Welcome to Middle School

Cottage Grove Middle School’s Daily School Schedule

7:00 am: School office opens
7:30 am: First student arrival bell
7:45 am: Student 5-minute reminder bell
7:50 am: Student school day begins
2:26 pm: Student school day ends
3:30 pm: School office closes

The earliest students can arrive at school in the morning is 7:00 am if they are scheduled for an event/activity or have a pass to meet with a staff member. Students leaving school early for any reason must be signed out of the building by a parent/guardian in order to leave. We will not send students out of the building without a parent signing them out for safety/security reasons.

*Please Note: Unless a student is scheduled to meet with a staff member/attend a staff supervised activity/sporting event or club, students should leave the building at the 2:26 pm dismissal time. Student supervision is NOT provided after 2:45 pm and students should leave the building promptly at dismissal time.

CGMS Daily bell schedule

Student Attendance Policy

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. This policy also recognizes that class attendance is a joint responsibility to be shared by the student, parent or guardian and that the parent or guardian of a child is primarily responsible for assuring the child acquires the knowledge and skills necessary for effective citizenship. 

Teachers and staff are required to take student attendance each class period. If students do not report, they will be marked absent. If students report late, it will be marked as tardy. When students hit certain thresholds for being late to class/tardies, school staff follow up with students and notify families. School staff's goal is to partner with parents to help support your student.

sowashco student attendance policy

Cottage Grove Middle School Attendance Line is 651-425-6868. When calling, please state your student's first and last name, grade, and reason for the absence. Otherwise, parents are enter in student attendance through Campus Parent Portal at any time.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House is an opportunity for students and parents/guardians to take a self-guided tour to find their classes, practice opening their locker, and drop of school supplies in students lockers. Bring your student's class schedule with you and travel through their classes for this event! We begin promptly at 5:00pm so you can experience each class and meet each teacher.

Incoming 7th & 8th grade open house

• Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025
• 5:00-7:00 pm
• Only 7th and 8th grade teachers will be present for this Open House

Incoming 6th grade open house

• Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
• 5:00-7:00 pm
• Only 6th grader teachers will be present for this Open House

SoWashCo Schools welcomes incoming sixth-grade students and their families to our middle school transition program, “Camp 6”. Camp 6 will take place at each student's assigned middle school on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Lunch will be provided during the day. Students also have the option to bring their own lunch from home. 

Camp 6 Flyer

camp 6 Letter

Sixth-grade students will learn important information to be set up for success for the school year. This includes learning about their new class schedule, how to use school-issued technology and more. 

There is no registration required to attend Camp 6. Regular bus routes will be available for students with assigned bussing during the school year. Students in a non-busing zone must either walk or plan their own transportation to school.

More information will be sent out to sixth-grade students and families in early August.

Learn about:

• Schedules
• Meeting teachers
• Chromebooks
• School tours
• Schoology
• Planners
• Lockers
• Extracurricular activities
• Team building with 8th Grade WEB Leaders 

• Backpack, school provided planner, and any necessary school supplies
• School-issued Chromebook (fully-charged each day) & charger (no personal devices are allowed)
• Lunch money in student's School Cafe account, or a packed lunch from home (students must know their lunch pin number (see School Cafe/Meal Accounts information below)
• If a student rides the bus, they MUST have their Bus Rider ID card attached to their backpack. Using a Bus Rider ID is required to get on or off a bus. 
• Students must report to their Advisory class by 7:50 am for attendance.
  • If student is absent from school, or will be late for any reason, parents/guardians are required to call our Attendance Line at 651-425-6868 and state the reason for the absence.

• Cell phones and any other electronics (such as earbuds/AirPods/wireless headphones/ smartwatches) MUST remain in student lockers if they are brought to school. 

• Review the Cottage Grove Middle School Electronic Device Guidelines.

Each spring, SoWashCo Schools notifies families to Opt-In for bus transportation to and from school for the upcoming school year. If families need to change their status, please visit https://www.sowashco.org/services/transportation#TransportationOptIn to set up transportation or to change the bussing route for your student/family. 

School begins at 7:50 am. Students must report to their Advisory classroom by 7:50 am.

bus rider id cards

All K-12 general education bus riders will be given a “Bus Rider ID” identification card. Students will use their Bus Rider IDs to scan when they get on and off the bus each day. Special Education students will NOT be issued a Bus Rider ID or required to participate in the program.

Using a Bus Rider ID is required to get on or off a bus. However, students will NOT be denied access to ride the bus if they forget or have misplaced their Bus Rider ID (replacement IDs can be printed if they are lost). We ask every bus rider to do their best to remember their Bus Rider ID and to scan on and off the bus.

Eligible bus riders can obtain their Bus Rider IDs from their school at either the open-house event or during their first day of school. 

The goal of the new Bus Rider ID system is to increase the efficiency and safety of our bus routes. The data from the Bus Rider ID system will help track ridership trends and provide our transportation department with safety information such as who is scanned onto a bus.

learn more

bus routes

Families with students riding the bus can view their bus route information in Campus Parent Portal in late August and leading up to the first day of school to find out their bus stop time for their bus route. If you need to change the transportation selection(s) for the school year, please complete the Transportation Change Form. 

Families with students who require special education transportation should have received their child’s bus route information by direct phone call and email.

We want to ensure a safe and smooth ride for everyone. We ask all our bus riders and their families to please take a moment to review the updated bus rules to help us all stay safe. 

bus safety

For all other Transportation information (current delays/bus status, special education bus information, etc.) please visit the Transportation website.

transportation website

For all other transportation questions, please call 651-425-5303. 

SoWashCo Schools district calendar is available online at sowashco.org/calendar. Families have access to a digital version and a version that can be downloaded and printed at home.

For school-specific calendars please visit our CGMS Calendar page.

CGMS Calendar

A/B Day Calendar

Campus Parent Portal allows families to access and update important household contact information, and monitor and participate in their child's education. Families can access announcements, attendance, bus routes, schedules and more.

campus parent portal

WHAT IF I FORGOT MY USERNAME OR PASSWORD?

We want to remind our families that the “Forgot Password” and "Forget Username" links on the Infinite Campus login page do not work. You can reset your password or retrieve your username at any time using this link: https://changepassword.sowashco.org/pwm/private/login

(All guardians are automatically issued a Parent Portal account when they provide us with an email address. You do not need to request an account and you likely already have credentials assigned.)

Forgotten Username: Click on Forgotten Username. You will be asked to provide your email. If our system has a username associated with that email (if you have more than one email, try all of them), it will provide you with your username. Usernames are typically a guardian’s first name and last name with a period in the middle. 

Forgotten Password: Click on Forgotten Password. You will be asked to provide your username and a security code will be sent to your email. Once you receive that, follow the instructions to reset your password. Be sure to check your junk email if you do not see the code in your inbox.

When you have confirmation that your password has been reset, please log in HERE.

parent portal tutorials

At Cottage Grove Middle School we are committed to ensuring that we are intentional in our efforts to provide the best possible educational environment for our students and staff. This means not only providing a safe environment but also maintaining high academic expectations for each Cottage Grove Middle School student and staff member. Off-task behavior, inattentiveness, distraction, disengagement, insubordination, academic dishonesty, cyber-bullying, inciting and disruption to the learning environment has been directly tied to the presence and use of personal mobile phones in our classrooms. As a result, we require students to keep their cell phones/personal devices (including apple watches) and earbuds/air pods secured in their lockers during academic school day from 7:50 am-2:26 pm (to include lunch).

Use or visibility of personal devices during the academic school day hours of 7:50 am-2:26 pm are not permitted. If technology is needed in the classrooms for academic purposes it will be provided to our students. Personal cell phones/mobile communication devices that ring, vibrate, or in any other way disrupt the educational process of a class will be consequenced per the Cell Phone/Device Guidelines. If students need to call a parent, they can come to the front office to do so. STUDENTS DO NOT NEED A CELL PHONE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LEARNING AT SCHOOL.
 
• Students may use personal cell/personal devices (including apple watches) and/or earbuds/air pods onsite during before and after school hours. At all other times, personal devices should remain in lockers during the hours of 7:50 am-2:26 pm. Students may not use the checking of their devices between classes as an excuse for being tardy to classes.
 
• No student shall use a cell phone/personal device to violate any student code of conduct, including computer usage agreements, and/or bullying policies.
 
• Examples of unacceptable usage can include but are not limited to: use in restrooms, locker rooms, or hallways during instructional time, bypassing the nurse or attendance to leave school, cheating, cyber-bullying, taking pictures or videos, etc.
 
• For more serious infractions and in regard to inappropriate technology misuse, additional consequences including formal disciplinary action will be initiated and school administration will follow state laws and the SoWashCo Discipline Policies.
 
• Arguing with staff or refusing to follow reasonable instructions from a staff member will result in additional consequences.
 
• Students will be informed of this policy. If a student has his/her personal device taken away the following consequences will be imposed:

cgms dress code policy

We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment that respects and celebrates all cultures. In order to maintain a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for all students, we have established guidelines to help everyone dress for success.

Policy Specifics:

• Undergarments must be covered at all times

• Cover torso completely (Torso: the main part of the body that contains the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back)

• Footwear is required (No slippers)

Dress Code Guidelines:

• Shorts and Skirts: Choose shorts and skirts that fully cover your bottom when standing, sitting, or bending over.

• Tops: Choose shirts that cover the torso and are made of an opaque/non-sheer material. Tops that expose the midriff, back, or undergarments are not suitable for the school environment.

• Hoods: Should remain untied while on school grounds.

• Hats: Should be worn in a way that keeps earlobes visible at all times (excluding hijabs or other cultural clothing).

• Earbuds and Headphones: Earbuds, AirPods, and headphones should not be worn during the school day. Ears should remain unobstructed to allow for clear communication with staff and peers.

• There can be variability in temperature in the building. Dress in layers. Blankets are not allowed.

Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and inclusive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification on the dress code, feel free to reach out to your child's grade level Assistant Principal.

Every SoWashCo family is encouraged to submit an Educational Benefit application, formerly known as Free and Reduced Meals. Families must submit a new application every year. 

Although school meals are now free under state law, Educational Benefits offer so much more to families such as reduced or free field trip fees, athletic and activity fees, school fees, instrument rentals, Community Education classes and more. A completed application could also provide funding to your child’s school, even if you don’t qualify for the above benefits.

The Educational Benefits application can be completed in your School Café account. Forms in multiple languages are also available at sowashco.org/nutrition.

learn more about educational benefits

MEDICATIONS

Any medications, medical authorization forms, or necessary paperwork regarding immunizations to our school nurse.

If you have any questions for our health office, please contact the Cottage Grove Middle School Health Office at 651-425-6812.

IMMUNIZATIONS

The State of Minnesota requires all students enrolled in PreK-12 schools and/or programs to be protected from childhood diseases by receiving immunizations. Medical exemptions must be signed by a healthcare provider. Non-medical exemptions must be signed by a parent/guardian and notarized.

Immunization forms can be found at sowashco.org/health and can be emailed to immunizations@sowashco.org or turned in to your child’s school health office by Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

All students participating in middle school, high school and/or Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) sports are required to have a physical exam on file that was performed within the last three years. Physicals can be sent to your school's athletic director.

immunization forms

physical forms

The following apps are recommended for parents to download and have readily available, to help support and monitor their student. 

All SoWashCo Schools use Campus Portal to enter and monitor student attendance. 

Go to https://www.sowashco.org/services/technology#parentportal to learn more about setting up an account and logging in.  You will need your child’s STUDENT to set up your account.
 
Parent Portal accounts are created automatically upon a student’s enrollment for all parents/guardians that have provided an email address at South Washington County Schools. You can change your password, retrieve your username, or reset your password at any time at https://changepassword.sowashco.org/pwm/private/login.
 
If you need further help, please send an email to icsupport@sowashco.org with the following information along with an explanation of the issue. **Be sure to include an explanation of the issue, Parent/Guardian Name, Parent Email Address for School information, Parent Home Address, Student Name, Student School and Student Grade. 

If your student is not able to attend school, please let us know by calling our Cottage Grove Middle School attendance line at 651-425-6868 or fill out their absence on Campus Portal.

All secondary teachers use Schoology to post grades, assignments and coursework. Please follow the directions on how to set up your parent account. 

If you have questions, please email schoologyhelp@sowashco.org for other issues or questions with accounts. 

For more information, please visit the SoWashCo Schools website and scroll down to the Schoology section.

SoWashCo Schools uses SchoolCafe for student meal accounts. When setting up an account, you will be asked to select a school district. In this field please type South Washington at which time our district in Minnesota will pop up. You are also required to select a username and password along with basic contact information. You will need your student’s school ID number when registering for an account. Your student’s ID number can be found on Parent Portal.

Set up your child’s School Cafe account (if they plan to each school-served breakfast or lunch). You will need your student’s STUDENT ID and LUNCH PIN.
If you have questions, please contact Nutrition Services at 651-425-6280.

With a SchoolCafe account, you are able to set email low balance reminders, schedule automatic payments when a balance of your choosing is reached, review student purchases online, and apply for free and reduced meal benefits. Please note that free and reduced meal benefit applications must be completed through a web browser - more information about Educational Benefits Application here.

Course change requests are not granted for teacher, peer, or lunch preference. Requests due to a student changing their mind about which music course to take cannot be granted. Parents/guardians should complete this form with their student when the student is logged into their @apps.district833.org Google account.

CLICK HERE to request a schedule change.

SoWashCo Schools use SchoolCafé to:

• Make Payments for Meal Accounts
• Set up Auto Pay
• Set Purchase Restrictions
• Get Low Balance Alerts
• Submit Meal Applications
• View Purchases
• View Food Menus

Free School Meal Program 

The Free School Meals Program begins July 1, 2023. South Washington County Schools will participate in the state funded program, which provides free meals to all students. Free School Meals entitles each student to one free breakfast and one free lunch on all in-person academic days. All items outside of the complete meal are considered ala carte purchases. These purchases require funds available in the student’s lunch account. Qualifying families should continue to complete the Educational Benefits Application, which provides a variety of discounted or free benefits to students for field trips, athletics, instrument rentals, Kids club and more. 

If families would like to apply for free or reduced-priced meals, please complete the annual Educational Benefits Application. If you have any questions, please contact Nutrition Services at 651-425-6280.

To view school food menus, visit School Cafe and click on “View Menus”

School Cafe

how to set up account

Schoology is an online learning platform, or Learning Management System (LMS), used at all secondary schools in SoWashCo Schools. In Schoology, teachers post assignments, classroom resources, quizzes and a course calendar with due dates and deadlines. Students and parents should use Schoology to review assignments and grades and stay on top of academic progress.

schoology parent login instructions

more information here

South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) is no longer offering a Device Protection Plan for district-issued chromebook/instructional devices.
 
All students will receive a district-issued device and a hard-shell case. Students in grades 6-8 will also receive a screen protector that must be used.
 
Devices must remain in the district-issued cases and screen protectors at all times.
 
SoWashCo Schools will cover repair costs for any accidental damage to devices. Families may be held financially responsible for devices, chargers, cases or cables that are lost or intentionally-damaged.