Back-to-class time ahead next week

It’s that time of year again to get out the backpacks and set alarms because school is in session.

Here is an update on back-to-school information for districts other than Kalispell that start classes next week.

Cayuse Prairie

The first day of school at Cayuse Prairie is Wednesday.

Thirty kindergarteners are expected to enroll.

This year there are a couple of changes in the schedule and lunch program.

School starts five minutes earlier. Students will attend school from 8:10 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

Hot lunch will be served in a newly remodeled kitchen and concession area contracted through Kalispell Public Schools Food Services. A salad bar is a new option for students. Lunch is $2.75.

“We are excited to use our new salad bar during lunch. Thanks to all who contributed to this cause,” Cayuse Prairie School Principal Amy Piazzola said.

Bus routes remain the same as last year, but a new bus exit has been added to allow for curbside pickup and drop-off.

New staff members this year include: seventh- and eighth-grade teacher Sarah Beaudette, second-grade teacher Michael Pedersen, special education paraprofessional Chuck Baker, Food Services Director Heidi Gaiser and custodian Freddy Gibson.

Over the summer, Cayuse Prairie School received a fresh coat of paint and a foundation was laid for a greenhouse to be constructed in September.

Website:

www.cayuseprairie.com

Columbia Falls

The first day of school in Columbia Falls School District is Thursday.

Elementary and junior high breakfast prices are $1.45 and lunch is $2.75. Prices for high school meal are $1.45 for breakfast and $3 for lunch.

The district has a new superintendent in Steven Bradshaw. He succeeds Michael Nicosia, who retired after 19 years at the helm of Columbia Falls schools.  Bradshaw previously was superintendent in Sitka, Alaska.

v Glacier Gateway Elementary welcomes new Principal Kathi Yanamura, who joins the district from her former principal position at Baranof Elementary School in Sitka, Alaska.

Other new staff members include secretary Mary Garate, fifth-grade teacher Simon Vanderweide and speech therapist Jenny Martin.

Glacier Gateway expects an enrollment of about 80 kindergarten students.

Regular class times are from 8:15 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

v Ruder Elementary’s new staff members include fifth-grade teacher Brandon Rice and math intervention teacher Dana Shields.

About 80 kindergarten students are expected to enroll.

Class times are from 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Students will meet from 8:25 a.m. through 2:25 p.m. on Wednesdays.

v Regular class times for Columbia Falls Junior High are from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

Breakfast is $1.45 and lunch is $2.75. Menus will be posted on the district website along with information on how to pay online and applications for free or reduced meals.

The junior high welcomes new keyboarding teacher Zachariah Deister.

The sports complex has been renamed as the Dr. Michael Nicosia Track and Field in honor of Nicosia, who retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Open houses are planned Monday for sixth grade and Wednesday for seventh and eighth grades. Both open houses are at 6 p.m.

v Columbia Falls High School has made minor changes to the regular class schedule. Monday through Friday — except Wednesday — zero period will start at 7:25 a.m. and first period starts at 8:20 a.m. Seventh period ends at 3:15 p.m. On Wednesdays, zero period begins at 7:35 a.m. and first period starts 8:20 a.m. with seventh period ending at 2:17 p.m.

The high school will kick off its new Building Trades Triad program this year. Through the program, students are able to take a combination of three classes taught in collaboration with each other with a focus on building trades. All students will take Technical Writing, Technical Math (applied geometry and applied trigonometry) and Building Trades classes.

New classes include: Advanced Placement Spanish IV, Probability and Linear Mathematics, Statistics, Technical Math, Web Design, Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Business Writing and Medical Terminology.

Students also have the option to take 11 courses to earn dual credits for college and high school.

New staff members include choir teacher Beth Benton and office secretary Tawnia Ramstad.

Columbia Falls High School will be a participant in the Smarter Lunchrooms project to improve student nutrition.  

Juniors may pick up their schedules from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. Sophomores may pick up their schedules from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

A freshman student and parent orientation will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday. New students are also invited to attend. Students will pick up schedules and familiarize themselves with the school.

Several facility improvements have been made to start the school year off right. New carpeting, painting and acoustic improvements were made to the band and choir rooms. A classroom addition was also built at the Columbia Falls Learning Center along with computer upgrades throughout the learning center and high school. Multiple classroom sets of Chromebooks were also purchased for the high school.

Website:

http://www.sd6.k12.mt.us

Deer Park

Deer Park School has set its first day Wednesday.

The school’s grab-and-go lunch program will start Sept. 8.

New staff members include middle school science, math and history teacher Khristina Smith and middle school language arts teacher Ryan Rague. Jennifer Ricketts will be a third-grade teacher moving from her previous position as Title I aide.

Facilities-wise, a new pump house has been installed.

Website:

https://sites.google.com/a/deerparkedu.org/panthers

Evergreen

Before school starts, Evergreen School District has a Student Experience Day from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The first day of school for first through eighth grades is Wednesday. Kindergarteners start school Sept. 2 and preschool students start Sept. 8.

An estimated 80 students will be enrolled in kindergarten this year.

Regular class times are: kindergarten, 8:25 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; first grade, 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m.; second and third grade, 8:25 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.; fourth grade 8:10 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.; and fifth through eighth grade, 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lunch and breakfast will be free to all students under the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision.

After successfully piloting a “bring your own device” program with five teachers last year, the program will expand with about 15 teachers.

Evergreen School District Superintendent Laurie Barron said in a July interview that allowing students to use their devices in a carefully monitored environment increased student engagement and excitement. Barron said it also teaches responsibility and accountability when using technology.

Evergreen Junior High will offer cross-country this year. The sport was added to the program thanks to junior high students who advocated for it during a student-led school board work session last year.

East Evergreen Elementary welcomes new staff members Susan Horner-Till, paraprofessional; Sandra Ranson, fourth-grade teacher; Amber Johnston, special education teacher, and Sharron Waltz, special education teacher.

Evergreen Junior High welcomes paraprofessional Todd Linder and fifth-grade teacher Kristen Hebert.

Speech Pathologist Amber Hagel joins the district as a speech language pathologist.

An open house is planned at the junior high at 7 p.m. Sept. 23. The elementary will hold an open house at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25.

Website:

http://www.evergreensd50.com

Helena Flats

The first day of school at Helena Flats School is Wednesday.

Helena Flats School welcomes new Superintendent and Principal Dan Anderson, who joins the district from West Valley School and middle school language arts teacher Claire Gutschenritter.

Regular class times for grades kindergarten through fourth are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Fifth grade through eighth grade attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

About 22 kindergarten students are anticipated to enroll this year.

Website:

http://www.helenaflats.org

Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley School starts school Wednesday.

Regular class times are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Richelle Sheets joins the district as new lead teacher. Two students are expected to enroll in kindergarten this year.

Website:

www.pleasantvalleyschoolmontana.org

Smith Valley School

The first day of school at Smith Valley is Wednesday for first through eighth grades.

Kindergarteners will be able to visit classrooms Wednesday through Friday with the first day of school Sept. 2.

Regular class times are 8:30 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. for grades kindergarten through third and 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for grades four through eight.

Kindergarten enrollment is estimated at 30 students.

Breakfast is $1.50 and lunch is $2.50.

Smith Valley welcomes new staff members Joel Ahles, P.E./health teacher, and Patrick Conners, sixth-grade home room and social studies and language arts teacher.

Building designations have significantly changed this year. Kindergarten and first grades will be housed in the old building with grades second through eight in the new building. P.E., music and lunch will remain in the gym building.

Other facility updates include new ground cover and leveling on the playground. Water-line issues also have been resolved.

All student drop-off and pickup is located in the upper parking lot off of Batavia Lane. The front parking lot located by the highway is reserved for staff parking and deliveries.  

The lower parking lot is designated for handicapped, guest and some staff parking. Moving traffic is prohibited in this parking lot while students are in transition from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. and from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

Smith Valley School Principal Laili Komenda said questions have come up about the inaccessibility of the Rails to Trails path for students who walk or bike to school due to road construction on U.S. 2 West.

“We are sympathetic to the inconvenience that the inaccessibility is presenting for parents this fall,” Komenda said. “However, because Smith Valley does not have a transportation program, according to Montana law the school does not have the authority to provide temporary transportation.”

Website:

www.smithvalleyschool.org

Somers-Lakeside

The first day of school in Somers School District is Wednesday.

Regular class times at Lakeside Elementary are from 8:16 a.m. to 3:16 p.m. Somers Middle School will begin at 8:18 a.m. and end at 3:25 p.m.  

Instead of early dismissals this year, there will be no school on days scheduled for professional development. These dates are noted in the calendar as “curriculum planning days.”

Somers Middle School will hold an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The Mustang Kids Club after-school program will begin in September with a date to be announced. A new fee schedule will be sent home with students.

There will not be a before-school program at Lakeside Elementary this year.

New staff members at Lakeside Elementary are Hayley Donovan, kindergarten teacher; Sara Wilson, first-grade teacher; Tanika Lenz, specials teacher; Shawn Erickson, special education teacher; KayLynn Hertlein, special education paraprofessional; and Randall Hunt, assistant evening custodian.

Somers Middle School has also added new staff members, including Brian Suttle, sixth-grade language arts teacher; Tyler Harris, Title I reading teacher; and Doug Brown, head custodian.

Website:

www.somersdist29.org