CMS April 2026 Newsletter

As we move into the final quarter of the school year, there is a great deal to celebrate at Cody Middle School!

I am proud to share that Cody Middle School has been selected as a Tour of Excellence School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder will be visiting CMS on Monday, April 20 to see firsthand the outstanding work happening in our building. This recognition reflects what we see every day in our classrooms and across our school community.

Our students continue to excel in a variety of areas. From Challenge of the Books Champions and National History Day qualifiers, to participation in World Language Days and recognition through the VFW Essay Contest, our students consistently demonstrate excellence. These accomplishments are a direct result of the collective efforts of our staff, students, and families.

This level of success does not happen by accident. It is built through the relationships we foster, the expectations we uphold, and the consistency we bring each day. Most importantly, it is a reflection of a school community that is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students.

We are now in the fourth quarter, and the pace of the school year has certainly picked up. Our spring sports season is underway, with students participating in track, tennis, and golf. It is always exciting to see our students represent CMS both in the classroom and in competition.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, April 9. This is an important opportunity to connect, reflect on progress, and ensure a strong finish to the school year.

Later this month, students will participate in the WYTOPP Summative Assessment. Our students are prepared, and we are eager to see them demonstrate their learning. We will once again offer our 100% Effort Tickets to recognize students who give their very best effort during testing.

For our 8th grade families, we are also entering an important phase of the transition to Cody High School. Students have already completed the course freshman forecasting process, which helps CHS build a master schedule aligned with student interest. The next step, official class selection, will take place April 22 through April 29 using the PowerSchool Student Scheduler. This updated process allows for greater parent involvement, including input on course selection and scheduling. Additional guidance will be shared as we approach those dates.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Cody Middle School.

Go Broncs and Fillies!

Sincerely,

Jacob R. Gogan

Principal

Cody Middle School

How It Works

1. "100% Effort" Tickets

• Each advisory/WIN teacher will be given a supply of "100% Effort" Tickets.

• Teachers will award these tickets to students who:

• Arrive on time and prepared with a charged Chromebook

• Report to their advisory class with a positive attitude

• Read each question carefully and critically; Show their work!

• Take their time to answer to the best of their ability.

• Remain engaged and quiet throughout the entire testing session.

• At the conclusion of each testing session, students who earned tickets will place them in a raffle jar at the front office.

• On testing days, one 6th grader, 7th grader, and 8th grader will be selected at random, each period, from the raffle jars to receive a small prize for their effort.

• At the end of each testing week, students who have earned tickets will be entered into a raffle for larger prizes.

• When the testing window ends, all students who receive the "100% Effort" Golden Ticket will be eligible for the grand prize raffle.

What We’re Rewarding

Our focus is on recognizing students for their effort, hard work, and commitment. This is not about scores or achievement but about ensuring that students are putting their best foot forward during the WYTOPP.

Teachers will specifically look for students who:

• Take their time and engage with each question.; Show their work!

• Stay focused throughout the session.

• Demonstrate their commitment to doing their best.

Our Goal

We know that Cody Middle School students are capable of incredible things. When students show up, put in the work, and give their best effort, the sky is the limit. This inititative is about fostering pride in hard work and encouraging a positive testing environment for all.

How You Can Help

If you would like to sponsor or donate items for our rewards, we would greatly appreciate your support! Please contact Principal Jacob Gogan at jacobgogan@park6.org for more information.

Let’s work together to make this a fun, meaningful, and rewarding experience for our students!

Thank you for supporting the WYTOPP Effort Rewards Incentive Program and encouraging our students to do their best!

Cody Middle School is proud to share that our own Ms. Jordan Jackson has been recognized statewide through the Wyoming Department of Education’s Educator Spotlight. This honor reflects her exceptional work in building a classroom culture rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and authentic scientific thinking. Her leadership in advancing competency-based practices and her commitment to meaningful, student-centered learning continue to elevate outcomes for all students.

Congratulations to Ms. Jackson on this well-deserved recognition. We are fortunate to have her leading science learning at CMS!

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a time to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum. At Cody Middle School, we are recognized as one of a select few schools in Wyoming that has earned the distinction of being a Unified Champion School, and we are committed to fostering a community grounded in empathy, respect, and belonging for all students. We also extend our appreciation to our dedicated special education teachers and paraprofessionals for the important work they do each day to support student learning.

BARR — Building Assets, Reducing Risks — is an evidence-based system that provides our school with a strength-based, comprehensive approach to meeting the academic and non-academic needs of every student. Through BARR, we work to harness the power of relationships and data to focus on students’ strengths and ensure that all students are supported.

At Cody Middle, all core content teachers are grouped into grade-level teams. These teacher teams meet throughout the week to monitor student progress, identify strengths, and consider ways to support and challenge all students on their team. Each week, our administrators and counselors meet with our teacher teams to offer additional support for students and provide recognition for students' unique strengths and talents.

BARR is the framework that provides us the opportunity to get to know each student's strengths and interests. As educators, we leverage the knowledge we gain through relationship building and I-Time lessons to better engage and challenge our students.

What are these I-Time lessons my student talks about?

Once a week, teachers facilitate an I-Time lesson. The goal of I-Time is to strengthen student-to-student and staff-to-student relationships and to build classroom community. Important topics explored together include: building community, goal setting, stress management, bullying, and communication skills.

How does BARR benefit my student?

BARR educators focus on your child as more than just a learner – we work to understand them as a whole student. They are trained to use strength-based techniques to build positive relationships and support each student toward success in the classroom and beyond. Staff are provided with ongoing professional development on the BARR system.

The BARR system has a 20-year track record of student success and has been proven to drive significant improvements in school climate measures and standardized test scores. BARR has shown decreases in behavior referrals and absenteeism.

If you have questions or want more information about BARR or the I-Time Lessons at Cody Middle School, please contact either of our BARR Coordinators Kori Black (koriblack@park6.org) and Taylor Hensen (taylorhensen@park6.org)

If your student rides any bus, please make sure they have their Student ID. PCSD6 Transportation will begin strictly enforcing the use of Student IDs on all buses, including in-town field trips. PCSD6 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 PCSD6 Transportation Department at 307-587-2851.