MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUAR 2017 1

As we move into February, the

district is getting closer to a

groundbreaking date for the

building project. We are

hopeful we can have a

ceremony on February 28th,

so stay tuned!

We have been very busy working out final ease-

ment details with the Town of Manhattan and

Homestead In Manhattan, LLC. In these details,

a construction and fire apparatus road will be

constructed by the school district. This road will

intersect at the Nixon Gulch Road. Homestead

has agreed to cost share the project and has al-

so agreed to pay future costs to prepare and

construct a street to the standards established

by the Town of Manhattan.

I believe this agreement is a win/win for every-

body. The district will eventually gain a second

street that allows for traffic to flow properly. The

city and subdivision gain a road that potentially

benefits the citizens living there in the future as

well.

I have been very happy with how much bang for

the buck we are getting. The project is coming in

at around $170/Square Foot (SF), which is almost

unheard of in the new school construction mar-

ket. Most are estimated at $200-250/SF right out

of the gate. Slate Architecture and Dick Ander-

son Construction have done a great job of keep-

ing this a meat-and-potatoes project.

A couple of other project add-on’s that have oc-

curred over the last few months include elemen-

tary fire alarm/abatement/kitchen improve-

ments. We have had numerous issues with the

fire alarm system in the elementary

school. While the current system is functional

we have had our fair share of problems over the

past few years. Because of all of the modifica-

tions in and to the elementary building that have

been completed or will be completed, we felt a

strong need to improve a worn-out fire alarm

system. Student safety will always be a driving

force behind this project, as well as a priority for

the district.

Our team also went through and analyzed our

current kitchen lay out. It was decided to make

some improvements so we could better and

more efficiently serve our students. Our numbers

served for lunch have grown dramatically and as

we looked at future numbers it was decided that

now is the time to rearrange things so we can

handle larger numbers and safely prepare meals.

It has been very exciting to watch the pro-

cess. The team we have put together has a lot of

experience and knowledge and there has been a

lot of good thought and input put into this school

plan. We will get an official groundbreaking date

out to you as soon as a few of these final details

are taken care of. With February 28th as a tenta-

tive date, please keep an eye open for official

verification.

Roll On Tigers!!

Scott Chauvet

Superintendent

MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT FEBRUARY 2017

SUPERINTENDENT SCOTT SPEAKS…

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO GROUNDBREAKING

2 MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017

The first semester of the 2016-2017 school year is in the books. It doesn’t seem possible that it is already

over. I want to thank all staff, students, and parents for a great start to the year. The entire K-12 staff is a

very hard working, caring staff and as always, it is great to be a part of this school district.

I would like to take a moment to ask all parents to positively encourage their child as they participate in

extra-curricular activities. Participants feel a lot of pressure and I feel it is a parent’s responsibility to en-

courage students to do their best and help them deal with both success and disappointment. I have also

seen a lot more pressure put on students to compete in college and I feel that sometimes that pressure

takes away from the enjoyment they should be feeling while participating in high school events.

We are at the start of the second semester and with that start comes a lot of questions concerning our poli-

cy for second semester test exemptions. Student are exempt from taking second semester tests if they

meet the following criteria:

Students may be exempt from examinations at the end of second semester on a course by course basis if they meet the fol-

lowing criteria:

a The student completes, in good faith effort, their student portfolio – Section O

p 28 of the student handbook that can be found on our school website

b. The student has no in-school or out-of-school suspensions during the second semester

c. The student maintains an absence record of seven or fewer excused absences in the second semester with no accu-

mulated unexcused absences (calculated per class period)

d. The student maintains an average grade of 85% as determined by the teacher in each individual class by the cut-

off date set by staff and administration OR the student improves their course average by 8 percentage points from

the third quarter and has no missing assignments in the second semester.

e. Students must submit a packet showing portfolio completion, attendance record, and current grade achievement in

all classes, and receive a signature of completion from their advisory teacher by the due date to be exempt.

The next session of Drivers’ Ed is scheduled to start on February 22nd, with a parent meeting at 6:30 and first class session being

held that night. If you are interested in your child taking Drivers’ Ed, you can call high school secretary Lisa Grevious to get their

name on a list. Students must be a least 14 ½ years of age. For this session, 20 students will be allowed to take the course. The

class size will be chosen by allowing the oldest students first preference. All paperwork needs to be brought to the meeting. Mrs.

Grevious will send interested parents a letter outlining what paperwork is needed.

At printing time of this newsletter, the speech and drama team is preparing for their state meet in Havre. Manhattan qualified 13

students for state at the divisional meet in Gardner. These students have worked very hard this year. Thanks go out to coaches Jane

McArthur, Julie Frank, and Becky Frank for all their hard work! We especially want to thank Mrs. McArthur as this is her last year

of coaching the team. Jane has put her heart and soul into this program and we are very thankful for her outstanding efforts.

The basketball teams are currently showing tremendous effort in their most recent games. Senior night for the boys and the girls

will be Friday, Feb. 10th. We wish them the best of luck as they are preparing for the district tourney to be held in Belgrade

Feb.16th-18th. Good Job goes out to all of the coaches and good luck athletes.

Our congratulations go out to two of our staff members for being chosen for awards recently. John Sillitti was chosen as Cross

Country Coach of the Year for Class B Girls. Congratulations also go out to Pat Lynch for being awarded a Montana High School

Association Service Citation Award. This award goes to individuals that have contributed to MHSA activities in many ways

throughout the years. Mr. Lynch has been a coach, referee, athletic administrator, tournament manager and MHSA Executive

Board Member.

Neil Harvey: High School Principal

MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUAR 2017 3

Some dates to place on your calendar are February 17 which is a scheduled PIR day and February 20 is a vaca-tion day. Students will have a nice 4-day break! Kitten Beat, our annual talent show, is scheduled for March 15 and March 21 is the date for our grade 6 – 8 band festival. Junior high boys’ basketball is currently in full swing. With almost fifty boys participating this year we created 2 leagues and have hired new four coaches. At this point in time, the two league system seems to be running well and participants are getting plenty of playing time. The season runs through February 21. Thank you to the coaches, par-ents and Mr. Lynch for all of the hard work that has gone into venture. It seems to be working!

Calling parents of potential kindergarteners for 2017 – 18!! Manhattan Elementary School is having a pre-registration for all potential kindergarten students residing in our school district. Children need to be 5 years of age on or before September 10, 2017 in order to be eligible for kindergarten. If you are considering sending your child to kindergarten next fall, please stop by the elementary office or go to the school’s web site (manhattan.schoolwires.com) and download the registra-tion form. Please fill out the form and return it to the ele-mentary office by March 3. We will be using this infor-mation as we plan for the 2017 – 18 school year. Our reg-ular kindergarten screening will take place in April. More information concerning this screening will be coming out in the March newsletter.

Speaking of kindergarten (and seventh grade), some new immunization requirements will be in place for the 2017 – 18 school year. Here is what they are.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT: Kindergarten: All students entering kindergarten must have their kindergarten booster immunization series BE-FORE school begins next year . This includes a MMR

(2nd), DTaP (5th), Polio (4th) and Varicella (2nd); (additional immunizations may be recommended by your physician.)

Students going into 7th grade next year MUST re-ceive an additional immun-ization. All 7th graders in the State of Montana are required to have a Td or TDaP vaccine after their 10th birthday but before entering the 7th grade.

Manhattan Schools strictly adhere to these state require-ments. Please schedule an appointment for your soon to be kindergartner or 7th grader to avoid the rush and be in com-pliance come next school year. Once your child has re-ceived the vaccine(s), please bring verification to the Man-hattan Elementary/Jr. High office. Your child may be de-nied enrollment next school year without immunization verification. Please contact your family health care physi-cian or the Gallatin County Health Department at 582-3100. Immunization verification can be faxed to the school office at 284-4122. With increasing numbers of kindergartners and newly enrolling 7th graders, we are ask-ing parents to schedule an appointment before school is out.

Parents, teachers and students, hang in there! We are now into the “grind”. There is a great deal of education that will be taking place in the next four months. The days will be getting longer, the sun will shine and we will make it to spring! Parents, please contact us if there are questions and/or your child is struggling. We have another semester left to make this the best school year ever!

Scott Schumacher: K-8 Principal

Manhattan PTO Happenings

March 6 PTO Meeting March 8 Popcorn Sales March 10 Family Movie Night March 31 Spring Carnival

MHS Students & Parents: Please Share Your

Photos for the MHS Yearbook!

Go to: yearbookforever.com

Type Manhattan High School

Click on Submit Photos

Access Code: mhstigers

Upload Your Photos

NEEDED: Pictures of students: skiing , snowboarding,

playing baseball, playing soccer, & fun group photos

of MHS students.

Parenting Class Time is Near!

Actually this class is more of a gathering and sharing

time. We will begin with reviewing the Second Step

principles your children learn in their classrooms—

and are reinforced by the teaching staff out on the

playground; then we will choose a book parents are

interested

Thank You Bozeman Co-Op

Thanks and gratitude go out the Bozeman Co-op for generously spon-soring the Manhattan PTO through their Coffee for Classrooms fundrais-ing program. They raised $564.60 for us in December, funds that will be used to directly impact Manhattan students and teachers!

Library Story time & crafts

For the little ones

Tuesday, Feb. 14th

, 10:30am

4 MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY ACTIVITY CALENDAR

2/2 HS B-Ball\ DH B-Early (H) Whitehall @ 4:30 PM

2/2 JH Boys B-Ball (T) (H ) Three Forks @ TBA

2/3 HS B-Ball DH G-Early (A) Three Forks @ 3:00 PM

2/4 JH Boys B-Ball (T) (A) Three Forks @ TBA.

2/7 HS B-Ball DH B-Early (H) Jefferson @ 3:00 PM

2/10 HS B-Ball DH G –Early (H) Big Timber@ 3:00 PM

2/11 HS B-Ball DH B-Early (A) Belgrade @ 3:00 PM

2/13 JH Boys B-Ball (A) Three Forks @ 4:00 PM

2/14 JH Boys B-Ball (H) Ennis @ 4:00 PM

2/16 HS B-Ball District (A) Belgrade @ TBA

2/17 PIR No School Students

2/17 HS B-Ball District (A) Belgrade @ TBA

2/18 HS B-Ball District (A) Belgrade @ TBA

2/20 President’s Day No School

2/18 HS B-Ball District (A) Belgrade TBA

2/21 JH Boys B-Ball (A) Belgrade TBA

A Message from Shawna Longie: Food Service Manager

Hello everyone!! My name is Shawna Longie, I am in my third year as the foodservices manag-

er here at the school, 6 years total. I was born and pretty much raised in Manhattan, 5th genera-

tion Montanan, this is my first time writing a little note in the newsletter & I’m so excited!! There

are a few things that I wanted to pass along to you from the kitchen so I asked to add a little

excerpt this month.

First, I include this on my menu too but, I want to make sure that you are receiving your child’s

account balance information via email. We are no longer sending letters home with your child

so please make sure that you are getting those, don’t forget to check your spam folder in case it

goes there, Mrs. Howells sends them every Thursday afternoon. If you are not receiving them please call either Mrs.

Howells @ 284-3250 or Mrs. Grevious @ 284-3341 and make sure we have your correct email address to guarantee

that you will get the notices.

Second, if your child’s lunch account balance is in the negative to where they are no longer able to charge a lunch (up

to -25.00) they will be offered either a cheese or PB&J sandwich depending on our supply.

The kitchen is on Facebook if you want to follow us and see what your child had for lunch, we post pictures of the

lunches we serve each day and you can follow us by going to the schools website @ http://

manhattan.schoolwires.com and go to the social media tab to find the kitchen’s link.

Thank-you to everyone who stops in to say hi or offer kind words, we are lucky to have such a great school, kids &

community. I went to & graduated from Manhattan School and I love being able to work at the school I took so much pride

in when I was going here!! Thank-you for taking the time to read my FIRST excerpt in the awesome newsletter!! ROLL ON

MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUAR 2017 5

Seat Belt Assembly Feb. 6th

Pat Goldhahn will be speaking about

seat belt safety to students in grades 7-

12. at 2:00 PM on Feb. 6 in the Main

Gym. Pat’s 15—year old daughter was

tragically killed in a vehicular accident,

due to the fact that she was not wearing

a seat belt.

Parents should be aware that he will be

showing photos from the crash site, the

intensive care unit and he will talk about

organ donation. If parents have con-

cerns about their child attending this

presentation, please notify the high

school office and students may stay in

the library during the presentation.

6 MANHATTAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017

Manhattan School District PO Box 425 Manhattan, MT 59741 Phone: 406-284-6460 Fax: 406-284-6853 Email: schauvet@manhattan.k12.mt.us

MHS Speech & Drama Students Place at State Competition The MHS Speech and Drama team competed at the Class B/C State Speech and Dra-ma Tournament on Friday and Saturday, January 27th & 28th. There were 58 teams competing in the tournament. Manhattan placed 8th for Speech and 8th for Dra-ma. The following team members were semi-finalists and finalists capping of a fan-tastic season:

Victoria Bloomgren, Original Oratory - Semifinalist Caroline Fowler, Memorized Public Address - Finalist/8th Place KC Cook & Raylynn Cook - Finalist/5th Place Abby Gibson - Finalist/5th Place Keelin Monaghan - Finalist/4th Place Madison DesLauriers - Finalist/3rd Place