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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.

​
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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    UPCOMING 
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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.  
     
    Updates by Topic: 
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    Youth Art Month
       The MAEA Annual Youth Art Month (YAM) Exhibit at the state capital is sort of on semi-permanent display.  With stay at home orders, it may be there awhile. Victor Daniels, the YAM chair, will keep us posted, but in the interim, please visit our YAM webpage to virtually enjoy the works on display.  Thanks, Victor, for posting the works for us to enjoy from home. 
     
    MAEA Spring Retreat
       As you have probably guessed by now, the annual spring retreat has been cancelled/postponed. We will see what the future holds. 
       If member interest and Nicholas Danielson's availability align, MAEA will try to reschedule when the situation becomes safe for gathering again. The worst case scenario-we will seek out a Bray experience in spring 2021.   
     
    MFPE-MAEA 2020
    Teacher
    Conference      Needs YOU!

       Please submit your proposal to present no later than April 30. The conference committee will convene digitally on MAY 15 to schedule submissions.       The next conference is in Great Falls on October 15th & 16, 2020.  It will be hosted at CM Russell High School. 


    2020 Census Invitations Arrive March 12-20
    Ninety-five percent or about 143 million households in the country will receive an initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in their mailboxes between March 12 and 20. The U.S. Census Bureau released informational copies today of the invitations, the enclosed materials, and the subsequent reminders households will receive. These materials can help the public know what to expect and avoid potential scams. 
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    Montana
    ​No Kid Hungry

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       The February winner of the Montana Teachers for Breakfast giveaway has been drawn – check out THIS VIDEO of the live drawing to find out which Montana teacher won the prize! And congratulations again to Randi White from Lockwood for being drawn the January winner!
       The March round is now open, so don’t forget to put your name in the hat on the giveaway website for your chance to win $100 for your classroom: https://mtteachers4breakfast.shortstack.com/XD9Xdd
       Remember that you can enter every month if you’re not drawn a winner, so even if you entered last month be sure to go back and fill out the form again for your name to be counted in the March drawing. The giveaway is open to all Montana teachers who somehow incorporate breakfast into their students’ school day. 



    2020 
    Montana
    Educators' Conference

    Where:  GREAT FALLS
    C.M.RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL
    When:  OCT. 15-16, 2020             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/

    Fourteenth Indian Education for All Conference

        A May conference will be held for Best Practices in Indian Education for All.  
    Date:  May 3-5, 2020
    ​Location:  Montana State University, Billings
       The theme for the 14th Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference is "Indigenizing Education in Montana".
       We are seeking exciting and well written proposals that emphasize the Montana American Indian perspective across the curriculum. Though a wide variety of proposals in all subject areas will be accepted, special attention will be given to elementary, mathematics, early literacy. 
       Presentation times will be 60-75 minutes in length.
       Presenters will receive free conference registration.

       Be creative! Come share your knowledge with us! 
       If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out the following call for proposals:  <https://forms.gle/G3t3MEe3GdqWKDos8>.
     
    PRELIMINARY AGENDA
    ​
    <http://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Conference_Info/Agenda_Preliminary_BP2020.pdf?ver=2020-01-16-151648-263>

    REGISTER
    for Best Practices Conference
    <https://forms.gle/2vstQs8RVUy1WJ2p9>

    ADVOCACY AWARD NOMINATIONS
    <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefOls5BsFqwYdVRV-9hawmFQLHSe9Jdj9RGsIR-VGbx5B4vg/viewform>

    Please contact
    for more information:

    Mike Jetty
    Indian Education Specialist
    Montana Office of Public Instruction
    1300 11th Ave
    Helena, MT  59620-2501
    http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Indian-Education


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