Cougar Community Connection
A Newsletter From Your Principal, Shannon McPherson
A Letter From Shannon
Our hearts are full. Back to School Meet and Greet was exactly what we needed to end a fantastic kick off week here at Cougar Run. Seeing our precious kids walk through those front doors had us all energized and filled with love and excitement for this school year. We hope you all felt the love and joy walking through those doors again. Our Cougar Run Family is special. We work hard to build it, nurture it and grow it into the ever evolving safe space that it is for everyone who is a part of it. It defines how we talk to each other, how we treat each other and even how we disagree with one another from time to time. It takes all of us to respect it and protect it, keeping in mind that families can get through ANYTHING together when we ground and route what we believe and what we do in love, kindness and respect. We look forward to an amazing year in our Cougar Run Family. Thank you for all that you do to keep us strong, connected and truly the best place for all of us to go every day! #CRUNFamily
So excited to see friends!
Staff reconnecting and learning together.
Fancy dresses for pictures.
How We Communicate With You
Newsletter- Cougar Community Connection: Emailed to you weekly
CRUN Website: link HERE
CRUN App: Apple: HERE Android: HERE
CRUN Facebook: Link HERE
CRUN PTA Facebook: Link HERE
PTA Tic Tock: @cougarrunpta
CRUN Community Calendar: Link HERE
Our Instagram Page: @cougarrunpta
PTA Updates
We are also looking for tables, set-up volunteers, and clean-up volunteers: HERE
Check out our website for more details on the year: HERE
Want to get involved more at Cougar Run?
Below are the folks you can connect with to find out how to help out.
PTA Officers: Megan Noraddin-President, Nate Biggs-Vice President, Katie Busch- Secretary, Craig Livorsi-Treasurer, Tasha Barreau-Co-Treasurer, Emily Thomson-Restaurant Night, Nathan Kurach-Spirit Rock, Mari Diaz-Spirit Gear
Our Contact Information: email – crunpta@gmail.com
Our Facebook Page: use the search bar to find Cougar Run PTA
Our Instagram Page: @cougarrunpta
Our TikTok Page: @cougarrunpta
Spotlight On~ Cougar Run Staff
DCSD Nutrition Services
The waivers that the USDA issued during COVID to allow schools to provide free meals to all students will not continue into the 2022-2023 school year, so all school meals will be paid beginning in August 2022. Please note that students who are approved for Free and Reduced Meal benefits will still receive free meals this school year.
2022-2023 DCSD School Meal Prices:
Breakfast 2.00
Lunch 3.25
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Free/Reduced School Meals: Meal benefit applications for free and reduced priced meals must be filled out each year - APPLY HERE. All families must submit an application in order to receive free meals (if applicable) for the 2022-2023 school year. Current meal benefit applications are crucial to ensure that eligible students continue to have access to free meals. These applications also provide additional benefits to students and schools, including waived transportation and school fees, and additional school funding. See additional benefits HERE.
We are looking forward to having your student(s) back in August!
Bus Transportation Information
Bus Transportation/SMARTag Cards
Families who are eligible for DCSD bus transportation (student has a valid AM and/or PM route in our systems) will be presented with an opportunity to apply for a bus pass. Eligible families who received a bus pass in the past few school years just need to select a billing option in the tool. The annual billing option is available until September 30, 2022 at which time all billing will revert to quarterly billing on a per-ride basis. We encourage parents to sign up for SMARTag notifications via the SMARTag Parent Portal.
Express Check In
Dear DCSD Families,
The Express Check-In registration process for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year is now open for most Douglas County Schools.
We encourage all parents to complete the registration process by the first week in August to coincide with the beginning of the academic year.
EngagED Parent Portal Link - https://engaged.dcsdk12.org
All families must check in through the link above using their Infinite Campus (IC) Parent Portal login and password. Once logged in, you will be presented with information for each of your students. Please complete the check-in process for each of your students individually.
Problems logging in? Please view our FAQ’s for Parent Accounts: https://www.dcsdk12.org/faqs-for-parent-accounts
Quick Reference for Express Check-In:
Tool Available in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Russian
The Express Check-In tool is available in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Russian versions. Parents should see the option to translate the tool in the upper right hand corner.
Payment of Fees for 22-23
After completing Express Check-In for all of your students, you will click through to MySchoolBucks to select optional fees and to pay all required/optional fees. Instructions on how to access the system are linked below. If you have previously paid for school lunches you should already have an account for this system. If not, please follow these instructions to create an account.
Link to MySchoolBucks Payment System - https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
Quick Reference for MySchoolBucks Payment System
For MySchoolBucks payment processing system help, please call the MySchoolBucks parent support line at 855-832-5226 x2048.
Upcoming Important Dates
August 8-First Day of School Grades 1-6 (Soft start doors open at 8:25, late bell is at 8:40)
- Kindy/ 1st grade entrance at the front doors (west entrance of the school)
- 2nd/3rd Grades enter on the blacktop doors entrance (southwest entrance)
- 4th Grade enters at the Venneford Ranch (north doors)
- 5th/6th Grades enter at the bus loop doors, (east entrance)
August 8 & 9- Kindergarten Balanced Beginnings (Appointments will be emailed to kindy families)
August 10- KG ONLY has no school on August 10. Grades 1-6 normal school day
August 11-First Day of School Kindergarten (Kindies line up by teacher on the front entryway sidewalk)
August 12- 11:30 PTA Meeting
August 19-Make up Photos
August 18th- CRUN Back to School Carnival in Cougar Run Park
August 24th- 9:00 New to CRUN Parent Orientation in the Learning Commons