SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE CENTER

Dan Rispens, District Superintendent

(Photo by Thom Bridge, Independent Record)

9.08.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Communications Update!

This should be your last Friday edition of the “Superintendent Update.” As we have worked hard and set goals across the district to communicate openly with parents from the classroom to the central office, we have heard from some folks that it’s a little bit too much information to digest every Friday afternoon. With that in mind we are adjusting the superintendent update to every other Wednesday this year. So the next message will come Wednesday, Sept 27. Additionally, we have been invited by the Helena Independent Record to submit a monthly guest column which will be published the first Tuesday of each month. We’ll do our best to share those out through our channels as well. At the end of the day, our goal is to keep parents informed and up to date with what’s going on in their schools. We appreciate the feedback, and hope to continue our tradition of strong positive relationships between the schools and home to provide the best network of support for the children of East Helena Schools.

Master Planning Meeting

The district has hired SMA Architects to assist us in preparing for the significant growth the East Helena Community is expecting in the coming years. Representatives from SMA want to meet with and hear from the local community. To accomplish this, there will be two public meetings for folks to hear about the planning work and offer input. The forest of these meetings is coming next Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 PM at EHHS. All are welcome. We hope to see you there.

School Board Policies

In East Helena we are fortunate to have a school board of dedicated individuals who have the best interest of our children at heart. Our board works hard to maintain transparency and a solid relationship with the community. Board members also regularly review and discuss policy keeping our policy manual up to date with current state and federal laws and regulations. Our board policies are updated and maintained on our website for public access. You can find the policy manual at the link below:

https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=36031281&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==

Policies specifically related to parental rights are: 2132, 2158, 2335, 3233, 3510, 3410, 3413, and 3600.

EHPS policy #2335 - Annual Notice

The week’s supt update is our annual notice for the 23-24 school year regarding policy 2335. This annual notice is a requirement of SB 99 from the 2021 legislature. Our local district has always put a high value on teacher-parent communication. Especially regarding something as sensitive as human sexuality instruction. We always want to work with families to ensure that we are working together to meet our curricular obligations while honoring your family’s viewpoints and providing the best education possible for your kids. So in addition to this notice, I want to encourage all parents to be open and communicative with their child’s teacher(s) and/or principal if you have special requests regarding human sexuality instruction and your child.

In the East Helena Public Schools, these are the classes in which age appropriate instruction is scheduled to occur on the topic of human sexuality:

Grades 5-8 Health and PE
Grade 7 science (biology)
Grade 10 Health and Biology classes
Grade 11-12 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Additionally, it is possible that class discussions on the topic of human sexuality may occur in some middle school and high school literature and history classes as well as our high school psychology classes.

If you have questions about the nature of human sexuality instruction in your child’s classes, the best plan is to reach out to the teacher and principal and request more information. Parents are welcome to review materials prior to instruction and, if desired, your child can be given an alternate assignment and be excused from the instruction on a given day.

Now Hiring - Open positions for 23-24 school year

We (Still) have a number of open positions to fill as we prepare and plan for the 23-24 school year. See below for more info and please spread the word:

Classified (hourly) positions:

Classroom Paraprofessionals - Multiple positions - 7 hours/day Late August - Early June. School schedule. Starting pay $14.90/Hour
Kitchen Aid - Variable Hours. School schedule. Up to 4 positions available. Starting Pay $13.65/Hour
Bus Drivers - Variable hours (Mornings/afternoons) -, School Schedule. We will train you! Starting Pay $17.90/Hour
JROTC Instructor

You can find more information and application links here.

LINKS

Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

8.25.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

School Start up!

Next Wednesday, we’ll open our doors to the 2023-24 school year! Our staff has been attending trainings and busily preparing for the kids by getting schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, buses, and cafeterias in tip top shape.

We are looking forward to seeing the kids next week! It hardly seems possible that summer has passed so quickly! Here’s some quick “at a glance” info:

School Board Policies

https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=36031281&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==

Now Hiring - Open positions for 23-24 school year

We (Still) have a number of open positions to fill as we prepare and plan for the 23-24 school year. See below for more info and please spread the word:

Classified (hourly) positions:

Classroom Paraprofessionals - Multiple positions - 7 hours/day Late August - Early June. School schedule. Starting pay $14.90/Hour
Kitchen Aid - Variable Hours. School schedule. Up to 4 positions available. Starting Pay $13.65/Hour
Bus Drivers - Variable hours (Mornings/afternoons) -, School Schedule. We will train you! Starting Pay $17.90/Hour
JROTC Instructor

You can find more information and application links here.

LINKS

Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

7.21.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your mid-simmer update from Superintendent Rispens.

Remembering Mrs. Huschka

With heavy hearts, we need to let you know of the passing of one of our East Helena High School teachers, Angela Huschka. Angela died on July 17, 2023 in Blaine County, MT.

Angela worked for the East Helena Schools for 6 years after a successful business career. She started as a substitute teacher and helped us get East Helena High School off the ground as the school's first Business Education teacher. She had a heart for kids, and always put the kids first in everything she did. In addition to her full time teaching responsibilities, she was involved in our Business Professionals of America chapter and she led students in supervising the student store and the school's concession stand. She was respected and loved by co-workers and students alike. She had recently retired to spend more time with her husband and family. She will be sorely missed.

For anyone who was lucky enough to work with, learn from, or simply be in the presence of Angela, you knew how genuine, supportive, and caring she was. She could make any of us feel at ease and was incredibly dedicated to ensuring all students were given the best opportunity for success at all times.

As we celebrate her life and remember all of the passion she brought to everything she did - working concessions, helping students get the Haberdashery up and running, attending every concert or game or event she could, and simply being the biggest cheerleader for our kids - let's all do our part to ensure her passion lives on!

Please keep Angela's family in your thoughts and prayers and hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on July 25, 2023 at Our Lady of the Valley Church, with a reception to follow at Our Lady of the Valley Church.

Sports Physicals for High School Students

Fall sports for high schoolers are just around the corner. Information about specific teams and coach contact info can be found here.

All student athletes must have their sports physical complete before participating in tryouts or practices. We have partnered with Pureview Health this year to hold physicals onsite at EHHS to make things easier on parents and students. The info is below:

Join us at the East Helena School Sports Physical Clinic on July 31st and August 1st, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the East Helena High School Gymnasium to support the school's sports programs and promote your child's health. Sports physicals are available for $25, payable by cash or check only. Insurance will not be accepted at these clinics. All proceeds go to the school district's sports programs!

To enroll your child in the clinic, please use the online sign-up form at https://bit.ly/easthelenasports.

East Helena Sports Physicals - You can book online!

You can now book and manage appointments using our booking page.

We thank Helena Orthopedics and PureView Health Center for making this event possible.

We are anticipating a turnout of 200 to 300 individuals. Although walk-ins are allowed, we highly recommend booking an appointment to guarantee availability.

Students need to bring their completed concussion form to their physical. Click here for the form.

Kim Aarstad Named Outstanding School Business Official

Most parents don't get too much interaction with the school business office, but we have a small (but awesome) crew working behind the scenes to ensure our staff and bills get paid on time. School district finances are complicated and can be difficult to understand. Additionally, our growth from a K-8 district to a K-12 district has added an extra burden to our financial management duties. Managing all of this for the EHPS has been Kim Aarstad. She has worked for the district for the past 30 years. In addition to her responsibilities with the school district, Kim has taken leadership roles in her state organization, MASBO (MT Association of School Business Officials). This year at their annual conference in June, Kim was names MASBO’s Outstanding Business Official for 2023. She was nominated by Superintendent Rispens and had letters of recommendation from former Superintendent Whitmoyer and Board Chair, Scott Walter. Here are some excerpts from her nomination letters:

“In her role with EHPS, Kim consistently demonstrates a deep knowledge and understanding of the complexities and intricacies of school finance and funding. Her years of experience coupled with her tenacity make her an incredible asset to our school system. “

“For over twenty years, Kim Aarstad has steadfastly served the East Helena Public Schools in the dual roles as our business manager /District Clerk. Within those roles she has consistently demonstrated an incredible depth of knowledge, a high level of professionalism, and a keen eye for detail and accuracy.”

“Though the demands of the job require very technical skills, and Mrs. Aarstad excels at working with numbers, she possesses eloquent interpersonal skills and a very calm demeanor which make her an extraordinarily effective communicator and distinguished clerk and business manager.”

Here’s a photo of Kim with her husband, Rich and Mr. Rispens at the awards ceremony:

Central Office Shuffle

Prior to receiving the Outstanding Business Official award, Kim Aarstad had informed the board of her intent to retire at the end of August 2023. In preparation for that transition, we have made the following adjustments to staffing and duties at Central Office:

Jill Hoogerheide is our new Business Manager and Clerk.

Jennifer Wiedbusch is now handling payroll duties as well as onboarding new employees and HR.

Denise Linton has been hired to handle sub clerk duties and accounts payable.

Jennifer Cordell is still the executive secretary for the district and has taken over management of our district activity accounts.

Central Office is open Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.You can reach any of our Central Office staff at 406-227-7700.

Property Tax information

There has been a lot in the news regarding the new property tax valuations and assessments. The school district budget is set by complicated school funding formulas in state law. Our local levy request was turned down by voters in May prior to any property valuation notices being sent out. So our budget will be set at the level allowed in the state finding formula. All that is to say, if your property taxes increase, the additional funds are not being funneled to the school district’s general fund.

We do anticipate an increase in the taxable valuation of the district which actually reduces the number of mills necessary to collect to raise the same amount of money. Property taxes and school finance can be challenging to understand. This link to an article by the Montana Free Press may be a good way to learn more about the process:

https://montanafreepress.org/2023/06/22/property-taxes-explained-with-pictures/

Pureview Health

Pureview health notified the board in June that they had to close the East Helena Clinic due to low utilization. It just wasn't making financial sense for them to continue. The school board is weighing its options in terms of next steps for the clinic building and whether the district should continue trying to offer some type of health service for the East Helena Community. If you have thoughts or comments, you can send them to me, and I will relay the info along to the school board.

Summer Meals

The school district summer meals program starts June 12 and continues through August 18. The meal site will be the PPE Cafeteria and free meals are available for kids age 18 and under. For meal times and additional information visit our website at this link.

Now Hiring - Open positions for 23-24 school year

We have a number of open positions to fill as we prepare and plan for the 23-24 school year. See below for more info and please spread the word:

Classified (hourly) positions:

Classroom Paraprofessionals - Multiple positions - 7 hours/day Late August - Early June. School schedule. Starting pay $14.90/Hour
Building Custodian - Full Time with Full single insurance. Evening Shift when school is in session. Day Shift in Summer. Starting Pay $15.90/Hour
Kitchen Aid - Variable Hours. School schedule. Up to 4 positions available. Starting Pay $13.65/Hour
Bus Drivers - Variable hours (Mornings/afternoons) -, School Schedule. We will train you! Starting Pay $17.90/Hour

You can find more information and application links here.

Mark your Calendars.

First Day of School - August 30 - Grades 1 - 12; August 31 for kindergarten
Community Meetings for Facility Master Planning Sept 14 at 7 PM at EHHS; October 16 at 7 PM at Radley Gymnasium.

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

6.7.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Happy Last Day of School

Students were dismissed at 1:30 this afternoon for summer break!!!! I want to thank my staff for their hard work and dedication this year, and I hope you are able to enjoy some fun in the sun with your kids! Strong families are the key to student success, and summer vacation provides ample opportunity to make memories. Enjoy!

I’ll be taking a break from loading up your inbox over the summer, but will send occasional updates with important information if necessary.

Please remember that our parent resource page for summer 2023 is available to assist you in finding activities for your kids this year.

Also remember that school offices will remain open to mid June and then re-open in Mid August. The Central Office is open all summer Monday - Friday 8 - 4.

PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY!!!

The district is in the process of doing some master planning for facilities. Our partner, SMA Architects are gathering public opinions about school facilities and we need your input. Please take our survey at the link below before it closes June 30.

Got 5 minutes? Your feedback is important to East Helena Public Schools! Please complete this short survey as part of the initial feedback phase of the long-term comprehensive Facilities Master Plan of all District facilities as we proactively plan for the future of the schools: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EHPSFacilitiesMasterPlan. Please complete the survey no later than June 30. Thank you for your time!

Summer Meals

Now Hiring - Open positions for 23-24 school year

We have a number of open positions to fill as we prepare and plan for the 23-24 school year. See below for more info and please spread the word:

Certified teaching positions to fill (Starting Wage $44,187 and up DOQ - Excellent benefit package):

High School Math Teacher
High School Social Studies (Part time unless combined with English)

Classified (hourly) positions:

Classroom Paraprofessionals - Multiple positions - 7 hours/day Late August - Early June. School schedule. Starting pay $14.90/Hour
Building Custodian - Full Time with Full single insurance. Evening Shift when school is in session. Day Shift in Summer. Starting Pay $15.90/Hour
Kitchen Aid - Variable Hours. School schedule. Up to 4 positions available. Starting Pay $13.65/Hour
Bus Drivers - Variable hours (Mornings/afternoons) -, School Schedule. We will train you! Starting Pay $17.90/Hour

Coaching positions:

Assistant Wrestling Coach
Swimming Coach

You can find more information and application links here.

Mark your Calendars.

June 13 - 10:00 AM - Air service meeting upstairs at Helena Regional Airport

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

6.2.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Graduation Livestream Link

The 1st EVER High School Graduation will happen in East Helena tonight at 6:30 PM at EHHS. The ceremony will be livestreamed by iFLYBIGSKY and Brett Penner Photography. The link to the live stream is here.

Due to concerns about the weather, we have decided to hold the graduation ceremony indoors in the EHHS Gym. Due to capacity constraints, each graduate’s family was given 7 tickets to the ceremony. Tickets are required for admission

New Trail Opening Celebration

Greetings! Prickly Pear Land Trust is pleased to invite you to the opening of 'The Grove' park in East Helena on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 3. Montana Conservation Corps, community volunteers, and the public will gather at JFK Park (near the pool) at 10:45 am and meander to The Grove at 11:00 am. Come join us to celebrate this incredible East Helena space -- walk the new trails, visit with PPLT staff, board, and community members.

This new park on the banks of Prickly Pear Creek is a proud product of partnerships between Prickly Pear Land Trust, The City of East Helena, East Helena Public Schools, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Montana Environmental Trust Group, the State of Montana, and other key community stakeholders. Please forward this to others, and we can't wait to celebrate with you. Let us know if you have any questions.

Happy Trails!

School Year Wrap Up!!!

Well, we made it. Next week we wrap the 2022-23 school year. I hope that all of our EHPS families have some fun family activities planned for the break, and that you get to get out and enjoy our great state with your kids a bit before fall.

Just a reminder that school offices will remain open to mid June and then re-open in Mid August. The Central Office is open all summer Monday - Friday 8 - 4.

The last day of school:

EHHS Seniors - Thursday, June 1 with graduation tonight at 6:30.
Today (June 2) is the last day of school for kindergarten and kinderCubs.
Tuesday, June 6 is the last day of school for 8th graders who will be having their 8th grade celebration that day,
Next Wednesday is the last day for all other grades.
Wednesday, June 7 is an early release day with dismissal at 1:30 PM for grades 1-7 and 1:20 PM for grades 9-11.

Summer Meals

Now Hiring - Open positions for 23-24 school year

We have a number of open positions to fill as we prepare and plan for the 23-24 school year. See below for more info and please spread the word:

Certified teaching positions to fill (Starting Wage $44,187 and up DOQ - Excellent benefit package):

Elementary teacher(s)
High School Math Teacher
High School Social Studies (Part time unless combined with English)
High School English (Part time unless combined with Social Studies)
Special Education Teacher

Classified (hourly) positions:

Classroom Paraprofessionals - Multiple positions - 7 hours/day Late August - Early June. School schedule. Starting pay $14.90/Hour
Building Custodian - Full Time with Full single insurance. Evening Shift when school is in session. Day Shift in Summer. Starting Pay $15.90/Hour
Kitchen Aid - Variable Hours. School schedule. Up to 4 positions available. Starting Pay $13.65/Hour
Bus Drivers - Variable hours (Mornings/afternoons) -, School Schedule. We will train you! Starting Pay $17.90/Hour

Coaching positions:

Assistant Wrestling Coach
Swimming Coach

You can find more information and application links here.

Annual Title 1 Stakeholder Meeting

The public is welcome and invited to our annual Title 1 Program meeting. Parents of Title 1 students are encouraged to attend. The meeting is Monday, June 5 at 4:30 PM in the EVMS LIbrary.

Parent Summer Resource Center

Summer vacation is just about upon us, and that can spell stress for working families looking for care and activities for younger students. Are you looking for summer activities that your child can join or participate in? The school district is trying to help families find and locate clubs, camps, and other activities for youth in our area. We have dedicated a portion of our website under “Parent Resources” as a clearing house for parents to peruse and visit. Be advised that we have not researched these activities and are not endorsing any of them. This is informational only. Parents are advised to conduct their own research and ensure that the camp or activity is something that fits your family’s values and priorities. You can find the information at the link below:

https://www.ehps.k12.mt.us/domain/407

Do you have a camp or activity that should be included? Submit it to Jen Cordell at jcordell@ehps.k12.mt.us. We’ll review and post as appropriate.

Mark your Calendars.

June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school
June 13 - 10:00 AM - Air service meeting upstairs at Helena Regional Airport

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

5.26.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Parent Summer Resource Center

https://www.ehps.k12.mt.us/domain/407

Do you have a camp or activity that should be included? Submit it to Jen Cordell at jcordell@ehps.k12.mt.us. We’ll review and post as appropriate.

EHHS Graduation

The FIRST EVER High School Graduation in East Helena will occur next Friday evening at 6:30 PM at East Helena High School. The ceremony will be held outside at the EHHS Stadium weather permitting. If the weather is bad, the event moves indoors, and tickets will be required for admission. Thanks to iFlyBigSky and Brett Penner, the grad ceremony will be Livestreamed on the web. You can find the link at:

graduation.ehpsmt.org

No School Monday - Happy Memorial Day

All of us here in the East Helena Schools are hopeful that the Memorial Day weekend provides opportunities for your family to recreate and enjoy some time together. Let’s also remember the meaning behind this important national holiday, which is to honor the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Air Services Meeting information

The Helena Regional Airport and the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Helena Air Services Alliance informational meeting. If you have an interest in learning more about how air travel in and out of our area is determined, you should consider attending. The event will be held in the upstairs meeting room at the airport on Tuesday, June 13 at 10:00 AM. Please rsvp to info@helenachamber.com if you’re planning to attend.

Mark your Calendars.

June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

5.22.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

East Helena Soapbox

If you’re interested in being part of a conversation to learn more about what’s going on in East Helena, drop by Confluence tonight at 6 PM. I will be on a Soapbox panel with school board chairman, Scott Walters, East Helena Mayor, Kelly Harris, and East Helena City Councilman, Wes Feist. The topic is “What the East Helena?” and we’ll be discussing the history and future of our community from a municipal and education perspective. There will be opportunities for audience Q and A.

Confluence is located at 40 S Last Chance Gulch in Downtown Helena (On the Walking Mall). The event starts at 6 PM. Hope to see you there.

Spring Sports Wrap up

I was not able to send the Supt Update last Friday. I was out and about in Western Montana attending our Division softball game against Libby and our Divisional track meet in Corvallis. It was exciting to see our kids in action representing our town at this level. This year our inaugural baseball team and our softball team performed well as we continue to build and develop our programs. Our track and Tennis teams are sending a number of students on to State this weekend. Here’s a rundown of who will be competing for EHHS:

Track:

Kaeden Sager
Trevor Held
Parker Bucy
Jack Nelson
Greg Knight
Connor Haines
Sofia Moya
Teagen Wigen
Talia Wigen
Michaela Cary
Montana Pierson
Rori Schoenfeld

Tennis:

Amber Stevenson
Justin Brewer

Good luck to our state qualifiers and a hearty THANK YOU to all of our athletes for representing our school and community!!!

Mark your Calendars.

June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

5.12.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

EHHS Accreditation

On Thursday of this week, Principal Kessler and I attended the Montana Board of Public Education meeting in Great Falls. On the agenda was a hearing regarding full accreditation for East Helena High School. Until this year, we had been operating under a provisional accreditation status since we did not have all 4 grades enrolled at EHHS. This year, the OPI staff conducted our final site visit to interview students, staff, and parents while viewing the facility and high school classes in action. The recommendation was full accreditation with no deviations. This achievement marks the culmination of more than 4 years of work by district leadership and teaching staff in partnership with parents, students and the entire East Helena Community to create a new high school for our kids. Of particular special note in the site visit report was the high level of involvement and input by parents in our school’s creation, development and ongoing improvement. That is something we can all be proud of!

As we move forward to our first ever high school graduation in three weeks, there’s time for reflection on just how far we have come from the early “We Are EH” days when the high school idea really gained momentum. The people of East Helena rallied behind the notion of having our own high school and never looked back. Led by a visionary school board and the relentless work of our former superintendent, Mr Whitmoyer, we have done what others said was impossible. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be able to be part of that process and help this community create a brand new high school for East Helena kids. Congratulations everyone!!!!

Mark your Calendars.

June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

5.05.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Vigilante Day

The question was raised several times on social media in the past couple weeks about why East Helena Kids did not have “Vigilante Day” off for Helena’s Vigilante Parade this year. The answer is that when the school board adopted the 2022-23 calendar back in February of 2022, they discussed the issue and concluded that since East Helena students were no longer participating in the actual parade, it was no longer necessary to take the day off school. Prior to this year, there were still East Helena kids attending Helena High School since we did not have all 4 grades functioning in EHHS yet. In those days it made sense to mark the day as a day off so younger siblings could attend the parade and see their older brothers’ and sisters’ floats.

As to WHY our high school students are not involved in the parade, the answer is pretty simply that the parade is a Helena Schools event, created and produced entirely by Helena school students and staff. We are now a completely separate district. In the old days prior to EHHS we were actually part of the Helena High School district for grades 9-12. Marian Davidson of KTVH did a pretty good story explaining the situation. You can find it here.

These are not easy transitions for any of us, including your superintendent, who graduated from HHS and has attended or participated in the Vigilante Parade for the last 50 years. I actually served as the parade chairperson for 4 years while teaching at Helena High way back in the 1990’s. Whether or not our students can participate in another district’s parade is not our decision. However, setting our calendar IS our choice (next year’s calendar has already been adopted). I am open to your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. You can email me here.

Failed Levy

We read the election results with great disappointment this week. Not only did our levy request fail, but it did so by a fairly wide margin (nearly 10%). Our request for an increase in the general operating fund of $334,000 would have helped by allowing us to hire some additional teaching and maintenance staff, and it would have supported increases in health insurance and agreed upon wage increases for our hourly workers like classroom paraprofessionals, custodians, and bus drivers.

Like everyone else, the district has been impacted by inflationary increases in areas like utilities, supplies, health insurance costs, and wage pressure. We are working to manage these inflationary pressures while still delivering the high quality educational services our community has come to expect. We have also added nearly 165,000 sq ft of building space and 85 acres of property to take care of and manage over the last 5 years. These new schools need to be cleaned, heated, maintained, and cared for.

We’ll be working in the business office to trim expenses and balance the 23-24 budget with the least impact on services to students as possible.

If you have any questions or comments about the levy, you can shoot me a note here.

Police Presence

We have 2 full time School Resource Officers who are assigned to EHHS and EVMS, but they work to serve all of our schools. The SRO contract with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office will be up for renewal at Monday's Board meeting.

Recent headlines related to school violence have caused us to discuss the possibility of an increased police presence at our schools. You may notice a patrol car parked at the elementary schools more frequently, and it is not a cause for alarm, but rather just a sign of our partnership with local law enforcement to provide as much protection for our students as possible.

School Board

The EHPS Board of Trustees meets monthly on the second Monday. At next Monday's meeting, we‘ll say farewell to trustee Breck Scheet, who has served for 15 years. Breck followed in his mother’s footsteps. She also served on the East Helena School Board! Thank you Breck for your service to the kids of East Helena!! A little known fact is that Breck and I actually graduated from Helena High together back in the 80’s. So it’s been fun working with an old classmate.

On Monday night we will welcome new trustee Tristen Ulmer to the board. Tristen will be sworn in for a 3 year term along with Martin Balukas and Mark Diehl who are renewing their terms for another 3 years.

Our trustees are elected officials who volunteer a significant amount of time to serve the community. We appreciate their service.

Mark your Calendars.

June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

4.28.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Flood Awareness - Warmer Weather

Well, After one heck of a winter and about 5 days of “Spring”, it looks like summer starts tomorrow based on the 10 day forecast. We are on track to see record temps this weekend in our area. I am looking forward to summer-like temperatures for sure. But one concern we should remain vigilant about is flood potential. Mountain snowpacks are at or above historical averages and a rapid warm up like this can cause rapid melting. Our area has been prone to some flooding in past years of high snowpack and rapid melt off.

This past winter, the district participated in a tri-county table top exercise addressing flood awareness and preparedness. If flooding occurs, the district will cooperate with city, county and state disaster and emergency services to inform parents of closures and public information pertinent to the situation. Additionally we will provide resources to assist in dealing with the situation. During severe flood events, school closures are possible to protect public safety.

Residents can help out too. If you are new to the area, visit with old timers and locals about where flooding may occur (based on past history) and how to prepare your neighborhood. Landowners can make sure culverts and ditches are clear and open. Lastly, paying attention to weather forecasts and reports as well as social media pages related to the Sheriff's Office and County DES will help keep you “in the know.”

Valley Drive Pavement repair

Asphalt repair work continues on Montana Street (Valley Drive) next week. We will continue to use the messaging system to inform families about street closures to try and deal with them in a proactive fashion. The closures are disruptive, but the work is needed. The City of East Helena has assured me they appreciate your patience.

FREE Car Seat Safety Check

There is a FREE car seat check scheduled for May 4, 2023 from 2:30- 4:30 PM at the Knight of Columbus at 1867 Washington Street in Helena (Behind Pomp’s Tire off Airport Road). Stop by for a safety check.

Driver’s Education - **LAST CALL**

The sign-up link will shut off at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28. The link can be found on the EHHS Website, or by clicking here. Families will be notified the first week of May as to which class their child has been placed in by email. Students need to be 14.5 years old by the time the class starts.

AFSP Campus Walk April 29 * TOMORROW*

East Helena High School will once again serve as the host for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, April 29. We know that there continues to be a need to bring awareness, hope, and support for everyone in our community to who struggles with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. We hope that by hosting these events, we continue to build a sense of community in that we are all in this together and that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. To register for the walk, either as an individual or a team, you can use the following link.

School Levy Election

There is still time to mail in your ballot. You can also drop it by Central Office and save the postage.

In other news…

The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce notified its membership this week that the Chamber is “officially in favor of the levies supporting the Helena and East Helena Schools.”

Are you Registered to vote?

If not, you can find the voter registration form at this link.

https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Montana_Voter_Registration_Application.pdf

The form must be printed and physically signed. It can be mailed in to the address for Lewis and Clark County on the back side. Or you can scan and email it to:

elections@lccountymt.gov

Or fax to 406-457-8598

Questions? Contact the county election office at 406-447-8339

Mark your Calendars.

April 22 - AFSP Campus Walk at EHHS
May 2 - Ballots due at L and C County elections office
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

4.21.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Valley Drive Pavement repair

We have been notified by the City of East Helena that they have a crew working on pavement repair on Montana Street, and they will be working between Main street and Lewis Street next week. The work will require street closures on that portion of Montana Street which is heavily used by parents during pick up and drop off times. The closures will only affect the afternoon commute. We will send notices home via our messaging system on days the street will be closed. You will want to select an alternative route to and from your child's school(s) on those days. The work is weather dependent. This will be a pretty big inconvenience for parents and school transportation but I am pretty sure we can all agree that the repairs are much needed!

TIGER Program Grant Report

Our After School TIGER Program is funded through a federal grant called 21st Century Schools. We are in our last year of the grant and have re-applied for the funding to continue so we can keep offering a safe, after school space for our students who need it. As part of our grant requirements, we are required to do annual reporting. The report evaluation is to be shared with the community. You can access the report at this link if you’d like to check it out.

Driver’s Education - LAST CALL

AFSP Campus Walk April 29

School Levy Election

There is still time to mail in your ballot. You can also drop it by Central Office and save the postage.

In other news…

The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce notified its membership this week that the Chamber is “officially in favor of the levies supporting the Helena and East Helena Schools.”

Are you Registered to vote?

If not, you can find the voter registration form at this link.

https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Montana_Voter_Registration_Application.pdf

The form must be printed and physically signed. It can be mailed in to the address for Lewis and Clark County on the back side. Or you can scan and email it to:

elections@lccountymt.gov

Or fax to 406-457-8598

Questions? Contact the county election office at 406-447-8339

Mark your Calendars.

April 22 - AFSP Campus Walk at EHHS
May 2 - Ballots due at L and C County elections office
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

4.14.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Garden with us!

Did you know East Helena has a wonderful Community Garden located next to EVMS? And that there are plots available for this growing season? Reserve a garden plot by clicking here!

Plots are 20' x 10' and the cost is $40 for the whole season (plot fee waivers are available if needed). Water is on an automatic timer - perfect for when you're on vacations or gone for long weekends!

Questions? Contact Stephanie Metzger at 406-459-9292.

School Levy Election

Mail in ballots are being sent today and should arrive in your mailbox early next week.

At the March School Board meeting, the Board unanimously voted to request a mill levy increase for next year’s budget. The basis of the need for this request is ongoing growth, inflation, and a need for increased wages for hourly staff. The Board is requesting a $334,000 levy to meet these obligations and continue providing the high quality education East Helena families have become accustomed to. This increase will be added to the district’s general fund which funds all basic operations of the district. We estimate the increase will add $5-$8/month to the average tax bill in East Helena.

The levy, if approved, will support the following for East Helena:

2 additional full time teaching positions to meet accreditation standards and reduce class sizes,
1 additional maintenance/custodial position to take care of our buildings and grounds,
Pay increases for classified staff (Bus drivers, Classroom paraprofessionals, Custodians, Food service workers) to keep pace with inflationary increases.

The East Helena district has not run very many mill levies in the 22 years I have worked here. Our Board has a track record of fiscal responsibility and the district does not take taxpayers for granted. This request comes from the impacts of inflation and the need for the district to attract and keep high quality employees to work with our kids. Anyone with questions about the levy can email me for more information: drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us

Will you support the levy?

I am asking for your “YES” vote for East Helena kids. We need your support.

Consider posting this sign in your car or home window to show support for our kids. Many supporters are also positing the image on their social media as their temporary profile picture.

Are you Registered to vote?

If not, you can find the voter registration form at this link.

https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Montana_Voter_Registration_Application.pdf

The form must be printed and physically signed. It can be mailed in to the address for Lewis and Clark County on the back side. Or you can scan and email it to:

elections@lccountymt.gov

Or fax to 406-457-8598

Questions? Contact the county election office at 406-447-8339

Mark your Calendars.

April 14 - Ballots Mailed to registered voters..
April 29 - AFSP Campus Walk at EHHS
May 2 - Ballots due at L and C County elections office
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

4.07.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy April!! Here’s an update from Superintendent Rispens.

EHHS Choir Spaghetti Feed (LOCATION CHANGE - Now at EHHS)

The EHHS Vigilante Choir is planning a trip to Seattle to participate in a regional choir festival. The kids have been working hard to raise money to offset the cost of the trip, and their latest fundraiser is going to be a tasty one that will get you out of cooking dinner this coming Monday, April 10.

The Choir will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed at East Helena High School in the Commons from 6 - 8 PM on April 10 (doors open at 5:30). One cool thing is that they are also offering a carry-out/pick up option for folks who cannot dine in. The carry out is from 5 - 6 PM. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. For folks who choose to dine in at the High School, the choir will be offering live entertainment! Don’t miss this fun opportunity to get out of cooking for the night and support a good cause! For more information, call EHHS at 227-7730.

American Foundation For Suicide Prevention Campus Walk

Almost everyone has been impacted in some way by suicide. Whether a friend, family member, neighbor, or community member, one loss is one too many. East Helena is a community that has been impacted particularly by youth suicide. Your local school district has taken several steps to intervene early and support students and families who may be in need. In an effort to raise awareness about this important public health issue that takes a heavy toll on communities, EHHS has planned a campus walk in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The campus walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2023. More details will be coming soon, but mark your calendars now for the AFSP Campus Walk.

Voter Registration-PLEASE Register to vote

As mentioned in previous updates, the district is asking taxpayers for a mill levy increase for our 23-24 budget to help manage increasing costs and inflation. The levy will also fund some additional teaching and maintenance positions in the district. Ballots will be mailed to voters on April 14. Are you registered to vote? If not, you can find the voter registration form at this link.

the form must be printed and physically signed. It can be mailed in to the address for Lewis and Clark County on the back side. Or you can scan and email it to:

elections@lccountymt.gov

Or fax to 406-457-8598

Questions? Contact the county election office at 406-447-8339

Mark your Calendars.

April 8 - Public Safety Open House at 911 Dispatch Center
- 11 AM - 3 PM
- At the 911 Dispatch Center, 3425 Skyway Drive in Helena
- Free drinks
- Exhibits by First Responders
- Helicopters on Display
- Police Vehicles on Display
- Guided Tours of the 911 Center
- Fire Trucks on Display
April 10 - EHHS Coir Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser at EHHS Commons: PIck up at 5:00 PM, DIne in 6-8 PM
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for Juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

3.30.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Spring Break!!! Here’s a short Spring Break update from Superintendent Rispens.

Voter Registration

As mentioned in previous updates, the district is asking taxpayers for a mill levy increase for our 23-24 budget to help manage increasing costs and inflation. The levy will also fund some additional teaching and maintenance positions in the district. Ballots will be mailed to voters on April 14. Are you registered to vote? If not, you can find the voter registration form at this link.

The form must be printed and physically signed. It can be mailed in to the address for Lewis and Clark County on the back side. Or you can scan and email it to:

elections@lccountymt.gov

Or fax to 406-457-8598

Questions? Contact the county election office at 406-447-8339

Valley Drive Letters of Support

The (MUCH Needed) Valley Drive expansion and improvements are moving forward. One key piece of that project is the exercise path on the east side of Valley and its possible extension to Canyon Ferry Road for better pedestrian access.

The City of East Helena is asking for support for a grant they are pursuing to extend the path. You can help by sending a letter of support to the Dept of transportation. You can find a sample letter of support at this link. Letters are due by April 5 so time is of the essence.

EHHS Choir Spaghetti Feed

The EHHS Vigilante Choir is planning a trip to Seattle to participate in a regional choir festival. The kids have been working hard to raise money to offset the costs of the trip, and their latest fundraiser is going to be a tasty one that will get you out of cooking dinner on April 10.

The Choir will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed at Lifepoint Church on Lake Helena Drive from 6 - 8 PM on April 10. One cool thing is that they are also offering a carry-out/pick up option for folks who cannot dine in. The carry out starts at 5 PM. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. For folks who choose to dine in at Lifepoint, the choir will be offering live entertainment! Don’t miss this fun opportunity to get out of cooking for the night and support a good cause! For more information, call EHHS at 227-7730.

School Levy Election

The Helena IR ran a nice article in today’s paper about our upcoming Levy request.

Anyone interested in helping with advocacy to pass the levy or if you have questions, you can email me for more information: drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us

Mark your Calendars.

Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).
April 8 - Public Safety Open House at 911 Dispatch Center
- 11 AM - 3 PM
- At the 911 Dispatch Center, 3425 Skyway Drive in Helena
- Free drinks
- Exhibits by First Responders
- Helicopters on Display
- Police Vehicles on Display
- Guided Tours of the 911 Center
- Fire Trucks on Display
April 10 - EHHS CHoir Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser at Lifepoint Church 6-8 PM
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for Juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

3.24.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Spring Break!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Spring Break

I just want to wish all of our staff and students (and families) a safe and happy (and restful) Spring Break! School resumes April 3, 2023. We’ll see you then (No Supt update next week).

Spring Testing

After Spring break, we’ll start our mandatory state assessments for grades 3-8 and 11. Students in grades 3-8 will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessments for Reading and Math. Grades 4 and 8 also take a science assessment. Students at EHHS in 11th grade will be taking the ACT as their mandatory assessment. Testing schedules will be distributed by the schools, so parents know when the tests are coming up.

We want to set our kids up for success, and teachers have been preparing kids for the upcoming assessments so they are conformable with the format and style of the tests. Parents can help by:

Encouraging kids to do their best on the tests,
Ensuring kids are in attendance on test days and arrive to school on time,
Making sure kids get a good night’s sleep before test days and have a good breakfast,
Reminding kids that it is just one test and all we can ask for is that they try their best. We don’t want to apply too much pressure on our kiddos in this time of already heightened anxiety.

If you have questions about the testing, please contact your child’s teacher or school counselor for more information.

EHHS Choir Spaghetti Feed

School Levy Election

The Helena IR ran a nice article in today’s paper about our upcoming Levy request.

Anyone interested in helping with advocacy to pass the levy or if you have questions, you can email me for more information: drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us

Mark your Calendars.

Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).
April 8 - Public Safety Open House at 911 Dispatch Center
- 11 AM - 3 PM
- At the 911 Dispatch Center, 3425 Skyway Drive in Helena
- Free drinks
- Exhibits by First Responders
- Helicopters on Display
- Police Vehicles on Display
- Guided Tours of the 911 Center
- Fire Trucks on Display
April 10 - EHHS CHoir Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser at Lifepoint Church 6-8 PM
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for Juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

3.17.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

EHHS Senior Prom and Grand March

The Vigilantes will hold their Senior Prom Saturday night at EHHS. Our tradition will include a Grand March at 7 PM in the EHHS Gym. See below for more details.

Public Safety Open House

The City County public safety Open House is a neat opportunity for kids (and parents) to learn more about our first responders. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the event which will be held on April 8, 2023. Here are some additional important details:

Saturday, April 8, 2023
11 AM - 3 PM
At the 911 Dispatch Center, 3425 Skyway Drive in Helena
Free drinks
Exhibits by First Responders
Helicopters on Display
Police Vehicles on Display
Guided Tours of the 911 Center
Fire Trucks on Display

School Levy Election

At Monday’s School Board meeting, the board unanimously voted to request a mill levy increase from taxpayers for next year’s budget. The basis of the need for this request is ongoing growth, inflation, and a need for increased wages for hourly staff. The board is requesting a $334,000 mill levy to meet these obligations and continue providing the high quality education East Helena families have become accustomed to.

The East Helena district has not run very many mill levies in the 22 years I have worked here. Our board has a track record of fiscal responsibility and the district does not take taxpayers for granted. This request comes from the impacts of inflation and the need for the district to attract and keep high quality employees to work with our kids. Anyone interested in helping with advocacy to pass the levy can email me for more information: drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us

Mark your Calendars.

March 18 - EHHS Prom “Hollywood Night” - Grand March at 7 PM
Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).
April 8 - Public Safety Open House at 911 Dispatch Center
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

3.10.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Daylight Savings Time! Spring Forward Sunday!

Don’t forget to SPRING those clocks ahead 1 hour Saturday night/Sunday morning. We will now have a little more daylight in the evenings, but the mornings will be dark for a while. The dark mornings cause me to remind all parents to be extra cautious and vigilant when driving. Please keep an eye out for students.

This time change can be a challenge for our students (especially the littlest ones) as their bodies adjust. Please keep an eye on your child to watch for signs of fatigue etc. If you have concerns, do not hesitate to communicate with your child’s teacher or our school nurses.

Early Release Monday

On Monday, 3/13 we will have an early release. Students are dismissed at 1:30 PM to allow for staff training.

School Board meeting and district budgets

In East Helena, we are fortunate to have a School Board that is invested in kids and in making our schools the best they can be. Our next school board meeting is coming up Monday, March 13 at 5:30 PM in the EVMS library. This month the school board will be taking up some important topics such as curriculum adoptions, facility studies, and budget planning.

You find the school board agenda packet at this link

You can access all school board documents at this link

Regarding the school budget, we are struggling with the realities of high (10%) inflation and wage pressures against the state increase of 2.7% for next year’s base budget. Clearly this is not going to add up to being able to continue to provide a high quality experience for our kids. The school board and district is trying hard to be fair with our staff and offer wages that attract and retain high quality people while being good stewards of the tax dollars we have been entrusted with. Monday evening I will present information to the board and recommend the possibility of requesting a modest mill levy increase to be put on the May Ballot. If the board agrees and approves, we will be asking for your support by sending in your mail ballot and supporting our mill levy request.

I will be providing more information in coming weeks, such as actual dollar amount and tax impacts as well as how the funds will be used. In the meantime, check out the board documents and don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or comments.

Repeated items below in case you missed it….

Kindergarten Registration

This is a reminder to all families with children who will be 5 years old by September 10 that kindergarten registration is open. Please spread the word. You can find the registration page at this link.

Registration for the 2023-24 school year is underway.

Our district is migrating to a new student information system next year and we're taking the opportunity to update the contact information we have for families around our district. We'll be able to use this information to link your students and build household and contact information accordingly.

Thank you to the 700+ families that have submitted applications with updated information for your child(ren) and household. If you haven't had the chance to register your household, you can click on the link below, follow the OLR link on our homepage, or navigate to registration.ehpsmt.org to begin your online registration process. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our support team via support@ehps.k12.mt.us.

EHPS Online Registration

Quick Tips:

Enable pop ups. The application windows will not launch if they aren't turned on.
Ensure that all parents/guardians are listed in the Parent/Guardian section and not listed as an emergency contact.
If the student is a member of a split household, please ensure that contact information is included for both parents and addresses.
Uploading documents (proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunizations) is only required for students enrolling in the district for the first time.

(Repeated item) EHHS Prom - Tickets Available

The East Helena High School Junior/Senior Prom will be held March 18 at EHHS. This year’s theme is Hollywood Nights. Tickets are available online at this link via Go Fan.

It is important to note that any students needing assistance finding formal wear for prom can access the Vigilante Attic to borrow attire. Students can make an appointment to visit the Vigilante Attic in their Jr/Sr Google Classrooms starting next week. Anyone wishing to donate items for the Vigilante Attic, should contact the school at 227-7730 or email Mrs. Schoenfeld.

Mark your Calendars.

March 13 - EHHS Spring Sports begin
March 18 - EHHS Prom “Hollywood Night”
Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Online Registration- This updates your family’s info in the new Infinite Campus System.https://mtdecloud2.infinitecampus.org/campus/apps/olr/application/login/kiosk-app-type?configGroupID=2%2F
Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

3.03.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

227 Day

Back in the days of landlines, most if not all East Helena phone numbers started with the prefix "227".. Over time, that number took hold as a badge of honor among the kids who grew up here and proudly told anyone who asked, they were from "The 227". Lately, on Social Media, February 27 (2/27), has been informally observed as "227" day and as a sort of East Helena Heritage day. And lastly, with the advent of our own high school and being an independent K-12 district, our board chair has asked us to make Feb 27 a day of school observance in which we honor the history, heritage and legacy of East Helena and teach the kids a little bit about it. Last Monday was our 227 day and kids across the district had the opportunity to learn about our town’s unique heritage. Schools tried to spread the word about it with their families. Please take a minute to chat with your children about their 227 lessons to see what they learned and to learn a bit more about East Helena’s history for yourself!

Public Invited to Informational Meeting Regarding Valley Drive Upgrades

Helena, MT – Lewis & Clark County, the City of East Helena and Stahly Engineering invite the

public to an information meeting to discuss plans for improvements to Valley Drive, from Lewis

Street to Canyon Ferry Road. Lewis & Clark County is responsible for the upgrades from Plant

Road to Canyon Ferry Drive, and the City of East Helena is responsible for the upgrades from

Lewis Street to Plant Road. At the public meeting, the elements of the project will be explained

in detail, and interested persons will be given the opportunity to ask questions regarding the

project.

WHAT: Public meeting on Valley Drive Improvement Projects

WHEN: March 8, 2023, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: East Helena High School

2760 Valley Dr, East Helena, MT 59635

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dan Karlin, Lewis & Clark County (406) 447-8034

Kindergarten Registration

Registration for the 2023-24 school year is underway.

EHPS Online Registration

Quick Tips:

Enable pop ups. The application windows will not launch if they aren't turned on.
Ensure that all parents/guardians are listed in the Parent/Guardian section and not listed as an emergency contact.
If the student is a member of a split household, please ensure that contact information is included for both parents and addresses.
Uploading documents (proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunizations) is only required for students enrolling in the district for the first time.

(Repeated item) EHHS Prom - Tickets Available

The East Helena High School Junior/Senior Prom will be held March 18 at EHHS. This year’s theme is Hollywood Nights. Tickets are available online at this link via Go Fan.

(Repeated Item) Bus Issues - Drivers Needed

We continue to struggle to maintain staffing for our transportation needs. While we hired one new driver in the past month, two drivers have also left, leaving our crew in a bind to keep all route and activity buses rolling. Even your superintendent and athletic director get into the action when we are short handed taking on a route or trip when needed.

This continued shortage is creating pressure on our system and may eventually force us to consolidate down to 8 routes. If that were to happen it could jeopardize seats for students who reside inside the 3 mile limit. This could affect all riders in Red Fox Meadows, Canal Circle, Meadowlark, Pele Park, Mountain View Meadows, and The Valley Drive Stops. While we're working hard to keep all routes rolling, out of an abundance of caution, I want parents to be aware that bus service for those areas could be disrupted and an alternate means of getting kids to school would be required. I will do my best to keep you posted about this with plenty of advance notice.

Additionally, if you or someone you know may be interested in learning a new skill and earning your CDL to be a school bus driver, we offer paid training and assistance with passing the tests. Our starting wage for bus drivers is $17.90/hour. Give us a call at 406-227-7700.

Mark your Calendars

March 6 - High School Baseball begins
March 8 - Public MTG Re: Valley Drive Improvements - EHHS 7 PM
March 9 - Parent College -from 5:30 - 8:00 PM at EHHS.
March 13 - EHHS Spring Sports begin
March 18 - EHHS Prom “Hollywood Night”
Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).
April 11 - ACT @ EHHS for juniors
June 2 - EHHS Graduation!
June 7 - Last day of school

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes (UPDATED!)

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

2.24.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

HiSET (Equivalency) Classes

As mentioned in an earlier Supt Update, we are trying to expand our adult education offerings for the community. One area we would like to offer additional service is in completion of a high school equivalency for folks who are no longer of school age and would like to complete their certificate (Diploma equivalent). If you or someone you know would benefit from this type of course, please ask them to complete our scheduling survey at this link to determine the best days and times to offer the HISET Course.

Kindergarten Registration

EHHS Prom - Tickets Available

The East Helena High School Junior/Senior Prom will be held March 18 at EHHS. This year’s theme is Hollywood Nights. Tickets are available online at this link via Go Fan.

Bus Issues - Drivers Needed

Mark your Calendars

EHHS PT Conferences - February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days
EHHS Spring Sports Parent meeting - FEB 28 6:00 PM at EHHS
Parent College - Mar 9, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM.
March 6 - High School Baseball begins
March 13 - EHHS Spring Sports begin
March 18 - EHHS Prom “Hollywood Nights”
Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

2.10.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

School Counseling Week

Today marks the end of School Counseling Week, and I just want to give a shout out to our awesome crew here in East Helena. Our school counselors are here to connect with kids and families and find ways for all kids to be successful in school. The job can be stressful and challenging. Our counselors regularly have to deal with some pretty tough situations. We appreciate all they do to support our kids, families, and community. Our EHPS School counselors are:

Eastgate - Derik Chaney

PPE - Jannice Odermann

Radley - Michael Cloeren

EVMS - Kevin VanNice

EHHS - Kelli Kerpa and Ethan Hoffman

Kindergarten Registration

Bus Issues - Drivers Needed

State Wrestling and Swimming

EHHS Students are competing this weekend at state swimming and wrestling. We are so proud of these students representing the Vigilantes!!!!

More Drinking Water News

As of today most of the new water filters are installed at EHHS in the bottle fill and drinking fountains. We have asked our water specialist to conduct testing of that filtered water being dispensed as an extra measure of caution. Additionally, it looks like the new city system will be functioning in mid to late March.

Superintendent out of Town

There will be no Superintendent update next week. I will be out of town in San Antonio for the national Superintendent conference. I am very excited to go and learn how to be better at making our school district the best it can be. And I am appreciative of the opportunity to go.

Mark your Calendars

EHHS PT Conferences - February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days
Parent College - Mar 9, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM.
March 6 - High School Baseball begins
March 13 - EHHS Spring Sports begin
Valley Drive Bridgework (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2 (Spring Break).

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

2.03.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Radley Tutoring Opportunity

Radley Elementary would like to begin offering before and after school tutoring. Right now we are in the initial planning stages. The first consideration is to gauge the interest from families. Please complete the short survey to help us with our planning.

Other details:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday:

AM session: 7:30AM-8:00AM

PM session: 3:30PM-4:30PM

PLEASE COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS BELOW ONLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHILD TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR TUTORING PROGRAM.

Radley Tutoring Program Family Survey

SIck Kids

Our school nurses report that they’ve seen a marked increase in illness the past couple weeks. They report numerous cases of RSV, Influenza, strep,and nausea/vomiting. In the interest of keeping all kids and the community healthy, please try and keep kids home when they are sick. Prior to returning to school, student must be:

fever free for 24 hours without medication
24 hours since the last episode of vomiting/diarrhea. without medication.

I realize that many families are concerned about attendance now that we have moved past Pandemic protocols and principals are once again directed to notify families about absences. However, sending an ill child to school, simply prolongs and spreads the sickness around town. Your school principals will work with you on the absences if notified of the medical necessity and most doctor’s offices will fax a doctor’s note right to the school for you.

Speech and Debate Shout out!

Our Vigilante Speech and Debate team recently competed at the state tourney. The following shout outs are warranted based on the crew’s performance:

Semi-finalists:
- Ava Snyder - Original Oratory and Memorized Public Address
- Lucy Rode - Humorous Interpretation and Duo Interpretation
- Cassie Goulart - Duo Interpretation
- Arianna Hrvatin - Informative and Impromptu
Placers
- Dru Lindsey who took 2nd in State Class A for Extemporaneous and for Impromptu!
Way to go team, we are super proud of you!

This weekend our Vigilante Wrestlers are competing in Polson at Class A Divisionals.

Go Vigilantes!!!

East Helena City Water Update

I wanted to provide an update regarding the ongoing city water concern.

When it started looking like the situation was going to last longer than anticipated, the district hired an independent consultant to do some random testing at the four school sites on City of EH Water (PPE, Radley, EVMS, and EHHS). The results were mixed and showed higher than recommended copper limits from at least one faucet in each school. The good news is that our filtered bottle fill stations and the filtered water at the Radley kitchen (Where school meals are prepared) were all well below recommended limits. This tells us that while we are waiting for the new anti corrosion systems to be installed, our filtration systems are doing their job and students and staff can continue safely refilling water bottles at the stations. The COEH anticipates that the new system could be operational in late February/early March.

As mentioned previously, we recently discovered the bottle fill stations at EHHS were installed without filtration. Those filtration kits have been ordered and delivered and we are working on getting them installed ASAP (Anticipated next week) For now, water is being hauled to EHHS From Eastgate (Well water) for students and staff to refill water bottles.

Mark your Calendars

EHHS PT Conferences - February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days
Parent College - Mar 9, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM.
Valley Drive Bridgewak (Valley Drive Closed to through traffic) -March 25 -April 2.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

1.27.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Parent Teacher Conferences for EG/PPE and EVMS next week

Winter P-T Conferences are upon us as we get rolling next week with EG/PPE and EVMS Conferences. Parent teacher conferences are your best spot to get connected with your child’s teacher and school. Principals, counselors, and specialty staff will be on hand on conference nights to assist with questions you may have about your child’s education. In East Helena, our goal has always been 100% participation in P-T conferences, and we are encouraging families to plan now to attend. If you have a question about your conference day or time, please reach out to your child’s teacher or school for assistance. Below are the dates for all P-T conferences:

Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences Dates (Some have changed from the school calendar)

EG/PPE

January 31st and February 2nd

Radley

February 7 and 9

EVMS

January 30 and February 1

EHHS

February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days

Families in Need

2023 has not started out so well for some of our East Helena families. One of our 1st graders at PPE, Harper, has recently been diagnosed with auto-immune and chronic liver ailments. Harper’s mom is a counselor at Warren School and her aunt teaches here at Radley School. The staff and students of PPE have organized a “Hats for Harper '' Day next Wednesday, Feb 1. On Hat days, students can donate a dollar and wear a hat all day at school. All money received will be donated to Harper's family to help with travel expenses and medical costs. Eastgate, PPE, Radley, and EVMS are all doing Hats for Harper on Wednesday. EHHS will also be doing a fundraiser for Harper next week with details to be announced at school.

Health issues have also affected the Walsh family. Mrs. Walsh is a 7th grade math teacher at EVMS and has taught math to hundreds of EHPS kids over the years. Recently her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor that is proving difficult to treat. The family has significant expenses related to medical costs and travel. Fellow staff members at EVMS have arranged a “Go Fund Me” for Mrs. Walsh and her family. Anyone who would like to participate can find the details at this link.

Parent College

Your EHPS crew is bringing back “Parent College” this year. Parent college is a fun night for parents to come into the schools and learn about a variety of topics. School staff and area experts will present informational sessions related to healthy living and parenting, how to plan for college, how to spot signs of suicide and depression, and signs of drug abuse to name a few. Mark your calendars for Mar 9, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. More details will be shared as plans firm up.

(Repeated Item) LaCrosse Opportunity For Area Youth

Helena Youth LaCrosse is taking registrations for the 2023 season. Visit helenalacrosse.com for more information or to register.

(Repeated Item) New Year - New Pay Rates at the EHPS

At their regular school board meeting Monday night, the EHPS School Board approved new pay rates for several positions with the schools. This action adjusted the starting rates of pay for several positions. We are currently advertising for classroom paraprofessionals and bus drivers and have several positions open. You can find the application at this link.

There are many benefits of working for the school district such as: helping kids succeed, having a schedule similar to your kids (Holidays and weekends off), paid leave, a retirement plan, and health benefits. Here are the new hourly pay rates which took effect this week:

Kitchen Aide - $13.65
Paraprofessionals - $14.90
School Secretary - $16.65
Bus Drivers - $17.90 (We will train you!)
Custodians - $15.90
Tutors - $20.90

(Repeated item) Soccer Camp Opportunity

The EHHS Vigilante Soccer Program will be hosting indoor youth soccer camps in late February and early March. The camps are open for students in grades 1-8 and the cost is $25/athlete. For more info about the dates, times and how to sign up, go to: Vigilantesoccer.com or click here for the website.

(Repeated item) Valley Drive Bridge Work

We have been informed by the county that the Valley Drive preliminary widening work will begin this spring break at the canal bridge on Valley Drive. Valley Drive will be closed to through traffic the entire week of Spring Break, March 25 - April 2. Please plan accordingly.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

1.20.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Content is light in this week’s supt update, but I am including a lot of items from last week in case you missed it. Have a great weekend everyone!

LaCrosse Opportunity For Area Youth

Helena Youth LaCrosse is taking registrations for the 2023 season. Visit helenalacrosse.com for more information or to register.

(Repeated Item) New Year - New Pay Rates at the EHPS

Kitchen Aide - $13.65
Paraprofessionals - $14.90
School Secretary - $16.65
Bus Drivers - $17.90 (We will train you!)
Custodians - $15.90
Tutors - $20.90

(Repeated Item) Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences Dates (Some have changed from the school calendar)

EG/PPE

January 31st and February 2nd

Radley

February 7 and 9

EVMS

January 30 and February 1

EHHS

February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days

(Repeated item) Soccer Camp Opportunity

(Repeated item) Valley Drive Bridge Work

(Repeated item) EHHS GRADUATION!

Graduation Day: Friday, June 2 - 6:30 p.m.

Eligible to Walk: All those who have completed the EHPS graduation requirements (22 credits). This includes senior students who are remote learning for the year.

(Repeated item) Proposed 2023-24 School Calendar

The EHPS calendar committee is nearing the end of their work on the 2023-24 academic attendance calendar for the East Helena Schools. In most ways the proposed calendar is similar to past years with typical holiday and spring breaks. One key difference in next year’s proposed calendar is an earlier start in August than usual and an earlier dismissal in the spring than usual. The proposed calendar starts school on August 23, 2023 and completes the year on May 31, 2024.

You can view the proposed calendar at this link.

We are interested in your comments and parent input. If you have thoughts or comments about the 23-24 calendar, please email Dan Rispens or Brian Kessler.

The 23-24 calendar is set to be considered by the EHPS school board at the February meeting.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

1.13.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday the 13th!!! Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

3 Day Weekend

There is no school Monday, January 16. Enjoy the 3 day weekend!!!

2023 State Tax Donations to schools

Did you know you have the option to direct your anticipated 2023 state income taxes directly to the school district as a donation for innovative programs rather than paying the money into the state? The 2021 legislature established HB 279 to accomplish just that. HB 279 allows you to make a donation of an amount up to your total 2023 tax bill directly to the school district and receive a dollar for dollar tax credit for the same amount from your tax bill a year from now. The district is obligated to use the funds to benefit students through creative and innovative programs. Here are some important details:

Individuals or corporations can donate up to $200,000/year
The aggregate total per year for the entire state is set at a $2,000,000 cap this year. Last year the $1,000,000 cap was met in less than 5 minutes from the time the donation portal opened, so it is important to contact the district about your donation prior to the portal opening date of 10:00 AM on January 18.
Your donation will be earmarked for “innovative Educational Programs.”
You are required to provide:
- Your name
- Last 4 of your social security number or Federal Employer Identification Number
- Mailing address, physical address, and email address

Once we have the info ready we can try and enter the donation into the Dept of Revenue portal when it opens at 10 AM on Wednesday, Jan 18. If we get it submitted prior to the statewide threshold being met and exceeded, you will receive a confirmation # and receipt for the 2023 tax filing. If the threshold is met prior to us getting the donation entered, you will receive your donation back.

Questions? Call Dan or Kim at Central Office, 227-7700.

New Year - New Pay Rates at the EHPS

Kitchen Aide - $13.65
Paraprofessionals - $14.90
School Secretary - $16.65
Bus Drivers - $17.90 (We will train you!)
Custodians - $15.90
Tutors - $20.90

Amber Alert Test

When a child is abducted under life threatening circumstances, seconds count. An AMBER Alert can be issued to alert the public to assist law enforcement in searching for and saving the child. This year, Montana is recognizing its 20^th anniversary of Montana’s AMBER Alert program. Since 2003, Montana has launched 54 AMBER Alerts and fortunately all 76 children have been located.

We want to make sure Montana’s AMBER Alert system works well when we need it, so on Friday, January 13^th, 2023 at approximately 10:00 am, a live test of Montana’s AMBER Alert system will be conducted. During the test, a message will be broadcast on cell phones, Montana Broadcasting TV & radio stations, the National Weather Service Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather radio, the MT Lottery, and the MT Department of Transportation road signs and 511 information line. Action by the public during the test is not required. However, if you did NOT receive the test message on your phone, you can notify us at the following website: https://dojmt.gov/ambertest/ [dojmt.gov]

Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences Dates (Some have changed from the school calendar)

EG/PPE

January 31st and February 2nd

Radley

February 7 and 9

EVMS

January 30 and February 1

EHHS

February 27 and March 1 4-7 pm both days

Soccer Camp Opportunity

Valley Drive Bridge Work

EHHS GRADUATION!

Graduation Day: Friday, June 2 - 6:30 p.m.

Eligible to Walk: All those who have completed the EHPS graduation requirements (22 credits). This includes senior students who are remote learning for the year.

Proposed 2023-24 School Calendar

You can view the proposed calendar at this link.

We are interested in your comments and parent input. If you have thoughts or comments about the 23-24 calendar, please email Dan Rispens or Brian Kessler.

The 23-24 calendar is set to be considered by the EHPS school board at the February meeting.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

1.6.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Water Quality Update

I wanted to offer a quick update regarding the ongoing water issue with the City of East Helena domestic water supply. The City has assured us they are continuing to work through the process of installing an anti corrosion system at the Wylie Well pump site. Their plans have been submitted to the State DEQ and are awaiting final approval to proceed.

In the meantime, the East Helena Education Association tested several random bottle fill stations in the district to check for copper and lead. One station at the high school tested high for copper. Further investigation discovered that the bottle stations at EHHS were ordered and installed during construction without the filtration option.

Here’s what we are doing:

We are ordering bottled water for EHHS for all students and staff who want or request it,
We are ordering filtration systems to add on to all bottle fill stations at EHHS so all district bottle fill stations will be filtered,
We are working with a water quality specialist who will devise a random monitoring testing plan to continue keeping tabs on school water until the city system is installed and functioning properly,
We have ordered a filtration system to be installed in the Radley kitchen where all school lunches are prepared.

I will continue to provide updates to parents as things unfold.

Lego League Volunteer Opportunity

Montana FIRST Lego League is seeking volunteers on January 21, 2023 to serve as judges, referees, scorekeepers, and other roles for our 2023 qualifying tournaments in Helena. FIRST volunteers share their time, talent, and enthusiasm, making a difference in the lives of students across Montana. Volunteering is easy--the links below contain a pdf with a description of roles. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Helena College

1115 North Roberts Street

Helena, MT 59601

QT Hosts: Matt Beckstrom, Jamie Dushin, Katherine Senecal, Kinsey Varuska

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

1.1.23

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Parking Lot Safety

School starts back up tomorrow! I am hoping that all students, parents and staff had a restful holiday break. Schools will be open tomorrow, and staff will be ready to welcome students back to campus. If your family is extending the holiday break, please remember to notify school offices of student absences.

I am happy to report that our facilities weathered the Christmas storm and frigid temps pretty well. The one area of concern remains ice in parking lots and on streets around the schools. The up and down temperature swings of the past week or so have made it pretty difficult on our facilities and maintenance crews. In spite of our best effort to get ahead of it last week, the ice build up kept melting slightly, absorbing sand, and refreezing to a nice smooth sheen for the following day. If you’ve been out and about in the Helena area for the past few days, you’re keenly aware of the situation all around. So I am writing to ask for your patience and caution tomorrow as school restarts. Bus lanes, Parking lots, and some sidewalks may have icy patches that require extra attention.

Planning ahead, allowing additional time, and using common sense and patience can go a long way towards ensuring a smooth restart to school and to 2023!

Happy New Year!!!

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

12.21.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here’s your update from Superintendent Rispens.

Kindergarten and Kindercubs Registration

Starting Jan 2,. 2023 parents of new kindergartners can register for school at Eastgate. Please help us get the word out. Students must be 5 years old by Sept 10, 2023 to qualify. Go to this link to find a detailed information letter from Mr. Crusat and the link to the online registration site.

Parents of students who will be 4 years old by Sept 10 can apply for consideration for the Eastgate Kindercubs program, an opportunity for early start kindergarten for 4 year olds. Go to this link for more information and the online application.

2023-24 Student Tuition Requests

East Helena Public Schools continues to be a family friendly environment for our students, parents and staff. As a testament to the quality of our school district, I can report to you that there are more than 200 non-resident children taking advantage of non-resident tuition attendance agreements. This desirable educational setting has created high numbers of requests to enter EHPS and forced the School District to limit the number of students that can be enrolled under a tuition agreement. It is possible that the board may change our tuition policy later this spring and the Montana Legislature is also looking at changing the laws that govern non resident enrollment and tuition policies. But for now, The school district will begin accepting Tuition Agreement Applications starting on Monday, January 2, 2023 for the coming 2023 - 2024 school year.

The process is managed on a first come - first served basis.
A new application must be submitted every year.
You can find the tuition application here.
Send your application to Jen Cordell at Central Office.

Please understand that filling out an application does not guarantee admittance, and that board policy or state law may change prior to the 23-24 school year.

METG Annual Meeting

The Montana Environmental Trust Group held their annual public meeting Dec 13. The information provided gives us a glimpse into the future of East Helena and next steps in the reclamation project at the old Smelter site. Below is an update from the meeting with links to information content for interested residents:

East Helena residents and other stakeholders,

Thanks to all who attended our public meeting last week at the METG office or joined virtually on Zoom. We appreciated the opportunity to hear from the community and provide updates about our work at the East Helena Smelter Site, including the slag reprocessing project and redevelopment activities around the Site.

The meeting presentation can be found on our website https://www.mtenvironmentaltrust.org/ at this link. For more information on Site-related projects, see the 2022 update fact sheet here.

We welcome you to forward this email to anyone who couldn’t join the meeting but may be interested in the materials.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Cindy Brooks, METG managing principal, at cb@g-etg.com or 617-448-9762. To be added to the Site contact list, send your email address to Anna Novikova at an@g-etg.com.

Holiday Break

I sincerely hope that all of our EHPS Families enjoy some much needed R and R over the holiday break. School is dismissed at 1:30 PM today. We will be open and ready to welcome students back Monday, January 2, 2023. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our EHPS teachers, staff, students and parents/guardians. See you next year!

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

12.18.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Hello EHPS parents!! Here’s a special update from Superintendent Rispens.

EVMS Bomb Threat

I want to let parents know that we received a bomb threat yesterday regarding EVMS.

The threat was delivered to a student via an anonymous social media post.

The student shared it with a substitute teacher who sent it to Mrs. Morris.
Mrs. Morris shared it with me and SRO Criner.
Mr Criner notified dispatch and officers were almost immediately on scene at the vacant school.
Sheriff’s deputies met with the student and his mother and attempted to trace the threat.
The MT Highway Patrol dispatched a special K9 unit, bomb sniffing dog to EVMS.
The dog and his handler searched the entire school and cleared the scene as safe.

The reason I am sharing this is that I am aware that many kids are probably aware of the threat via social media etc and I want parents to know the true timeline and the lengths that school officials and law enforcement go to to ensure our schools are safe. There may be students in our community who are concerned about going to school tomorrow, but I want parents to know that the school has been checked and cleared by law enforcement.

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate the threat, and if we are able to identify the perpetrator, school consequences and legal proceedings will take place. It’s important for kids to know that what may seem like a harmless prank or threat has to be taken seriously by authorities and these false alarms waste valuable resources and time.

Cold Weather is here

Looking at the forecast, we are in for some subzero temps this week. If you’ve been outside today, you know that the arctic air is already arriving, but a review of the forecast shows that there is certainly more to come this week and parts of our school district are likely to see -40 temps later on. Here are some important tips to consider:

Our transportation crew will work hard to keep buses rolling, but extreme cold takes its toll on equipment. If there are bus cancellations or delays, we will send messages out via our messaging system.
Students should not be left alone in the cold at bus stops.
Inside recesses are sure to happen this week at all schools.
It is possible but not likely that student activity trips will be canceled due to cold weather.

It’s key to bundle up and enjoy our Montana winter (Which actually STARTS Wednesday!) Safety first and common sense are very important when cold weather strikes. Also, don’t forget to check in on elderly or infirmed neighbors during these difficult times.

Holiday Happenings

Here’s partial rundown of the remaining concerts and programs:

Mon Dec 19 - Eastgate Christmas Program at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at EG
Tues Dec 20 - EVMS 8 Choir and TIGER Choir at 6:00 PM; Band concert at 7:00 PM at EVMS
Weds Dec 21 - Early Release - Holiday Dismissal

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

12.16.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Happy Holidays

On behalf of the EHPS Staff, I want to wish all of our EHPS families a joyous and happy holiday season. It is my sincere hope that you’re able to enjoy some quality family time during the school break and that kids and staff can return to school in 2023 ready to teach and learn together. School will dismiss Wednesday at the early release time (1:30 PM).

EHPS School grants

In our regular school board meeting Monday evening at PPE, the school board received information from the central office about a few of the grants we receive and the positions funded by them. The district receives a significant amount of grant money each year to supplement our programs and offset local taxes.

The table below shows some of the information shared:

Grant Name	Approx Annual Amt	Positions Funded	Expires in
MCLSDP	$450,000	2 teachers	Sept 2024
		1 Instructional Coach
		3 Instructional Tutors
		1 Paraprofessional
Title 1	$397,315	3 Teachers	Ongoing
		2 Instructional Tutors	Depends on
		2 Paraprofessionals	F/R Lunch Count
Title II	$87,260	3 Instructional Coaches	Ongoing
		50% Salary	Depends on
			F/R Lunch Count
21st Century	$110,000	all TIGER Program staff	This Year -
After School			Applying to renew
Summer School			Depends on F/R Lunch count
Title VII	$33,599	Portion of Indian Impact	Annual
Indian Ed		teacher salary	Depends on native
			student count
ELC Re-opening	$140,000 Total	.6 Nurse	One time only
DPHHS			COVID money
JROTC	$47,295	JROTC Instructor	Program dependent

One concern we have moving forward is that many of these grants expire within the next 2 years. Additionally, programs like Title 1 and 21st century are dependent on free and reduced lunch percentages being above certain thresholds to continue to qualify. Our one-time ARP/ESSER (COVID Relief) funding also expires or must be spent by fall of 2024. All of this creates a perfect storm of potential financial trouble, and you may hear school districts talking about a “fiscal cliff” that we are falling off of in 2024.

Your local school board is working hard to prepare and plan for these upcoming hardships and may be asking for your support. From the school office, we’ll be trying to do our part to share information in an understandable and transparent way so the community has the full picture.

Student successes

Speaking of this week's board meeting, it was great seeing members of the East Helena High School FFA Chapter come and report to the board about FFA activities and events. Watching our young people grow and develop their skills in new and exciting ways has been a real treat during my career here in East Helena. Additionally this week, I was able to see the 3rd grade Holiday Program at Radley School which was super, and today we had the EHHS Choir come caroling at Central Office.

Seeing our students perform in athletics, music, robotics, leadership activities, or other events is always an exciting reminder that, although we are always focused on academics and core skills, it’s the arts and activities that create a well rounded education program. It’s encouraging to see kids getting involved and participating in these enriching activities.

Holiday Happenings

Here’s partial rundown of the remaining concerts and programs:

Mon Dec 19 - Eastgate Christmas Program at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at EG
Tues Dec 20 - EVMS 8 Choir and TIGER Choir at 6:00 PM; Band concert at 7:00 PM at EVMS
Weds Dec 21 - Early Release - Holiday Dismissal

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

12.09.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

What is SWATTING?

SWATTING is essentially a prank call to authorities reporting something bad like a mass shooting in progress at a school, place of business, or residence. The idea is to harass and upset people by getting a bunch of law enforcement etc to descend upon a particular site. This week in Montana, there have been multiple SWATTING reports affecting schools. Locally there was a call about Capital High School today. Our law enforcement officials expend a significant amount of resources evaluating and navigating these types of reports to determine their validity. These are resources that could be used doing other things like preventing other crimes or keeping people safe. For some reason, it appears that many of the Montana SWATTING calls have originated from outside the USA, but there is a growing concern that our own kids could get the idea that this is a fun thing to do to upset the school schedule. Parents can help by being aware of kids’ conversations on the subject and discussing the serious nature of these types of infractions with our kids. Thanks!

SB 99 - EHPS policy #2335 - Annual Notice

Much has been made in statewide media recently about SB 99 and its impact on schools. The law, which was passed in the last legislature and is now being enforced in schools across the state, requires an annual notice to parents regarding the instruction on the topic of human sexuality. It also requires a 48 hour notice prior to any event or introduction of materials for human sexuality instruction. Last month, your EHPS School board adopted policy 2335 on second reading which takes the law and puts it into our local policy book. The week’s supt update is our annual notice for the 22-23 school year regarding policy 2335.

Before getting too deep into the details, I want you to know that, although many districts are complaining about the onerous requirements and vague details in SB 99, our local district has always put a high value on teacher-parent communication. Especially regarding something as sensitive as this topic. We always want to work with families to ensure that we are working together to meet our curricular obligations while honoring your family’s viewpoints and providing the best education possible for your kids. So in addition to this notice, I want to encourage all parents to be open and communicative with their child’s teacher(s) and/or principal if you have special requests regarding human sexuality instruction and your child.

In the East Helena Public Schools, these are the classes in which age appropriate instruction is scheduled to occur on the topic of human sexuality:

Grades 5-8 Health and PE
Grade 7 science (biology)
Grade 10 Health and Biology classes
Grade 11-12 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Holiday Happenings

Here’s partial rundown of upcoming concerts and programs:

Mon Dec 12 - EHHS Choir Concert at 6:00 PM at EHHS
Tues Dec 13 - EHHS Band Concert and Art Show - Art Show at 5:30 and concert at 7:00 PM at EHHS
Thurs Dec 15 - 3rd Grade Christmas Concert at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Radley
Mon Dec 19 - Eastgate Christmas Program at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at EG
Tues Dec 20 - EVMS 8 Choir and TIGER Choir at 6:00 PM; Band concert at 7:00 PM at EVMS
Weds Dec 21 - Early Release - Holiday Dismissal

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

12.02.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Early Release

Our next Early Release is coming Monday, December 5. Schools will dismiss students at 1:30 Monday (1:20 PM dismissal at EHHS) to allow teachers time to collaborate and work on ensuring our curricular alignment K-12 is in order and meeting expectations.

Holiday Happenings

With the EH Christmas Stroll kicking off the season Thursday night, it’s safe to say “It’s the Holiday Season!” Over the course of the next 2 ½ weeks we’ll see a flurry of events and activities in the schools. Here’s a partial rundown of upcoming concerts and programs:

Tues Dec 6 - 5th grade band at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM in the Radley Gym
Thurs Dec 8 - 2nd Grade Christmas Program at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at PPE
Mon Dec 12 - EHHS Choir Concert at 6:00 PM at EHHS
Tues Dec 13 - EHHS Band Concert and Art Show - Art Show at 5:30 and concert at 7:00 PM at EHHS
Thurs Dec 15 - 3rd Grade Christmas Concert at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Radley
Mon Dec 19 - Eastgate Christmas Program at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at EG
Tues Dec 20 - EVMS 8 Choir and TIGER Choir at 6:00 PM; Band concert at 7:00 PM at EVMS
Weds Dec 21 - Early Release - Holiday Dismissal

Bus 8 Rumors

This past week, rumors have swirled around the fate of route 8. We continue to struggle with staffing like many organizations, and bus driver shortages are being felt throughout the state. Our driver on route 8 has decided to leave her position. For the time being, our bus supervisor and his staff have devised a way to keep route 8 staffed and running. An alternate plan would be to re-assign the students from route 8 to other routes temporarily, but for the time being we are able to avoid that. Our transportation crew will provide updates and if you know of anyone wanting a job as a school bus driver, please send them our way.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

11.18.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens. Due to the short week, there will be no weekly update next week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I am thankful for:

Turkey!
Growing up and living in Montana!
Snow
Changing Seasons
Mountains
The University of Montana Grizzlies
Family
Health
Great job in a great community

East Helena Christmas Stroll

Next week is a short week as we take a few days off for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Hopefully this is a time for you and your family to enjoy some time together and reflect on the blessings in life you’re all thankful for. Following Thanksgiving we’ll be gearing up for the East Helena Christmas Stroll. Mark your calendars now for Dec 1, from 5:30 - 8:30 PM. Most events are on Main Street East Helena or City Hall, with the entertainment occurring at the Radley Gym. We hope to see you there!

Vaccine Clinic Opportunity

There will be one final vaccine clinic opportunity this coming Saturday (NOV 19) at Central School in Helena. This free clinic will offer FLU Shots and the bivalent COVID (Pfizer) vaccine booster for kids 5+. The clinic is from 10 AM - 2 PM. You’ll need an appointment but there are slots available. You can book your appointment here.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

11.11.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Happy Veteran’s Day

On Friday, November 11, the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 AM we celebrate our Veterans and their amazing contribution to our nation. Our East Helena VFW holds an annual parade and observance of this annual event at the Memorial at Main Street Park. Each year we try to get as many school kids to the observance as possible to participate, witness, and honor our vets. If you or anyone in your family is a Veteran, Thank You for your Service! Please take a moment today to thank the Veterans in your life for their sacrifice and service to our nation.

Winter Weather Considerations

This past week has been an in-your-face reminder of the fact that old man winter is on the way. Snow and ice on roadways are a fact of life in Montana, and the changing conditions require a few considerations regarding school operations and our students:

Plan to allow extra time for the morning and afternoon commute to and from school,
Be on the lookout for school kids walking and allow for extra caution around schools and crosswalks,
Dress kiddos appropriately for conditions. School operational plans call for students to be outside for recess when the wind chill temp is above 0,
If your family is in need of assistance in securing weather appropriate clothing for kids, please contact your principal or school counselor,
don’t leave kids unattended at bus stops on frigid days - buses may run late on icy roads,
changes to school opening times or bus routes will be communicated ASAP via the SWIFT k12 text and email system,

This first bout of winter often even takes us lifelong Montanas by surprise but pretty soon this will be old hat and business as usual. We appreciate your patience as we adjust to winter conditions.

Robotics Qualifier Tournament

This Saturday offers a unique opportunity for local folks to check out the Montana FIRST Robotics Qualifier Tournament at EHHS. The tourney will be held in our High School Gymnasium Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM. It is free and open to the public. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about robotics competition or just need an excuse to get out of the house this weekend, Come on down to EHHS to check out the tournament.

Student Loan Forgiveness Application Link

I have been asked by the US Dept of Education to remind our community about the student loan forgiveness options out there.

A general overview of the Debt Relief Plan can be found here.

The application for direct debt relief of $10,000-$20,000 can be found here. It takes less than 5 minutes to apply, and those with federal student loan debt are encouraged to apply even though the program is temporarily suspended by a court order. Nov 15 is the deadline for applications to get relief applied by the Jan 1 payment re-start.

For any students going to school next fall (our current seniors) the Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be found here. The FAFSA is the first step in discovering what types of financial assistance students may qualify for. The FAFSA is for any student pursuing post secondary education, not just 4 year degrees.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

11.04.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Western A Divisional Volleyball

We are excited to be hosting the Western Class A Volleyball Divisional Tournament at EHHS this week (Thursday - Saturday). Teams and fans from around western Montana will be in East Helena checking out our great town and our amazing high school. The public is invited and welcome to attend and watch some great volleyball teams in action. If you come, please keep in mind that postseason events are operated by MHSA and our activity passes and admittance charges do not apply. They have their own fees. Entrance fees are as follows:

All session pass: $20- adults; $15 -student/senior

Thursday or Friday day pass: $9 - adult; $7 - student/senior

Saturday only pass: $7 - adult; $5 - student/senior

MBAC Community Survey

The Montana Business Assistance Connection is a local group seeking to promote business growth and development in our area. MBAC is seeking input from area residents regarding the things that make living here great as well as the challenges we all face. If you have a few minutes, please consider offering your insights on the MBAC Survey. it does not take long and the more voices heard the better. here is the link to the survey:

https://www.mbac.biz/initiatives/

Daylight Savings Time - Fall Back

Love it or hate it, Daylight Savings Time is once again coming to an end on November 6, 2022. You’ll want to plan now to set clocks back an hour and enjoy a little bit of extra sleep.

(Repeated item) Vaccination Opportunities

Our annual Flu shot clinic at EVMS is being hosted by the BCBS CareVAN this year in partnership with Albertsons pharmacy. In addition to the flu shot, the clinic will be offering COVID Vaccines and boosters. This is a walk-in clinic and no appointment is necessary. It is the last local East Helena Clinic that I know of this season. There is additional info in the bullet points below:

November 5 - COVID Booster (Pfizer) clinic for 5-11 year olds at Central School in Helena. 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM This is a free (no charge), walk-in clinic. no appt necessary.
November 8 - Flu Shot (age 3 and up) and COVID shot/Booster (age 12 and up) clinic at EVMS hosted by BCBS CAREvan and Alberstson’s Pharmacy. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. This is a walk-in clinic. No Appt necessary. There is no out of pocket charge. Please bring insurance information if you have insurance.

Student Loan Forgiveness Application Link

I have been asked by the US Dept of Education to remind our community about the student loan forgiveness options out there.

A general overview of the Debt Relief Plan can be found here.

October 31 is the deadline for folks to take advantage of expanded options under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If you think you might qualify for this expanded program, click here for additional information.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

10.28.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Happy Friday!! Here’s your weekly update from Superintendent Rispens.

Red Ribbon Parade

Once again, we had a beautiful afternoon Wednesday to support our kiddos in the Red Ribbon Parade. The meaning of the parade is to show our kids that we support their commitment to be drug and alcohol free.

EHPS Parent, and owner of iFlyBigSky, Kevin Danz shot some awesome drone footage of the parade and you can view that here (Youtube) or on the iFlyBigSky Facebook page. We want to thank Sheriff Dutton, EHPS Police Chief Sanders, The City of East Helena Public Works Dept, and all area first responders for supporting our kids and our parade!!!

Parent Teacher Conferences

It’s that time of year! We are nearing or marking the end of the 1st quarter of school and our first round of parent teacher conferences are just around the corner. As a veteran school principal, I can attest to all the hype around parents and teachers having a strong connection to provide support and understanding of our students. As parents, you are your child's first teachers. You know your kids better than anyone else. Our EHPS teachers work with your kids everyday helping them grow and learn in our efforts to unlock their potential. When parents and teachers share knowledge and communicate meaningfully, the benefits to kids are incredible.

Please make a commitment now to attend and participate in your children's conferences. We recognize the time commitment and the fact that our families have very busy schedules. But our teachers are preparing information to share and looking forward to discussing successes and challenges to learning. Conferences can be a bit intimidating as a parent. Sometimes the news is not all wonderful. But in the end, when we work together to support kids, the kids win.

Fright Night - Halloween Safety

Monday is Halloween! We want our entire community to have a fun and SAFE Halloween. With that in mind, please be on the lookout for little ghouls and goblins this weekend and Monday evening for sure!

We support the efforts of East Helena businesses and J4 Automotive in providing safe, family friendly activities on Halloween. Fright Night is BACK for the 17th season this year with the following events:

Trick or Treating at Main Street Businesses and City hall from 5:00 -7:00 PM
Eagles Haunted House
At Dusk there will be a showing of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in Main Street Park.

I hope to see you out there!

Band Chocolate Pickup Instructions

Band chocolate (The World’s Finest Chocolate!) is IN! This annual band fundraiser is essential to our highly successful music programs. See below for pick up information:

Our East Helena Music Fundraiser Chocolate has finally arrived! We apologize for the inconvenience but there were issues with delivery, beyond our control.

Our pick-up night will be:

Tuesday-November 1, 2022

4:00-6:00 p.m.

East Helena High School Commons

Remember if you are unable to pick up your chocolate at this time, please contact your child’s music teacher. Also, a guardian must be present for picking up orders for 5th-8th grade students!

We could use some help with packaging orders! If you or your middle/high school child are available, please contact a music teacher in the district!

Thank you for your patience and continued support!

-The East Helena Music Staff

Student Loan Forgiveness Application Link

I have been asked by the US Dept of Education to remind our community about the student loan forgiveness options out there.

A general overview of the Debt Relief Plan can be found here.

DEA Prescription Drug take back at the VA

As we wrap up Red Ribbon Week, we recognize that unused prescription drugs can be an issue in many households. Unused prescriptions run the risk of being misused or abused and can sometimes be an entryway to various forms of ongoing drug abuse. The information below is about an opportunity tomorrow to drop off unused prescriptions for safe disposal. If you have unused medication around the house, please consider participating in this drug take back day.

Montana VA is offering two single-day, drop off locations for Veterans and non-Veterans to drop off unneeded or expired medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

This National Prescription Take Back Day program allows us the opportunity to support the safety and well-being of Veterans and non-Veterans in our communities. Both Billings and Fort Harrison VA locations will have safe and secure drop-off boxes in their pharmacy areas. The event is open to Veterans, the public, and staff. Expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, can be disposed of at either location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The two Montana VA drop off locations are at:

· Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow VA Clinic (1775 Spring Creek Lane, Billings) on Oct. 28 (from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.), and

· Fort Harrison VA Medical Center (3687 Veterans Drive, Fort Harrison) on Oct. 29 (from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.).

What other options exist to dispose of unneeded medication?

· If you are not located in Billings or Fort Harrison, there are other ways to take advantage of this DEA day of action. The DEA also has other prescription drop off sites across Montana. More locations can be found using the DEA Location Search Tool, : Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations - Search Utility (usdoj.gov).

· Veterans, wherever they live, can have their Montana VA providers enter orders for the Veteran to be mailed prescription drug disposal bags. Postage is included, and once prescriptions are mailed out in these bags, they are safely destroyed.

· Enrolled Veterans in Helena and Billings can also bring expired and unused medications to either site for disposal at any time by contacting the local VA Police Service or pharmacy.

(Repeated item) Vaccination Opportunities

November 8 - Flu Shot and COVID Booster clinic at EVMS hosted by BCBS CAREvan and Alberstson’s Pharmacy.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

10.19.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Weekly update - Short edition ( I know I promised to take this week off from the update but…):

Lunch Accounts

As the pandemic wanes and things get back to “normal”, one area that needs to be managed is school lunch charges. The USDA waiver that provided free school lunches for all students for the past 2+ years has expired. Families have to once again pay for meals at school. This becomes an issue when account balances run low and students start charging meals. The district does not have a credit option and relies on meal fees to pay our vendors, staff, and expenses. This past week, letters were sent out to families regarding over limit charges. While the content of the letter could (and will) be improved, the basic situation is that, just like any other restaurant or diner, the bill must be paid for the business to operate. The district has a charge limit of $10 on student accounts.

The National School Lunch Program has guidelines for federal reimbursement for school lunches for families that cannot afford to pay. This is commonly known as the “Free and Reduced Lunch Program.” The allowances have increased since several years ago before the pandemic. We encourage any family having difficulties paying for school lunches to fill out the application found here.

Winter Sports Parent meeting - EHHS

Believe it or not, fall sports are about over for high school students and the winter season is just around the corner. There will be a Parent/Student Winter Sports meeting on 11/15 at 6:00 PM in the EHHS gym. Mark calendars now.

Opportunity to support EHHS Speech and Debate

East Helena Community Members,

We will be hosting a Speech, Debate, and Drama Tournament at EHHS and Prickly Pear on Saturday, November 19th. We are in need of judges and would welcome your support of this event. We rely entirely on volunteers to make this event happen as we have nearly 250 judge slots to fill. Judging events is fairly easy and if there is enough interest we can offer in person training before the tournament. Please view the following information for further details.

There is an online form you can use to sign up to judge Please select the event(s) and time(s) you would like to judge. We would greatly appreciate it if you could get back to us by Friday, November 4th, 2022.

Sign-up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfc-ksbrvWIEUGYAPmx--XcMbbsB9kKAXs-5IRtD-UD5GqVbw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please feel free to forward this onto anyone who you believe would be interested. You can also email Coach Katie Jeno at kjeno@ehps.k12.mt.us should you have any further questions.

Thank you for supporting our school!

Red Ribbon Week - October 24-28

Next week we will celebrate Red Ribbon Week in the East Helena Schools. Red Ribbon week encourages youngsters to “Say NO to Drugs” and live a healthy and happy lifestyle. Click here to learn more about the background and history of Red Ribbon week . In East Helena, the highlight of Red Ribbon Week is the Red Ribbon Parade at 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 26. The Parade route goes from Radley School to EVMS and travels along Main Street. Additionally all students and staff are encouraged to get involved with the Red Ribbon Dress up themes:

^{Red Ribbon Week Themed dress-up days}

Monday- “No Bullying, No Sweat”

Wear Sweats

Tuesday- “Sock it to Drugs”

Crazy Sock Day!!!!

Wednesday-“I'm a JEAN-ious, I'm Drug Free"

Wear Jeans and wear Red

Thursday- “Team up against drugs and bullying”

Wear a team jersey

Friday-“Our school chooses to be drug free”

Wear your school shirt or school colors

(Repeated item) Vaccination Opportunities

There will be three opportunities in the coming weeks to get a flu shot or COVID Booster here in East Helena. The first one is for staff only, but the other two are open to the public:

October 22 - County Health Dept vaccine clinic offering Flu shots, and COVID boosters. Open to all ages. Appointment required.
November 8 - Flu Shot and COVID Booster clinic at EVMS hosted by BCBS CAREvan and Alberstson’s Pharmacy.

LINKS

Printable athletic schedule - You can find printable athletic schedules at this link.
Free/reduced Lunch Form
- To submit an online application do the following:
- 1. Click on the link: Free & Reduced Lunch Online Application

2. Click the RED Get started Button
3. Follow the prompts - you will receive and emailed response after your application has been reviewed

Go Fan - Online ticketing for EHHS Events

Bus Routes

THANKS!

Mr Rispens

10.14.22

Dear EHPS Parents,

Here's your weekly update from your EHPS Superintendent:

No School Next Thursday/Friday

Next week is the famous ”short week in October” in Montana Schools. There will be no “Superintendent Update.” The purpose of the 3 day week is to allow for teachers and other school staff to attend professional training and conferences. Many teachers who have already satisfied their training requirements (last summer) will be able to take the days off. But many teachers will still be in attendance at the MFPE state teacher conference at Helena High School. Your elected school board members and school administrators will have the opportunity to attend the MCEL Conference (MT Conference for Educational Leadership) in Missoula.

The 3 day week and 4 day weekend serve an important purpose in helping our staff and board members maintain their professional learning and knowledge of current issues facing Montana Education. It also creates some unique opportunities for families to enjoy some time together during one of Montana's most beautiful seasons.

Recently, Montana FIsh Wildlife and Parks, decided to take advantage of these October days off by creating the Youth Deer hunt season which allows youngsters age 10-15 to get a jumpstart on the season. Details about the youth hunt can be found here.

Whatever your plans, we hope you are able to enjoy some family time next week!!

Red Ribbon Week

When we return to school following the 4 day weekend, we will celebrate Red Ribbon Week in the East Helena Schools. Red Ribbon week encourages youngsters to “Say NO to Drugs” and live a healthy and happy lifestyle. Click here to learn more about the background and history of Red Ribbon week . In East Helena, the highlight of Red Ribbon Week is the Red Ribbon Parade at 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 26. The Parade route goes from Radley School to EVMS and travels along Main Street. Additionally all students and staff are encouraged to get involved with the Red Ribbon Dress up themes:

^{Red Ribbon Week Themed dress-up days}

Monday- “No Bullying, No Sweat”

Wear Sweats

Tuesday- “Sock it to Drugs”

Crazy Sock Day!!!!

Wednesday-“I'm a JEAN-ious, I'm Drug Free"

Wear Jeans and wear Red

Thursday- “Team up against drugs and bullying”

Wear a team jersey

Friday-“Our school chooses to be drug free”

Wear your school shirt or school colors

A Note of THANKS

Many of you noted in last week’s update that my dear mother passed away recently and her funeral was Monday. I want to say “THANKS” for the notes of support and care. My mom was 83 years old and had lived in 3 countries and been an immigrant in 2 during her life. She became a US Citizen in 1970. She lived through WW II and the German occupation of Holland as a young girl. She was quite a character!

In the past 18 months my family has lost both our dad and mom. It has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least, and now my own children do not have living grandparents, and at 53 years old, I am an orphan!

As tough as the loss has been, I would have to say that I am eternally grateful to have grown up in a family of love and care…as well as rules and expectations! As a veteran educator, I am keenly aware that not all children have this advantage, and I have never taken it for granted.

Thanks again for all your support and for being great parents to your own children. It really makes all the difference in the world.

Middle School Athletics

7th and 8th grade boys basketball tryouts will take place next Monday Oct. 17th at EVMS. Tryouts will be from 3:30 to 5:00 and will most likely last two days. Season information including a schedule, coaches information, rules and expectations, and concussion protocol will be distributed during tryouts. Please contact Athletic Director Kevin Van Nice with any questions . 406-227-7745.

(Repeated item) Vaccination Opportunities

There will be three opportunities in the coming weeks to get a flu shot or COVID Booster here in East Helena. The first one is for staff only, but the other two are open to the public:

October 17 - Staff only flu shot clinic at EVMS hosted by St. Peter’s Health
October 22 - County Health Dept vaccine clinic offering Flu shots, COVID shots, and COVID boosters. Open to all ages. Appointment required. The appointment portal is not open yet.
November 8 - FLu Shot and COVID Booster clinic at EVMS hosted by BCBS CAREvan and Alberstson’s Pharmacy.

I’ll share more details as they become available.

LINKS