

February 2024 Newsletter
Bronc and Filly Flyer

The Principal's Message
Dear CMS Community,
January was a busy month for Cody Middle School staff and students. We greeted students back from the Winter Holiday, we transitioned from semester one to semester two, we started our new second semester classes with a change in bell schedule, and we rostered over 450 students with new enrichment courses! It was a fast-paced and exciting month.
Last Friday, January 26th, Cody Middle School also celebrated with Cody High School as both schools were recognized as Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools! There is only one other school in the entire state of Wyoming that is a Unified Champion School. It was an incredible event, and our students certainly showed their support for their fellow classmates. According to Special Olympics Wyoming, "a Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff."
Also this past month, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder visited Park County School District 6. According to the Cowboy State Daily News, "Wyoming’s top educator unveiled a curriculum transparency webpage Tuesday geared toward keeping parents across the state aware of what their children are learning in public school." Although, participation in the website is optional, Cody Middle School and Park County School District 6 have opted in. The curriculum transparency website contains links to school districts’ pages featuring their standards for different grades and subjects and primary education materials (like textbooks) used to achieve those standards.
Cody Middle School students also completed their Interim (Winter) WYTOPP Assessment this past month. Students were assessed on their knowledge and skills in the areas of English Language Arts, Math, Writing (7th Grade), and Science (8th Grade). Park County School District 6 schools have consistently outperformed the state average every year since 2019! This is a trend we will continue to strive for as we complete the Summative (Spring) WYTOPP Assessment in March and April.
We are looking forward to a turning the page on January and welcoming in February with open arms. In February we will be hosting our third Parent Teacher Conference night. We have NAEP Testing for 8th grade students, and we have our third quarter midterm. Staff and students are also off on Monday, February 19th and Tuesday, February 20th. Thank you for your continued support of Cody Middle School.
Go Broncs and Fillies!
Sincerely,
Jacob R. Gogan
Principal
Cody Middle School
At-A-Glance Important Upcoming Dates
Thursday, February 1 - 7:00 - 8:00 pm | CMS Band Showalter Preview @ Wynona Auditorium
Monday, February 5 - 4:00 - 7:30 pm | Parent Teacher Conferences @ CMS
Friday, February 9 - 2:30 - 3:30 | Kids First (CMS Parent Group) Meeting @ CMS
Monday, February 12 - All Day | NAEP Testing for 8th Grade Students
Thursday, February 16 - All Day | 3rd Quarter Midterm
Monday, February 19 - All Day | No School (President's Day)
Tuesday, February 20 - All Day | No School (Trade Day / Snow Makeup Day)
Tuesday, February 27 - 6:00 - 8:00 pm | Park County School District 6 Board Meeting @ District Office
Canvas and PowerSchool
Canvas houses the assignments. PowerSchool houses the attendance and grades.
Canvas Online Learning Portal
Canvas is the course management system / online learning platform of Park County School District 6. Canvas is used throughout PCSD6 Schools to enhance the traditional classroom education that students receive. Canvas allows for staff and students to utilize a hybrid or blended model of learning. It allows teachers to post assessments, assignments, information, and grades online. Canvas offers discussion boards for asynchronous discussions, chat rooms for live discussions, and it provides students with a password-protected online classroom in which they can submit work and communicate with their teacher and classmates. Cody Middle School encourages students and parents/guardians to become familiar with the Canvas environment and its tools in order to succeed in their coursework. Students should check Canvas daily.
PowerSchool
PowerSchool is a tool provided by the district to improve communication related to student attendance, academic progress, and grades. Parents and students each receive a username and password to access the PowerSchool Portal. If you need access, please contact the CMS Student Services Office for support. Teachers are required to update grades weekly. Attendance and grades can be checked at any time through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. It is highly encouraged for all parents/guardians to utilize this tool in order to monitor their student’s attendance, grades, and work completion.
Standards-Based Education Information
Cody Middle School's curriculum is based on the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) Content and Performance Standards. As such, the terms standard-based and standards-referenced are commonly used to describe our approach to assessing and reporting student learning and performance. If these terms are unfamiliar to you, here are brief definitions for both.
Standard-Based Grades
Standard-based grading is an assessment system that focuses on students' proficiency and mastery of specific academic standards. Cody Middle School utilizes traditional letter grades and students are evaluated based on their understanding and proficiency in key concepts outlined in WDE' Content and Performance Standards.
Standards-Referenced Grades
Standards-referenced grading is a method of assessment that links students' learning and performance directly to standards. Students are evaluated based on their achievement of these standards, and grades reflect the extent to which they have met the established criteria. This approach emphasizes a clear connection between what students are expected to learn and how their learning is assessed, providing transparency and alignment with educational objectives.
Important Information Regarding CMS Student Promotion and Retention
At Cody Middle School, we are committed to ensuring that every student receives the necessary support to thrive academically. We understand that each child learns at their own pace and may face unique challenges along the way. Therefore, we have implemented a range of initiatives to provide tailored assistance to students who may be struggling academically.
Our Academic Systems of Support include:
Advisory & After-School Tutoring: We have a built-in advisory class for each student four days a week with the intended purpose of remediation and academic support. We also offer an after-school tutoring program Monday - Thursday to provide additional academic support and guidance to students. The PCSD6 Transportation Department also offers transportation services to students who attend after-school tutoring and live within city limits.
Standards-Referenced Grades: Our grading system is based on standards-referenced assessments, providing clear feedback to students and parents on their academic progress and areas for improvement.
Effective Tier I Classroom Instruction: Our dedicated educational staff deliver high-quality standards-based instruction in the classroom, on a daily basis, to meet the diverse learning needs of our students. Educator effectiveness is evaluated using a framework based on four different strategic domains including, planning and preparation, the classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibility.
Effective Tier II Academic Supports: For students who require more targeted assistance, we offer a wide range of Tier II academic supports to address specific learning gaps and challenges. Examples of this include our co-taught classes, our Reading Intervention course, our Cody Academy course, and our Friday Math Remediation process.
Co-Taught Classes: A co-taught Tier II class pairs a general education teacher with a special education teacher to provide comprehensive support for all students. Together, they collaborate on planning, instruction, and assessment, ensuring that the curriculum is accessible to diverse learners. The special education teacher offers targeted interventions and accommodations to meet the individual needs of students requiring extra support.
Reading Intervention & Cody Academy: We have a specialized literacy course in place to support students in improving their literacy skills, as well as a Cody Academy course, which is designed to provide targeted assistance to students who may be facing challenges in their ELA and Social Studies courses.
Friday Math Remediation: We have a specialized math remediation process that takes place during Friday Enrichment hours, where students receive support and opportunities to remediate failing assessments and target specific skills and standards.
We strive to provide comprehensive support to all students, and it's important to note that promotion to the next grade level is based on various factors, including academic performance, attendance, and participation.
According to Park County School District 6 Board Policy IKE-R, students may be retained in middle level grades because of a failure to:
Achieve passing grades in assigned classes
Attend school on a regular basis
Demonstrate proficiency of knowledge and skills based on district curriculum and standards.
The decision to retain a student is not taken lightly. It is made after careful consideration by a team of teachers, counselors, and administrators, with parental involvement playing a crucial role in the process. Possible factors that may contribute to the decision for retention include lack of attendance, poor academic performance, failure to complete curriculum, lack of maturity and development, failure to meet state standards, and overwhelming behavioral concerns.
If your student is at risk of retention, you will have already been notified prior to this communication via email and phone. Our goal is to work collaboratively with parents/guardians to develop a personalized success plan for students at-risk of being retained. This success plan will address your students academic needs and facilitate their progress. Our goal is to empower every student to reach their full potential and achieve academic success.
If you have any questions or concerns about our promotion and retention policy, or if you would like more information about the support systems available to your student, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to support you and your student every step of the way.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your student's education.
Policy IKE-R
Retention Process & Deadlines
Cody Middle School Systems of Support
CMS School Nutrition
The PCSD6 School Nutrition Department would like to ensure that all students who want breakfast or lunch receive that meal. In order to receive meals all students will need to present their Student Identification (ID) Card, to the nutrition supervisor upon request. Students who fail to present their ID may be served last. The PCSD6 School Nutrition Department does not want to take food away from or deny any student in the serving line. However, excessive negative balances in students’ accounts necessitate the protocols listed below.
Account Balance Information
Low balance (3 meals remaining) equal to or up to a $5 negative balance
The Food Service Supervisor will tell the student that they need money in their account and they will notify the parent/guardian when there is a negative balance.
A negative balance equal to or greater than $10
School Office Staff may call and will mail letter #1, signed by the principal, along with a Free & Reduced Meals application to the student's home.
A negative balance equal to or greater than $15
School Office Staff will mail letter #2 signed by the principal to the student's home. The Principal and/or School Counselor will conference with the family to seek out solutions.
A negative balance equal to or greater than $25
School Office Staff will mail letter #3 signed by the principal to the student's home; no further meals are served. The Principal and/or School Counselor will conference with the family to seek out solutions.