Lunch Menu

11/16 – BBQ Pork Sandwich 11/17 – WW Cheese Pizza 11/18 – Taco Salad 11/19 – Shrimp Poppers 11/20 – WG Chicken Patty Salad option through homeroom teachers.

Upcoming School Board Meetings: November 18 at 5:30 pm, in the

MS/HS Conference Room

Newsletter 11-13-15

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/16 - Kelso’s Choice, grades K-4 Assembly

11/18 - Robot Assembly, grades 5-12 Assembly

11/18 - School Board Meeting, MS/HS Conference Room

11/24 - Get Kids Outside Unit Day, grades 3-12, dress warm!

11/25 - School Dismissal at 11:35 a.m.

11/26 & 27 - Thanksgiving Break, No School

1

Dear Big Sky School District Community, Big Sky School District #72, in partnership with Carney Sando and Associates, embarked on a strategic planning process in September of 2015. Strategic planning is a necessary process for schools in the 21st Century in order to clarify the visions, hopes and dreams for constituents and students. The strategic plan, when processed and administered efficiently, also provides guidance to leadership for making day to day and long-term decisions within the scope of the plan. In addition, planning provides the road map for schools to follow while minimizing the turnover of key staff and leadership. Essentially, the strategic plan allows for us to plan our work and then work our plan.

I am happy to say that the strategic plan is ready to be shared with focus groups. As mentioned, to date our partnership with Caney Sando could not have been more productive. During an on-site visit in September, our consultant personally met with over 120 constituent members. The firm also facilitated our community survey which solicited exactly 731 responses.

All conversations, development of strategic objectives and supporting bullets were taken directly from the survey and group meetings. One of our major goals as a steering committee was to remain objective and craft a plan anchored in the data collected.

We are now ready to take the plan to focus groups. Our first, and hopefully largest focus group for the public, will be at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, on Tuesday, November 17th, at 6:30 p.m. We anticipate the session will last until 8:00 p.m. We look forward to your continued participation in this important work of the Big Sky Community. Please find a copy of our draft strategic plan by following this link: http://www.bssd72.org/dl/CompleteStrategicPlan.pdf

Dustin Shipman

School Information

2

Extras at Lunch - Elementary Parents

Several students are asking for a second entrée, or additional items at lunch. This is not allowed without parental permis-sion. If you would like your child to make these extra purchases, please fill out the form by clicking here and filling out

what you allow. You can also call the office at 406-995-4281 ext 2.

Elementary School Wish List - Request for donations

Wooden shelving: to house 45 - 12” x 14.5” tubs of supplemental student reading materials in the staff lounge.

Elementary Book Fair

A big thank-you to everyone who came out and support-ed and/or helped with the Book Fair/ FOL Used Book Sale. Just a quick reminder that you may still order on-line through today (11/13/2015) and all purchases will continue to be credited to our book fair. What a great thing to do for last mi-nute gift ideas or if you were unable to attend the fair this year.

The website is http://bit.do/ophirbookfair. All books that are purchased will be shipped directly to the school with no shipping charges.

Also…I still have bags that were set-aside if you would like me to hold them please let me know.

Thanks so Much! Mrs. House Congratulations to the Bookmark Winners!

The Cheer Squads will be selling Blue and White Carna-tions for $1.00 next week during High School and Middle School lunches. Around Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to let friends,

teachers and administration know that you appreciate them. The carnations will be delivered before break. Don’t forget to Spread Some Cheer at home and bring flowers to your family

Counseling Corner:

November Character Trait- CARING

Ms. Thomas is focusing her lessons on caring, empathy, and conflict management. We will be having an awesome assembly on Monday, November 16th for K-4 on Kelso's Choices! To learn more about this elementary-wide conflict management program, click here.

Spelling Bee permission form on next page.

Tutoring by teachers Click here for a list of teachers who provide tutoring to students at school. There are no fees for these tutoring services. Please take advantage of these free services to help your child!

3

4

ATHLETICS Maps to away games can be found on the school website at ww.bssd72.org. Click on the schedule page for the sport you want and click on the away team name to get the map.

It's time for Lone Peak Wrestling. The season starts Nov 17th, and we would love to have every student in our school par-ticipate in this activity or one of the other school sponsored sports. If you would like your child(ren) involved, this infor-mation will give you the basics:

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

1. Wrestling is open to any student enrolled at LPHS in grades 9-12. 2. The MHSA Sports Physical is required in order to participate. 3. The School District Activities/Athletics Handbook has several forms that you will need to fill out and sign (handbook attached). If you completed all of the paperwork for volleyball or football, there is no need to complete additional pa-perwork. Simply pay the $65 par ticipation fee to the front office. 4. All players and parents must read the Concussion Information and sign/return the Concussion Form (see attachment). 5. There is a $65 participation fee for school sports. Checks can be written to Big Sky School District. 6. All participants must show proof of Health Insurance in order to participate. There is a form/area in the Activities Hand-book for this information. If you do not have Health Insurance, our office has information and paperwork on low cost insur-ance that you can purchase to cover your child. See LaDawn or Marie in the main office for specific information. 7. All forms, paperwork, fees, insurance information should be turned in at the main office prior to Nov 17th. 8. Absolutely NO students will be allowed to participate in practice until the school district receives all the required forms and fees

Ophir Middle School Girls’ Basketball Schedule 2015 (Last update on October 8, 2015)

7th/8th Grade Only 5th/6th Grade Only 11/13 Away @ Manhattan Christian Tournament (5th/6th only) 2:00/5:00 Or 4:00/8:00 11/14 Away @ West Yellowstone Tournament (7th/8th only) 10:00/2:00 11/17 Home vs. Gallatin Gateway 4:00/5:15 11/23 Home vs. Gallatin Valley Home School 4:00/5:15 12/1 Home vs. West Yellowstone TBD 12/2 Home vs. Anderson 4:00/5:15 12/3 Home vs. Mt. Ellis 4:00/5:15 12/7 Away @ Monforton 4:00/5:15 12/9 Away @ Heritage Christian 4:00/5:15 12/10 Away @ Manhattan Christian 4:00/5:15 12/14 Away - League Championships @ Manhattan Christian (7th/8th only) All Day TBD Girls’ Basketball Awards Night TBD

K-4 Intramural Basketball (Lone Peak High School Gym)

11/14 - GAMEDAY: K-2 from 9:00-9:55am; 3-4 from 10:00-10:55am

11/16 - Practice: K-2 from 6:00-6:40pm; 3-4 from 6:45-7:30pm 11/19 - Practice: K-2 from 6:00-6:40pm; 3-4 from 6:45-7:30pm 11/21 - GAMEDAY: K-2 from 9:00-9:55am; 3-4 from 10:00-10:55am

11/24 - Practice: K-2 from 6:00-6:40pm; 3-4 from 6:45-7:30pm 11/28 - GAMEDAY: K-2 from 9:00-9:55am; 3-4 from 10:00-10:55am

The program has been a great way to introduce our students to the important concepts of basketball. Besides introduc-ing basketball fundamentals, the program also will stress the value of teamwork and leadership. Intramural basket-ball is coached by Lone Peak and Ophir School Basketball coaches, parents and players. No prior basketball experi-ence is required (in fact, new players are encouraged to give it a try). Forms can be picked up or requested at the elementary of-fice (call 406-995-4281 #2). Completed forms and $20 is required for participation.

In and Around Big Sky

5

NORDIC Ski TEAM: Skate Ski?? Cross Country Ski?? Like to be outside?? Come join the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation (BSSEF) Nordic ski team this winter and cross country ski with your friends while you have fun and develop lifelong ski skills! Coaches will help you master techniques of both classic and skate skiing, by playing games, doing relays, skiing new trails, and they will toss in some friendly competition too. The Club team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 and until 6 when daylight permits, with the goals of skiing and having fun and participating in one competition (or more) this winter. The Competition team trains Tuesdays, Thursdays, from 4-5:30 and Wednesdays from 2-5:30, with goals of having fun, improving race techniques, and participating in 3 events this winter. Kids can take the sky-line bus to Lone Mountain Ranch for practices. Side effects may include: Having fun; skiing faster than your parents; getting stronger and fit; winning the Mad Wolf Winter Relay (coming in February with a downhill leg, cross country leg, and bike leg). Questions about the Nordic team, equipment, or interest in biathlon, please contact Denise Wade dwade@lmranch.com

Rotary Club Of Big Sky Seeks Families for the Christmas Giving Tree

The Rotary Club of Big Sky, with the help of the Big Sky Community, is once again sponsoring the Christmas Giving Tree. The Giving Tree is an annual program that helps families during Christmas by providing gifts for the children and a Christmas dinner for the fami-ly. If you would like to participate in this project, please pick up a Santa Letter for each child in the front office or from either one of the three banks, the Food Bank or the Country Market and help each child fill out their Santa Letter.

Please return the Santa Letters in the provided self-addressed stamped envelope as soon as possible. Wrapped gifts along with a Christmas Dinner basket will be delivered the evening of December 18th.

Please know this program is completely and entirely confidential.

Babysitters Wanted

Spanish Peaks is looking for local people to have on a babysitting list to give our members and guests for the winter season. Members or our Member Services team will reach out on an as needed basis. It is up to the sitter and the member to work out scheduling and pay. If any teachers or high school stu-dents are looking to make ex-tra cash we would love to have them on the list! Click here to fill out a brief form if you are interested. Return the completed form to Jenny Muscat at jmus-cat@spanishpeaksmountainclub.com or call 406-999-0040.