CSKT Project AWARE
November 6, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We wanted to inform you that the St. Ignatius School District is pleased to continue to
implement CSKT Program AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) with
middle school and high school students. This program is in partnership with the Tribal Education
Department (TED) of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead
Reservation and with the Tribal Health Department (THD) of the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes.
CSKT Project AWARE is a State Education Agency Grant funded by the Department of Health
and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
awarded to the CSKT’s TED. This project promotes healthy social and emotional development
of students. Teachers, school staff and classroom guests will be implementing instructional
lessons and foundational projects to help increase students’ sense of self and identity, health and
wellness. The program is designed to enhance classroom instruction with tribal, traditional “ways
of knowing” and cultural practices to help students see themselves reflected in the curriculum.
Activities aim to enhance the following objectives in a safe and healthy context:
• Connections
• Relationships
• Identifying individual and collective gifts/purposes
• Inclusion
• Positive Choices
• Student Voice
• Communities of Learners
As required by SAMHSA funding, we will evaluate CSKT Project AWARE programming,
services, goals and objectives from October 1, 2021-September 30, 2026. The evaluation has
been co-constructed through a partnership with the Brazelton Touchpoints Center (Boston, MA).
The goal of this evaluation is to learn about how CSKT Project AWARE is enhancing your
child’s classroom and school atmosphere, your child’s learning, and your child’s wellness.
During this time, your child’s school may release certain directory information regarding your
child to evaluators. Directory information will be limited to students’: Name, State education
agency ID, mailing address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, Date of birth, Gender,
Ethnicity/Race/ Tribal Affiliation, Grade level and Classroom, and most recent educational
agency or institution attended.
Additionally, students enrolled in grades 5-12 may also be asked to participate in surveys,
videos, and/or interviews about their experiences with CSKT Project AWARE activities and
services at school. Your student will receive a gift card for participating in the evaluation
surveys.
Student participation is voluntary and students will be asked on each occasion for their
permission to participate. If you are okay with your child participating, you do not need to do
anything right now. If you do not want your child to participate, please respond to this letter, no
later than Monday, November 13th, so that we can notify staff not to include your child in
evaluation activities.
If you have any questions or concerns about CSKT Project AWARE or the evaluation, please
contact:
Michelle Mitchell, Department Head
Tribal Education
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
(4060) 675-2700 ext.1342
Michelle.mitchell@cskt.org
Thanks for your time and consideration!
Sincerely,
Jason Sargent, Superintendent
St. Ignatius Public Schools