(Lander, WY) – The Gannett Peak Elementary Cougars finished out the 2025 school year with a roar last week, with a fun-filled open house that included a heartfelt library dedication, a performance of the new school song, and chances to see the displays from student projects that were weeks in the making.
Retiring Principal Leslie Voxland got quite the surprise during all of the fun, when she found out that the school was renaming the library in her honor.
“…One thing we can say about her is that she knows every kid by name,” Assistant Principal Megan Park said of Voxland before she announced the surprise. “And not only that, she knows a little something about each and every one of them. She’s definitely going to be missed in our community.”
“Mrs. Voxland asked that we not make a big to-do of things; still struggling with this…” Park joked before presenting Voxland with a piece of student artwork that she can “take to her new home in Montana with her.” Park also shouted out art teachers Mrs. Pruitt, Mrs. Elias, and Mrs. Widhalm for their help with the artwork.
“Any student at our school can tell you how much Mrs. Voxland loves books,” Park continued. “Whether she’s previewing them on the morning announcements or popping into classrooms to share a read-aloud, her love of reading will leave a lasting impression on our school. She even was a librarian, little-known fact. Recently, the school board gave us permission to give our library a new name to honor Mrs. Voxland.”
Park then announced that the library will now be known as the Leslie Voxland Learning Library, and explained that the official plaque will hang at the entrance of the library.
Prior to Voxland finding out about the honor, students, staff, and parents gathered for a performance of the new school song, “Cougar Pride.”
Park explained that the song was a collaborative project, with school psychologist Laura Lane doing the initial rewrite, and Kindergarten teacher Kaylyn Ramsey and music teacher Dr. Brooks Whitmore making some edits.
Whitmore was joined by music teacher Tom Wilson and paraprofessional Seth Finley for the performance, along with some very excited kiddos.
“The music teachers taught it to the students as a side project in music class, starting in April,” Park explained. “We also have a recording that we’ve been playing on Friday morning announcements.”
The song was debuted earlier that day at the assembly held in conjunction with the culmination of the “Great Outdoors” student projects, which Park explained was spearheaded by Voxland.
“Over the final three weeks of the school year, each grade level has engaged in creative, project-based and hands-on learning activities centered around a theme of ‘The Great Outdoors,'” Park shared. “Additionally, classes have been grouped into “Cougar Dens,” which are groups of mixed grade level classrooms, and have taken several field trips to experience the great outdoors around the Lander area. …Our hallways have been transformed, bringing the outdoors inside, and the students’ work is on full display!”
Parents had the opportunity to see all of the students’ work at the open house before the library dedication and the “Cougar Pride” performance.
h/t Vince Tropea, County 10