March 30, 2023 Edition
IN THIS EDITION.. Cultural Student Exchange Interest Survey | STEM Summer Institute Registration Opens Next Week | Infinite Campus Spring User Groups | MECC Review | IEFA Institute | SSoM PD & Program Details | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources featuring MT PBS Kids | About SSoM

CULTURAL STUDENT EXCHANGE
INTEREST SURVEY
FOR: Teachers | Principals | School Leaders


School Services of Montana, in collaboration with the OPI, will begin to develop a useful Toolkit to further facilitate support for teachers’ and schools’ educational and financial needs for Cultural Student Exchanges, supplied through grant funds & trainings.

Our GOAL is to empower schools to facilitate and build personal, educational, and cultural relationships through intentional exchanges between individuals and educational communities from tribal schools and off- reservation schools, or between differing cultural or tribal schools. 

Sign up to stay informed and be the first to receive the toolkit!
REGISTRATION OPENS NEXT WEEK
MONTANA STEM
SUMMER INSTITUTE
July 31 - Aug 2 | MSU-Bozeman
"Spark Curiosity with STEM"

Low-Cost MSU Dorm Housing | Multiple Discounted Hotel Room Blocks
Early Bird Discount Thru May 31 | Packed Exhibitor Hall | Prize Drawings
Network with 100's of Montana K-12 STEM Educators
PRESENTER PROPOSALS DUE BY APRIL 15
Don’t miss the opportunity to present at this exciting and expanded STEM event for Montana educators interested in science, math, and related fields. Presenters receive a small stipend and registration fee waiver. The proposal form provides more details about audiences, types of sessions, and topics that spark curiosity about STEM.
Conference hosted by School Services of MT & the MSU Science Math Resource Center

Please contact SSoM Executive Director for additional information:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
INFINITE CAMPUS
SPRING USER GROUPS
"The Power of ONE"

All meetings are 8am - 3pm & include lunch : )
DATES & LOCATIONS
Monday, April 17 Evergreen School District | Kalispell
Tuesday, April 18 Hellgate Elementary | Missoula
Wednesday, April 19 Montana DNRC | Helena
Thursday, April 20 Heck Elementary | Belgrade
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Mary Anne Skinner, Director of Infinite Campus Support Services | maskinner@mt-schools.org
MECC TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM REVIEW
April 17 & May 1 | 9:30am - 2:30pm
Lunch Provided | Attend One Day or Both : )


This curriculum review workshop will provide an opportunity for our group to collaborate and review OPI’s Technology Standards and develop a Curriculum Framework for them. The framework can then be utilized by our school districts to create individual District curricula which address the OPI Technology Standards.

LOCATION: Headwaters Academy, 1001 Durston Rd, Bozeman MT

Please contact our Executive Director for additional information:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264

FLATHEAD VALLEY
IEFA INSTITUTE
8am - 3pm | May 17 &/or May 18, 2023
Flathead Valley Community College
COST: $20 Per Person Per Day
Register For One OR Both Days


Co-Sponsored by School Services of MT and Kalispell Public Schools

Please contact our Executive Director with questions:
Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM PD & PROGRAM DETAILS
SSoM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Program Details
Self-paced Course: Dyslexia | available through June 30, 2023 | Details and Registration
Program Contact: Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264

MECC CURRICULUM CONSORTIUM Program Details
Upcoming Events: Advisory Council Meeting April 20
MECC Contact: Melissa Tovaas | mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM Program Details, FAQ, & Resource Center
Next Event: MTSNA Annual Conference June 26 - 29, Great Falls, MT | MTSNA.org
Program Contact: Jennifer Brekke | jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547
SSoM INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT Program Details
PD Opportunities: YES Series - Beyond the Browser | April 4 & 5, 2023
Program Contact: Mary Anne Skinner | maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
SSoM MEDICAID BILLING PROGRAM Program Details
Next Event: MASBO Summer Conference June 14 - 16 | MASBO.com
Program Contact: Lisa Waterman | Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES
MONTANA AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE (MTAA)
FREE MONTANA STEM SUMMIT
April 13, 2023 | 2 - 8 PM | Helena, MT

"Growing STEM Learning Across the Big Sky"
For the first time since 2019, the Montana STEM Summit will be held in-person! Join us April 13 at the Great Northern Convention Center in Helena, MT to bring together representatives from education, business, afterschool, government, industry and nonprofits along with other engaged citizens to discuss how Montana can continue to grow a strong STEM ecosystem across the state.


Please contact the MTAA Strategic Initiatives Lead if you have questions:
Heather Jameson | heather@mtafterschoolalliance.org

MSU SCIENCE MATH RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC) BRAINSTORMS! March 2023 Edition

We share cool opportunities for Montana STEM educators of all grade levels, subjects and settings, including: upcoming PD workshops through MSU & our partners; grant applications & STEM resources; STEM events & contests for students; & more.
STEM Opportunities for Youth

STEM PD Opportunities for Teachers
JOKE OF THE WEEK
In case you were wondering how the Northern Lights are created:
#MeanwhileInCanada
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Teacher Learning Hub - a FREE online learning platform providing high-quality professional learning for Montana educators

OPI Education Compass - March 2023 Edition
MONTANA PBS KIDS presents CYBERCHASE:
Mobile Adventures in STEM

Cyberchase is the Emmy-winning animated series full of math and environmental adventures. It features three diverse kids, known as The CyberSquad, who use brain power and problem solving skills to outwit and outsmart the villain Hacker in their quest to save Cyberspace. Along the way, the CyberSquad persevere over challenges to show how math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it!

This collection features a myriad of resources designed to spark curiosity in STEM concepts and boost problem solving skills of elementary-level learners. Along with segments from the animated portion of the show, resources also include live action “Cyberchase: For Real” segments, in which host Bianca and Harry explore math concepts in everyday life that can be replicated at home and in the community.

Sign up to receive FREE videos and activities from the PBS KIDS show Cyberchase, sent right to your phone! Explore math, science, and the environment through fun games, crafts, and experiments for kids ages 5-8.

Text "Montana" to 30644 to sign up today and start getting texts beginning March 30th
TSA ISSUES FINAL VERDICT ON PEANUT BUTTER
THRILLIST.COM | March 21, 2023

The TSA won't budge. According to the agency, peanut butter is still a liquid—even if plenty of people on Twitter seem to disagree.

In a tweet that has since gone viral, podcaster Patrick Neve jokingly complained about having his jar of PB confiscated when going through airport security. The reason? It's a liquid, and therefore he couldn't carry more than 3.4 fluid ounces of it.

"I tried to take peanut butter through airport security," reads the tweet. "TSA: 'Sorry, no liquids, gels, or aerosols.' Me: 'I want you to tell me which of those things you think peanut butter is.'"
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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