
PORTER PRIDE MONTHLY
JANUARY
A Note From Our Admin
Dear Families,
Welcome back! We are excited to be back in the swing of things this January. As the temperatures drop, please remember to send your children with jackets, gloves, hats, and possibly boots to keep them warm during outdoor activities. Recess will continue with outdoor activities unless the weather drops below zero.
Students are engaged through many academic activities this time of year. Please encourage your students to reflect on their learning by asking, "What are you learning, why are you learning it, and how will you know you've learned it?" As we near the end of the semester, I encourage you to check Infinite Campus for your child's grades, review missing work, and email teachers if you have any questions. Lastly, we are currently in the MAST and Exact Path Testing Window. Encourage your students to try their best for each of these district and statewide tests.
Thank you so much for the survey you took in December! We had amazing results that we will be sharing out in the next newsletter. We value your feedback and would also appreciate it if you could take a moment to fill out the MCPS Climate survey for families at your convenience.
In terms of school culture, we have many amazing opportunities for students and/or caregivers to participate. We also have volunteer opportunities available, including noon duty support for the playground, lunchroom, crosswalk, and zero waste initiatives. The next school dance is scheduled for February 20th from 2:00 to 3:30. Caregiver sign-ups will be happening soon, so please keep an eye out and participate if you can.
Please also mark your calendars for upcoming events, including the Parent Council meeting on February 13th in partnership with Parks and Recreation, which will host a family night. Additionally, join us for our School Wide Showcase on March 26th. Other exciting events include the Battle of the Books, the Spelling Bee, a Spring Fun Run, and more.
For our 7th and 8th graders, the first day of practice for Girls Basketball is January 21st, with tryouts beginning on the 13th. Wrestling for all grades will start February 18th.
Lastly, we have built an amazing partnership with Texas Roadhouse. Students demonstrating leadership within the building will be entered into a monthly drawing, thanks to their generous support of our student leaders.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement!
Best regards,
Ty Solberg and Ariel Cornelius
Principal and Assistant Principal
CS Porter Middle School
Missoula County Public Schools
728-2400 ext. 4601
Family Resource Center News
To Our Amazing Porter Community
We thank you for your incredible generosity this holiday season. Your donations have made a meaningful difference for families in need, providing comfort, joy, and hope during this special time of year. Every student in school had the opportunity to shop for their loved ones at our annual Gift Thrift and every family on our Giving Tree was adopted and cared for. We are truly grateful for every donation.
Donations Appreciated
- Baby it's cold outside! We are always in need of new or gently used gloves, boots, hoodies or jackets in adult sizes. Please consider donating to us before going to Goodwill!
- If you are in need of winter gear assistance, please email Jen at jpfeiffer@mcpsmt.org with items and sizes requested. We will do our very best to accommodate you.
Missoula Food Bank
Kids EmPower Pack is Missoula Food Bank and Community Center's weekend nutrition program that helps students to stay healthy and nourished when school is not in session. Each Friday, a bag of food is provided to students who experience chronic hunger over the weekends.
Their Fresh Food Box program has boxes of food delivered to your home on the last Thursday of the month for a low cost.
Please contact Jen in the FRC for more information.
Yearbooks
Yearbook Update
Reserve your yearbook today for $25 at yearbookforever.com, or at the office. Yearbooks will be delivered the last week of school. We always sell out, so ordering early is the best way to make sure your child receives one!
Library Updates
Book Vending Machine
Our beloved book vending machine has been the talk of the school—and not just because it makes books pop out like a bag of chips. Since opening three months ago, it’s been emptied of over 100 books! Each book costs 10 Cougar Coupons (earned by students demonstrating positive behavior), meaning we’ve witnessed 1,000 moments of middle school greatness in just 90 days.
It’s safe to say that between books and good behavior, the machine is vending more than just stories—it’s dispensing character too. Here's to keeping it well-stocked and the positive vibes rolling!
Library Checkout Policies
Since we’re mid-year (how did that happen so fast?), it’s time for a friendly reminder about our library checkout policies. Students may check out up to three books at a time. The goal? Return or renew those literary treasures after two weeks. If a book is overdue by a month, you'll start getting cheerful weekly reminders from sirsi@mtsc.sirsi.net—your new best friend until the book makes its way back to the library.
Lost or damaged books? We kindly ask for your support in either replacing them or paying the fee. Keeping books in circulation ensures everyone gets a chance to dive into a great read. Thanks for helping us grow lifelong readers!
For any burning questions (book-related only, please), feel free to contact our fantastic librarians, Brianna Lipke and Kim Rieley.
After School Programs
Missoula Parks and Rec
Our afterschool Parks and Rec programs are already underway! These programs are completely FREE for our Porter students! There are still some openings for this first session. We have Tuesday, High Ropes Adventures, and Wednesdays, Skate and Scooter, still available for this session.
Signups are open for all sessions. Please refer to the flyer on sessions, activities, and signing up.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers Wanted!
Porter is building more partnerships with parents, caregivers, and community members. Please sign up on our Volunteer Portal for many opportunities to be a part of our school community. We are currently looking for support with: Cross Country, Volleyball, Soccer, and lunch support. You can sign up for individual days of the week or weekly. We look forward to seeing you soon! Please reach out to Ciana Kelly with any questions or support.
Porter Parent Council
Harassment Policy
At CS Porter, we are committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for every student. Racism, bullying, and any form of discrimination will not be tolerated under any circumstances. We believe in the importance of kindness, empathy, and understanding in all our interactions, and we expect everyone to contribute to a positive school culture. If you or someone you know is experiencing or witnessing inappropriate behavior, please reach out to a teacher, counselor, or school administrator. Let’s work together to ensure our school remains a place where everyone feels valued and supported.
Zero Waste Initiative
Porter families may already be familiar with the Zero Waste programs at Jeannette Rankin, Hawthorne, Franklin, and Lowell Elementary schools. We are now preparing for the Zero Waste program to come to C.S. Porter! Starting this fall, we will join the MCPS Zero Waste schools that have been reducing over 90% of lunchtime waste every day by reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting. These programs not only teach students about sustainable materials management, but they also save our schools money on collection and disposal costs. It’s a win-win!
Learn more about Zero Waste at MCPS!
If you are curious about the origins of the MCPS Zero Waste program, take a look at the MCPS Zero Waste Plan: https://www.homeresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MCPS_ZW_Plan_withAppendix_062018-1.pdf
Information about Missoula’s community-wide Zero-Waste efforts can be found here: https://www.zerobyfiftymissoula.com/