School bells ring again next week
Students, get those backpacks packed — it’s time to head back to class.
Most students go back to school starting Wednesday, although some districts’ first days come a little later. While students might know what to expect at many schools, other districts have made a few changes this year.
Following is a list of Flathead County public school districts and information students and parents need to know before the first bell rings. Information about private schools will appear in Sunday’s Inter Lake.
Bigfork
n First day: Sept. 7
Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Sept. 7
Website: www.bigfork.k12.mt.us (link from here to individual school sites)
Bigfork Elementary and Middle School
n Projected enrollment: 481
n New programs: “Miss School. Miss Out,” a good-attendance campaign and continuation of the schoolwide anti-bullying program
n New staff: Joe Pitts, fifth grade; Carrie Ann Smith, fourth grade
Bigfork High School
n Projected enrollment: 269
n New programs: Increased technology opportunities for students, including integrating technology into nearly every classroom and upgraded computer systems and software
n New staff: An as-yet-unhired band teacher
Cayuse Prairie
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 190
n Facilities upgrades: Two new elementary classrooms and restrooms; new gym under construction
n Hot breakfast/lunch: No federal hot lunch program, but Parents and Friends of Cayuse Prairie serves hot lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays
n Other information: School facilities will not open until 8 a.m.; parents should not drop off their children earlier than that. Buses will drop off and pick up students in the new parking lot west of the gym. Individual drop off and pick up is still in the front parking lot.
n Website: www.cayuseprairie.com
Columbia Falls
n First day: Thursday, Aug. 26
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Thursday
n Website: www.sd6.k12.mt.us (link from here to individual school sites)
Canyon Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 95
n New programs: Archery (physical education); guitar classes offered during lunch; sewing machines have been purchased for the after-school program
n New staff: Sherry Petersen and Nicolette Bales, head teachers; Tyler Jones, physical education and reading
Glacier Gateway Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 425
n New programs: Expanded support for students who need help meeting grade-level expectations; expanded opportunities for advanced learners
n New staff: Kendra Carman, language intervention specialist (also at Ruder Elementary); Donna Bryan, third-grade
Ruder Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 425
n New programs: Additional full-day kindergarten classroom
n New staff: Kendra Carman, language intervention specialist; Jamie Congdon, kindergarten; Michelle Swank, special education
Columbia Falls Junior High
n Projected enrollment: 560
n New programs: District track facility nearing completion; Olweus anti-bullying program
n New staff: Jackie Riffey, sixth-grade Title I; John Cooper, assistant principal
Columbia Falls High School
n Projected enrollment: 720
n New programs: Sports medicine course for juniors and seniors
n Facilities upgrades: New boiler, new roofing over one wing, new carpet in office
n New staff: Brian Crandell, counselor
Creston
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 85 to 90
n Facilities upgrades: New classroom and learning center under construction
n New staff: Jesse Westphal, fifth and sixth grades; Melissa Potts, kindergarten; Diedre Corson, music
Deer Park
n First day: Sept. 1
n Projected enrollment: 75
n New programs: Before- and after-school program, “Crash Zone,” from 7 to 8:20 a.m. (breakfast and homework help) and from 3:20 to 6 p.m. (academic enrichment)
n Facilities upgrades: Oldest building resided, new computer lab, new flooring
n New staff: Kathy Demarco, before- and after-school program director; Bobbie Vaden moving to half-time principal, half-time librarian
n Hot breakfast/lunch: None, except for students registered with the before- and after-school program (breakfast and after-school snacks provided)
n Website: www.deerpark.k12.mt.us
Evergreen
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
n Website: www.edline.net/pages/Evergreen_SD50 (link from here to individual school sites)
East Evergreen Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 411
n New staff: Samantha Glynn, special education; Linda Hall, preschool; Lindsey Lewis, kindergarten; Jolyne Purvis, fourth grade
Evergreen Junior High
n Projected enrollment: 305
n Facilities upgrades: New classroom
n New staff: Jean Crofts, math specialist
Fair-Mont-Egan
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 181
n New staff: Jaime Jones, music
n Hot breakfast/lunch: None
n Website: fair.mt.schoolwebpages.com
Helena Flats
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 215
n Facilities upgrades: Gym roof completed; school office moved into former conference room; kindergarten moved to Kami Doty’s former classroom; new coat lockers in primary wing
n New staff assignments: Kathy Bachrach, formerly the fifth-grade teacher, will be the counselor, Olweus anti-bullying program coordinator and gifted and talented coordinator; in accordance with the new departmentalized middle school schedule, Kathy Meyer will teach math, Lynn Jessat communication arts, Ron Bachrach social studies and Randy Jakes science
n New staff: Stephanie Miller, kindergarten
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
n Website: www.helenaflats.org
Kalispell Public Schools
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25 for most students
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
n Other information: Kindergartners have an open house Wednesday and alternating attendance days for the first few days of school. Kindergartners will all attend school all day beginning Sept. 3. Elementary schools and the middle school operate on trimesters; the high schools follow semester schedules.
n Website: www.sd5.k12.mt.us (link from here to individual school sites)
Edgerton Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 525
n Facilities upgrades: New basketball courts and carpets
n New staff: Katrina Nelson, speech language pathologist; Paula Stanley, special education and life skills; Julie Stone, music
Elrod Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 317
n Facilities upgrades: New windows and carpets
n New staff: Megan Babich, first grade; Mandy Bain, kindergarten; Hannah Hilley, physical education; Ashley Lalum, first or fourth grade
Hedges Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 338
n Facilities upgrades: New playground and carpets
n New staff: Laura O’Malley, fourth grade
Peterson Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 353
n Facilities upgrades: New boiler and heating system, new carpets, new playground equipment
n New staff: Lauren Beach, second and third grades; Kim Lister, third grade; Jennifer Wram, second grade; Kirsten Pevey, fourth grade
Russell Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 257
n Facilities upgrades: New storage shed and carpets
n New staff: Heather Dalla Betta, kindergarten
Kalispell Middle School
n Projected enrollment: 1,015
n Facilities upgrades: New carpets
n New staff: Brian Fox, seventh-grade social studies; Tom Kelner, seventh-grade social studies; Doug Casey, eighth-grade social studies; Ashley Fusaro, sixth-grade math and reading; Liz Richmond, sixth-grade science and reading; Gretchen Miller, eighth-grade language arts; Camille Howell, sixth-grade language arts and reading; Gina Halland, sixth-grade reading enrichment; Janna Warnell, librarian; Allison Mitchell, librarian; Mark Rogers, choir student-teacher; Nicole Evans, sixth-grade student-teacher
Flathead High School
n Projected enrollment: 1,287
n Facilities upgrades: New rooftop unit and carpets
n New staff: Kara Allen, foreign language; Megan Couser, International Baccalaureate science; Carl Hennell, English; Lori Ortley, International Baccalaureate science; Heidi Schaefer, German; Tim Severson, health enhancement; Kaylee Shaw, science; Carly Strainer, math
Glacier High School
n Projected enrollment: 1,181
n Upgraded facilities: East access off Reserve Loop under construction, new carpets
n New staff: Chris Adamcyk, English; Bree Fuqua, special education; Karen Mainolfi, math; Hollis May, social studies
Kila
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 150
n Facilities upgrades: New classroom under construction
n New staff: Daniel Trageser, physical education and health
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
n Website: www.kilaschool.com
Marion
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 125
n Facilities upgrades: New cabinets in music/P.E. area and computer lab, new sidewalk and rain gutters around north building, re-covered lunchroom tables, electrical updates
n New staff: Justin Barnes, principal; David Klassy, music
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
Olney-Bissell
n First day: Sept. 1
n Projected enrollment: 90
n New staff: Bob Driggers, science
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Sept. 1 with free taco feed
n Website: www.olneybissellschool.com
Pleasant Valley
n First day: Wednesday, Aug. 25
n Projected enrollment: 8
n Facilities upgrades: Interior repainted, recarpeted
n Hot breakfast/lunch: None
Smith Valley
n First day: Aug. 30
n Projected enrollment: 180
n Facilities upgrades: Remodeled playground; new bell tower with bells from the old Batavia and Boorman schools
n New staff: Laili Komenda, principal; David Klassy, music
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Wednesday
n Other information: Morning latchkey program begins 7:30 a.m.; cost is $1.50 per child, per day
n Website: www.smithvalleyschoolptc.com
Somers-Lakeside
n First day: Aug. 30
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Aug. 30
n Website: www.somersdist29.org (link from here to individual school sites)
Lakeside Elementary
n Projected enrollment: 380
n Facilities upgrades: All asphalt resurfaced; cool air circulated into technology room
n New staff: Kaitlin Amy, Title I reading; Amy Gardner, kindergarten; Mitch Brinkman, physical education; Matt Iver, music; Alicia Van Egmond, third grade; Lucia Ek, fifth grade; Sharla Roberts, para-educator
Somers Middle School
n Projected enrollment: 200
n Facilities upgrades: New P.E. lockers with built-in combination locks
n New staff: Lindsey Aldrich, secretary; Sarah Louden, sixth-grade language arts; Danielle Blanc, seventh- and eighth-grade science; Camille Larsen, Spanish; Kelly Brady, art and physical education
n Other information: P.E. uniforms are required for all students, who may use a sibling’s or buy a uniform for $15 in the school office
Swan River
n First day: Sept. 1
n Projected enrollment: 150
n New programs: Full-day kindergarten; Montana Arts Council (professional artist working with students in kindergarten through sixth grade)
n Facilities upgrades: Upgraded and freshly cleaned heating and cooling system
n New staff: As-yet-unhired band teacher/general music teacher and second-grade teacher
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Lunch begins Sept. 2; breakfast starts Sept. 7
n Website: www.swanriverschool.com
West Glacier
n First day: Thursday, Aug. 26
n Projected enrollment: 26
n New staff: Krista Booher, K-2 teacher
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Sept. 15; call Carla Martin to volunteer
n Website: www.westglacierelementary.org
n Other information: West Glacier operates on a four-day week, Monday through Thursday
West Valley
n First day: Sept. 1
n Projected enrollment: 460
n New staff: Erin Bodman, seventh- and eighth-grade science; Kathleen Johnson, fifth grade; Chelsea Gilfillan, third grade
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Sept. 7
n Website: www.westvalleyschool.com
Whitefish
n Hot breakfast/lunch: Begins Aug. 30
n Website: www.wsd44.org (link from here to individual school sites)
Muldown Elementary
n First day: Aug. 30 for first through fourth grades and half of kindergarten; the other half begin Aug. 31, and all kindergartners will be in school Sept. 1
n Projected enrollment: 590
n New programs: New K-2 handwriting program; new bullying program, “Stop-Walk-Talk” in all grades
n New staff: Dacia Prather, afternoon kindergarten; Malinda Goldhirsch, para-educator; Eden Dias, para-educator
n Other information: Classes start five minutes earlier and fourth-graders are dismissed one minute later than last year
Whitefish Middle School
n First day: Aug. 30
n Projected enrollment: 535
n New programs: MY Access, writing program; Compass Learning, online instructional program
n New staff: Dacia Prather, Title I; Matt Beckwith, industrial technology
n Other information: Class times have changed slightly this year to provide additional professional development training days
Whitefish High School
n First day: Aug. 30; freshman orientation at 8:40 a.m.; all other students arrive at 11:30 a.m.
n Projected enrollment: 500
n New programs: Freshman Academy
n Upgraded facilities: Improved and expanded kitchen; relocated guidance offices; new career center
n New staff: Kathleen Schardt, family and consumer science
n Other information: Student photos will be taken and IDs and activity tickets distributed on the first day of school.
School Calendar
n West Glacier Elementary’s playground spruce-up day begins at 8 a.m. today. There will be a potluck.
n Woodland Water Park’s final day is Sunday. Cost is $2 per person from noon to 4:30 p.m.
n St. Matthew’s School hosts an ice cream social on the playground around noon Sunday, or whenever Mass is over. There will be an ice cream sundae bar with all the fixings and a chance to meet teachers and new families. If the weather is poor, the social will move to the school cafeteria.
n The Flathead County Library’s summer reading program wraps up this week.
n Students at Valley Adventist Christian School go back to class Monday.
n Columbia Falls’ sixth-grade orientation is from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the junior high. Seventh- and eighth-graders new to the district and their parents are also welcome to attend.
n Evergreen School hosts Student Experience Day from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
n The Evergreen PTO is sponsoring physicals for junior high students from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday. There is a $15 fee, and parents must be present.
n Columbia Falls’ kindergarten and first-grade orientation is Tuesday. First-graders at Glacier Gateway meet at 5 p.m., kindergartners at 6 p.m. Kindergartners and first-graders meet at 5:30 p.m. at Ruder Elementary. Canyon kindergartners and first-graders meet at 6 p.m. Teachers will host parents and students in their classrooms.
n Columbia Falls High School’s freshman student/parent orientation is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Participants will pick up their class schedules in the gym foyer, then meet in the gym. Students will also be able to proceed through their daily class schedule. Upperclassmen and parents new to the high school are welcome to attend.
n Whitefish High School’s parent/freshman student orientation is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the gym.
n Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Evergreen, Fair-Mont-Egan, Helena Flats, Kila, Marion, Pleasant Valley, St. Matthew’s and most Kalispell students go back to school Wednesday. Only freshmen (and their mentors) attend Kalispell high schools this day.
n New students at Olney-Bissell School may register starting Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Birth certificates and immunization records are required at sign up.
n Woodland Montessori hosts a parent orientation meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
n The school year’s first bell rings Thursday for Columbia Falls and West Glacier students, and all Kalispell high school students go back to school.
n Woodland Montessori hosts an open house Thursday for new students and parents.
n Kalispell Montessori hosts a potluck taco bar at 6 p.m. Thursday for all new and returning families. Bring a taco bar item to share.
n Whitefish High School’s Booster Kick-off is 6:30 p.m. Thursday on the football field.
n Whitefish Middle Schools’ fifth-grade open house is 7 p.m. Thursday.
n Whitefish Christian Academy hosts Back to School Night at 7 p.m. Thursday.
n Three Juilliard graduates host a chamber music workshop and master class for kids ages 9 to 15 Thursday through Aug. 30 at Glacier Discovery Square in Columbia Falls and the main Flathead County Library in Kalispell.
To submit items for the school calendar, contact reporter Kristi Albertson at 758-4438, by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com or by fax at 758-4481.
n Interested in hosting a foreign exchange student this year? The Center for Cultural Interchange is trying to meet a Friday deadline to place foreign students with American families for the academic year. For additional information, visit www.cci-exchange.com/host.htm, e-mail ayp@cci-exchange.com or call (800) 634-4771.
n Swan River School hosts a welcome back barbecue at 6 p.m. Friday.
n Smith Valley, Somers-Lakeside, Whitefish, Whitefish Christian Academy and Woodland Montessori students are back in school Aug. 30.
n Students may visit West Valley School from 9 to 11 a.m. or from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 30.
n Deer Park School’s new before- and after-school program, “Crash Zone,” hosts a back-to-school meet and greet for children and parents from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 30. There will be yard games, a complimentary picnic, school tours and socializing.
n The first day of school for Deer Park, Olney-Bissell, Swan River, Trinity Lutheran and West Valley students is Sept. 1.
n Helena Flats’ back-to-school night picnic is 6 p.m. Sept. 2.
n Whitefish Middle School’s sixth-grade open house is 7 p.m. Sept. 2.
n For students already in school, Sept. 6 — Labor Day — is a day off.
n Bigfork students go back to school Sept. 7.
n Helena Flats’ before- and after-school enrichment program starts Sept. 7.
n Whitefish High School’s School Bash is from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8 on the soccer fields.
n Stillwater Christian students go back to school Sept. 9.
To submit items for the school calendar, contact reporter Kristi Albertson at 758-4438, by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com or by fax at 758-4481.