Bitterroot Bulletin
Sept 2023
We have had a great first few weeks of school! I enjoyed greeting you and your student during our back to school supply drop off and getting to know them over the past few weeks as they get familiar with their classroom routines and our Bitterroot Standard.
We started the year with an all school assembly so students could meet each of our teachers and support staff. They worked through a rotation station to review our school-wide expectations for locations on our campus including the office, hallway, assembly, arrival, breakfast, recess, bathrooms, crosswalks, and the cafeteria. In addition to our required curriculum, we are working to foster a community of respectful learners who believe that we are all capable and worthy of meeting our Bitterroot Standard: safe, kind, respectful, responsible, cooperative, leaders.
I look forward to visiting with parents and guardians at our open house on Tuesday, September 5th from 5:00-6:00.
~ Wendy Tyree, Bitterroot Elementary Principal
New Staff Welcome
Mr. Rogers
Hello, name is Marcus Rogers. I’ve been elementary classroom teacher for 5 years. I’ve been teaching in the Washington D.C. area for the last two years in 4th grade at Randolph Elementary International Baccalaureate School. I’ve taught students from very diverse international backgrounds. I work hard to make my classroom a calm and enjoyable place to learn. I’m moving back to my hometown of Billings, MT which I’ve miss so much! I’m excited to meet everyone at Bitterroot Elementary! I’m looking forward to help my students reach for the stars in 3rd grade!
Ms. DelCostello
Hello there! I am Casey DelCostello the new art teacher here at Bitterroot. I am entering my 15th year of sharing my passion with BPS students. I cannot wait to connect and create with the Bitterroot community.
Ms. Lefthand
Greetings, I am Darrelyn Lefthand. I am a graduate of Rocky Mountain College. Currently, I am a fourth-year elementary school teacher. As a teacher, I truly enjoy what I do and have a great passion for learning. In my free time, I enjoy watching my brother play basketball, watching basketball, spending time with my family, and exploring the outdoors. I'm happy to be a part of the Bitterroot family!
Communication: PowerSchool, Website, Facebook, Remind, Seesaw
- 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
The Importance of Learning Conflict Resolution
We all face conflict on a daily basis, children as well as adults. Children, however, do not always have the resources to handle difficult situations. As they develop, it is our responsibility as adults to teach the necessary skills to solve conflict constructively. Without these skills, a small problem can escalate to a much bigger problem.
Teaching children about setting healthy boundaries not only helps to set the foundation for future relationships but also serves to navigate times of conflict. Boundaries are essential as they set the guidelines for mutual respect. Lacking the ability to assert themselves in conflict situations, children are at risk of normalizing unhealthy relationships. Take for instance the all too common playground conflict of a friend running away from a request to play. What is the appropriate response? Run
after them? Tell the teacher? Choose to play with someone else? Effective conflict resolution requires a focus on self control. It is an error in thinking to believe that we can control another person’s choices.
Given that personalities and circumstances are diverse, there is no one-size-fits all approach to conflict resolution. Developing multiple “tools” becomes necessary to navigate problems constructively. For instance, walking away could serve to de-escalate a conflict with a peer while having an adverse effect with an adult in authority.
What can parents do to help develop their child’s conflict resolution skills?
When your child shares about a conflict with a friend or classmate, resist the parental urge to pick a side. Help your child to reflect on their own choices in relation to the conflict and their preferred outcome. Talk about the different strategies that they could use: talk it out, walk away, tell them to stop, wait and cool off, etc.
Communicating confidence in their ability to acquire these necessary conflict resolution skills is essential to their social and emotional development. If you are concerned that the conflict is ongoing and attempts at resolution have not been successful, contact your child’s teacher or the school counselor for support.
Debra Neese
(406) 281-6989
Books for Kids!
Starting this month all students at Bitterroot Elementary will be going home with a free book every month. We would like to thank The Big J Show Cares, The Education Foundation, Heights Ace Hardware, and all of the community members who helped support our readers!
4th and 5th Grade: PEAK
Bitterroot is offering several fitness and sports opportunities after school via the PEAK program sponsored by Scheels & ST Vincent Foundation. This free program is open to students in 4th and 5th grade and is voluntarily run by Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Martin. Cross Country is our first program and will run from September 7th - October 13th. Practice times will be Thursday mornings before school at 7:15-8:00am and Tuesdays after school at 3:15-4pm. A PEAK permission form will be sent home this week and will serve for all future PEAK sessions during this school year. Information about future sessions will be put out as more details become available.
PTA Updates
The PTA is offering pre-sale Saturday live tickets (a brochure should have come home with your student this week). If you need an extra, pick it up at open house! Forms need to be returned to your students teacher PRIOR to SEPTEMBER 13th.
Save the dates:
9/14 at 4 pm PTA Meeting in the Bitterroot Gym
9/23 from 10 am-4 pm Saturday Live at Pioneer Park
Want to Join PTA?
Scan the QR code or click here to be directed to registration form.
Questions? Contact us at bitterrootptamt@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook: Bitterroot Elementary PTA