Hard to believe the summer is behind us!  I hope everyone had a moment to enjoy the limited sun.  
We are excited to kick off our 2019-2020 school year.  Students participated in our welcome back assembly,  7-12 students enjoyed playing the telephone game and  K-6 played a little simon-says.  We reviewed expectations and talked about our school being a community. 
Looking forward we will continue to strive toward excellence.  Staff is hard at work assessing students to ensure that we served each child to the best of our ability.  In-effort to ensure student excellence please encourage your child to  be here on time and every day .  Of course, if they have had a fever or vomiting  please keep them home for 24 hours post either.  Another great way to support student learning is to read with your child.  
Along with a a number of new students we have a few new staff.  If  you see them, please welcome them to the community: Andrew Heck (5th grade), Kelly Seitz (art), Nic Coughlin (AD and history). 
A special thanks to our Legion for providing backpacks to the first grade class. 

We have entered the last quarter of the 2018-2019 school year.  During this time of year everything feels in overdrive; students and staff are exceptionally busy. 
Seniors have counted and their days are winding down. A few of the upcoming dates, include: Close Up students will leave April 28th and enjoy their travels for a week.  FFA will head to state next week, April 3rd.  Kindergarten round-up is April 10th.  K-6 award and track day is May 15th.  
With a full calendar, good attendance is key in staying caught up.  
Students will also be ACT and Smarter Balanced testing.  We encourage students to be well rested and hydrated prior to taking these tests.  We utilize this data to provide individual support for students; therefore, students doing their best allows us to best provide supports and opportunities.  
After reviewing surveys, meeting as a curriculum committee, and following support from the board we will continue with Summit in grades sixth and seventh for the 2019-2020 school year.  We will also expand into the eighth grade.  If you have missed previous information on Summit, it is at a basic level:  an online platform that focuses on cognitive skill assessments, project based learning, and goal setting through mentoring.  Summit provides a curriculum for core subjects.  Teachers, as always, supplement and adapt were they see student need.  Concerns have been that students will have an increase in screen time, while in a specific class this may be true across all subjects we have not seen an increase in screen time.
K-6 parents you may hear your students talking about "Hornet Bucks" this is part of our MTSS initiative.  Students and classes have the opportunity to earn hornet bucks when they are observed following matrix expectations.  Along with hornet bucks as part of our MTSS initiative we recently held our "slump day".  Our 7-12 students joined elementary students for an hour, role modeling positive behaviors.  Then 7-12 students either went on to a study hall or a speed ball game.  Staff and students had a friendly competition in speed ball to celebrate 3rd quarter success academically and behaviorally.
More later....  

We can hope right?  Thank you to everyone for their patience as we make decisions for buses and start times as the weather blows in and out.  Hal Haugen and Mr. Markuson have been hard at work keeping the snow plowed.  Please be sure to be sending your child with outdoor gear every day.  They love getting the fresh air.

Our students, 5-8, competed in the annual spelling bee.  Kendra Manger took first  and Brooke Thorp followed her, taking second.  Our students did a great job as it is nerve wracking to stand in front of a crowd and spell words on the spot!  Also this past month students had the opportunity to visit UM on a college visit. 

On March 13th we will be working with Sealants for Smiles to provide students K-6 a quick dental screening.  This service is free to the school district as well as parents.  

A few other dates to keep in mind: quarter 4 begins the 18th of March and the JH/HS Acadmeic Olympics are the 19th and 20th of March in Bozeman.

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I hope everyone had an awesome winter break.  Semester One proved to be busy and provided many opportunities to celebrate student success.  We had 103 students, 4-12, earn honor roll for quarter 2.  With the end of seniors 7th quarter, we have the honor to recognize and name our valedictorian-Alannah Phillips and salutatorian-William Hanson.

We are into quarter three and have many great things occurring.  A few classes just completed Winter MAP testing.  I am pleased with the results, 75% of 7th grade students saw an increase in at least one of  their individual sub-tests.  In 6th grade, 92% of student saw an increase in at least one of  their sub-tests. 100% of second grade and third grade students saw an increase in at least on sub-tests.  No other whole classes were tested.  

Next week we have a school-assembly for grades 4-6 followed by 7-12.  The assembly "Life That Counts" will present on individual character with a focus on helping students make positive choices. Next week is busy as we are also hosting a tour for Leadership Montana.  Leadership Montana will then host a luncheon for the staff. 

Looking forward, elementary staff has been meeting one day a week in the morning, they are making a positive effort to continue with next steps of our MBI implementation and standard alignment across K-6.

Have a great week!
Jacque Boyd

We have had a busy end to 2018.  Students, K-6, had the opportunity to explore the magic of science while observing labs in the high school science class.  Our K-4 students headed to Great Falls to watch the symphony.  Many students had the chance to discover the beauty of astronomy via the Museum of the Rockies STARLAB brought in by Ms. Hurley.   More recently, we were treated to concerts K-12.  During our last school day of 2018, our students and staff will be spending time together.  In spending time together, our older students will serve as role-models for our younger students while engaging in fun holiday activities. Last but not least, we would like to thank the community and Chamber of Commerce for the donations made to the elementary.   

Looking forward, we will start the new year with the same vigor that we closed the year.  On January 2nd we will have an early release.  Staff will use this time to work with local law enforcement to review and practice our "intruder drill".  

The semester ends on January 11th.  For 7-12, the semester testing schedule is out.  Semester tests run Jan. 9-11th.  As the semester comes to a close, I encourage students to continue to be attentive to reducing tardies and increasing daily attendance.   Students, K-12, will be given formal assessments over the next few weeks, to allow us to assess educational strategies and placement to ensure we are serving our students to the best of our ability.  

I hope everyone has wonderful break!