CRESTHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
COUGAR COURIER
April 29th: iReady Testing - Reading 9:00-10:30
April 30th: iReady Testing - Reading 9:00-10:30
May 4th-8th: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 5th: iReady Testing Math (end of year)
May 6th: iReady Testing Math (end of year)
May 6th: SAC Meeting 5:00-7:00
May 7th: Q3 8th Grade Honor Roll Assemblies 9:25-9:45
May 7th: NJHS Induction 5:30-6:30
May 8th: Outsider's Day
May 12th: Band/Orchestra Concert 6:30-7:30
May 13th: Choir Concert 6:30-7:30
May 14th: HRHS "Moving Up" Assembly at HRHS for 8th Grade STUDENTS ONLY
May 15th: Chromebook Collection Day
May 25th: Memorial Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
May 28th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - for Cresthill Middle School
7TH GRADE TEAMS
VOTE FOR CRESTHILL
Please nominate CRESTHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL for the Colorado Parent Magazine 2026 Family Favorites Contest. Your support helps us continue to be recognized as a top choice for families in our community.
Beginning April 15, you can submit nominations once per day throughout the nomination round, which is through May 15.
Please visit the Family Favorites page and select the appropriate category to get started.
SCHOOLED CATEGORY
Favorite Public Middle School
Favorite Public Middle School Principal
Favorite Special Needs Education Program
It has come to our attention that some DCSD families of students in middle and high school are receiving communications regarding a class action lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit is related to Naviance, the web-based college and career platform we use to support middle and high school students in planning their postsecondary paths. Naviance allows students to research colleges, explore career interests and manage application documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) in collaboration with school counselors.
It is important to note that DCSD’s network was not involved in the Naviance incident that prompted the lawsuit. Additionally, we have not received information from Naviance regarding the incident and, unfortunately, we do not have additional details regarding this situation.
We have learned of reports that there may be scam emails circulating about this incident. Therefore, if you would like to learn more, you may visit the Naviance Settlement website for more information.
CRESTHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL TOURS for 5th and 6th GRADE PARENTS AND STUDENTS!
TOURS WILL TAKE PLACE EVERY THURSDAY @ 8:00 am
Explore Cresthill’s academic programs and pathways, and see what makes CMS an exceptional place to learn. Discover our student activities, athletics, and extracurricular opportunities. Learn how our AVID program prepares students for college and career success, and meet our Counseling Team to see how we support every student’s academic and social growth.
CRESTHILL STUDENT CLUBS
Anime Club, Chess Club, Drama Club, Homework Club, Movie Club, Ping Pong Club and so many more....see the full list of Clubs HERE!
Join TODAY! Register Below at My School Bucks!
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 FAMILIES... DID YOU KNOW!???
CRESTHILL IS NOW AN AVID SCHOOL!!!!
Cresthill families, we are so EXCITED to announce that we are now an official AVID school...
The REALLY EXCITING PART??? Cresthill is the ONLY middle school in Highlands Ranch to offer this incredible program. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college readiness system designed to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career success. Through AVID, students develop critical thinking, organization, and leadership skills in a supportive environment that fosters academic achievement and personal growth. Click this LINK to learn more about how AVID is helping Cresthill students reach their full potential!
👉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!!!
Calling all Eagle Ridge Alumni and their Families
In honor of Mr. Humphreys' final year at Eagle Ridge, we are requesting notes from the Eagle Ridge Community capturing favorite memories or stories of your time with Mr. Humphreys at ERE. If you would like to participate in this collection, please drop off handwritten notes with our office or email Ms. Sanger (jesanger@dcsdk12.org) with your messages.
Note - we are trying to keep this a secret from Mr. Humphreys, so Shhhhhh!
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
Bus Routes
Lunch Menus
Parent Portal FAQ's
Pay Fees
Safety and Security