School days arrive next week

Summer’s days are numbered and children across the valley are gearing up for a new school year.

For some, that year begins as early as Wednesday, when students in the Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Evergreen, Kalispell, Kila and Pleasant Valley school districts and at St. Matthew’s Catholic School head back to class.

Following is information students and parents in those public school districts need to know before the first bell rings. Watch for information about St. Matthew’s School, as well as details about schools that start Monday, Aug. 29, in Sunday’s Inter Lake.

Cayuse Prairie

About 200 students are expected at Cayuse Prairie this fall. There are two separate kindergarten classes.

The school day starts at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. Kindergartners will only attend school for half the day during the first week.

Buses will drop off and pick up students in the school’s north parking lot. Parents may use the south parking lot to drop off and pick up their children. For bus route information, call the school office at 756-4560.

There are two new teachers at Cayuse Prairie. Mark Peters will teach music and band. Lori Woods is the new fourth-grade teacher.

For additional information, including school supply lists and calendars, visit the school’s website, www.cayuseprairie.com. Calendars will also be sent home with students in the weekly school newsletter.

Creston

Creston students have an opportunity to meet their teachers before school starts Wednesday. All teachers will hold an open house at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Students may bring in supplies, meet their teachers and each other and see their classrooms.

On Wednesday, the school day begins at 8:25 a.m. for fifth- and sixth-graders and at 8:30 a.m. for kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Younger students end the day at 3:15 p.m., while fifth and sixth grades are released at 3:20 p.m.

Friday is the first day for hot lunch service. School staff anticipate enrollment to be somewhere in the mid-90s.

The parking lot traffic flow has changed slightly this year. Staff members will park on the east side of the lot, allowing traffic to flow from north to south on the lot’s west side. Principal Judi Hewitt and clerk Nick Marshall will help direct traffic for the first few days of school.

Third-graders have a new teacher this year: Melissa Potts has moved to that classroom from kindergarten. After a one-year leave, Rachael Munday has returned to teach kindergarten. Paula Rich is the new music teacher; she previously taught at the Academy of the Performing Arts in Kalispell.

Evergreen

Evergreen students who want to check out the school before classes begin Wednesday will have an opportunity during Student Experience Day, which runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

School officials expect around 700 students in the district’s two schools this fall.

There are six new staff members in the district. Amber Hinther is the new school psychologist. Amanda Pierce will work as a counselor at East Evergreen Elementary. Margaret Jones is the new preschool teacher, Katharine Mackin will teach kindergarten, Sara Miller is the new third-grade teacher and Amy Keeler will teach fourth grade.

The school day starts at 8:10 a.m. for students in grades four through eight. Younger students start school at 8:25 a.m.

Full-day kindergartners get out of school at 2:45 p.m. First-graders are released at 3 p.m.; this is a change from last year. Second-, third- and fourth-graders get out at 3:05 p.m., and the final bell rings at the junior high at 3:21 p.m.

Breakfast and lunch will be available on the first day of school. Breakfast costs 95 cents. Lunch is $1.55. Students may buy an extra milk for 30 cents.

For more information, call East Evergreen Elementary at 751-1121 or Evergreen Junior High at 751-1131.

Kalispell

Most students in Kalispell Public Schools start classes Wednesday. Upperclassmen get an extra day of summer vacation, however; Wednesday is for freshmen only at Flathead and Glacier high schools.

General information about the district, school supply lists and other details are available on the district’s website, www.sd5.k12.mt.us. Following is specific information provided by Kalispell schools:

n The main entry to Edgerton School’s parking lot was replaced over the summer, giving parents a smooth new lot to drive on. The school also has upgraded emergency lighting and electrical systems.

Enrollment is estimated to be about 515 in Kalispell’s largest elementary school. The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Call 751-4040 for additional information.

n Woody Carr is the new physical education teacher at Elrod School. Carr grew up in the Flathead Valley and attended Columbia Falls High School.

Officials expect 325 students to attend the school this fall. The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Elrod’s south entryway had concrete replaced over the summer to improve its handicapped-accessible ramp and entry. The school’s emergency lighting and electrical systems were also upgraded.

Call 751-3700 for further information.

n Like other elementary schools in the district, Hedges School’s emergency lighting and electrical systems were upgraded over the summer.

School officials anticipate 355 students this fall. The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There are three new faces on staff at Hedges. Jamie Congdon and Amber Winkler will teach kindergarten and Richard Gross is the school’s new fifth-grade teacher.

Call 751-4090 for additional information.

n Kindergarten students at Peterson School are on a modified schedule until Sept. 2. All parents should have received letters explaining when their children should come to school from Wednesday through Sept. 1.

The are three new staff members at the elementary school. Shelli Hilde will teach fourth grade, Stephanie Lincoln is the new second-grade teacher and Nicole Gross has been hired as the school psychologist.

Enrollment is expected to hit 350 students this fall. The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The school got a new counselor’s office this summer, as well as upgraded emergency lighting and electrical systems.

For additional information, call the school at 751-3737.

n Enrollment will be about 275 students this fall at Russell School. There is one new staff member at Russell: Nicole Gross will be the school psychologist. She will divide her time between Russell and Peterson.

The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For additional information, call the school at 751-3900.

n Officials expect 1,025 students at Kalispell Middle School this fall.

There are five new teachers on staff. Nicole Casper and Jennifer Lyngholm will teach sixth-graders. Christi Briney is the new sixth-grade reading teacher and Taylor Ferda will teach social studies. Christy O’Neil is the new art teacher.

The school’s emergency lighting and electrical systems were upgraded over the summer.

The school day runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call the school at 751-3800 for additional information.

n General repairs were made at Flathead High School over the summer, and the school’s half-floors were upgraded to meet fire-safety standards with new sprinkler and alarm systems.

There will be about 1,450 students at Flathead this fall. The school day runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

There are five new staff members at the school. Carin Edwards and Maggie Owens will teach science. Crystal Kain is the new physical education and English teacher. Amanda Matdies is the new family consumer science teacher and Chelsea McCann is the school’s new counselor.

Flathead also has a new administrator. Michele Paine is the school’s new assistant principal. Bryce Wilson, who previously held that position, will serve as the activities director.

Call the school at 751-3500 for further information.

n School officials expect about 1,250 students at Glacier High School this fall. There is one new teacher on staff: Emily Thiessen will teach art.

The school day runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Call the school at 758-8600 for further information.

n Jolene Maguire and Jodie Barber have joined the staff at Bridge Academy, Maguire as a teacher and Barber as the alternative high school program’s director.

Call 751-3989 for further information.

n The first day of school for students at Laser School begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The first day will include orientation to the alternative high-school program and an opportunity for students to sign up for classes.

Call 751-3985 for additional information.

Kila

Students will be familiar with most of the faces they will see among Kila School staff this fall, with one exception. Heidi Schwartz is the school’s new special education teacher; she comes to Kila from Portland, Ore.

Breakfast and lunch programs will begin on the first day of school. School staff are anticipating between 140 and 145 students in school this year.

School starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. for kindergarten, first-, second- and third-graders. Older students are in class until 3:20 p.m.

As always, the first two days of school will involve team-building exercises for Kila’s middle-school students.

For more information, call the school at 257-2428.

Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley School anticipates seven students at the one-room schoolhouse this fall.

The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Most supplies will be provided by the school.

There is no hot lunch or bus service.

For additional information, call the school at 858-2343.