April 20, 2022 Edition
IN THIS EDITION.. Montana STEM Summer Institute July 25 - 27 | Free Year-End Infinite Campus Training | SSoM Program Updates | SSoM Partner Resources feat. MT Afterschool Alliance Job Opening | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources feat. MT PBS Education & YNP 150th birthday | About SSoM
Welcome to the 4th annual Montana STEM Summer Institute, supporting educators with the advancement of teaching and learning in STEM! This event is co-hosted by School Services of Montana and the MSU Science Math Resource Center. We are thrilled to host an in-person conference this year at MSU - Bozeman campus July 25 - 27, 2022.

Please visit our event website, your navigation station for ALL conference details right at your fingertips. Use this "Sched" platform to navigate the schedule, get important conference information, and to access session resources during and after the conference. 
Melissa Tovaas, Director of Education Services | mtovaas@mt-schools.org

FREE, LIVE END-OF-YEAR TRAINING SESSIONS
May 3 - 5, 2022

The Infinite Campus Training Team is offering FREE, live training sessions to help you close out the school year. Anyone with a Campus Community account can join live sessions for free from May 3-5, 2022. Districts with a Campus Passport subscription will have the added benefit of accessing recordings through July 1, 2022. Sign into your Campus Community account, then click on any of the hour-long course links listed to register. Courses include:

End-of-Year Checklist | Enrollment Cleanup | Grading Window
Report Cards | Posting Grades | Transcripts


SSoM PROGRAM UPDATES
& RESOURCES
CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM UPDATE
Are you ready to experience a NEW ERA in our Co-op Food Purchasing Program that offers more choices, more flexibility, less frustration, less stress, lower costs, and HAPPY STUDENTS?!? Details coming soon to an in-box near you : )
Contact: Jennifer Brekke | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | 406-580-7547
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) FOR MONTANA
SSoM is launching a grassroots effort to promote and support high-quality SEL across Montana. Sign up now to stay informed and join our effort at sel4mt.org, or visit sel4us.org.

UPCOMING MECC EVENTS
CTE Curriculum Review 8:30 - 11:30am April 26 via Zoom
Register Here to confirm your attendance and provide background info about your CTE interests and needs to the facilitators.

  • SIPPS For Summer Reading - details coming soon on regional SIPPS training ops
  • Fall 2022 Common PIR Day Sept 23; location TBD, IN PERSON
  • Contact: Melissa Tovaas, mtovaas@mt-schools.org
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES & EVENTS
MTAA IS HIRING!
STEAM Lead
MTAA seeks a full-time STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Lead to grow and accelerate our STEAM reach across the state. The STEAM Lead will serve as the primary contact for all MTAA’s STEAM activities and focus on expanding professional development, partnerships, data collection, and outreach related to the Million Girls Moonshot (MGM) initiative.

Click here to check out their website to learn more about the Montana Afterschool Alliance, Upcoming Events, Initiatives, Resources, and their brand new Job Board!

ATTN. FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS AND STAFF!
MTSNA SUMMER CONFERENCE
"Bee Kind"
June 20 - 23, 2022
Billings Hotel & Convention Center

MTSNA is dedicated to protecting and enhancing children's health
and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.

Registration Opens Soon!
Click the MTSNA logo to check out their website : )
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.

Collaborative Circle Newsletter, Issue 5
Read it here! Highlights include:
  • Supporting English Learners in the Classroom, interview with Professor Marco Bravo
  • Inclusive, Authentic Children's Literature: 10 Best Practices for Educators
  • Coaching - Anytime, from Anywhere - Empowers Teachers
JOKE OF THE WEEK
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

OPI Education Compass - April 2022 Edition

Save the Date OPI Summer Institute-Putting MT Students First June 20 - 24, 2022, MSU - Bozeman
130+ Sessions, MSU residence hall lodging @ $50/night
FREE registration coming soon!
MONTANA PBS EDUCATION April 7, 2022 | Issue 62
FEATURING Lesson Planning with PBS | MTPBS Media Lab | Tech Talk Tuesday Playlist | Digital Resources for April

Check out the lineup of Media Lab workshops this month! This is a great opportunity to learn about using teaching resources from Finding Your Roots to inspire digital storytelling. Learn how to use digital storytelling tools such as Story Corps and Timeline JS in the month of April.

Looking for some quick PD you can watch during your lunch break? Check out our Tech Talk Tuesday playlist to learn about using virtual experiences like the 5 Clue Challenge and Mystery Meetings - fun and engaging activities for all students.
Nikki Vradenburg, Ed.D | Director of Education | nikki@montanapbs.org
WORLD LANGUAGE INITIATIVE - MT
WLI'S MISSION is to make language & culture programming available TO ALL MONTANANS. Click their logo to learn more.

The Montana World Affairs Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering global understanding and awareness in Montana’s communities and classrooms. Upcoming FREE events (also virtual) - a part of their Distinguished Speaker Program - include:

Ambassador Max Baucus: US-China Relations in Light of Ukraine April 28, 5:30 - 7pm, Museum of the Rockies
Join Ambassador Max Baucus, former US Ambassador to China and Dexter “Tiff” Roberts, author and China expert, at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman as they discuss US-China relations in light of the war in Ukraine.

General Wesley Clark: Importance of Civility in Foreign Policy Dialogue May 10th, 5:30 - 7pm, Emerson Theater Room
Former Supreme Allied Commander NATO, General Wesley Clark (ret), will be in-person in Bozeman. Together with a special guest, General Clark will discuss the importance of civility in our foreign policy dialogue.
15TH BIENNIAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM
May 15 - 18 @ MSU - Bozeman

Yellowstone's 150th birthday is a special occasion to reflect on the science and conservation accomplishments that have brought us to the present day, as well as a time to envision solutions for some of the grand challenges facing Greater Yellowstone's future. This conference is an opportunity to gather, share discoveries and ideas, find common ground, and examine different ways of understanding natural and cultural resources.
All 5 Montana CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD in their regions. Click for details:
ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA
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.