The Coyote Howler
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Message from the Principal
Dear CRES Community,
I have exciting news! Last week I learned from Superintendent Heller that CRES earned the prestigious John Irwin Award again this year! The John Irwin Award is a recognition by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for schools demonstrating superior academic achievement. This award is based on our students' performance on the 2025 CMAS assessments. Considering that we recently completed the 2026 CMAS tests, I'm not sure why it takes a year to receive this information, but this is the CDE timeline. We have been invited to receive official recognition at the TSD Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 20th. Please consider joining us for this celebration!
Transition work continues, with Mr. Jones spending time at CRES in the coming days to meet with staff and me. We are a good team, and I know the transition will go smoothly.
My twelve years at CRES has been the best years of my professional life. CRES is a truly special place, and what makes it so is the people: The hardest working, most collaborative, and professional staff I have ever worked; amazing students who are eager to learn, to grow, while also being kind, open-minded, and caring; and you, the CRES parent community that supports our staff, students, and each other so selflessly. I am proud of our good work and shared accomplishments, and I look forward to seeing what is in store for the next chapter at CRES. It pleases me and warms my heart to know that, as several students have reminded me lately, "Once a Coyote, always a Coyote!"
With sincere gratitude,
Deon Davis, Principal
New: Field Day Info!
Field day is on Friday, May 15th!
8:15-11:15 - Morning statioNEW: Field Day Info!ns
11:15-1:00 - Lunch/break
1:00-1:40 - Staff obstacle course
2:00-2:45 - 5th grade kickball game
Remind your students to:
- Wear tennis shoes
- Wear layers & bring a hat
- Bring a water bottle with their name on it
- Wear sunscreen
NEW: Important Start of the Year Dates
- Kindergarten Meet Up: 8/18
- School Supply Drop Off & Back to School Night: 8/18
- Kindergarten Transition Day: 8/19
- Kindergarten BooHoo-WooHoo Parent Meet Up: 8/19
- New Student Tours: 8/19
- First Day of School: 8/20
NEW: May — National Jewish American Heritage Month
May is National Jewish American Heritage Month where we celebrate the many contributions Jewish Americans have made to art, science, education, public service, and everyday life. It’s also an opportunity to share and enjoy the traditions, culture, and stories that continue to enrich our communities. We encourage the TSD community to highlight and explore Jewish American heritage as a part of our commitment to align with the CDE Social Studies Standards and teaching about, understanding, and honoring religious minorities and diverse perspectives (Standard 1: History and Standard 4: Civics, present in grades PreK-6, 8, and High School).
Resources:
Jewish American Heritage Month (Library of Congress)
NEW: May — National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May — National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month – a time to recognize and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of AANHPI communities across the United States. In our schools and communities, this month invites us to uplift voices, celebrate stories, and deepen understanding of the rich traditions that shape our shared experiences. We encourage all to take time this month to highlight AANHPI heritage in meaningful ways, from classroom and family learning to community celebrations (such as the Loveland 2026 APIDA Celebration at the Loveland Public Library on Sat., May 16th), as we continue fostering belonging and cultural awareness across Thompson School District.
Resources:
IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING SCHOOL SAFETY!
Students and families should only use the crosswalk(s) south of the school parking lot. The crosswalk north of the parking lot will not be supervised, and should not be used.
The backstory:
Parents, we made this important change to our safety procedures last year, for students who walk to and from school. There are three crosswalks near the school on Avondale. One is north of the school parking lot and two (perpendicular to each other) are south of the parking lot.
As our neighborhood has aged and we have been able to accept more choice students, we have fewer walkers than in previous years who use these crosswalks. Student safety is a vital concern and we want to ensure that there is always an adult crossing guard, but we have had an increasingly difficult time finding enough staff and volunteers to serve as crossing guards at the north and south crosswalks each morning and afternoon.
Our solution is simple. We are asking our students and parents to use only the south crosswalks when walking to/from CRES and to NOT use the north crosswalk, which will not be supervised. This presents no real inconvenience to walkers since students and families need to enter and exit the playground area from the south end of the school, near the garden, anyway. This change will also reduce the number of students crossing the driveways into the parking lot -- another hazard to pedestrians.
If you live on the east side of the school and your children will be walking, please instruct them to use the south crosswalks. We will have staff out there at the start of the year to redirect crossers to the south crosswalk. Thank you for helping us to keep all students and families safe!
So What's Going On At CRES?
We are also working on a document to share information about our club and enrichment opportunities.
One that I do know for sure at this point is our very popular after school drawing club (see below).
Pedestrian/Driver Safety
Those new to CRES may not realize that one of our students was tragically struck and killed by a distracted driver several years ago. Please do your part by staying off your phone, keeping your eyes up, driving slowly and responsibly in the kiss and go lane and on Avondale -- even after you drop off your own child -- and by not parking in or blocking the crosswalks. Thank you!
A few years back one of our 5th-grade Exhibition groups selected Safety/Distracted Driving as their topic, and they created this video as part of it. It's only three minutes long. It may save a life. Even if you read nothing else in this update, please watch this.
Erica’s Law
We the students of Coyote Ridge Elementary School
hereby proclaim that any person riding anything with
wheels (besides a car, bus, plane, or train)
must wear a helmet and follow the safety guidelines
of the road
AT ALL TIMES!
This rule will be called Erica’s Law,
in memory of a dear friend we lost.
YOU Can Prevent a Tragedy!
If you are parking in the lot and walking your student around, please use the kiss-and-go crosswalk which is near the office.
Please note that the kiss-and-go crosswalk is not monitored. Therefore adults must walk their child across, in either direction. Please do not drop your child off in the parking lot and send them on their own to cross. There are two lanes of traffic in the kiss-and-go lane and it is very difficult to see children crossing.
Also, please instruct your children to use the crosswalks in Avondale and not run across the street elsewhere.
TSD Early Childhood Program Information
The TSD Early Childhood program is currently accepting applications for 2025-26. Here is the website for information about the program: https://www.thompsonschools.org/preschool. You are also welcome to call the office at 970-613-5052. We do not currently have an on-site early childhood program, but we hope to have it return ASAP.
Link to EC flyer.
Published by Deon Davis, Proud Principal of Coyote Ridge Elementary, an IB World School
Email: deon.davis@tsd.org
Website: https://www.thompsonschools.org/coyoteridge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoyoteRidgeIBWorld