Dear Families, Staff, and the Helena Community,

First and foremost, thank you for responding to the call to support and donate to our community partners that aid our students experiencing homelessness. Over the last week many of you have donated money, clothing, blankets, bath towels, and rice cookers. I am so grateful for the kindness of the Helena community and proud that such quick action was taken to help provide resources – keep it up, Helena! On the same note, I stated last week that the Angel Fund is providing $100 for school clothing to qualifying elementary students – it is actually $200. You can find information on who and how to apply and through your school’s counseling office. Applications are due by November 13. Thank you, Angel Fund.

October is a busy month in Helena Public Schools, and we’re taking full advantage of the many national observances to create powerful learning and engagement opportunities for our students. This month, our calendar is packed with activities that prepare students for their future, emphasize safety and wellness, and celebrate the incredible people who make our district great.

• High school shop and trade instructor kicked off National Careers in Construction Month with a phenomenal Digger Days event on September 29th, where 150 high schoolers from CHS, HHS, PAL, and surrounding districts got hands-on experience with trades careers.
• Our high schools are marking National FAFSA Completion Month by hosting FAFSA Completion Night events and providing in-school support to help families navigate the college financial aid process.
• Meanwhile, our elementary schools have been diving into important character development. A few of our elementary schools are participating in National Bully Prevention Week with weekly social skills lessons focused on recognition, prevention, and cultivating kindness.
• Our elementary students recently had a blast celebrating National Fire Safety Week, with some participating in unforgettable interactive sessions with Helena Area firefighters—learning essential safety tips and exploring trucks and equipment. A huge thank you to our firefighters for their time and for all they do to keep our city safe!
• Thanks to the Lewis and Clark County 4-H, HPS students had a chance to take part in activities celebrating National 4-H Week and the themes of leadership, teamwork and innovation.
• Our Sodexo district kitchen is celebrating National Farm to Table Month by bringing delicious, local foods to our students, kicking it off with Montana-grown apples for the annual Montana Crunch Off and serving bison meat for Taco Tuesday to start a monthly rotation of Montana Foods.
• Last week, we acknowledged the hard work of our custodians on National Custodian Appreciation Day. We are grateful for the diligent team who take care of our schools.
• Looking ahead, schools are gearing up for Healthy Choices Week with various activities, including themed dress-up days to promote wellness.
• October is also National Principals Month, and I want to take a moment to applaud these dedicated administrators. They make the hard decisions daily, and I truly appreciate their unwavering commitment and passion for making our schools great places for HPS students and staff. Please check out our incredible HPS Principal Team featured below.

Finally, parent/teacher conferences have begun, starting this past week with CRA, with the rest of our schools following suit over the next few weeks. Strong communication between home and school is the single most important factor in a student’s academic success.  Conferencing is one opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your child’s progress, discuss strategies for support, and ensure that your child sees their education as a unified effort between their teachers and their family. Please contact your student’s school for details on scheduling and attending your conference.

Respectfully,

Rex Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools

BONDS PROJECTS UPDATES

Keep up-to-date on the bonds projects as we enter into each
phase of the processes:

VISIT SITE

HAPPY NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH

Our principal roster is stacked – dynamic, strategic, fantastic leadership, and intentional. We are lucky to have these key players running the plays of our district.
#NationalPrincipalsMonth #ThankAPrincipal #HelenaPublicSchools

As part of the Fabulous Firsts tradition, the high school drama students will be touring the elementary schools with their Fabulous Firsts Act II: Storybook Theatre performances next Tuesday, October 14, and next Wednesday, October 15. The performances and the interactions between high school students and first graders are always wonderful.

Calling for Helena Health Science Alliance (HHSA) Student Representatives

HHSA is looking for high school student representatives to serve on each of our committees and the Executive Board. They will serve as conduits between their school and HHSA, sit on committees, and help with event planning and organization. Applications will be accepted through October 13 at 11:59 p.m.

APPLY NOW

Helena Health Science Alliance focuses on building up health science education programming and skills training for middle and high school students.
For questions, contact:
Charlie Snellman | HHSA President & Founder
president@helenahealthsciencealliance.org

SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MONTANA
VOLUNTEER AND PLAYER OPPORTUNITIES

For interested students with and without intellectual disabilities – you’re invited to be involved in the local area Special Olympics teams as an athlete or as a volunteer for this year’s Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament, which will be held here in Helena November 6-8 (the final year before moving to Butte for the 2026-2028 years).

Coats for Kids Program

The Helena Exchange Club Coats for Kids program is dedicated to ensuring that every child in the Helena area stays warm during the cold months. From October to March (or until the snow stops!), they provide new coats and boots to elementary school children in need.

Their program is administered through local elementary schools, with limited items available for middle and high schools, as well as select outside organizations. They collaborate closely with school counselors, teachers, and secretaries who identify students in need and submit requests on their behalf.

LEARN MORE

Exchange Club invites you to the 28th Annual Festival of Wines, their signature fundraiser for the Coats for Kids program!

Each year, local schools and partners help us identify students in need, and Coats for Kids provides them with new winter coats and boots from Capital Sports. Join them on Saturday, November 8, at the Great Northern Hotel. Purchase your tickets today and use promo code TEACHER25 at checkout for 15% off General Admission as a thank you for your partnership.

Special for Educators: Teachers attending the event can enter to win $250 for classroom expenses. There will be four drawings, giving multiple chances to win!

The Angel Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Helena School District children in need by providing essential school items such as clothing, shoes, and more.

The program application will open to eligible families Wednesday, October 1 – November 13. To qualify, families must complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals. Submitting this application may also make your family eligible for additional support services. The Angel Fund is also providing $200 for school clothing to qualifying elementary students (double that for students experiencing homelessness) and $250 to qualifying middle and high school students (double that for students experiencing homelessness).

MORE INFORMATION

ALSO: Spots are now available for MAPS’s Illustration Class and Sound/Music Class.

Go to https://mapsmediainstitute.com/ for more information.

WHAT’S COMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?
October 13 – October 25, 2025

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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