March 30, 2022 Edition
IN THIS EDITION...Register Now for MT Infinite Campus User Groups | Science Summer Institute 2022 Call for Proposals | SIPPS for Summer Reading | SSoM Program Updates | 2 STEM Grant Opportunities | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources featuring MEEA, MOSS, Project WET, & WLIMT | About SSoM

MONTANA USER
GROUP MEETINGS

Monday, April 5: Havre
Tuesday, April 6: Missoula
Wednesday, April 7: Laurel
Thursday, April 8: Glendive
Explore Infinite Campus during our Spring User Group and discover new nuggets of knowledge. Bring your hidden gems to discuss and network with colleagues. Lunch will be provided. Register for the location that works best for you.
Mary Anne Skinner, Your Favorite Infinite Campus Minion | maskinner@mt-schools.org
4th ANNUAL MONTANA SCIENCE SUMMER INSTITUTE
CALL FOR PROPOSALS NOW OPEN
Connect. Collaborate. Integrate.

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
Melissa Tovaas, SSoM Director of Education Services | mtovaas@mt-schools.org
A Collaborative Literacy Program
SIPPS FOR
SUMMER READING
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!

Melissa Tovaas, SSoM Director of Education Services, mtovaas@mt-schools.org


SSoM PROGRAM UPDATES
& RESOURCES
  • MECC CTE Curriculum Workshop April 26 (1/2 day morning) - details coming soon
  • Science Summer Institute 2022 July 25 - 27 @ MSU-Bozeman, IN PERSON
  • Fall 2022 Common PIR Day Sept 23; location TBD, IN PERSON
  • Contact: Melissa Tovaas, mtovaas@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
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
TOSHIBA AMERICA FOUNDATION
...dedicated to promoting quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the nation's K-12 schools. The Foundation provides grants through the following two initiatives:
  1. Grants for Grades K-5 of up to $1,000 are provided to teachers in public or private schools to help them bring innovative projects into their classrooms. The application deadline is October 1, annually.
  2. Grants for Grades 6-12 are provided to teachers who have an idea for making science and mathematics more fun for their students. Requests for grants of up to $5,000 may be submitted throughout the year and are reviewed quarterly. The annual application deadlines are May 1 and November 1 for large grants of $5,000+.

Visit the Foundation's website for details about each of the grant programs.
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES & EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE
MTSNA SUMMER CONFERENCE
"Bee Kind"
June 20 - 23, 2022
Billings Hotel & Convention Center

Registration Details Coming 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.
VIRTUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE
TEACHING REIMAGINED: Fostering Learning, Engagement, and Joy | June 21 - 23, 2022
CLICK HERE for a detailed schedule, session descriptions, & registration.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

OPI Education Compass - April 2022 Edition
Featuring: CSCT & Student Mental Health, Public School Report Card, Flexibilities to Teacher Licensing Public Comment, Funding Opportunities for Districts, & links to updates from all of your favorite OPI departments.
MEEA SPRING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
Saturday, April 2, 10am - 1pm
FREE and open to all MEAA members!

Join us to learn about MEEA's new strategic plan and how we are working to strengthen environmental education in Montana. Learn about best practices for integrating Environmental Education Programs with Montana classrooms and classroom teachers. Celebrate this year's MEEA Educator Award winners, and hear about a student-run wildlife habitat project from a past mini-grant recipient! Details for the fall conference in Missoula and a link to full session recordings from the 2021 Virtual Conference are also included.
MONTANA OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL (MOSS)
2022 NATURE QUEST WEEK & ONLINE AUCTION
Find our fish to win big prizes! April 18 - 23

Join the Montana Outdoor Science School in celebrating the amazing environment we live in and the wonder and curiosity it inspires. Nature Quest week offers everyone an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors! Start with a community-wide nature quest to find the 4.5 ft. stuffed rainbow trout hidden in the wilds of Gallatin Valley - connected to a prize package you don’t want to miss! Wrap up with an Earth Day festival from 10am - 3pm on Saturday, April 23 in Bozeman. The week includes an Online Auction, Virtual Trivia Night, a Fun Run, & more! 
PROJECT WET: WATER & CLIMATE INTERACTIVE EDUCATOR TRAINING
Saturday, April 23, 9:30am - 3pm, Bozeman Fire Station 3

Understanding climate change requires a basic understanding of water. How much do you or your students understand our local water resources? Participate in this interactive workshop with hands-on activities and learn new lessons to teach about local water resources and climate change in Montana. Educator guides, renewal units, & lunch provided!

WORLD LANGUAGE INITIATIVE MONTANA (WLIMT)
2022 GRANT-FUNDED ARABIC LANGUAGE SUMMER CAMPS REGISTRATION & DETAILS

WHO: kids ages 8-12, and 13-18
WHAT: 3 pay-what-you-can Arabic Summer Camps
Morning Arabic Class, Ages 13-18: Session 1 June 20-23, Session 2 June 27-30
Full-Day Arabic Camp, Ages 8-12: Session 1 June 27-30

Check out our latest newsletter here!
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.