New year opens for local schools
More Flathead Valley school districts open their doors for another school year this week.
Columbia Falls
The first day of school in Columbia Falls School District is Sept. 3.
Meals will be served on the first day. Elementary and junior high students pay $1.45 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. Breakfast for high school students costs $1.45 and lunch $3.
Parents/guardians are reminded that kindergarten and first-grade students must be accompanied by an older sibling or adult while waiting to be picked up or dropped off at bus stops. If there is not someone waiting when students are dropped off, the students will be returned to their respective schools.
Wednesdays are early-release days and students are dropped off about one hour earlier at bus stops.
Students must be registered with the transportation department before riding the bus. To register, call 892-6550, extension 431.
For more information visit www.sd6.k12.mt.us.
Columbia Falls High School
• Enrollment is projected at 650 students.
• Regular daily class times start with “0 period” at 7:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. every day except Wednesday. On Wednesdays, 0 period begins at 7:35 a.m. and school dismisses at 2:17 p.m.
• From math to fitness, students may take several new courses including Applied Math, World Music, Electronic Music, Independent Science Research, Google Apps and More, Entrepreneurship, Debate, Philosophy and Literature, Exploring Family Consumer Sciences and Advanced Lifetime Fitness.
In addition to eight available Advanced Placement courses, students may take 12 high school and college dual credit courses.
A new credit retrieval program will also help students improve academically to graduate on time.
• Over the summer, projects to improve safety and storage were made. A classroom was redesigned and storage expanded in the art/west annex building. New doors and locks were installed throughout the building and the exterior door entry system was improved. Exterior improvements were also made to the south end of the building.
• Columbia Falls High School welcomes new teachers Brynn Cadigan, English; Leslie Fant, academic support; Josh Forke, band; Shelly Gress, math; Jake Hall, math; and Jim Peacock, science. New paraeducators are Bridget Chiarito, computer lab; Alan Asa-Dorian, Special Education; Jessicah Kauffman, Special Education and Marissa Radabah, Special Education.
• Student schedules will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 31 for juniors and on Sept. 1 for sophomores. Freshmen and seniors should have picked up their schedules at an earlier date.
• Freshman students and their parents and are encouraged to attend an orientation from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 1. Sophomores through seniors who are new to the district also are invited to attend.
For more information or to register new students call 892-6500.
Columbia Falls Junior High
• About 475 students are expected to attend Columbia Falls Junior High.
• Daily class times are from 8:21 a.m. to 3:21 p.m.
• Students can look forward to playing on a resurfaced gym floor.
• New math curriculum from SpringBoard has been implemented for sixth and eighth grade.
• Teachers joining the junior high staff are Cecilia Byrd Rinck, seventh- and eighth-grade language arts; Ben Caudill, sixth- through eighth-grade instrumental music; Kami Heinz, sixth-grade reading and social studies; and Susan Rushe, seventh- and eighth-grade Special Education.
• An open house and orientation for students is Sept. 2. Sixth-graders should plan on attending at 5:30 p.m. Seventh- and eighth-graders should attend at 7 p.m.
For more information call 892-6530.
Glacier Gateway Elementary
• Enrollment is projected at 480 students.
• School is in session from 8:15 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. on regular school days.
• Glacier Gateway welcomes new third-grade teacher Troy Miller and second-grade teacher Emily Harries.
• New students may register at the school from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
For more information call 892-6540.
Ruder Elementary
• About 480 students are expected to attend Ruder this school year.
• Daily class times are from 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. except Wednesdays. On Wednesdays school is from 8:25 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
• New staff members joining Ruder include fourth-grade teacher Josh Preiss and speech pathologist Tricia Smith.
• A meet-and-greet for students and parents is scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sept. 1.
• New students may register from 7:15 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. weekdays.
For more information call 892-6570.
Fair-Mont-Egan
• The first day of school at Fair-Mont-Egan is Sept. 2 and approximately 180 students are anticipated this school year.
• Daily class times for kindergarten through first grade are 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Second- through eighth-graders attend from 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
• Breakfast costs 50 cents. Hot lunches are not served at Fair-Mont-Egan.
• Students can expect several exciting changes in facilities and curriculum. Construction started in June to convert the school stage and adjacent storage rooms into a new music room with acoustic panels and a sound-proof door. The existing music room will be used for a computer lab and storage.
• Curriculum-wise, the school will implement the first phase in becoming an authorized International Baccalaureate school for grades kindergarten through second.
• New teachers joining the district are: Amanda Aleman, second grade; Casey Bachurski, music; Rebecca Dunkelberger, fourth grade and Matthew Honcoop, sixth grade. Elizabeth Fetterhoff has moved from fourth grade to fifth grade. New staff members include business manager Meredith Kenlon and librarian Cathleen Kuchera.
• A new student orientation is 2 p.m. Sept. 1.
For more information visit www.fmemontana.net.
Kila
• School starts Sept. 2 at Kila School. Enrollment is projected at 165 students.
• Daily class times are from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kindergarten through third grade. Fourth- through eighth-graders attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
• Meals will be served the first day of school. Breakfast costs $1.60 and lunch is $2.90.
• Two classrooms have been added and a garden created at the school
• Kila welcomes new teachers Jeralee Dubois second grade; Donita Magnuson, first grade; Katrina Matumeak, fourth grade; Shaunna Ogden, eighth grade; and Virginia Robertson, sixth grade. Kris Keller will work in the library.
For more information visit www.kilaschool.com.
Marion School
• The first day of school is Sept. 2 for approximately 110 students.
• Daily class times are 8:20 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.
• Meals will be served on the first day of school. Breakfast costs $1.50 and lunch, $2.10.
• The Early Bird before-school program will be held from 7:15 to 8:20 a.m. The after-school program is scheduled from 3:25 to 6:15 p.m.
• Buses will run starting Sept. 2; tentative times will be same as last year.
For more information call 854-2333 or visit www.marionschoolmt.com.
Olney-Bissell
• The first day of school is Sept. 2. Enrollment is projected at 80 students.
• Daily class times are from 8:25 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Meals will be served on the first day of school. Breakfast costs $1.60 and lunch, $2.70.
• Olney-Bissell welcomes new Principal Trevor Dahlman and teachers Molly Fisher, third/fourth grade and Jean Pickering, seventh grade math, science and social studies.
For more information call 862-2828 or visit www.olneybissellschool.com.
Smith Valley
• The first day of school is Sept. 2 for first through eighth grade. Kindergarteners will have “experience days” Sept. 2-4 and their first day of school is Sept. 8.
• About 225 students are expected to attend Smith Valley School.
• Daily class times are 8:30 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. for kindergarten through third grade. Fourth- through eighth- graders attend from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Meals will be served on the first day. Breakfast costs $1.50. The reduced price is 30 cents for eligible students. Lunch costs $2.50 and the reduced price is 40 cents for eligible students.
• Some repairs and upgrades have been made to fences, walkways and flooring in primary building.
• New staff members include kindergarten- through eighth-grade resource teachers.
Heidi Burkhalter and Natalie Mayhew; seventh-grade math and science teacher Matthew Ford and librarian Cathleen Kuchera.
• Parents/guardians are reminded that students are to be dropped off and picked up in the upper parking lot off Batavia Lane from 7:50 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
• Students may join the Wolverine Club before- and after-school program. The club meets from 7:30 to 8 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Contact the school for fees.
• New students may be registered at the office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
For more information visit www.smithvalleyschool.org.
Swan River
• Sept. 2 is the first day of school at Swan River. Enrollment is projected at 163 students.
• Daily class times are from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Breakfast is $1.10. Thirty cents is the reduced price for eligible students. Lunch is $2.10 and 40 cents for the reduced price.
• Over the summer, a parking lot was resurfaced and grass was replanted. Inside the school, new carpet was installed in some classrooms.
• Staff members joining Swan River this year are first-grade teacher Christina Brevik and guidance counselor Liz Richmond. Two other positions yet to be filled are for a cook and music teacher.
For more information call 837-4528 or visit www.swanriverschool.org.
West Valley
• The first day of school is Sept. 2. Enrollment is projected at more than 600 students.
• Daily class times have changed from last year. School will start at 8:20 a.m. Dismissal is at 3:20 p.m. for grades kindergarten through third. Grades fourth through eighth will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m.
• Due to the time changes, buses will pick students up seven minutes later than last year’s schedule.
• West Valley students can look forward to major changes in the new school year when a new addition opens. The new addition houses 16 classrooms, a kitchen, gym, library and expanded offices and foyer.
• Hot meals will not be served until the new kitchen is operational, which is expected two to four weeks into the school year. Breakfast costs $1.25 and lunch is $2.75. Prices are subject to change.
• With additional parking, the student pick-up and drop-off area has changed. Parents should follow signs to the new drop-off area located in front of the school.
• Curriculum-wise, the district will start a Reading Wonders Program this year. The district will continue working on its response-to-intervention.
Plans also include establishing a district strategic plan with the school board.
• Four new positions have been created including a fifth- through eighth-grade principal position filled by Tina Blair; a food services director position filled by Tom Hinkley; a part-time counselor position filled by Leslie Windauer and a secretary position filled by Brooke Ells.
Vonda Foster will serve as a food service assistant.
West Valley also welcomes new teachers Bethany Knudson, fourth grade; Alesia LaRoque, third grade; James Mepham, music and band; and Molly Roe, Special Education.
For more information call 755-7239 or visit www.westvalleyschool.com.
Whitefish Christian Academy
• School starts Sept. 2. Enrollment is projected at 155 students.
• This year, the school expands its classical Christian education to ninth grade. The plan is to continue adding an additional grade level each year through 12th. A boys basketball program will also be offered to fifth through eighth grades.
• New staff members are: Director of Development Clark Berg; Principal David Blattenberger; fifth-grade teacher James Chertudi and fourth-grade teacher Michelle Seymour.
For more information call 862-5875 or visit www.whitefishacademy.org.