CRESTHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
COUGAR COURIER
November 5th: Q1 8th Grade Honor Roll Assembly 9:20-9:45
November 12th: Q1 7th Grade Honor Roll Assembly 9:20-9:45
November 13th/14th: Fall Play - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - 6:00pm-7:20pm
November 20th: Turkey Bingo 6:00pm-7:30pm
November 24th-28th: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
December 2nd/3rd: iReady Math Days During Advisement
December 4th: National Junior Honor Society Meeting 3:00-4:00
December 4th: HRHS Winter Music Showcase (8th Grade and Music Students ONLY will attend during advisement.)
December 11th: CMS Choir Concert in the commons 6:30pm-7:30pm
December 12th: Holiday Helper Assembly (PM Assembly Schedule)
December 22nd-Jan 5th: WINTER BREAK (NO SCHOOL)
7TH GRADE TEAMS
What You Need to Know About the Status of Free School Meals
In November, Colorado residents will be asked to vote on two ballot initiatives (Proposition LL and MM) related to additional funding needed to sustain the Healthy School Meals for All Program.
Should voters decide not to increase funding for the program, state funding for school meals would be reduced significantly at the end of 2025. While there is no clarity on specific reductions, we know that for many, meals will no longer be provided at no cost. In the case that voters decide not to increase funding for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, families would likely begin paying for meals again in January 2026.
Should voters decide to continue as is via increased funding to the program, the current free meal program would continue into 2026 and beyond.
We strongly encourage families to proactively complete the application for Free/Reduced lunch via the National School Lunch Program. Families approved for free/reduced meals via the national program will not be at risk of losing free meals should community members vote to limit the program.
This information is to provide interested persons with information about what the District’s plan is for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, regardless of the outcome of the vote, and that it in no way endorses a vote for or against Propositions LL or MM.
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 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!
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!
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.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Be an Educational Assistant at Cresthill Middle School
Cresthill Middle School is a supportive, welcoming place where staff work together to make a difference. As an Educational Assistant, you’ll join a caring team that values students, teamwork, and growth.
Job Posting Title: Educational Assistant IV - Affective Needs
Job Description: Responsible for assisting special education teachers. Assists in the instruction, medical, and health needs of special education students. Provides some clerical support to teachers. May assist with a variety of daily functions such as toileting, feeding, and life skills instruction. Collaborates and consults with the special needs team and other specialists. Develops and promotes good community relations among various community members and school clientele.
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.
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!!!
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
NEW 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!
Join Cresthill Athletics!!!
Dear Cresthill Families,
Get ready for our upcoming sports seasons! Registration is now open for Coed 7th/8th Grade Wrestling and 8th Grade Girls Basketball. Don’t wait—PRACTICE BEGINS ON 10/28!!!
MEET OUR COACHES!!
Click this LINK to learn more about our AMAZING coaches and get ready for a fantastic season ahead!
Important Fundraiser Information:
This school year, our student-athletes participating in any of our sports teams will be participating in a special fundraising effort to support our athletics programs. Please access this LINK for more information regarding our sports fundraiser.
Registration Details:
To ensure your student-athlete is properly registered to participate in either Coed 7th/8th Grade Wrestling and 8th Grade Girls Basketball, please follow the steps/links below for the sport in which you wish to register your student-athlete in.
1. Please visit CMS Athletics Website to view important information and sport specific schedules.
2. To register for 8th grade Girls Basketball use this LINK
To order a Basketball T-Shirt please use this LINK
3. To register for 7th/8th grade Coed Wrestling use this LINK
Please note:
All CMS student-athletes must have a current sport's physical in order to practice/play. Please use this physical waiver form to register LINK
All paperwork & fees must be completed and paid in order to practice/play.
If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Stephanie Young at stephanie.young@dcsdk12.org or 303-387-2816 or our Athletic Director, Joe Wahl, at jwahl1@dcsdk12.org
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
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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