IN THIS EDITION...MT STEM Summer Institute Team Registration Deal | Safe & Healthy Schools Grant Update | The Reading League Montana Resources & Book Study | SSoM Programs | SSoM Partner Resources feat. MSU Science Math Resource Center | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM | |
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- ATTENTION TEAMS -
6th ANNUAL MONTANA STEM
SUMMER INSTITUTE
August 5 - 8, 2024 | Bozeman, MT
The Montana STEM Summer Institute is a one-of-a-kind, Montana-made showcase for STEM integration across all grades and subject areas. Youāll enjoy exemplary K-12 STEM instruction and resources, inspiring national speakers, and the best of Montana! We welcome attendees interested in STEM learning in any discipline.
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General Registration $295 | SSoM Member Rate $245
Team Promo: Register 2 Get 1 FREE
Must use Team Registration link | You will be invoiced
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APPLY NOW, IMPLEMENT IN SY 24 - 25
ļ»æMONTANA SAFE & HEALTHY SCHOOLS PROJECT UPDATES
Caring School Community Schoolwide
Program Scholarships
SSoM is currently working with Richland County stakeholders to plan resources for families to support proactive approaches to mental and behavioral health and wellness. Resources will include a āPrioritizing School and Community Wellnessā in-person event this fall, as well as a series of virtual training sessions. Look for future announcements and details as schools and families in Richland (and surrounding counties) are welcome to join!
Are you working with a school/district in Richland or a surrounding county and are interested in joining our stakeholder team to plan the event and provide input into topics? Contact Melissa Tovaas today!
RESOURCES & LINKS
For questions about joining our Richland County stakeholder team, contact:
Melissa Tovaas, Project Director | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0021
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THE READING LEAGUE MONTANA - RESOURCES
Established in 2022, The Reading League Montana (TRL-MT) chapter supports the advancement of the Science of Reading. TRL-MT shares the mission of the national organization of advancing the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-based reading instruction.
šGROW YOUR HB352 KNOWLEDGE: 3-Part Webinar Series
3 Sessions: April 5, 11, & 29 | FREE | Complete Details & Registration
Throughout April, TRL-MT is sponsoring a series of virtual conversations designed to support schools and districts in implementing quality early childhood language and literacy programs through House Bill 352.
š2024 SUMMER BOOK STUDY | June 17 - July 29
Effective Universal Instruction: An Action-Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1
Hosted by The Reading League
Registration is FREE: use code SUMMER2024 for 10% off the book
SSoM Director of Professional Learning, Genevieve Thomas, can attest to the usefulness of this resource for analyzing and improving universal instruction through an MTSS model.
Questions about TRL-MT? Please contact our Director of Professional Learning:
Genevieve Thomas | 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.
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Save the Date: SSoM IEFA Institute | Nov. 7 - 8, 2024 | Anaconda, MT
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Program Lead: Genevieve Thomas | gthomas@mt-schools.org | (406) 300-2561
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CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM | 23-24 SY DETAILS
Are rising food costs getting you down? Save time and money with this program, available to ALL MT Schools, child-based educational organizations, early childhood learning centers, and after school programs. Join at any time!
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Program now open to Licensed Early Learning Centers - contact us for details
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Program Lead: 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, and our program serves students from 105 Montana districts! Customized Zoom training available to all users.
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Program Lead: Lisa Waterman | Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
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INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT | DETAILS
You can switch to SSoM Infinite Campus Support at any time during the school year and your support fees will not increase! Our dedicated support team works closely with OPI and understands Montana District SIS needs. Contact us today!
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SSoM PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES | |
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MSU SCIENCE MATH RESOURCE CENTER
Newsletter: Brainstorms! April 2024 Edition
The April 2024 edition features cool opportunities for Montana STEM educators of all grade levels, subjects, and settings. You'll find upcoming PD workshops, grants, resources, events and contests for students, and more:
Help build a STEM Learning Ecosystem in Montana!
The Science Math Resource Center is one of several partners supporting the Montana Afterschool Alliance as they work toward forming a STEM Learning Ecosystem in Montana. STEM learning ecosystems are networks of organizations that work together and support one another to advance STEM learning opportunities for youth.
You can learn more about this effort or sign-up for a list-serv to stay in touch. Watch for an announcement of a statewide virtual meeting later this month!
APRIL HIGHLIGHTS & RESOURCES
- Celebrate World Quantum Day, April 14
- April is Citizen Science Month
- MSU Summer Math Camp | June 17 - 20 | 6 - 9th grade students
- Computer Science in the Classroom: Computational Thinking for Teachers (CSCI 581, 2 credits) July 8 - 12; FREE for MT Teachers: Online Summer Graduate Course!
- STEM STRONG seeks rural teachers of grades 3 - 5 for paid PD opportunity!
- MT Nanotechnology Facility (MONT) paid summer nanoscience workshop for MS teachers | July 15-19 | Virtual | up to $800 stipend!
Full details, resources, and registration links can be found in Brainstorms! April 2024 Ed.
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MTAA AFTERSCHOOL & BEYOND CONFERENCE 2024
April 19 - 20 | 10am - 3pm | Hotel Finlan, Butte
You are invited ļ»æto a very special conference designed for your professional and personal renewal. In addition to hands-on learning in relevant content areas, we've built time into the schedule to connect with colleagues and focus on the well-being of the youth development professionals who support students beyond the school day. Day One includes two intensive topics focused on making every child feel welcome in your program, as well as safe, empowered, and connected to their community. Day Two has a variety of workshop choices. We've also sprinkled opportunities throughout the conference for personal reflection and networking.
This experience will be as unique and memorable as Butte itself.
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Use Code NEWSLETTER for a 10% Discount
Additional 20% Team Discount Available
Register Today
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Contact: Bethany Wieferich, MTAA Quality and Support Lead | bethany@mtafterschoolalliance.org | |
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ļ»æCOLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM
ļ»æUpcoming FREE Webinars
Events Calendar
Being a Writer, 3rd. Ed. | April 18 | 2 - 3pm MT
Learn how this evidence-based program fosters a vibrant community of writers, enhances the synergy between reading and writing, utilizes the writing process effectively for diverse purposes and audiences, incorporates instruction on writing conventions and grammar, and offers targeted support for multilingual learners.
CASEL SELect Caring School Community (K-8) | April 24 | 2 - 3pm MT
Learn about how this SEL learning program builds school-wide community (supporting both adults and students), develops studentsā social skills, and enables a transformative stance on discipline.
Small-Group Reading Sets (Kā2) | May 1 | 2 - 2:45pm MT | Aligns with SIPPS : )
Learn about how these supplemental sets for Small-Group Reading Instruction, a component of Being a Reader Kā2, are designed to help students build and practice phonics and foundational skills, improve language comprehension, and develop independent thinking skills.
Being a Reader (Kā5) Comprehensive Core Instruction | On-Demand Webinar
Learn about Being a Readerā¢, a comprehensive reading program that ensures all students become fluent, thoughtful, and fully engaged readers by mastering foundational skills and building comprehension, acquiring vocabulary, increasing independent reading stamina, and developing social skills.
Program Contact: Genevieve Thomas, Director of Professional Learning, gthomas@mt-schools.org
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MONTANA PBS EDUCATION
Featuring the MT State Parks Collection & Spring Field Trip Ideas
Take your students on an adventure to one of the Montana State Parks and let Montana PBS be your tour guide!
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Get your students excited for the trip by watching a quick overview video about all the things they will see in the park.
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Use the background reading documents to talk to students about the park and what they might learn on the field trip.
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Explore the photo gallery & the wandering wonders video to preview of the landscape of the park.
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During your field trip use the Park Visitation Guide in the support materials to keep track of things you observe.
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Once you are back from the field trip take a look at the lesson video and do a hands-on activity to explore a science or social studies topic related to the park.
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This original collection contains teacher resources for exploring Lewis and Clark Caverns, Makoshika State Park, Flathead Lake, and First People's Buffalo Jump.
š²Start Your Trip!š»
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CYBERSECURITY IN SCHOOLS - PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Education, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), launched the Government Coordinating Council (GCC) for the Education Facilities Subsector, a pivotal step forward in the national effort to enhance cybersecurity across K-12 education. This council signifies an unprecedented level of collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal governments to protect schools from cybersecurity threats.
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Notably, the launch follows the Back to School Safely: K-12 Cyber-security Summit hosted by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House, underscoring the Administrationās whole-of-government approach to addressing cyber incident prevention, mitigation, and recovery.
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ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA | |
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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 Montanaās 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 Montanaās youth. While membership is not required to participate in the vast majority of SSoM programs and services, membership does have its perks.
Newsletter Archives
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