Cozad Community School

A big congratulations to the amazing staff of Cozad Community Schools who were recognized today for their remarkable longevity and dedication! Susan Thurn has dedicated 10 years to our community, while Brian Cargill (not pictured) and Derek Hammerlun have each given 20 years of exceptional service. Jacque Yocom celebrated 25 years of commitment, and our extraordinary 2nd Grade teachers, Karen Berreckman and Debbie Neill, along with our wonderful Kindergarten teacher, Stephanie Rush, have each dedicated an incredible 35 years to educating our students. Your commitment and passion for education have made a lasting impact on our students and community. Thank you for your incredible service!

Congratulations to three exceptional educators from Cozad Community Schools who were recognized today at the year-end staff luncheon! A heartfelt thank you and best wishes to Ms. Heidi Cover, Mrs. Pam Laird, and Mrs. Stacy Hickenbottom on your well-deserved retirement. Your dedication, passion, and countless contributions have left a lasting impact on our students and community. You will be greatly missed! Enjoy your retirement and the exciting new adventures ahead!

Congratulations to Mrs. Dawn Beans and Mr. Daniel Revelo for receiving the 2024 Cozad Community Schools Foundation Excellence in Education Award! This award is selected by the senior class each year to honor two educators who have made a significant impact on their education at Cozad Schools. Mrs. Beans, a dedicated Business teacher at Cozad High School, and Mr. Revelo, an inspiring High School Counselor, have both gone above and beyond in their roles. Your hard work, passion, and commitment to our students are truly appreciated. Thank you to the Cozad Community Schools Foundation and the Burkholder Foundation for your unwavering support and for promoting Excellence in Education.

Don't forget! Tomorrow marks the end of the 2023-2024 school year, with dismissal at 11:00 am for all students. Breakfast will be provided, but there won't be lunch or AfterZone. Wishing everyone a fantastic and safe summer ahead!

The Summer Lunch Program will begin on Monday, May 28th and run through Friday, July 19th. Lunch will be served this year at the Cozad Middle School from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. These lunches are free for ages 1-18. Adults may eat for $5.50.

Cozad Community Schools was approved by the Nebraska Department of Education Child Nutrition Program to have rural non-congregate meals. This means that breakfast will be grab and go on Mondays and on Fridays starting May 28th (yes, we know it's a Tuesday. We just want to get 3 breakfasts out to families) through July 19th. Breakfasts will be available for pick up during lunch at the Middle School from 11:30am-12:30pm on Mondays and on Fridays. On Friday's, meals will also include lunch for Saturday and Sunday. Please understand, if you do not sign up for these meals in advance, we cannot guarantee them as there will be an abundant number of meals to be distributed. It will be first come first serve for those not signed up. Meals are for 1-18 year old children ONLY. Adults cannot purchase these meals. ***If your child attends Afterzone they will receive meals during AZ hours and cannot receive grab & go breakfasts. **** If you have any questions please call Brenna Richie at 308-784-2745. Complete registration form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxwYNVmz10tPsbOiKJ0M7mi6-013_AddVSM_9STiBYk_1SAQ/viewform

Cozad Summer AfterZone dates are Tuesday, May 28th - Friday, July 19th. Due to construction on the south side of the building (office, library, cafeteria), we will be having the students enter on the west side in the teacher parking lot via the new door by Mrs. Rush’s Kindergarten current room.

Huge shoutout to the Cozad Middle School 4x1 track team for breaking a school record and making history! Julien Davis, Miles German, Osiel Ramirez, and Charles Baker blazed through the track with lightning speed, clocking in a jaw-dropping 47.44 in the 4x100 relay, smashing a 38-year-old record! The 38 year old record of 48.2 was held by M. Montgomery, K. Swanson, Y. Werner, and W. Gibbens. Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment!

Middle School Parents & Students: CMS Students will check in their chromebooks for the summer tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14th. Students need BOTH their chromebook and charger for check in.

Congratulations to CMS student Audrey Baker for securing her place on the new Middle School Track and Field Record Board! Audrey powered through the 1600m race with an impressive time of 5:47, setting a new record. She overtakes Mallory Applegate’s previous record of 5:48, which stood since 2018. Keep an eye out for official stickers coming this summer to honor Audrey's remarkable achievement.

Let's extend our warmest wishes to Ms. Heidi Cover as she prepares for a retirement well-deserved! After an impressive 40-year career in education, including 6 years at District 13, 15 years at District 29, and 18 years with Cozad Community Schools, Ms. Cover is ready to embark on her next chapter. She'll miss the eager, cooperative learners and the lifelong friendships she's made with colleagues. In retirement, Ms. Cover plans to seize the moment, traveling with her Mom and visiting loved ones across the United States. She's also looking forward to tending to her house and yard, and indulging in whatever her heart desires! Congratulations, Ms. Cover, on an incredible career, and here's to many more adventures in retirement!

This week, we celebrate the incredible career of Mrs. Pam Laird as she embarks on a new journey into retirement! For 21 years, Mrs. Laird has been a cornerstone of our Cozad school community. Before joining us, she spent 3 years at New Hope Country School north of Gothenburg and dedicated many years to subbing in Gothenburg, Eustis, and Cozad while raising her children and pursuing her education. Mrs. Laird's fondest memories of school involve the daily hugs from her students and the cherished friendships with her colleagues, especially her 1st-grade team. She'll miss the stories, the laughter, and the time spent together! In retirement, Mrs. Laird plans to lend a hand on the farm alongside her husband and savor precious moments with her grandson Oliver and the new grandchild on the way this July. She also intends to stay connected to the classroom by doing some substitute teaching. Congratulations, Mrs. Laird, on a remarkable career, and best wishes for a joyful retirement filled with love and laughter!

Good luck to our CHS Boys Golf team competing at Districts today! Districts will be held at Southern Hills in Hastings, starting at 9:00 am. Let's show our support and cheer them on to victory! Go Haymakers!

Join us in honoring the outstanding career of Mrs. Stacy Hickenbottom as she embarks on a new chapter in retirement! With 36 years dedicated to Cozad and a total of 42 years in education, Mrs. Hickenbottom leaves behind a legacy of dedication and love for her students and colleagues. Mrs. Hickenbottom's favorite memories are filled with the laughter and learning shared with the kids and the camaraderie among her fellow educators. She says, "It's hard to know who I will miss more!" She feels blessed to have worked with some of the best and will always cherish her time at CMS with fond memories. In retirement, Mrs. Hickenbottom and her husband Mike plan to embark on adventures, traveling as much as possible, and cherishing every moment spent with family and friends. Congratulations, Mrs. Hickenbottom, on an extraordinary career, and may your retirement be filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable experiences!

Attention Parents and Guardians! As we prepare for the upcoming summer and school year, it is important that we have the most current contact information for your child on file. If your address or phone number has changed recently or will change over the summer, please take a moment to notify your child's school. Keeping your contact details up-to-date helps us ensure effective communication and support for your child's education. Thank you for your cooperation!

The 2024 Graduation Commencement will be streamed live on our Haymaker YouTube Channel. Please pass this along to family and friends who can't make it in person. The Haymaker YouTube Channel is: https://www.youtube.com/live/bQEiNnSWDrE?si=I3kkDtAJBT8mjxBn

Good luck to our 7th & 8th grade track teams as the boys and girls travel to Minden today. Good luck Haymakers!

Good luck to our CHS Varsity and JV Golfers today! JV golfers are at Bertrand and Varsity at Ogallala. Go Haymakers!

Don't miss the send-off event for our High School State Track athletes! Join us on Monday, May 13th at 2:30 PM in the HS Auditorium to wish them luck as they head to the state competition! Let's show our support and send them off with Haymaker pride!

Shoutout to our amazing Middle School Track qualifiers! 🥇Let's cheer on Collin McFall (Discus), Miles German (4x100), Julien Davis (800 & 4x100), Osiel Ramirez (4x100), Charlie Baker (4x100), Emersyn Propp (High Jump), and Audrey Baker (1600 & 800) as they take on the state competition in Gothenburg this Saturday! Go Haymakers! We are so proud of your accomplishments!