February 8, 2023 Edition
IN THIS EDITION.. Changes to Spring ANB Collection | IEFA Institute May 17 & 18 | Montana STEM Summer Institute Jul 31 - Aug 2 | SSoM Programs & PD Updates | SSoM Partner Resources - NEW | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM

OPI AIM Unit Announces
CHANGES TO SPRING
ENROLLMENT COLLECTION

The OPI AIM Unit has a new Data Validation and Certification process for the Spring ANB collection.

ATTENTION USERS OF INFINITE CAMPUS DISTRICT EDITION!
You do NOT need to upload a file to insert your Count Date Information. Follow these instructions to navigate Campus:

  1. Reporting > MT State Reporting > MT Count Date Attendance. 
  2. Select your school. Use the drop down to indicate Spring (date will auto-populate). 
  3. Run Test. 
  4. Fix any errors that may result from an incomplete student schedule or incorrect service type within the enrollment*. 
  5. Once fixed. Re-run the test. After all errors are cleared, click Generate. 
  6. THIS WILL AUTO-POPULATE ALL SPRING ANB COUNT FIELDS eliminating the need to manually input data OR upload a file. 
  7. Repeat steps 2-6 until all calendars and schools have been updated. 
  8. Proceed to Step 4. in the AIM User Guide linked below. 

QUICK LINKS

Mary Anne Skinner, Director of Infinite Campus Support Services
maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306

FLATHEAD VALLEY IEFA INSTITUTE
8am - 3pm May 17 & 18
Flathead Valley Community College
Co-Sponsored by School Services of MT and Kalispell Public Schools

Join us for one or both days of IEFA learning with award-winning Montana educators, Jordann Lankford-Forster (Bright Trail Woman) and Miranda Murray.

The Flathead Valley IEFA Institute will provide foundational information concerning the seven “Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians” and tools to implement Indigenous content into your curriculum. Participants may not feel comfortable or know where to begin, and that is OK. The facilitators will provide you with the support and sustainable resources to advance cultural content and Native resources in your classrooms, no matter where you are in your IEFA implementation. Participants will gain instruction and crucial essential understandings as diverse perspectives are important for all students’ success.

COST: $20 per Participant per Day | Register for one or both days
Please contact our Executive Director with questions:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
5th ANNUAL
MONTANA STEM
SUMMER INSTITUTE
July 31 - August 2, 2023
Montana State University - Bozeman
CONFERENCE UPDATES
HAPPENING NOW You are invited to join our MT SSI Advisory Group!
FEBRUARY Break Out Session Proposal Submission Opens - stay tuned for details
MARCH Registration Opens For Everyone
2022 PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL
"This STEM conference was top notch! There were so many great resources and activities that I will take back to the classroom this year. I would highly recommend this professional learning for all k-12 teachers.”
- Lynette Conrad, First Grade Teacher, Anderson School
Please contact our Executive Director to join our Advisory Group:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM PROGRAMS & PD UPDATES
SSoM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Program Details
Self-paced Course: Dyslexia | available through June 30, 2023 | details and registration
Program Contact: Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264

MECC CURRICULUM CONSORTIUM Program Details
Next MECC Event: Advisory Council Meeting April 20
MECC Contact: Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM Program Details, FAQ, & Resources UPDATED!
Next Event: MTSNA Annual Conference June 26 - 29, Great Falls, MT; MTSNA.org
Program Contact: Jennifer Brekke | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547
SSoM INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT Program Details
Program Contact: Mary Anne Skinner | maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
SSoM MEDICAID BILLING PROGRAM Program Details
Program Contact: Lisa Waterman | Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES

The Montana SIM Project Presents
STRATEGIC INSTRUCTION MODEL
(SIM) TRAINING
FREE to Montana Educators!

Montana schools are emphasizing accelerated learning conditions to 1) bridge student's content and skills gaps, and 2) focus on essential grade level curriculum. Fortunately, the Montana SIM Project provides the resources and methods to address this approach. Choose from one of the following (details in flyer linked below):

  • The Sentence Writing Strategies: Fundamentals...
  • The Framing Routine
  • The Inference Strategy
  • Fundamentals of Paraphrasing and Summarizing
  • The Unit Organizer Routine

Thanks to funding from the Educational Promise Foundation, these trainings and accompanying instructional materials are available to educators in Montana AT NO COST! Each course comes with 1 or more FREE Professional Development Credits from MSU-Billings. Registration Deadline: Feb. 10


Questions? Please contact Jocelyn Washburn | jwashburn@ku.edu | (785) 864-0622
FREE MTASCD CURRICULUM EVENT
Lockwood High School, Billings MT
or Join Virtually! Feb. 10, 8 - 12pm

Learn why many Montana schools are incorporating the foundational components of proficiency-based and/or standards-based education in curriculum and assessment design. During this event you'll:
  • Define differences and similarities between proficiency-based and standards-based education
  • Align assessment to learning outcomes and standards
  • Define proficiency scales in each context & the purpose of performance assessments
  • Support teachers during the transformation by providing tools and resources

Contact: Lockwood Curriculum Director Andrea Meiers | meiersa@lockwoodschool.org

COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM
SUPPORTS YOU WITH
READING RESOURCES

WEBINAR Feb 28 @ 2pm MT
Choosing Curriculum that Supports the Science of Reading - What Administrators Need to Know: Linda Diamond will share strategies for evaluating and choosing appropriate instructional materials that support the science of reading.

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS VIA 1 HOUR WEBINARS
Introducing SIPPS: Powerful Interventions to Accelerate Foundational Skills Across K-12
Introducing Being a Writer: Developing Confident, Competent, & Independent Writers K-5
Introducing Being a Reader, 2nd Ed: K-5 Comprehensive Reading Instruction
Introducing CASEL SELect Caring School Community, K–8

Questions about getting your district involved with Collaborative Classroom? Contact:
Melissa Tovaas, Collaborative Classroom Liaison | mtovaas@mt-schools.org
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Happy Valentine's Day!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

OPI Education Compass - February 2023 Edition
OPI's Organizational Chart: Current | Interactive | Available Now
VIEW HERE, and click on each Unit to learn about their team members.

OPI's Virtual Teacher Job Fair is in March! Stay tuned for more information : )
MONTANA PBS EDUCATOR E-NEWSLETTER
February 2023 | Join MTPBS Teachers Facebook Group HERE : )

FREE! Hiding in Plain Sight Virtual PD Series
Youth Mental Health Virtual Workshops for Teachers are BACK! We will meet using Zoom after school watch clips from the film and engage in discussion with peers about strategies and resources for supporting youth mental health.
  • Tuesdays after school beginning February 14
  • 4-hr Video link, revised schedule, & Registration in newsletter
  • OPI credit available

Learn at Home, Too with Montana PBS
MT PBS continues its commitment to make resources available to every pre-K through 12th grade student & teacher who needs educational resources for learning at home. Click here to learn how to get the most out of MT PBS Learn at Home, Too!

Join MTPBS Teachers Facebook Group here, and stay up to date on the latest technology and media integration resources & events.
For more information about Montana PBS Education, please contact:
Nikki Vradenburg, MT PBS Director of Education | nikki@montanapbs.org
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
with FREE Resources for Teachers

Montana Historical Society Documentary

Includes resources from: Library of Congress (13); National Archives (33); National Endowment for the Humanities (38); National Gallery of Art (9); National Park Service (8); Smithsonian Institute; US Holocaust Memorial Museum (6)
All 5 Montana CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD in their regions. Click for details:
ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA
SSoM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education service organization committed to unlocking the full potential of every child in each and every school we serve across the state. We accomplish this by providing a wide variety of professional learning activities and business services designed to meet the specific needs of Montana’s educators and administrators. Interested in supporting our work? Click here to make a donation, and be sure to read all about our organization on our website.

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