CRESTHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
COUGAR COURIER
May 25th: Memorial Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
May 28th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - for Cresthill Middle School
June 2nd - July 31st: Building Closed for Bond Work (more info below)
July 31st: BIONIC Leader Training For New Beginnings 8:00am-12:00pm
August 3rd: New Beginnings for 6th/7th grade and NEW 8th Graders 8:00am-3:00pm
August 4th: New Beginnings for 6th/7th grade and NEW 8th Graders 8:00am-3:00pm
August 10th: Back to School Night (Time TBD)
August 12th: First Day of School for 6th/7th Grades ONLY 7:30am-2:45pm
August 13th: First Day of School for 8th Graders (ALL Students Attend On This Day)
7TH GRADE TEAMS
Important Summer Closure Information
Our building will undergo Bond improvements this summer. Please note the following key dates:
June 2nd: Building closes entirely to the public.
July 31st: Main office staff scheduled to return (tentative).
If you need assistance over the summer, please reach out to the following by
EMAIL ONLY June 2nd - June 12th:
- Jennifer Swanson - Administrative Assistant @ jswanson2@dcsdk12.org
- Stephanie Young - Bookkeeper @ syoung13@dcsdk12.org
Our Administrative Staff will be checking email periodically all summer long:
- Dr. Francesca Pappalardo - Principal - fpappalardo@dcsdk12.org
- Gina Chambers - Assistant Principal - gmchambers@dcsdk12.org
- Joe Wahl - Assistant Principal - jwahl1@dcsdk12.org
For any registration questions please click on the button below.
For any emergency situations please contact District Security @ 303-387-9999.
Thank you for your support as we upgrade our facilities! Stay tuned for updates.
Reminder For Next School Year!
As previously communicated by the district, please remember that all Douglas County public schools will implement a 45-minute delayed start every Friday to accommodate Teacher Professional Learning Communities.
This schedule change will begin on Friday, August 21, 2026 and will carry through the rest of the school year unless otherwise communicated.
Weekly Schedule:
Monday – Thursday: School begins at 7:30 AM (Doors open at 7:00am)
Friday: School begins at 8:15 AM (Doors open at 7:45am)
Thank you for your cooperation and support of our teachers' professional development!
Cresthill Athletics Year in Review
I want to take a moment to recognize what was truly a GREAT year for Cresthill Athletics and, most importantly, for our student-athletes.
This year, 57% of Cresthill students participated in at least one sport. That is a number we should all be proud of. Even with our overall enrollment decreasing by about 10% coming into the school year, our athletic participation rate still increased by almost 2%. That does not happen by accident. It reflects the culture our coaches are building, the encouragement our students receive from staff, and the pride our student-athletes have in being part of Cresthill.
Our student-athletes also took care of business in the classroom. As a whole, Cresthill student-athletes finished the year with a 3.4 GPA. That matters. We talk often about what it means to be a student-athlete, and our kids showed that they can compete, stay involved, and still meet high expectations academically.
Beyond the numbers, athletics continues to be one of the strongest ways our student-athletes connect to school. Our student-athletes build relationships with coaches, teachers, and teammates. They try new things. They learn how to handle tough moments, how to be coached, how to be part of a team, and how to keep showing up even when something is hard…. Oh and they have a lot of FUN along the way, and that piece matters too.
This year, we saw our student-athletes experience the pride of making a team, trying a sport for the first time, improving throughout a season, winning a big game, and simply being part of something bigger than themselves. Those are the experiences that stick with kids.
Of course our student-athletes also had a great year competitively. Cresthill brought home THREE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SCHOOL YEAR:
7th Grade Flag Football
8th Grade Flag Football
7th Grade Boys Basketball
Thank you to our coaches for the time, energy, and care you put into our student-athletes. Thank you to our staff for supporting eligibility, encouraging student-athletes to stay on top of their academics, encouraging students to get involved, and showing up for kids beyond the classroom. This was a great year for Cresthill Athletics, and I am proud of what our student-athletes, coaches, staff and school community accomplished together.
Go Cougars!
Joe Wahl
Athletic Director
DEFEND THE DEN Sponsor Spotlight!
Cresthill Community!
We are SO excited to highlight Cirilo Ibarra, Owner of David & Goliath Contracting, LLC, as one of our fantastic Defend the Den sponsors! His generous support directly benefits our athletics programs here at Cresthill, helping create memorable experiences for ALL of our student athletes. Thank you, Cirilo, for standing with us and investing in our student-athletes future and supporting Cresthill athletics!!!
See more about Cirilo’s business by reading below and visiting his website.
If you’re interested in becoming a Defend the Den sponsor, please click this LINK to learn more.
#DefendTheDen #CommunityStrong
From our Sponsor!!
"Hello, my name is Cirilo Ibarra, founder of David and Goliath Contracting and a proud sponsor of Cresthill’s Defend the Den! We are a local, family-owned construction company based in Highlands Ranch, offering residential and commercial services. Our licensed and insured team handles everything from full renovations to repairs and specialty work, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, concrete work, and landscaping. Whether it is through a project or a quick conversation, I look forward to connecting whenever our paths cross!"
Cirilo Ibarra
David & Goliath Contracting, LLC
720.940.1755
🚶 Safety First: Navigating Our School Zones Together
As our mornings get busier, we want to ensure every student arrives at school and returns home safely. Colorado traffic laws are designed to protect our most vulnerable commuters, and staying informed helps our entire community.
Please review these essential safety reminders and state laws with your student:
🚗 For Our Drivers:
Yield at Every Crosswalk: In Colorado, pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks—even if the lines aren’t painted. You must yield or come to a complete stop to let pedestrians pass.
The "No-Passing" Rule: It is illegal to pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. They are likely stopping for a student you cannot see yet.
School Zone Awareness: Under current 2026 guidelines (HB26-1318), school zones are defined as all roadways within 1,000 feet of school property. Please stay alert, as fines for traffic violations are doubled in these zones.
Make Eye Contact: Before turning or proceeding, look for pedestrians and make eye contact to ensure they see you.
🎒 For Our Students:
Use the "Walk" Signal: Always push the crosswalk button and wait for the steady "Walk" sign. If the "Don't Walk" sign is flashing, do not start crossing.
Eyes Up, Phones Down: Distracted walking is dangerous. Please put away phones and remove headphones when approaching a street so you can hear oncoming traffic.
Left, Right, Left: Always look both ways before stepping off the curb. Even if you have the right-of-way, make sure cars have come to a complete stop before you enter the road.
Be Visible: Especially on cloudy mornings or during after-school activities, wear bright clothing or reflective gear so drivers can spot you easily.
Did you know? Colorado law requires drivers to exercise "due care" to avoid colliding with pedestrians. However, pedestrians also have a duty to not "suddenly leave a curb" into the path of a moving vehicle that is too close to stop. Safety is a shared responsibility!
Thank you for helping us keep our school zone a safe place for everyone!
Are @dcsdk12.org Emails Landing in your Spam Folder?
To ensure you receive important updates regarding school safety, grades, and events, we recommend checking your Spam or Junk folder periodically.
If you find an email from @dcsdk12.org in your spam folder, please mark it as "Not Spam" or "Move to Inbox." This simple action helps "train" your email provider to recognize our communications as safe, ensuring our future messages reach you directly.
SCHOOL DELAYS AND CLOSURES
Since we never know exactly when the weather will turn colder in Colorado – it’s a good time for a refresher on how our school district handles school delays and closures in the case of inclement weather (snow will be here before we know it). Be sure to review THIS page on our district website to learn how we call a delay or closure and how soon you can expect to be notified. This is also a good time to make sure you are signed up to receive emergency messaging from our school district so that you are notified right away in the case of a school delay or closure.
How to Receive Emergency Messages from DCSD
Log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and click on the “person” icon in the top right-hand corner of the page. Navigate to “Contact Preferences” and review your contact information. If you see an incorrect phone number or email, please update it in Infinite Campus, or contact the registrar at your child’s school to request an update.
Lightning Dismissal Procedures
Greetings Parents & Guardians,
As we enter the spring season, I would like to take a moment to remind you of our lightning dismissal policy. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, it is critical to follow a lightning dismissal protocol if lightning is present in the area at the end of our school day. You will receive an email, a pre-recorded telephone call, and a text message informing you of the lightning dismissal.
Distance and Danger:
The District is following CHSAA’s lightning guidelines, which state that student dismissal & any outdoor activities shall be suspended and personnel moved indoors when lightning is detected within a ten-mile radius of Cresthill Middle School (as updated by CHSAA). Dismissal will remain suspended until the meter or other device indicates there is no lightning within a ten-mile radius for at least 30 minutes. As soon as lightning dismissal is lifted, you will get additional notifications and students will be released accordingly.
If a lightning dismissal is called, the following will occur:
Bus riders will be held inside the building until the lightning dismissal has been released.
All district transportation will be notified and will be adjusting bus routes accordingly.
If you wish to release your student from the lightning hold, you MUST enter the building. You will be directed to our lunch commons where you will need to provide proper identification to sign out your student from school.
If your student will be carpooling with another parent you will need to call the schools main line @ 303-387-2800, to give permission and receive confirmation from school staff.
You are welcome to stay in your vehicle in the parent pick up line. You are NOT required to come into the building to sign out your student. Once lightning has cleared the area, we will release students from the building. They can then be picked up or can walk home as normal.
If your student participates in ANY after school activity (i.e. sport or club), additional communication will be sent.
Thank you for your help in keeping all of our students safe.
In partnership,
Dr. Francesca B. Pappalardo
Principal
Cresthill Middle School
Cresthill AVID Elective Class!
COMING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR SELECTED 8th GRADE STUDENTS!!!
AVID Elective Class at Cresthill
We are excited to introduce the 8th Grade AVID Elective Class at Cresthill next school year. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, and it is designed to help students build the skills, confidence, and mindset they need to be successful in middle school, high school, college, and beyond.
This class will be offered specifically for a select group of 8th grade students who have been nominated because staff see strong potential in them. AVID is more than just another elective. It is a community where students will learn how to stay organized, set goals, manage their time, collaborate with others, and prepare for their future.
Students in the AVID Elective will focus on important skills such as:
Organization and study habits
Students will learn strategies to stay on top of assignments, manage their time, and build routines that help them be successful in school.
Goal setting and planning
Students will set personal and academic goals, create plans, and learn how to take steps toward reaching them.
Collaboration and leadership
Students will work with classmates, build leadership skills, and learn how to make a positive impact at Cresthill.
College and career exploration
Students will explore future career options, learn more about college and career pathways, and begin thinking about opportunities beyond middle school.
The AVID Elective will also include fun and engaging experiences such as field trips, college visits, guest speakers, team-building activities, leadership opportunities, AVID events, and celebrations throughout the year.
We are proud to bring this opportunity to Cresthill and excited to support students as they continue growing as learners, leaders, and future-ready Cougars. AVID is about helping students dream big, work smart, and achieve more.
👉If your student will be absent for any reason please call our Attendance Line at 303-387-2802. Please speak slowly and leave a clear message with your child's first name, last name, and the reason for the absence.
👉If your student needs to leave early for an appointment or any other reason, we kindly ask that you notify us in advance whenever possible. You can call the attendance line or the main office 303-387-2800. Please provide your child's name, the reason for dismissal, and whether they will be returning to school. We'll issue a pass to your student so that they are ready to leave at the specified time.
👉A photo ID is required when picking up your child from the building. Please remember that anyone picking up your student MUST be listed as an emergency contact on Infinite Campus. You can update this information within "Express Check In" in your Infinite Campus Portal.
👉 Please Note: If you need to pick your student up towards the end of the day, we ask that you pick them up BEFORE 2:30pm. This will ensure that we can get your student to you in a timely manner.
CRESTHILL PARENT GROUP
Become a member of the Cresthill Parent Group and make a difference by:
- Supporting staff appreciation efforts
- Organizing fundraisers
- Assisting with school projects and needs
- Volunteering as a chaperone for school events
- Coordinating restaurant nights
Interested? Reach out to Jennifer Swanson in the front office. jswanson2@dcsdk12.org
VISITOR CHECK-IN SYSTEM
We have 2 new Raptor Visitor Self Check-In kiosks in the front of the school for adults that will be in the building for a period of time. Please follow the steps below when visiting Cresthill:
1. Have your ID out and ready
2. Complete the instructions on the kiosk
3. A name badge will be printed and given to you by security or our attendance secretary.
Note: Frequent visitors can download the "Raptor Safe" application from the Apple Store or Google Play for a seamless visitor check in experience.
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
With cold and flu season upon us, we want to remind everyone of our illness policy:
👉If your student has a cough, runny nose and isn't feeling well enough to participate in school activities, consider keeping them home to rest.
👉If your child has a fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea, sore throat, rash, or other conditions requiring antibiotics, your child must stay home.
👉A student may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotics for any diagnosed illness.
Exception: If being treated for Pertussis, students must be on antibiotics for 5 days before returning to school.
👉 Students must be free of the following conditions for at least 24 hours:
- Fever (without the aid of fever reducing medication)
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea when accompanied by other illness symptoms or due to a virus such as Norovirus)
Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe and healthy!
Dear DCSD Families Eligible for School Bus Transportation,
We are excited to begin the new school year and look forward to serving our students and families.
Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding as we implemented a rolling bus cancellation schedule over the past several years.
Over the past year, we have worked diligently to increase staffing to eliminate route rotation cancellations. While we’ve made significant progress, some routes will need to remain on the rolling cancellation schedule for at least the first part of the school year.
While we are pleased to have been able to restore a number of routes, we know our work will not be finished until all of our bus routes are off of the rolling cancellation schedule. Enhanced recruiting, training, and retention initiatives continue to be pursued.
We will communicate continued progress on our cancelled routes along with an updated schedule in early October so families can plan accordingly.
Please click here to view the current rotation schedule and to check if your route will be affected as we begin the new school year.
As a reminder, this rolling bus cancellation schedule is for general education bus routes only. Special education routes will continue as normal and will not be impacted.
Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work to provide safe and reliable transportation for all students and please spread the word, “WE’RE HIRING!”
Sincerely,
Jackie Millet, Chief Operations Officer
Donna Grattino, Director of Transportation
Douglas County School District
P.S. If you know of anyone who might want to join the DCSD family as a bus driver or assistant, please encourage them to apply at www.dcsdk12.org/careers.
For more Transportation Information, see our district page linked HERE.
HONOR ROLL REQUIREMENTS
Honor Roll at CMS also looks directly at both content knowledge AND work habits during each quarterly grading period. CMS designates the Honor Roll using the following criteria:
Students must exhibit work habits that “Exceed Expectations” (Grade of ‘A’) in at least 6 of 8 classes (with no grades of ‘C’ or ‘U’).
Students must have more A’s than B’s in Content Knowledge with no C’s, D’s, or I’s. (A minimum of 4 A’s for Content knowledge grades)
If you have any questions about grades, please reach out to your students teacher via email.
GRADING AND REPORTING
Dear Cresthill Families and Students,
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:
If you have any questions, please let us know or reach out directly to our Professional Learning Specialist, Mr. Wakefield, at mdwakefield@dcsdk12.org
EDUCATION AND AI
Dear CMS Community,
If you are asking a lot of questions about AI and education -- or, don't know where to even start -- take a few minutes to listen to a presentation by Matt Miller on the topic, "10 Things for Parents to Know about AI & Education". We here at Cresthill, like Matt Miller, are very much in the process of wrestling with the implications of AI in our educational world and are constantly seeking out ways to not only make sense and good use of AI tools but also to help educate and train our students in the best uses of these resources and tools.
Check out his presentation here or scan the QR code below.
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS (PBIS)
Cresthill is thrilled to offer a unique experience for our students! Our PBIS store (Swag Shack) is a vibrant space where positivity shines and good choices earn rewards! Students can earn “Cougar Cash” by showing awesome behaviors that reflect our S.H.A.R.E.S. values, like kindness, respect, and being good stewards of Cresthill!
Whether it’s demonstrating positive behaviors, achieving perfect attendance, or helping create a supportive and respectful school community, Cougar Cash lets students celebrate their successes in a fun and meaningful way.
We invite you to be part of this exciting journey! Help us make the PBIS store unforgettable by donating items that our students will love to redeem. Let’s come together to celebrate and encourage our students!
Click the Cresthill PBIS Store LINK to see how you can help us stock the store before the first day of school. Every donation counts—thank you for supporting our community!
GENERAL DONATIONS
Our General Fund provides critical, flexible support for the school's daily operations. This includes resources like classroom materials, technology, facility upkeep, and crucial teacher and staff appreciation programs. Donate today and directly impact the quality of education and the morale of our dedicated team!
If you wish to make a donation to our general fund, scan the QR code or use THIS link.
Fuel our amazing teachers and staff! We're collecting donations of easy, grab-and-go snacks to keep them energized throughout the day. Drop-off donations are welcome in the main office.
For a super convenient option, check out our curated Amazon Wish List where items ship directly to us.
Thank you for your consideration and donations!!!
Office Hours: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Before school/bell schedule:
7:25 AM First bell
7:30 AM Period One begins
After-school dismissal and expectations:
2:45 PM Dismissal
2:57 PM Buses Depart
3:00 PM
All students are off campus by 3:00 PM if they are not participating in a sport or activity.
Students are not allowed to be on campus after 3:00 pm without permission/supervision.
Main Office: 303-387-2800
Attendance: 303-387-2802
Registration: 303-387-2810
Bookkeeper: 303-387-2816
ADMINISTRATION
Francesca Pappalardo - Principal
303-387-2805
Gina Chambers - 8th-grade Assistant Principal/Activities Director
303-387-2807
Joe Wahl - 7th-grade Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
303-387-2806
Mark Wakefield - Professional Learning Specialist
Mascot: Cougar
School Colors: Black, Red, Gray, and White
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