Cougar Community Connection
A Newsletter From Your Principal, Shannon McPherson
A Letter From Shannon 2/17/23
We had a short but jam packed week this week with lots to celebrate. It was so great to see our families two nights this week for spring Parent/Teacher Conferences. We love getting to talk about our kids and the growth, progress and even the struggles that our kids and teachers are working through. We always say that it takes a village to support and grow our kids, and we value that partnership with each of you. Thank you for carving out time to be at conferences as being able to connect with you is so important to us! Thank you also to our beautiful community for the donations to PTA so that our teachers could have dinner while at school late for conferences this week. Our people feel the love when you do the little things that make such a tremendous difference on nights where our folks are exhausted from a full day of teaching and stay late to conference on top of it. It means the world to us that you want to take care of our staff. We also hope you enjoyed the "Cougar Run Cafe" that our PTA provided our families with food for purchase to make your busy conference night a little easier with taking care of dinner plans for you. We wish you a great President's Holiday Weekend and we will see you Tuesday, February 21st.
#CRUNFamily
PTA Updates
The Virtual Talent Show entries are coming in. We would love for your student to be included. Video details are listed below. All students must have a signed permission slip to participate. You can print a copy HERE. There is also a class competition as part of the event. The class with the highest student participation wins an extra recess!
Mrs. Holmes' class is currently in the lead, followed by Mrs. Leeper and Mrs. Benge!
Upcoming Events
- Thursday, February 16th: Parent Teacher Conference Cafe - We will be selling Jimmy John's sandwiches at conferences. Don't worry about dinner.
- The PTA will be ordering sandwiches for the teachers, too. If you would like to help towards conference teacher meals, then you can donate HERE
- Tuesday, February 21th: Restaurant Night @ Mici's Pizza Highlands Ranch ALL DAY - Please mention Cougar Run when ordering. Check out their website HERE
- Thursday, February 23rd: LAST DAY TO SUBMIT TALENT SHOW VIDEOS!
- Email videos and permission slips to cruntalentshow@gmail.com
- Videos need to be filmed in landscape format
- Videos can be no more than 2 minutes long
- All students need a permission slip to participate
- Thursday, March 9th: 3rd Annual Virtual Talent Show from 6-8pm!
- This will be a FREE event this year for our #CRUNFAMILY
HERE is the link to the submission rules and instructions
Spotlight On~ 4th Grade Team
"Specials Teachers of the Day/ Principal of the Day"
We had a blast welcoming our 3 newest Specials Teachers for the Day! This is a fun offering that is bid on at our Cougar Run Auction every year and today was the day that our "student teachers" stepped into their roles as PE, Music and Art teachers today.
A couple of weeks ago, Zaina Noraddin was our "Principal of the Day" and spent the morning observing and giving feedback to teachers as well as doing safety checks around the building. This is also an offering at our Cougar Run Auction every year.
Thursday our Specials team was assisted by Charlotte H. (music), Liam M. (art) and Gabby M. (PE)!! These PTA Auction winners enjoyed the morning in specials and were treated to lunch with the teachers after their hard work. Thank you Mrs. Hinkle, Mrs. Barlow and Mrs. Baird for an amazing experience!
Music Teacher of the Day, Charlotte Hybertson
PE Teacher of the Day, Gabby McEachen
Art Teacher of the Day, Liam McNeil
Green Team
Green Team is looking for your help!
US Again, who sponsor the textile bins that are located in the front of the school by the mobile classrooms, US Again have put together a challenge just for DCSD schools! The top collecting school that collects the most from March 15 - April 15 will win a $250 e-gift card. Please help US Again with their mission to “clothe people and protect the planet.” A reminder, they accept clothes, shoes, accessories, and household items.
In an effort to involve all grade levels in our composting efforts, Green Team is looking for volunteers who will assist students with composting during lunch. If you are interested in helping, please contact Emily Johnson emily_johnson24@yahoo.com.
Shining Star Award for Special Education Service Providers
What is a Shining Star? Shining Stars are DCSD staff member/s and schools nominated for outstanding service by the parents and/or caregivers of students receiving special education services. This nomination is a way to say “Thank you” and let a staff member know that you and your family value them and all their hard work every day. You can nominate a special person with your meaningful words that will be made into a special Shining Star certificate. Recognition & Prizes: All nominees will receive a notification of their nomination/s, a Shining Star certificate, and recognition via district communications, school communications (where possible), on the DCSEAC website and DCSEAC Facebook page. Staff: Staff nominations will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 20 gift baskets ($100 in value sponsored by Developmental Pathways). Schools: One elementary, one middle, one high school and one charter school will be selected to win $250 to use to support their special education curriculum sponsored by Developmental Pathways. There is no limit to the number of staff members that you can nominate. Certificates and baskets will be delivered to staff members with your special words during the month of April. Nominations begin January 23rd and the deadline is February 24th!
DCSEAC is celebrating our Shining Stars! We would like to invite you to celebrate with us by nominating someone in your child’s life that you think is a Shining Star.
To get started NOMINATE HERE
Parking Lot Safety
Parking lots can be a scary place. At Cougar Run, because of the service pathway to the dumpsters, as well as the separate parking lot for the park, there are multiple places where cars and people could intersect. We are working on a couple of measures right now to try to help our parking lot be a safer place for pedestrians to cross, but in the interim, let's all work together to ensure that we are driving as safely as possible while in the parking lot area. After all, we should all be driving like our kids go to school here.
- Please try your best to refrain from being on your cell phone while in the lot dropping off and picking up kids. It will help with focus and attention to all that is going on in the lot.
- Please drive super slowly allowing you to be able to stop should someone pop out in front of you when you least expected it.
- Please be patient. We know folks are in a hurry, but if you can expect that the lot will be busy during drop off and pick up, it will help ensure safe decisions are being made that protect you and our kids.
We appreciate your attention to these few ideas to help keep our kids, staff and families as safe as possible during drop off and pick up.
Parent Input Form for Building Classes for the 2023-24 School Year
Building Safety Reminders
YEARBOOK - ONLINE ORDER INFO & DEADLINE!
It’s that time of the year to order your 22-23 CRUN Yearbook! You will have the choice of either a soft or hard cover book.
Click on the link below to purchase online directly from DR Photo’s website. Or from the homepage you can select “Order Your Yearbook” and enter “Cougar Run” when prompted.
The deadline to purchase yearbooks is FRIDAY, MARCH 17th.
Order yours today!
Contact Mrs. Barlow if you have any questions:
303-856-4985
Upcoming Important Dates
February 17- No School For Students-District Professional Development Day
February 20-No School-President's Day Holiday
February 21-8:50 SAC Meeting
February 23- LAST DAY TO SUBMIT TALENT SHOW VIDEOS
March 9th- 6:00 pm FREE VIRTUAL TALENT SHOW
March 10-11:30 PTA Meeting
March 13-17 Spring Break No School
April 10-14-CMAS Grades 3-6
April 20- FUN RUN!!!!!!