IN THIS EDITION...National Bullying Prevention Month Resources | MT Safe & Healthy Schools Project SCHOLARSHIPS | Co-op Food Meetings Sign Up | Customized PD Spotlight: Noxon School | SSoM Programs Updates | SSoM Partner Opportunities | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources featuring Fat Bear Week | About SSoM | | |
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OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
Established in 2006, October has become a time to acknow-ledge that bullying has devastating effects on children and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression.
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BULLYING CAN OCCUR: Verbally | Physically | Through Social Exclusion | Via Digital Sources
Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying occurs when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group. Being bullied can severely affect the person’s self-image, social interactions, and school performance, and can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance use, and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has compiled an impressive list of helpful resources for parents & caregivers, children & teens, mental health providers, educators & school staff, and policy makers. Click here for resources.
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MONTANA SAFE & HEALTHY SCHOOLS PROJECT
Proactive Approaches to Preventing School Violence
School Services of Montana has been awarded a GRANT through the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance's STOP School Violence program. We are implementing a multi-faceted approach to preventing school violence through professional learning, coordinated school partnerships, and resources and training on whole child skill development. Implementation of the Montana Safe and Healthy Schools Project will include collaborations with schools and communities to proactively teach students and staff the skills to thrive with interpersonal relationships, self and social awareness, and conflict resolution skills including antiÂ-bullying techniques. Click here for details.
TAKE OUR SURVEY to join our email list of participation opportunities!
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Applications Now Open!
CARING SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Schoolwide Scholarships, Gr. K - 8
One of our project goals is to provide resources and support for schoolwide programs focusing on whole child skill development. As part of these efforts, SSoM is offering Caring School Community Schoolwide Program Scholarships to MT schools serving grades K - 8. Collaborative Classroom’s Caring School Community program and professional learning supports schools with integrating whole child skills with an emphasis on the proactive teaching of social awareness, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills to build positive classroom and school communities.
Click here for complete details, including resources, an FAQ, & application instructions.
Melissa Tovaas, SSoM Executive Director | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0021
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Attention Food Service Directors:
FALL COMMITTEE
MEETINGS ARE BACK!
In-Person | 10am - 2pm each day
If you like to collaborate with your peers, try delicious new foods, and get expert training on content specific to your nutrition program, these meetings are for YOU! If you have opted into the School Services of Montana Co-op Food Program, these meetings are for YOU! If you love FREE stuff, these FREE meetings are for YOU!
Miles City Oct. 17 | Great Falls Oct. 19 | Missoula Oct. 20
AGENDA: Broker Presentations 10 & 11am | Training 12-1pm | Collaboration 1-2pm
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Jennifer Brekke, Purchasing Manager | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547 | |
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NOXON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In August, SSoM Director of Professional Learning Genevieve Thomas led Noxon teachers in a math curriculum planning workshop. Teachers learned the steps for planning a guaranteed and viable curriculum using the four essential questions of learning as a guiding framework, reviewed their prioritized math standards, learned and applied a process for unpacking standards into learning targets, and considered structures for year-long contexts and curriculum maps.
“[After today's workshop] I feel more confident in using the standards to develop comprehensive and fluent instructional plans. I also enjoyed the tools that were provided for unpacking the standards and meeting the students where they are in relation to the standards at each grade level.” - Noxon Educator
For more information about Customized Professional Learning CLICK HERE, or contact:
Genevieve Thomas, Director of Professional Learning | gthomas@mt-schools.org | 406-300-2561
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CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING | Details
SSoM provides PD customized to the needs of your staff and students, both in-person & online, and will work with you to create a plan that fits your needs. Contact us for pricing, member discounts, and multi-day contract discounts!
23 - 24 SY SSoM Gallatin Valley IEFA Institute - stay tuned for details
PROGRAM CONTACT: Genevieve Thomas | gthomas@mt-schools.org | (406) 300-2561
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MECC CURRICULUM CONSORTIUM | Details
Get ready for an action-packed school year of captivating curriculum collaboration with our brand new Director of Curriculum and Assessment, Jake Chipps!
PROGRAM CONTACT: Jake Chipps | jchipps@mt-schools.org | (818) 481-6788
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CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM | 23-24 SY Details
This program features FREE ACCESS to all Schools in Montana! Districts who submitted a 22-23 SY Opt-in form are NOT required to re-submit for 23-24. Your participation in our program as been automatically rolled over with the US Foods / School Services of Montana contract roll-over, per bid contract language.
Committee Meetings: Miles City 10/17 | Great Falls 10/19 | Missoula 10/20
PROGRAM CONTACT: Jennifer Brekke | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547
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MEDICAID BILLING PROGRAM | Details
Over 900 providers currently log services online in the SSoM Service Portal. For program details and Program Manager Lisa Waterman's bio, click the link above.
Medicaid Service Portal Newsletter Sept. 2023
PROGRAM CONTACT: Lisa Waterman | Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
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INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT | Details
Did you know? You can make the switch to SSoM Infinite Campus Support at ANY TIME during the school year! Our dedicated support team works closely with OPI and understands Montana District SIS needs. Plus, your SUPPORT FEES WILL NOT INCREASE when you switch!
23 - 24 YES Series PD Oct 17 & 18 | Jan 9 & 10 | Feb 6 & 7 | Mar 6 & 20...
National Training Week: Nov 13 - 17, 2023
PROGRAM CONTACT: Mary Anne Skinner | maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
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SSoM PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES | |
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Collaborative Classroom is a national nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all students become readers, writers, and thinkers who learn from, care for, and respect one another.
School Services of Montana and Collaborative Classroom are proud to partner with one another.
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2023-24 TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW OPEN!
Thanks to contributions from generous donors, we are able to make annual awards of curriculum and professional learning to K–12 educators nationwide through our Teacher Scholarship Program.
If you have been wanting to bring the SIPPS® or Caring School Community® program into your classroom, or try virtual coaching to support your current Collaborative Classroom implementation, now is the time to apply to receive these programs—for FREE!
Apply now! The application window closes October 13.
For more professional learning opportunities, visit the Collaborative Classroom Events Calendar.
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THE READING LEAGUE TEACHER TUESDAY SERIES
Seven FREE Zoom Sessions | 9/26 - 11/14
Variety of Language & Literacy Topics
*Nov. 7 Featured Presenter: Genevieve Thomas
The Reading League of Montana invites you to join them for an exciting Teacher Tuesday Series discussing a variety of language and literacy topics! Presenters are experienced educators who will share impactful practices aligned with the science of reading.
All sessions begin at 4:15pm MST; ZOOM LINK
Sept 26 Small Group Instruction Using Backward Design
Oct 3 Early Childhood Classroom Language & Literacy Routines
Oct 10 Teaching the Most At-Risk Students in Tier 1 and a Walk to Read Model
Oct 17 Small Group Diagnostic Prescriptive Instruction
Oct 24 Early Childhood Language and Literacy Routines
*Nov 7 Bringing the Science of Reading to Special Education Services
Nov 14 Literacy in the Upper Grades
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MSU SCIENCE MATH RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC)
Brainstorms! September 2023 Edition
ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE GRADUATE LEVEL COURSE
EDU 591 Competency-Based Education | Oct 16 - Dec 14 | Details
Last chance to learn about competency-based learning and earn FREE MSU grad credits this fall! This course is for in-service teachers & school leaders. Fill out interest form here.
ATTENTION TEACHERS! Do you have any students at MSU this fall?
Please connect them to the Science Math Resource Center!
Your students will be connected to cool STEM opportunities - even if they don't major in
STEM - including our new Science Olympiad club, jobs and internships, citizen science, and
other volunteer opportunities. Send their email addresses to smrc@montana.edu and
we will send a special welcome from MSU.
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MONTANA PBS EDUCATION
NEW on PBS LearningMedia: Parks of Montana
Click Here for Details | Geared toward grades PreK-K, K-2, 3-5
Montana is home to 55 State Parks—each with its own unique wonders. The Parks of Montana project aims to showcase the amazing features of these public lands and to teach a variety of lessons from different content areas to elementary students. Within the collection are resources for teachers and students preparing to visit the park, reflecting an a previous trip or exploring the parks virtually. From caves, to lakes, to fossils, Montana's State Parks are magnificent places to explore at-home and on site!
>> All videos were created by our Education team just for Montana students
>> Each video is paired with lesson activities aligned to Montana Content Standards
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
FAT BEAR WEEK 2023 | OCTOBER 4 - 10
Fat Bear Week is a celebration of success and survival. It is a way to celebrate the resilience, adaptability and strength of Katmai’s brown bears. Bears are matched against each other in a tournament style competition and online visitors can vote on which bear is ultimately crowned the Fat Bear Week 2023 Champion. Over the course of the week, virtual visitors learn more about the lives and histories of individual bears while also gaining a greater understanding of Katmai’s ecosystem through a series of live events hosted on explore.org.
Meet the Bears of Fat Bear Week 2023 | VOTE HERE : )
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ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA | |
OUR MISSION
School Services of Montana commits to providing equitable support and services designed to leverage school resources, enhance curriculum and instruction, and offer economically sustainable solutions. Through collaboration with government, public, and local entities, SSoM provides personalized, innovative programs to empower and connect Montana’s diverse school communities.
SSoM Members educate nearly 60,000 students across the state. Membership is open to all K-12 school districts, public or private, and education-based organizations primarily serving Montana’s youth. While membership is not required to participate in the vast majority of SSoM programs and services, membership does have its perks. Click here : )
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