Uncategorized
Local coach arrested for sexual intercourse without consent
Published
10 years agoon
BSSD offers counseling to students, parents
By Joseph T. O’Connor Explore Big Sky Managing Editor
This article was updated from the original, which was published Sept. 2
BIG SKY – The Big Sky School District on Sept. 1 reported its girls’ varsity basketball coach had been arrested and detained by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
Cyle Kokot, 22, was arrested Aug. 29 on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and his bail was set at $250,000 on Sept. 2. The victims are both minors who played basketball for Kokot, the Lone Peak High School girls’ head basketball coach.
“It is incomprehensible to us as a school and community that this alleged behavior could occur,” said Big Sky School District Supt. Jerry House in a statement. Ophir School and LPHS opened for the 2014-15 school year on Sept. 3 as scheduled.
“We’re [currently] working together with other schools in the county to help our children and to help alleviate the problem,” said House in a Sept. 3 phone interview with EBS, encouraging those with questions to seek guidance through the school. “When a student is confused or angry, we have counselors available to talk to those students.”
Counselors and administrators from around the state as well as local pastor Bradford Lartigue are meeting with BSSD students, teachers and parents from Sept. 3-5. After Sept. 5, BSSD k-8 counselor Katy Thomas is available to speak with pre-high school students, while 9-12 graders have access to a specialized area group, according to House.
“Counseling is always available based on need,” he said. “Licensed psychologists and therapists with the Gallatin County Special-Ed Co-op will be available after Friday [Sept. 5] at a moment’s notice.”
Kokot, who was employed by the district since 2012, is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 19. He is currently on suspension without pay and being held in the Gallatin County Detention Center.
Due to the legal responsibility to protect the rights of all parties involved and the ongoing investigation, the district is unable to provide any additional information at this time, House said.
Supt. House may be contacted at (406) 995-4281 and any questions regarding the investigation can be referred to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
————-
Lending an open ear
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Rebecka Pearson, with Monforton School District in Bozeman, was one of many professionals who offered counseling services to students, parents and BSSD staff from Sept. 3-5. Here, Pearson offers insight into awareness and sensitivity during a crisis situation:
• LISTEN to the victims, family and community members while maintaining a non-judgmental perspective.
• Ensure safety both physically and psychologically while assessing the needs of those affected by the situation.
• Triage the needs for levels of care: individual therapy, family therapy, group or community processing.
• Look for signs of anxiety or depression including change in emotional states, withdrawn mood, changes in appetite, etc., being aware that every individual processes at different paces, so emotions may surface immediately or could take weeks or months to arise. It is crucial that regardless of the time they surface, the emotions are treated with respect and given the attention needed to process them adequately.
• Be aware that any trauma can and typically does trigger old traumatic events in the victims, family and community members.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd