Principal
406-324-1632
mcarey1@helenaschools.org
Administrative Secretary
406-324-1630
dkittelmann@helenaschools.org
Fax: 406-324-1631
03/21/25
Our students seemed to be the talk of the town this week. On Wednesday, not Tuesday, a large group of students led by Brooke participated in the job/career fair at Helena High. Our kids did a great job networking and learning about the different employment fields or post-secondary options available to them. It was great to see as many kids participate as did and they benefited from some cool swag bags from the different booths! Also on Wednesday, the archery class went to the fairgrounds and competed in the state competition. Teams as far as Noxon and Arlee were seen competing and you could feel the camaraderie between all the students from different towns competing. It was great to see a couple of our PAL families supporting their own students and others in the class during the competition. The class may become a PAL staple like so many of the other great offerings we have.
Coming up next week PAL will experience a concert at the Myrna Loy featuring singer Jason DeShaw as well as a trip to the bowling alley before we head off to spring break. When we return from break we will welcome our final group of orientation students to PAL for the school year and also have our juniors and sophomores take the ACT and Pre-ACT respectively.
Have a good weekend,
Matt Carey
406-324-1632
COME AND JOIN THE TITLE VI INDIAN EDUCATION FAMILY NIGHT
March 19, 2025
FROM 5:30-8:00 PM
AT
JIM DARCY ELEMENTARY GYM
WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO ATTEND!
WE WILL HAVE:
FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL AMANDA WALKINGCHILD AT (406)461-4584. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!
Block 9 Course Descriptions
Ryan:
Parties
In this US History and US Government class, students will examine the history and power of the major (and minor) political parties. Class will analyze primary documents, learn about the progression, role and powers of the parties today and research party platforms/create their own party.
US History Standards
US Government Standards
News n’ Views
Current events seem to come at us at breathtaking speed. With SO MUCH happening around us, all the time, it is important to take a step back, substantively analyze and question/discuss the headlines. Students will research stories to bring to the group and will be encouraged to use a variety of sources when engaged in research. This is a discussion-based class, so come ready with an opinion!
US History Standards
US Government Standards
Social Studies Standards
Archery
Emily and Ryan, having been recently certified as NASP (National Archery in Schools Program), are proud to offer an archery class! NASP is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4 – 12. Students learn focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life. Students in this class will be traveling to Montana Wild to use their indoor range.
Health Standards
PE Standards
Michele:
March into Strength Class (PE, HE)
Course Description:
This class is a unique collaboration with teachers across the Helena community, offering a diverse range of movement and mindfulness practices at The Studio, Hot Yoga Helena, The Loft, and Gentle Healing. This class will restore, build strength, and ignite energy, while providing a space for transformation and connection.
Experience the synergy of movement, breath, and community!
Health and PE Standards
Health & Fitness Literacy (Standard 1 & 3)
Bal-A-Vis-X (ENG)
Course Description:
Bal-A-Vis-X (Balance, Auditory, Vision eXercises) is a dynamic program that integrates rhythm, movement, and focused attention to enhance cognitive and physical coordination. Using beanbags, racquetballs, and balance boards, participants engage in carefully structured sequences that develop visual tracking, auditory processing, and bilateral coordination. This method is especially effective in supporting students with reading challenges, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences.
Bal-A-Vis-X strengthens foundational skills essential for reading success, including:
English Language Arts (ELA) Standards
Bal-A-Vis-X helps by enhancing foundational reading skills through movement-based learning. The class supports the following key areas:
Marie:
OR Careers – PowerPoint
Students will create a PowerPoint presentation that compiles classes taken and materials learned during their first quarter at PAL. They will present their PowerPoint at the end of the block.
Self-Assessment – Achievement Standard:
Apply knowledge gained through individual assessment to develop a comprehensive set of goals and an individual career plan.
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
Career Development
III. Career Readiness Expectations
Communication
Economics & Personal Finance – Personal Finance
Management
Written Communication – Achievement Standard:
Prepare clear, complete, concise, correct, and courteous written messages for personal and professional uses.
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
Communication
III. Written Communication
Information Technology
VIII. Digital Media
Management
Careers – Keyboarding through Google Docs
Students will be using Edutyping.com; Nitrotyping; and Google Docs – BE Publishing; to learning proper keyboarding skills, improve their confidence keyboarding, and keyboarding and editing in Google Docs.
Keyboarding or Input Technology
Achievement Standard:
Use various input technologies to enter and manipulate information appropriately including but not limited
keyboarding and mouse.
Objectives
accuracy levels of 30 wpm with five (5) or fewer errors; • Proofread and edit copy for accuracy, content, correct
grammar, spelling, and punctuation; • Use pointing devices such as the mouse
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
Communication
III. Written Communication
Information Technology
Personal Finance – Banking
Students will learn about banking and checking account. Terminology associated with banking, managing a checking account, how to deposit money and how to write a check. We will also discuss online banking and mobile apps.
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
Economics & Personal Finance – Personal Finance
VIII. Protecting Against Risk
Information Technology
III. Digital Citizenship
Achievement Standard:
Evaluate services provided by financial deposit institutions.
Objective
Reading On Your Own – Students will choose a book to read and spend time in class reading and working on a book report. This class is being offered through English teacher Sam Leonard.
Nate:
None
Emily T:
OR Art: students will continue with self-discovery through artmaking. This block will focus on occupied and unoccupied space as well as color connections and symbolism. Self-assessment and group critique and discussion are vital components of this class.
Each student will:
VA1. develop plans for creating art and design works using various materials and methods from traditional and contemporary practices
VA3. complete artworks or designs incorporating relevant criteria as well as personal artistic vision
VA5. apply appropriate methods or processes to display artwork in a specific place
VA7. evaluate the effectiveness of an artwork as perceived by a variety of audiences
VA8. defend an interpretation of an artwork or collections of artworks
VA10. incorporate knowledge of personal, social, cultural, and historical life to create artworks
Art History Painting: students will learn about different artists’ styles and create paintings that utilize these techniques. In this fun class, the students will be painting the same subject matter. They will also complete a short write-up explaining what makes their artist recognizable and how they used it in their own piece. This class can be taken for the following credits: Art, English, or History.
Each student will:
VA1. develop plans for creating art and design works using various materials and methods from traditional and contemporary practices
VA3. complete artworks or designs incorporating relevant criteria as well as personal artistic vision
VA7. evaluate the effectiveness of an artwork as perceived by a variety of audiences
VA8. defend an interpretation of an artwork or collections of artworks
VA9. analyze a collection of artwork based on sets of criteria
VA10. incorporate knowledge of personal, social, cultural, and historical life to create artworks
VA11. compare uses of art in a variety of personal, societal, cultural, and historical contexts.
Softies: Students will be challenged in this three-dimension class creating a small-scale stuffed creature. We will utilize recycled materials such as lone socks and random buttons. Product design, hand sewing, and creativity will be the focus of this very fun offering.
Each student will:
VA1. develop plans for creating art and design works using various materials and methods from traditional and contemporary practices
VA2. create art or design projects in response to contemporary issues that demonstrate an awareness of ethical implications of making and distributing creative works
VA3. complete artworks or designs incorporating relevant criteria as well as personal artistic vision
VA4. curate artifacts and artworks for presentation and preservation
VA5. apply appropriate methods or processes to display artwork in a specific place
VA7. evaluate the effectiveness of an artwork as perceived by a variety of audiences
VA8. defend an interpretation of an artwork or collections of artworks
VA9. analyze a collection of artwork based on sets of criteria
VA10. incorporate knowledge of personal, social, cultural, and historical life to create artworks
VA11. compare uses of art in a variety of personal, societal, cultural, and historical contexts.
Isaiah:
SS.H.9-12.3 – identify ways in which people and groups exercise agency in difficult historical, contemporary, and tribal contexts
SS.H.9-12.1 – analyze how unique circumstances of time, place, and historical contexts shape individuals’ lives
Great Depression - This class will be studying the historical, economic, and social impacts of the Great Depression in the United States. The class will be learning about what led to the economic downturn, the country’s response, how people made it through, and how the United States came out of it.
SS.E.9-12.2 – explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions
SS.H.9-12.4 – analyze multiple, and complex causal factors that have shaped major events in US and world history, including American Indian history
Emily P:
ACT Science Course Description/Synopsis:
The ACT test consists of several science passages, each of which focuses on one of the following subject areas: biology, chemistry, earth/space sciences, and physics. Although the ACT Science section includes a wide range of science content, it tests your scientific skills more than your knowledge. As the ACT puts it, “the Science Test … measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.” This course will be focused on improving the ACT science test taking skills by practicing looking up and synthesizing information from tables, graphs, illustrations and scientific passages.
Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects (RST.11-12)
Key Ideas and Details
RST.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.
RST.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
RST.11-12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Craft and Structure
RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11–12 texts and topics.
RST.11-12.5 Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas.
RST.11-12.6 Analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, identifying important issues that remain unresolved.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
RST.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia, Montana tribal resources) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
RST.11-12.8 Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information, including those from American Indians.
RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations, and knowledge derived from American Indian cultures) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
RST.11-12.10 By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
Yoga
The class will be doing various forms of yoga in this class. We will utilize the common space and on occasion a yoga studio in downtown Helena.
PE Standards
HE Standards
Science Standards
develop and use a model to illustrate the organizational structure of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms. HS-LS1-2
plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis. HS-LS1-3
Sam:
ACT Preparation (ELA and Written)
In this class students will prepare to take the ACT. We will specifically focus on the English and “timed-write” portion of the test.
Outcomes/Objectives:
Prepare students to know what to anticipate on the ACT and hopefully do their best to score proficiency.
Standards:
– Apply understanding of sentence structure and formation in a text and make revisions to improve the writing.
– Recognize common problems with standard English punctuation and make revisions to improve the writing.
-Recognize common problems with standard English usage in a text and make revisions to improve the writing.
OR English (Speech Preparation)
This class will specifically prepare the OR class for their exit (PAL review style) speech.
Outcomes/Objectives: Students will gain confidence and basic techniques for giving a thorough speech as they exit from orientation and join the PAL academy.
Standards: Standards: Evaluate a speaker’s or texts point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, including culturally diverse contexts, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
Guitar and its Players
This class will encompass a brief, but hopefully lasting, introduction to both the history of the guitar and its players as well as physically learning to play the guitar.
Outcomes/Objectives: To have a historical and cultural perspective on the guitar as an evolved musical instrument. Appreciate and celebrate major influences both musically and technically. Have some firsthand exposure through the practice of playing the guitar to connect with the instrument aesthetically and tangibly.
Standards: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.
Brooke:
None
COME AND JOIN THE
TITLE VI
INDIAN EDUCATION
FAMILY NIGHT
March 19, 2025
FROM 5:30-8:00 PM
AT
JIM DARCY ELEMENTARY GYM
WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO ATTEND!
WE WILL HAVE:
FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL AMANDA WALKINGCHILD AT (406)461-4584. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!