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The Ram’s Horn
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Dustin Shipman BSSD Superintendent
“The Ram’s Horn” is a regular column by Big Sky School District Superintendent Dustin Shipman, offering news and insight from the district.
Greetings from the superintendent’s office.
Our students celebrated the 100th day of school this week, and as I witnessed their celebrations I also had the opportunity to reflect on the first 100 days of my tenure at the Big Sky School District.
In nearly every interview I’ve been involved with, both as candidate and as employer, the inevitable question arises: “What would be your plan for the first 100 days on the job?”
BSSD has witnessed some great things in the last 100 days. We’ve moved into a new school and, while it’s still unfinished, Ophir elementary is starting to take on a life and culture of its own. The hallways and classrooms are establishing identities and the children’s spirit is more prevalent in all venues in the school.
Additionally, we’ve launched an ambitious and aggressive strategic plan. It seems long ago, however in the last 100 days, we interviewed and hired a consultant; gathered 730 responses to a representative survey and collated that data; had a significant strategic planning retreat; conducted focus groups; revised and finally passed the plan at the board level; and began implementation.
This work has set the tone for the district moving forward and so far the initial implementations of the plan have proven positive.
As part of that plan, we’ve begun moving toward authorization of the International Baccalaureate program. And in the last month we’ve accomplished significant steps toward our goals including sending a group of seven teachers and administrators to IB training in Vancouver, Canada.
IB trainings are popular in North America and hard to find, so we’re exhausting every venue we can in order to make this happen for our teachers and our students. The training is centered on assessment and course modeling for the programs at the high school and elementary levels, respectively.
Each of our teachers had daylong training recently in project-based learning and inquiry-based instruction. Both are going to be key teaching and learning strategies as the school year moves beyond the first 100 days and onto the next decade of excellence.
In 100 days we’ve also exposed our kids to musicians from all over the world and held a spelling bee; made the playoffs in football and had 100 percent acceptance to a postsecondary option for our seniors; taken art students on a retreat and hosted the NPR radio show “From The Top”; created a track team and made the district tournament in volleyball.
We’ve sent the yearbook to the publisher and hosted art café, while producing a student radio play, starting a robotics club, and launching a district Facebook page. And we’re providing students with a great education day in and day out.
The celebration of 100 days of school gave me time to reflect, and the thought that resonates with me is, I can’t wait for the next 100!
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
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Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
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Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
18mar8:00 pm10:00 pmGays on Blades8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Event Type :SportsEvent City:Big Sky
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Join Big Sky OUT at the Len Hill Park Community Ice Rink for a free and inclusive ice skating event for all levels. Everyone is welcome, especially allies! There will be
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Join Big Sky OUT at the Len Hill Park Community Ice Rink for a free and inclusive ice skating event for all levels. Everyone is welcome, especially allies! There will be hot cocoa donated by the Hungry Moose and pizza donated by Blue Moon Bakery. Ice skate rentals are available at East Slope Outdoors until 8pm.
Time
(Monday) 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm