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News for the Week of August 30, 2010 (Click Links Below for More Information.) To contact us click here. 3. Helena School District to Host Chamber After Hours Event 4. Student Reps Aim to Change Attitudes 5. New Teachers Get Grand Tour 6. Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum
All school district staff worked hard last week preparing for the start of school this week. The opening convocation for all employees held last Thursday was a celebration of the beginning of another school year. As I visit with employees, they express a positive outlook for the upcoming year with high hopes and expectations. I know many tasks were finalized by employees this weekend preparing for the students. The cool weather along with the start of school and athletic activities signals that the fall season is not far away.
The start of school provides opportunity for new beginnings, renewing friendships and the introduction of rich learning experiences for students of all ages. Students start school anxious to learn the expectations of their teachers and they seek engaging relevant learning activities that will build on their previously acquired knowledge and experience. Our challenge is to help students remain motivated throughout the year so they can maximize their learning. We look forward to a strong working relationship with parents to advance student achievement. Success in school is critical as students acquire the knowledge and skills to advance through the grades and graduate, then transition into continuing education and career. I encourage students, staff, and parents to maintain high expectations and offer high levels of support throughout the year so all students experience success.
The school district is hosting a business after hours this week at Helena High School (see the details below). Parents, employees, and students are encouraged to attend and network with members of the business community. This will be an informal gathering so you can stay as long as your schedule allows. I serve on the Helena Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and I know Chamber members are looking forward to this event celebrating all that is good about public education.
Bruce Messinger
Superintendent of Schools
E-mail bmessinger@helena.k12.mt.us
Phone: 324-2001
| Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Eliza Wiley Independent Record Aaris Marsh, a Link Crew leader at Capital High School, leads a small group of freshmen down a hallway in their new school Monday. The freshman class got their first taste of high school without any upperclassmen.
Ahh, high school. For some, it arrived Monday morning, like it or not. For the freshman rookie, the hallways can seem like a maze, the bathrooms impossible to find, and frankly the whole environment can feel a little awkward. Some students, like Michael Bourgeau at Helena High, were obviously enthusiastic about the start of a new school year. “I’m not nervous at all,” said the friendly young man. Others, like D.J. Maynard, admitted they were less than thrilled to have woken up early in the morning for school because it means no more sleeping in — at least until Thanksgiving break. Both of Helena’s public high schools provided freshmen with a day just for themselves. At Helena, it’s Bengal Beginnings and across town at Capital, it’s Bruin Beginnings. There were no upperclassmen to maneuver around while attempting to get to their lockers. More.
Helena School District to Host Chamber After Hours Event Contact Steph Knisley at 324.2043 or sknisley@helena.k12.mt.us with any questions or to volunteer!
Student Reps Aim to Change AttitudesThis year’s student representatives on the school board say that when students lack a sense of belonging it’s hard to be successful academically. “Feeling like you fit in is really important … not feeling like you fit in affects your school work,” Maddie Ellis said. “(Students) need to feel welcome and safe.” Ellis and Becca Harper were recently appointed to serve as the voice of Helena youth at bimonthly school trustee meetings. Harper said that at Helena High, where she’s a senior, there’s diversity, and with that comes negative attitudes and sometimes even discrimination. “Some of our students don’t feel as comfortable as they should,” she said. To ward off that type of environment, Harper suggests there be ways beyond the school’s P.A. system to get students information about how they can get involved. Although she admitted the process would be slow, changing attitudes is possible, she said. Assemblies like Rachel’s Challenge, a program launched in honor of Rachel Scott, the first person killed during the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, are effective. Speakers at the assembly hope to inspire students to create a permanent positive school culture by starting a chain reaction of kindness of compassion.
New Teachers Get Grand Tour
Eliza Wiley Independent Record Eliza Wiley Independent Record – From left Kristen Crawford, a new part time teacher in the Explorer School from Georgia, and Emily Moore, a new Helena High School English teacher from Seattle, listen as Grand Street Theatre director Tom Cordingly gives an overview of what the community theatre offers Helena school children while they tour historic downtown Helena on the tour train.
Teachers new to the Helena School District spent Monday morning riding the tour train, making stops that provided insight to the Helena community. The 44 new educators and their designated mentors rode the Helena Public Schools’ “orientation express” and learned a little about all the stops, including the Montana Historical Society, the Lewis and Clark Library and the Holter Museum. Mike Mergenthaler, vice president of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the teachers gained a better understanding about the community from the tour. “Helena is a great place to live and we value children and education,” the Helena High School graduate said. “We have a vibrant business community, and because of that, Helena continues to prosper and grow.” In prior years this group of new employees would pair up with mentors and cram into a large meeting room to go over necessary new-hire paperwork. “We found we were presenting too much information to too big of a group,” Assistant Superintendent Keith Meyer said. This year, district administrators met in small groups with new educators earlier in the summer for paperwork matters. Meyer said the tour train ride was meant to show the group the flavor of Helena and the community support. Nearly all 1,000 district employees report back to work on Thursday, and school resumes Monday and Tuesday depending on grade level. There are 530 educators, and of the 44 new teachers, about 17 are first-year teachers. More.
Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum 7-19-10 Proposed Health Education Curriculum and Source Materials are available on the school district website:
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