Dear Families and Staff,

I love the beginning of a new school year.  Across the district, I can see and feel the fresh energy — the joy of seeing old friends and making new ones, the excitement of a new year full of adventure and learning.  And, this year, Tuesday’s upcoming bond election adds to the anticipation!

I hope you will share in the excitement I felt when I watched these three short flyover videos recently.  The possibility of all of our students someday thriving on new 21^st century high school campuses is thrilling.  These videos are also posted on https://www.helenaschoolbond.org along with all of the district’s information about the bond in order to provide accurate and up-to-date information to the Helena community.

• Kessler Flyover: https://youtu.be/Fwlc2wDjtCQ?si=N6AbDZCt1iAakOUW
• Capital High School: https://youtu.be/isnFOQqIAmU?si=eCxfqmJw8k7KoA5k
• Helena High School: https://youtu.be/EVx51Sal_nE?si=Cqxpue-OXqPNpI46

At every building across the district, there is so much happening as the school year begins.  Students and teachers are enjoying the improvements our facilities staff have made over the summer.  Wynn Randall, principal at Rossiter, told me it was wonderful to have students back on the playground and that those youngsters were watching the grounds crew lay sod with the anticipation of playing on a new field.  In every school, picture days are being organized, PTO meetings are being held and open houses are being arranged.  Elementary schools are welcoming 4 year olds to our KinderSprouts programs and high schools are preparing for homecoming dances.  You can find all of this information and more in this year’s calendar online at https://helenaschools.org/25-26-calendar-flipbook/ as well as in the printed calendar published by the Helena Independent Record.

We’re welcoming 44 new educators to our district from across the country – 29 new to the district and 15 returning after time elsewhere.  Already, these new educators are building connections with students as Matt Carey, principal of PAL, learned in a conversation with one new educator.  During our new educator orientation, it was clear that they shared our passion for education. They are excited about teaching in Helena.  Many are following in the footsteps of family members who have also been educators.  Their accomplishments outside of education are both diverse and impressive – one with a black belt in taekwondo and another who competes at the national level in dog agility competitions.  Some are continuing their careers in education while others have become educators after having previous careers.  They are an inspiring group!    Please welcome them to Helena if you have the good fortune to meet them in town or at your child’s school.

September also offers exciting events sponsored by our nonprofit partner, the Helena Education Foundation.  The Carnival Classic will be held on Sunday, September 14 in Memorial Park.  First graders across the district will receive their own books during the HEF Fabulous First events.  And for educators, the first round of Great Ideas Grants (up to $1250 for individual educators and up to $5000 for collaborators) and Spark Grants (up to $500) will be due Tuesday, September 30. Reflecting on this diverse set of offerings, I am so grateful for all the enriched learning experiences the Helena Education Foundation and its donors provide to Helena students.

Finally, as this year launches, I’d also love to expand the readership of my weekly update as a way to connect with more folks in Helena and I hope you will help me.  Please invite a friend, family member or someone new to Helena to sign up for this weekly update by sending them this link https://tinyurl.com/234a4mz3.  Schools are the heart of a community and schools need the community to thrive.  This weekly update is one of my efforts to build strong connections between our schools and our community.

Respectfully,

Rex Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools

See Below:

• HEF Carnival Classic
• Helena Food Share Kid Pack Program
• HEF Fabulous Firsts
• What’s Coming Up in the District
• Free and Reduced Meals Program

Make sure to mark your calendars to join us on Sunday, September 14^th for Helena Education Foundation’s Carnival Classic at Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is a fantastic city-wide celebration of public education and the perfect way to settle into our new school year together as a community. Attending the Carnival Classic is one of the best ways to support our students and staff – so bring your family and friends for a fun-filled day.

Along with games and prizes, you can help fill Kid Packs for Helena students by donating specific food items. HEF is looking for:

• Granola bars
• Fruit cups
• Individual oatmeal or cereal packs
• Fruit juice boxes
• Jerky sticks

For more information about the Kid Packs, what’s in them, how to get a Kid Pack for a child, or the Helena Food Share, go to https://helenafoodshare.org/get-help/kid-packs/. 

Every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and succeed. We honor the importance of reading in a child’s learning process by providing each first-grade student with a brand new, hardcover, age-appropriate book to keep, and we celebrate with a reading event at each elementary school. Fabulous Firsts helps to introduce students to the joy of reading, which serves as a foundation for their academic journey.

2025 DISTRIBUTION AND READING EVENTS

Each elementary school will host a distribution and reading event at whichFirst-graders receive their books, snack, and listen as parents, HEF board members, sponsors, older students, and volunteers read this year’s books aloud.

• 9/12         Smith, 2:00 pm
• 9/15         Bryant, 2:00 pm
• 9/17         Warren, 2:30 pm
• 9/17         Rossiter, 2:45 pm
• 9/18         Jim Darcy, 2:30 pm
• 9/19         Jefferson, 2:30 pm
• 9/19         Central, 2:45 pm
• 9/19         Four Georgians, 2:45 pm
• 9/24         Kessler, 2:45 pm
• 9/26         Broadwater, 2:40 pm

BOOKS SELECTED FOR THE 2025 FABULOUS FIRSTS PROGRAM

• Who Ate Steve? By Susannah Lloyd
• The Crayon Stub by Marcus Cutler
• I am Not Your Hat by Lisa Bentley
• Caboose by Travis Jonker
• Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson
• The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan

WHAT’S COMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?
September 8-20, 2025

In addition to meals, participation in the Free & Reduced Lunch program helps the district identify students who may benefit from additional assistance with school expenses including:

• School supplies and clothing
• Sports and activities fees
• Instrument rentals
• Field trip fees
• Fees for academic tests such as the Advanced Placement exam

Families across a wide range of income levels may qualify based on a variety of factors, including the number of people in your household. If you believe your family may qualify, please apply now, even if you don’t plan to take advantage of this benefit.

Click HERE for the online form.
Click HERE for more information.

Happy to help.

Contact us at helenamtschools@helenaschools.org