2025 February Newsletter

Park 6 Schools are engaged in dynamic educational opportunities because we have amazing scholars, professional educators, staff, administrators, and a high-functioning school board of trustees. We are the brand for public education, and this is a direct reflection of your support, family involvement, and leadership. Park County School District 6 continues to set the standard for academic excellence in Wyoming, showcasing exceptional student achievement and growth. According to data from the 2023-2024 school year, Park 6 ranks an impressive 7th out of 48 school districts statewide, placing it firmly within the top 25% of Wyoming schools. The district’s commitment to academic rigor is reflected in its proficiency rates, with 56% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in math and 61% in reading, both surpassing the state averages of 49% and 53%, respectively. Moreover, Park 6 students excelled on the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP), outperforming state averages in 18 out of 19 assessed areas. This outstanding achievement underscores the district’s unwavering dedication to both academic excellence and continuous student growth. Cody High School further exemplifies Park 6’s scholastic distinction. Consistently ranked among the top ten high schools in Wyoming for ACT performance, CHS achieved the second-highest composite ACT average statewide last year, trailing only Sheridan High School. Park 6 remains a beacon of academic achievement, student success, and educational leadership, consistently exceeding state proficiency benchmarks and fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Wyoming’s public education system is a national leader in innovation, instructional excellence, and student engagement. Thanks to Governor Gordon’s RIDE Initiative, Wyoming schools are redefining learning environments that foster critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. With 365 public schools serving 89,288 students (Fall 2024), Wyoming has the highest percentage of students attending public schools in the nation at 97%. Wyoming public schools consistently rank in the top five nationwide, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and Wyoming is the #1 state for ACT scores in 2024. Furthermore, 52% of public school teachers in Wyoming hold master’s degrees, ensuring our students receive instruction from highly qualified educators.

The evidence is clear: Wyoming’s public schools are excelling. They are the backbone of our communities, shaping the future of our workforce and economy. Now is the time to stand up and support public education.

📣 Take action today!

✅ Advocate for continued investment in our schools.

✅ Celebrate the achievements of Wyoming’s educators and students.

✅ Encourage policies that strengthen public education for generations to come.

Wyoming’s public schools are leading the way let’s keep them strong.

#SupportWyoPublicSchools #RIDEInitiative #WyomingEducation #IgniteWyoming

Proud Superintendent of Park 6

Vernon Orndorff

I want to start off by thanking our families, staff, and students for showing great adaptability and flexibility during yesterday's temporary virtual education, or TVE, day. Change is never easy, but the way our school community embraces challenges and makes the best of every situation is truly commendable!

I included Superintendent Orndorff's message in this month's newsletter for a couple reasons. First, it highlights some of the outstanding achievements of our district, and secondly, it provides some important context for the work happening in our public schools, not only in Park 6, but across our state. Wyoming’s public schools are among the best in the nation, and our students, educators, and families play a vital role in maintaining that high standard of excellence. At Cody Middle School, our commitment to fostering learning, engagement, and innovation is evident in the remarkable accomplishments of our students. In fact, this past month alone, Cody Middle School students excelled in academics, the arts, and extracurricular activities.

Here are just a few examples:

• Cody Middle School students improved their scores an average of nine percent from their Fall WYTOPP to their Winter WYTOPP!

• Nine CMS students placed third or higher in the regional Science Fair Competition, with four students placing first overall!

• Over 20 CMS student-musicians earned excellent or distinguished ratings at the 50th Annual Showalter Music Festival!

• Cody Middle School celebrated its first-ever Speech and Debate Champion in the area of Poetry—a remarkable achievement considering this was the first year CMS students had ever participated in speech and debate!

• Nearly 400 CMS students participated in our annual Outdoor Activity Days at Red Lodge, where many students experienced skiing, snowshoeing, or Nordic skiing for the first time.

These accomplishments highlight the dedication of our students, the support of our families, and the outstanding efforts of our educators. As Wyoming continues to lead the nation in public education, we must remain strong advocates for our schools. Supporting public education means ensuring all of our students have access to the best resources, highly qualified teachers, and engaging opportunities that prepare them for the future.

As we continue our work, I encourage you to join us in celebrating these achievements and in advocating for strong public schools. A well-supported education system benefits not just our students but our entire community.

Upcoming Event Reminder: Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, February 11th from 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you for your continued support of Cody Middle School and for making our school an exceptional place for learning.

Go Broncs & Fillies!

Jacob R. Gogan

Principal

Cody Middle School

P.S. We currently have over $600 worth of outstanding lunch balances. Please be sure to take care of your student's lunch balance. If you are unable to pay because of financial hardship, job loss, or any other reason, please contact me directly. I am always happy to help assist families to see if they may qualify for free or reduced meals.

🏀 Saturday, February 1 - Boys Basketball vs Buffalo

🎼 Saturday, February 1 - Showalter @ Northwest College

🏀 Tuesday, February 4 - Boys Basketball vs Shoshoni | 4:30 pm

🎓 Tuesday, February 4 - Board Work Session Meeting | 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

🗓️ Wednesday, February 5 - Kids First Meeting | 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm

🎒 Thursday, February 6 - CMS School Store Open | 7:50 am

🏀 Thursday, February 6 - Boys Basketball vs Greybull | 4:00 pm

🏀 Saturday, February 8 - Boys Basketball vs Lyman

🏊 Monday, February 10 - CMS Swim Practice Starts | 4:00 pm

📣 Tuesday, February 11 - Parent Teacher Conference | 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm

📣 Thursday, February 13 - Family Night @ CMS in the Commons | 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm

🏀 Thursday, February 13 - Boys Basketball vs Powell | 2:15 pm

🔭 Thursday, February 13 - CMS Astronomy Club | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

🔚 Friday, February 14 - End of Quarter 3

🏀 Saturday, February 15 - Boys Basketball vs Lovell & Worland | 9:00 pm

🔕 Monday, February 17- Parent Teacher Trade Day | No School

🔕 Tuesday, February 18 - Teacher Inservice | No School

🎓 Tuesday, February 18 - School Board Meeting | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

🏀 Saturday, February 22 - Boys Basketball Jamboree | 9:00 pm

If your student rides any bus, please make sure they have their Student ID. Park 6 Transportation will begin strictly enforcing the use of Student IDs on all buses, including in-town field trips. Park 6 wants to make sure all students are safe and accounted for as well as be able to identify when and where they get on and off the bus. If your student requires a new Student ID, please let the Cody Middle School Front Office know and we will provide you with a replacement card form that you can return to us along with a $5 ID replacement fee. If you have questions, please call the Park 6 Transportation Department at 307-587-2851.

The Park 6 and CMS Nutrition Staff are offering additional drinks and snacks for purchase during lunch. Your student may charge these additional drinks and snacks to their account as long as they have a positive balance. Please talk with your student if you approve of them purchasing these extra drinks and snacks. We know that many families only budget a certain amount for school lunches each month, so we want to make sure you are aware of this and able to have a conversation with your student. If you have any concerns or questions please contact us.