Graduation Matters event planned on Friday

Kalispell Public Schools will hold the second Graduation Matters Kalispell program on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center.

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. More then 700 eighth-graders from Kalispell and surrounding school districts will attend  and be introduced to their future classmates as they begin the transition into high school. 

The event is part of a student pledge to stay in school and will feature guest speaker Kacie West, a third-grade teacher at Peterson Elementary School and former Miss Montana. 

Students will be treated to lunch and words of encouragement from West before they have the opportunity to visit a variety of carnival booths and games featuring sumo wrestling, photo booth, dance floor with DJ, relay competitions and specialty treats. 

Local businesses, teachers and parent groups will sponsor booths again this year, with a total of 32 booths (up from last year’s 28).  

“We’ve made it through that first setup year and now we’re excited to share this event with our community again,”  Assistant Superintendent Dan Zorn said. “The eighth-grade year is so key for keeping kids in school that were are grateful for how much our community has stepped up in supporting these students.”

The I Pledge to Graduate Program is a yearly event. Students who sign the I Pledge to Graduate banner will have that banner prominently displayed at their schools. 

The program also helps students struggling with attendance and other challenges by actively working with them on credit retrieval and a mentoring program to provide strategies to stay in school. 

Community members interested in volunteering or supporting the program with Graduation Matters Kalispell decals may contact Mike Kofford at 751-3432 for more information.