Sorted by date Results 730 - 754 of 1004
The main purpose of the last School Board Meeting was to officially offer teacher’s contracts to teachers for the following 2019/2020 school year. All current tenure teachers, Demrece Keller-4th grade, Sheri Moore-3rd grade, Amy Terry-2nd grade, Chris Brumwell-7-12 grade math and school counselor, Larry Brumwell-K-12th grade PE, Heather Wolery, Melanie Schwarzbach-Science, and Traci Rodewald-HS Para/ Elementary computer will be offered a contract. New teachers up for tenure Jessica Jaramillo-K-12th grade art, James Howland-K-12 grade L...
Montana Farmers' Union Membership Director, Justin Loch, was recently at Big Sandy and gave a presentation to the Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club about ATV Safety. Justin said, "Montana averages one ATV accident death per month. Last June there were three." He brought with him an ATV simulator. The members took turns getting on it while he moved it up and down and to each side. While each child rode the simulator while he told them how they should react and ride the ATV. It was clearly evident that...
April is Autism Month. It is best explained by the following press release. "Autism is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition. This means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways." Cat Lopez an Elementary Paraprofessional said, "I work with students with Autism, but it is...
The Big Sandy Theater Presents "Bed Time Stories as told by Dad who Messed it Up". This will be Big Sandy's first play for many years being presented on April 27 at 6:00 PM and April 28th at the Big Sandy High School. A handful of adults and a wide age range of children have worked for two months to present a play for our community and besides entertainment there are other reason such great efforts need to be rewarded. The Missoula Children's Theater recently presented a play working with 42...
Per the statement sent to the Mountaineer from the Big Sandy School Board. “As an essential part of its budgeting process, the Big Sandy Board of Trustees is authorized by law to impose levies to support its budget. The Big Sandy Board of Trustees estimates the following increases/decreases in revenues and mills for the funds noted below for the next fiscal school year beginning July 1, 2019, using certified taxable valuations from the current fiscal school year as provided to the district:” The law requires if there is a possibility of a res...
Once again, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held this Saturday, April 20th. It starts at 11:00 AM sharp at the Big Sandy Airport. You must be on time, because the whole thing is over in a matter of minutes. There are four age groups with each age group in an area of its own. The four age groups are 0-3 years of age, 3-5 years of age, Kindergarten and1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade, and lastly grades 4 and 5. After the egg hunt the Barracuda Swim Team will be serving a pulled pork sandwich meal...
Brad Moore and Dave Schwarzbach are teaching Hunters Safety again this year. Brad said, "We talk about the prevention of hunting accidents which are caused by 99% human error." He absolutely enjoys teaching hunters safety. He started to teach when they moved back to Big Sandy because they needed instructors. Dave Schwarzbach is still teaching as well. I asked Dave how long he has taught and he said, "I don't remember, I'll have to look it up." He called me back and he's taught it for 18 years....
Layne Taylor, Ag teacher and FFA advisor said, "I am so proud of our Big Sandy FFA kids. They are so respectful and delightful. They represent our chapter and community so we'll. I am excited to celebrate and share some of their successes. Our Agronomy team placed 5th, with Erin Taylor placing 10th, and Katherine Bold placing 13th. Our Farm Business Management team placed 9th, with Hope Gasvoda leading the team placing 11th. Finally, our Livestock Judging team placed 13th. We had 5 members...
A creative writing club will have their first organizational meeting Tuesday April 23rd starting at 4:00 at the grade school library. Snacks will be provided. The club is open to any want-to-be writer from the 2nd grade up. Since this is an organizational meeting discussion will take place, at the meeting, of how often to meet and what each member would like to see happen. However, there will be writing assignments also given at the meeting. Grade school students will be separated from older members. If you have any questions or comments call...
Big Sandy has sent a number of its children to Seattle's Children Hospital. Hudson Baumgarm will be leaving to have another open-heart surgery on June 5th leaving Big Sandy June 1st. He wants to take with him gifts for the children who are patients in Seattle Children's. It started as an idea at Sunday School but they knew the community would want to gather up gifts as well. All gifts will be picked up and will be blessed May 26 at Christ Lutheran Church. Boxes will be at the Library, The...
The Great Falls Art show was important to Craig because, "I want to share what I've done. The picture I put in the judging show wasn't because I wanted to win, but I wanted to stand out. The reason it is showcased in my room is because it is striking, because there is somebody who wants that graphic on their wall. A piece like that, might keep somebody from coming in because it says it's not about animals." The crow picture was taken on their farm. "When I see something that I find interesting,...
The grade school students can earn a Golden Ticket Award for positive behavior. The idea comes from the Montana Behavioral Initiative (MBI). A group of teachers received training and implemented the program this January. It is a proactive approach in creating an atmosphere where students learn how best to behave. It gives support for the behaviors they want to see in the school. The behaviors including how to be respectful, responsible and safe. Heather Wolery, Big Sandy School Principal said,...
Montana Farmers Union Arrowhead Camp in the Highwood Mountains registration opens today. Although you can register until two weeks before the camp starts the Junior Camps for ages 8-12 fill up within 12 days. Each camp has 30 boys and 30 girls, so, if you want your child to attend you will need to act quickly. Junior Camp I, Ages 8-12--June 16-20; Junior camp II, Ages 8-12--June 23-27; Teen Camp I/Senior Camp, Ages 13-19 July 14-10; and Teen Camp II, July 21-26 Ages 12-15. The theme of this...
I just returned from a real vacation. You know the kind that energizes you while you’re gone. The kind of vacation that when you get home you don’t need to take a vacation to recover from your vacation. But, let’s face it, it isn’t pretty here, yet. It’s still gray. There is blue sky and sunshine, but no flowers, and although the trees are starting to bud, no vivid green. Harriet Ann Jacobs says, “The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” Nothing gives me a better lift then the...
Reinhard Bold has been wrestling since kindergarten. This year he is in the seventh grade. That means he has already committed 8 years to his sport. This year he won the Montana State AAU wrestling in the 125-pound weight class. This allowed him to travel to Des Moines Iowa to wrestle in the U.S.A AAU National Middle School Tournament. He was given an All-American award for winning five matches out of eight. He traveled with Team Montana out of Havre. There were three teams each with 22...
Play practice for " Bed Time Stories" started February 21st according to Vanessa Janssen. Although it has been a "lot of hard work", there are many reason for the excitement in the air. Backdrops found in storage at the school from a play given 25 years ago will be repurposed. Jessica Jaramillo, the Big Sandy High School Art Teacher , and her classes will repaint the backdrops. The art class is also making two trees and some rocks for the play. The new lights will be installed next week and...
An organizational meeting was held to promote T-Ball again this summer which will start at the beginning of May. There will be two practices each week Tuesday and Thursday. Rachel Baumgarn is president, Morgan Simpson is vice president, Stephanie Overbay is secretary, Petra Yirsa is treasure and scheduler, and Vanessa Jansen is the safety officer. The coaches are Ronnie Simpson, Sean Jansen, and Colby Baumgarn which are required to receive safety training. They are looking for other volunteers...
Head Coach of the Big Sandy Pioneer Track team Melanie Schwarzbach asked me to interview the assistant coaches this year. She believes their commitment to the kids is incredible. There are 20 athletes out for varsity track this year and she appreciates all of the volunteer effort the assistant coaches give the athletes. Bernie Ellingston has been involved in Big Sandy Track for 15 years. “I love every minute.” He didn’t want to talk, except to say, “it keeps him young and involved.” Shersteen Cline has been the coach for the javelin for three...
Tyler Schwarzbach, Hope Gasvoda, and Everett Works took their science projects to State. Hope and Evert took home silver awards. Tyler Schwarbach received the American Meteorological Society Award, and the University of Montana Environmental Science Award. Tyler's science project was determining how much weed spray was detected in snow samples. His conclusion reads: "The experimental hypothesis can be accepted. Statistically significant quantities of glyphosate were detected in snow samples...
I’m sitting under a temperate rain forest tree and remembering this year’s Montana Winter. I have always loved moss growing on trees, so sitting by a carpet of moss lifted my spirits. Many of the trees are still bare, but they are almost ready to burst, buds ready to pop their leaves or their flowers. Here, in Oregon, it looks like the blossoms come first, before the leaves. It’s 67 degrees out and if you aren’t in the shade, its hot. The path we walked yesterday was “muddy”—not Montana muddy, but you did pick up some red clay and dead leaves o...
So, let's talk roads, and not because no-one is talking about them. A small attempt at humor. Recently on television and radio, and in the Havre Daily Newspaper it has been reported about how Hill County Commissioners are applying for the BUILD grant. I stopped in Fort Benton to visit with the Chouteau County Commissioners; Clay Riehl, Bob Pasha, and Daren Schuster about the Grant. The BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) provides DOT Department of Transportation to help...
Connie Reichelt will be taking her advance Spanish class to Jaco, Costa Rica, April 9-18. The Box Elder High School English teacher Kelsey Miller will also be going. Although many of their students have been out of the country, it is only been to Canada. So, traveling by plane, going through four airports has them a little anxious. They are excited for this "trip of a lifetime." After they arrive they will be bussed from San Jose International Airport to Pumilio House in Jaoc, Costa Rica where t...
On March 21st Erik Sietsema's had a book signing event at the Roadhouse Diner. Posters were made saying to come and celebrate with a local author Erik Sietsema's "The Curse of the Vassal Fruit". They had a special hamburger creation made especially for the day; "The Curse of the Bacon Sauce". A hamburger made with house-made bacon sauce, red onions, and hickory smoked bacon with fires or salad. Tara Beam and her husband Jason own the Great Falls restaurant. Tara represented Great Falls and the...
Nona Danreuther won the grand prize of $3,000 at Saturday's Rotary Banquet. Second Grand Prize of four tires or $1,000 in store credit at Tilleman's was won by Lyle McKeever. A glider chair was won by Maryetta Engle. Other winners were: Melanie and Shaud Schwarzbzch with the Fairmont Weekend Getaway; Wes and Rita Berlinger won a Big Yeti Cooler and ½ Pork; Charlie Overbay won a Bradley Smoker; Golden Harvest Seeds won a Roomba Floor Cleaner; Doug and Nora Grubb won a Porch Swing, Bob...
Big Sandy Booster Club sponsored John Parker, a motivational speaker, and his daughter Taylor. He spoke to every student. Grade School students discovered how they were like super heroes. Here is a sample from the 4th grade "On Thursday I attended an assembly. It was fun! There was a speaker named John and his daughter Taylor. They taught us about not being a bully and to be a superhero. I learned a lot of cool stuff, like how being a bully can not just hurt other people. But it could hurt the...