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Back to School Message from your President

8/29/2016

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Thank You Teachers from CMR Video Productions on Vimeo.

Good Morning fellow educators, welcome to the 2016-17 school year.
I am Shelli Lavinder Schwalk, president of the Great Falls Education Association - local 7583 – your union.  I am both honored and humbled to have been elected to represent you. 
I remember sitting in the audience during the Great Falls Public Schools opening convocation in 1995, only days after being hired.  I remember feeling as though I had won the golden ticket. Today, at the start of my 22nd year in this district I feel the same; this district is the best of the best!
The focus, mission, and strategic plan that made this district the best in 1995 might look a little different today; but the core of what makes this district the best is the same.
Look around you -  you are surrounded by the best of the best.  The teams created as you build relationships with those around you, are what makes Great Falls Public Schools – Great.
Your teams have some important work to do this year.  What you do each and every day in your classrooms, buildings and in our community matters in a profound way.  Humanity is counting on our young people to make this world a better place, and you have been entrusted with the responsibility and honor of making sure our students are prepared to make that happen.
The content you teach is not just math, reading or science, the paper you assign is not just an essay, the book you help our students understand is not just reading.  YOU are never *just* a teacher.  The content material, and especially, life lessons you will help our students learn; matter in ways we may not yet understand. 
People like the woman who will be able to walk pain-free because of the physical therapy she was provided - or the family who will receive closure and justice for their loss due to the lawyer your student will become – they are counting on you. 
People living in buildings designed to withstand natural disasters – those people are counting on you.
The peace of mind, safety and security we all experience knowing that the women and men who protect our country and serve in law enforcement are well educated, compassionate and caring -  depends on you. 
Ensuring our students understand the election process; helping them understand how to differentiate between fact and opinion, teaching them tolerance, diversity, and equity – are aspects of a job entrusted to you.
For this world to change, for our nation to experience unity, depends on the generations to come and those generations are counting on you.  You will make this happen. 
Let me remind you; you will not do this alone – you cannot do this alone; you are surrounded by teams of greatness. Teams you will create in your schools, the GFPS team, the GFEA team, the MEA-MFT team, NEA, AFT and AFL-CIO teams.  All of these teams stand ready to help you. Together we will make this world a better place, one student at a time. You are the nucleus around which everything else will come together.  You will make a difference and your students will appreciate you.

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Let me take a moment to thank my “teams”.  Brian Crosby and CMR video productions, Tim Seery, GFEA, MEA- MFT and those of you who believed in me and voted for me – Thank you.  To those of you volunteering in various capacities throughout this summer and upcoming school year – thank you.  Each and every one of you who spend countless hours paid and unpaid preparing to educate our students – thank you. 
 
Remember I am part of your team, I am committed to helping you be the absolute best you can be. Contact me anytime I can be of assistance. Have a GREAT 2016-2017 school year. 

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Teacher tips for back to school night.

8/11/2016

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This is a nice article you may want to access.  Read more



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Rooms are ready

8/11/2016

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August 10, and there are some rooms ready to go an others in process. Thank you teachers for all of the time, energy and love you give to our schools and our kids... even in the summer. You are simply the best!!!!😀

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    UPCOMING 
    ​EVENTS

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       The corona virus has definitely created a novel reality.  If you check our our website, you will find links to resources for remote learning, and, of course, there is a plethora of information on the website  FaceBook has  great interest groups, too.  

    Youth Art Month

       We have the virtual platform ready for you to upload images for the 2021 Virtual Youth Art Exhibition. 
       Please follow the link to the 2021 MAEA Virtual Youth Art Month Exhibit HERE.  It is in a Google Slide format. 
       We ask that everyone participate, but only upload 2-3 works per specialist. 
       There are a few slides at the beginning giving format guidance. Please inquire if you have questions. The closer you adhere to the requested format the easier it will be for YAM Chair Victor Daniel of Helena and I to prepare for presentation. 
       The deadline for uploading will be next Wednesday, March 3, 2021. 
       After that deadline, Victor and I will refine the presentation, convert it to a movie file, and upload it to YouTube. 
       We will post the virtual show on the MAEA website and send out a link via email so you can use it on your school and district websites, for promotion in local businesses and board meetings or anywhere there is a screen connected to the internet. 
       If you need it in another format, just let us know. We will be happy to share it as a slide presentation as well.      

    ​
    ​MFPE-MAEA 2021
    Teacher
    Conference      Needs YOU!

       Please submit your proposal to present no later than April 30.     
       The next conference is in Great Falls on October 21 and 22, 2021.  It will be hosted at CM Russell High School. 


    2021 
    Montana
    Educators' Conference

    Where:  GREAT FALLS
    C.M.RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL
    When:  OCT. 21-22, 2021             Helping our members succeed in their careers is a top priority for MFPE. That’s why, each year, we sponsor the Educator Conference -- the best professional development of its kind anywhere.
       MFPE teams up with 18 Montana curriculum groups to bring you the best in teacher-led professional learning. More than 500 workshops, keynotes, & institutes are available. No matter what or where you teach. You’ll find a wealth of events perfect for you. And you can earn renewal units!
      To find more information and to submit a proposal to present, please visit the following: 
    https://www.mfpe.org/edconference/

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