Cottonwood Creek Cougar Chronicle
February 2019
Our Cougars sure know how to ROAR!
As the principal of Cottonwood Creek, I am humbled every day by the work of our students. Our students, your children, remind me each day why I do what I do. Through classroom visits, walks in the hallways, lunch bunches, "good mornings" and "good nights", your children bring meaning to the work I do. Too often I get focused on making sure I get all the information to you about upcoming events and meetings, that I forget to recognize some of the most important things - our students! Therefore, I am committed to celebrating our students in future CCCC's. Our students do amazing things and accomplish great goals throughout the school year. Here are a few highlights from recent months:
- We had our Kid’s Heart Challenge, formally Jump Rope for Heart, kick off assembly on Friday, Feb. 1. During this assembly, our Cougar family was recognized for being the top fundraiser for the state of Colorado! Way to go Cougars!
- Hundreds of young mathematicians from Cherry Creek School District participated in the 18th annual Rich Morrow Math Challenge (RMMC) on December 1st. I'd like to congratulate our Cottonwood students who took home 1st place for our division. Our school also took home other team awards: Our 4th grade team, Paul Orban Jr, Joshua Liu, and Vivaan Lal, took home 1st place for 4th grade and our 5th grade team, Shruti Arun, Hailey Shim, and Ondrej Pech, took home 1st place for 5th grade. In addition to several team awards, I'd like to congratulate students on individual accomplishments: Paul Orban Jr for taking home 1st place for top Cottonwood Creek student, Joshua Liu for taking home 1st place for top 4th grade student, and Shruti Arun for taking home the Top Student Award, having the highest score among all of the students at the competition. Way to go Cougars!
- Our students did an amazing job raising over $800 for Bags of Fun in support of Cherry Creek High School's Power Week.
- Nearly 1,000 CCSD elementary students participated in the district spelling bee on January 25th, and three of our Cougars participated in this bee: Johan Wroldsen, Mallory Hellmer and Seetha Perianan, who will also compete at the State Spelling Bee! We are proud of each of you for your accomplishments, and wish Seetha the best of luck at the State Spelling Bee.
A message from the desk of Ashley Gray, our Assistant Principal
Parents of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders,
Beginning April 1, all students in 3rd-5th grades will be given the CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) assessment. This test is used by the school, the district and the state to determine if students are making their intended growth in their grade level. The purpose of the assessment is to indicate the degree to which students have mastered the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in Mathematics, English Language Arts/ Literacy, Science, and Social Studies at the end of the tested grade level or content area.
Please mark the dates below on your calendar and try to not schedule appointments or vacations for the days of the tests. We understand that sometimes it can’t be avoided, and we do have a plan in place for these instances. We would also like to ask that you help to make sure your child gets enough sleep during the testing time as well as eats a nutritional breakfast and lunch. We will be sending out a detailed schedule closer to April with specific dates and times.
Our testing windows are:
3rd Grade: 4/8-4/26
4th Grade: 4/1-4/26
5th Grade: 4/1-4/26
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or myself with any questions you might have.
Thank you,
Ashley Gray
Assistant Principal
Cottonwood Creek E.S.
agray16@cherrycreekschools.org
720-554-3200
Save the Dates
Below are a few dates to mark on your calendars for the 2019-20 School Year.
- Tuesday, August 6: Class Assignments will be emailed home at the end of the day
- Thursday, August 8: PTO Check in, gym 11:00am-4:00pm
- Thursday, August 8: COT Meet and Greet, In classrooms, 1:00-3:00pm
- Thursday, August 8: COT Back to School Night
Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th Grade: 5:30-6:15
1st, 3rd, and 5th Grade: 6:30-7:15
Please see the Kids Club calendar below for non-contact days and Spring Break.
Golden Heart Award
Greetings,
It is time to nominate for the 2018-2019 Golden Heart Awards!
The 2018-2019 Golden Heart Awards will be held on May 15, 2019.
This prestigious award is for any individual who has "opened their heart" to touch the life of a Cherry Creek School District student with special needs. This includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, teachers, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals, specials teachers (media, art, P.E., music), those in support positions, students, and community employers. Each person who receives this award has gone "above and beyond" to support students with special needs who attend Cherry Creek Schools.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINATIONS:
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO TELL A STORY OR GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE NOMINEE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND what would be expected of any individual in their position or job. Nominations will not be considered without this information.
ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 at the close of the business day (4pm). Each person or family may nominate one individual for the award, however, you may not nominate a member of your own family. Nominations for an entire team cannot be accepted.
Link for the nomination form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/goldenheart1819
THIS ELECTRONIC NOMINATION FORM SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO COMPLETE AND MUST BE COMPLETED IN ONE SITTING. Incomplete nominations and nominations with name and school only will not be accepted.
Golden Heart Award recipients will be honored at the Golden Heart Award dinner. Recipients will be notified by March 15, 2019.
Thank you,
Kimberly Avalos
Coordinator of Special Education- Elementary
Special Education Advisory Committee District Co-Chair
kavalos@cherrycreekschools.org
720-554-4236; 720-554-4408 phone
720-554-4272 Fax
CCSD wants your feedback!
In 2017, Cherry Creek Schools implemented new start times designed to support student learning and wellbeing. Since that time, several other metro-area districts have followed suit or are considering doing so. While existing sleep research indicates the change in start times will have an overall positive effect, we are committed to understanding the impact this change has on our students, parents and staff. Therefore, we are asking students, parents/guardians, teachers, and staff to complete a brief survey about sleep habits, daily routine, and general wellbeing. Comparison with results of similar surveys given in spring 2017 and 2018 will provide us with information we need to evaluate the impact and determine what areas of additional support, if any, may be needed.
You will receive an email on February 7th with information on the student survey, including opt out instructions. A later email will be sent with instructions on how to access the parent survey. All surveys will need to be completed between February 25th and March 8th.
Thank you in advance for completing the survey, which should take no more than 10-15 minutes. Your feedback is extremely important.
We want to hear your voice.
Please use this link to tell us: https://www.menti.com/b94b0d19
Greetings from STEM
This last month the students spent time learning how to program our Dot and Dash robots using computer code called “Blockly.” This code allows students to snap together commands for the robot in blocks on the computer similar to how Legos snap together.
Students in grades 3-5 designed courses or tracks for their robot to navigate. At the push of a button, the robot would begin the code to drive through the course the students designed.
Students in grades 1-2 learned how to complete tasks for the robots on challenge cards.
Kindergartners are learning to use the “Blockly” code on the computer.
Hello, from the Art room!
The PE Post It
We are celebrating Heart Health Month by participating in the Kids Heart Challenge Program with the American Heart Association (formally known as Jump Rope for Heart). Our jump rope unit starts February 1st through February 28th in PE class. February 28th is our Celebration Jump Day during our Specials rotation.
Students can register at heart.org/kidsheartchallenge or download the Kids Heart Challenge Mobile App. Online donations are the best way to receive the instant prizes!
Any questions or concerns, please email ajehn@cherrycreekschools.org
Be a Heart Hero!
Ms. Jehn
From the Music Room
Hello Cottonwood! Second semester is in full swing and so is learning in the music room! Fourth graders have been working hard practicing and staging material for our informance this Thursday. It will be an evening of student compositions, drumming, xylophones, and rhythm. We hope to see you there! Choir registration has just begun for the Spring semester. This will be open for all second and third graders. If your second or third grader loves music class and loves singing, this is the group for them! Registration is being done online through a Google form. An email and notes home went out earlier this week to all second and third grade parents with a link and QR code that should take you to the form. If you are having trouble registering, don’t hesitate to contact me. The next informance coming up is third grade on March 14.
Stay warm out there!
-Matthew Pedregon
Cherry Creek School District Chess Tournament
Registration for the Cherry Creek School District Chess Tournament will close in less than a month! The tournament will take place at Overland High School on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Entries are due March 2, 2019. The Tournament is limited to the first 200 applicants, and slots are filling up fast.
Information and the Registration Form can also be found at: http://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Advanced-Academic-Services/Pages/Chess-Tournament.aspx