CHS home sports events to be televised online We are approaching the end of another year and looking to transition into the New Year at the end of the month. Our winter activities have started and competitions in the gym will be underway soon. We also have speech and drama going on during the winter and we have a

ChuCk Gameon

Superintendent

talented squad that is doing very well thus far. Our only home speech and drama meet this year will be the divisional meet in January. Our district is taking a step to share the activities of Choteau High School by televising girls and boys basketball games this winter, as well as the Choteau Classic Wrestling Tournament in January. The activities will be

Brawl of the Wild CHS photo

Judges needed for divisional speech, drama

televised through the National Federation of High Schools’ (NFHS) website http://www.nfhsnetwork.com. There is a cost associated with viewing the activities through NFHS. A portion of all fees associated with this service will come back to our school for student activi-ties. The Choteau Booster Club has always been a wonderful organization to support student

Programs setfor Dec. 12and Dec. 20

NEWSLETTERCHOTEAUPUBLICSCHOOLS Vol. 17, No. 4 December 2017

Choteau Schools will provide a safe, optimal learning environment, offering all students a well-rounded education.

Website: www.choteauschools.net

activities and its donation of funding to purchase the camera is greatly appreciated! We love it when our gym is full of Bulldog supporters and want to encourage all of the fans to continue to attend when we have home and away activities. If you have family, friends, or know any alumni of Choteau, please pass on the information so they have the opportunity to enjoy Bulldog action. Our plan is to also televise football and volleyball next fall and a track meet this spring. We are hopeful the camera will arrive and be installed prior to our first home basketball con-test on Dec. 11. Please contact the high school office at 466-5303 if you have any questions about how to access the televised activities on NFHS.

Parents, family members and community members are invited to attend the Choteau Public Schools Christmas programs this month. Junior high and high school band and choir director Lorran Depner will present the grades 7-12 Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Admission will be by donation of non-perishable food items or monetary donations to the Teton County Food Pantry. “Thank you for supporting our community,” Mrs. Depner said. On Wednesday, Dec. 20, Mrs. Depner and elementary music teacher Jeanette McCormick will present the K-6 Christmas concert and program, starting at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Choteau High School is hon-ored to be hosting the Northern B/C Divisional Speech and Drama tournament on Saturday, Jan. 20, but the school needs lots of help from the community to staff the large event. CHS speech and drama coaches Cody Marney and Lisette Langdorf will start contacting volunteers to sign

up as judges the first week of December, seeking to recruit 65 to 70 judges needed for the tournament. The one-day divisional meet consists of four preliminary rounds with one judge per room and a final round with three judges per room. No experience is necessary as Coach Marney and Coach Lang-

dorf will offer multiple trainings throughout January in prepara-tion for the tournament. “Come enjoy a day of competitive public speaking! You can judge all day or pick and choose your times,” Marney said. Anyone interested in volun-teering should contact the CHS office and leave a name and contact information.

Choteau High School FCCLA students, from left, Emma Jamison, Elsah Bechtold and Anna Stutz, pose with 696.1 pounds of food donated during the “Brawl of the Wild” competition between Montana State University Bobcat fans, who donated 374.4 pounds of food stuffs and University of Montana Grizzly fans, who donated 321.7 pounds. All of the donated food was given to the Teton County Food Pantry.

PAGE 2 CPS NEWSLETTER

Thank you for warm welcome, ChoteauGreetings Choteau Community! Here we are, moving quickly into the holiday season where family, friends from afar and tra-dition meet. I count my blessings daily, so h a p p y to have been ac-c e p t e d and wel-c o m e d into this amazing commu-nity of Choteau, M o n -tana. As the year 2017 comes to a close, we all reflect on the past year and recall moments where our

days, our very life was made richer because of the people who surround us. I do wish to thank each of you who have been a part of my days since I moved here in July. I treasure my new little town, my home, and the families who reside here. Again, thank you to each of you. I am indeed fortunate to reside here among you. This month will bring some celebrations to us as well, as we invite you to come to the school to see some amazing musical programs. We have our grades 7-12 concert on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m., the elementary concert on Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m., and we also invite you attend a wonderful, piano concert on Dec. 14. Cel-ebrated Montana pianist Philip Aaberg will be here in Choteau to perform two programs, spon-sored by the Opportunities For All Scholarship nonprofit organization. He is offering our students a one-hour concert at

2 p.m. in the auditorium. Then at 7 p.m. he will perform his piano Christmas concert for the community. Admission will be by free-will donation and all are welcome to attend this fundraiser for the OFAS fund. Coffee, punch and cookies will be served during intermission in the high school lobby. Philip has balanced classical, blues and rock interests since earning a degree at Harvard, performing often in the chamber jazz genre. A talented performer, he also released several albums on the Windham Hill label including his new age piano classic, High Plains. I highly recommend you pencil in the Dec. 14 for an evening of music. In the realm of sports and activities, our next sports season is underway with wrestling and basketball in full swing. We are proud to host our annual Choteau Classic wrestling tournament, a jewel in the Choteau High crown

Wendi hammond

7-12 principal

as so many teams from around the region come to compete. This tournament is Jan. 12 and 13, 2018. Our Speech and Drama teams continue in their season as well, shining at each meet they encounter. We are looking forward to hosting the Speech and Drama Divisional meet here at CHS on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. To stay up-to-date on what is happening, be sure to “like” our Choteau Jr. High/High School Facebook page. Here we post our events and news of what our amazing students are doing in their activities and academic feats. I wish you health and hap-piness as our 2017 comes to a close. Our next challenge is 2018, and I am certain that each of our students, our community members and myself will move forward boldly, taking on each challenge with grit and with a smile. There is nothing that life can bring into our path that is too big for our people, young and old alike, which our tenacity cannot take on and prevail. We are Choteau, we are strong. Go, Bulldogs!

CPSNewsletter

Published by Choteau Pub-lic Schools, a public school system, governed by an elected Board of Trustees and an administrative team.

Mission statement of Cho-teau Public Schools: To pro-vide a safe, optimal learning environment, offering all students a well-rounded education.

Elementary School Office: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 406-466-5364.

High School Office: Mon-day-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 406-466-5303.

Mailing address: 204 7th Ave. NW, Choteau, MT 59422.

MRS. HAMMOND

Please join the Booster Club every second Monday at 7 p.m. for a short meeting in the Choteau Elementary School staff workroom. Your input is impor-tant. All are welcome and more members are needed. There will not be a meeting in December, but the club will meet on Jan. 8. Hope to see you there.

Booster Clubto meeton Jan. 8

Group is planning 2019 trip to Germany, Italy and Switzerland A European trip to Germany, Italy and Switzerland is being planned for the summer of 2019. This is a great opportunity for students and adults to not only travel the world but also to expand their global competence. All Student Travel Group members — plus any new mem-bers — are asked to attend a meeting to discuss fundraising on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in the high school office meeting room. If you would like to find out the details of the trip and ask any questions that you might have, please call Michaela Zwerneman at 466-5303 or 899-4596.

CPS NEWSLETTER PAGE 3

Christmas program Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in CHS auditorium

ChuCk Gameon

K-6 principal

MR. GAMEON

REMINDERState law prohibits the use of all forms

of tobacco on school property.Role modeling healthy

behavior helps our students be tobacco free.

■ Social skillfor December Our social skill for December remains “How to give/accept a compliment” and the kinder-gartners through second graders are working on expressing their feelings appropriately. We are working on these important skills for a two-month period. Just to review, here are the steps for how to give/accept a compliment: Look at the person. Smile. Use a pleasant voice tone. When giving a compliment, make a positive praise statement. When accepting a compliment, say “Thank you.” We are always looking for sponsors for the social skill celebration. If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact the elementary office at 466-5364.

■ Support track by buying sign The holiday season is upon us and I am sure you are looking for gifts for family and friends. You can give a gift that will last for a year when you purchase a track sign to support the upkeep on the all-weather track. Please contact the high school office for more information or with any questions.

The Elementary Christmas Program will be Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 1:30 p.m. We hope you will come and enjoy the pro-gram and join your child for a t o u r of their c l a s s -r o o m s i m m e -d i a t e l y f o l l o w -ing the C h r i s t -mas Pro-gram. DVDs of the performance will be available for free at the elementary office after the break. Please remember that school will be dismissed at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21.

■ Thank you forsupporting sale I would like to thank all of our community members for their participation in the elementary’s Elliotts of Montana fundraiser. The cookie dough has been dis-tributed to the students so they should have made their deliveries to anyone who purchased cookie dough by now. If you are still waiting for your cookie dough, please contact the elementary office at 466-5364.

School’s not just for kidsAdult education classes Choteau Public Schools is offering a series of adult edu-cation classes, this school year running through March. There is no tuition charge, but some of the classes require specific books and/or supplies that the participants must bring for the class. Some of the classes are only offered for a limited number of participants, so sign up will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are asked to register for the classes by calling the Choteau High School office at 466-5303 at least a month in advance so the instructors can have the appropriate amount of supplies available. Classes coming up are: •Everyday Financial Sense: Building Confidence in Day to Day Money Matters: Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. at CHS. Instructor: Jen Asselstine. Description: This four-week series will provide common-sense education that will equip attendees with the skills needed to bring confidence in daily money matters. Topics will in-clude identifying your financial personality, building a workable spending plan, purchasing with cash, eliminating debt, building an emergency fund and under-standing insurance basics. •Guitar Class for Adults: Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. at CHS. Instructor: Laura Halverson. Description: This nine-week course will teach beginning guitar skills using Mel Bay’s Guitar Method Grade 1 book, which will be provided for participants. Participants need to bring their own guitar. The course will cover the following areas: Jan. 9 — How instrument works, tuning, 1st and 2nd string

studies. Jan. 16 — 3rd and 4th string studies, 4-string chords D and F. Jan. 23 — 5th and 6th string studies, 5-string chords C and A. Jan. 30 — 6-string chords E and G. Feb. 6 — chords and songs in Key of C. Feb. 13 — chords and songs in Key of A minor.

Feb. 20 — chords and songs in Key of G. Feb. 27 — chords and songs in E minor. March 6 — moveable chords and how to use a Capo to change keys. •Everyday Useful

Phrases and Culture for Trav-eling in Spanish-Speaking Countries: Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the CHS Spanish Room. Instructor: Jeanette McCor-mick. Description: ¡HOLA! In this course participants will learn basic conversational Spanish and learn about the culture of different Spanish-speaking countries. No prior Spanish knowledge is necessary. Topics to be covered include: introduc-tions, greetings and farewells, alphabet, numbers, time, cal-endar, simple dialogues, use of verbs and more! In this class you will also use conversational Spanish specifically for travel-related situations. In addition, you will become acquainted with the history and culture of several Spanish-speaking countries. Participant requirements: Notebook and pen. Coming up in April and May, Amanda Walker will teach an eight-week program on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the “Circle of Security Parenting Program,” designed to help parents improve com-munication with their children.

PAGE 4 CPS NEWSLETTER

Need ideas for service learning hours? Check out the bulletin board at the CHS office.

Shelly JohnSon

K-12 counSelor

Seniors: apply now for these scholarships

The following opportunities and scholarships are available to current juniors and seniors: •University of Montana Resident Scholarship. All new incoming UM students will be automatically considered for scholarships. The application for admission to the Univer-sity of Montana will also be the student’s application for a UM General Scholarship. Awarding began Nov. 15. As resources are limited, scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-awarded basis. Apply at http://admissions.umt.edu/scholar-ships/montana-resident.php. •Montana State University Premier Scholarships. Hun-dreds of scholarships will be available to new freshmen from Montana. Students attending MSU should complete the ap-plication for admission, make certain their ACT scores are sent to MSU and visit https://www.montana.edu/admissions/pre-mierscholarship/ to complete the Premier Scholarship application. The priority deadline is Feb. 1, 2018, but the sooner this is sub-mitted the better. Students set on attending MSU may also want to access http://www.montana.edu/admissions/orientation/ which spells out additional informa-tion that is extremely helpful to incoming MSU freshmen. •Dec. 15 — Ag Committee Scholarship. The Ag Committee of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce awards four $1,000 scholarships to students in Great Falls and the Golden Triangle counties seeking a career in the agriculture industry. Two scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors planning to attend college full time in the 2018-19 academic year. Two scholarships will be awarded to students attending technical or two-year schools. Applications are on file in counseling office. •Dec. 15 — AXA Achieve-ment Scholarship. Are you

active in your community? Have you led a project that benefits others? Have you overcome personal challenges? If so, you should apply for the $2,500 AXA Achievement Scholarship. There will be 375 scholarships given nationwide. For more informa-tion, visit https://www.scholar-sapply.org/axa-achievement/. The first 10,000 applicants will be accepted. •Dec. 18 — The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards. These non-renewable scholarships are created to recognize young people who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initia-tive. The scholarships are valued between $2,000 and $15,000. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur program was established to raise awareness among the na-tion’s youth of the critical role that private enterprise and entre-preneurship play in the building of America. Visit https://www.nfib.com/foundations/yef/ to apply. •Dec. 31 — Free Speech Essay Contest. One $10,000 first prize and one $5,000 second prize and three $1,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded for the best essays. Current high school juniors and seniors are eligible to participate in FIRE’s essay contest. To enter students must submit an essay between 800 and 1,000 words on the provided topic. To enter visit: THEFIRE.ORG/CONTEST. •Jan. 4 — GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship. The

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholar-ship Program annually awards roughly 20 college-bound stu-dents who demonstrate exem-plary leadership, drive, integrity and citizenship with $10,000 renewable scholarships. To ap-ply, fill out online application at https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-pro-grams/ge-reagan-foundation-scholarship-program/. •Jan. 5 — Montana Jaycees Foundation Scholarship. Ap-plications for the $1,000 annual scholarship for Montana seniors are now being accepted. Log in to download the application at http://mtjcisenate.org/pages/forms.html, click on the MT JC Scholarship Application form. Refer questions to Janet Prescott at 406-580-6812. •Jan. 15 — Reach Higher Scholarship. Montana high school senior or graduate attend-ing a Montana college with a 2.5 cumulative grade-point average is eligible to apply for $1,000 scholarship. Apply online at ReachHigherMontana.org after Dec. 1. •Jan. 31 — National Mul-tiple Sclerosis Society. Schol-arships range from $1,000 to $3,000 for students in Montana, Washington and Alaska. Eligibil-ity criteria: must have MS or a parent with MS and plan to attend an accredited post-secondary school for the first time and live in the above-mentioned area. Application must be completed online with a personal statement

of how MS has impacted the applicant’s life. Go to: www.NationalMSSociety.org/scholar-ship. •Jan. 31 — Youth Serve Montana Scholarship. Re-wards students who have volun-teered at least 100 hours in the last year and who want to further their education in state. This year, 100 high school seniors will receive $1,000 scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year. Visit http://serve.mt.gov/youth-servemontana/. •Jan. 31 — Basin Electric Power Scholarship. One $1,000 scholarship system-wide will be offered. Dependent children (in-cluding adopted or step-children) of a member-system consumer and member-cooperative em-ployees are eligible. Recipients are selected on the basis of aca-demic record, potential to suc-ceed, honors, work experience, leadership and participation in school and community activities, a statement of education and career goals and an outside ap-praisal. Applications are on file in the counselor’s office. •Jan. 31 — Montana Elec-tric Cooperatives’ Associa-tion Scholarships. Four $500 scholarships will be awarded to students in the four geographic regions of the state. Applicant or parent must be a member of a Montana electric coopera-tive and their local cooperative must be a member of MECA. Applicants will be judged on grades, test scores, activities, an essay and personal statement and one letter of recommendation. Applications are on file in the counselor’s office.

2018Youth Serve Montana

Scholarship

Apply online at: serve.mt.gov

$1,000 Scholarship • Applications due Jan. 31, 2018

3 To recognize high school senior students for volunteering 3$1,000 scholarship to attend a Montana College or University 3Students with 100 hours of volunteer services within last 12 months 3Scholarships for 2018-19 college academic year

CPS NEWSLETTER PAGE 5

CHS hosted North Central Honor Band, Choir Sixteen Choteau High School students participated in the North Central Honor Band and Choir in Choteau on Nov. 27-28. This event involved about 150 students from 24 area schools. Under the direction of guest con-ductors, the students rehearsed for a day and a half and presented a public concert on Nov. 28. The honor band and choir were fortunate to have two

esteemed guest conductors. The band conductor was Mr. Gary Gillet from Missoula. Mr. Gillet taught for many years in the Missoula area and is highly sought after for these events. He frequently adjudicates district and state festivals and is very in-volved in community ensembles in the Missoula area. The choral conductor was a Choteau native who was very

CHS photosChoteau High School choir was well represented in the North Central Honor Choir, which performed in Choteau on Nov. 28. Singers selected by audition were, from left: (back) Destiny Buckman, Maggie King, Anna Jamison and Cassidy DeBruycker; (front) Tony Daley, Watson Snyder, Dakota Daley and Mason Sellers. Declan Fladstol, not pictured, was also selected.

CHS band members selected by audition to participate in the elite North Central Honor Band, were, from left: (back) Zack Quillan, Ellie Lee and Elsah Bechtold; (front) Amber Johnson, Kate Stott and Hanna Antonsen. Bailey Deshner, not pictured, was also selected.

excited to “come home” and be a part of this event. Mr. Scott Corey is the music supervisor for the Billings Public Schools. Before taking this position, he was the director of choirs at Billings Senior High School. He also directs a barbershop group in the Billings area. Both gentle-men were a treat for the band and choir students to work with.

Choral students selected for this audition-only event were: Destiny Buckman, Dakota Daley, Tony Daley, Cassidy De-Bruycker, Declan Fladstol, Anna Jamison, Maggie King, Mason Sellers and Watson Snyder. Band students were: Hanna Antonsen, Elsah Bechtold, Bailey Deshner, Amber Johnson, Ellie Lee, Zack Quillan and Kate Stott.

Choteau Elementary School students in kindergarten, first and second grades each received a free pumpkin from Torger-son’s, L.L.C. CES and the students thank Torgerson’s, an implement dealer and farm owner, for the company’s generosity.

CES photo

Thank you for the pumpkins!

PAGE 6 CPS NEWSLETTER

Help Sponsor CHS Track

Call Chuck Gameon, 466-5303, to reserve your sign space.

Choteau Public Schools is now selling advertising sponsorships to raise money for future maintenance of the all-weather track on the CHS campus. You can help keep this track in good shape for future students and community members by advertising your business or family on a double-sided sign that will be displayed on the track perimeter fence. The cost of an annual sign contract is $250.

Eleven local community members participated in a four-day Adult Cake Boss class in November as part of the adult education outreach programs Choteau High School is offering this year. Instructor Christina McCollom focused on basic cake-decorating skills. Many skills were learned and many new friendships were made. Participants with their cakes were, from left: (back) Rick Keats, April Hall, Marribeth Foster, Jennie Garramon, Becky Larson, Tammy Mathews and Kami Scott; (front) Barb Bouma, Rachel Christensen, instructor McCollom and Carol Keats.

Cake decorators CES photos

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines offers internship positions in his Wash-ington, D.C., and Montana offices. Most of these internships are available to college-aged students, but Senator Daines and his staff are willing to work with high school students to explore and coor-dinate future opportunities that may be available to them. Contact Choteau High School guidance counselor Shelly Johnson for more information.

Explore internships

Steve DainesUnited States Senator For Montana

CPS NEWSLETTER PAGE 7

BOX HOLDER

NONPROFITUS POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT #14

CHOTEAU, MT59422

CHOTEAU PUBLIC SCHOOLS204 7TH AVE. NWCHOTEAU, MT 59422

•Grades 7-12Christmas concert,Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m.

•Grades K-6Christmas program, Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m.

•Christmas breakDec. 22-Jan. 2

•School resumesJan. 3