School starts next week, and there is such a thing as a free lunch

By HILARY MATHESON

For the Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls School District 6 reminds students and families that free school lunches and breakfasts will be provided for the 2024-25 school year district-wide under the federal Community Eligibility Provision. There is no need to sign up or fill out paperwork to participate.

Here’s some other pertinent details of the upcoming school year:

Website: https://www. cfmtschools.net 

Columbia Falls High School First day: Sept. 3.

Columbia Falls Junior High Open house: Sixth grade is invited to attend from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. and seventh and eighth grade from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Aug. 29.

First day: Sept. 3. Projected enrollment: 550 students.

Glacier Gateway Elementary Meet and greet: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 29.

First day: Sept. 3 for first through fifth grade. Kindergartners are invited to attend orientation on Sept. 3 and will follow a modified A/B schedule for two weeks.

Projected enrollment: 490 students.

New staff: Speech-language pathologist Sarah Briggs, paraprofessional Stephanie Collis, fifth-grade teacher Amanda Douglas, kindergarten teacher Alyssa Drew, third-grade teacher Emily Hagreen, At-Risk Family Advocate Ellen Jankiewicz (shared position with Ruder) paraprofessional Brittany Krueger. New curriculum/programs: Glacier Gateway is implementing a new math curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Ruder Elementary Open house: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29. First day: Sept. 3 for first through fifth grades. Kindergartners may attend orientation on Sept. 3 with three different time blocks scheduled — 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Starting Sept. 4, kindergarten students begin attending on an A/B schedule, with all kindergarten students attending daily starting Sept. 16.

Projected enrollment: 510 students.

New staff: Speech-language pathologist Brandi Bohn, speech aide Stacy Caron, special education teacher Maya Garcia, fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Gregorash, fourth-grade teacher Sarah Rosenbaum, Counselor and At-Risk Family Advocate Ellen Jankiewicz (shared position with Glacier Gateway) and kindergarten paraprofessional Sarah Lumb.

Ruder welcomes new Principal Allison Hawes who joins Ruder from her previous principal position at Helena Flats School.

New curriculum/ programs: Bridges Math. Ruder will also be piloting K-5 reading resources from Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) and Into Reading.

Deer Park School

Open house: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27. First day: Aug. 28.

Projected enrollment: 170 students.

New staff: Fourth-grade teacher Emily Parker and fourth-grade teacher and librarian Melissa Howe.

New curriculum/programs: Implementing a new English Language Arts curriculum from McGraw Hill called “Wonders,” for grades kindergarten through fifth. The special education curriculum was updated.

Summer maintenance projects completed: The gym and bell tower buildings were painted. Electronic door locks were installed. New flooring was installed in three rooms.