Message from Principal Cornwall 08/27/2026

One of my favorite parts of the day actually happened before school even started.

This morning, I was outside watching our students arrive. Of course, it was wonderful to see their excitement as they walked through our doors, but I also found myself watching all of you. I saw families taking those first-day-of-school pictures. I saw smiles and hugs. I also saw some of the nervous and anxious faces that naturally come with sending your child off for a new school year.

Standing there, I was reminded of the tremendous amount of trust families place in us each day.

You send us the people who matter most to you and trust us to educate them, care for them, challenge them, support them, and keep them safe. I don't take that responsibility lightly. It is an incredible honor for me, as the principal and lead learner of Cougar Ridge, to witness these moments and to be part of this journey alongside our students, staff, and families.

At Cougar Ridge, we believe that every child is our child. Belonging comes first. When students know they are safe, valued, known, and supported, they are ready to learn, take risks, grow, and become their best selves. We also believe every student can achieve at high levels, and our responsibility is to make sure they receive what they need, when they need it. That commitment is at the heart of the work we will do together this year.

A school is much more than classrooms, schedules, curriculum, and programs. It works because of people: students who come ready to learn, staff who care deeply about them, and families who partner with us and trust us with their children. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and to play a small part in bringing all of those pieces together.

Today was a great first day. There will be a lot of learning, growing, laughing, problem-solving, and probably a few bumps along the way this year. That's part of the journey. But after walking through our classrooms today and seeing our students and staff together again, I couldn't be more hopeful about the year ahead.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. Thank you for your partnership. And thank you for being part of the Cougar Ridge community.

Here's to a wonderful first day and an even better year ahead.

Warmly,

Shaun Cornwall
Principal
Cougar Ridge Elementary