Bitterroot Bulletin
February 2024
Greetings Bitterroot families,
Last month we celebrated our 100th day of school. The 26th of this month marks the end of our second trimester. Report cards will be sent home with students on Tuesday, March 5th. Daily, our Bitterroot staff and students are dedicated to learning and growing together.
At the beginning of the year, our superintendent encouraged a school-wide goal for us to raise our reading and math scores by 3% by the end of the school year. I am pleased to share our students have already exceeded this goal! Superintendent Garcia extended his "heartfelt congratulations...on the remarkable progress achieved by your students, as evidenced by the NWEA and FastBridge assessments. Witnessing a substantial increase from 44% to 49% achievement in reading and 47% to 51% in mathematics between fall and winter is a testament to the unwavering dedication of your team...I would like to express my sincere appreciation to your teachers and support staff for their intentional efforts and unwavering dedication in contributing to these positive outcomes."
Thank you for your support ensuring your student has regular attendance at school. You are an essential member of our Bitterroot community and this growth is also a testament to your ongoing support and dedication to your student's success as a life long learner. I am eager to see the growth our students make during the last trimester and our spring testing (SmarterBalance 3-5; NWEA 3-5; and Fastbridge K-2) placement windows before the year concludes.
Please continue to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or comments. For updates and announcements, visit our website bit.ly/bitterrootelementary and the PowerSchool bulletin.
~ Wendy Tyree, Bitterroot Elementary Principal
Crosswalk Guard Needed
We are looking for a crosswalk guard on Bench. 2 hours a day; 7:40 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Before and after school (2 hours/day)
$13.50 for 120 days/$15.00 regular pay
Assist in walking students across the street
Minimum Qualifications
Education: High School diploma or equivalent
Knowledge: Basic practices in effective discipline and safety awareness
Skills: Adherence to schedules
Experience: Success in working with groups of children
Crosswalk Guards (and General Duty Assistants) are hired at the school level so you will want to check with the schools near your home to see if they are in need of a Crosswalk Guard (and/or GDA).
Go to www.billingsschools.org and click on "Departments" and then click on "Employment Opportunities" for either the online application for external applicants or the internal application for internal applicants (currently employed by BPS in a regular or temporary position).
"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: This employer does not knowingly discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin."
Open Until Filled
* Please Note: Positions posted as "Open Until Filled" must be posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days and then can close at any time after that.
PTA News and Events
Follow us on Facebook: Bitterroot Elementary PTA
Want to Join PTA? Scan the QR code or click here to be directed to registration form.
Questions? Contact us at bitterrootptamt@gmail.com
Join us for our next meeting: March 7th at 4:00 PM
Save the Dates for Upcoming PTA Events:
- February 28th - Skate World - See you there!
- March 9th - Parents Night Out - Register by clicking here
Sodexo and My Mealtime
Sodexo delivers healthy and delicious school meals based on the USDA’s nutrition guidelines so that students are engaged and ready to learn in school. All meals include a variety of fresh fruit and vegetable choices, and a variety of chilled non-fat or low-fat milk.
Click on the menu below for a printable February menu or visit the Sodexo website at https://billingsps.sodexomyway.com/landing/elem for additional nutrition information.
Remember to check your student's account balance by visiting https://www.mymealtime.com/.
Click on the menu image for larger/PDF view
Parent Square
The district now has shared a K-12 communication platform: Parent Square. To learn more about the platform, please visit the district website.
At Bitterroot, we will continue using the communication systems we already had in place: Remind (please sign up using the codes 944483 OR 4hc6cc), Facebook, and Seesaw (K-3) and Google Classroom (4-5). Enrollment codes will be provided by classroom teachers later this year.
Our website will be where we archive documents, resources, and share our Bitterroot and Family Calendar. You can find the following resources on the website
- Student/Parent Handbook
- Bitterroot Staff Directory
- PowerSchool for Parents
- MealTime and Lunch Menu
- School Calendar
- Bitterroot Standard
Access to our PowerSchool Portal.
Powerschool is our district wide record keeping system. To access PowerSchool, download the App or visit our website and click on the button for PowerSchool for Parents. Here you will find:- daily bulletin with announcements
- attendance record
- lunch account balance
- shortcuts to frequently used forms
- annual district polices and permissions sign off form
- annual updates to contacts and demographics forms
Counselor's Corner: Trio Talent Search
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” A question that has become synonymous with those First Day of School picture boards. The toothless smile of the kindergartener evolves into the now taller-than-mom middle schooler, seemingly in the blink of an eye. Responses to this question change from the imaginary cape wearing superheroes to the real life superheroes that make up the world around them.
Is it ever too early to think about a career path? Even as an elementary guidance counselor, I like to remind students that this is the perfect time to think about what they want for their future. This is a time to explore their interests and develop their abilities. At this age, the sky truly is the limit.
As parents, we want our children to reach for their dreams, but we must also contemplate the challenges along the way. What education or training would they need beyond their high school years? The financial aspects can be overwhelming for the majority of families. Without the proper support, parents can feel unequipped to direct their student in pursuing a fulfilling career path.
TRIO talent search is a federally funded program designed to help navigate these challenges. Activities include college visits, career awareness activities, tutoring and personal guidance. All services are provided at no cost and can begin as early as the 6th grade. Go to https://www.msubillings.edu/talent-search/ for more information or to fill out an application.
Debra Neese
(406) 281-6989