Events
- September 2-16: Read-a-thon - log reading sessions & collect donations
- September 9: PTA Meeting at 11:30am in the Learning Commons or by Zoom
- September 13: Restaurant Night @ Cranelli's from 4-9pm, please mention Cougar Run before paying your bill, so 20% comes back to CRun. Make a reservation HERE
- September 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences Cafe - The PTA will be offering a meal deal from Jimmy John's. It will be $8 for a sandwich, chips, pickle, and a cookie. Tables will be set up to enjoy dinner as a family before or after your conference.
Spotlight On~ Our Art Teacher
Order Your School Photos
Cougar Run Families,
Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Up/ Cougar Run Cafe Night
Cougar Run Cafe-
During Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, September 14th we are excited to offer our "Cougar Run Cafe" night where families can join each other out front of the school where we are creating a "cafe atmosphere" for our families. A boxed dinner for purchase (8.00) will be available from Jimmy Johns. There will be a sandwich, chips, pickle and a cookie in a boxed dinner allowing families to come to conferences and not have to cook dinner afterward!! Thank you PTA for making this possible for our families.
Field Day September 16th/ Volunteers/T-Shirts
Our annual Field Day is September 16th and Mrs. Hinkle needs lots of help to make it a huge, fun success!! 3rd - 6th grades will participate from 9am-11am and Little Cougars - 2nd grade will participate from 12:30pm - 2:30pm. Please sign up HERE to join in the fun!!
Field Day Shirts Field Day T-shirt order forms will be in Friday folders THIS WEEK. Please note they are due back after the long weekend on Sept. 6th. Field Day will take place on Friday, September 16th!
Homework Club
Thank Yous From Teachers
Thank you from Mrs. Barlow
I wanted to send a HUGE thank you to all of the teachers and parents that helped me in Art Class over the past couple weeks. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and I am grateful for your help. Be on the lookout in the upcoming weeks for your kid’s “One Word” rocks to be displayed in front of the school.
Thank you from Sixth Grade
As we have heard so often and truly believe, “Cougar Run is a GREAT place to work and learn.” It is because of our people, our CRUN Family. As you may recall, we held a community-wide fundraiser to lower the cost for ALL students of our upcoming Outdoor Ed field trip. After crunching the numbers, Mrs. McNamara determined that due to our community-wide efforts, each child has received a savings of almost $65 off the total bill. This is a huge impact of the community working together for a common cause, and we are so proud and grateful to all of you! Thank you.
Green Team~Opportunity to Help Others
USAgain We are excited to be a part of the UsAgain Battle of the Schools for the month of September. As you begin to sort through your summer clothes don’t throw them out with the trash. Bring them to the Green UsAgain Bin here at school. This is a great way to help our environment, our school and others in need.
Counselor's Corner
Elementary Band and Orchestra Program (EBOP)
Our Elementary Band and Orchestra Program for 5th and 6th grade students starts September 6. Band instrument instruction is available to students on flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and drums/percussion. Orchestra (String) instrument instruction is available to students on violin and cello. Students will receive instruction weekly throughout the school year on Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:15-8am at HRHS. To enroll your student in EBOP, complete the registration form on the EBOP website (http://hrebop.blogspot.com/).
November 8th Bond/MLO
As you may know, the Douglas County School District is considering an initiative to help address funding challenges in our school district. Additional funding would be critical for us here at Cougar Run. Our staff is amazing and absolutely dedicated to our students and they deserve pay that is more competitive with other school districts - this will help us retain the amazing teachers and support staff that work with your kids every day. Additional funding would also enable our school to continue to make necessary upgrades and repairs to provide your student with a comfortable and safe learning environment.
Please watch this video and share it on your own social media page(s) so others can understand how schools such as ours are funded. Talking to our taxpayers in Douglas County will take all of us working together!Upcoming Important Dates
September 2-16- Read-a-Thon Fundraiser
September 5-Labor Day Holiday- No School
September 7-9- 6th Graders At Outdoor Ed
September 9- 11:30 PTA Meeting (Virtual and In Person)
September 13-CRUN Restaurant Night
September 14-4:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 14-CRUN Dinner Cafe For Families (Front Walkway of the School)
September 16-Cougar Run Field Day
September 22-4:00-8:00 Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 23--NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS District Professional Development Day
October 7-7:30-8:25 Donuts with Dads
October 17-21-Fall Break
October 28-Halloween Parties/ Outdoor Costume Parade
October 31-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS-District PD Day