Friday Update from Superintendent Weltz | May 9, 2025
In today’s newsletter:
- Thank you, voters and candidates!
- Teacher Appreciation Week: Kids say it best
- Free Summer Meal Program schedule & locations
Dear Families and Staff,
It’s been a big week for the district.
In addition to Election Day, our schools celebrated our incredible staff as we observed National Teacher Appreciation Week and National School Nurse Appreciation Day.
Because kids usually say it best, we visited schools to ask students what they love most about their teachers. The responses of these five articulate young people remind us that schools are about people – the teachers in our classrooms and all who support them to help the miracle of learning happen every day.
We also had dozens of high school students visit us here at Lincoln Center this week for online AP college assessment testing. We’ve enjoyed having their energy in the building and wish the best of luck to all who are sitting for the exam this week and next!
I also want to thank our parents, employees and community members – and maybe even a few ’25 grads – who cast ballots in this week’s election.
As I shared on election night, I am grateful for the passage of our Elementary General Fund Levy. We appreciate the trust our community has placed in us, especially in these uncertain financial times, and I do not take that trust lightly.
I also want to thank each of the six candidates who ran for the three open seats on the Board of Trustees. Serving on a volunteer school board is a big commitment and selfless one, requiring long hours and a willingness to address difficult and controversial issues. We are grateful to each of the candidates who stepped forward to run for the Board.
I look forward to continuing to work with re-elected Trustees Siobhan Hathhorn and Kay Satre and with new Trustee Jenny Murnane Butcher. Congratulations, and thank you for your ongoing commitment to Helena’s students.
While our tech levies failed on Tuesday – by a painfully close margin in the high school district – I want to make one thing clear to the students and staff who depend on our aging technology every day: We will not give up.
The technology levy was about much more than replacing student Chromebooks as they age out. While Chromebooks are how students access their textbooks online, making them vital to learning, the levies would also have met much broader needs.
With their failure, the district will continue to struggle to support the basic and wide-ranging technology that supports so much of what our students and staff do – things like checking out a library book, getting a school lunch, or ensuring that security cameras and emergency communication systems are functioning to keep students and staff safe. The district simply does not have the financial resources we need to support the technology required to learn, work and operate school buildings in today’s world.
I will continue to seek funding solutions to provide students and their teachers with these vital needs.
While we’ve seen some ups and downs this week, there is always much to celebrate, which brings us to this special weekend.
To the moms who teach in our classrooms, the moms who work in the district to support our educators, and the moms who send their students to school each morning ready to learn – Happy Mother’s Day.
Enjoy this beautiful weekend!
Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools
Student & Educator Recognitions
Michael Leyva, Horatio Alger Scholarship Recipient, and HHS Career Counselor Alexis Navarrete
HHS student earns prestigious Horatio Alger Association Scholarship
Helena High School Junior Michael Leyva has been selected as a Horatio Alger National Scholar — one of the most prestigious scholarships in the nation!
Out of more than 25,000 applicants nationwide, only 107 students were selected and Michael is proudly among them.
This scholarship recognizes students who have overcome adversity and demonstrated outstanding commitment to education, integrity and perseverance. Michael’s dedication and resilience truly set him apart, and we are incredibly proud of this remarkable accomplishment. As a Horatio Alger Scholarship recipient, Michael will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and access to a range of college success programs.
Congratulations, Michael!
Celebrating our school nurses
This week we celebrated National School Nurse Day! Did you know that our school nurses help students manage more than 35 health conditions, from asthma to epilepsy to diabetes? We appreciate all our nurses do to help students stay safe, healthy and focused on learning!
Honoring our retirees
Helena Public Schools will honor our 2025 retirees this month at a special retirement celebration event. These folks have dedicated their careers to educating and supporting the young people of our community. When you see them around Helena, please congratulate them for their service.
Bengals, Bruins bring home awards in music, healthcare and business
Both Bengals and Bruins are making Helena proud as they return home with awards from a variety of competitions both regionally and nationally. Remember to give these students a hearty congratulations when you see them around town!
HOSA Awards:
Congratulations to the following Capital High students who earned medals in their events at the HOSA Future Health Professionals Spring Leadership Conference held in Billings:
- Chloe Zimmerman (senior) – 3rd in Clinical Specialty and 1st in Research Poster
- Lyric Lanes (senior) – 3rd in both Epidemiology and World Health Disparities in Healthcare, 2nd in Occupational Health and Safety, and 1st in Medical Law & Ethics
- Charlie Snellman (senior) – 2nd in Researched Persuasive Speaking and Writing
DECA Awards:
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at the ICDC conference in Orlando.
- Madison Clement received recognition for having a top role-play presentation.
The following students were awarded the DECA Competition Award of Excellence:
- Madison Clement – Principles of Business Management & Administration
- Katie Kananen – Professional Selling
- Hailey Sorenson – School-Based Enterprise – Food Operations
- Alex Springfield – School-Based Enterprise – Food Operations
State Music Festival Awards:
The 2025 Western State Solo and Ensemble Festival was held on May 2-3 in Great Falls. Helena students performed well, giving outstanding performances and earning high marks. For a complete list of awards, click this link.
Elementary students pounce into the wild side of learning with the Adopt-A-Species project!
View the winning art! Through a partnership with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana WILD, Montana Discovery Foundation, and the Foundation for Animals, each school “adopts” a Montana species to explore its habitat, adaptations, and role in the ecosystem.
The project wraps up with a creative twist: students express what they’ve learned through artwork, and this year’s winning pieces are now proudly displayed at locations across the area!
Huge shoutout to our young artists and future wildlife stewards!
Jefferson Elementary’s Earth Day Book Exchange
Thank you to all our Jefferson families who participated in this year’s Earth Day Book Exchange. A special thank you to the parents that helped set up and clean up. To celebrate the reusing of paper resources, over 2000 books changed hands!
District News & Events
Registration is now open for 2025 Summer School
Click here for details and registration!
Dive into Summer Fun with SACC!
Get ready for a summer packed with creativity, play and learning at the Summer SACC Program! Open to Helena Public Schools students entering grades 1–6, this full-day program offers exciting weekly themes and enriching activities in a safe, supportive environment.
Location: Central School
Dates: June 16 – August 15
Hours: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Closed: July 3 & 4
The registration lottery opens April 30 and spots fill up fast!
Visit the SACC website for registration details, tuition rates, and a sneak peek at weekly themes.
Coaches wanted!
Do you love working with kids? Are you passionate about sports, teamwork and mentorship? Helena Public Schools is hiring coaches, and we’d love to have you on the team!
Coaching is more than just a job – it’s a chance to inspire, encourage, and help students grow on and off the field. Whether you’re a seasoned coach ot z is a rewarding opportunity to give back to your community and make a real impact.
· CHS – Assistant Boys Soccer Coach
· CHS- JV Cheer Coach
· HHS – Assistant Girls Soccer Coach
· HHS- Assistant Speech and Debate
· HHS- Head Dance Coach
· HHS- Assistant Football Coach