Much to be proud of at the high school

As principal of Columbia Falls High School, I am fortunate to regularly witness achievements that should make our community proud. To ensure recognition of sometimes overlooked positive aspects of Columbia Falls High School, I want to point out some of the reasons we should be impressed by our students, our faculty and our school.

Because of the unique academic programs we offer, Gov. Steve Bullock chose to visit CFHS at the beginning of the school year to highlight the importance of college and career readiness. Our opportunities include dual-credit classes with Flathead Valley Community College, advanced placement classes and the unique building trades triad which integrates math, English and building trades into collaborated curricular units. 

Dual-credit classes are classes in which students can earn credit at both Flathead Valley Community College and CFHS. The program has grown dramatically. In the 2011-12 school year, CFHS offered five dual-credit classes. This year, there are 12 dual-credit courses to choose from. In the 2016-17 school year there will be 15 dual-credit classes offered. That is more than any other Class A school in the state and more than any other high school in the Flathead Valley. Beginning next year, students will have the opportunity to finish the complete FVCC health occupations pathway and receive a health occupations certification by taking classes offered at Columbia Falls High School.  

Other accomplishments include:

• In 2011-12, CFHS offered four Advanced Placement classes. This year we have eight AP Courses and in 2016-17 we will have nine. AP courses provide opportunities for students to earn college credit and to experience the rigor of a college-level class. This better prepares them for the future and makes for a more impressive resume when applying for colleges and scholarships. 

• Teachers at CFHS have taken on added responsibilities beyond their classroom in order to support the students and our school. Seventeen of those teachers also teach a college-level class through advanced placement courses or as an adjunct instructor for FVCC in the dual-credit classes. Four teachers at Columbia Falls High School have achieved National Board Certification. 

• Last year, 17 students earned welding certifications, more than all other schools in the Flathead Valley combined. At the halfway point this year, 12 Columbia Falls students have obtained certification, including three who achieved certification in overhead welding.

• The Wildcats have already captured three state team championships this year — volleyball, speech and debate, and boys swimming. Within those, there were seven individual state champions. It was the 11th consecutive speech and debate state win for CFHS. We also finished third in the Montana all-class speech meet with two individual state champions and just last weekend our girls basketball team finished  second at the Class A state tournament. 

• Students from a new Independent Science Research class competed in the regional science fair at Montana Tech University. The group earned first place in the small-school division with many of the students earning individual awards. The following day CFHS junior Colin Norick, who is part of the science research class, took first place in the Intermountain Junior Science & Humanities Symposium. This earned him an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at national JSHS in Ohio at the end of May and a $2,000 scholarship. Recently, these same students nearly swept the Flathead County Science Fair. In biological sciences, Norick took first, Amanda Bevan was second, and Annabel Conger finished third. In physical sciences, Gabby Merrell earned a first place and Derik Butts was third.

• Another student in the science research class, Anna Nicosia, was not able to compete in the Montana Tech science fair. However, she has been working on a project involving cancer research. Earlier this year she was selected to be a mentor program winner of the prestigious EMPEROR Science Award Program.

• In recent PSAT testing results, the 12 CFHS sophomores who took the test averaged 1077, finishing above the state average of 1021 and the national average of 931. Among the 69 juniors who took the test, the average total score was 1049. The state average score was 1035 and national average was 1008. 

These are just a few highlights of the exceptional achievements of our students and faculty at Columbia Falls High School, and are a real indication of steps being taken to increase both rigor and opportunities for all students. We have raised expectations both academically and behaviorally. Our students have risen to many of the challenges.

There are so many examples of the Columbia Falls community’s support of its youth. You rallied behind a brave young lady battling cancer a few years ago. You support the athletic and academic endowments with significant financial contributions. You fill our stands at athletic events. Dozens of adults volunteer to judge our annual speech and debate tournament. 

As a community your passion for the Wildcats is on display in many ways, and I know that the heart of that is a desire to do what is best for our students. Be assured that the teachers and administrators at Columbia Falls High School and throughout School District 6 share that same desire.

Scott Gaiser is the principal of Columbia Falls High School.