February 1, 2023 Edition
IN THIS EDITION.. Flathead Valley IEFA Institute May 17 & 18 | Black History Month Teacher Resources | Montana STEM Summer Institute Jul 31 - Aug 2 | Dyslexia Self-Paced Course | SSoM Programs & PD Updates | GRANT Opportunities | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM

FLATHEAD VALLEY IEFA INSTITUTE
8am - 3pm May 17 & 18
Flathead Valley Community College
Co-Sponsored by School Services of MT and Kalispell Public Schools

Join us for one or both days of IEFA learning with award-winning Montana educators, Jordann Lankford-Forster (Bright Trail Woman) and Miranda Murray.

The Flathead Valley IEFA Institute will provide foundational information concerning the seven “Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians” and tools to implement Indigenous content into your curriculum. Participants may not feel comfortable or know where to begin, and that is OK. The facilitators will provide you with the support and sustainable resources to advance cultural content and Native resources in your classrooms, no matter where you are in your IEFA implementation. Participants will gain instruction and crucial essential understandings as diverse perspectives are important for all students’ success.

COST: $20 per Participant per Day | Register for one or both days
Please contact our Executive Director with questions:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264

CELEBRATE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
with FREE Resources for Teachers!

Montana Historical Society Documentary

Includes resources from: Library of Congress (13); National Archives (33); National Endowment for the Humanities (38); National Gallery of Art (9); National Park Service (8); Smithsonian Institute; US Holocaust Memorial Museum (6)

5th ANNUAL
MONTANA STEM SUMMER INSTITUTE

July 31 - August 2, 2023 | MSU - Bozeman Campus
CONFERENCE UPDATES
--> HAPPENING NOW You are invited to join our MT SSI Advisory Group!
--> FEBRUARY Break Out Session Proposal Submission Opens - stay tuned for details
--> MARCH Registration Opens For Everyone!
2022 PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL
"This STEM conference was top notch! There were so many great resources and activities that I will take back to the classroom this year. I would highly recommend this professional learning for all k-12 teachers.”
- Lynette Conrad, First Grade Teacher, Anderson School
Please contact our Executive Director with questions, or to join our Advisory Group:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
DYSLEXIA SELF-PACED COURSE

UNDERSTANDING & SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA & OTHER READING DISABILITIES

An online, self-paced course brought to you by SSoM and designed by literary expert and consultant, Genevieve Thomas.
Available through June 30, 2023 | Register Here

$20 discount for SSoM Members | 11 OPI Renewal Units
SSoM PROGRAMS & PD UPDATES
SSoM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Program Details
MECC CURRICULUM CONSORTIUM Program Details
Next MECC Event: Advisory Council Meeting April 20
MECC Contact: Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT Program Details
Next Event: Infinite Campus Yearly Event Series (YES) Feb 7 - 8, Virtual; register here
Program Contact: Mary Anne Skinner | maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
SSoM MEDICAID BILLING PROGRAM Program Details
Program Contact: Lisa Waterman | Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
SSoM CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM Program Details, FAQ, & Resources
Next Event: MTSNA Annual Conference June 26 - 29, Great Falls, MT; MTSNA.org
Program Contact: Jennifer Brekke | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547
5 GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL'S KITCHEN WITH
SNF EQUIPMENT GRANTS

Apply now for one (or more) of FIVE available grants
through the 2023 SNF Equipment Grant Program.

Deadline to apply is March 31, 2023. Apply today!

  1. The Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant program will award up to 10 pieces of equipment, valued up to $100,000, to one school district in need of improving its school meal kitchen facilities.
  2. The recipient of Vulcan Equipment Grant from ITW/FWE will be awarded up to $50,000 worth of Vulcan equipment that suits their school district’s needs.
  3. The Hobart Equipment Grant, also from ITW/FWE, awards up to $35,000 worth of Hobart equipment for their school district.
  4. The Food Warming Equipment (FWE) Equipment Grant awards the winning school district with multiple pieces of equipment, valued at up to $25,000.
  5. The Collection Equipment Grant brings together Cambro Manufacturing, Innoseal Systems, Sterling Manufacturing and Sterno Delivery to help upgrade school kitchens with multiple pieces of new equipment.
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES

COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM
SUPPORTS YOU WITH
READING RESOURCES

Schools and districts are improving students' foundational skills using SIPPS® during summer school. Learn from literacy leaders across the country about how SIPPS can help set students up for success this summer.

When selecting instructional materials it's imperative to discern the "wheat from the chaff." Linda Diamond will share strategies for evaluating and choosing appropriate instructional materials that support the science of reading.

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS VIA 1 HOUR WEBINARS
Introducing SIPPS: Powerful Interventions to Accelerate Foundational Skills Across K-12
Introducing Being a Writer: Developing Confident, Competent, and Independent Writers K-5
Introducing Being a Reader, 2nd Ed: K-5 Comprehensive Reading Instruction
Introducing CASEL SELect Caring School Community, K–8

Questions about getting your district involved with Collaborative Classroom? Contact:
Melissa Tovaas, Collaborative Classroom Liaison | mtovaas@mt-schools.org

MSU SCIENCE MATH RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC)
Brainstorms! Newsletter January 2023 Ed.

Welcome! If you are a Montana STEM educator of any grade level, this newsletter is for YOU.


STEM OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering - February 4 is the deadline for elementary teachers to apply for a six-week paid summer research experience at MSU. The experience includes a stipend plus housing and travel expenses.

MSU Research in Action continues in Spring 2023 - Our fall MSU Research in Action series included meeting an MSU engineering student who studies insect flight; an MSU chemistry post-doc who is working to understand how methanogens use pyrite as a nutrient; and an MSU engineering student who is developing low-cost tests for diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Supercharge Your Classroom with Montana Field Science Data is a free, self-paced course for educators that consists of five modules. Through these modules, educators will learn to incorporate datasets from authentic Montana research projects into their own classroom.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

OPI Education Compass - February 2023 Edition
OPI is starting off the new year with your success stories! Please send pictures and narratives that shout out the great things your school or district is accomplishing. Let's celebrate how each of our schools puts Montana students first! (click the link for details)
AIM Spring Enrollment Collection Webinar Thursday, February 2 @ 2pm via Zoom
The AIM Unit will host a series of webinars to demonstrate the new Data Validation and Certification process for the Spring ANB collection. The webinar will cover:

  • Assigning user groups to state created Data Validation Rules
  • Assigning appropriate user rights/groups to individuals responsible for validation and certification
  • Selecting a primary certifier
  • Entering Spring Enrollment information
  • Certifying Spring Enrollment data
  • Join Zoom meeting here; complete details in the Feb. 2023 Education Compass

OPI's Current Organizational Chart is now available and interactive! Click here to view, and click on each Unit to learn who our team members are.

OPI's Virtual Teacher Job Fair is in March! Stay tuned for more information.
WORLD LANGUAGE INITIATIVE - MONTANA
"Making language and culture education available for all Montanans"

New Year Goodness January 2023: Newsletter Highlights
  • 2022 Fundraising Stats and Program Highlights
  • A note from our Founder & Former Executive Director
  • Happy Lunar New Year - celebrations, traditions, and customs
  • Mountain's Walking Brewery & Pub supporting WLI-MT on Mondays in February
  • Reminder: Spring Language classes began Jan. 30th
All 5 Montana CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD in their regions. Click for details:
ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA
SSoM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education service organization 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 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.

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