IN THIS EDITION...Science Summer Institute 2022 Call for Proposals | April Infinite Campus User Group Meetings | NEW! Women's History Month | SIPPS for Summer Reading | SSoM Program Updates & Save the Dates, + CRITICAL Paper Order Update | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM

You are invited to join us for our summer conference to share your ideas, strategies, and resources with educators from across Montana. This year, we are seeking proposals on a variety of hot topics in STEM. We are now accepting proposals for breakout and workshop sessions – see the description in the form for more details. 

Conference Dates: July 25-27, 2022

Location: Montana State Univ, Bozeman

Proposals Due By: April 6, 2022

Details will be emailed to all Infinite Campus users in our email database later today. If you do not receive that email please respond to this newsletter with your request, or contact:

This month commemorates and encourages the study, observance and celebration of the vital role women play in American history.

The foremost goal of this month is to provide education on how women helped shape the nation, and to empower children by introducing them to historical role models.

The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another.

We should raise each other up. Make sure you're very courageous:

be strong, be extremely kind, and above all, be humble.

— Serena Williams

CNN Underscored - 20 books that are essential reading for Women's History Month,

List includes inspiring true stories, classics, memoirs, comedy, and more.

PBS.org - Women's History Month 2022 - PBS Special Collection

Celebrate Women's History Month this year by exploring pivotal points in American history and learning more about women who fought for progress. Watch films on a range of topics: from the influence of Haudenosaunee matriarchs on early suffragists to a woman's experience of war.

LivingFacts.org - Facts About Women in America Today

An initiative of The PEW Charitable Trusts that aims to give Americans facts that inform and inspire, including 1) What demographics data says about women as earners, learners, believers, and more, 2) America's First Women in Office - 10 trailblazers in top government and military positions, 3) The 19th Amendment - key facts about how women gained the right to vote, and more!

A Collaborative Literacy Program

Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness,

Phonics, and Sight Words

Working on closing reading gaps from learning loss during the pandemic, or in preventing the summer slide? Contact Melissa Tovaas for more information about how schools around the country are using the SIPPS reading intervention system to accelerate reading this summer! Click here to read more.

Details coming soon on upcoming regional SIPPS training opportunities!

CRITICAL TRUCKLOAD PAPER SALE UPDATE

Due to recent fires at US paper mills creating country-wide shortages, extremely high prices, and continued backlogs at US ports, we are unable to secure truckload copy paper bid pricing at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and notify our member school districts as soon as we have a reliable timetable and pricing.

Pick up sites: East Helena, Manhattan, Hardin (TBD), & SW MT (TBD; Anaconda?)

Contact: Tom Franta, tfranta@mt-schools.org, or Jennifer Brekke, jbrekke@mt-schools.org

CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM SPRING 2022 DETAILS [more info here]

DELIVERY SCHEDULE #3: 3/21 - 4/8 | #4: 4/18 - 5/6 | #5: 5/23-6/10

Contact: Jennifer Brekke, jbrekke@mt-schools.org

Collaborative Classroom's mission as a nonprofit is to help students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers while they develop the social and emotional skills necessary to thrive. They have evolved into a partner for schools and districts that is dedicated to transforming the school experience, developing students, and empowering teachers as they engage students.

TEACHING REIMAGINED: Fostering Learning, Engagement, and Joy | June 21 - 23, 2022

CLICK HERE for a detailed schedule, session descriptions, & registration.

OPI Education Compass - March 2022 Edition

FREE IEFA ETHNOBOTANY 2-PART SATURDAY WORKSHOP SERIES

This series features a tribally-specific window into the practical, cultural, ecological, medicinal, and/or ceremonial importance of Montana's native plant series. Each session, presented by a tribal expert in ethnobotany, will provide a unique demonstration with their own personal stories. OPI renewal units available! Full details & registration here.

MAKING IT REAL: A MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDUCATOR WORKSHOP Butte - March 25 | Bozeman - April 4

Interested in engaging your students in active learning while helping them understand the world around them? Concerned about students’ inability to identify misinformation? This free workshop is for you. Resources include the newly published fourth-grade MT history curriculum, Montana: A History of Our Home. For more info, detailed agenda, and registration link, click here.

WLI is offering 4 week-long sessions of dynamic and engaging Language & Culture Camps for kids ages 5-17 in Spanish, French*, German, Mandarin, & Arabic*. Camps are filled with fun games, traditional art & cooking activities, storytelling, songs, and more, all led by experienced Language Coaches. Camps are held M - TH, 9am-3pm. 10% OFF early bird registration ends April 1st. Click here for details!

All 5 Montana CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD in their regions. Click for details:

Region I (Eastern MT) | Region II | Region III | Region IV (SW MT) | Region V (NW MT)

SSoM is a non-profit education service agency 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 excellent 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.