Subject: Important Information Regarding CMS Student Promotion and Retention
Dear CMS Parents/Guardians,
I wanted to take this opportunity to again share with you Cody Middle School's promotion and retention policy, as well as the various support systems we have in place for our students. This information has been shared with parents/guardians earlier in the year via newsletters, emails, and during our back to school information night, but I find it important to once again reemphasize.
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 1 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 2 Academic Supports: For students who require more targeted assistance, we offer a wide range of Tier 2 academic supports to address specific learning gaps and challenges. Examples of this include our Reading Intervention course, our Cody Academy Course, and our Friday Math Remediation process.
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.
Sincerely,
Jacob R. Gogan
Principal
Cody Middle School