Open house highlights kids
Nick Ianniello/Mineral Independent Steve Carty looks over his son Aaron’s spelling test at an open house at the St. Regis School Wednesday. Parents visited with teachers and other community members.
Members of the St. Regis community got together with school officials, teachers and students for a chili-feed/potluck supper and school open house Wednesday evening to get to know different members of the community and explore the exciting things the students of St. Regis school are doing.
The entire event was organized by volunteers within the St. Regis school and the St. Regis Community Council. The St. Regis Community Council supplied chili and rolls for the dinner and the St. Regis school provided beverages.
Those who attended the 6:30 p.m. dinner were asked to bring a dish to share with the community.
After the dinner parents and community members were allowed to tour the school and visit with teachers to learn about what their children are up to in class.
Parents could see tests and school work from their children, along with different projects that each class has been working on.
Linda McLinden’s first grade class showed their parents stories that they wrote themselves in class. McLinden said that the process allowed the students to express what they like to do in writing while also working on grammar and spelling skills.
“There’s a lot of energy in the room but they’re all very creative,” McLinden said.
McLinden’s class also showed their parents their project to help understand elections in which they elected a fictitious mayor of their classroom to learn about the process and why people vote.
Those at the open house could also take part in a book sale, where they could pick up books for as cheap as 50 cents.
Librarian Jim Warnken said that the school board gave the library $10,000 to buy new up-to-date books for the library so they are trying to thin out some of their more dated stock. He added that they plan to have another book sale later this year.
Community organization also set up booths throughout the school for parents and community members to check out.
The Mineral County Health Department had a booth to teach parents about the school’s new healthy eating program.
Sue Hazlett, the school nurse, said that two years ago Montana mandated that schools come up with a wellness policy that encourages healthy eating and exercise.
The booth had surveys to ask parents how they feel the school’s program is working and what they would like to see.
Hazlett said that the program has been fairly effective and has included a healthier lunch schedule and removal of all soft drinks from vending machines in the school.
”I’ve noticed a real change in the lunch programs,” Hazlett said.
She added that the school’s gym teacher, Cindy Feasel, has worked hard to come up with exercise activities that get all of the students involved.
“She’s wonderful as far as getting kids physically active goes,” Hazlett said.
The school has also employed the help of the CATCH Program out of the St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. The CATCH Program helps teach kids about healthy eating.
“The state mandated this program but the school has really jumped on board,” Hazlett said.
At the end of the evening the teachers played parents and other community members in a three-game match of volleyball.
The teachers won their first game but mistakenly benched Feasel, the school’s volleyball coach and the teachers' secret weapon, and lost the second. Not to be bested, the teachers brought Feasel back in for the third game and won the match.
Both teams got a hardy round of applause for a game well played and an evening well spent.