Lewis & Clark Lynx Newsletter
March 2024
Please be sure to read all the way to the end to be in the know about all that's going on at
Lewis & Clark and community opportunities!
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration opens March 4th!
Who: Students who will turn 5 years old on or before 9/10/24.
What: Things you will need to gather in preparation for registration: Child’s Birth Certificate, Completed Immunization Record, Two Forms of Proof of Address (utility bill, phone bill, lease agreement)
Kindergarten Registration is a lengthy process involving quite a bit of paperwork. We know people are busy, and it is hard to spare time to fill out the paperwork here at school. In order to save you time, the forms will be available online. You are welcome to bring in your completed forms with your other documents or fill them out here at the school.
Please visit www.mcpsmt.org for updated registration dates and details. Please Note: Kindergarten Registration is NOT complete until all of the paperwork and documents are turned in and reviewed by your school secretary!
Super Bowl Food Drive 2024!
Hello Lewis and Clark Families as you know the 4th grade service club ran a food drive competition between Chief Charlo and Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark collected more food than ever before. The chiefs won with 818 items and the 49ers were close behind with 691 items. Our school community collected 1,892 pounds of food!! Chief Charlo collected 2,103 pounds of food and sadly Ms. Vaneps, Ms. Angie and Ms. Shannon will get a pie to the face. Congratulations Chief Charlo and thank you Lewis and Clark for your donations. The Missoula Food Bank received 3,995 pound in total. Wow! What an amazing school competition.
We will get 'em next year!!!
Cora, Eila, and Hazel
4th grade service club reporters
Below is our amazing Lynx Service Club team that helped make the Food Drive happen!
March Calendar at a Glance
March 4 - Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year begins
March 4-14 - Feb/March Lost and Found Items Displayed during Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 7 - PTA Mtg - 7:00 in the L&C Library
March 8th - Rattlesnake Elementary has invited the Lewis & Clark community to a kid rock concert. The band is Cowboy Andy and the Salamanders. Tickets are $10.00. The concert will be in the Rattlesnake Elementary gym, March 8th - 6-7:30pm.
March 11-14 - Parent Teacher Conferences
March 13 - PTA hosted Taco Bar for L&C Teachers and Staff. See more details below and sign up to help!
March 14 - Half Day of School
March 15-23 - Spring Break
March 24 - School Resumes
4th Grade Read-a-Thon Underway!
Our 4th grade classes are reading for dollars! The Read-a-Thon ends on March 8th. Keep up the great reading!
Listen to the 4th grade teachers explain where all of those hard earned dollars will go.
Fourth-Grade Read-a-Thon infomation video
I LOVE Reading!
The pink reading logs count toward two different reading contests. For 10 hours of reading students will earn a pass to Silverwood Park in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Students can also win tickets and prizes from the Missoula Paddleheads baseball team. Based on last year’s structure they move up an inning for every two hours they read with a maximum of 10 hours.
Student reading logs are due back to Mr. Nordtome by Friday, March 29. No late reading logs will be accepted, and prizes will be delivered in earlyJune. Have fun and keep reading. Mr. Nordtome
Lynx Family Reading Night Fun
A great time was had by all at the L&C Family Reading Night. With much thanks to our PTA, free dinner was served to families before the program began and Monte arrived! Grownups discussed ways to get families reading more at home and kids worked on reading activities in the gym with volunteers from UM, UM athletic teams, Sentinel High's Key Club and National Honor Society. Finally, Missoula author and former MCPS Board member, Jennifer Newbold, read aloud her book, "The Great Monte Mystery" before Monte tossed out Lynx water bottles and drew the winning raffle tickets.
Many thanks to ALL of the people who made Family Reading Night a success: Chrissy Pucko, Monte, UM student athlete volunteers, Sentinel High School student volunteers, Ms.Vaneps, Jenna Briggs, Lauryn Windham, Kylie Barnes (our very own Monte wrangler and kid game announcer!), Amanda Braun, and Jane McAllister.
Monte helps create a reader's BINGO card!
Decorating bookmarks!
Collaborative writing about Monte's Adventures!
New Reader Board! Check it out on the playground!
Thanks to the generosity of Lewis and Clark families, our hard-working PTA and Ms. Vaneps, we have a new reader board installed on the playground side of the building. The District is still working on electricity and location. Check it out and be in the know about L&C Lynx activites and events!
From the Principal's Office
Lewis & Clark Families,
We will be kicking off March with our Food Drive Celebration with Miss Angie, Miss Shannon and I getting pied in the face! This annual event has become an exciting time for the kids to demonstrate teamwork, school pride, and support for our community with this fun competition! And, they are equally excited for the pie-ing fun too! Be sure to watch for pictures! Thank you again for your support and donations!
Join us in a few weeks for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Teachers and students are busy preparing to share what they have been working on and projects are being completed, while looking ahead to what the last few months of school will bring. As we have completed our Kindness Challenge in February the halls are full of beautiful art, kindness projects, and posters students have created for the school. It will be wonderful to see you before we head off to spring break.
Have a fabulous March!
Alanna
Counselor's Corner: A Note from Ms. Myers
March is International Women’s History Month
Research has shown that girls as young as 5 begin to internalize gender stereotypes, believing that girls should be “pretty” and that “smart” is a word that describes boys.
Empower young girls by using different adjectives to describe them.
Brave Respectful Resilient
Curious Determined
Funny Artistic
Unique Athletic
Kind Generous Kind
Loyal Insightful
Confident Capable
Imaginative Spirited Honest
Reminder about Phones, Watches & Toys
Please be mindful when sending phones or watch phones with your child to school. Students are asked to keep them in their backpacks during the school day. Also, please do not send toys from home unless invited for a class celebration. Toys are likely to get lost and often create distraction. Thanks for your help and understanding!
Attendance Matters!
If your child will be absent due to illness or travel, please call the L&C Attendance Line to excuse them. 406-728-2400 ext. 4362
The LC Lynx PTA Pages
The Parent-Teacher Association of Lewis & Clark Elementary School strives to build an enriching school culture and a welcoming environment
for all children, parents, and staff.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 13th! The PTA is hosting a dinner for our amazing Lewis & Clark teachers and staff during the week of conferences. We would love your help with bringing in items for a taco bar! Sign-up is HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45ACA92FA2F9C70-staff1
Please join us at our next PTA meeting: Thursday, March 7th at 7:00pm in the Lewis & Clark Library. We have invited the student council to the meeting and are excited to hear what ideas and needs our students have. Additionally, we will discuss some of the changes coming from the district and take a look at next year's calendar.
Thank you!
The Lewis & Clark PTA
PTA Officers 2023-2024 School Year
Contact the PTA at: lclynxpta@gmail.com
President– Keri McHugh
Co-Treasurers—Kyle Bocinsky & Staci Nugent
Secretary—Corey Harrison
Teacher Liaison—Jordan Garland, 5th Gr teacher jgarland@mcpsmt.org
Teacher Liaison—Sharon Jones, 4th Gr teacher sgjones@mcpsmt.org
Family Resource Center Thanks and Needs
Thank you to the following donors for their support of L&C, PTA and the FRC
Taylor and Milbradt Family - School Supplies
FRC Needed Items
Healthy Snacks - High Protein Items preferred.
Boy's Pants - Size 5 and 6 (Joggers or Athletic Pants preferred) - urgently needed!
Girl's Joggers/Leggings - Size 10-12/12-14/14-16 (No jeans, please.)
Returning Items!
If your child has borrowed items from the FRC, please wash and return them as soon as possible. This allows us to have clothes on hand when others need to borrow, too. Thank you!
Tracey Cravy and Lisa Hayhurst
406-728-2400 X4355 or frclewis@mcpsmt.org
Family Resource Center Hours: M-F - 8:15-3:15
Make Sure Your Child is Prepared for the Weather!
When coming to school, please remind your child(ren) to dress for the cold, wet weather. Students will be going outside to play each day they are at school, unless it is below zero or a complete downpour. Students should wear a warm coat, mittens, a hat, and rain/snow boots.
If you need help providing your child(ren) with warm outerwear, please contact the Family Resource Center for assistance at: 728-2400x4355 or frclewis@mcpsmt.org
Lost & Found!
Our Lost and Found boxes are purged monthly.
February/March Lost and Foundwill be displayed during Parent/Teacher Conferences -
March 4th-March 14th.
Unclaimed items will be donated or added to the FRC collection.
PLEASE LABEL CLOTHING, LUNCHBOXES & WATER BOTTLES.
Items with legible first and last names are delivered to students.
Here are a couple pictures of current Lost and Found items.
Anything look familiar?
Community Events and Resources
52nd YMCA Riverbank Run - Help L&C win the Grade School Challenge!
Attention Lewis & Clark students and families! The 52nd Annual YMCA Riverbank Run is coming up April 27th! Help Lewis & Clark defend our Grade School Challenge trophy by training for and running in the Riverbank Run! The school with the most runners gets a trophy and other fun prizes! All Grade School Challenge participants get a t-shirt and prizes as well!
Look for Riverbank Run information to come home after spring break. Registration is only $15 for grade school students (under 12). Race scholarships are available. Cntact the FRC (406-327-6949) or front desk for info.
Race shirts and prizes will be delivered to school a week before the big day--April 27th. Kids participate in a real chip-timed race! See you at the start line!
Volunteer Opportunity: Helping Missoula's Houseless Families in Need
MIC’s Housing Advocate Network (HAN) connects everyday people to walk alongside of households experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in Missoula. Volunteers are trained and supported through partnerships and placed on teams with other volunteers. Volunteers are matched with individuals and families who are screened and agree they could use a companion for friendship, support and guidance while navigating our community’s confusing housing systems. Are you interested in supporting this work? Please contact Zeke Campfield, HAN program director, by calling 406-207-8228 ext 5 or email zeke@micmt.org.
FREE Parenting Classes! - Save the Dates for Important April Classes!
The Lifelong Learning Center is partnering with Families First to provide training in MCPS Elementary and Middle Schools. Call Lifelong Learning Center at 406-549-8765 to register for the FREE CLASSES and FREE ONSITE CHILDCARE or at www.MissoulaClasses.com (Search Parenting and Family Classes)
Helping Kids Manage Stress - April 3rd, 6-8pm - at LEWIS AND CLARK (room location to come)
Young children experience stress too! Whether it's your eleven-year-old throwing their pencil across the room at homework time when they can't solve a problem, or your fourteen-year-old staying up late worrying about friendships, stress and how to deal with it can become a daily challenge if you don't create plans and strategies for dealing with it. Join us and other parents to learn more techniques to help your child manage stress. Child care is available- please register in advance to secure your spot.
Social Media and Your Family -April 9th, 6-8PM - CS Porter Middle School Library
In the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of technology, it's increasingly hard to keep up. While information and connection at our fingertips have advantages, they can also prove to be a risky environment for our children. In this class, we will explore the ways that parents can stay informed and keep their family safe IRL. Child care is available, but please pre-register prior to the start date.
Kindness, Compassion and Self Esteem - April 16th, 6-8pm -Chief Charlo Elementary Library
Children who have a healthy self-esteem and who feel accepted and appreciated, tend to approach life with optimism and confidence. This class will answer questions such as: What is self-esteem? How do children "get" it? How do parents "give" it? Participants will leave class with strategies to engage with their children in a manner that fosters self-esteem, kindness, and compassion.
YMCA offers School's Out Day Camp
Grades K–6
It’s a day of camp in the middle of the school year! School’s Out Day Camp is a fun-packed day full of activities on no-school days. Registration required.
A typical camp schedule could include structured group games, an arts and crafts project, outdoor time, activities, a field trip into the community, swimming at the YMCA pool, and an afternoon snack.
At a Glance:
- Registration required
- Care offered
- 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.* on full-day school holidays
- school release—6:00 p.m.* on half-day school holidays
- Breakfast, lunch, and snack included
- Discounts are available for active Y members
*Registration for YMCA Summer Camps opens March 1, 2024