Area Back to School 2017

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Havre’s going back to school August 2017

Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com

Havre public school students will fill the hallways and classrooms of the five city schools for the first time this year Aug. 30.

District superintendent Andy Carlson said he is so excited about the new year that, up until recently, he had been telling people school started Aug. 26.

“That’s a Saturday,” he said, laughing.

“There will be no school Aug. 26.”

At least one new teacher has been hired in each of city’s public schools. Twelve total new teachers, including new band teachers at Havre High and Havre Middle, will be educating and cultivating Havre’s young minds.

This year is not a typical year. In addition to another record low enrollment year — 1,786 students — the district will have to work with and around a budget that has been battered and decimated by two recent legislative bills.

House Bill 647 and Senate Bill 261, the full impact of the latter being announced just weeks ago, will make things significantly tighter, Carlson said. The guaranteed tax base via state taxes is gone as a result of HB 647, a cut that will be passed onto local taxpayers by legislative decision. November will

reveal additional taxes to local taxpayers.

Carlson said the legislators who voted for HB 647 were probably not aware of what it would do to schools.

“I don’t think they fully comprehend the impact it would have on the local districts,” he said.

As for SB 261, Carlson said, there was no way to plan for it.

“Our margin for error is not $100,000,” he said. “We plan as well, but I can tell you this — I don’t plan to have $100,00 removed from the budget a month before the school year begins.

“This is my perspective. You can’t take $100,00 away from us going into the school year and not have an impact what we do,” he said. “I don’t budget with the idea that we’re going to have even $20,000 taken away.”

The goal, going into the school year, is two-fold, how to balance a significantly lower budget without letting those efforts affect the classrooms or digging into reserves.

“Personnel,” he said, “is the number one thing that we’re protecting.”

Carlson said he views educators as the backbone of education and the secret to the district’s success. As the superintendent of the largest district in the area, he said, he keeps in touch with all nearby superintendents as they collaborate to meet each other’s needs in an area rife with a scarcity of

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Big Sandy Schools prepare for upcoming school year From Big Sandy School Although summer is not over, school is already here, with classes at Big Sandy Schools starting Monday, Aug. 21. Big Sandy Schools is looking forward to a great year, as the 2017-18 School Calendar is up-to-date and full of academic and extracurricular events.

Please visit the school’s website at http://www.bigsandy.k12.mt.us to view all current activities. People can also follow both F.E. Miley and Big Sandy High School on Facebook. School hours will once again begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 3:48 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Several new faces will be at Big Sandy Schools as the certified staff welcomes Samantha Weaver/Kindergarten Instructor; Devyn Poser/Sixth-grade Instructor; Shelbi Darlington/Gifted and Talented/Intervention Specialist; Sarah Pugh/Seven-12 English Instructor; and

Bridgette Long/JH Spanish Instructor.

New classified staff members include Cheryl Ostrom/Elementary Aide, and Lianna Heimbigner/Cook. Heather Wolery is the new K-12 Principal for the upcoming school year. Congratulations and welcome to all our new employees, as they join a great team of educators and staff.

High school students registered for their classes last spring, and students may view their class schedules by logging into their personal accounts with Infinite Campus. They had the first week of school to make any changes to their schedules.

New students may contact Sherri Heppner at 378-2502 to set up a time to register. They could register on the first day of school, as long as their former school records had been received and reviewed. Junior high students enrolled in classes the first day of school, Monday.

Students transferring to Big Sandy

Schools will need to present adequate immunization records in order to enroll.

Reminders were also sent to incoming seventh-graders needing immunization updates prior to attendance August 21.

Anyone with questions about their child’s immunization status should contact Sherri Heppner.

Breakfast and lunch prices have been changed for the upcoming school year.

Breakfast for K-12 is $1.10, and lunch prices are $2 for K-6 and $2.25 for grades 7-12.

Parents/guardians are reminded to purchase meal tickets monthly. Free and reduced applications forms can be found on the school’s webpage and should be submitted to Cheryl Strutz at the elementary school.

Bus routes have been determined.

Parents who have questions regarding bus routes, pick up and drop off times, may call their route driver or contact Mr.

Moore for specifics.

Students in grades 7-12 will bring home several forms that will require parent and student signatures. People should have filled out all the required information and returned them by Aug. 24.

Students involved in extracurricular activities will not be allowed to participate until all forms are signed and on file.

Please note that hard copies of the student handbook will not be handed out to students this year, as it is accessible on line at the schools website. Anyone who does not have access to the internet, may contact the school secretary and a hard copy will be provided to you.

Big Sandy Schools wishes all students a successful school year. Thanks to the parents and community for their continued support of the school and students.

Box Elder welcomes students back to the 2017-18 school year Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson talks about how loss of funding due to the Legislature and the increase in taxes to offest it will effect Hill County and the school district. qualified educators.

“If we’ve gone through our rounds — the board’s approved that person that we hired and I have two applications that I thought were pretty decent — I’m definitely going to tell them,” he said. “I would hope they do the same for us.”

In addition to the new teachers this year, new response protocols will be in place.

“What we’re going to try to do is have the best possible protocols to protect our students and staff,” he said.

Last year, a handful of scares occurred that prompted school lock downs. Carlson said one of the goals for those situations will be a better-trained and informed staff. Staff will be receiving training Aug. 29 and 30, he said. The goal is for teachers and administrators, “to have a greater sense of what’s going on in the school.”

As for social media and the outside chatter that accompanies school lockdowns and other crisis, Carlson said, it would be a hopeless task to try and control that.

“I’m never going to be able to keep stu-

Editor’s note

With the early deadline needed to produce this section and most schools in the middle of transition from last school year to this, not all area schools were able to provide information to the Havre Daily News in time for publication.

Box Elder School District would like to welcome students, staff, parents, and the community to the 2017-18 school year. We look forward continuing our efforts to provide the best educational environment possible. Exciting things are happening in Box Elder as we enter year two of our Apple ConnectED Grant.

We will continue to incorporate 21st cen-

tury teaching and learning skills into our curriculum as we prepare our students to make a positive impact on the world.

We will be welcoming some excellent new staff members to our school. Robyn Hawk and Misty Tatsey will be new firsgrade teachers. Grady Holt-Seavy and Aaron Henry will be new teachers in our

middle school. Peter Suci, Andrew Richards and Troy DeBoard are new additions to our high school staff. With additional positions we are increasing our course offerings while reducing class sizes. Box Elder is working to implement personalized learning to better meet the needs of students in our school.

We welcome all parents and community members to visit the school and learn more about the changes being implemented to improve the success rates of our students!

Jeremy MacDonald Superintendent jmacdonald@boxelder.k12.mt.us 406-352-4195

CJI Schools faculty and staff have been busy preparing to welcome students back to class With the daylight hours become shorter and store aisles stocked with back-to-school supplies, it was apparent this month the time was nearing for children to head back to the classroom for another year of schooling. As children and families have been taking advantage of the summer break for swimming, fishing, traveling, vacationing, farming, relaxing, or other activities, school personnel have been active preparing for the upcoming year.

Maintenance staff have been busy cleaning, painting, landscaping, and repairing the district’s buildings and campus. The CJI school building is sporting a newly painted foundation, freshly waxed floors, new library windows, a resealed roof, manicured trees, clean and disinfected classroom spaces, some freshly painted walls, a few relocated rooms, and a remodeled kitchen. A huge thank you goes out to this crew for the commitment they gave to put a fresh look onto the school and campus.

Construction staff have been diligently working all summer to remodel the school kitchen in time for the first day of school.

Though it was not yet complete at the time of the writing of this letter, appliances, fixtures, and final details are being installed on schedule and as planned. The spacious newly remodeled area, sporting bright white walls and shinny new stainless steel fixtures, will be a pleasant backdrop to the

delicious entrees the kitchen staff will proudly prepare and serve in this state of the art kitchen space. Thanks to the crew from Diamond Construction for their expertise and craftsmanship, CJI Schools will have a first class kitchen upon completion.

Another very crucial group, who is working during the summer, is the office staff. They have been persistently preparing the budget, schedules, handbooks, recruiting staff, and purchasing/receiving goods/supplies for the 2017-18 school year.

No organization can operate well without good management staff and CJI School District is fortunate to have top-notch individuals performing these tasks.

The first day of school was Wednesday, Aug. 23rd; however, parents, students, and the community kicked off the school year with an annual Back-to-School Community Picnic Aug. 22 with all food and refreshments provided.

The CJI Booster Club set out a school supply donation dropbox (shaped like a school bus) in the entry of the school if anyone is willing to help out classrooms and less fortunate students with school supplies.

Parents with students new to the district this year werere encouraged to stop by the office ASAP to enroll their children, get a tour of the school, and provide any other

necessary details to help the transition to CJI go flawlessly and set your student up for success. Additional pertinent school information can be located on the district website at http://www.cji.k12.mt.us.

I am excited to get the year underway looking and anticipate a great school year.

I look forward to the opportunity to see and visit with parents and community members to share and celebrate the achievements and successes we make with and for our students. Go Hawks!!!

Tim Bronk, superintendent, ChesterJoplin-Inverness Schools

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Highland Park set to welcome students for new school year Dear parents and guardians, My name is Mark Irvin, and I am the Principal of Highland Park Early Primary School in Havre. As summer vacation comes to a close I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome all our new and returning students back to school! We are looking forward to an exciting and wonderful school year.

Just a reminder that individualized kindergarten orientations will take place on either Wednesday, Aug. 30, or Thursday, Aug. 31, between the hours of 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. You should have been contacted by your child’s

teacher to arrange a meeting time. This is an opportunity to find their classroom, meet their teacher and other school staff, drop off their school supplies and get a bit more comfortable with the school. The first day of school for Kindergarten is Friday, Sept. 1.

If you have a first-grader I encourage you to bring your child to school Tuesday, Aug. 29, between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., for an informal meet and greet. This is an opportunity to find their classroom, meet their teacher and other school staff, drop off their school supplies and tour the school. This preview alleviates some

of the first-day jitters and helps you and your child feel more comfortable. The first day of school for first-graders is Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

School begins at 8:20 a.m. and is dismissed at 2:45 p.m. each day. However, since breakfast and playground supervision are available from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. each morning, feel free to drop off your child after 7:45 a.m.

Transportation information was available early August. This information will be available either online through parent portal or from the bus garage. If you have not yet regis-

tered your child for bussing or if his/her bussing information needs to be changed, please go online to www.blueponyk12.com or call the bus garage at 395-8556 x 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school at 395-8555. Also, many questions can be answered by going to the Havre Public Schools website. We look forward to having your child at Highland Park and welcome back!

Mark Irvin Principal, Highland Park Early Primary School

Several back-to-school tips can be used to help reduce student stress (StatePoint) School can be a stressful place, from finding a seat at lunch to making new friends, but don’t let supplies be one of those stressors. Make life just a bit easier with the right supplies, so students have more time to focus on the important things.

To help reduce stress, consider the following tips and tricks.

Lighten the Load Students are always on the go -- shuttling to and from school, attending rehearsals, practices and other extracurricular activities, and moving about from class to class.

Managing mobility is crucial toward alleviating physical stress.

Use multifunctional tools that can help them carry less, such as the Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder. It acts like a notebook and works like a binder with flexible, durable rings that open and close, allowing students to add, remove or re-sort their papers.

Carrying less means less to worry about.

Further lighten the load by carrying only what is needed. Pack backpacks the night before to avoid bringing textbooks or binders that won ’t be used. Another tip is to look for a backpack that features ergonomic straps to help distribute weight evenly and reduce physical stress. A backpack that has this feature is the Five Star Expandable Backpack; not only that, it also has expand-

StatePoint Students use several methods to help reduce stress during the school year including organization, reducing how much they have to carry and staying balanced with their activities. ing compartments offering extra room when needed. Other things to look for are pockets to help keep small supplies organized and easy to find, and padded sections for holding and protecting technology.

Stay Organized Being organized can reduce so many headaches. Yet somehow, it ’s all too easy to let backpacks, lockers and even bedroom floors get messy. Use effective organizational tools to ensure assignments aren ’t misplaced in the shuffle. For example, the Five Star Storage & Organization Divider features mesh storage pockets that are great for smaller school supplies; plus, it can snap into a notebook or be stored in a binder for easy organization of important papers.

Write it Down Write down assignments as soon as they are given. Being proactive will make sure there are no surprises. A planner is great for accessing information anytime, however you may want to display this crucial information on a wall calendar or planner at home as well.

Remain Balanced Beyond selecting smart gear, students can help ensure a successful school year by making room in their schedules for activities that help reduce stress, whether that ’s listening to music, going for a run or spending time with friends.

Find a few systems that help keep mental and physical stress low, and work hard to keep them in place throughout the year.

Follow the Havre Daily News for all your Havre Area Schools news, sports and information. www.havredailynews.com

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dents and staff safe and, at the same time, communicate in an effective matter to stop all the other chatter that’s going on out there,” he said.

In addition to the changes brought on by social media — not just when it comes to emergency situations, but in the classrooms as well — other challenges includes the diversity of backgrounds students bring to the classroom, Carlson said.

“Everything is changing,” he said. “It’s the number of influences that teachers have to prep for every single day in their classroom.”

Related challenges include the level of knowledge different students bring, and the amount of students who drop off or come in at various times during the school year, he said. For the teacher, whose goal is to build relationships, all those scenarios make building those relationships and educating those children more difficult.

To deal with the changes, Carlson said, it’s important to have — again — trained staff. Havre, he said, has a reputation for having quality staff. It is the reason bigger districts keep “picking off” Havre educators, he added.

“When I travel,” he said, “there is an outside perception that we’re pretty wellthought-of.”

Sure, he said, procedures, systems and protocols matter, but not as much as people.

“It starts with teachers in the classrooms building relationships,” he said.

The teacher, not tests, he said, should be the most important indicator of academic success in the classroom. Carlson said he does not dismiss testing, but added, “Tests don’t tell you anything about your kid.”

The red tape from the federal and state level has increased tenfold, he said, adding this is his opinion and does not represent that of anyone else in the district. The Every Child Succeeds Acts was supposed to hand over more local control. However, he said he does not see how that has happened.

“I can’t tell the difference between the amount of reporting I had to do two years ago and now,” he said. “What we report to the state and the federal government, in my opinion, is not an accurate description of what’s happening in the classroom.”

Albeit budget cuts, regulations and preparation for scary situations, the advent of school season is at the doorstep, and that made Carlson smile.

When asked what he is he most excited about this year, he said, “That’s an easy

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Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Havre High School students leave the school after classes May 8. The school, and school district, is ramping up to start a new school year. one,” he said. “Getting everyone back,” “The summer gets long, it gets boring,” he said. “It’s a people business. That’s what you enjoy — you enjoy being around people.”

New Havre school teachers

Highland Park Early Primary School • Lanaia Lewis — Special Education • Jennifer Mansfield – First Grade

Lincoln-McKinley Primary School • Patricia Ferguson — Second Grade

Sunnyside Intermediate School • Jennifer Fitch — Fourth Grade • Kodey Hansen — Fourth Grade • Shannon Marshall — Fourth Grade

Havre Middle School • Megan Lewis — Math • Jarred Taylor — Band

Havre High School

• Myles Laird – Special Education

• Michael Hoffman — Special Education • Travis Aline — History • Zachary Paulus - Band

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Havre Middle School set for new year From Havre Middle School The Havre Middle School Office Staff would like to welcome you to the 2017-2018 school year. If you have any questions or concerns during the year, please feel free to contact Principal Dustin Kraske; Vice Principal Jeremiah Nitz or secretaries Brandee Parsons and Meg Lippy H av re M i d d l e S c h o o l Re g i s t ra t i o n started Tuesday, Aug 22, and continued through Thursday, Aug. 24 Any sixth-, seventh-, eighth-grade or new student could register during these scheduled days. Students must be accompanied by parents when registering. First day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Parents were asked to call the school at 395-8552 in advance if they would not be in town during these dates.

Students were to pick up their class schedules, locker assignments, transportation schedules, handbooks, assignment books for $4, school I.D. for $2, breakfast/lunch tickets, sport physical forms, and other pertinent items. Parents, need to be aware that assignment books and breakfast/lunch tickets must be pur chased separately.

The sport physical, including those for cheerleaders, are required of all participating seventh- and eighth-graders. Any sixth-grade student planning on partici-

Havre Daily News/File photo Leslie Hanson's eighth-grade class at Havre Middle School had a little fun with their end-of-the-year math assignment in June 2016. They each wrote their name with sidewalk chalk and what they liked most about math. The middle school had registration for this school year last week and classes start this week. pating in cross country, wrestling, golf, or track must have a physical form completed before being allowed to participate.

Supplies necessary this year are: Pencils, pens (black, blue and red), h i g h l i g h t e rs, c o l l e ge - r u l e d n o t e b o o k paper, 1” 3-ring binder, scissors, ruler, large eraser or pencil top erasers and a pencil pouch, extra-fine-point Sharpie markers, binder dividers, pocket folders, ear buds, paper grocery bags for book covers, and a combination or padlock for health enhancement class and/or any sport activity locker. Additional information is available on our district website qt http://www.havre.k12.mt.us.

Teachers may have specific additional supplies for certain classes. The school is also requiring assignment notebooks that sell for $4 each and student I.D. for $2 each.

Students are required to dress out in

T-shirts, shorts and appropriate sneakers in physical education class. The school does not provide clothing for P.E.

All parents are reminded that the M o n t a n a S c h o o l I m m u n i z a t i o n Law requires that all students entering the seventh grade in Montana schools have a TDAP (tetanus) and the required two MMR’s. No student will be registered without verification of proper immunization. Parents are also reminded that there are policies in regard to medications, whether prescription or non-prescription. It is mandatory that all medications must be delivered to the office by a parent/guardian and a medical form c o m p l e t e d by t h e p a r e n t / g u a r d i a n .

Students are not allowed to deliver any medication to the office and medication will not be administered unless a medical form is completed by the parent.

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North Star Schools start classes for 2017-18 school year From North Star Schools North Star Schools was ready this month for another school year, with classes starting Aug. 22.

The schools’ mission statement was reviewed and revised last year with input from staff, students and the community.

North Star Schools is dedicated to providing the youth of our community with a safe and stable environment. Students attending our schools will develop individuality, integrity, respect and a strong work ethic. Our graduates will be leaders in their communities who show generosity toward others and a thirst for knowledge.

New staff this year includes Davilyn McCormick, Title I; and Kyle Volkman, English. McCormick was a substitute teacher last year and Volkman previously taught at Hinsdale. Positions that are still open include JH volleyball coach and JH football coach. Contact the main office at 355-4481 for more information.

School for North Star students began Aug. 22, at 7:55 a.m. for elementary students and at 8:05 a.m. for students in grades 7-12. School dismissed as usual at 3:45 p.m.. Breakfast and lunch were served. Buses will run on the same schedule as last year. Check out the school website at http://www.northstar.k12.mt.us for lunch menus, the class schedule, activities, bus routes, free and reduced lunch application, the Infinite Campus portal for parents, elementary information and more. All students entering the seventh grade had to receive a dose of Tdap/Td booster vaccine prior to the start of school.

School Pictures will be taken Wednesday, Aug. 29, beginning at the elementary at 8 a.m. and then move to the junior high and high school in Rudyard

later that morning.

School meals prices are breakfast $1.65 and lunch $2.65 for students. Students must pre-pay or bring money each day they eat. The Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application is available on the school website.

Drivers education is offered second semester during the school day. A fee of $150 must be paid before Jan. 22.

Student Class Schedules were mailed home for each individual in grades seven through 12. Drop/adds were accepted until Aug. 14. After that date, students can complete drop/add slips when school begins.

Sports physicals are required for students in grades five through 12 who plan on participating in any sport. They need to complete the MHSA physical form and pass the physical prior to beginning practice. Physical forms can be obtained at h t t p / / w w w. n o r t h s ta r. k 1 2 . m t . u s u n d e r Sports or at the office in Rudyard. High school football and volleyball practices began Aug. 11. Junior high football and volleyball practices will began Aug. 14.

During bad weather or school emergencies, school closure or delays will be announced on the Havre radio stations — 610 KOJM-AM and KPQX-FM 92.5. The Infinite Campus messenger system may also be used to contact parents/guardians.

Activity Pass prices are: Family $250, Adult $125, Student $25. Students in grades Five through 12 who participate in football, volleyball, basketball or track are required to purchase an activity pass. If a family pass is purchased, a separate student pass is not required. This prices covers all North Star athletic regular season competitions but excludes tournaments/ playoffs/showcases. Family passes do not include college-age children.

Courtesy photo North Star Schools students Rhett Wolery, from left, Hayden Massar, Jasper Wendland, Caden Rettig, Bailey Spicher, Sage O'Neal, Jade Wendland, Abby Machinest, Laramie Peterson, Makaila Horinek pose for a photograph in Missoua at the 2017 Montana Science Fair.

K n i g h t I n N e e d i s s i m i l a r to “ M y Student In Need” that is advertised in the Great Falls Tribune. Thanks to anonymous donors, funds are available to help students. If a student needs help getting their school supplies, contact Carol Tempel at the school office, 355-4481 or at ctempel@ nsschools.org. If students need assistance for other items, they may be considered, just contact Carol.

The North Star School District is an Montana Behavior Initiative school. The Knight CODE is the universal expectation for students and staff: Challenge yourself Own your behavior Display respect Encourage others

The 2017-18 staff includes: Superintendent Bart Hawkins Business Manager Kathy Preeshl Administrative Assistant Carol Tempel Elementary Secretary Katie Bangs Custodian & Maintenance Chris Lavery Custodian-Elementary Cheryl Lavery Custodian-JH/HS Rhonda Olson Cook-Elementary Lori Tollefson Cook-JH/HS Pam Langel Assistant Cook-Elementary Assistant Cook-JH/HS Catalina Carlon Activities Director Brian Campbell

Guidance and Counseling Rose Spinler Kindergarten/Technology Joanie Lipp Grade one: Jan Donoven Grade two: Twila Dyrland Grade three: Terica Schaumloeffel Grade four: Michelle Clawson Grade five: Scott Froehlich Grade six/PE K-six/Lead Teacher Bill Mulvaney Art K-12, English 7-8 Linda Lett C o m p u t e r Te c h n o l o g y / L i b r a r y K a y Jorgenson English 9-12 Kyle Volkman Fa m i l y C o n s u m e r S c i e n c e / J M G Marjorie Chinadle History Elizabeth Campbell I n d u s t r i a l Te c h / Tra f f i c S a f e t y S t eve Simonson Math Brian Campbell Math/Business Karleen Wolery Music Scott Kendall PE/Health K-12 Steve Simonson Science Pam Renaker Special Education K-12 Shanna Williams Title I Davilyn McCormick Resource/Title I Aide-Elementary Dani Jo Kline Resource/Title I Aide-JH/HS Tiffany Rettig Technology Mr. Fred Nelson

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Havre schools getting trauma-informed National pilot program teaches school personnel to look at what happened instead of what is wrong

Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com Havre has been one of 20 national districts selected to be part of a national rauma-recognizing pilot program intended to help school employees learn to identify trauma in students.

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson said the program and its implementation is in its infant stages.

A small handful of district staff and school board Trustee Curtis Smeby attended a trauma sensitive conference April 5 and 6 in Seattle. But it will take

years to have enough staff trained to recognize trauma and learn to work with students affected by it, Carlson said.

“We’re not anywhere near where we’re actually able to help kids,” he said.

Smeby The trauma-sensitive schools program is a b o u t l e a r n i n g h ow trauma impacts students and using that knowledge as a tool to better educate students and provide calm and secure learning environments. The program was was approved during the second half of the last school year after attention was b ro u g h t to i t by M o n ta n a S ta t e University-Northern education professor Smeby.

The crux of the program, Carlson said, using Smeby’s illustration, is it changes how educators approach troubled students.

“It’s moving from the mindset of what’s wrong with you to what happened to you,” Carlson said.

The Havre district is at a stage where they are learning to recognize students with trauma, he added.

“I’m in the stage of b e i n g t ra u m a informed,” he said.

The district faculty a n d s ta f f c o m p r i s e s Carlson about 300 people, with just slightly under half of those are educators.

To have a handful of people out of nearly 150 educators indicates how long the road to being trauma informed is, Carlson said. The plan, he added, is to have the people who are trained pass that knowledge onto others.

According to the Adverse Childhood Experience study, done by the National Council for Behavioral Health, adverse childhood experiences can cause neurodevelopmental disruption and social, emotional and cognitive impairment, among other things.

“A child impacted by trauma may experience physical ailments, intrusive thoughts and fears, and decreased atten-

A child impacted by trauma may experience physical ailments, intrusive thoughts and fears, and decreased attention and concentration, all which impact learning.

— National Council for Behavioral Health

tion and concentration, all which impact learning,” a statement from the NCBH says.

NCBH statistics say that at least 59 percent of the general population has experienced at least one adverse childhood event; four of every 10 children in America say they experienced a physical assault during the past year, with one in 10 receiving an assault-related injury; and more than 60 percent of youth 17 and younger have been exposed to crime, violence and abuse either directly or indirectly.

Welcome to another school year at Havre High School Dear Havre High School Parents, Students, and Community, As principal of Havre High School, it my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great year at Havre High. We are excited to have students back in our classrooms and hallways, filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning.

Over the past couple of weeks the enthusiasm of a new school year has been evident with student athletes and coaches beginning their preparation for the fall season, band members practicing in the school, cheerleaders working together on the grounds, teachers setting up their classrooms, and faculty/staff members attending classes. The custodians have labored all summer to make sure the Havre High School building is sparkling and ready for the 2017-18 school year.

It is our mission to help every child feel welcomed, connected, and part of our Havre High School family. We strive to challenge each student to grow in his or her academic and personal abilities to be an effective citizen, and prepared for postsecondary education and a career. At Havre High School, we have great educators who spend hours planning innovative lessons to engage our students in learning. In support of the “Core Values” of

Havre Public Schools, our instructional team is committed to fostering a culture of high expectations, strong relationships, and quality instruction. We believe that all students should graduate from high school prepared to make a living, make a life, and make a difference.

This year we hope that you will find our improved website helpful and informative. Weekly newsletters, dates and times for all activities, and other important information will be featured on the HHS website. Additionally, we are starting a Twitter account that we will use to send out updates and quick announcements as we progress through the school year.

I am honored to serve as principal of Havre High School. It is truly a privilege to be a part of a community where parents, teachers, staff, and students care for each other and strive to build positive relationships that support academics and personal growth. Please feel free to contact me at 395-6202 or at haugenm@blueponyk12.com.

Let’s make it another great year at Havre High School together!

Sincerely, Mike Haugen Havre High School principal

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Sunnyside welcomes students back for another year Greetings parents and guardians, We at Sunnyside Elementary School are looking with excitement to the 2017-2018 school year. We thank you for sharing your children with us and look forward to working with you.

Transportation information is available either online through Infinite Campus parent portal or from the bus garage. If you have not yet registered your child for bussing or if his/her bussing information needs to be changed, please go online to http://www.blueponyk12.com or call the bus garage at 3958556 x 1.

The Sunnyside Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This meet and greet will begin in the gym at 5:30.

After introductions and a brief presentation, parents and students will have the opportunity to visit their classroom as well as tour the school. This is an important

Havre Daily News/File photo Shaylan Brough of the Havre High School Key Club reads to students as Devin Bray of the Montana State UniversityNorthern Lights basketball team looks on Jan. 13 in Sunnyside Intermediate School during Read for Peace. event that helps you know the teacher’s goals and classroom procedures for the year.

We want students and parents to always feel welcome in our building.I hope to see each of you there.

School begins Aug. 30 at 8:20 a.m.. The campus opens at 7:50 each morning. The day concludes at 3:20 each afternoon. Please call 3958553 if you have questions or ideas.

I am looking forward to a great year and to working with you as we invest in your student’s education.

Respectfully, Carmen Lunak, principal Sunnyside Intermediate School

Welcome from faculty and staff of Lincoln-McKinley Dear parents and guardians of LincolnMcKinley students, The staff of Lincoln-McKinley Primary School is excited to welcome you to the 2017-18 school year. Hopefully, you had an adventurous, safe, and fun-filled summer.

Our team is excited to meet all of the new students and welcome back those who are returning. An informational parent orientation will be held from 11:30 a.m. – noon or noon to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. This is a great way for families to meet their child’s teacher as well as learn important procedures to make this a wonderful school year. The first day of classes for secondand third-grade students is Wednesday, Aug. 30. Students begin the day at 8:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 2:45 p.m..

Placement letters and class supply lists were mailed out for enrolled students in June, students new to the district should be receiving theirs in a timely manner. Local stores have copies of the supply list, and it is also available on our schools website at http://www.blueponyk12.com. Choose the schools tab, then Lincoln-McKinley, and you will find the supply list link on the left side of the page. For children riding the bus, you will find their bussing information on the same website. On the bottom of the page, click on parent portal, search your child, then select the transportation tab to show their routes.

If you do not have access to a computer or need help, please contact the Havre Public Schools Transportation Department at 395-8556, extension 1.

For students who have not had the opportunity to register, please take a moment to contact the Robin’s Administration Building at 395-8550 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions between now and the beginning of school, or at any time during the year, please feel free to call the school at 3958554.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the building. Let’s work together to make this an enjoyable year filled with learning and laughter.

Sincerely, Holly Bitz, principal Lincoln-McKinley Primary School

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Welcome back to another school

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year in north-central Montana

Havre Daily News/File photo High school students Michaelle Barfett and Jace Pursley of Chinook, Taryn Van Horn of Eureka and sisters Morgain and Kaleigh Baker of Columbus talk Jan 28 about the speech and drama round in which they just competed at Montana State University-Northern in Havre.

Chinook hosted the Class BC state speech and drama tournament at Northern, with local students competing against the best BC speakers from around the state.

Havre Daily New/File photo Above: Havre High School students participate in the annual Academic Challenge in the high school auditorium Thursday. Finding the answer to questions written by Havre High School teachers is not as easy as it sounds as these students found out at the challenge. Teams competed in a debate-style setting being quizzed on what was taught to them by their teachers throughout the year.

Havre Daily News/File photo Above: Rhiannon Reddoor gives the Valedictorian Address May 27 during the Box Elder High School Graduation. New superimtendent Jeremy MacDonald said the district is fired up to implement new and continuing programing for its students, and is welcoming several new teachers to the district.

Below: North Star Elementary first-grade class hosted Grandparents Day April 13. With a theme for Easter the class read poems, sang "The Bunny Clock Song" performed the play "Professor Long Ears Saves the Day" and danced the "Bunny Hop" for their grandparents. North Star Schools started the school year lest week.

Havre Daily News/File photo The Havre High School Blue Pony mascot fires up the crowd during the sendoff of the school swim and wrestling teams to state in February.

Havre Daily News/File photo Lincoln-McKinley Primary School students perform May 12 during a musical production. The school is starting the year with an orientation day for students Tuesday and the first day for this year’s crew of second- and third-grade students starting Wednesday at 8:20 a.m..

Havre Daily News/File photo Students at Highland Park Early Primary School board a bus after class last February. Buses are again ready to roll for this year in Havre Public Schools, with information available at https://www.blueponyk12.com or by calling 395-8556 ext. 1.

Havre Daily News/File photo Big Sandy High School’s Class of 2017 celebrate May 30 at the end of their graduation ceremony. Big Sandy started its Monday through Thursday school week Aug. 21.

Havre Daily News/File photo Havre High School’s Hi-Liters sing to the crowd April 30 at Havre Middle School during Havre Public Schools’ Salute to Senior Citizens.

The Hi-Liters performed "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Java Jive."

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Welcome back to another school

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year in north-central Montana

Havre Daily News/File photo High school students Michaelle Barfett and Jace Pursley of Chinook, Taryn Van Horn of Eureka and sisters Morgain and Kaleigh Baker of Columbus talk Jan 28 about the speech and drama round in which they just competed at Montana State University-Northern in Havre.

Chinook hosted the Class BC state speech and drama tournament at Northern, with local students competing against the best BC speakers from around the state.

Havre Daily New/File photo Above: Havre High School students participate in the annual Academic Challenge in the high school auditorium Thursday. Finding the answer to questions written by Havre High School teachers is not as easy as it sounds as these students found out at the challenge. Teams competed in a debate-style setting being quizzed on what was taught to them by their teachers throughout the year.

Havre Daily News/File photo Above: Rhiannon Reddoor gives the Valedictorian Address May 27 during the Box Elder High School Graduation. New superimtendent Jeremy MacDonald said the district is fired up to implement new and continuing programing for its students, and is welcoming several new teachers to the district.

Below: North Star Elementary first-grade class hosted Grandparents Day April 13. With a theme for Easter the class read poems, sang "The Bunny Clock Song" performed the play "Professor Long Ears Saves the Day" and danced the "Bunny Hop" for their grandparents. North Star Schools started the school year lest week.

Havre Daily News/File photo The Havre High School Blue Pony mascot fires up the crowd during the sendoff of the school swim and wrestling teams to state in February.

Havre Daily News/File photo Lincoln-McKinley Primary School students perform May 12 during a musical production. The school is starting the year with an orientation day for students Tuesday and the first day for this year’s crew of second- and third-grade students starting Wednesday at 8:20 a.m..

Havre Daily News/File photo Students at Highland Park Early Primary School board a bus after class last February. Buses are again ready to roll for this year in Havre Public Schools, with information available at https://www.blueponyk12.com or by calling 395-8556 ext. 1.

Havre Daily News/File photo Big Sandy High School’s Class of 2017 celebrate May 30 at the end of their graduation ceremony. Big Sandy started its Monday through Thursday school week Aug. 21.

Havre Daily News/File photo Havre High School’s Hi-Liters sing to the crowd April 30 at Havre Middle School during Havre Public Schools’ Salute to Senior Citizens.

The Hi-Liters performed "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Java Jive."

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Havre schools getting trauma-informed National pilot program teaches school personnel to look at what happened instead of what is wrong

Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com Havre has been one of 20 national districts selected to be part of a national rauma-recognizing pilot program intended to help school employees learn to identify trauma in students.

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson said the program and its implementation is in its infant stages.

A small handful of district staff and school board Trustee Curtis Smeby attended a trauma sensitive conference April 5 and 6 in Seattle. But it will take

years to have enough staff trained to recognize trauma and learn to work with students affected by it, Carlson said.

“We’re not anywhere near where we’re actually able to help kids,” he said.

Smeby The trauma-sensitive schools program is a b o u t l e a r n i n g h ow trauma impacts students and using that knowledge as a tool to better educate students and provide calm and secure learning environments. The program was was approved during the second half of the last school year after attention was b ro u g h t to i t by M o n ta n a S ta t e University-Northern education professor Smeby.

The crux of the program, Carlson said, using Smeby’s illustration, is it changes how educators approach troubled students.

“It’s moving from the mindset of what’s wrong with you to what happened to you,” Carlson said.

The Havre district is at a stage where they are learning to recognize students with trauma, he added.

“I’m in the stage of b e i n g t ra u m a informed,” he said.

The district faculty a n d s ta f f c o m p r i s e s Carlson about 300 people, with just slightly under half of those are educators.

To have a handful of people out of nearly 150 educators indicates how long the road to being trauma informed is, Carlson said. The plan, he added, is to have the people who are trained pass that knowledge onto others.

According to the Adverse Childhood Experience study, done by the National Council for Behavioral Health, adverse childhood experiences can cause neurodevelopmental disruption and social, emotional and cognitive impairment, among other things.

“A child impacted by trauma may experience physical ailments, intrusive thoughts and fears, and decreased atten-

A child impacted by trauma may experience physical ailments, intrusive thoughts and fears, and decreased attention and concentration, all which impact learning.

— National Council for Behavioral Health

tion and concentration, all which impact learning,” a statement from the NCBH says.

NCBH statistics say that at least 59 percent of the general population has experienced at least one adverse childhood event; four of every 10 children in America say they experienced a physical assault during the past year, with one in 10 receiving an assault-related injury; and more than 60 percent of youth 17 and younger have been exposed to crime, violence and abuse either directly or indirectly.

Welcome to another school year at Havre High School Dear Havre High School Parents, Students, and Community, As principal of Havre High School, it my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great year at Havre High. We are excited to have students back in our classrooms and hallways, filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning.

Over the past couple of weeks the enthusiasm of a new school year has been evident with student athletes and coaches beginning their preparation for the fall season, band members practicing in the school, cheerleaders working together on the grounds, teachers setting up their classrooms, and faculty/staff members attending classes. The custodians have labored all summer to make sure the Havre High School building is sparkling and ready for the 2017-18 school year.

It is our mission to help every child feel welcomed, connected, and part of our Havre High School family. We strive to challenge each student to grow in his or her academic and personal abilities to be an effective citizen, and prepared for postsecondary education and a career. At Havre High School, we have great educators who spend hours planning innovative lessons to engage our students in learning. In support of the “Core Values” of

Havre Public Schools, our instructional team is committed to fostering a culture of high expectations, strong relationships, and quality instruction. We believe that all students should graduate from high school prepared to make a living, make a life, and make a difference.

This year we hope that you will find our improved website helpful and informative. Weekly newsletters, dates and times for all activities, and other important information will be featured on the HHS website. Additionally, we are starting a Twitter account that we will use to send out updates and quick announcements as we progress through the school year.

I am honored to serve as principal of Havre High School. It is truly a privilege to be a part of a community where parents, teachers, staff, and students care for each other and strive to build positive relationships that support academics and personal growth. Please feel free to contact me at 395-6202 or at haugenm@blueponyk12.com.

Let’s make it another great year at Havre High School together!

Sincerely, Mike Haugen Havre High School principal

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Sunnyside welcomes students back for another year Greetings parents and guardians, We at Sunnyside Elementary School are looking with excitement to the 2017-2018 school year. We thank you for sharing your children with us and look forward to working with you.

Transportation information is available either online through Infinite Campus parent portal or from the bus garage. If you have not yet registered your child for bussing or if his/her bussing information needs to be changed, please go online to http://www.blueponyk12.com or call the bus garage at 3958556 x 1.

The Sunnyside Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This meet and greet will begin in the gym at 5:30.

After introductions and a brief presentation, parents and students will have the opportunity to visit their classroom as well as tour the school. This is an important

Havre Daily News/File photo Shaylan Brough of the Havre High School Key Club reads to students as Devin Bray of the Montana State UniversityNorthern Lights basketball team looks on Jan. 13 in Sunnyside Intermediate School during Read for Peace. event that helps you know the teacher’s goals and classroom procedures for the year.

We want students and parents to always feel welcome in our building.I hope to see each of you there.

School begins Aug. 30 at 8:20 a.m.. The campus opens at 7:50 each morning. The day concludes at 3:20 each afternoon. Please call 3958553 if you have questions or ideas.

I am looking forward to a great year and to working with you as we invest in your student’s education.

Respectfully, Carmen Lunak, principal Sunnyside Intermediate School

Welcome from faculty and staff of Lincoln-McKinley Dear parents and guardians of LincolnMcKinley students, The staff of Lincoln-McKinley Primary School is excited to welcome you to the 2017-18 school year. Hopefully, you had an adventurous, safe, and fun-filled summer.

Our team is excited to meet all of the new students and welcome back those who are returning. An informational parent orientation will be held from 11:30 a.m. – noon or noon to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. This is a great way for families to meet their child’s teacher as well as learn important procedures to make this a wonderful school year. The first day of classes for secondand third-grade students is Wednesday, Aug. 30. Students begin the day at 8:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 2:45 p.m..

Placement letters and class supply lists were mailed out for enrolled students in June, students new to the district should be receiving theirs in a timely manner. Local stores have copies of the supply list, and it is also available on our schools website at http://www.blueponyk12.com. Choose the schools tab, then Lincoln-McKinley, and you will find the supply list link on the left side of the page. For children riding the bus, you will find their bussing information on the same website. On the bottom of the page, click on parent portal, search your child, then select the transportation tab to show their routes.

If you do not have access to a computer or need help, please contact the Havre Public Schools Transportation Department at 395-8556, extension 1.

For students who have not had the opportunity to register, please take a moment to contact the Robin’s Administration Building at 395-8550 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions between now and the beginning of school, or at any time during the year, please feel free to call the school at 3958554.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the building. Let’s work together to make this an enjoyable year filled with learning and laughter.

Sincerely, Holly Bitz, principal Lincoln-McKinley Primary School

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Havre Middle School set for new year From Havre Middle School The Havre Middle School Office Staff would like to welcome you to the 2017-2018 school year. If you have any questions or concerns during the year, please feel free to contact Principal Dustin Kraske; Vice Principal Jeremiah Nitz or secretaries Brandee Parsons and Meg Lippy H av re M i d d l e S c h o o l Re g i s t ra t i o n started Tuesday, Aug 22, and continued through Thursday, Aug. 24 Any sixth-, seventh-, eighth-grade or new student could register during these scheduled days. Students must be accompanied by parents when registering. First day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Parents were asked to call the school at 395-8552 in advance if they would not be in town during these dates.

Students were to pick up their class schedules, locker assignments, transportation schedules, handbooks, assignment books for $4, school I.D. for $2, breakfast/lunch tickets, sport physical forms, and other pertinent items. Parents, need to be aware that assignment books and breakfast/lunch tickets must be pur chased separately.

The sport physical, including those for cheerleaders, are required of all participating seventh- and eighth-graders. Any sixth-grade student planning on partici-

Havre Daily News/File photo Leslie Hanson's eighth-grade class at Havre Middle School had a little fun with their end-of-the-year math assignment in June 2016. They each wrote their name with sidewalk chalk and what they liked most about math. The middle school had registration for this school year last week and classes start this week. pating in cross country, wrestling, golf, or track must have a physical form completed before being allowed to participate.

Supplies necessary this year are: Pencils, pens (black, blue and red), h i g h l i g h t e rs, c o l l e ge - r u l e d n o t e b o o k paper, 1” 3-ring binder, scissors, ruler, large eraser or pencil top erasers and a pencil pouch, extra-fine-point Sharpie markers, binder dividers, pocket folders, ear buds, paper grocery bags for book covers, and a combination or padlock for health enhancement class and/or any sport activity locker. Additional information is available on our district website qt http://www.havre.k12.mt.us.

Teachers may have specific additional supplies for certain classes. The school is also requiring assignment notebooks that sell for $4 each and student I.D. for $2 each.

Students are required to dress out in

T-shirts, shorts and appropriate sneakers in physical education class. The school does not provide clothing for P.E.

All parents are reminded that the M o n t a n a S c h o o l I m m u n i z a t i o n Law requires that all students entering the seventh grade in Montana schools have a TDAP (tetanus) and the required two MMR’s. No student will be registered without verification of proper immunization. Parents are also reminded that there are policies in regard to medications, whether prescription or non-prescription. It is mandatory that all medications must be delivered to the office by a parent/guardian and a medical form c o m p l e t e d by t h e p a r e n t / g u a r d i a n .

Students are not allowed to deliver any medication to the office and medication will not be administered unless a medical form is completed by the parent.

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North Star Schools start classes for 2017-18 school year From North Star Schools North Star Schools was ready this month for another school year, with classes starting Aug. 22.

The schools’ mission statement was reviewed and revised last year with input from staff, students and the community.

North Star Schools is dedicated to providing the youth of our community with a safe and stable environment. Students attending our schools will develop individuality, integrity, respect and a strong work ethic. Our graduates will be leaders in their communities who show generosity toward others and a thirst for knowledge.

New staff this year includes Davilyn McCormick, Title I; and Kyle Volkman, English. McCormick was a substitute teacher last year and Volkman previously taught at Hinsdale. Positions that are still open include JH volleyball coach and JH football coach. Contact the main office at 355-4481 for more information.

School for North Star students began Aug. 22, at 7:55 a.m. for elementary students and at 8:05 a.m. for students in grades 7-12. School dismissed as usual at 3:45 p.m.. Breakfast and lunch were served. Buses will run on the same schedule as last year. Check out the school website at http://www.northstar.k12.mt.us for lunch menus, the class schedule, activities, bus routes, free and reduced lunch application, the Infinite Campus portal for parents, elementary information and more. All students entering the seventh grade had to receive a dose of Tdap/Td booster vaccine prior to the start of school.

School Pictures will be taken Wednesday, Aug. 29, beginning at the elementary at 8 a.m. and then move to the junior high and high school in Rudyard

later that morning.

School meals prices are breakfast $1.65 and lunch $2.65 for students. Students must pre-pay or bring money each day they eat. The Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application is available on the school website.

Drivers education is offered second semester during the school day. A fee of $150 must be paid before Jan. 22.

Student Class Schedules were mailed home for each individual in grades seven through 12. Drop/adds were accepted until Aug. 14. After that date, students can complete drop/add slips when school begins.

Sports physicals are required for students in grades five through 12 who plan on participating in any sport. They need to complete the MHSA physical form and pass the physical prior to beginning practice. Physical forms can be obtained at h t t p / / w w w. n o r t h s ta r. k 1 2 . m t . u s u n d e r Sports or at the office in Rudyard. High school football and volleyball practices began Aug. 11. Junior high football and volleyball practices will began Aug. 14.

During bad weather or school emergencies, school closure or delays will be announced on the Havre radio stations — 610 KOJM-AM and KPQX-FM 92.5. The Infinite Campus messenger system may also be used to contact parents/guardians.

Activity Pass prices are: Family $250, Adult $125, Student $25. Students in grades Five through 12 who participate in football, volleyball, basketball or track are required to purchase an activity pass. If a family pass is purchased, a separate student pass is not required. This prices covers all North Star athletic regular season competitions but excludes tournaments/ playoffs/showcases. Family passes do not include college-age children.

Courtesy photo North Star Schools students Rhett Wolery, from left, Hayden Massar, Jasper Wendland, Caden Rettig, Bailey Spicher, Sage O'Neal, Jade Wendland, Abby Machinest, Laramie Peterson, Makaila Horinek pose for a photograph in Missoua at the 2017 Montana Science Fair.

K n i g h t I n N e e d i s s i m i l a r to “ M y Student In Need” that is advertised in the Great Falls Tribune. Thanks to anonymous donors, funds are available to help students. If a student needs help getting their school supplies, contact Carol Tempel at the school office, 355-4481 or at ctempel@ nsschools.org. If students need assistance for other items, they may be considered, just contact Carol.

The North Star School District is an Montana Behavior Initiative school. The Knight CODE is the universal expectation for students and staff: Challenge yourself Own your behavior Display respect Encourage others

The 2017-18 staff includes: Superintendent Bart Hawkins Business Manager Kathy Preeshl Administrative Assistant Carol Tempel Elementary Secretary Katie Bangs Custodian & Maintenance Chris Lavery Custodian-Elementary Cheryl Lavery Custodian-JH/HS Rhonda Olson Cook-Elementary Lori Tollefson Cook-JH/HS Pam Langel Assistant Cook-Elementary Assistant Cook-JH/HS Catalina Carlon Activities Director Brian Campbell

Guidance and Counseling Rose Spinler Kindergarten/Technology Joanie Lipp Grade one: Jan Donoven Grade two: Twila Dyrland Grade three: Terica Schaumloeffel Grade four: Michelle Clawson Grade five: Scott Froehlich Grade six/PE K-six/Lead Teacher Bill Mulvaney Art K-12, English 7-8 Linda Lett C o m p u t e r Te c h n o l o g y / L i b r a r y K a y Jorgenson English 9-12 Kyle Volkman Fa m i l y C o n s u m e r S c i e n c e / J M G Marjorie Chinadle History Elizabeth Campbell I n d u s t r i a l Te c h / Tra f f i c S a f e t y S t eve Simonson Math Brian Campbell Math/Business Karleen Wolery Music Scott Kendall PE/Health K-12 Steve Simonson Science Pam Renaker Special Education K-12 Shanna Williams Title I Davilyn McCormick Resource/Title I Aide-Elementary Dani Jo Kline Resource/Title I Aide-JH/HS Tiffany Rettig Technology Mr. Fred Nelson

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Highland Park set to welcome students for new school year Dear parents and guardians, My name is Mark Irvin, and I am the Principal of Highland Park Early Primary School in Havre. As summer vacation comes to a close I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome all our new and returning students back to school! We are looking forward to an exciting and wonderful school year.

Just a reminder that individualized kindergarten orientations will take place on either Wednesday, Aug. 30, or Thursday, Aug. 31, between the hours of 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. You should have been contacted by your child’s

teacher to arrange a meeting time. This is an opportunity to find their classroom, meet their teacher and other school staff, drop off their school supplies and get a bit more comfortable with the school. The first day of school for Kindergarten is Friday, Sept. 1.

If you have a first-grader I encourage you to bring your child to school Tuesday, Aug. 29, between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., for an informal meet and greet. This is an opportunity to find their classroom, meet their teacher and other school staff, drop off their school supplies and tour the school. This preview alleviates some

of the first-day jitters and helps you and your child feel more comfortable. The first day of school for first-graders is Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

School begins at 8:20 a.m. and is dismissed at 2:45 p.m. each day. However, since breakfast and playground supervision are available from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. each morning, feel free to drop off your child after 7:45 a.m.

Transportation information was available early August. This information will be available either online through parent portal or from the bus garage. If you have not yet regis-

tered your child for bussing or if his/her bussing information needs to be changed, please go online to www.blueponyk12.com or call the bus garage at 395-8556 x 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school at 395-8555. Also, many questions can be answered by going to the Havre Public Schools website. We look forward to having your child at Highland Park and welcome back!

Mark Irvin Principal, Highland Park Early Primary School

Several back-to-school tips can be used to help reduce student stress (StatePoint) School can be a stressful place, from finding a seat at lunch to making new friends, but don’t let supplies be one of those stressors. Make life just a bit easier with the right supplies, so students have more time to focus on the important things.

To help reduce stress, consider the following tips and tricks.

Lighten the Load Students are always on the go -- shuttling to and from school, attending rehearsals, practices and other extracurricular activities, and moving about from class to class.

Managing mobility is crucial toward alleviating physical stress.

Use multifunctional tools that can help them carry less, such as the Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder. It acts like a notebook and works like a binder with flexible, durable rings that open and close, allowing students to add, remove or re-sort their papers.

Carrying less means less to worry about.

Further lighten the load by carrying only what is needed. Pack backpacks the night before to avoid bringing textbooks or binders that won ’t be used. Another tip is to look for a backpack that features ergonomic straps to help distribute weight evenly and reduce physical stress. A backpack that has this feature is the Five Star Expandable Backpack; not only that, it also has expand-

StatePoint Students use several methods to help reduce stress during the school year including organization, reducing how much they have to carry and staying balanced with their activities. ing compartments offering extra room when needed. Other things to look for are pockets to help keep small supplies organized and easy to find, and padded sections for holding and protecting technology.

Stay Organized Being organized can reduce so many headaches. Yet somehow, it ’s all too easy to let backpacks, lockers and even bedroom floors get messy. Use effective organizational tools to ensure assignments aren ’t misplaced in the shuffle. For example, the Five Star Storage & Organization Divider features mesh storage pockets that are great for smaller school supplies; plus, it can snap into a notebook or be stored in a binder for easy organization of important papers.

Write it Down Write down assignments as soon as they are given. Being proactive will make sure there are no surprises. A planner is great for accessing information anytime, however you may want to display this crucial information on a wall calendar or planner at home as well.

Remain Balanced Beyond selecting smart gear, students can help ensure a successful school year by making room in their schedules for activities that help reduce stress, whether that ’s listening to music, going for a run or spending time with friends.

Find a few systems that help keep mental and physical stress low, and work hard to keep them in place throughout the year.

Follow the Havre Daily News for all your Havre Area Schools news, sports and information. www.havredailynews.com

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dents and staff safe and, at the same time, communicate in an effective matter to stop all the other chatter that’s going on out there,” he said.

In addition to the changes brought on by social media — not just when it comes to emergency situations, but in the classrooms as well — other challenges includes the diversity of backgrounds students bring to the classroom, Carlson said.

“Everything is changing,” he said. “It’s the number of influences that teachers have to prep for every single day in their classroom.”

Related challenges include the level of knowledge different students bring, and the amount of students who drop off or come in at various times during the school year, he said. For the teacher, whose goal is to build relationships, all those scenarios make building those relationships and educating those children more difficult.

To deal with the changes, Carlson said, it’s important to have — again — trained staff. Havre, he said, has a reputation for having quality staff. It is the reason bigger districts keep “picking off” Havre educators, he added.

“When I travel,” he said, “there is an outside perception that we’re pretty wellthought-of.”

Sure, he said, procedures, systems and protocols matter, but not as much as people.

“It starts with teachers in the classrooms building relationships,” he said.

The teacher, not tests, he said, should be the most important indicator of academic success in the classroom. Carlson said he does not dismiss testing, but added, “Tests don’t tell you anything about your kid.”

The red tape from the federal and state level has increased tenfold, he said, adding this is his opinion and does not represent that of anyone else in the district. The Every Child Succeeds Acts was supposed to hand over more local control. However, he said he does not see how that has happened.

“I can’t tell the difference between the amount of reporting I had to do two years ago and now,” he said. “What we report to the state and the federal government, in my opinion, is not an accurate description of what’s happening in the classroom.”

Albeit budget cuts, regulations and preparation for scary situations, the advent of school season is at the doorstep, and that made Carlson smile.

When asked what he is he most excited about this year, he said, “That’s an easy

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Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Havre High School students leave the school after classes May 8. The school, and school district, is ramping up to start a new school year. one,” he said. “Getting everyone back,” “The summer gets long, it gets boring,” he said. “It’s a people business. That’s what you enjoy — you enjoy being around people.”

New Havre school teachers

Highland Park Early Primary School • Lanaia Lewis — Special Education • Jennifer Mansfield – First Grade

Lincoln-McKinley Primary School • Patricia Ferguson — Second Grade

Sunnyside Intermediate School • Jennifer Fitch — Fourth Grade • Kodey Hansen — Fourth Grade • Shannon Marshall — Fourth Grade

Havre Middle School • Megan Lewis — Math • Jarred Taylor — Band

Havre High School

• Myles Laird – Special Education

• Michael Hoffman — Special Education • Travis Aline — History • Zachary Paulus - Band

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Havre’s going back to school August 2017

Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com

Havre public school students will fill the hallways and classrooms of the five city schools for the first time this year Aug. 30.

District superintendent Andy Carlson said he is so excited about the new year that, up until recently, he had been telling people school started Aug. 26.

“That’s a Saturday,” he said, laughing.

“There will be no school Aug. 26.”

At least one new teacher has been hired in each of city’s public schools. Twelve total new teachers, including new band teachers at Havre High and Havre Middle, will be educating and cultivating Havre’s young minds.

This year is not a typical year. In addition to another record low enrollment year — 1,786 students — the district will have to work with and around a budget that has been battered and decimated by two recent legislative bills.

House Bill 647 and Senate Bill 261, the full impact of the latter being announced just weeks ago, will make things significantly tighter, Carlson said. The guaranteed tax base via state taxes is gone as a result of HB 647, a cut that will be passed onto local taxpayers by legislative decision. November will

reveal additional taxes to local taxpayers.

Carlson said the legislators who voted for HB 647 were probably not aware of what it would do to schools.

“I don’t think they fully comprehend the impact it would have on the local districts,” he said.

As for SB 261, Carlson said, there was no way to plan for it.

“Our margin for error is not $100,000,” he said. “We plan as well, but I can tell you this — I don’t plan to have $100,00 removed from the budget a month before the school year begins.

“This is my perspective. You can’t take $100,00 away from us going into the school year and not have an impact what we do,” he said. “I don’t budget with the idea that we’re going to have even $20,000 taken away.”

The goal, going into the school year, is two-fold, how to balance a significantly lower budget without letting those efforts affect the classrooms or digging into reserves.

“Personnel,” he said, “is the number one thing that we’re protecting.”

Carlson said he views educators as the backbone of education and the secret to the district’s success. As the superintendent of the largest district in the area, he said, he keeps in touch with all nearby superintendents as they collaborate to meet each other’s needs in an area rife with a scarcity of

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Big Sandy Schools prepare for upcoming school year From Big Sandy School Although summer is not over, school is already here, with classes at Big Sandy Schools starting Monday, Aug. 21. Big Sandy Schools is looking forward to a great year, as the 2017-18 School Calendar is up-to-date and full of academic and extracurricular events.

Please visit the school’s website at http://www.bigsandy.k12.mt.us to view all current activities. People can also follow both F.E. Miley and Big Sandy High School on Facebook. School hours will once again begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 3:48 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Several new faces will be at Big Sandy Schools as the certified staff welcomes Samantha Weaver/Kindergarten Instructor; Devyn Poser/Sixth-grade Instructor; Shelbi Darlington/Gifted and Talented/Intervention Specialist; Sarah Pugh/Seven-12 English Instructor; and

Bridgette Long/JH Spanish Instructor.

New classified staff members include Cheryl Ostrom/Elementary Aide, and Lianna Heimbigner/Cook. Heather Wolery is the new K-12 Principal for the upcoming school year. Congratulations and welcome to all our new employees, as they join a great team of educators and staff.

High school students registered for their classes last spring, and students may view their class schedules by logging into their personal accounts with Infinite Campus. They had the first week of school to make any changes to their schedules.

New students may contact Sherri Heppner at 378-2502 to set up a time to register. They could register on the first day of school, as long as their former school records had been received and reviewed. Junior high students enrolled in classes the first day of school, Monday.

Students transferring to Big Sandy

Schools will need to present adequate immunization records in order to enroll.

Reminders were also sent to incoming seventh-graders needing immunization updates prior to attendance August 21.

Anyone with questions about their child’s immunization status should contact Sherri Heppner.

Breakfast and lunch prices have been changed for the upcoming school year.

Breakfast for K-12 is $1.10, and lunch prices are $2 for K-6 and $2.25 for grades 7-12.

Parents/guardians are reminded to purchase meal tickets monthly. Free and reduced applications forms can be found on the school’s webpage and should be submitted to Cheryl Strutz at the elementary school.

Bus routes have been determined.

Parents who have questions regarding bus routes, pick up and drop off times, may call their route driver or contact Mr.

Moore for specifics.

Students in grades 7-12 will bring home several forms that will require parent and student signatures. People should have filled out all the required information and returned them by Aug. 24.

Students involved in extracurricular activities will not be allowed to participate until all forms are signed and on file.

Please note that hard copies of the student handbook will not be handed out to students this year, as it is accessible on line at the schools website. Anyone who does not have access to the internet, may contact the school secretary and a hard copy will be provided to you.

Big Sandy Schools wishes all students a successful school year. Thanks to the parents and community for their continued support of the school and students.

Box Elder welcomes students back to the 2017-18 school year Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson talks about how loss of funding due to the Legislature and the increase in taxes to offest it will effect Hill County and the school district. qualified educators.

“If we’ve gone through our rounds — the board’s approved that person that we hired and I have two applications that I thought were pretty decent — I’m definitely going to tell them,” he said. “I would hope they do the same for us.”

In addition to the new teachers this year, new response protocols will be in place.

“What we’re going to try to do is have the best possible protocols to protect our students and staff,” he said.

Last year, a handful of scares occurred that prompted school lock downs. Carlson said one of the goals for those situations will be a better-trained and informed staff. Staff will be receiving training Aug. 29 and 30, he said. The goal is for teachers and administrators, “to have a greater sense of what’s going on in the school.”

As for social media and the outside chatter that accompanies school lockdowns and other crisis, Carlson said, it would be a hopeless task to try and control that.

“I’m never going to be able to keep stu-

Editor’s note

With the early deadline needed to produce this section and most schools in the middle of transition from last school year to this, not all area schools were able to provide information to the Havre Daily News in time for publication.

Box Elder School District would like to welcome students, staff, parents, and the community to the 2017-18 school year. We look forward continuing our efforts to provide the best educational environment possible. Exciting things are happening in Box Elder as we enter year two of our Apple ConnectED Grant.

We will continue to incorporate 21st cen-

tury teaching and learning skills into our curriculum as we prepare our students to make a positive impact on the world.

We will be welcoming some excellent new staff members to our school. Robyn Hawk and Misty Tatsey will be new firsgrade teachers. Grady Holt-Seavy and Aaron Henry will be new teachers in our

middle school. Peter Suci, Andrew Richards and Troy DeBoard are new additions to our high school staff. With additional positions we are increasing our course offerings while reducing class sizes. Box Elder is working to implement personalized learning to better meet the needs of students in our school.

We welcome all parents and community members to visit the school and learn more about the changes being implemented to improve the success rates of our students!

Jeremy MacDonald Superintendent jmacdonald@boxelder.k12.mt.us 406-352-4195

CJI Schools faculty and staff have been busy preparing to welcome students back to class With the daylight hours become shorter and store aisles stocked with back-to-school supplies, it was apparent this month the time was nearing for children to head back to the classroom for another year of schooling. As children and families have been taking advantage of the summer break for swimming, fishing, traveling, vacationing, farming, relaxing, or other activities, school personnel have been active preparing for the upcoming year.

Maintenance staff have been busy cleaning, painting, landscaping, and repairing the district’s buildings and campus. The CJI school building is sporting a newly painted foundation, freshly waxed floors, new library windows, a resealed roof, manicured trees, clean and disinfected classroom spaces, some freshly painted walls, a few relocated rooms, and a remodeled kitchen. A huge thank you goes out to this crew for the commitment they gave to put a fresh look onto the school and campus.

Construction staff have been diligently working all summer to remodel the school kitchen in time for the first day of school.

Though it was not yet complete at the time of the writing of this letter, appliances, fixtures, and final details are being installed on schedule and as planned. The spacious newly remodeled area, sporting bright white walls and shinny new stainless steel fixtures, will be a pleasant backdrop to the

delicious entrees the kitchen staff will proudly prepare and serve in this state of the art kitchen space. Thanks to the crew from Diamond Construction for their expertise and craftsmanship, CJI Schools will have a first class kitchen upon completion.

Another very crucial group, who is working during the summer, is the office staff. They have been persistently preparing the budget, schedules, handbooks, recruiting staff, and purchasing/receiving goods/supplies for the 2017-18 school year.

No organization can operate well without good management staff and CJI School District is fortunate to have top-notch individuals performing these tasks.

The first day of school was Wednesday, Aug. 23rd; however, parents, students, and the community kicked off the school year with an annual Back-to-School Community Picnic Aug. 22 with all food and refreshments provided.

The CJI Booster Club set out a school supply donation dropbox (shaped like a school bus) in the entry of the school if anyone is willing to help out classrooms and less fortunate students with school supplies.

Parents with students new to the district this year werere encouraged to stop by the office ASAP to enroll their children, get a tour of the school, and provide any other

necessary details to help the transition to CJI go flawlessly and set your student up for success. Additional pertinent school information can be located on the district website at http://www.cji.k12.mt.us.

I am excited to get the year underway looking and anticipate a great school year.

I look forward to the opportunity to see and visit with parents and community members to share and celebrate the achievements and successes we make with and for our students. Go Hawks!!!

Tim Bronk, superintendent, ChesterJoplin-Inverness Schools

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