Cougar Community Connection
A weekly newsletter from your principal, Shannon McPherson
Week Of 8/25/23
It was a busy week here at Cougar Run. We began our beginning of the year diagnostic assessments that allow us to baseline where our students begin academically each year. We use that data to measure student growth throughout the year at midyear and again at the end of the year. This data will be discussed with you at Parent/Teacher Conferences the week of September 18th. In order to accommodate the busy schedules we know our families have, we have moved to a "Conference Week" this year. Our teachers will be sending out a Sign Up Genius shortly, allowing you to see the available slots for you to sign up for a conference with them the week of September 18th. We are designating two school wide nights, Monday, September 18th and Thursday, September 21st that our families will be able to sign up for, that will run from 4:00-6:30pm. We know that many of our families have two separate households. We are asking that whenever possible, parents arrange to do one conference together. There are only a certain amount of spots that our teachers can offer, so please try to accommodate the request to only occupy one spot per child.
We kicked off a new student leadership program this year we are calling "Student Wellness Leaders". These students are being trained to go into classrooms and help support students with different wellness activities like you will see pictured below. We have designated Wednesdays as our "Wellness Wednesdays" where these student leaders and our Staff Wellness Team, Becker, Bowman, Boisson and Hinkle, design and implement physical and emotional wellness activities throughout the day on Wednesdays. Check out the pictures below of our Student Wellness Leaders in action, in classrooms this week!
Owen making positive connections as a Wellness Leader for 2nd graders.
Alex, Joshua and Harper stepping up for the little people in 1st grade.
Justus, Owen, Evelyn, Aaliyah making a difference in Dimino's room!
A Note From PTA
Upcoming Events:
- Friday, 9/1: FUN RUN Kick-Off!!!
- Let's start fundraising! Our goal is to raise at least $175 per student!
- We usually do 3 big fundraisers a year, but this year there will be just one big ask.
- Friday, 9/8: PTA Meeting at 8:45am in the Learning Commons or by Zoom
- Note: Tom's Traveling Coffee truck will be selling coffee from 7:45-8:45am
- Thursday, 9/14: Watch D.O.G.S. Info Night at 5pm in the Learning Commons
- Learn about "Dads Of Great Students" --> This is also great for grandfathers, uncles, and friends. We need positive male role models in our school.
- Meet our school resource officer
- Pizza and drinks will be served
- Want to sign-up to volunteer? Click Here!
- Friday, September 29: FUN RUN!!
- We need all hands on deck: Sign-Up Here!
Did you know?
King Soopers Community Rewards - Donate to CRUN every time you shop @KS!
- Go to Community Rewards Directions
- Create a digital account:
- Go to Sign In at the top of the page
- Go to create account
- Enter your information & sign in
- In section 2 of the Community Rewards Direction, click the link to search for our organization: Cougar Run Elementary or RJ276
- Click "Enroll" --> You only need to do this once! :)
Spotlight on~ Emily Joines, Art Teacher
Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders in the Car Loop
Treats Sent to School for Sharing
Counselor's Corner
This week in town halls, students were given a presentation about bullying, which highlighted the differences between bullying vs. mean moment vs. conflict. Stopbullying.gov is a great bullying prevention website which provides resources for students and families.
World Day of Bullying Prevention - Embracing “Unapologetically Kind” is October 2, 2023. If you are interested, here is the link to order the shirt for this year.
Enrichment topics/lessons this week (Burgundy 8/28 - 9/1)
K: Meet the Mental Health Team / expectations / norms
Grade 1: Connections and Community - Setting the Stage for Connections and Community
Lesson Spotlight: I can use my voice and actions to help create a healthy and strong community.
Focus: Self-Awareness, Relationship Skills, Social-Awareness, Self-Management
Grade 2: Connections and Community - A community of Belonging
Lesson Spotlight: I can play a part in helping others belong.
Focus:Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Grades 3-6: Introduction to Sources of Strength - Discovering and Identifying Our Strength
Lesson Spotlight: Recognizing and discovering strengths in our own lives can help us be connected, happy, healthy, and strong.
Focus: Self-Awareness, Social-Awareness, Relationship SkillsMemos From McEachen~Your Volunteer Coordinator at Cougar Run
Say Cheese!!
Here's another fun opportunity to volunteer at CRUN! We are seeking 2 parent volunteers to help with Picture Make-Up Day on 9/1. Click HERE to sign up!
DR-Photo will be at Cougar Run on Friday September 1 to take photos of any students that did not previously have their photos taken in grades 1-6. In addition, ALL Kindergarten students will also have their photo taken.
To pre-order your child's school photos, please go to the link HERE.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to Beckie McEachen if you have any questions!
Bus Cancellation Carpool Interest
A Note from Cougar Run Office Team
Processes and Procedures
Just a reminder for signing out your child from school prior to the end of the school day:
Please ALWAYS bring your photo ID
Come to the front office window and sign your child out on the attendance sign out sheet.
Wait for the office to call your student to the office.
We ask that parents not sign their child out after 3:15. At this time teachers are giving instruction and homework to the students for the night.
If someone besides a parent is picking up your child, please call and notify the office and have that person bring their photo ID.
Watch Dog Dads Program
Calling all dads and important men in your lives!
If you have participated in this program in the past, you know how valuable it is to our school. We will have an informational meeting in the Cougar Run Learning Commons on Thursday, September 14th at 5:00pm, but for our Veteran DOGS and any new Dads ready to jump in, please sign up HERE. Thank you for all you do for Cougar Run!!
Help Our Building Engineer, Mr. Jason
Jason Wish List -Cordless Circular Saw. - Cordless Hammer Drill. - Hammer Drill Bit Kit. (Carbide Tipped) - Twist Drill Bit Set. - 1/4 Ratchet. - 2' and 4' Level. - Needle Nose Pliers. - Channel Lock Pliers. (Slip Joint)
Upcoming Bond/MLO Measures for Voters
As most of you are aware, our school district is in desperate need of passing the Bond/MLO measure that will be on this year's November Ballot. The bond measure directly impacts the maintenance of current schools and the construction of new ones. The Mill Levy impacts staff compensation. Both measures would allow us to be where the other neighboring large school districts currently are when it comes to operation costs and staff compensation. Recruitment and retention of staff continues to be a challenge because our teachers on average make 10,000 dollar less than the school district right across County Line Road. We need your help! Below is a website that DCSD has put together to allow you as taxpayers to understand how school funding works. Please take a look as we need our community to be the voice to those who don't understand the impact these measures have on our neighborhood schools.
DCSD Funding WebsiteHomework Club
Upcoming Dates to Remember
September 4-District Closed Labor Day, No School
September 6- 3:30-4:00 First Day of 3rd-6th Grade Homework Club (Sign Up Required)
September 8- 8:45 PTA Meeting in the Learning Commons
September 12th- CRUN Restaurant Night
September 13-15th- 6th Grade is at Outdoor Ed
September 14- 5:00pm Watch Dog Dads Information Night in the CRUN Library
September 18-21-CRUN Bus Canceled
September 18-21-Conferences will occur all week, but two designated nights for those who need nights.
September 18-4:00-6:30 Parent/Teacher Conference Night
September 21st-4:00-6:30 Parent/Teacher Conference Night
September 22- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS- District Staff Professional Development Day
September 26- 9:00 CRUN SAC Mtg
September 29th- SCHOOL WIDE FUN RUN FUNDRAISER EVENT
October 16-20- No School Fall Break
November 6-10--CRUN Bus Canceled