The HOWL
Chief Charlo Elementary School News - 1st May Edition
New ZERO WASTE Program at Chief Charlo
Chief Charlo's Zero Waste cafeteria program has officially launched. In the picture below, custodian, Nick Holzworth, helps students learn how the Zero Waste Program helps the school reduce food waste, improve recycling, and implement composting.
MCPS is seeking community volunteers to help out as 'Zero Waste Cafeteria Coaches'. These volunteers help K-5 students navigate the cafeteria sorting system during lunchtime hours, Monday thru Friday. Visit the MCPS volunteer portal to learn more about this opportunity.
FRONT OFFICE NOTES
3rd, 4th and 5th grade students continue Smarter Balance Testing this week. Testing ends May 13.
Please make sure your student(s) get plenty of rest and is at school on time these days.
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** If your student will be taking part in a Field Trip during these last few weeks of school, please make sure they are wearing appropriate clothing and shoes. Also, remember to either pack them a sack lunch or let their teacher know the week prior that they will be needing a sack lunch from the cafeteria.
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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION is currently happening. Visit the front office for a registration packet or register online at: www.mcpsmt.org/studentregistration
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WE NEED YOUR HELP - Thursday, May 5th, one of our school carts was removed from the school's front lawn. It held EmPower Pack food bags for students to take for free. It had a pink sign on it that said 'Please take one ... FREE'. We think it was an honest mistake in that the bags were all taken and someone must have thought the cart was free. If you have any information about the cart's whereabouts, please let us know and if you were the person that pushed it home, please return it to the front office, no questions asked. Thank you!!
Chief Charlo May At-A-Glance
SCHOOL CALENDAR
May 9 - Chief Charlo Garden Committee Meeting (Interested volunteers meet in the school garden at 3:30pm. Will discuss installing irrigation and summer garden programs.)
May 12 - Early Out - ALL students dismissed at 2:30pm
May 19 - Early Out - ALL students dismissed at 2:30pm
May 26 - Early Out - ALL students dismissed at 2:30pm
May 27 - 5th Grade Wax Museum - located in the gym
May 30 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
PTO CALENDAR
May 9 - Papa Murphy's Dine-Out Fundraiser Night
May 11 - Virtual PTO Meeting. 6:00-7:00pm. Join us with the following Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6031397958?pwd=cTR6TEw0MTE2Z2lRTWxrOXdvY2RSUT09
LOOKING AHEAD
June 3 - Annual Field Day - ALL students will participate (Watch for volunteer needs to come)
School Lunch Menu
Lost and Found
Just in the LAST TWO WEEKS, Lost and Found has morphed into a ridiculously LARGE pile. Hoodies, zip up sweatshirts and light jackets are constantly being left on both playgrounds after recesses and end of school day. Many students don't even realize they left their items outside. PLEASE come take a look through the pile or encourage your student(s) to do so. Who knows? They just might find 1 or 2 items they own. Any items left at the end of May WILL be donated.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
PTO will be appreciating Chief Charlo Staff May 16-20
The Chief Charlo PTO is in need of your help. If you are interested in helping donate your time, food, a gift item or all of the above during the PTO Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, please sign up here. Several needs are still open.
After two years, the Chief Charlo School Store has reopened, but we NEED your help to run it. The PTO is looking for volunteers to run the store from 2:30-2:45pm on the below dates.
If you have some time to help out, please sign up at the following Sign Up Genius link:
Garden Committee
To learn more about Garden City Harvest Farm to School programming, visit gardencityharvest.org/farm-to-school or contact Erin Austin, School Garden Manager, at erin@gardencityharvest.org or (406) 285-1109.
Farm to School activities are in full swing! Read more for Garden City Harvest program updates and ways to get involved in Chief Charlo's School Garden:
Garden Work Day Success!
Over 30 adult and kid volunteers helped install new garden beds in Chief Charlo's garden on Saturday April 23rd in celebration of Earth Day! New garden beds also include two ADA accessible beds. Thank you to everyone for your help!
School Garden Lessons
Garden City Harvest Farmer-Educators teach two sets of lessons in Chief Charlo's School Garden each spring and fall. In the spring, Kindergarteners and 3rd graders visit the garden for composting and planting lessons. In the spring, we also offer a 30-minute planting activity for other grade levels. Ask your student if they visited the garden!
Summer Garden Programs
Enjoy the bounty of the garden during the summer!
- Open Garden Hours: Every Wednesday from June 22nd to August 17th, Farmer Erin will be in Chief Charlo's garden from 9am-12pm with a fun activity. Free and open to all. Come join!
- Summer Garden Volunteers: We ask families to help take care of the garden over the summer by volunteering for a week at a time to weed, water, welcome visitors into the space, and harvest ripe fruits & veggies. Sign up here!
Families in Transition (FIT) Program
The Families in Transition (FIT) Program is here to assist Chief Charlo students and families experiencing housing instability (McKinney-Vento Act) and/or economic hardship. FIT works as a bridge between those families, our school and the district staff to empower students to stay in school and remain successful both in school and as lifelong learners. FIT also provides families access to community resources and services.
FIT is here to support your family, because we care about all of our Wolves - BIG and small!!
Coryll Rupert (FIT Coordinator)
728-2400, X4983
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Monthly FREE and Low Cost Activities around Missoula for families can be found here.
Check out 5-2-1-0 Let's Move! Missoula
Missoula County Public School Information
Locate your individual school's Native American Specialist and learn about resources available to your child.
CHIEF CHARLO PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)
Current Board Members:
Heather Bomb, President: chiefcharlopto@gmail.com
April Miller, Vice Presidents: chiefcharloptovp@gmail.com
Amy Mill, Treasurer: chiefcharlotreasurer@gmail.com
Elyse Johnson, Secretary: chiefcharloptosec@gmail.com
Meeting Schedule: We meet virtually the SECOND WEDNESDAY of each month. Meetings start at 6:00pm.
Interested in becoming a member? Everyone is welcome! Membership is free due to our amazing sponsors. The Chief Charlo PTO encourages families to join, stay informed, and help out in any way you can. It's never too late to join and be part of the FUN!!
Check us out at http://facebook.com/chiefcharlopto