It's the last week of the Quarter. Friday is a half day for student to give teachers time to finalize their grades. So, please ensure your student has turned in all missing work and has taken advantage of all the provided intervention times to support student learning and the teacher's ability to grade effectively.
Waiting until the last minute to turn in work and seek help can have many unforeseen consequences, such as late work deductions, missed deadlines, and a lack of credit.
Please review the provided district grading policies to stay informed and to advocate for your student. Do not hesitate to reach out to teachers on Parent Square or Email if you have concerns or questions.
DISTRICT GRADING POLICIES:
Section 07.13: Student Assessments
13. STUDENT ASSESSMENTS. A focus on student learning necessitates the development and administration of a variety of assessments. These assessments provide formative and summative information regarding student progress toward attaining content knowledge and proficiency in District standards.
Assessments serve as tools for maintaining a focus on improved student achievement by communicating academic growth to students, parents and the community as well as providing feedback to teachers which enables them to adjust programming and instruction to meet the needs of all students.
The District supports a comprehensive testing program with adequate resources, professional development and efficient and effective information management and reporting systems.
GRADING SYSTEMS AND REPORTS OF STUDENT PROGRESS
Laramie County School District Number One emphasizes academic achievement and student learning. Therefore, grades are based on the embedded assessments of progress toward standards proficiency, as measured by District assessments and other evidence of knowledge and skills attained in classes. Other forms of assessments will, where appropriate, include: common course assessments, semester and/or final exams, unit tests, classroom assessments, and coursework assignments.
Accurate and meaningful records of individual students will be maintained and issued to parents at the end of each grading period. Parent-teacher conferences regarding student academic progress will be held at least once a year. Weekly and/or quarterly progress reports, as well as daily parent internet access to student progress, may be provided.
Standards proficiency and mastery of course knowledge will be utilized in making decisions regarding progression to higher levels of instruction and/or the next grade.
Grades and proficiencies may be communicated through either a letter or a rubric grading system.
Students and/or parents/guardians may dispute standard scores awarded during the school year by requesting a review of student scores on the District assessment system for the disputed standard(s) by contacting the School Principal and then the Division of Instruction.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: Half Day/ A-Day
1A: 7:45 - 8:34
2A: 8:39 - 9:28
3A: 9:33 - 10:22
4A: 10:27 - 11:15
Grab and go cold lunch provided at the end of the day.
Department of the Week: Fine and Performing Arts
I want to take a moment and recognize the extraordinary efforts and achievements of the South High School Fine and Performing Arts Department during February and March 2026. This period has been one of the most intensive and impactful performance seasons in recent history, and our staff has demonstrated remarkable determination and professionalism.
Over the past two months, the team has hosted numerous high-profile events that have not only benefited our students but have also positioned South High as a cultural hub for the Cheyenne community. These include:
The Spring Musical: A massive undertaking involving hundreds of hours and significant coordination.
All-City Jazz, Band, Choir, and Orchestra Concerts: This year, we hosted all triad schools for choir, orchestra, and band in preparation for their All-City concerts. This is a very large undertaking and takes months of communication and collaboration.
Jazz Festival: Gino has taken our students around the state, offering opportunities at many colleges to gain experience and exposure. His efforts are starting to pay off because many of our band students are being offered scholarships, admission to honors programs, and more.
FFA Benefit performance: The Jazz band offered to perform at a Saturday afternoon benefit event to raise money for one of our students who lost his home in a fire.
The dedication required to execute these events, while maintaining high-quality daily instruction, is appreciated and valued. Their Determination to provide every student with a platform for artistic growth is inspiring, and I want to say thank you!
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: JROTC
Last week, JROTC hosted visitors from the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and the Cheyenne Police Department, who collaborated with our JROTC department to offer a Stop the Bleed opportunity for cadets. Thanks, COL Salsgiver and MSG Twiss, for providing students with real-world opportunities.
Athletics and Activities
March 16th-21st
Big Country FFA Makes History!
This week, the Big Country FFA Chapter made history by earning its first-ever Gold Emblem ranking for our chapter program in the areas of Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture.
FFA also has another milestone to celebrate!
Andrea Rose is the first Big Country FFA member to qualify for the Wyoming State FFA Speech Contest. Next month, she will compete against nine other finalists for the title of Wyoming FFA's top prepared public speaker. The South Community is incredibly proud of our students and the hard work they put in to represent our school and community!
SPRING FOOTBALL has started.
These coaches came together to share a message of GRIT and ASONE! They are pushing students to participate in early morning workouts and evening footwork. Thank you for helping to cultivate a culture of commitment and hard work among our students!
2nd Week of March
9th-14th
Bison Families
Let’s finish Quarter 3 strong!! Taking a few minutes this week to review grades and missing work with your student can make all the difference. We want every student to head into Spring Break feeling caught up and ready to recharge.
To support our students in finishing the quarter strong, please keep these resources in mind:
Extended Day: Monday–Thursday | 3:00–4:00 PM
Office Hours: Check with individual teachers for specific times.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: B-Day with HERD
Attendance Matters: Friday Challenge
The results for the first week of March are in, and the 9th Grade is currently setting the pace with 78.37%!
However, looking at the full year, our Seniors are the only ones holding steady above the 90% mark. - The senior class will be rewarded this week for the spicy results in February, and will be released early from a class on Monday to collect their prize.
Every person counts. Let’s AIM FOR 90% this Friday!
#AttendanceMatters #HERD
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: Marcheses's AP Language and Composition
This week, I had the pleasure of seeing an AP class do a quiz-quiz trade Kagan Strategy to work on punctuation terms in preparation for their IXL exam. Then the students completed a test prep for an AP writing exam by racing against the clock to gather textual evidence and resources, transforming a standard test-prep session into a collaborative research for knowledge. Marchese calls the activity a Collaborative Sprint, which turned out to be a scavenger hunt to prepare for their timed writing exam.
I also want to celebrate her use of the cellphone caddy. Almost all students in the class had their cellphones in the caddy, and she rewards them daily with a sucker at the end of class. Overall, Marchese demonstrated strategies and planning for high engagement, rigor, preparation, and rewards.
Congratulations, Aaron Walker and Dan Marcum!
Your representation on the Board was greatly appreciated. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Bison Family!
This past week, our halls were filled with a different kind of energy as we hosted the All-City Band collaboration. It was an absolute privilege to welcome the band directors from the University of Wyoming, Kelly Walsh, and Sheridan to work alongside our very own talented directors.
A huge thank you to the visiting directors for sharing their expertise, to our staff for their tireless coordination, and to the parents who support these young musicians every day. Our students didn't just play notes this week; they built bridges through art.
1st Week of March
2nd-7th
Bison Families
At South High School, we believe that hard work and positive choices deserve to be celebrated. A huge thank you goes out to our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) Committee! This dedicated team of staff members consistently analyzes behavior and learning data to find new ways to honor our students' achievements.
Minga Rewards & The School Store
The PBIS team has been working closely with teachers to implement reward points through Minga. Students earn these points for demonstrating our HERD values, and they can spend them in our teacher and school stores. Popular items include:
Sweet treats and snacks
Essential school supplies
Bison Pride apparel
The March to Denver Reward Trip
Our PBIS team also develops our whole-school rewards. Our most anticipated event is the upcoming trip to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on April 9th! This is a high-honor trip, and to qualify for the end-of-March celebration, students must meet these Quarter 3 standards:
Attendance: 92% or higher
Academics: 3.0 GPA or higher
Behavior: 0 behavior referrals
Save the Date: Honor Roll Ceremony
We are also proud to announce our upcoming Honor Roll Ceremony, hosted by the PBIS Committee. Honor Roll Students and their Family are invited to celebrate our scholars' academic dedication upon invite to come:
When: March 17th
Time: 8:30 AM
Where: South High School Auditorium
Thank you to our PBIS team for making these opportunities possible and for keeping our students Honorable, Enthusiastic, Responsible, and Determined!
Our Friday Attendance Challenge for February showed some great effort, with our Seniors leading the way at 88.32%.
While we didn't quite hit our 90% campus-wide goal, the data shows we are only a handful of students away from reaching that mark at each grade level.
February Friday Averages:
Seniors: 88.32%
Juniors: 85.90%
Sophomores: 86.49%
Freshmen: 86.38%
We are challenging all students to help us March toward 90 this coming month. Let’s make Fridays our strongest days of the week.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students on track for success!
Classroom ow the Week: Mr. Brockway's Honors English
We are bursting with Bison Pride for one of our incredible first-year Honors English teachers! High school is all about finding your voice, and this week, our 9th graders mastered the art of persuasion by blending AVID One-Pagers with Kagan Collaborative Practice.
Athletics and Activities
March 2nd-8th
Bison Stampede: Winter State Qualifier March
This week, we started a new tradition and held a Bison Stampede to celebrate our State Qualifiers this winter season.
Thank you to everyone who played a role in the success of all our students. We are proud of our students for taking a moment out of their day to celebrate our South athletes and activity members.
We recognized: Cheer, Wrestling, Boys Swim, Indoor Track and Field, Speech and Debate.
4th Week of February
23rd-28th
Bison Families
We have just one month left in the quarter. Please take a moment to review your student’s grades and encourage them to turn in any missing assignments. Places students can go for extra support are:
Available Support:
HERD Time
Extended Day
Teacher Office Hours
PBIS Reward for the Quarter 3:
Trip to the Denver Science Museum
April 9ht
Criteria: - 3.0 G.P.A., 92% attendance, and no behavior referrals during quarter 3.
Let’s finish Q3 strong, Bison!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
Parent Advisory 5:30 to 6:30 PM
FFA Degree Ceremony @ 6 PM :Administration Building
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
Musical @ 7 PM
FRIDAY: B-Day with HERD
Musical @ 7 PM
SATURDAY
Musical @7 PM
CLASSROOM of the WEEK: Mrs. Weisbrook's AVID Elective
In Weisbrook’s AVID elective, students recently showcased incredible, empowering collaboration. By bringing notes from their other subjects into the AVID classroom, students engaged in a real-world application of their organizational skills.
The class dived deep into critical thinking to truly understand learning outcomes, culminating in a large-group walkthrough guided by supportive questioning. Watching these students process and refine their knowledge together was a true highlight!
AIM FOR 90: Attendance Matters
One week left to Aim for 90!
Week 3 saw a massive comeback, with our Sophomores leading the pack at 89.04%. We are this close to the mark. Let’s finish February strong, and encourage your students to show up this Friday to secure that Valentine treat for their class!
Athletics and Activities
Feb 23th-28th
Good Luck at State Lady Bison!
We wish Teegan the best of luck at State. - GO BISON!
BISON STRONG WRESTERS!
Tristan, Zack, Johnathan, Mason, and Evan are headed to State! -BISON STRONG!
3rd Week of February
16th-21st
Bison Families
This week, our Athletic Department is pulling out all the stops for the Winter Dance! The team has to transform the gym into a festive space, complete with food trucks and a few top-secret surprises you won't want to miss.
When: Saturday, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: AUX Gym
Come ready to eat, dance, and make some memories!
A big thank you to everyone in the athletic department for the planning, decorating, supervising, and collaborating to make a special night for our students. #1HERD!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: No School
TUESDAY: B-Day
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: A-Day with HERD
SATURDAY: Winter Dance 8 to 11 pm - Thank you, Athletic Department, for taking on the supervision of the dance!
Future Dates: Parent Advisory, February 24th - Topic: Teacher and Coach appreciation.
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: Mrs. Zumbo's AP Art Class
Mrs. Zumbo's Art class was a breath of fresh air yesterday. I discussed with a few students what their current projects are and what they enjoyed about the class. -Keep up the inspiring work, Zumbo!
Herff Jones is in the building!
If you need help with your graduation orders or prefer to talk to someone in person, stop by the commons on February 25 between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM.
This is their final visit, so make sure to stop by if you have any questions or still need to place your order!
Athletics and Activities
February 16th-21st
2nd Week of February
9th-13rth
Bison Families
Course Registration has begun. Students will be pulled out of their 2nd-period classes to finalize their 26-27 registration and discuss future pathways and required classes. Discuss with your students their post-secondary opportunities that align with college, career, and military readiness.
AIM FOR 90: ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
We have officially kicked off our February Friday Attendance Competition. Our goal is: Aim for 90%.
Last week, our school-wide attendance rate hit 88.15%. We are just a few percentage points away from our goal, and we know our students can bridge that gap!
The grade level with the highest Friday attendance for the month of February will win a special Valentine's treat!
See you Friday!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: B-Day with HERD
Upcoming: No School February 16th for President's Day.
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: STUDENT COUNCIL
Huge shoutout to our Student Council for their incredible performance at the recent Splash for Cash event during our basketball game!
Thomas Bechtel took to the court to shoot baskets and raise funds for future Stuco initiatives. Thanks to Tom's aim, they earned a staggering $1,080 for our school!
A massive thank you to Riverstone Bank for their incredible generosity and for sponsoring such a high-energy event. This donation will go a long way in supporting our student leadership and school activities.
Athletics and Activities
February 9th-14th
Speech and Debate
Speech and Debate traveled to Laramie this weekend and brought home a horde of medals!
HORNS UP!
State Jazz
Our South High Jazz students recently returned from the State Jazz Festival, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they represented the HERD.
BISON PRIDE!
1st week of February
2nd-7th
Bison Families
SkillsUSA is proud to host this year's American Heart Challenge! We’re inviting the entire school to join the stampede as we raise funds for three children with heart defects: Tyson, Zoey, and Ridge.
This Friday, students in Assembly will participate in The Heart of the Herd. This is our moment to be Responsible members of this community and Enthusiastic supporters of a cause greater than our own. Please bring your spare change to the assembly. Every cent helps us step up for these families. ONE HERD, three heroes, one big goal!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
NHS Blood Drive, Aux Gy,m 9 am to 1 pm
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: A-Day with HERD
Skills USA American Heart Association Assembly
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: STEM Day
A massive HERD salute goes out to Mr. Schwab for his incredible leadership in organizing our recent STEM Day!
Our CTE departments and JROTC hosted 3rd graders from every single school in the South Triad. It was an inspiring day of Honorable mentorship and Enthusiastic learning. Our future Bison got hands-on experience with tire changing, electrical circuit fans, robots, VR, drone flight, and more!
Thank you all for showcasing the amazing opportunities we offer here at South and for building learning bridges with our future students. Your Determination to make this event engaging did not go unnoticed!
AIM For 90: Finish Strong Fridays!
Congratulations to the Senior Class!
With a January average of 90.09%, the 12th graders are our Aim for 90 champions. Your Taki celebration will be delivered during the school day this week. Senior class is Fire!
The February Shift: Focus on Fridays
For the month of February, we are shifting our attendance goal specifically to Fridays.
Why Fridays?
Data shows that Friday is consistently our least attended day across all grade levels. To reach our goals and stay on track for graduation, every single day matters. We want to see our HERD values: Honorable, Enthusiastic, Responsible, and Determined on full display right through the final bell of the week.
Let’s step up, show up, and finish every week strong!
NHS Blood Drive: Tuesday the 3rd
This month, our National Honor Society is putting those HERD values into action by hosting our annual Community Blood Drive.
We are calling on our students, staff, and families to help us tackle the current regional blood shortage. A single donation takes less than an hour but can save up to three lives. This is a powerful opportunity for our students to HERD Together for a greater cause.
Date: February 3rd
Time: 9am to 1pm
Location: South High School AUX GYM
Information for Student HERO Donors:
Age & Consent: Donors must be at least 16 years old. Students aged 16 and 17 must provide a signed parental consent form (available in the front office or attached to this email).
Physical Requirements: Donors must meet height and weight requirements (typically 110+ lbs) and be in good general health.
Preparation: We encourage all donors to eat a hearty, iron-rich meal and drink plenty of water the evening before and the morning of the drive.
Whether your student is a first-time donor or you are a community member looking to give back, we invite you to join the HERD in this life-saving mission. Use the QR code provided to schedule an appointment.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our community!
Sincerely,
Athletics and Activities
Feb 2nd-7th
Save the Date: Winter Dance Feb 21st
The Athletic Department is hosting this year's Winter Dance. Tell students to light up the night with this year's Dark Neon Night on Feb 21st from 8 to 11 pm.
4TH Week of January
2nd Semester
Bison Families
We have officially finalized Semester 1 grades. We encourage you to review your student’s Infinite Campus profile to celebrate their successes and evaluate their progress.
For students with a credit deficiency, our counseling team will contact them to build a recovery plan. Our goal is to address these needs now to avoid the need for a summer school recommendation. Thank you for your continued partnership in your student's success.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: A-Day
TUESDAY: B-Day
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
3rd Grade Stem Day - Gym
THURSDAY: B-Day
3rd Grade Stem Day - Gym
FRIDAY: B-Day with HERD
AIM for 90: Attendance Matters
We have one more week to earn Takis for this month's reward! The race is tight: the Seniors are holding steady at the top, but the Juniors and Sophomores are within striking distance.
Can your grade level Aim for 90% this week? Every day counts toward the January Class Winner title.
Let's get to class and win those Takis!
CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK: Mr. Cox's Agriculture Class
A huge shout-out to our Ag students and teacher for spreading some joy with flower arrangements! Students worked hard to design and create beautiful floral bouquets, which were then delivered to members of our local community.
Seeing our students use their hands-on skills to give back is what being Honorable and Responsible is all about. Thank you, Ag, for representing our school so well!
Athletics and Activities
January 26th-31st
Congratulations Cheer on taking 3rd at State in Game Day!
1st Week of the Semester
January 19th-23rd
Bison Families
Welcome to Semester 2!
Our staff will be revisiting HERD Values, Attendance Goals, Cellphone Policies, and Classroom Expecations this week. All parents are invited to our Parent Advisory on Tuesday at 5:30 to review our 1st semester school data and improvement plan. Please come and celebrate and share any additional concerns.
AIM for 90: Attendance Matters
We have a massive goal this year: Aim for 90. We want 90% of our students in the building every single day to ensure everyone is learning, growing, and succeeding. Currently, we are so close! Our Seniors are leading the pack at over 90%, and as a school, we are sitting at 89%.
But there is one thing holding us back: Fridays.
While our attendance is strong Monday through Thursday, it drops to 85% every Friday. That means 5% of our Bison family is missing out on the most important wrap-up lessons, labs, and community activities of the week.
The Friday Challenge: Finish as a HERD
We are calling on every student and parent to help us close that Friday gap. Let’s show our HERD values:
Honorable: Show up for your teachers and your teammates.
Enthusiastic: Bring the energy to the finish line of the week.
Responsible: Own your learning from Monday all the way through Friday.
Determined: Don’t let Friday Fatigue stop your progress.
Parents: Thank you for partnering with us. By ensuring your student is here on Friday, you are helping us hit our school-wide goal and keeping them from starting the weekend behind on their learning.
Students: Let’s see which grade level can have the highest Friday attendance this week. Can the Juniors catch the Seniors? Let’s find out.
See you Friday morning, Bison!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MONDAY: NO SCHOOL
TUESDAY: C-Day with HERD Time
Parent Advisory: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY: A-Day
PBIS Reward Day: 11:45 AM to 1:30: Students will attend the Events Center for PBIS rewards for attendance, behavior, and grades. The PBIS team will be sending out the list on Tuesday morning. Our hope is that they will be back in class for 4th hour. The next PBIS quarter reward is a trip to the Denver Science Museum. Please promote excellent attendance, behavior, and grades to support the PBIS committee. Students need a 92% attendance rate, 3.5 Term GPA, and no behavior referrals for Quarter 3.
Pathway Elective Night - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM: 8th graders will visit South to pick Electives for next year and explore our pathway options. This event is open to all our Bison Community to see what pathway options we offer students.
THURSDAY: B-Day
FRIDAY: A-Day with HERD Time
Classroom of the Week: Mrs. Lindt's AP Government
I wanted to celebrate Mrs. Lindt, who has hit the ground running after having a beautiful baby. She has spent the week recalibrating her students' behaviors and has them already engaging in high-level discussions, collaborative activities, and group performances.
Athletics and Activities
January 19th-24th
[Sunday, Mar 15 at 11:31 AM] Bison News: March 16th-21st
