Welcome Back Message from Superintendent Weltz | August 9, 2024
In this issue:
- District Administrative Changes
- District to Implement “MAST” student progress testing
- Introducing Helena Public Charter Schools
- Morning childcare available at SACC
- School lunch program offers, delicious, nutritious meals
- Back-to-School vaccination clinics
- Mark your calendar for HEF’s “Carnival Classic”
- Montana Cares App offers support, anonymous reporting portal
- Meet our 2024-25 student representatives to the Board of Trustees
- Bryant Elementary goes solar
- District earns Governor’s Safety Achievement Award
Dear Helena Public Schools Families,
I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the beauty of our Montana summer and create lasting memories with your loved ones.
As a community, we’ll remember this as the summer of the Horse Gulch wildfire. I want to thank the local individuals and businesses who fought on the front lines or donated money, food or housing to firefighters and those displaced by the blaze.
Our district was fortunate to play a small part in the response by hosting a Hot Shot firefighting crew from Arizona in the Jim Darcy Elementary gymnasium for a week. Working alongside the U.S. Forest Service, we were able to provide an air-conditioned, comfortable place for firefighters to rest and recharge between shifts on the fire lines.
Their work came full circle this week as our state formally recognized the bravery and sacrifices of firefighters past and present. Hundreds gathered at the state Capitol for a formal service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic Mann Gulch Fire.
I had the honor of attending as a family member of a survivor and as a former wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Forestry. Growing up in Noxon, Montana, I was steeped in the story of Wagner “Wag” Dodge – a distant relative and the legendary foreman of the Mann Gulch smokejumper crew.
As the blaze roared toward his crew on August 5, 1949, Dodge famously set a backfire in its path, saving his life. The strategy was unconventional at the time and, tragically, no one was willing to join him behind the safety of the new fire. Thirteen men perished as they tried to outrun the Mann Gulch blaze. However, Dodge’s strategy of setting a backfire would soon become a widely used tactic for wildland firefighting, saving many lives.
Listening to Dodge’s story, as told to me by my family as a boy, and from my own experiences on the fire lines, I’ve always been struck by the level of coordination, collaboration and collective grit it takes to tame a blaze. It’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to support a strong, united community – one that’s ready to work together and rise to the challenge when disaster or hardship strike.
In good times and bad, we are better together. This is a theme I want to carry forward as we embark on what is always a positive and exciting time: the beginning of a new school year. We will seize opportunities and meet challenges together – as educators, as parents, as students, and as a community.
From the facilities our district maintains and provides for public use, to the meals we serve Helena’s children, to the child care we provide for local families before and after school, we are proud of and grateful for the many ways our district and its personnel serve this community.
Most of all, we’re proud of the students we educate and graduate – citizens who are prepared to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges of the future, whether they fight wildfires, operate a business, build houses, or grow food. This is our mission, and we’ve been hard at work over the past three months to make 2024-25 another outstanding school year.
Below, you’ll find district news updates as well as details on school lunch, child care, vaccination clinics and information on other ways we’re working to make this a successful year for your student.
We’re excited to welcome you back!
The first day of school for KinderSprouts, grades 1-5, Grade 6, Grade 9 and PAL is Wednesday, August 28. The first day of school for grades 7-8 and 10-12 is Thursday, August 29 and the first day of kindergarten is Tuesday, September 3.
In the meantime, enjoy these last few precious weeks of summer.
Respectfully,
Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools
Fall 2024 District Updates
Familiar faces in new places: Fall 2024 administrative changes
Familiar faces are taking the helm at new places in the district this fall. Please join me in welcoming the school leaders featured below to their new roles. Each of these individuals are proven leaders and, above all, they share a steadfast commitment to the well-being and success of their students.
Click here to see administrative changes for Fall 2024.
District to Implement “MAST” student progress testing
Helena Public Schools is implementing an innovative new approach to measuring student progress. MAST, which stands for “Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year,” replaces the state’s traditional year-end testing with a series of smaller, focused assessments, or “testlets.”
The testlets will be spread throughout the year, which allows us to better measure student progress while there’s time to make adjustments to keep students on track toward their grade-level learning goals. Montana is among just five states in the nation to implement this powerful new assessment tool.
We’re excited to share these progress reports with parents as we move through the school year!
Introducing Helena Public Charter Schools
The district is celebrating the launch this fall of three public charter schools. Each offers distinct educational delivery models that offer new and expanded learning opportunities for families:
Mount Ascension Learning Academy: A choice of virtual learning courses or a blend of virtual and in-person classes for grades 6 through 12.
Montessori Charter School: For grades K-5. Students are given the freedom to explore and learn at their own pace in a prepared environment. The Montessori model encourages independence and hands-on learning.
PAL (Project for Alternative Learning) Charter School: Offering a smaller-scale high school environment for students grades 10-12, with an emphasis on experience-based learning and hands-on activities.
The district was able to convert its long-standing Montessori and PAL programs to charter schools and add the new Mount Ascension Learning Academy, through funding provided by the 2023 State Legislature. The charter school legislation brings additional revenue to the district and allows us to retain successful programs while offering flexible learning options to more families. This includes the addition of a kindergarten Montessori class this fall and a freshman PAL class to begin in fall 2025.
If your family is interested in pre-registering for the Mount Ascension Charter School for Fall 2024, please click here for more information. All slots are now filled for fall 2024 for the Montessori and PAL charter schools. Watch for information from your principal on registering for Fall 2025.
Morning child care available at SACC
In need of before-school child care this fall? Our SACC program (School-Age Child Care) can help. The district currently has slots available at Broadwater, Central, Jefferson, Jim Darcy and Rossiter Schools.
Now in its 32nd year, SACC is one of the largest licensed school-aged child care programs in Montana. SACC provides safe, nurturing care and enrichment activities for students district-wide, with locations at 10 of our 11 elementary schools.
For information on SACC, please click here or contact Kirstan Roush at 406-324-1260 or kroush@helenaschools.org.
School lunch program offers delicious, nutritious meals
The Helena Public Schools meal program is a convenient and economical way to make sure your student gets the balanced nutrition they need to learn and thrive.
If your family plans to participate in school lunch this fall, be sure to visit our Food Services web page where you can add funds to your student’s account and check the daily menu. If your family is in need of assistance with meals this fall, please click here to sign up for the Free & Reduced Lunch Program. In addition to helping your family, your participation helps your school provided additional support services to families in need such as academic supplies and assistance with sports participation fees and the cost of other after-school activities.
Your application is confidential and will not be seen by your school principal or other school staff.
Back-to-School Vaccination Clinics start Monday
Please take advantage of these opportunities to have your student’s back-to-school vaccinations administered by Lewis & Clark Public Health (LCPH). These clinics are available to all Helena and East Helena families.
Please bring your insurance card, as insurance will be billed. For families who are uninsured or under-insured, vaccines will be provided free-of-charge for children under 18.
August 9, 2024
PureView Back-to-School Bash
JFK Park in East Helena
11 am – 4 pm
For more information: https://www.pureviewhealthcenter.org/coming-soon-back-to-school-bash
August 21, 2024
Family Promise Back-to-School Resource Fair
First Christian Church at 311 Power Street
10 am – 3 pm
For more information: https://www.familypromisehelena.org/
September 8, 2024
Helena Education Foundation Carnival Classic
Memorial Park
11 am – 3 pm
For more information: https://hefmt.org/events/carnival-classic/
If you are new to Montana or you do not know if your student’s immunizations are uploaded to the State of Montana Immunization web site (imMTrax), please bring a print copy of your child’s immunization records to your school.
Religious and Medical Exemption forms can be found by clicking on the following links:
Religious Exemption HES113 (Can be completed by a parent.)
Medical Exemption HES101A (Must be completed by a health care provider.)
These forms can also be obtained at your student’s school.
Get ready for Carnival Classic!
It’s not back-to-school season without Carnival Classic! Join us for this city-wide celebration of public education, hosted by the Helena Education Foundation and sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Marsh McLennan Agency, The Base Camp, and Pepsi.
Enjoy a day packed with family fun—from face-painting and corn hole to a dunk booth and live performances. Plus, every dollar raised goes directly to support student organizations, parent-teacher groups, and sports and academic teams!
Save the Date: Carnival Classic, Sunday, September 8, 11 AM – 3 PM at Memorial Park.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic day in the park for a great cause!
Montana Cares App offers support around the clock, 365 days a year
The “Montana Cares” app provides a way for students, staff and family members to quickly and anonymously report school safety or mental health concerns.
When a student uses the app to report a concern, their message goes to STOPit Solutions, a New Jersey-based company that provides its anonymous reporting system to schools, workplaces and communities nationwide. STOPit Solutions operates a clearinghouse that is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year by specialists who are trained to monitor and assess incoming messages and respond via the company’s incident management process. This may involve anything from alerting an assigned district official to a student who needs prompt, but non-emergent support, to notifying 911 (if appropriate).
Used by districts across the nation, the portal is designed to protect privacy while enabling prompt reporting.
In addition, the Montana Cares app offers a wide array of support resources – everything from mental health support to community resources for clothing and housing assistance.
The district was able to implement the “Montana Cares” app thanks to a coalition of the Montana Professional Learning Collaborative and the Montana Small Schools Alliance, who secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. This gave Helena Public Schools the opportunity to use the app free-of-charge through the end of 2025, at which point the district will assess whether to seek funding to continue it.
Meet our 2024-25 Student Representatives
Helena Public Schools is honored to introduce our 2024-25 Student Representatives to the Board of Trustees. Serving as a student representative is an exciting opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, get hands-on governance experience and advocate for their peers.
Meet Adella Harris of Helena High and Charlie Snellman of Capital High:
Charlie Snellman
CHS Student Board Rep for 2024-2025
Charlie is currently a Junior at Capital High School. As a student board rep, it is his goal to make sure student and family voices are heard. He wants to make a positive difference for all Helena students. Charlie is the president of HOSA: Future Health Professionals and oversees every CHS blood drive. He is the principal cellist of the CHS Advanced Orchestra and president of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the CHS Science Club and the Student Council. Charlie is very active in 4-H and serves as an ambassador for Lewis and Clark County as well as being involved in other 4-H leadership roles. He is a gymnastics coach at the Helena Athletic Club and recently established his own music studio where he teaches cello to nine students ranging in age from 7-50 years old. Charlie hopes to ensure support for the arts and more support for mental health so students can realize their full potential.
Adella Harris
HHS Student Board Rep for 2024-2025
Adella is currently a junior at Helena High School. She hopes to be a voice for students. She has been a student council member for six years in both middle school and high school. During her time in student council, she served as an officer for two years and a representative for four. She is an active member of Business Professionals of America (BPA), the National Honor Society and LINK Crew. Adella is a varsity athlete in golf and track and field. She is active in Students for Life and was vice president in 2022. Adella also works as a dining room server at Touchmark. One of Adella’s goals is to establish a Big Brothers, Big Sisters program at HHS. To foster community connections and school spirit, she would like to organize more social events for students such as barbecues and game nights.
Bryant Elementary goes solar!
A brand new 62.08kW solar photovoltaic system is now installed on our gymnasium roof at Bryant Elementary. This exciting project was made possible through an Energy E+ Grant from NorthWestern Energy with additional funding from the annual Helena Sun Run, sponsored by the Helena Vigilante Runners.
Bryant’s new solar array is now among three in the district, with the others located at Jim Darcy and Central elementary schools. The three panels combined are expected to generate nearly $400,000 in energy cost savings over a 30-year period. Digital monitors allow students to track the level of energy production through the seasons and study the science behind renewable energy.
A huge thanks goes to Madalyn Quinlan, who wrote and secured the Northwestern Energy grants that helped cover the costs for the solar arrays and to District Facilities Director Todd Verrill and Facilities Manager Rob Brewer, who saw the project to completion!
Helena Public Schools wins 2024 Governor’s Safety Achievement Award!
Helena Public Schools has been honored with the 2024 Public Sector Governor’s Safety Achievement Award! This award recognizes workplaces that demonstrate outstanding safety practices. Our district was specifically praised for its robust safety reporting system and the active involvement of staff in districtwide safety committees.
Special congratulations to District Safety & Operations Manager Neal Murray and to each of our dedicated educators and staff members. We all play a vital role in keeping our schools safe!