In this issue:

• HHS peps up parent open houses
• Good luck to our fall sports athletes!
• CHS’ Jake Warner named Fulbright Teacher
• Last Chance Pow Wow Demonstration Day 
• Sign up for Starbase Advanced

Dear Families and Staff,

It’s starting to feel a lot like fall as we get some much-needed moisture and relief from cooler temperatures. Best of all, that means it’s time for fall sports!

Best of luck to our athletes who are off and running on their cross country, golf, volleyball, soccer and football seasons.

If you’re a football fan, be sure to mark your calendar for our first games in Carroll College’s revamped Nelson Stadium. The Bengals and Bruins will get to play under brand new lights on the brand new “Valley Bank Field” synthetic turf.

Helena High plays Missoula Sentinel at Carroll on October 10 and Capital High plays Flathead High there on October 17. Both games have 7 p.m. starts. Come out and help our cheer and dance squads and pep band spur our teams on to victory!

Speaking of school spirit, Helena High is pepping up its parent open house night this year. Instead of a traditional back-to-school event, where parents walk through the building to visit their students’ classrooms, the Bengals are throwing an open house block party for their families.

The festivities will begin outside Tuesday evening with food trucks, games, booths and music from our amazing Bengal musicians. Families will then be invited inside to tour the buildings and meet teachers. Students from the National Honor Society, Link Crew and Student Council will continue to lead activities outside so parents can focus on connecting with teachers.

The evening will wrap up with a Homecoming Week pep rally to highlight the Bengals’ fall sports teams, band, and cheer and dance teams. And, of course, the celebration will finish off with a rousing rendition of the Bengal Fight Song!

Parent and community involvement play a huge role in the success of our students, and events like these engage families in a meaningful way.

Speaking of getting involved, numerous local businesses are participating in the upcoming “Digger Days” event on Monday, September 30.

Students will have the opportunity to explore the construction industry firsthand, including concrete, excavation, framing, landscaping and more. And this is no ordinary career fair. Students will get to operate heavy equipment and experience hands-on tasks alongside contractors. Check out the video here.

A special shout-out to Capital High Carpentry Teacher Lucas Canney for working with area contractors and Helena WINS (Workforce Innovation Networks) last spring to make this event possible. And a special thank you to the Helena Chamber of Commerce, Freedom Fabrication & Excavation and Valley View Lawn & Landscape for hosting this career exploration experience. Events like this remind us how much stronger we are when we collaborate—truly living out our theme of “Better Together.”

Register and learn more here. Participating students will be bused to the event.

In other community events, schools are the topic of the monthly “How the Helena” community forum this Tuesday, Sept. 17. “Schools: Where Do We Go From Here?” is the title of the discussion to begin at 5:45 p.m. at Tenmile Brewery.

It’s been a lively week at several of our elementary schools as the Helena Education Foundation (HEF) kicked off its “Fabulous Firsts” literacy events.

By the end of next week, HEF will have put a new, hardcover book to take home in the hands of every first grader in our district. In the spirit of parent engagement, families are encouraged to join these events to celebrate the joy of reading. This week HEF presented books at Broadwater, Bryant, Central and Kessler elementary schools. “Fabulous Firsts” are scheduled next week at Four Georgians, Hawthorne, Jefferson, Jim Darcy, Rossiter, Smith and Warren next week. Check your school newsletter for details.

I’d like to leave you with a short video (below) highlighting some fabulous moments from this week’s Fabulous Firsts. You might be inspired to pick up a good book this weekend!

Respectfully,

Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools

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