Dear Families, Staff, and the Helena Community,

While we were fortunate to dodge the worst of the high-wind event, I want to be clear about our philosophy regarding student safety: We will always over-prepare, even when the weather under-delivers. Whether it’s coordinating with our transportation teams or assessing road conditions at 5:00 AM, we believe that being ready for the “worst-case scenario” is the only way to operate. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigated these shifts together.

Beyond the weather, we made the big announcement that Cal Boyle, current Principal of Helena Middle School, will be transitioning into the role of Principal of Capital High School for the 2026/27 school year, pending formal Board approval.

Mr. Boyle has previous experience as a high school teacher in Kalispell and his 20 years serving HMS as both a teacher and administrator has prepared him for this next chapter. His connection to Capital High is also well-established; he was a dedicated Bruin parent throughout his son’s high school career at Capital, and his wife is a former teacher at the school.

Driven by a profound care for the school’s future, Mr. Boyle approached me directly to express his strong interest in the position. Our conversations made it clear that his commitment to our mission and excitement for our upcoming growth and construction projects make him the ideal leader for this next chapter.

As we look toward this new chapter, we also want to express our deepest gratitude to Brett Zanto. Mr. Zanto has dedicated many years of exceptional service to CHS and the District. His impact on students, staff, and the community is profound, and we wish him the very best as he prepares for his own next steps.

With Mr. Boyle’s transition, we will begin the search for a new leader at Helena Middle School – stay tuned. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Mr. Boyle on his new role as Principal of Capital High School!

Respectfully,

Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools

BONDS PROJECTS UPDATES

03/08-03/14 Recap:

HHS + Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) Project: Week 20

A&E + SMA Design Updates:
- Design Development Week 4
- City of Helena Site Plan Review Meeting
- PAL Building Committee Meeting
- HHS Building Committee Meeting
- District Weekly Progress Report Meeting

Dick Anderson Construction Updates:
- Weekly Planning Meetings

CHS Project: Week 18

Slate Architecture + RTA Updates:
- Schematic Design
- School Board Meeting
- All Staff Meeting
- Phasing Coordination
- Leadership Work Session

Langlas & Associates Construction Updates:
- Phasing Coordination
- Design Support
- School Board Meeting
- Leadership Work Session

Kessler Project: Week 16

Mosaic Architecture + Cushing Terrell Updates:
- Work this week focused on developing the graphics and images needed to present the schematic level building design progress
- 3/12: District Update
- 3/12: Kessler Building Committee Meeting
Golden Eagle/Swank Construction Updates:
- Weekly OAC (owner/architect/contractor) Meeting

Up Next: 03/15-03/21

HHS + Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) Project: Week 21

A&E + SMA Design Updates:
- Design Development Week 5
- Lighting Design User Group Meeting
- HHS + PAL DD User Meetings
Dick Anderson Construction Updates:
- Weekly Planning Meetings

CHS Project: Week 19

Slate Architecture + RTA Updates:
- Schematic Design
- Design Advisory Group (DAG-6)
- Phasing Coordination
- Leadership Work Session

Langlas & Associates Construction Updates:
- Phasing Coordination
- Design Advisory Group (DAG-6)
- Design Support
- Leadership Work Session

Kessler Project: Week 17

Mosaic Architecture + Cushing Terrell Updates:
- 3/17: Weekly OAC (owner/architect/contractor) meeting
- 3/17: Meeting with civil engineer
- 3/17: Meeting with structural engineer
- 3/18: Kessler Community Meeting @ 4:30
- 3/19: District Update
Golden Eagle/Swank Construction Updates:
- Weekly OAC (owner/architect/contractor) Meeting

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, March 18: Mosaic Community Night, 4:30 p.m. – Kessler
Wednesday, March 25: Brews and Blueprints, 5:30 p.m. – Brothers Tapworks

If you have questions or want to chat about what’s next, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

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

VISIT SITE

DID YOU KNOW?

Join us for spring fun and activities!

We’ll provide a mid-morning breakfast and an afternoon snack. Families are required to provide a ready-to-eat lunch with a beverage and a water bottle. Send your child with appropriate clothing for an active day of play inside or out in our ever-changing MT weather.

Interested families can contact Jamie at jmerrill@helenaschools.org for registration information. Registration will close once full or on March 25. No refunds due to illness, no-shows, or cancellations. No late registrations at the door.

AND

Join SACC Summer Camp for a Summer full of fun activities! General registration for all HPS families is now open!

Children must be a Helena Public School student entering 1st-6th grades. Find more info and the registration link at https://helenaschools.org/departments/school-age-child-care/.

LAST CHANCE MUSIC CAMPS

For older students with previous musical experience:

_________

And for younger students wanting to learn an instrument or how to sing in a formal ensemble. The discovery camp (from the green poster below) is the one that will be free to all current 5^th graders thanks to a Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation grant.

COMMUNITY CORNER

Resources for students, families, and the HPS community.

HPS THREE WAYS TO DONATE
RUNNING RESOURCE LIST ON OUR WEBPAGE
HPS SCHOOLS’ FOOD DRIVES AND OTHER RELATED EVENT LISTINGS
CONTACT CENTER FOR QUESTIONS AND TO GET CONNECTED (WEBPAGE)

VIEW WEBPAGE

FROM THE GROUND UP WITH HELENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

A special fifth episode of ‘From the Ground Up with Helena Public Schools’ is now up – The word is out, Helena Middle School Principal Cal Boyle will transition into the role of Principal of Capital High School come the 2026/27 school year upon Board approval. We are incredibly grateful to Brett Zanto for his many years of service to CHS and the District, and we couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter for Cal and CHS.

LISTEN OR WATCH WHEREVER YOU’RE AT IN YOUR DAY:

LISTEN ON RSS

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

WHAT’S COMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?

March 7, 2026 – March 21, 2026

Saturday, March 14:

Missoula Children’s Theatre Smith Performance – HMS Auditorium
Spring Play, 2:30 p.m. – HHS Little Theater
Girls and Boys State Basketball – Billings

Sunday, March 15:

Monday, March 16:

**Trimester 3 Begins

**First Day of Spring Sports

**Jefferson Parent Council Read-a-thon – March 16-27

Rossiter Open Forum w/ the Principal, 9:00 a.m. – Teams Meeting
HHS Valedictorian and Salutatorian Celebration, 6:00 p.m. – Little Theater

Tuesday, March 17:

Central UM/4th Grade at Snow School
CRA Grade 8 Registration: Tour CHS and talk to CHS counselors
Tiernan Irish dancers, 10:30-11:00 – Broadwater
CRA 8^thGrade conferences – CRA
6^th/7^th Orchestra Concert – HMS Auditorium
HHS Band Concert, 7:00 p.m. – HHS Gym

Wednesday, March 18:

Broadwater Knitting at Lunch – Broadwater Library
CRA PTO Meeting, 12:00 p.m. – CRA Room 200
JD Music Family Engagement Folk Dancing Night (g4&5) – JD
Incoming CHS Freshman Parent Night – CHS
Mosaic Community Night, 4:30 p.m. – Kessler

Thursday, March 19:

HHSA Pathways in Health Science Exploration Night, 5:30 p.m. – HHS Gym

Friday, March 20:

Warren 2nd-5th Career Day, Warren
Central Coffee w/ the Principal
Rossiter K-2 Movie Night, 6:15 p.m. – Rossiter Gym
Kessler Carnival, 5:00 p.m. – Kessler

Saturday, March 21:

HHS Prom – Great Northern Hotel

Sunday, March 22:

Monday, March 23:

**Smith Unified School Spirit week

2026 IEFA Best Practices Conference – East Helena High School
CRA 7^th Grade Band Festival, 7:00 p.m. – Civic Center

Tuesday, March 24:

2026 IEFA Best Practices Conference – East Helena High School
Kessler 5th Grade Great American Wax Museum, 2:00 p.m. – Kessler Gym
Board of Trustees Work Session at Jefferson, 4:00 p.m. – Jefferson
IEFA Family Night, 6:00 p.m. – HHS Gym
CRA 8^th Grade Band Festival, 7:00 p.m. – Civic Center

Wednesday, March 25:

Broadwater Knitting at Lunch – Broadwater Library
Brews and Blueprints, 5:30 p.m. – Brothers Tapworks

Thursday, March 26:

Broadwater 5^th Grade Ski Trip
Board of Trustees Bonds Projects Work Session, 10:00 a.m. – LC
4Gs Art Night, 6:00 p.m. – 4Gs
Broadwater PTC Meeting, 6:00 p.m. – Broadwater

Friday, March 27:

**PreK-5 Report Cards Go Home

Broadwater Egg Hunt led by Student Council – Broadwater

Saturday, March 28:

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.]

Make connections with potential mentors, learn more about health science pathways, and get advice from professionals on how to become a successful healthcare professional! Food provided!