IN THIS EDITION... SSoM is Hiring! | Common PIR Day Sept 24 | Infinite Campus Training & Resources | SSoM Co-op Food Program | Science Summer Institute Resources | New Grant Opportunity | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM

Full-Time, Permanent, Remote Position - Awesome Team - Great Benefits

TO APPLY: click here for complete details; we will be accepting applications until this position is filled.

Please contact SSoM Director of Education Services with questions:

*Exclusively for registered districts* Join us for the first-ever launch party in Infinite Campus history! This exciting live event will kick off session registration and festivities surrounding National Training Week. There will also be many great prizes and giveaways! 321 districts have registered for this PD opportunity that will cover 25+ session topics for anyone that uses Infinite Campus at all skill levels. Plus, 10 session times each day and repeated sessions throughout the week will accommodate all schedules.

Non-Passport Customers login & click HERE

Passport Customers login & click HERE

Registration discounts available for School Services of Montana member districts & Passport Customers!

Fall Enrollment Count User Guide & Checklist; MAEFAIRS Student Count ANB (School Finance Page); AIM & MAEFAIRS Verification Guide; Enrollment Exceptions for ANB Funding: MT Youth ChalleNGe, Job Corps, MTDA, 19/20 Eligible, ILIP

For refreshers, questions, and assistance please contact SSoM Tech Minion ASAP:

Fall 2021 co-op food deliveries kicked off with a huge OOFTA on August 23rd due to manufacturer ingredient shortages, staffing shortages, and product discontinuations. Our US Foods K-12 bid specialists, food service brokers, and the SSoM co-op food program staff are working hard to secure product, find comparable (reasonably priced) product alternatives, and keep all of our participating food service directors up to date about these daily changes. It has been overwhelming at BEST for everyone involved! Here's a bit of info you CAN count on:

Fall 2021 Program Details: Click HERE

When will my delivery arrive? Contact your US Foods K-12 Bid Specialist

Spring 2022 Order Window: Nov 1 - 30, 2021

Fall Advisory Committee Meetings are tentatively scheduled for October 14, 15, and 19. Stay tuned for details : )

Questions? Program Registration? Please contact SSoM Purchasing Manager:

Quick links to resources from this year's event, plus a 2022 update!

The recordings and any presenter-shared resources are now uploaded for all registered participants to access. Find them by logging into your ‘Sched’ platform (https://mtssi2021.sched.com/) and clicking on the selected session within the ‘Schedule’ area. Scroll down and you will see the “Session Recording” field toward the bottom.

We have reserved space on the MSU campus for 2022! Please send requests for any areas of focus you'd like to see at next year's conference. We hope you'll join us : )

mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264

The Montana Girls STEM Collaborative is offering mini grants of $500 to $1,000 for youth organizations that use multimedia assets from a database that features women scientists and engineers. The collaborative is a statewide network housed within the Science Math Resource Center (SMRC) in the Department of Education at Montana State University and has a co-leader at the University of Montana.

The database, called the IF/THEN Collection, was created by Lyda Hill Philanthropies to enhance the perception of women in science, technology, engineering and math careers. The collection features photos, videos, activities and other resources. All assets are free for non-commercial and educational use.

Examples of potential projects that could be awarded mini grants include, but are not limited to: redesigning a brochure, website or other promotional materials to showcase more women in STEM; creating, printing or distributing on-site signage or posters; using the IF/THEN gender representation toolkit to collect data on the representation of gender in physical and digital spaces; using activity sheets and educator lessons for camps or programs; and using videos as a lesson hook. Grant applications are due Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Preference will go to organizations that are reaching middle school girls, particularly those who are typically underrepresented in STEM. However, the collaborative envisions supporting a wide array of organizations, so all are encouraged to apply. To learn more, visit montana.edu/smrc/documents/Girls_STEM_Collaborative.html or contact smrc@montana.edu.

The Montana Girls STEM Collaborative is an outreach program of Montana’s National Science Foundation EPSCoR program with co-leaders in the Science Math Resource Center and UM’s spectrUM Discovery Area. The goal of the network is to build collaborations and share resources to support girls and other youth typically underrepresented in STEM. Opportunities like mini grants and events are advertised through the network’s quarterly e-newsletter; subscribe at http://bit.ly/mtgirlsstem-news.

Now is the time to invest in high-quality curricula that will accelerate literacy learning, attend to students' social and emotional needs, and build inclusive, equitable communities for all learners.

How can asynchronous online coaching transform professional learning, empowering educators and allowing districts to scale their professional learning efforts? Read the article:

ONLINE ELEMENTARY READING ACADEMY (OERA) - REGISTER NOW!

OERA is a self-paced online course that teaches the essential components of reading instruction, based in the science of reading, with clear and explicit models immediately applicable to the classroom.

This virtual event will feature an informational track plus two professional learning tracks. Details coming soon!

REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL EVENTS - View All, Complete Descriptions, & Registration HERE

THIS JUST IN! Beginning Friday, Sept. 3, OPI will streamline their communications with you by combining all units and programs in their agency monthly OPI Compass newsletter (formerly the OPI Summary) rather than separate emails. The new format will feature upcoming events, deadlines, and other updates with direct links to specific sections and items so you can quickly navigate through the information. Look for the OPI Compass on the first Friday of every month!

FREE PD! OPI INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL (IEFA) ADVOACY AWARD RECIPIENT WEBINAR SERIES: Contemporary Topics in Indian Country September - March

This series of six FREE webinars will feature a different Teresa Veltkamp Advocacy Award for Excellence in Indian Education recipient. Each session will cover current events and contemporary issues facing Montana tribes. Learn how to research primary documents for classroom use and how to respectfully integrate them into your instruction. REGISTRATION OPEN - click for complete details.

OPI MONTANA AUTISM EDUCATION PROJECT is offering 80+ hours of online training in Teaching Procedures for students with autism/cognitive delay, Applied Behavior Analysis, and a variety of focused topics. Click here to learn more.

REGION IV CSPD offers FREE VIRTUAL PD for SW MT! (click here for website)

THE SCIENCE OF TEACHING READING, a 12 part series with Carrie Cole, 4 - 6 pm on Wednesdays, Sept. 8 - Dec. 1, via ZOOM

All 5 CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD for their respective regions. Click for details:

Region I (Eastern MT) | Region II | Region III | Region V (Western MT)

"WLI-MT's mission is to make language & culture programming available for ALL Montanans."

Tuesdays at 2pm Newsletter Highlights

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.