Cougar Community Connection
Principal, Shannon McPherson
1/26/24
Well, we successfully finished our first 5 day week since December 11th. Our routines are back on track and we are neck deep into our last semester of learning. As I visited classrooms this week, it is evident that expectations have increased both behaviorally and academically. The level of independence teachers are expecting for this second half of the year has incased and boy oh boy can you see it. In a handful of classrooms, I got to see the teacher's lesson and then the transition to student practice. Where normally on a Monday, I would see a longer teacher guided practice before students go to work, this week it was different. That gradual release of responsibility is occurring much more quickly as we are looking for students to be able to listen to learning targets and be able to transition quicker to practicing the new outcomes. The benefit of this is two-fold; for one, it is helping our kids build stamina and resiliency by having the self efficacy to take some learning risks on their own. Secondly, it is allowing our teachers more time to focus in on targeted and differentiated groups of students in order to reteach if there is a learning gap or extend for those who nailed it the first time. We encourage you to try this at home with your kids during homework time. If you have been guiding them through homework, see how they do when you pull back a bit and possibly even incentivize the struggle of getting through it on their own. "Johnny, I am so proud of you for sticking with the task for 30 straight minutes. You earned ________________ for your hard work." Our kids respond so well to positive reinforcement, even if it is just the "atta boy/girl". As always, we appreciate your partnership as we continue to build sturdy and resilient Humans becoming the very best versions of themselves! We ended our week with a FABULOUS performance on Thursday night by our Cougar Run Rockin' Choir! Thank you to all of you who showed up to cheer them on. A HUGE shout out to Mrs. Baird for all of her hard work getting this performance ready to go.
We shared last week that our PTA is looking for some new members. Please consider stepping up into a more involved roll. We need our parents to do this thing here at Cougar Run so please take a look below and consider a PTA position.
A Note From PTA
Upcoming Events
- Friday, February 9th: Muffins with Moms & Mentors from 7:30-8:30am in the cafeteria. Come enjoy a FREE breakfast with your student. There will be festive decor and a fun photo booth. We need volunteers! Check out our sign-up HERE.
- Friday, February 9th: PTA Meeting at 8:45am in the Learning Commons or by Zoom. All are welcome!
- Monday, February 12th: Parent-Teacher Conference Potluck --> Our teachers work so hard for our students. Let's make sure they have a yummy dinner to help boost morale. The PTA would like to provide a Taco Bar Potluck for the teachers. If you have time to cook or pick up sides, then please check out the sign-up HERE.
- Thursday, February 15th: Parent-Teacher Conference Catering --> Is cooking not your thing? Please consider donating towards a catered meal from Olive Garden with their Soup, Salad & Breadsticks. You can Venmo your donation to Cougar Run Elementary @crunpta in the charity section. Thank you for your generosity!
PTA Elections for Fall 2024 - Spring 2026
It is with a sad heart that I need to step down as PTA President for the upcoming term. I want to share with all of you why I loved being president. I joined the PTA to make sure my 2 students got the best experience possible, but I discovered that our fundraising and activities are in place to make sure that ALL students get the best school experience possible. ALL students deserve an enriching education with a family feel. It has been my honor to work for your children and to support the teachers and staff of Cougar Run. If this touches your heart too, then please consider joining our leadership board. - Megan Noraddin
Due to health issues, increased job demand, and fulfilling the 4-year maximum term, most of the PTA is turning over for the upcoming 2-year term that starts July 2024. The board would like to encourage new members to consider taking on a leadership role at our school. Nominations will start at our March meeting on Friday, March 8th. Discussion of the nominations and formation of a slate will occur at the April meeting on Friday, April 12th. We will vote on the slate during either the April or May meeting. We will schedule transitioning times that work for all parties.
- 2 Co-Presidents: We are looking for 2 people to share this role. You can divide up the responsibilities, so no one has too much workload. Presidents run the monthly meeting and manage the PTA email account. The current president is also in charge of communications, but this could be outsourced to another member. Presidents oversee all PTA events and are a resource to the event chairmans.
- Treasurer: Are you good with budgets and spreadsheets? The PTA has 2 treasurers. Tasha is staying on the board to enter money into QuickBooks, get money for sales events, and print checks. The role we need filled is our main treasurer. You will set the PTA budget, get grant requests from the school, and maintain the PTA finances. You will print and report out on the finances and grants at each PTA meeting.
- Secretary: The president will make an agenda for each PTA meeting, which you will convert into meeting minutes. This position requires the smallest time commitment of all of the listed positions. Requirements are good listening and typing skills.
If you have read this far, then thank you so much. If you are interested in a position, then please reach out to us at crunpta@gmail.com or text Megan at 303-519-6538. Have a great weekend.
Spotlight on~ Our 4th Grade Team
Highlands Ranch High School Wish Week @ CRUN
HRHS Wish Week starts next week!
ROCKS Council is excited to partner with Highlands Ranch High School for their annual Wish Week! Wish Week is an opportunity for our community to come together to help raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, and specifically their Wish Kid, Sean, to help make his wish of going to Universal and meeting Hawkeye come true. Wish Week will be taking place from January 25th - February 1st. HERE is the master calendar with all of the high school’s fun events on it, along with the different spirit days. We will be joining them by doing the spirit days at Cougar Run as well. We are asking for at least a $1 donation for each dress up day! An online donation link will be coming soon and a cash donation jar will be available during Wish Week to collect donations as well.
Thursday, January 25th = RED Day (Wear Red)
Friday, January 26th = Video Game Character Day (Dress like your favorite video game character)
Monday, January 29th = Country vs. Country Club (Dress like a cowboy or a golf country club member)
Tuesday, January 30th = Superhero Day (Dress like a superhero)
Wednesday, January 31st = Outdoor Day (Dress in your best outdoor gear like hunting gear, fishing gear, biking gear, etc.)
Thursday, February 1st = Cougar Run Spirit Day (Wear any of your Cougar Run shirts)
**The master calendar does have dress up ideas linked for reference!**
No Parking in the Fire Lane
Please Help Out~ A Note from Katie Busch, our Volunteer Coordinator
Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities:
Muffins with Moms & Mentors
This event is for students who want to share memories and muffins with their mom or "Maternal Mentor."
Nate Biggs will do the ordering and organizing, but he could use help with the rest. He is looking for a few good men to help set-up the evening of Thursday, February 8th, and then to serve, and clean-up on event day.
Please sign up to help Nate HERE.
Meals for Teachers
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences are in a few weeks! The PTA is hoping to feed our teachers two nights that week. One night, we will offer a Taco Bar Potluck and the other night we will be catering Olive Garden’s Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks. If you would like to bring an item for the Potluck, please sign up HERE. If you would rather donate toward the catered meal, please leave cash donations at the front office. OR, please Venmo Cougar Run Elementary PTA @crunpta (under charity organizations).
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!
Updates from Office Team
Kindergarten and Little Cougars
Order your child’s “Cap and Gown” photos! DR-Photo will be here on February 5 from 9-12. Here is the direct link to purchase your Kindergarten or Little Cougars cap and gown photos:
https://www.prepaysystems.com/view/9KLsvP6Y/cougar-run-cap-and-gown
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.
Counselor's Corner~ Mrs. Boisson
Enrichment topics/lessons this week (Burgundy Jan. 29th - Feb. 2nd)
K: Career Exploration
1: Career Exploration
2: Career Exploration
3: Career Exploration
4: Career Exploration
5: Career Exploration
6: Career Exploration
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
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.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
January 25-6:30pm CRUN Choir Concert in the Gym (Changed due to scheduling conflict)
January 25-Feb 1- HRHS Wish Week Spirit Week (Thurs-Thurs)
January 29-February 2- CRUN BUS CANCELED
February 9-7:30 am Muffins with Mentors Event
February 9-PTA Meeting (All parents welcome!)
February 13- CRUN Restaurant Night
February 12-15- Parent/Teacher Conference Week (Sign Ups Coming Next 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