Dear Families, Staff, and the Helena Community,

Well, we sure got a taste of winter this morning! I’d like to give a shout-out and big thanks to the Helena Schools Transportation #1 team. They were on top of things- keeping us updated on bus delays and providing reminders to be extra cautious, which made a big difference in keeping everyone safe and warm this morning.

You might think we’d be slowing down with Winter Break right around the corner, but things are buzzing behind the scenes at the district office. To name a few, we’re moving forward with a much-needed upgrade to our digital home. Last week we released an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a full website redesign and data transfer project. This project will include the district website, as well as each schools’. You can find the RFP on the district’s Business & Finance webpage.

We’re also excited to launch a new podcast called “From the Ground Up with Superintendent Weltz.” Think of it as another way you can stay updated while on the go. We have to give props to Helena High School Principal Brian Kessler for setting the stage when he brought podcasting into his updates — it’s a great way to elevate our communication.

We are down to the final week before Winter Break, and the schools are full of cheer and (somewhat chaotic) energy! We’re looking forward to the fun activities and theme weeks that are going on all around the district. Make sure to check with your school’s website, socials, or newsletters to get in the know about next week.

Don’t forget to check out our Community Corner page if you’re looking to help out or if your family needs some assistance during break. Many of our schools also have initiatives happening, so check with your local school as well.

Let’s stay focused and finish strong this next week. Pushing through now means you can truly relax and come back refreshed and ready to start the second half of the year strong!

Sincerely,

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BONDS PROJECTS UPDATES

RECAP:

Bonds: The $31.5 million Helena ESD and $130.0 million Helena HSD that were advertised in the Independent Record and on our website, sold within 30 minutes of their offering (in $5,000 increments) through D.A. Davidson on November 20, 2025.

UP NEXT:

HHS + Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) Project: Week 8 (12/14-12/20)

• Schematic Design Week 3
• HHS Building Systems Meeting and Building Committee Meeting
• PAL Building Committee and Ed Spec Deliverable Review Meeting
• Campus Master Planning Committee Meeting
• HHS Staff Update
• CHS and HHS Design Teams Case Study Site Visit to Great Falls High for Career & Technical Education (CTE) – Monday, December 15, 2025
• Community Engagement: Rotary Presentation and Brews & Blueprints Events – Wednesday, December 17, 2025

CHS Project: Week 6 (12/14-12/20)

• Nearing Completion of Capital High School Existing Architectural Background Floor Plans and Elevations
• CHS and HHS Design Teams Case Study Site Visit to Great Falls High for Career & Technical Education (CTE) – Monday, December 15, 2025
• Department Head Meeting – Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025
• DAG #2 Meeting – Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 3:30 pm. Includes Gallery Walk (Interior Spaces)
• Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing engineers to begin background drawings and prep for site visits during winter break.
• Community Engagement: Rotary Presentation and Brews & Blueprints Events – Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Kessler Project: Week 4 (12/14-12/20)

• Kessler Building Committee Meeting – Design Principles Engagement
• Bryant Elementary teacher feedback – Mosaic staff on-site for 1/2 day for teacher meetings
• Teacher Engagement @ Kessler – Mosaic staff on-site for 1/2 day for teacher meetings
• Community Engagement: Rotary Presentation and Brews & Blueprints Events – Wednesday, December 17, 2025

 

The hats and gloves program on the HPS buses is still accepting donations. You can make donations at the entrance of the Lincoln Center or at the First Student bus barn at 3020 Big Sky Loop. If your student needs hats and/or gloves, please speak with their bus driver.
 
Please be mindful of icy road conditions, students walking to stops, have students dressed for the weather and do not leave students unattended at their bus stops if conditions deteriorate.

 

VIEW WEBPAGE

 

AND IF YOU ARE STILL READING THIS – Make sure to read till the end to take advantage of getting discounted tickets to this weekend’s Griz game!

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DID YOU KNOW?

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KinderSprouts – Helena Public Schools’ FREE preschool program for QUALIFYING STUDENTS. To qualify your child must:

• Be 4 years old by September 10, 2026.
• Take a skills screening assessment to determine if your child would benefit from early literacy or numeracy intervention. Screenings will begin in February 2026 – schedule a screening at https://shorturl.at/ioxwF.

 

For more information, go to our WEBPAGE. You can also find frequently asked questions HERE.

 

 

 

Kindergarten – Your child is eligible to start kindergarten in Fall 2026 if they will be five years old on or before September 10, 2026.

• All Kindergarten registration for Fall 2026 opens Jan. 7, 2026 at Noon!
• Kindergarten registration for siblings of a current student is now open.

For more information go to our WEBPAGE. It includes registration instructions and other need-to-knows.

 

 

Montessori – If you have a student you plan to register for Kindergarten for Fall 2026, and are interested in being in the Montessori program, mark your calendar for April 24, 2026 as the application deadline date.

 

For more information go to our WEBPAGE. It includes application instructions, dates to remember, and other need-to-knows.

 

 

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In 2021, the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 279, allowing Montana taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state income taxes – up to $200,000 per year for donations to Montana public school districts. Married taxpayers filing jointly may take a tax credit of up to $400,000.

Due to the popularity of the program, the level of tax credits available has been raised each year since. A total of $7.2 million is available for the 2026 tax year.

YOUR donation can help Helena Public Schools expand our innovative educational programs that benefit our students- just like C.R. Anderson’s program expansion of Growing Beyond Earth in Megan Lane’s biology classroom.

Interested in Donating? Fill out the donation form and bring the completed form and your donation to the Helena Public Schools Business Office at 1325 Poplar Street.
HPS will enter the information with the amount donated, into the DOR Education Donations portal. The DOR will pre-approve the donation (so long as the individual and statewide thresholds noted above have not been exceeded) and you will receive a confirmation number along with a receipt that you will file with your 2026 taxes.Your donation will be returned if it is not approved by the DOR.

DOWNLOAD THE FORM AND DONATE TODAY!

 

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There will be a total of 12 lucky winners chosen from grades 3rd -5th grades here in Helena. These finalists will compete in our in-person contest at the Capital High Base Kitchen on March 7th – 8am-12:30pm. All contestants will receive a personal chef coat and hat just for making it to the competition. The grand prize winner will win a 3’ fire trophy and have their recipe submitted for the regional and nation level competition. There are also a variety of other prizes available in each of the other categories the student chefs can win.

Please fill out the recipe card (found below) and turn into your school’s office or with the kitchen staff. A student can submit as many recipes as they want, but only one can be chosen. The recipes must be submitted by February 6th. All winners will be chosen by February 20th. All parents/guardians will be called after the 12 contestants have been chosen, and they will need to verify that their chef will be able to physically compete in a real-life cooking competition on the day of the event.

 

BLANK RECIPE CARD

 

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Join SACC for winter fun and activities for current Helena Public Schools’ students in K-5!

• December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31, and January 2.
• 7:30-5:30, $56 per child/per day.
• For more information and to register visit our webpage!

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MAKE A NOTE:

• Grant writing workshop on January 7th, at 3:45pm – Lincoln Center
• Pen and Ink Submissions due on January 16th (see below)
• Great Ideas & Spark Grants due January 27th

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WHAT’S COMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?
December 13 – December 27, 2025

Saturday, December 13: CHS GCCM RFQ/RFP Notice #1 Sunday, December 14: Monday, December 15: Rossiter Open Forum with the Principal, 9:00 a.m. – Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Tuesday, December 16: HHS GCCM Interviews 4Gs Winter Performance (K-2), 1:30 p.m. Warren Reindeer Express – Warren Rossiter Parent Council Food Fundraiser – Chipotle Middle School Choir Concerts: 6th/6 p.m.; 7th/7 p.m.; 8th/8 p.m. – HMS Auditorium Wednesday, December 17: Smith Winter Performance, 9:30 a.m. – HMS Auditorium 4Gs Winter Performance (3-5), 1:30 p.m. Brews and Blueprints, 5:30 p.m. – Brothers Tapworks Thursday, December 18: Warren Winter Performance, 12:30 p.m. – HMS Auditorium Bryant Winter Performance. 2:00 p.m. – Bryant Gym Steering Committee-HPS Pay Plan Rules Meeting, 3:30 p.m. – LC CRA 6th and 7th Grade Band Concert, 6th at 4:00 p.m. and 7th at 7:00 p.m. – CRA Upper Gym Friday, December 19: Santa Visits Broadwater – Broadwater Rossiter Winter Performance, 9:15 a.m. (last names M-Z) and 1:30 p.m. (last names A-N) Jim Darcy Winter Performance, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Jim Darcy Gym HHS Holiday Assembly – HHS Gym BOT Special Board Meeting, 12:00 p.m. – LC (Confirm HHS GCCM) Saturday, December 20: CHS GCCM RFQ/RFP Notice #2

Sunday, December 21: Monday, December 22: NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK Tuesday, December 23: NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK Wednesday, December 24: NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK District Office Closed Thursday, December 25: NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK District Office Closed Friday, December 26: NO SCHOOL – WINTER BREAK Saturday, December 27: CHS GCCM RFQ/RFP Notice #2

If we missed something, please let us know – helenamtschools@helenaschools.org. As a good rule of thumb, always check with your school on what they have going on. You can also find upcoming event information and more in this year’s calendar online at https://helenaschools.org/25-26-calendar-flipbook/.

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$15 Griz Football Playoff Tickets – For All Staff & Students

Griz Football invites HPS staff, students, and families to Saturday’s playoff football game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium (Saturday at 1:30 p.m.).

The invitation includes heavily discounted tickets to Saturday’s game. By using the promo code below, you can snag $15 tickets – including all fees. This is a great opportunity to experience a college football game at an affordable price, and is open to the entire HPS community.

www.GoGriz.com/PromoCode

Code: MCPSFCS

The Griz Football team has had an historic season on the field and is now just two wins away from the national championship game. Similarly, we have had an historic season in the stands, filling the stadium to numbers never before reached. In addition to it being a playoff quarterfinal game, the game will be broadcast to millions of homes across the country on ABC. Never before has ABC visited Washington-Grizzly Stadium. You’re invited to join the excitement!