Cresthill Cougar Courier
August 24th, 2026
September 21st, 2026
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
September 22nd: HRHS Spirit Parade for Students (AM Assembly Schedule)
September 22nd-26th: HRHS Homecoming Week/CMS Dress Up Week (Flier with details below)
September 24th: HRHS Homecoming Parade - 4:30pm-5:30pm (Cresthill Lane will be closed)
October 7th: School Accountability Meeting - 5:00-7:00
October 9th: End of First Quarter
October 12th-16th: Fall Break (School Closed)
October 19th: Beginning of 2nd Quarter
October 21st: Student Photo Retake Day (Photos taken during lunch periods)
October 23rd: Highlands Ranch High School Trunk or Treat Street
October 28th: Highlands Ranch High School Future Falcon Showcase
October 30th: Cresthill Sensory Friendly ONLY Trick or Treat Street - 5:00-7:00
October 30th: Halloween Dance - 2:45pm-4:00pm
Team/Classroom Information
Grading and Reporting Practices at CMS
If you are unsure of the grading and reporting practices of Cresthill -- and, for example, why it looks like your student has a 3 out of 100 for a grade in a class! -- check out the video and presentation below. You will get clarification on what you and your child will see in their Infinite Campus gradebook and understand a lot better why and how we grade as a Standards-Based Grading school.
Check this out:
- Grading Practices at CMS & Infinite Campus Gradebook Clarifications
- Grading at Cresthill (CMS Website)
- Standards-Based Grading Presentation
If you have any questions, please let us know or reach out directly to our Professional Learning Specialist, Mr. Wakefield, at mdwakefield@dcsdk12.org.
New and Important
Student Photo Reminders
If you need to order pictures or need assistance, please contact Dorian Studios @ mydorianstudio.com or 800-826-3535.
Our picture make up day is scheduled for October 21st during lunch periods for anyone who did not like their first picture or missed the original picture day.
If you have already ordered photos and made the order before the school shipping deadline, they will be sent home by the end of this week.
Athletics
Student Council
Student Involvement
Hey Cougars!
Are you interested in cheering and dancing at home sporting events? If so, the Cresthill Spirit Squad is the perfect place for you! Our season will run from October through March. Please see the attached flyer and QR Code for more information! Questions? Reach out to Mrs. Messmer at: ejmessmer@dcsdk12.org
Transportation Information
🚌 Bus Route Cancellations For September 28th-October 2nd: Route #5- cancelled
🚌 Bus Route Cancellations For October 5th-October 9th: Route #9- cancelled
"Did You Know"
General Cresthill Information
Highlands Ranch Highschool Happenings
HRHS Boys Basketball Fall Break Camp
HRHS Boys Basketball is excited to host a kids' basketball camp this fall break, starting October 12 and running through October 14. The camp will run from 10 am to 1 pm each day and will be run by our HRHS coaching staff and current players. The camp is open to any 4th- to 8th-grade boys. The cost is $75, and it can be paid through the MySchoolBucks link below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Coach Bucholtz at abucholtz@dcsdk12.org
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZHVZS5TX305OUU_ZZ6C81LRCF8HR0I
Take A Tour At HRHS
It’s time to start looking ahead to high school! Tour registration is now open for Highlands Ranch High School. This is a great opportunity for you and your student to explore the campus, get a feel for the environment, ask questions about academics and extracurriculars, and meet key staff members. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to register early to secure your preferred date and time.
Visit THIS LINK to view available time slots and sign up.
Douglas County Information
Did you know that the Douglas County School District has a podcast? We found this episode especially informative. Check it out!
Link to Podcast: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/7ek8q7n5afeaqvti/033_Erin_Kane_MLO.mp3
On Aug. 25, the @DCSDK12 Board of Education voted to place a Mill Levy Override (MLO) option for taxpayers on the November ballot.
In this episode of the DCSD Notebook Podcast, Superintendent Erin Kane explains why district staff recommended the MLO, how DCSD measures transparency and return on investment, and the areas where additional funding could support students and schools, including:
• Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff
• Supporting the increasing costs of school security
• Reducing waitlists for Career and Technical Education programs, including the trades
• Restoring student programming, such as elementary instrumental music
Listen to the episode to learn more about the proposal and the district’s perspective on its potential impact.
Check out our funding website at www.dcsdk12.org/funding