Cougar Community Connection
Principal, Shannon McPherson
1/12/24
Happy New Year, everyone! It felt so good to be together again after a nice, long break. When I walked into classrooms on Monday to say hi to everyone, I could not believe how much our babies had changed in 18 days!!! Not only were they taller, and had lost A BUNCH of teeth, their little faces had changed just a touch, but enough to notice that we are definitely in the second half of our year. It is uncanny how that happens like clockwork every year, but it continues to catch us off guard. They just don't stop growing and that is the constant message to all of us that we have to keep up! This is why the second half of our year increases in rigor and intensity. Tick tock goes the clock and we as the teaching team know how much we have to accomplish to ensure our kids are ready for their next chapter. We are busy diving into our data protocols to analyze and make instructional decisions using our mid year assessment data. The downhill stretch goes fast and we have many learning outcomes to teach to mastery. You can expect things to get a little harder academically for your kids, as well as expect that the expectations for them to increase with ROCKS development, too. Our 4th, 5th and 6th graders are expected to be our leaders in all areas of our school. Our littles are expected to understand and demonstrate our ROCKS traits more independently, with less reminders of what is expected. This natural transition to a gradual release of adult support is how we develop independence. When you have high expectations of kids, it is AMAZING how they rise and thrive! The new year is always filled with opportunities to start again. Goal setting and planning our own, personal improvement goals is how we stick to what our mission says, "Helping kids become the very best versions of themselves." We are excited to partner with you throughout the second half of our school year, and we thank you for all of your support in order to make great things happen for our kids!
A Note From PTA
Happy New Year, Cougar Run Family!
Upcoming Events
- Friday, Jan 12: PTA Meeting at 8:45am in the Learning Commons or Zoom
- Tuesday, Jan 16: Restaurant Night at Wild Basil from 4-9pm, mention Cougar Run for 20% back to CRun www.centennialwildbasil.com --> Good on dine-in, take-out, and delivery.
- Friday, Feb 9: Muffins with Mentors in the Cafeteria from 7:30-8:30am --> Students can bring someone special for a FREE, yummy breakfast! Sign-up for volunteers coming soon!
Spotlight on~ Our Second Grade Team
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. 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.
Universal CogAT Screen
Dear Parents/Guardians,
DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February).
2nd Grade Universal Screen
As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Tuesday, February 6, and Wednesday, February 7. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.
If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process.
Kindergarten/ 1st Grade Gifted Identification Referral Testing
If your child is in K or 1st grade and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.
NOTE: Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification.
Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE
Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.
Cougar Run Homework Club
Starting Wednesday, January 17, 2024, students from Cresthill Middle School will provide homework support to 3rd-6th graders at Cougar Run. Teachers will also be there to supervise and help students. Students will be expected to come prepared with their homework, work independently and quietly, and follow ROCKS behavior during this time.
Time: 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Day: Every Wednesday from January 17 to May 15 when school is in session. *There will be no Homework Club during the week of CMAS testing (April 10, 2023).
Where: Cougar Run Learning Commons
Who: 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders
Please email Mrs. Kendall with any questions at aakendall@dcsdk12.org
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.
Math Informative Opportunity
Join DCKID on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Highlands Ranch Library as Kristen DeBeer, Multisensory Math Tutor, shares ways to support your child’s mastery of multiplication facts. Space is limited for this free event, so RSVP using this link: https://www.douglascountykid.org/upcoming-events/2024-01-24
Facebook event link - https://www.facebook.com/events/928652685286382
Counselor's Corner~ Mrs. Boisson
The Denver Counseling Center is offering free counseling services through December. Please vist their site at https://www.denvercounselingcenter.org/ for more information.
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
Upcoming Dates to Remember
January 15-NO SCHOOL-MLK Day
January 25-6:30pm CRUN Choir Concert in the Gym (Changed due to scheduling conflict)
January 29-February 2- CRUN BUS CANCELED
February 9-7:30 am Muffins with Mentors Event
February 9-PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
February 12-15- Parent/Teacher Conference Week
February 14-Valentines Day Parties
February 16-No School for Students (Teacher Professional Development Day)
February 19-No School- Presidents Day
February 20-9:00 SAC Meeting
March 4-8- CRUN BUS CANCELED
March 8- 9:00 PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
March 14- 6:00 Family Glow Dance at Cougar Run
March 18-22- Spring Break
April 8-12- CMAS Testing Grades 3-6