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WHAT’S INSIDE
ENSURING Back-to-School SUCCESS
WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN
Returning to the school hallways after a summer of lounging and chilling is never the smoothest transition for students. It is a definite adjustment every fall, but counselors and administrators are well-equipped to help young learners come back strong for the 2024-2025 schoolyear.
Students are still, no doubt, in a summer mindset, which is totally normal. It will take some time for students to get back into the swing of things academically and mentally, and parents and caretakers can help with that at home.
“As the school year approaches, helping youth move back into regular sleeping and eating routines can ease the transition to the schoolyear. It is normal to feel both excited and a little anxious about the first day of school,” said Dede Frothingham, the superintendent for the Belgrade School District. “Reach out to the school with any questions you or your child may have, and be sure to mark back-toschool events on your calendar.”
Casey Bertram, the superintendent for Bozeman Public Schools, agrees.
“First, enjoy summer! Play, read, dance, hike, and spend time with friends and family. I would also recommend beginning to build inschool schedules and routines a week or two before school starts,” Bertram said. “Take care of the back-to-school online forms during the summer break to avoid the time crunch in the fall.”
Johanna Bertken, the student assistance coordinator for the Bozeman School District, looks forward to guiding students when it comes to build healthy routines and cultivating social relationships this fall. But some of the biggest end-of-summer homework assignments will begin, well, at home first.
One of the challenges students always
face when they return to school after summer break is prioritizing sleep, Bertken said, and it is an essential part of making the back-to-school transition successful.
“Sleep plays a vital role in wellbeing. During summer break, sleep schedules often become irregular, with later bedtimes and wake-up times. Adjusting to a new sleep schedule can take from a few days to a few weeks, so some doctors recommend starting this adjustment about two weeks before school begins,” Bertken said. “Other doctors suggest making incremental changes, such as moving bedtime and wake-up times 15 minutes earlier every few days until the desired schedule is reached. And many families have adopted nighttime routines that include later dinners and technology use before bed. To ease the transition, consider reestablishing overall sleep hygiene and bedtime routines.”
Once the at-home routines are a little more solid and structured, it’s time to work on moving mentally from a relaxed summer mindset to a more structured one.
“Students may struggle with maintaining attention, delaying gratification, coping with nonpreferred tasks, and managing their
emotions,” Bertken said. “Younger students might also find it difficult to remember physical routines like staying hydrated, eating properly, and using the bathroom.”
Students should be aware of these shifts and be patient with themselves. Then, there are the social, emotional, and academic concerns that will undoubtedly present themselves in the school classrooms and hallways. This is where counselors can truly make an impact.
“School counselors can be a vital support for students who are struggling. They help students navigate both common and uncommon situations that arise in the school setting. Counselors also act as problem-solving supports and communication bridges between students, their teachers, peers, and parents,” Bertken said. “School counselors, and the rest of our school staff, depend on information from students to intervene and make schools feel like a safe place for everyone. They are trained in confidentiality, ensuring that students feel comfortable sharing their concerns. By fostering a trusting environment, counselors can provide the necessary support to help students thrive.”
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A Message from Bozeman and Belgrade SUPERINTENDENTS
About the new SCHOOL YEAR
WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN
Administrators strive every schoolyear to give students support in mind, body, and spirit. In the Bozeman and Belgrade public school districts, superintendents are offering their guidance this fall on how to help students prosper as they return from summer break.
Dede Frothingham, the superintendent for the Belgrade School District, cannot wait to welcome students back to school this August.
“Our goal as educators is to prepare our students to be as successful as possible once leaving Belgrade schools,” Frothingham said. “So we’ve been working to continuously enhance our educational and experiential programs at all levels.”
When incoming students do return, a variety of new offerings will await them. In the past two years, the Belgrade School District has updated both
the English language arts and math curriculum programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. A new financial citizenship and economics class is now required for all seniors, and the district’s first early literacy class is being offered this fall to prepare 4-yearolds for success in elementary school.
Casey Bertram, the superintendent for Bozeman Public Schools, said his district is also excited to announce the arrival of exceptional programs this fall.
“Our educators excel at building positive relationships with students and families, and each site has a variety of back-to-school events and traditions to welcome families,” Bertram said. “Our elementary and middle schools benefit from an exceptional partnership with THRIVE, whose parent liaisons provide personalized support to new families through one-on-one connections. We are also opening a welcome center at
the Willson building to provide our Spanish-speaking families with support to help their transition into Bozeman Public Schools.”
Certainly, the launch of the schoolyear always presents its share of challenges — from class scheduling to peer conflicts — but both superintendents have extraordinary teams in place to meet students’ and families’ needs.
“Bozeman Public Schools exists to ensure high-level learning for all students, and we’re currently and historically the highest-performing large school district in Montana. That long-term success stems from a variety of factors: passionate and dedicated educators, a supportive and caring community of families, and engaged students,” Bertram said. “We’re also a district that focuses on continuous improvement, and we’re making great strides to enhance, change, and improve
the educational opportunities provided to all students.”
Some of these recent additions include master schedule changes to ensure teacher collaboration time and systematic intervention/extension support at all schools, increased support for multilingual English learners, and expanded summer school opportunities for students in need of literacy support. And Belgrade’s schools are similarly expanding.
“Belgrade offers large school district opportunities with a small-town feel. We expanded our gifted program last year, including assessing, identifying, and increasing programming options for students with exceptional talents,” Frothingham said. “Our high school students have multiple diploma options for the career-bound or the collegebound student, including our awardwinning Career Technical Education
programs like agriculture and culinary arts.”
The Belgrade district also hired a STEM coordinator to embed science, technology, engineering, and math education into students’ classroom experiences. Middle school students continue to enjoy some of the most robust elective options in the state, including robotics, aeronautics, and medical detectives.
Opportunities for enrichment
continue to abound at the Belgrade and Bozeman districts, and each school is evolving to better accommodate the needs of its students.
The Bozeman district is opening the Bozeman Reads Early Learning Center at Morning Star Elementary School this fall, which expands the district’s early learning programming for students prior to entering kindergarten. The center will include four early literacy classroom-based programs and colocate the district’s two pre-K special
education classrooms in the same building. Bozeman Reads was launched in Fall 2021 to directly address the early literacy goal that is focused on students who have not yet entered kindergarten classrooms.
“With the generous financial support of the Bozeman Schools Foundation and local donors, and the partnership support from THRIVE, the Greater Gallatin United Way, World Language Initiative/BELLA, HRDC, and Montana State University, we are very excited to
open the doors of the Bozeman Reads Early Learning Center for the start of the 2024-2025 schoolyear,” Bertram said. All of these resources combine to make the Bozeman and Belgrade districts more family-centric and diverse than ever before, and Bertram and Frothingham know that the learning environment will only continue to prosper. As students return to the classroom this fall, they will be greeted with a caring staff, accommodating programs, and plenty of new friends.
“Belgrade is home to a variety of families, from multi-generational Belgradians to brand-new families to Belgrade and Montana. We strive to make all of our buildings welcoming environments, and we have a family liaison to assist families that are in transition,” Frothingham said. “All of our buildings will have a time for students to visit the school, get familiar with the buildings, and meet staff and teachers before school starts. Our parent-teacher and booster organizations welcome everyone to join them for meetings and activities, which is a great way to meet the neighbors.”
With all this support, students are set to kick off another stellar schoolyear.
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2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDARS
2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDARS
ADJUSTING TO NEW ENVIRONMENTS
WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN
Getting acclimated to new classrooms and classmates at the start of the schoolyear can be daunting for children and teens. Students transitioning from elementary to middle or middle to high school – and those relocating to the Belgrade and Bozeman school districts – have their own hurdles to overcome. That is why school support staff is so critical during this adjustment; these pros know how to mitigate the intimidation and help students find their way.
Johanna Bertken, the student assistance coordinator for the Bozeman School District, helps students learn how to build healthy routines and cultivate social relationships at school. She also has tips for parents navigating this new terrain.
“Anxiety and stress are common at the start of the schoolyear and can sometimes be overwhelming, impacting sleep and leading to avoidance behaviors. However, these feelings can also be beneficial, helping students develop coping mechanisms, solve problems, build resilience, and foster a growth mindset,” Bertken said. “Not all signs of stress indicate a problem, and parents should resist the urge to shield their children from all uncomfortable feelings. Instead, work with your child on how to manage these emotions and navigate stressful situations.”
To ensure that students’ stress and anxiety remain at manageable levels during the shift from summer to fall, parents can encourage open communication, offer reassurance, and promote healthy habits (like balancing academics, sports, work, social life, and
family life).
Parents may also observe that, because peer relationships among children and teens often change over the summer, social dynamics may shift when the schoolyear starts.
“With cellphones and social media, students continue to communicate
and evolve their relationships. Some friendships that were once strong may have weakened, and some friend groups may have dissolved,” Bertken said. “These changes can feel significant to young people. Parents can support their children by providing emotional support, normalizing these experiences without minimizing the hurt, staying informed, and working with the school if any behaviors cause significant emotional harm. If behaviors are ongoing, targeted, and intended to cause harm or discrimination, report them immediately to the school.”
While new students may feel overwhelming pressure to make friends and find a place in their school right away, there are ways to help children and teens avoid allowing these experiences to negatively impact their self-esteem.
“Parents can help their students by making sure their child has a trusted adult they can talk to at school, encouraging their child to participate in extracurricular activities, and keeping them busy with things they care about — both at school and in the community,” Bertken said. “Also, make sure your child knows that this experience is normal and is not indicative of a failing.”
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kidsLINK MAKES AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT FUN
WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN
kidsLINK — an incredibly popular afterschool program for students in the Bozeman and Belgrade public school districts — helps young learners thrive academically and socially, schoolyear after schoolyear.
Since its inception in 1997, the Greater Gallatin United Way’s kidsLINK Out-of-School Initiative has significantly expanded to meet the needs of working families. What started with one school in Three Forks, kidsLINK now operates in 11 schools across Bozeman and Belgrade, with additional partner sites in Arrowhead, Three Forks, and West Yellowstone (alongside seven programs funded by the Greater Gallatin United Way’s Community Impact Grants). This year, kidsLINK is also preparing to launch at Ophir Elementary School in Big Sky.
During the 2024-2025 schoolyear, kidsLINK remains committed to inquiry-based learning while emphasizing fun, exploration, and social-emotional development. Monthly themed activities, such as exploring Montana wildlife and engaging in hands-on projects like circuits and coding, enhance students’ academic skills while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
“kidsLINK not only supports academic growth but also fosters social and emotional development, equipping children with skills that extend beyond the classroom,” said Amy Revious, the youth success program manager for kidsLINK. “Given Montana’s challenges with teen suicide, mental health and well-being are ingrained in everything we do.”
kidsLINK goes beyond academic enrichment by serving as a crucial support system for working parents.
Ninety percent of parents involved in the program attribute their increased earning potential to kidsLINK, which makes sure that their children receive safe and enriching care after school. Understanding that school breaks do not always align with families’ work schedules, kidsLINK also offers oportunities like spring break camps.
Last year, the program made a major impact on 668 enrolled
families, including 156 that received tuition assistance for the afterschool program alone. Summer camps saw participation from 428 families, with 74 benefiting from tuition assistance, underscoring kidsLINK’s commitment to accessibility. This financial support ensures that all families can access these enriching opportunities.
As kidsLINK continues to respond to community needs, the Greater Gallatin United Way keeps expanding access to quality afterschool care across Southwest Montana. Through
collaboration with schools and local stakeholders, the program aims to create a supportive network that enhances the lives of children, families, and the community at large.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, one involved parent noted, “kidsLINK has been a game changer for our family, allowing both of us to work full-time without worrying about consistent, quality afterschool care.”
To enroll in kidsLINK or to learn more about the program, visit kidslink.org.
Readers for Life! BUILDING LOCAL LITERACY
WRITTEN BY ABBY WEINGARTEN
In the age of smartphones, social media, and excessive screen time, urging a youngster to pick up a book can be a challenge for parents and educators. So it’s more important than ever that literacy is made a top priority for young learners, and local librarians are spearheading that effort.
Katie Morrison, the youth services coordinator for the Belgrade Community Library, believes this type of education and encouragement should start early.
“It is so important for our young children to prioritize reading to lay the foundation of their growing literacy, because the written word
will always exist, and creating reading habits early makes for lasting practice,” Morrison said. “Reading together and creating those new brain synapses that associate reading with fun and relationships makes it more likely that a child will continue to read through their lifetime.”
Ellie Newell, the youth services department head for the Bozeman Public Library, echoes that sentiment. It is also important to direct readers to the right resources.
“People are hardwired to love stories – books, films, games, news, and human stories told via social media. Many students will consume stories from a variety of mediums, which is a normal part of being a
young person in 2024. The missing piece can often be understanding how information is vetted (or not) before being published,” Newell said. “Most commercially published books go through a series of editors or fact-checkers, whereas social media platforms lack these formal processes. Libraries help students gain information literacy so that they can navigate the world of information with care.”
As for parents who are having a difficult time getting their students to read, there are some tips and tricks they can try.
“Kids love stories. There is a book for every kid; they may have just not found it yet. I’d encourage parents to bring their kids to the library and let their kids take the lead on what kinds of books they want to explore,” Newell said. “Perhaps a coffee table book of mayfly photography or a technical
tractor repair manual is just the right book to get your kid excited about reading. The best book for a reader is a book the reader wants to read.”
Either way, local and school librarians are always there to help generate excitement around reading, keeping a variety of literature on hand for every taste.
“Reading books on topics and media that children already have an interest in can increase their excitement for reading. So it’s an important responsibility for librarians to keep their library’s collection stocked with books on a wide array of topics, as well as books related to popular trends, shows, movies, etc.,” Morrison said. “Being able to provide personal recommendations on books that readers might like is invaluable, so librarians do their best to read as much as they can for their age group of readers.”
Did You Know? Back-to-School
more than $30.9 billion
combined back-toschool spending in the U.S. and Canada
APPLES
The tradition of giving apples to teachers originated in 16th century Denmark, where parents would often give teachers baskets of apples to pay for their children’s schooling.
$883
average back-to-school spending per family in Canada
That’s more than parents spend on holiday shopping!
As summer winds down and kids across North America get ready to start the new school year, here are some fun facts and numbers to test your knowledge!
Facts&Figures
$688
average back-to-school spending per family in the U.S. NRF research show teenagers will contribute $37.64 toward this amount.
50.7 million students
attended U.S. public elementary and secondary schools in 2017
480,000
4.75 million students
attended Canadian public elementary and secondary schools in 2016
yellow school buses transport children to and from school in the U.S.
These buses carry 26 million students each day.
City Montessori School
Located in India, the world’s largest school teaches 52,000 students in 1,050 classrooms.
Founded in 859 AD in Morocco, it is the oldest existing and continually operating school in the world.
1858
the year Hymen L. Lipman patented the first pencil with an attached eraser
The use of this invention in classrooms was at first controversial, as teachers thought the built-in erasers would cause students to be careless and make more mistakes. Before the invention of the rubber eraser, moist balls of bread were used to erase mistakes!
University of Al-Karaouine