In this issue:

• Capital and Helena high schools make “AP School Honor Roll”
• CHS student earns perfect ACT score
• RBHI mental health screening for grades 6-12 is this month
• Angel Fund application period opens
• “Digger Days” is a smashing success

Dear Families and Staff,

We have exciting academic news to celebrate as we close out the week.

I’m pleased to announce that both Capital High and Helena High made the national AP School Honor Roll, reaching silver and bronze status, respectively.

The honor puts our high schools among the upper echelon of high schools nationwide – including public, private and charter schools – for their work to create AP programs that broaden college access and readiness. In 2023, only nine percent of eligible schools nationwide received Silver-or Bronze-level recognition. (National figures are not yet available for 2024.)

To be listed on the AP School Honor Roll, a high school’s most recent graduating class must meet the following criteria:

• College Culture: 40 percent or more of the graduating cohort took at least one AP exam during high school.
• College Credit: 25 percent or more of the graduating cohort scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam during high school.
• College Optimization: Two percent or more of the graduating cohort took five or more AP exams during high school. Students must have taken at least one of those exams in 9th or 10th grade to spread the AP experience across grades and reduce disproportionate pressure in any single year.

Since 2020, both CHS and HHS have seen steady increases in the number of total AP students, number of exams taken, number of AP students with scores of 3 or higher, and percent of AP students with scores of 3 or higher.

Our district’s commitment to college access and preparedness is borne out by the consistently stellar performance of our high school juniors on the annual ACT college admissions test. For the past five years, Helena Public Schools juniors have consistently outperformed the state average on all four ACT benchmarks – math, science, reading and English. And out of all Montana high school graduates who pursue degrees at the Montana University System after high school, Helena Public Schools has the lowest percentage of students who are required to take remedial math and writing courses.

These honors didn’t happen by accident. The hard work and commitment of our students, the support of their parents, and – most importantly – the talent and dedication of our educators made our students’ achievements possible. Our outstanding students begin their academic journeys with strong elementary school staff who ignite their passion for learning and build the foundations of their academic achievements. Our middle school staff then build on that foundation to prepare students for success in high school.

Yet our ability to sustain this success is in jeopardy. Schools in Montana and across the nation are seeing talented teachers leave the profession because of funding shortfalls and other stressors.

That’s why I continue to work alongside our fellow AA districts and Montana education organizations in preparation for the 2025 Legislative Session, where we will seek desperately needed short-term funding. Meanwhile, we’re developing strategies to secure meaningful, long-term revisions to Montana’s school funding formula through the Legislative Interim Committee review process.

In the coming months I’ll provide updates on these efforts as we approach the 2025 Legislative Session.

CHS student earns perfect ACT score

Returning to academic news, we also have an individual accomplishment to celebrate today.

Capital High Senior Meika Arensmeyer achieved a feat attained by only a tiny fraction of high school students nationwide – a perfect score on the ACT test last spring.

This a truly towering academic achievement and it’s the second in a row for our district. Last year, Helena High grad Evelyn Callery earned a perfect ACT score.

All of today’s news speaks to our commitment to prepare students for success in college and career.

In fact, just this week our high school students had the opportunity to fill out a college application during the school day through the Montana University System’s “College Application Week” event. Counselors were available to provide assistance.

KTVH captured the scene at our PAL Charter School, where student Caleb Storseth applied to Helena College with hopes of becoming the first in his family to attain higher education.

“Digger Days” is a smashing success

Meanwhile, on Monday, approximately 140 or our high school students explored careers in the trades at Helena’s first-ever “Digger Days” event.

Students attended six one-hour sessions throughout the day, choosing hands-on experiences in heavy equipment operation, concrete work, septic system installation, electrical work, wood framing, landscaping and much more.

Special thanks to event sponsors Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, Freedom Fabrication & Excavation and Valley View Lawn and Landscape and the many local business participants who made this day of career exploration possible. Planning Committee participants included three Helena Public Schools grads – Connor Prendergast with Freedom Fabrication, McKinley Winkle with the Helena Chamber and Zach Jones from Valley View Lawn Care to name a few!

Speaking of alumni, I look forward to continuing our Alumni Discovery Journey next week. This leg of the journey will feature Dr. Katie Connors, OB-GYN, a Helena High grad who owns a medical practice near Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Connors will share how a well-rounded K-12 education in Helena Public Schools helped her build the skills and fortitude she needed to earn a medical degree and establish her own practice. “I always had an honors class or an accelerated class or an AP option that was available,” she said. Stay tuned for more next week!

RBHI health screenings this month

In other school news, mental health screenings are being conducted at our high schools and middle schools this month.

This is the second year our district has used the Rural Behavioral Health Institute (RBHI) screener tool, an innovative tool designed to identify signs of depression, anxiety and suicidality.

Livingston-based RBHI partners with schools and a broad range of Montana community organizations to provide mental health screening to students in rural areas in Montana and beyond. When screening identifies a student at elevated risk, the RBHI team helps with referral to same-day care.

We already know that the RBHI screening program has saved at least one young life in our district and are extremely grateful to RBHI and the many Montana-based organizations that support this critical program.

When RBHI results show a student at elevated risk, a school counselor will immediately contact their parents. While results aren’t sent home unless an elevated risk is indentified, parents may request their child’s screening results from their school. All parents were notified of the screenings in advance and given the opportunity to opt out.

“Screenagers: Elementary Edition” documentary to show in Helena

On the topic of student mental health, I want to share an exciting opportunity for every family wrestling with the ubiquitous and fractious issue of screentime.

Next week, Intermountain is hosting special showings of the documentary “Screenagers: Elementary Edition” in Helena and East Helena.

Produced by Dr. Delaney Ruston, who has the unique skillset of Stanford-trained physician and award-winning documentarian, the film is described as “an essential watch for all those looking to address and support mental wellbeing in the digital age.”

The movie will address everything from smart watches, to gaming, to exposure to screentime at a young age.

Intermountain is bringing the film to Helena as part of its mission to promote healthy communities and meet the growing need for positive discussions about screen use among children. The 53-minute film, which was released nationwide on September 1, will be followed by a short panel discussion. Admission is free but registration is required, as the evening will include a light meal and childcare provided by St. Peter’s Health and the Early Childhood Collaborative.

Find registration information and full event details here.

Angel Fund application period opens

We’re extremely fortunate to live in a community that does so much to support kids and families. On that note, I want to extend our deep appreciation to the Angel Fund, which opened its application period this week for assistance with basic clothing, shoes and warm outerwear to students qualifying for Free & Reduced Lunch.

Assistance includes vouchers to shop for school-appropriate items at Target, TJ Maxx, Walmart or Old Navy. The program runs October 1 through November 14.

To begin the application process, please contact the Angel Fund Coordinator at your child’s school. Thank you to the Angel Fund, its generous supporters and participating retailers for helping level the playing field for our students.

As we close out another successful school week, I’m grateful for all that our staff do to make our students successful and for the parents, volunteers and community organizations who make their work possible.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools

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