End of School Year Celebration!
Co-Teach is hosting our annual End-of-Year Celebration on the last day of school, Thursday May 10th. We will begin our celebration in the classroom for a presentation of certificates with our students and families at 10:45 am (morning program) and 1:45 pm (afternoon program). That evening we will reconvene at the Missoula Carousel & Dragon's Hallow for play and potluck at 5:30-7:30 pm. All Co-Teach family members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please look for a potluck sign up sheet on the classroom door during the week of April 30th.
Co-Teach will be hosting our final Family Fun with Food Event of the semester, Garden Party for Grandparents, on Thursday, May 3rd. Festivities will begin at 10:30 for the morning class and 1:30 for the afternoon class. Please note that all family members are welcome to attend.
School Improvement Grant trainings in Lame Deer
OPI's School Improvement Grant work will be facilitated by Amy Foster Wolferman and Erin Butts of the NNCTC/MSSC in Lame Deer Schools on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
Secondary Traumatic Stress training for child welfare workers
Amy Foster Wolferman and Erin Butts of the National Native Children's Trauma Center at IERS will provide training on secondary traumatic stress and related prevention strategies at the 2012 Montana Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Conference. The work stems from our U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as well as U.S. Administration for Children Youth and Families grants awarded in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
Bureau of Indian Afffairs behavioral health meetings in Billings
Dr. James Caringi, Patrick Shannon and Erin Butts of the NNCTC will attend Bureau of Indian Afffairs behavioral health meetings in Billings in affiliation with NNCTC's recently awarded, five year, trauma informed child welfare systems grant funded buy the U.S. Administration for Children, Youth and Families.
National suicide prevention conferences in Baltimore, Maryland
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Matt Taylor and David Schuldberg of the NNCTC and MSSC will be attending the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention grantee meetings alongside partners from the Fort Peck Tribal Health Department and Youth Activities Department in Baltimore, MD. The Garrett Lee Smith program is administered by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Zimmerman and Taylor will also attend the 2012 national conference of the American Association of Suicidology following the grantee meeting.
Positive Behavioral Supports training in Missoula
IERS/NNCTC/MSSC colleagues participated in a two day training from Becky Beckner regarding implementation of system-wide positive behavioral interventions. The training is affiliated with the Montana Office of Public Instruction's Montana Behavioral Initiative, of which PBIS is a central component.
Montana Youth Justice Advisory Council presentation on trauma and resilency
Dr. John Frederikson will be presenting information on the Adverse Childhood Experience Study to the Montana Board of Crime Control Youth Justice Advisory Council. The presentation will highlight the adverse childhood experiences that lead youth into the criminal justice system and present evidence-based practices which will aid the youth in exiting the system.
The Youth Justice Advisory Council of the Montana Board of Crime Control is the state advisory group that develops the 3-year plan for administering juvenile justice funds that come from the federal government as a result of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The Council was newly appointed with five incumbents and ten newly-appointed members. Those members (15 in all) represent nonprofits, youth, Native American tribes, public agencies, law enforcement, youth (including those in the juvenile justice system), and judges.
The YJC makes funding recommendations for the purpose of providing youth and their families with effective prevention and intervention services to improve the juvenile justice system in Montana by improving juvenile delinquency education; training; research; prevention; diversion; treatment; and rehabilitation programs.
Missoula's All Abilities Playground Project Fundraiser!
Throughout the week of April 9th, our Co-Teach students will be participating in a classroom coin drive to raise money for Missoula's All Abilities Playground Project. We are very excited to join in such a valuable community effort!
Please see missoulaspecialneedsfamilies.com/the-playground-project or brochure for fundraiser details
Implementation meetings on Fort Peck, Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations
Sucide Prevetniton (Garrett Lee Smith grant) and Trauma Informed Child Welfare Systems (Administration for Children and Families) grant implementation meetings will be held this week on the Fort Peck, Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations. IERS/NNCT staff facilitating the multi-agency meetings include Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Amy Foster Wolferman, Patrick Shannon, Erin Butts and Eamon Marsh.
Co-Teach will not be in session the week of April 2nd - 6th for spring break. School will begin again on Monday, April 9th. Have a wonderful spring vacation!
Community Wraparound training, Billings, MT
Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate, will attend a community-based wraparound training in Billings, MT on March 28, 2012. The two-day training will be provided by Dr. John VanDenBerg, who is the President of Vroon Vandenberg LLP, a company contracted by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to provide high fidelity wraparound training for individuals across the state of Montana. Ms. Butts’ participation will include providing training on Positive Behavioral Supports Tier 3 school-based intervention.
Operation: Military Kids! training
Debra Klemann will receive training from Operation: Military Kids! (OMK) March 20 in Kalispell, MT. OMK is a program designed to help military youth living in civilian communities to connect to other youth in similar situations and to local community entities they can turn to for support. The purpose of the training is to increase community awareness and support.
Presentation to Children & Families Human Services Interim Legislative Committee
Amy Foster Wolferman and Erin Butts will present on the topic of communities facing significant challenges in trauma prevention and mitigation on March 20 in Helena, MT at the Children and Families Human Services Interim Legislative Committee. Co-presenters are Jace Killsback, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Health Department, and Mandy Smoker-Broaddus, School Transformation Director, Office of Public Instruction.
Children's Bureau Conference, Arlington, VA
Dr. Rick van den Pol, Director of IERS, Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Director of NNCTC, Dr. James Caringi, Coordinator of Qualitative Evaluation, Matt Taylor, Director Montana Safe Schools Center, and Patrick Shannon, School Behavioral Health Specialist, will attend the 2012 Children’s Bureau Integrating Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Focused Practice meeting in Arlington, VA March 20-22, 2012. The conference will include collaborative planning workshops among the five-member cohort group.
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Specialist and Coordinator of National Native Children’s Trauma Center, will attend a meeting of Montana Behavioral Institute consultants in Helena, MT March 16, 2012. The purpose of the meeting is for planning and site updates.
Secondary Traumatic Stress Training for Missoula County Public Schools
Fifteen principals from across Missoula County Public Schools participated in a secondary traumatic stress and childhood trauma reduction training presented by IERS colleagues Dr. James Caring, Coordinator of Qualitative Evaluation and Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate. The work is part of the SAMHSA funded National Native Children's Trauma Center at IERS but also has linkages to our recent grant award from the Adminstration of Children and Families as well as to the mission of the Montana Safe Schools Center.
Northern Cheyenne Head Start training
Northern Cheyenne Head Start staff will receive training in Positive Behavioral Supports topics March 12, 2012, from Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Specialist and Coordinator of National Native Children’s Trauma Center, and Nanci Moreland, School Behavioral Specialist.
Accepting Applications for 2012-2013 School Year...APPLY NOW!
Co-Teach is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. We currently have openings in both the morning and afternoon programs. APPLY NOW - enrollment is first come first serve!
For enrollment questions or program information please contact Andrea Holmes at 406-243-6445
SAMHSA NCTSN All-Network Conference
Dr. Rick van den Pol, Director of IERS, Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Director of NNCTC, Dr. James Caringi, Coordinator of Qualitative Evaluation, and Dr. John Frederikson, Director of Justice Resource Services, will attend the SAMHSA National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s All-Network Conference in Baltimore, MD March 5-8, 2012. They will present a poster session on recent research and will help facilitate conversation regarding future directions in research concerning trauma-informed systems change. In addition, Dr. Frederikson has been invited to participate in meetings concerning support for military veterans and their families.
School Mental Health Conference
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Director NNCTC, Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate, and Mike Todd, Traditional Language and Culture Consultant will participate in the Annual School Mental Health Conference in Helena, MT March 1-2, 2012. Ms. Zimmerman will moderate a panel discussion “Mental Health Efforts in our Native Communities”. Mr. Todd and Poplar High School student Josh Failing will deliver a restorative justice workshop “Restorative Justice: Changing the Outcomes of Youth at Risk.”
STAR Training by NNCTC at Heart Butte Schools
Debra Klemann, Trauma Treatment Coordinator for the NNCTC, will lead a 1/2 day training in the Students, Trauma and Resiliency (STAR) intervention for Heart Butte School on the Blackfeet Reservation on March 1. Ms. Klemann will be assisted by Paulette Running Wolf, Trauma Intervention Specialist for NNCTC.
Wraparound School Mental Health consultation in Missoula
Erin Butts, MSW and IERS' Behavioral Health Associate will co-lead a two day wraparound School Mental Health consultation in Missoula in collaboration with Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Council for Advancemet and Support of Education Training in CA
Matt Taylor, Associate Director of IERS participated alongside Dr. Roberta Evans, Dean, UM College of Education and other UM-COEHS respresentatives at the 2012 Council for Advancemet and Support of Education Training in San Francisco. The 3-day training is entitled Development for Deans and Academic Directors and is aimed at enhancing the sustainability and visibility of the College of Education, IERS and UM. Information may be found at http://www.case.org/Conferences_and_Training/DALW12.html.
Family fun with food event - Monster pacakes for papas!
Please join us in another family friendly celebration! Co-Teach will be hosting Monster Pancakes for Papas in our classroom on Thursday, February 23rd. The morning class celebration is from 10:30-11:30 am; the afternoon class celebration is from 1:30-2:30 pm. We will join to visit, celebrate our families, and feast on fluffy pancakes with many delicious and interesting toppings to choose from. Please remember that not only papas, but all family members are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Early Childhood & Project REAL work with OPI
Amy Foster Wolferman, provided 2 days of coordination and consultation work on early childhood / positive behavioral supports work in Helena in partnership with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Bullying Prevention training, Fortine School District
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Specialist and Coordinator of National Native Children’s Trauma Center, and Jennifer Calder, School Behavioral Health Specialist, provided bullying prevention and awareness training at Fortine School District in Fortine, MT on February 22, 2012. Training was provided separately to teachers and staff, and to K-8 students.
Bullying Prevention training in Fortine Montana
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator of the MSSC and IERs and Jennifer Calder, School Behavioral Health Associate, provided trainings on effective strategies for reducing bulling behavior and increasing student resiliency in the community of Fortine, Montana. Foster Wolferman presents frequently on these topics across Montana and in coordination with OPI's Montana Behavioral Initiative. The Steps to Respect bullying prevention curriculum is a central component of many of these trainings.
Co-Teach will not be in session on Monday, February 20th in observance of President's Day.
Child Protective Services workers to receive training
NNCTC staff will attend initial planning meetings and deliver training to Child Protective Service workers in Crow, Northern Cheyenne, and Fort Peck Indian Reservations during the week of February 14. Trainings will cover topics of the Child Welfare Toolkit, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Child Traumatic Stress, and Design Teams.
National focus group on compassion fatigue in schools
Matt Taylor, Associate Dir. of IERS and Director of the MSSC participated in a 3-day expert review group convened by the U.S. Department of Education in New Orleans, LA for the development of a national, standardized training curriculum to address compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress in educators. The work was coordinated by the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and the Readiness and Emergency Management in Schools Technical Assistance Center.
Comprehensive School and Community Treatment meeting
Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate for IERS/NNCTC, presented on best practices in school mental health to child mental health workers, superintendents, school psychologists, OPI staff, and others at a Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) meeting in Helena February 7. The purpose of the group is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of CSCT administrative rules in order to make further improvements to the quality and effectiveness of CSCT services.
Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention task force meeting
Dr. John Frederikson traveled to Helena, MT February 6 to attend a Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Task Force meeting with victim services and law enforcement personnel. The primary topic of the meeting was data gathering and implementation.
NNCTC staff provided two days of training and consultation to Frazer Schools during the week of February 6. Trainings focused on topics within the Montana Behavioral Initiative framework, and included training in the Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) model.
Keynote, Early Childhood Winter Institute
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Specialist and Coordinator of National Native Children’s Trauma Center, was invited to deliver a keynote at the Early Childhood Winter Institute in Great Falls February 2, 2012. The conference was attended by Early Reading First sites. Ms. Foster Wolferman’s keynote was titled, “Promoting Young Children’s Social/Emotional Development”.
STS research results presentations
Erin Butts, Dr. Jim Caringi, and Dr. Cameo Borntreger of the NNCTC, NNCTC/UM School of Social Work and NNCTC/UM School of Psychology (respectively) presented on secondary traumatic stress research for members of the Franklin School in Missoula, MT.
Emergency Management Training for American Fork area schools
Matt Taylor, Director of the MSSC, provided Emergency Management Training for Schools (EM-101) for 120+ participants from across the American Fork Public Schools near Salt Lake City. 70 schools were represented at the trainings and Taylor co-presented with Susanna Graves from Lincoln County School District in Oregon.
First Day of Spring Semester Preschool
Preschool for the spring semester begins January 10th, 2012. Please refer to the updated 2011-2012 school calendar for dates preschool is not in session.
Meeting with Bureau of Indian Affairs
NNCTC staff met with Directors of Child Protective Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Billings, MT to develop a strategic implementation plan and to begin the process of reaching out to Tribal leaders. This work is a part of the Transforming Tribal Child Protection Services grant sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families at US DHHS.
Last Day of School - Winter Break
The final day of preschool before winter break will be December 15th, 2011. We will resume school on January 10th, 2012. Enjoy the holiday break!
Bullying Prevention training in Frazer School
NNCTC staff will provide bullying prevention training to staff and students at Frazer School December 13-15, 2011. The 3-day visit will also include one-on-one visits with teachers, classroom observations, and meetings with School Improvement Grant (SIG) staff. This work is on behalf of the SIG contract with the MT Office of Public Instruction.
Emergency Management Training, College of Education
Montana Safe Schools Center staff provided Emergency Management training to leadership and support staff at UM's College of Education and Human Sciences on December 12, 2011. The training was the second of a two-part training, and was designed to test internal and external communications in emergency situations. This training was part of a UM Emergency Management grant sponsored by the US Department of Education.
Family Fun with Food Event - Strawberry Shortcake for Siblings
Our final Co-Teach Family Fun with Food Event of the year - Strawberry Shortcake for Siblings, will take place on December 8th! This specific event will focus on and honor siblings of our Co-Teach students. All Co-Teach family members and friends are encouraged and welcome to attend this event. We look forward to seeing you there!
When: December 8th, 2011 @ 10:30am (morning program festivities) & 1:30pm (afternoon program festivities)
Where: Co-Teach classroom
Who: All Co-Teach families and friends are welcome
Emergency Managment training for UM College of Visual and Performing Arts
Dr. John Frederikson, Coordinator of the Montana Safe Schools Center will work with Thomas Johnson, Community Laison of the UM Police, Dr. Brian Krylowicz, director of UM'S Counseling and Psychological Services and Bernadine Gantert of UM Disability Services for Students to provide emergency management training for the University of Montana's College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Please refer to the revised Co-Teach calendar for the remainder of the 2011/2012 school year. Thank you!
Psychological First Aid training in Pryor, MT
NNCTC staff and graduate research assistants will travel to Pryor, MT December 5, 2011 to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) training to middle and high school students in the Plenty Coup School District. PFA is an evidence-based approach to assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster. Its aim is to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long-term coping and adaptive skills.
Frederikson presents at NIISA conference
John Frederikson, Coordinator of MSSC, will deliver a presentation on child trauma at the annual conference of National Indian Impacted Schools Association (NIISA) December 5-6, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV. The presentation is geared to address the concerns of schools that receive federal Impact funding.
Conferences will take place during the weeks of December 5th & 12th. Please sign up for one half hour slot on one of the assigned days provided by your child's teacher - a sign up sheet will be placed on the classroom door on November 28th.
We look forward to sharing all the progress your child has made over the semester!
IERS at U.S. Administration for Children & Families Washington D.C. meeting
Dr. Rick van den Pol, director of IERS, Dr. James Caringi, Professor of Social Work & IERS Dir. of Qualitative Evaluation, and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, director of NNCTC will be attending a two day grantee kick-off meeting in Washington D.C. hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration of Children and Families (ACF). The meeting is entitled "Integrating Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Focused Practice in Child Welfare Service Delivery." IERS/NNCTC recently received a 5 year grant award from ACF to initiate such work in three reservation settings in Montana and later, at three more sites across the U.S. The work will build upon many of the research and resources of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and ' work within that network having delivered school-based childhood trauma reduction interventions and having provided community-wide education on the impacts of childhood traumatic stress and historical trauma in Indian Country.
IERS member to receive ASIST Suicide Prevention Trainer Certification
Matt Taylor, Associate Director, will participate in a week long Trainer of Trainers Certification Program utilizing the ASIST Suicide Prevention Model. ASIST stands for the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. The internationally utilized ASIST model is a central component of multiple IERS grants at work in schools and in Indian Country. Other IERS staff currently possessing ASIST Trainer Certification are: Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Nancy Berg, Debra Klemann, Erin Butts and Amy Foster Wolferman. If you would like to have an ASIST training in your community, please contact Amy at: amy.fosterwolferman@mso.umt.edu or at 406-243-5417.
Emergency Exercise with College of Education
A traffic accident scenario will be the subject of a tabletop exercise facilitated by John Frederikson and Matt Taylor of the Montana Safe Schools Center. The exercise is part of an Emergency Management in Higher Education grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools.
School Emergency Management Training in Detroit, MI
Matt Taylor, Associate Director of IERS/NNCTC will provide a half-day training on Emergency Management for Schools in Detroit Michigan. The training is hosted and organized by the U.S. Department of Education's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center (REMS-TA).
Mental Health in Montana Schools presentation
Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate for IERS, will travel to Helena, MT November 29, 2011 to present to the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) working group. The purpose of the group is to make further improvements to the quality and effectiveness of CSCT services. Ms. Butts’ presentation will focus on an overview of her research on advancing school mental health in Montana.
Psychological First Aid In-service Training at IERS
A 1/2 day Psychological First Aid for Schools In-Service training will occur from 10-2 p.m. at IERS. Material utilized will be from the forthcoming PFA-S manual to be published by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD. Material from the U.S. Department of Education and FEMA will also be incorporated. Matt Taylor of IERS/MSSC will lead the training.
Co-Teach will not be in session November 23rd & 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume school on November 28th. Enjoy your time with family and friends and stay warm!
Classroom Building Evacuation Practice
Co-Teach will be practicing their 3rd and 4th Building Evacuation Practices on November 22nd and December 12th in both the morning and afternoon programs. Family members are welcome to attend this important safety event.
IERS-OPI collaboration on Project REAL for early childhood
Amy Foster-Wolferman will serve on OPI's Project REAL leadership team that meets in Helena to integrate research-based, multi-tiered systems of support for the development of both academic and social/emotional skills in seven early childhood demonstration sites across Montana. Project REAL incorporates models from he Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), the Center for Social Emotional Foundations in Early Learning (CSEFEL) and the Early Childhood Montana Behavioral Initiative (EC-MBI) on which IERS colleagues, including Foster-Wolferman serve as consultants, conference coordinators and trainers.
Interconnected School Mental Health Systems Framework Training
Erin Butts, NNCTC Behavioral Health Associate will participate in a two-day school mental health wraparound systems training held at the Double Tree hotel in Missoula, MT. The event is in collaboration with the Missoula and Helena Public School Districts and is open to the public.
2-Day Suicide and Bullying Prevention work in Hardin and Forsyth MT
Amy Foster Wolferman, Erin Butts, Deb Klemann, and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman - IERS/NNCTC School Safety Coordinator, Behavioral Health Associate, Trauma Treatment Coordinator, and NNCTC Director respectively will provide a 2-day suicide prevention training in Hardin, Montana with the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) model. Hardin serves many students of the Crow Tribe. Additionally, bullying prevention work will be provided to schools from the community of Forsyth, MT.
Emergency Management training (Part 2) for UM Residence Life (Dorms & University Village)
Dr. John Frederikson and Matt Taylor of the MSSC, along with colleagues from UM Police, Disability Services and Counseling & Psychological Services will be delivering part 2 of an emergency management training to UM's Residence Life facilities and maintenance staff as part of the US ED EMHE grant that continues through December 2012.
Emergency Management training (Part 1) for UM Residence Life (Dorms & University Village)
Dr. John Frederikson and Matt Taylor of the MSSC, along with colleagues from UM Police, Disability Services and Counseling & Psychological Services will be delivering emergency management training to UM's Residence Life facilities and maintenance staff as part of the US ED EMHE grant that continues through December 2012.
MSSC staff to attend International Bullying Prevention Conference
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator for the MSSC and Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Specialist, will be attending the 2011 International Bullying Prevention Conference in New Orleans November 6-8. Foster Wolferman is a certified trainer in the Steps to Respect Bullying Prevention model that is a component of one current IERS grant and the topic of bullying and cyberbullying prevention is a frequent request received by the Montana Safe Schools Center. For more information about the conference visit: http://stopbullyingworld.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=78
Montana Behavioral Initative Team Coach Training -Bozeman
Amy Foster Wolferman, IERS' School Safety Coordinator and consultant to the Montana Office of Public Instruction's Montana Behavioral Initiative (MBI) will participate in an MBI Team Coach training in Bozeman MT. MBI is a state-wide initiative to infuse sustainable, positive behavioral support programs across participating school systems.
Wraparound School Support Services Meeting -Great Falls
Erin Butts, NNCTC Behavioral Health Associate will participate in a full day school mental health wraparound systems training held in Great Falls MT. This work is affiliated with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Secondary Trauma and Bullying Prevention work on Northern Cheyene Reservation
Erin Butts, Amy Foster Wolferman and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman - IERS/NNCTC's Behavioral Health AssociateSchool Safety Coordinator, and NNCTC Director will provide MT-OPI School Improvement Grant affiliated training in bullying prevention and secondary traumatic stress reduction to school staff in Lame Deer, MT on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
Training on school-based Psych First Aid at international conference on traumatic stress
Matt Taylor, Associate Director of IERS will co-lead a half day institute session November 2 on Psychological First Aid for Schools at the 2011 Conference of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies held in Baltimore, Maryland. Co-trainers of the Institute will be Drs. Melissa Brymer (UCLA/NCTSS), Gil Reyes (Fielding Graduate Univ.) Patricia Watson (National Center for PTSD) and Douglas Walker (Mercy Family Center, New Orleans).
Presentation to Salish Kootenai College classroom
Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator for NNCTC/IERS, presented on bullying prevention and Early Childhood Centers to an early childhood class at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT October 27, 2011.
Monkey Bread for Mamas, our first Family Fun with Food Event of the school year will take place Thursday, Oct. 27th in the Co-Teach classroom. The morning program festivities will start at 10:30 am and the afternoon program festivities will begin at 1:30 pm. We will eat delicious monkey bread and visit with friends and families of Co-Teach. Please note that mamas, papas, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and ALL other family members are welcome to attend this event. We hope to see you there!
Emergency Management training for UM College of Forestry & Conservation
Dr. John Frederikson and Matt Taylor of the MSSC, along with colleagues from UM Police, Disability Services and Counseling & Psychological Services will be delivering emergency management training to UM's College of Forestry and Conservation as part of the US ED EMHE grant that continues through December 2012.
Suicide Prevention 2-day training on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation
Amy Foster Wolferman, IERS/NNCTC School Safety Coordinator will provided a 2-day training in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation on the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) model. The training was in conjunction with Montana OPIs School Improvement Grant.
MSSC provides emergency management training at Colorado School Safety Conference
The Colorado School Safety Resource Center and the U.S. Department of Education's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center have invited Matt Taylor, IERS' associate director, to provide a 1/2 day training on the topic of comprehensive emergency management for schools as well as provide a workshop session on mental health recovery interventions to include models such as Psychological First Aid. Both the Montana Safe Schools Center and the Colorado Center are state level Centers that frequently collaborate with the U.S. Department of Education. For more information about the Colorado Center visit: http://safeschools.state.co.us/
Studnets Resilency & Trauma + 2-day suicide prevention training on Fort Peck Reservation
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, NNCTC Director, Erin Butts, IERS’ Behavioral Health Associate, and Debra Klemann, IERS’ Trauma Treatment Coordinator traveled to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to attend grant planning meetings with Frazer Schools and Tribal Health Suicide Prevention Project. During their weeklong trip they also provided a 2 day training in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) model to teachers, counselors, and school administrators at the Fort Peck Tribes Indian Education conference. They also provided training in the Students, Trauma and Resiliency Model (STAR).
Manning invited to speak at Stanford University
Richard Manning, an IERS research associate, will travel to Stanford University Oct. 10, 2011 as an invited guest of the university's Center on Food Security and the Environment. Manning, a past collaborator with the center, is exploring ways that IERS work on childhood traumatic stress needs to be incorporated in public policy dealing with the intersection of poverty, dislocation and catastrophic upheaval during climate change.
IERS/NNCTC presents at OJJDP National Conference on Children's Justice & Safety
Dr. James Caringi, coordinator of qualitative evaluation for the National Native Children's Trauma Center and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman the center's director have been invited by the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's 2011 National Conference on Children's Justice and Safety. Zimmerman will provide a presentation on childhood traumatic stress interventions and Caringi will attend an invitation only Research PreConference. At that event Caringi will, among other activities, engage with the Office of Justice Programs newly formed Science Advisory Board Subcommittee chaired by Dr. Mark Lipsey.
$3.2 million grant awarded to IERS to address trauma and child abuse in Indian Country.
The federal Administration for Children and Families recently announced that the National Native Children’s Trauma Center in the Institute for Educational Research and Service (IERS) and its partners have won a $3.2 million grant to apply cutting-edge research to the problems of child abuse and neglect in Indian Country. The award is one of five such grants in the nation. The work will benefit at least three reservations in Montana during the next two years, then bring pilot programs to three more reservations elsewhere in the nation and ultimately serve as a model for similar work throughout Indian Country. The project is for five years.
The center at UM has been a pivotal player in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network for the past eight years, helping compile evidence directed at the effects of abuse and neglect on children. Until now, the center’s work has been concentrated in schools, delivering evidence-based interventions for problems rooted in trauma such as alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency and teen suicide. The new grant, however, will allow that focus to expand by moving beyond schools to involve child and protective service workers, parents, extended families and foster parents. The work will also train child welfare workers in recognizing and treating secondary traumatic stress, the burnout and compassion fatigue that can plague caregivers who face these problems daily. Dr. Rick van den Pol, director of IERS, and Dr. James Caringi of UM’s School of Social Work are Co-Principal Investigators of the grant. Evaluation will occur with the Butler Institute for Children and Families from the University of Denver.
More information: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/10/university-of-montana-gets-federal-grant-to-treat-child-abuse-in-indian-country/
No School - October 10th & 11th
Co- Teach will NOT be in session Monday, October 10th & Tuesday, October 11th. We will resume classes on Wednesday, October 12th.
Bullying Prevention Training in Lame Deer Schools
Amy Foster Wolferman, school safety coordinator and Don Earl, information technology specialist, of IERS' Montana Safe Schools Center will provide a two-day bullying prevention training in Lame Deer Schools on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. This two day program will include an all day, professional in-service training for 7th-12th grade teachers on October 5 and rotating sessions for students on October 6. Cyberbullying, bystander behavior, school supports, and classmate interventions will all be discussed. The training is in conjunction with the Montana Office of Public Instruction's School Improvement Grant work. Portions of this training will be based on material from the Committee for Children's Steps to Respect Bullying Prevention Model.
Co-Teach students introduced to Twiggle the Turtle this week!
This week and throughout the preschool year your child will hear stories told by Twiggle and his friends! Twiggle is used in conjunction with our PATHS Curriculum. PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) promotes social and emotional competencies and targets emotional literacy, self-control, social competence, positive peer relations, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. Twiggle and his friends make these important early social and emotional skills meaningful and fun!
IERS member to receive ASIST Suicide Prevention Trainer Certification
Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate for IERS' National Native Children's Trauma Center will participate in a week long Trainer of Trainers Certification Program utilizing the ASIST Suicide Prevention Model. ASIST stands for the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. The internationally utilized ASIST model is a central component of multiple IERS grants at work in schools and in Indian Country. Other IERS staff currently possessing ASIST Trainer Certification are: Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Nancy Berg, Debra Klemann and Amy Foster Wolferman. If you would like to have an ASIST training in your community, please contact Amy at: amy.fosterwolferman@mso.umt.edu or at 406-243-5417.
Emergency Managment training for UM School of Journalism
Matt Taylor, Associate Director and Dr. John Frederikson, Coordinator of the Montana Safe Schools Center will work with Gary Taylor, captain of the UM Police and Dr. Brian Krylowicz, director of UM'S Counseling and Psychological Services to provide Part 1 of a 2-part emergency management training for the University of Montana School of Journalism.
NNCTC Explores Collaboration with Tribal Bison Herd Managers
Richard Manning, Research Associate for IERS/NNCTC, traveled to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana September 28, 2011 to meet with officials at C.M. Russell Wildlife Refuge regarding plans to raise bison on the refuge and to explore the possibility of collaboration on cultural activity efforts at the schools. Management, marketing, and processing of the bison herd would provide to tribal youth cultural learning opportunities, sources of employment, and a traditional source of nutrition.
IERS provides suicide prevention briefings to Montana Legislature and Tribal Council
The Montana Safe Schools Center (MSSC) and National Native Children's Trauma Center (NNCTC) have been invited by the Montana Legislature's State-Tribal Relations Committee to provide briefings to committee members and the Executive Council of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Tribes on the issue of youth suicide prevention in Indian Country and best practices. The Centers are also asked to summarize past and current projects underway with U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration grants. Presenting from the two Centers which are both housed in the Institute for Educational Research and Service at UM will be Dr. John Frederikson, Coordinator of the MSSC, and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Director of the NNCTC
Missoula City Police Dept training conducted by MSSC
Dr. John Frederikson and Richard Manning of IERS' Montana Safe Schools Center and National Native Children's Trauma Center were invited by the Missoula City Police Department to provide training on the impacts of secondary traumatic stress in the workplace and family as well as to summarize results from the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study.
Foundations from the northwest region recieve IERS/NNCTC briefing on childhood trauma
Richard Manning of IERS/National Native Children's Trauma Center presented "Moving Solutions Upstream: the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study" to a collection of foundation representatives from the northwest region. The lecture was part of the 2011 Philanthropy Northwest Annual Conference held September 21-23 in Missoula. Manning's presentation focused on the impacts of childhood traumatic stress on academic and behavioral health development, evidence based interventions, the role of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the importance of culturally sensitive implementation in Indian Country. Additional presenters at the session involved representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Washington State Family Policy Council and the Sherwood Trust.
National School Mental Health conference presentation in S.C.
Erin Butts, Behavioral Health Associate for the NNCTC presented a session entitled "Transforming Statewide School Mental Health Through Research, Partnership and Policy" at the 16th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health held in Charleston, South Carolina. Co-Presenting with Ms. Butts was Sara Casey of the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The conference was organized by the University of Maryland's Center for School Mental Health and the session, which addressed structural supports for school practitioners and childhood traumatic stress interventions, was attended by 40 participants.
NNCTC Director recieves suicide prevention consultant training
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, director of IERS' National Native Children's Trauma Center will participate in a week-long ASIST Consultant Training in Denver Colorado. ASIST stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. This internationally recognized model is central to multiple behavioral health grants presently being implemented by IERS, including ones in joing collaboration with tribal health departments, with school districts in several reservation communitites across Montana, and in collaboration with the Montana Office of Public Instruction SIG grant.
MSSC at OPI Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention Taskforce Meeting
Dr. John Frederikson, Coordinator of the Montana Safe Schools Center, participated in the monthly Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention task-force meeting in Helena, MT sponsored by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The work taskforce is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Education grant through the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Webinar for 9/11 Anniversary Speaker Series
Matt Taylor, IERS/NNCTC Associate Director was an invited speaker for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's September 11 Anniversary Speakers Series that reflects on how the field of childhood trauma and school preparedness has changed in the ten years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. The webinar was entitled: "Preparing our Children for Emergencies: Educational Response Since 9/11" and included co-speakers Sharon Heno of Project Fleur de lis in New Orleans and Rose Pfefferbaum of the University of Oklahoma's Terrorism and Disaster Center. For additional information about the entire speaker series (which includes three other sessions) visit: http://learn.nctsn.org/
The first day of Co-Teach Preschool begins Wednesday, September 7th. We are looking forward to seeing you all on the first day of school!
NNCTC with Fort Peck Suicide Prevention Coalition and Fort Belknap Tribal Council
Dr. Richard van den Pol, IERS director, and Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, NNCTC director, participate in multiple onsite meetings on the Fort Peck Reservation with multiple agencies affiliated with the Tribe's Suicide Prevention Coalition. IERS/NNCT is in partnership with the Tribal Health Department and area schools on suicide prevention and behavioral health initiatives including a recently awarded SAMHSA grant jointly shared by IERS and Tribal Health. Additionally, the pair traveled to the Fort Belknap reservation for work with IERS' colleague and cultural consultant Roger White regarding the intersection of culture, resiliency, traditional practice and mental/behavioral health for youth at risk. The group also presented to the Tribal Council and received formal permission for the initiation of research studies that respect tribal ownership of data, cultural sensitivity and best practices in child traumatic stress reduction.
The Co-Teach Preschool will be holding an Open House on August 31st from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm for all new and returning Co-Teach Families. September 7th will be the first day of preschool for the fall semester.
Resiliency training in Lame Deer Schools
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman and Erin Butts of the NNCTC provided training to 24 teachers and staff of Lame Deer Schools on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The topics were resiliency support and secondary traumatic stress in education settings. The training was a component of SIG grant work with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Bullying prevention training to Lincoln School in Anaconda
On August 30th, 2011, Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator and Consultant, and Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, will provide a bullying prevention training to Lincoln School in Anaconda. The Bullying Prevention Training is modeled after the Steps to Respect Bullying Prevention Program.
Enroll Now! Co-Teach is accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year...
Co-Teach is still enrolling for the 2011-2012 school year. Space is limited and families are accepted on a first come first serve basis. For questions about enrollment please contact:
Andrea Holmes
andrea.holmes@umontana.edu
(406) 243-6445
SIG Grant training in Lame Deer and Pryor Schools
Debra Klemann and Erin Butts of the NNCTC are scheduled to provide training over August 23 and 24 to teachers and staff of the Lame Deer Schools on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and Pryor School on the Crow Reservation. The training will be a component of School Improvement Grant (SIG) work with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Awarded
The Institute for Educational Research and Service has been awarded a State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention grant by HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This three-year grant will support a partnership with Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Health Service to design and deploy a comprehensive system of youth suicide prevention on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeast Montana.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Funding Received
The National Native Children’s Trauma Center recently received a fifth year of funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The additional funding enables continuation of NNCTC’s current work in the identification, cultural adaptation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based mental health practices and intervention for American Indian/Alaska native children with trauma.
ASIST Training to Riverfront Counseling and Support Center in Hamiliton, MT
On August 12th and 13th, 2011, Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator and Consultant, and Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, will provide an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) to Riverfront Counseling and Support Center in Hamilton, MT. ASIST provides practical training for those who want to learn how to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
IERS invited to testify at the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee
The Institute for Educational Research and Service was among the five expert organizations invited to testify at the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee field hearings at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation on Aug. 9. Convened by U.S. Sen. John Tester of Montana, the hearing centered on actions taken in the community as a result of a cluster of at least six suicides among students on the reservation in one school year. Much of the testimony centered on a $1.4 million grant awarded in July to Fort Peck Tribal Health and IERS's National Native Children's Trauma Center. The federal grant will pay for a series of evidence-based interventions on the reservation designed to prevent future tragedy.
Richard Manning, of IERS, delivered the testimony and reported data from a school-based mentoring program designed by IERS' staff. Preliminary data show the program (which can easily be replicated in schools facing similar challenges) significantly reduced violence in the school and improved academic performance of at-risk children.
MT Safe Schools presentations at Dept. of Education National Conference
On August 8th, 2011, Marilyn Brugier Zimmerman, Director of the National Native Children's Trauma Center, and Matt Taylor, Associate Director of IERS and the Montana Safe Schools Center, will travel to Washington, D.C. to deliver presentations on the topics of suicide prevention (2), school emergency exercises, Psychological First Aid, and resiliency in Native American Youth at the U.S. Department of Education’s 2011 Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “Making the Connection: Creating and Maintaining Conditions for Learning”
Educators Technology Conference 2011 at University of Montana
On August 4th, 2011, The Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Montana will host the 2011 Education Technology Conference where Don Earl, Information Technology Specialist for IERS, and Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, will provide an Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Prevention Training.
Students, Trauma, and Resiliency training at the University of Montana
On August 3, 2011, Deb Klemann, Trauma Treatment Coordinator for the National Native Children's Trauma Center, will provide a STAR (Students, Trauma, and Resiliency) training at the University of Montana for staff at the Institute for Research and Service. STAR is a classroom curriculum designed for increasing coping for traumatic stress.
Emergency Exercise conducted at UM
The Office of Public Safety/Police conducted an emergency exercise today involving UM Residence Life, Counseling and Psychological Services and other departments. The exercise was part of the College’s Emergency Management in Higher Education grant in partnership with UM’s Montana Safe Schools Center. The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Co-Teach 2011-2012 School Year Calendar
Find the Co-Teach 2011-2012 School Year Calendar here.
Accepting Applications for Fall 2011!
Co-Teach Preschool is accepting applications for the afternoon program; 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Monday through Thursday for children ages 3-5. The cost is $13 per day; with the school year running 115 days. For more information call 243-6445
Emergency Exercise conducted at UM
The Office of Public Safety/Police conducted a multi-agency emergency exercise today which simulated a hostile visitor, shooting and hostage situation on the UM Campus. The exercise was part of the College’s Emergency Management in Higher Education grant in partnership with UM’s Montana Safe Schools Center. The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Montana Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Task Force
On June 28, 2011 John Frederikson, Coordinator of Montana Safe Schools Center, will travel to Helena, MT to participate in a meeting of the Montana Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Task Force. The task force is a consortium of Montana agencies including Office of the Attorney General, National Guard, Office of Public Instruction, and the MT School Board Association. The purpose of the meeting is to review and coordinate current services with goal of reducing violence and substance abuse across the state.
Montana Behavioral Initiative Conference
On June 20th through June 24th, Several IERS staff including Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, and Don Earl, Information Technology Specialist for IERS, will be attending and presenting at the Montana Behavioral Initiative Conference. Ms. Otten is the lead coordinator for the annual conference. Mr. Earl will be giving a presentation on Internet Safety and Cyberbullying. The conference is going to be held in Bozeman, MT.
Trauma Informed Positive Behavior Intervention
Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, Director NNCTC, and Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator, delivered Trauma Informed Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports training at the Western Montana Early Childhood Institute on June 18, 2011. The two-day institute was held at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT.
Adult Basic Education Childhood Trauma Training
On June 6th, 2011, Dr. John Frederikson, Coordinator of the Montana Safe Schools Center, did a training with Adult Basic Ed, located in the Emma Dickenson School. There were 14 staff members whose role is to help teach adults basic academic skills and help them get a GED or HS diploma. The training was on Childhood Trauma.
Pacific Northwest Regional Conference
Ten IERS colleagues attended the Complex Trauma Treatment Network: Pacific Northwest Regional Conference in Spokane Washington on May 25-26, 2011. The purpose of the conference was to bring together sites in Washington, Alaska and Montana that are establishing or sustaining trauma-informed school systems. The conference allowed for the learning communities to attend presentations on childhood trauma, present on their site work, collaborate with other existing sites and receive technical assistance from learning community mentors.
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Face to Face Meeting
On May 18th, 2011, Marilyn Brugier Zimmerman, Director of the National Native Children's Trauma Center, attended The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Face to Face meetings that also included the American Indian/Alaska Native Task Force of which she is a member. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention envisions a nation free from the tragic experience of suicide. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) called for establishing a public-private partnership to help guide the implementation of the goals and objectives in the NSSP. The Action Alliance is that partnership.
MBI Consultation to provide early childhood services
On May 17th, 2011, Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, will be traveling to Ronan to conduct an MBI consultation for early childhood services.
On May 17th, 2011, Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator and Consultant, and Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool, will be providing MBI consultation while at Northern Cheyenne Head Start.
On May 9th, 2011, IERS staff members Marcy Otten, Coordinator of Research & Service & Co-Teach Preschool and Amy Foster Wolferman, School Safety Coordinator and Consultant, will be attending an MBI Consultant Meeting in Libby, MT.
Kindergarten consultation and observation
On May 6th, 2011, Co-Teach staff Mary Finnegan, Teacher and Manager of Co-Teach Preschool and Andrea Holmes, Afternoon Teacher for Co-Teach Preschool, will be conducting a kindergarten observation at Dixon School.
Throughout the weeks of May 9th and 16th we will be hosting parent/teacher conferences for interested families. Please sign - up for a half hour time slot with your student's supervising teacher. We look forward to sharing with you all of the progress your child has made over the year!
End-of-Year Potluck at Dragon Hallow & Carousel
Co-Teach will be hosting our annual potluck at the Missoula Dragon Hallow & Carousel on the last day of school, Thursday, May 12th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This is an exciting time where all of our Co-Teach families and friends celebrate another wonderful year! Please plan on joining us in this fun filled event!
Co-Teach Preschool will have a scheduled building evacuation practice in both the morning and afternoon programs on Wednesday, April 20th. Please note that family members are welcome to attend this important safety event.
Classroom Fundraiser to help protect the rainforest in Peru!
Our Co-Teach preschool classes, along with thousands of other students and teachers around the world will be participating in the Earth’s Birthday Project’s Big Gift to the Earth fundraiser. This year we are participating in a coin drive to collect funds to purchase and protect acreage in the Molina Pampa Community Reserve in Northern Peru. This forest is home to many endangered species including the very rare Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, the Mountain Tapir and the Spectacled Bear, among many others. Every $50 raised saves an acre of this amazing rainforest—and every acre saved will combat global climate change by offsetting 66,000 pounds of carbon pollution in the United States. That is 7 times the amount of carbon emitted every year by an average American car. It’s more than 200 times the amount of carbon emissions caused by lighting an American home for a year—or by using a cell phone for a year.
The Co-Teach students will be given special Big Gift to the Earth coin banks. Over the course of the next week (April 25th – May 2nd), please look around your house for spare change to fill the bank. Check under your sofa cushions, in your pockets, and in your car. Then, return the bank to Co-Teach on or before May 2nd. For the final two weeks of school, we will work as a class to count our total collection of change and submit our contribution to the Earth’s Birthday Project. Within four weeks of submitting our donation, we will receive an honorary certificate acknowledging our gift and a fact sheet that describes our Big Gift rainforest site that we collectively helped protect as a class.
Over the course of the week, our goal is to collectively raise enough money to purchase 1 acre of rainforest ($50). No gift is too small – every penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and dollar counts. This fun activity will teach our students that their small actions can collectively add up to a BIG difference in the world!
We are very excited and proud to be a part of the Big Gift to the Earth! We are helping to make a world of difference.
Thank you, in advance, for your participation and support!
*Please note that donating for the Big Gift to the Earth fundraiser IS an optional activity and Co-Teach families are NOT required to provide donations. We respect every family’s decision to partake in this fundraiserClassroom Party, Big Gift to the Earth Fundraiser Celebration & Certificate Presentation
Please join our preschoolers and the Co-Teach team in celebrating the end-of-the year with a classroom party and certificate celebration on Thursday, May 12th. During this time, we will present certificates to all of our Co-Teach students and watch a picture & video presentation of our Big Gift to the Earth fundraiser activities and Earth awareness activities with the children, followed by jungle treats, conversation, and play with family and friends. All Co-Teach family members are welcome to attend!
The last day of preschool will be on Thursday, May 12th. Enjoy your summer vacation!
Co-Teach Preschool will have a scheduled building evacuation practice in both the morning and afternoon programs on Wednesday, April 20th. Please note that family members are welcome to attend this important safety event.
NO SCHOOL Monday, April 4th - Thursday, April 7th
Please note that Co-Teach will not be in seesion Monday, April 4th through Thursday, April 7th for spring break vacation. School will resume its regular schedule on Monday, April 11th.
Garden Soup for Grandparents: Family Fun with Food Event!
Please join us for Garden Soup for Grandparents on Thursday, March 31st! The morning program will host the event from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The afternoon program will host the event from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Please note that all family members are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!
Co-Teach Preschool will have a scheduled building evacuation practice in both the morning and afternoon programs on Wednesday, March 16th. Please note that family members are welcome to attend this important safety event.
2011 Leading expert on post-traumatic stress airs on MCAT
The world's leading expert on post-traumatic stress and childhood trauma, Bessel van der Kolk, will air on MCAT on Friday, February 4th at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm.
Bessel A. van der Kolk M.D. has been active as a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of posttraumatic stress and related phenomena since the 1970s. His work integrates developmental, biological, psychodynamic and interpersonal aspects of the impact of trauma and its treatment.
Our next scheduled thematic unit will focus on the popular children's book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bil Martin Jr. and John Archambault. This unit will begin on Monday, February 28th and end on Thursday, March 10th.
School will not be in session Monday, February 21st in observance of President's Day. We will resume our regular school schedule on Tuesday, February 22nd.
Please join us for Sundaes for Siblings on Thursday, February 24th - our first Family Fun with Food event of the 20011 school year! The morning program will host the event from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The afternoon program will host the event from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Please note that all family members are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!
Co-Teach Preschool will have a scheduled building evacuation practice in both the morning and afternoon programs on Wednesday, February 23rd. Please note that family members are welcome to attend this important safety event.
Co-Teach Coordinator, Marcy Otten was recently elected Vice President of the Child Care Resources (CCR) Board of Directors. CCR is the resource and referral agency for the Missoula, Mineral, and Ravalli Counties. This agency strives to improve the quality of child care in the Missoula region in order to support the developmental needs of young children. Promoting the well-being of children is the central guiding value for decisions made at CCR.
Kim Story has been elected to serve as a Co-Teach representative on the Missoula Head Start Policy Council. The Policy Council is made up primarily of parents of students in Head Start, with a representative from each school location. There are also two to three community members who typically serve in a related field. The Policy Council serves as a support to the Board of Directors to make decisions regarding policy, budget, staffing, and other areas relating to early childhood. Kim was chosen as a community representative due to the relationship between Head Start and Co-Teach, as well as her expertise in early childhood.
We will be practicing a building evacuation on Wednesday, January 19th. All family members are welcome to join us in this important safety event.
School will not be in session on Monday, January 17th in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday. School will resume on Tuesday, January 18th.
Accepting Applications for Fall 2011
Co-Teach Preschool is accepting applications for Fall 2011. Co-Teach offers two programs: morning or afternoon; Monday through Thursday for children ages 3-5. The cost is $13 per day; with the school year running 115 days. For more information call 243-6392.
Please join us for our next Family Fun with Food Event--Mashed Potatoes for Mamas on Thursday, December 16th. The morning program event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the afternoon program will begin at 1:30 p.m. All family members are welcome to attend, we can't wait to see you!
Last day of school for fall semester
The last day of school for the fall semester is Thursday, December 16th. We will begin spring semester on Monday, January 10, 2011. We hope you have a wonderful winter break!
We will be practicing another building evacuation on Monday, December 13th. All family members are welcome to join us during this important safety event.
Congratulations to Teacher Andrea!
Please join us in congratulating Teacher Andrea who was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Missoula area Head Start. Andrea joins the board as an Early Childhood expert to give direction on decisions regarding what is best for children and to provide insight about curriculum and other topics in early childhood education.
Parent Teacher conferences will be held the week of December 6th and 13th. The sign up sheet is located on the classroom door. Conferences will last approximately one half hour. We look forward to meeting with you and discussing all the progress your child had made over the semester!
Bully Prevention Training, Missoula
On Thursday, December 2nd, Marcy Otten, Coordinator for Research and Service at the Co-Teach Preschool, will facilitate the first of a two-part training on bullying prevention at Paxson Elementary School in Missoula, MT. Otten conducts a number of school-tailored trainings, including bullying prevention, an emerging topic of importance in schools across the country. For more information on these and other trainings, contact Marcy Otten at (406) 243-2262, or by email atmarcy.otten@umontana.edu.
There will be no school Wednesday, November 24th or Thursday, November 25th. We hope you enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.
We will be practicing a building evacuation on Tuesday, November 23rd. Families are welcome to join us during this important safety drill.
We will be hosting our first Family Fun with Food Event, Pasta for Papas on Thursday, October 28th. All Co-Teach papas, families, and friends are welcome to attend! The morning program festivities will begin at 10:30, and the afternoon will begin at 1:30. We hope to see you there!
We will be practicing our 2nd building evacuation on Wednesday, October 20th. All family members are welcome to participate in this important safety drill.
We will be practicing our first building evacuation of the year on Thursday, September 30th. All family members are welcome to participate in this important safety event.
First day of School, September 8th
Welcome to beginning of the school year! The first day of school is on Wednesday, September 8th. The morning program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. The afternoon program begins at 12:00 p.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. We are excited for a brand new year and can't wait to meet each and everyone of you!
Co-Teach Gears-up for School Year
Co-Teach will hold an open house for families of registered students on Wednesday, September 1st from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The Preschool will begin its fall semester the following Wednesday, September 8th. For more information, please contact Mary Finnegan, Manager and Special Education Teacher at Co-Teach, at 243-6392.
Accpeting Applications for the Afternoon Program
Co-Teach is currently accepting applications for the afternoon program for the 2010-2011 school year. The afternoon program runs from 12:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. To request an application, please contact Mary Finnegan at Mary.Finnegan@umontana.edu or (406) 243-6392.
Please join us for the end of year potluck at Dragon Hallow/Carousel on Thursday, May 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The end of year classroom party and presentation of certificates will be held on Thursday, May 13th. The morning class will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the afternoon program will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Please mark your calendars for the Co-Teach Annual Spring Play for Thursday, April 29. This year the children will be performing The Very Hungry Caterpillar, based on the book by Eric Carle. The morning program will perform at 10:30 a.m., the afternoon program will perform at 1:30 p.m.
Spring break is March 29th through April 1st. We hope you all have a wonderful break and have a chance to enjoy some time with your family and friends.
Join us on Thursday, March 25th for our Family Fun with Food event, Muffins for Mamas. The morning program event will begin at 10:30 a.m. The afternoon program event will begin at 1:30 p.m. Please remember, ALL family members are welcome to attend!
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