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Laura Niswender has always wanted to teach in a rural small school setting. She has achieved her goal, although not teaching exactly. Niswender is the new principal of the Hanna Elementary, Elk Mountain Elementary and Medicine Bow Elementary schools. She will be the third new principal for the schools in three years. Niswender may be new to Carbon County, but she knows Wyoming well. "I was born and raised outside of Laramie and my husband, Terry, and I currently live out by Harmony, which is...
Each school year, Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) holds nominations to recognize one teacher and one staff member. Those nominations are filled with staff and teachers that, for one reason or another, are selected by their peers. For the 2019/2020 school year, current 6th grade teacher Stephanie Long was among those nominated and was, ultimately, awarded. "The first week of summer, I think, I got a call from Noel Manning. He called me and said that I had been nominated. That was the...
Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) passed the first hurdle in resuming school this fall as the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district’s Smart Start Reopening Plan during the June 23 special meeting. According to CCSD2 Superintendent Jim Copeland, the district received guidance throughout the process from Carbon County Public Health. Before classes can officially resume on August 17, however, the plan has to receive final approval from the Wyoming Department of Education (...
The start of classes in Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) is less than a month away. As that date approaches, the district is working within requirements and recommendations from Carbon County Public Health and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to provide a stable framework for students in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At the July 15 meeting of the CCSD2 Board of Trustees, Superintendent Jim Copeland provided the board with updates on progress. While he admitted...
Jarom Herring, 2020 graduate of Encampment High School, was awarded a scholarship with Central Wyoming College (CWC) for cross country running with the option of competing in indoor and outdoor track. Al Lara, Head Coach of Men's and Women's Cross Country at CWC, wanted to have a person-to-person signing with Herring two to three months ago. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was not possible until recently. Coach Lara said that he does not do a personal signing for every student stating, "These...
Despite an unusual school year that finished with students at home, Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) and the Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) have been working to help students and their families. Throughout the rest of the school year, following closures on March 16, the district provided emergency meals to families for both breakfast and lunch. In April, the school district served approximately 6,500 meals. Now, while school may have been dismissed for the summer,...
The Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Foundation Board has awarded four scholarships to local youth pursuing careers in healthcare. Qualifying applicants had to be a graduate of Carbon County School District 1 or 2, have a 3.0 GPA or higher, demonstrate previous or current community and/or involvement in extra-curricular activities, and plan to pursue a course of study which will lead to a career in healthcare. Riley Little (Saratoga), Makiya Johnson (Saratoga), Bailey Morgan (Rawlins) and...
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, many events around the state were cancelled. On the high school level, many sports seasons were unable to finish and competitors were left without a true ending. This was not the case for speech and debate. Starting on April 22, participants in Wyoming speech and debate were able to attend the state tournament online. Interpretation events were recorded prior to the tournament while debates were held via Zoom. The University of Wyoming was able to step in and provid...
The sun was shining down in Encampment on this past Memorial Day as friends and family came together to honor the fallen. Since 1984, VFW Post 1625 has held the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Encampment cemetery. This tradition is a constant reminder to the community to give thanks for veterans and fallen soldiers alike, and it was continued this year through the hardships the public has faced due to COVID-19. Along with the ceremony, the post places American flags on the graves of all veterans....
The final quarter of the 2019/2020 school year saw students learn new ways to use technology. Not only in terms of how to complete their school work, but how to compete in a virtual competition. While Saratoga’s speech and debate team was able to compete in the State Meet through virtual means, they weren’t the only ones to do so. The State FBLA Conference was also held virtually and three Saratoga students placed extremely well. Saratoga Middle High School (SMHS) students Campbell Graybow and...
Since 1993, the Platte Valley Arts Council has been enriching the quality of life in the area and expanding educational opportunities for all forms of the arts, whether it is music, literature, dance, visual arts, or theater. It’s mission is to “to foster awareness of and participation in any form of the arts, with the aim of developing vibrant and cohesive communities.” The arts council’s purpose is to keep Art in our everyday lives. In the year 2000, the arts council began awarding scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrated that ar...
COVID-19 was not going to spoil the 6th grade graduation ceremony for the Medicine Bow Elementary School (MBES) graduates. The school went door to door on May 20 to celebrate the sixth graders accomplishments. "Usually we have a little ceremony for the kids each year and we wanted to have one this year," Courtney Priest, secretary at MBES said. "Obviously we couldn't do it the same as in the past where we would have a party for the kids at the school." Priest said the imperativeness of doing...
When COVID-19 started to hit epidemic portions in parts of the United States, one of the casualties was the NCAA Basketball Tournament. It was the first sign schools were facing changes. Spring break was starting for many schools and, in a matter of weeks, spring break turned permanent It caught many off guard. Suddenly kids were at home and parents found themselves as educators and teachers were educating students remotely. Seniors of 2020 have it particularly hard having missed out on rites...
For many students, the graduation ceremony is arguably one of the most important events of their high school career. Under normal circumstances, the planning and execution of the event can be frustrating for students, staff and parents. For Wyoming and Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2), circumstances have not been normal since March. With each extension of public health orders issued by Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Alexia Harrist, questions arose as to how schools...
Some residents of this county might know Shelly Cooper as the Carbon County School District No. 2 Teacher of the Year. She won that honor last spring. Others might know she was a strong advocate for Medicine Bow Elementary and its community on why the school should stay open last year, although its enrollment was not high. This year, she was the teacher that had her 10 students in grades 2-6 achieve the goal of reading 500 books this year. The school year isn't over and the kids arn't done on...
While the main reason for the special meeting of the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Board of Trustees on May 4 was to decide whether to continue with the districts Adapted Learning Plan, they also made a decision on property owned by the district in Medicine Bow. As was reported previously (see “School district left with a ‘lot’ of questions” on page 14 of the April 22 Saratoga Sun), MedBow Lodging, LLC had informed the school district in a letter that they were not interested in extending their lease, which was set to expire on Ma...
Jason Greenway, principal of the three elementary schools in the north of Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) is leaving after the school year ends. He supervised Hanna Elementary, Medicine Bow Elementary and Elk Mountain Elementary. “I am going to miss the students, parents and staff members,” Greenway said. “COVID has made that more clear the past few months.” He said the change of not seeing students and staff on a day-to-day basis has been challenging because he felt persona...
Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) entered the fourth week of its Adapted Learning Plan as the CCSD2 Board of Trustees held a special meeting on May 4 to determine how the schools in the district would finish out the school year. As was previously reported (see “Putting a plan together” on page 3 of the April 1 Saratoga Sun), State Superintendent Jillian Balow had directed school districts throughout the state to submit their Adapted Learning Plan for approval to either complete par...
It is no secret that the closure of Wyoming schools, has tested both students and parents. Now the 2020 school year will be completed at home. Some parents think this a good idea. “I believe finishing the school year at home is smart. I know doing online school at home is difficult for many families but for us, it has meant extra time with our children,” Hanna resident and Hanna Basin Museum Director Sunshine Solaas said. She has six children, most in the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM)...
At the beginning of the year, Medicine Bow Elementary School second through sixth graders had a goal to read 35 books a student by the end of the school term (See "Getting kids to read" on page 7 of the April 8 Saratoga Sun). Shelly Cooper, their teacher was surprised how quickly they hit their goal and the kids were in the process of going for a higher target when school shut down. "I think it is amazing they hit 350 books," Cooper said of her 10 students. "We were well over 400 when school...
A student at Medicine Bow Elementary placed second in the Wyoming State Arbor Day poster contest. Samuel Heward, a 4th grader in Shelly Cooper's class, submitted his poster in the tradition of the Heward family. Other siblings have placed in this contest in years past. The Wyoming State Forestry Division partnered with Wyoming Project Learning Tree again this year to host the annual Wyoming State Arbor Day poster contest. This year's theme was "I Spy Trees." Over 175 4th and 5th grade students...
Carbon County School District 2 graduating seniors may now apply for the $500 Youth Citizenship Award offered by the Valley Service Organization (VSO). Applications may be obtained by emailing: [email protected]. If the student does not have access to email, he or she should call Carol Beach, VSO award chairman, at 307-326-8012. Completed applications should be returned to Beach by email or according to arrangements made when the application was requested. Deadline to apply is May 15, Beach said. Beach emphasized that the award is not a...