Posted inLocal Schools

Get ready for kindergarten: NCSD’s school choice registration opens soon

CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County School District is preparing for the 2024–25 kindergarten enrollment, asking families to begin preparations now. As the School Choice Registration period approaches, NCSD emphasizes the importance of early readiness. Parents and guardians of incoming kindergarteners should start the online information process. This first step involves visiting the NCSD website […]

Posted inCommunity

LEGO Championship at Ford Wyoming Center to showcase student engineers

CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming students will display their creative engineering skills in Casper this week during the state’s first LEGO League Masterpiece Championship. Opening ceremonies begin at 8 a.m. at the Ford Wyoming Center on Saturday, Dec. 2. Fifty-four teams of students in fourth through eighth grades (including 17 from Natrona County) will face off in […]

Posted inCommunity

UW Board of Trustees approves new bachelor’s degree in Ranch Management and Ag Leadership

CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees recently approved a new Bachelor of Science degree program in ranch management and agricultural leadership, or RMAL. The interdisciplinary program is designed to equip students with both practical experience and effective leadership skills, integrating coursework in resource management, business operations and real-world problem solving. The […]

Posted inEducation

Tribal school officials, lawmakers sketch out performance gap solutions

by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile FORT WASHAKIE—Wyoming can support tribal schools on the Wind River Indian Reservation with funds for additional language teachers and counselors, substance abuse programs, early childhood education and mental health needs, district superintendents told legislators Friday.  The mental health piece, “I’m sure it would resonate across the state of Wyoming in many different […]

Posted inEducation

Public funds for private schools? Lawmakers advance ‘education savings account’ bill

by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile A measure to create “education savings accounts” using state funds for parents to pay for costs associated with their children’s preschool education or non-public-school expenses is headed to the legislative session, despite concerns it may not be constitutional.  The Legislature’s Joint Education Committee advanced the bill on Wednesday. Under the measure, Wyoming parents whose […]

Posted inArts

(PHOTOS) NCHS production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ gets final dress rehearsal ahead of premiere

CASPER, Wyo. — Weeks of preparation and practice came together on Monday afternoon during the final dress rehearsal for Natrona County High School’s production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls.” “The cast and crew of ‘Guys and Dolls’ have poured their hearts and souls into bringing this classic to life, and they are excited […]

Posted inLocal Schools

NCSD invests in leaders with $150K contract for professional development

CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County School District Board of Trustees approved a contract with the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership, or CEL. This approval marks a substantial investment in the district’s future. The contract, capped at $150,000, aims to enhance the skills of building and district leaders in instructional leadership, aligning with […]

Posted inEducation

Degenfelder issues library book guidance: Here’s what’s in it

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Education released on Wednesday its school district guidance for shaping policies related to library books. It comes as districts are increasingly contending with book challenges from parents concerned about mature or explicit topics.  Lacking legal teeth, the guidance is intended as a resource rather than a requirement, Wyoming […]

Posted inEducation

Wyoming educator wins Lifetime Achievement Award for five-decade career

CASPER, Wyo. — A University of Wyoming Extension educator has received the Wyoming Business Report’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her nearly five decades of service in Teton County. According to a release, Marty Martin started working for UW Extension in 1975 as a county home economist by teaching people how to use microwaves. “Sometimes people […]

Posted inWyoming

State education agency will wade into book battles, Degenfelder tells Congress

by Maggie Mullen, WyoFile The Wyoming Department of Education will formally step into the ongoing battle over library books next month when it releases guidance and model policies to local school districts.  “I respect local control in government including authority of books and curriculum by locally elected school boards,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told the U.S. […]

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Local children’s author, illustrator earn national recognition for latest book

CASPER, Wyo. — “The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show” is a children’s picture book penned by local author Casey Rislov and illustrated by local artist Zachary Pullen. Released last year, it has delighted young readers throughout Wyoming and beyond. However, it’s also earned high praise from critics across the nation. The follow-up to 2019’s “Rowdy […]

Posted inLocal Schools

Roosevelt High’s Melanie Kelly honored with “Excellence in Education” award

CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County School District Board of Trustees celebrated Roosevelt High School’s esteemed educator Melanie Kelly at its meeting Oct. 23. Recognized for her monumental contributions, Kelly received the Alpha Delta Kappa Excellence in Education Award for Wyoming, the Northwest Region and internationally. Kelly’s Legacy in Education With 36 years in the […]

Posted inCommunity

WHSAA partners with Special Olympics Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming High School Activities Association is working with Special Olympics Wyoming to encourage and develop Special Olympics Unified Sports through school memberships in Wyoming. Unified Sports brings together equal numbers of teammates with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) and without (Unified partners) on sports teams for training and competition. It was inspired […]