Hello! My name is Grant Legare and I am the school counselor at St. Ignatius Elementary School. I know we are all going through uncertain times but we are still committed to meeting all of your child's educational and social/emotional needs. The anxiety and stress we are feeling as adults is also being felt by children. However, many kids do not understand, or cannot express what is causing them to feel this way! I will be available for phone calls during regular school hours, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:40 p.m.. You can call me at 406-551-6485. However, you can email me at any time at glegare@stignatiusschools.org. I will be checking my emails throughout the school day. Please, if you or your child need any assistance do not hesitate to reach out!
What a wonderful day!! We distributed or delivered 4,700 meals and 470 student school work packets. We checked out 320 chrome books and had all but 11 students pick up school work and meals. Remember meals only need to be picked up once a week. School work can be returned to the totes outside each school and/or can be returned via the bus by being at the bus stop. When the bus stops; drop the work into the plastic tote that will be available on every bus. The buses will run Wednesday and Thursday this week and depart from the school at 9am and 1:00pm. We want to thank students, parents, kitchen staff, maintenance, classified staff, bus drivers, Smyth Transportation, certified staff, and principals for all your hard work today. To be able to accomplish what we got done today took a giving spirit and a lot of hard work. It was great to see all the kids and parents today!! We want to thank everyone for their patience and willingness to help when needed. It was a great day and highly successful, so thank you all. We also want to thank Karen Biron from Exit Realty and Home for Heroes for the staff breakfast yesterday. We want to thank Jim Krell and K-O Auto for the water donation that will be going home with kids during our weekly meal distribution. GO BULLDOGS!!

Parents and Students: Tomorrow is our first school work and food pick-up from 10:00-1:00. Remember if you want food or schoolwork delivered, please contact your building administrative assistants. The buses will be departing at 9am and 1pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you want work dropped off or picked up please have students or parents at their perspective bus stop prepared to deposit work into the work bin or pick up the work packet. Thank you so much for all your help during these times that everyone is trying their best to help each other be safe and successful. Tomorrow will be a great time to watch for expected bus route times. Go Bulldogs
Elementary: Pick up for food - south side of the elementary.
Pick up for packets - south side of the elementary.
Pick up for Chromebooks (if needed) - west side of the elementary. -------------------
MS:
Pick up for food - south side of the elementary.
Pick up for packets - behind the Middle School on the corner.
Pick up for Chromebooks (if needed) - behind the Middle School on the corner.---------------
HS:
Pick up for food - south side of elementary.
Pick up packets - HS parking lot.
Pick up Chromebooks (if needed) - HS parking lot.
For more detailed information about school scheduling and organization see our Facebook page: Saint Ignatius Public Schools
These are the times slots for all pickups. They are broken down into the first initial of the last name.
10:00-11:00 A-i,
11:00-12:00 J-Q,
12:00-1:00 R-Z
Tuesday, March 31 - Guardian/Parent pick up at school for packets, food for students, and
chromebooks (if chromebook is needed. Also, chromebooks are only released
with a signed contractual agreement that they will not be damaged and returned
in the same condition upon request.)
Driver's Education is being postponed until at least April 13. We will reassess the situation at that time. We hope to get the class in this Spring or Summer. If we have to postpone for any longer than that we will reimburse everyone and look at offering again next Spring.

Progress




Progress Pictures


MODEL PLAN OF ACTION—Board Proposal
St. Ignatius District #28 Public School
DATE OF INITIAL PLAN: Instituted March 30 after Spring Break, Board Approved March 26, 2020**
REVISION DATES: March 24, March 25
Plans should be submitted to SchoolClosure@mt.gov.
OVERVIEW
On Sunday, March 24, 2020, Governor Bullock ordered all K-12 public schools in Montana closed starting Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 10, 2020. Pursuant to the March 19, 2020, directive of Governor Bullock, requirements for pupil instruction from Monday, March 16 through April 10, 2020, were waived with Montana’s public schools receiving full funding, including the state transportation reimbursement. The Governor further directed that during the mandated school closure from March 16-April 10, 2020, school districts were to plan and begin implementation on the following:
1. Offsite learning instruction and structure;
2. School meals, consistent with what the District regularly provides;
3. Services for students with disability; and
4. Other services customarily provided to students.
Through his April 10, 2020, directive, the Governor stated that districts will receive full funding and all requirements for pupil instruction will be waived if the following conditions are met:
1. The District creates a Plan of Action to address those specific areas identified above;
2. The Board of Trustees approves the District’s Plan of Action;
3. The Governor, in consultation with OPI, approves the Board of Trustees’ endorsed Plan of Action and waives all requirements for pupil instruction. The Governor’s April 10, 2020, directive provides that: “Presumptively, the Governor will approve waiver requests that are approved by school boards.”
4. The District will submit periodic reports to the Governor addressing those specific areas identified above.
PLAN OF ACTION
The following represents the District’s REQUIRED Plan of Action to address pupil instruction, the provision of school meals for students, compliance with IEP’s and 504 plans of students with disabilities, and other services the District customarily provides to students:
1. Offsite learning instruction and structure: The District has the following structure in place to ensure off-site learning for students. The District has ensured that continuity plans for educational services can be accessed by all students, regardless of resources available at home. The strategies identified below are, of course, customized to meet the individual needs of each students.
School District #28:
• Certified and Classified Staff will be on-site (at school) or teleworking (off-site) providing instruction to students through the following systems:
• On-line courses
• Video chats/tutoring
• Phone conference calls
• Hard copy packets of materials
• Textbook guides
• Student and/or Guardian Email
Daily Schedule: Each school is developing a daily schedule for virtual learning. Schools will share schedules directly with families.
• In order to ensure that all students have access to on-line coursework, the District is
researching ways to get those students who don’t have the necessary devices with chromebooks for check out. This will not happen the first week for sure and once we can proceed with a plan for who will need what, and how many devices we can make available, we will proceed. We are not sure at this point if we have enough devices or internet availability. Principals are collecting data to see how many devices are needed and how many homes have internet. Access Montana is currently offering ½ off monthly subscriptions for any families that would like to have internet access added to their home. We have submitted requests to grants to re-appropriate funds for additional devices needed to best serve students. The district is working on options for families who cannot access internet service. We will be in touch, via email, with families who indicated a need on our technology survey.
• We will be running regular bus routes for work distribution and collection Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays leaving the school at 9 am and again at 1pm
• If possible, depending on the Governor restrictions hope to have limited contact with students who may need additional support in meeting their educational and mental health needs. This will depend on restrictions and requirements that adhere to state orders.
• Expectations: All students are expected to attend virtual learning sessions and complete assignments. Teachers will take attendance and track participation and assignment completion.
Questions: HS/MS Principal Shawn Hendrickson 745-3811 x 301
406-493-7689
shendrickson@stignatiusschools.org
Elementary Principal Tyler Arlint 745-3811 x 303

What's Going ON at St. Ignatius Elementary?
click this link below or copy and paste in a browser to find out!
https://www.facebook.com/stignatiusschools/videos/238765657307515/

St. Ignatius Students: Even though we are currently not in school there is much to learn. Take care of your friends and family around you. Keep them safe and stay positive. Help those that are worried about work and the concerns of life that you will help and do your part to make it better. Watch over your brothers and sisters and be the voice that assures those around you that everything is going to be ok. You will learn a lot about people over the next few months and take time to compliment and contribute to those who are helpful and kind. You will learn that many who have the least will give the most when no one is watching. Look after the young, the elderly and those who need your help. You are the young and the future so this is a great test and a much bigger test than you will ever take in school. You now have an opportunity to test yourself about life and how you handle adversity. There is no better teacher than hardship and tough times. A person’s real character is exposed in times of struggle and how you handle yourself during this time will help shape who you are and how you will be remembered. This is a time in history that will not be forgotten in your lifetime. Be the one among your friends to make choices that are going to help people. Bulldogs take care of their own and overcoming adversity with resiliency is what we do best. We are proud of every one of you and we are going to be just fine; we will promise you that. Go Bulldogs!!! P.S. –Stay Active and get outside to play or work. It would also be a great time to ask yourself school related questions and research answers and solutions to real life problems. You can also study things that interest you in terms of future job skills. We can’t wait to have you all back soon. :) Actual school plans for what we will be doing for any additional time off after Spring Break will be rolled out when we know the status of where we are heading. We are completely prepared to offer whatever needs to be done in order to weather any delay to your school year and/or educational needs. All good, stay tuned-

Emergency Board Meeting Today at 4:30 - People can join via the web site under Board Live Steam
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Emergency Special Board Meeting
4:30pm HS Library or Online Link or Phone
1. New Business
Subject
1.01 Declare Special Board Meeting
Meeting
Mar 18, 2020 - Emergency Special Board Meeting
Category
1. New Business
Access
Public
Type
Information
RE:
Trustees: Superintendent Sargent is asking to call an emergency meeting of the Board to discuss declaration of unforeseen emergency closure pursuant to 20-9-801 through 20-9-806, MCA
| am therefore calling a meeting at the time and place listed above. The meeting is called pursuant to MCA 20-3-322(3), which provides “Special meetings of the trustees maybe called by the presiding officer or any two members of the trustees by giving each member a 48-hour written notice of the meeting, except that the 48-hour notice is waived in an unforeseen emergency or to consider a violation of the student code of conduct, as defined in accordance with district policy, within a week of graduation, and Convening electronically is fine under 2-2-302. An unforeseen emergency is defined in the law as “a storm, fire, explosion, community disaster, insurrection, act of God, or other unforeseen destruction or impairment of school district property that affects the health and safety of the trustees, students, or district employees or the education functions of the district.” | have determined that the outbreak of Covid-19 is sufficiently akin to a community disaster that | am permitted to call this meeting
Special Board Meeting:
Agenda:
New Business: Declare Unforeseen Emergency
Subject
1.02 Declare Emergency Due to COVID-19 Under 20-9-801 through 20-9-806
Meeting
Mar 18, 2020 - Emergency Special Board Meeting
Category
1. New Business
Access
Public
Type
Action
Recommended Action
Action: Board Consideration of current circumstances related to COVID-19 for possible declaration of unforeseen emergency pursuant to 20-9-801 through 20-9-806, MCA
1. Action: Board consideration of current circumstances related to COVID-19 for possible declaration of unforeseen emergency pursuant to 20-9-801 through 20-9-806, MCA.
Proficiency: The superintendent is authorized to work with district staff in making determinations regarding pupils who are proficient in courses in which the pupils are enrolled without regard to the aggregate hours of instruction provided. The superintendent is directed to make a final determination of proficiency for each pupil for each enrolled course, using district assessments, including class grades at a minimum, and reporting a full-time equivalent conversion of ANB for such pupils, based on the scheduled time ordinarily provided through the aggregate hours of instruction for such courses.
And including--
Offsite Instruction: The superintendent is authorized to work with district staff in providing instruction for pupils of the district. Such instruction may include any method or methods identified as appropriate by the superintendent, including but not limited to offsite instruction as defined and referenced in sections 20-1-101(5); 20-1-101(14); 20-7-118; and 20-9-311(11), MCA.
Subject
1.03 Authorizing Leadership to Deliver and Identify Proficiency Education
Meeting
Mar 18, 2020 - Emergency Special Board Meeting
Category
1. New Business
Access
Public
Type
Action
Recommended Action
Action: Authorizing/directing your leadership team to work with teaching staff on identifying your students(All grade levels: Elementary, Middle, and High School) who are proficient (in the near future and definitely prior to the end of the school year.)
Action: Authorizing/directing your leadership team to work with teaching staff on identifying your students(All grade levels: Elementary, Middle, and High School) who are proficient (in the near future and definitely prior to the end of the school year.)
Proficiency: The superintendent is authorized to work with district staff in making determinations regarding pupils who are proficient in courses in which the pupils are enrolled without regard to the aggregate hours of instruction provided. The superintendent is directed to make a final determination of proficiency for each pupil for each enrolled course, using district assessments, including class grades at a minimum, and reporting a full-time equivalent conversion of ANB for such pupils, based on the scheduled time ordinarily provided through the aggregate hours of instruction for such courses.
And including--
Offsite Instruction: The superintendent is authorized to work with district staff in providing instruction for pupils of the district. Such instruction may include any method or methods identified as appropriate by the superintendent, including but not limited to offsite instruction as defined and referenced in sections 20-1-101(5); 20-1-101(14); 20-7-118; a
Breakfast Crew :) Thank you to all the volunteers! We are open for meals from 7am-10am today!



Thank you to all the staff, community and students for helping with the breakfast and lunch distribution. It was great to see a wonderful turnout and all the volunteers to make this happen. Thank you Thank you!! Go Bulldogs! We will be at it again Wednesday morning from 7am-10am. :)



Lunch / Breakfast pick up has been moved to front of Elementary main entrance:
Today, Tuesday from 4-6pm
Wednesday from 7-10am
March 17, March 18
See you there ! Again, call me if you need anything. Jason Sargent 406-396-7839
I just want to mention, no one should be to proud to pick up the meals they deserve and can use to help feed their children. These are meals that we have included in our budgets for students. We will collect names for reimbursement and we want every family to feel comfortable in picking up meals. Please swing through and pick up your meals for students.
Tuesday, March 17 From 4-6 pm
Wednesday March 18 From 7-10 am
Thank you and Go Bulldogs- Jason Sargent
If you have any extenuating circumstances that we can help with for food delivery please call me and we will figure it out. 406-396-7839
Gov. Bullock Latest Update Press Conference:
https://www.kpax.com/news/coronavirus/live-gov-bullock-providing-coronavirus-update
Talking to kids about COVID 19 link:
https://media.wix.com/ugd/a29b13_51c01c5bad4f4d26b32a7c69d2d77533.pdf
