December Stampede 2023
A quick rundown of what's happening at Cayuse Prairie School
December Events & Activities
~Nat’l. Human Rights Month
Spirit Week 2 - Boys Basketball
4 - Monday: Mustang Monday
5 - Tuesday: Dress In or Dress Out Day (Casual or Fancy)
6 - Wednesday: Camo/Hunters Orange Day
7 - Thursday: Dress Like Your Favorite Movie Character Day
8 - Friday: Jersey Day
4-6 - 6th grade BBB Tournament @ Swan River - See Sports Calendar for details.
5 - 8th Grade FHS Step 1 Online Enrollment Due
6 - 2nd quarter Midterm
7-9 - 8th grade BBB Tournament @ CP & Helena Flats - See Sports Calendar for details.
8 - Lil’ Mustangs @ school
11-14 - Scholastic Book Fair Week
12 - Dec. PAX leader recognition
13 - Horticulture to Memories in Blossom - Making Wreaths, 9:45 - 11:45
14 - 2nd quarter Midterm Reports
14 - Winter Concert - LM-3rd @ 6 PM, 4th-8th @ 7 PM
(Book Fair Open @ concert)
15 - Movement break for 45 minute in the gym - each class picks a song
15 - Kindergarten Craft-A-Palooza!
15 - 1st Grade Grinch Day
18 - Lil’ Mustangs @ school
18 - Lil’ Mustangs’ Holt Stage Hideaway Field Trip, 8:45 AM - 11:10 AM
18 - Select 7th Grade students volunteer @ Food Bank, 11:30-3:15
18 - Shelter in Place Drill, 3:15 pm, Gym
19 - Board Meeting, 7pm via Google
20 - Ugly Sweater Day
20 - Schoolwide Dance - 1st Period in the Gym
20 - Early Release @ 12:30 PM
21-1 - Winter Break - NO SCHOOL for students until January 3rd.
Help Wanted!
Cayuse Prairie Boys' Basketball Tournament
Calling all parents of 5th-8th grade students!
This is an amazing fundraising opportunity to help your child earn credit to help offset the cost of various class trips (5th & 6th-grade Outdoor Ed, 7th & 8th-grade Montana History Trip, skiing, end-of-the-year 8th-grade graduation activities, etc.).
You can choose to work a shift in the concession stand or at the admissions table during our Boys’ Basketball Tournament, on December 7 and 8. Sign up using the Sign-Up Genius link HERE or on the Cayuse Prairie website.
Thank you for your support! Go Mustangs!
The Annual Scholastic Book Fair is December 11th - 14th
Click HERE to shop online or join us on the evening of the Winter Concert. Students will visit the book fair during the school week to prepare their wish lists and can also shop at their classroom's designated visiting times. For questions or to volunteer to help, please contact Betsy Gibson, bgibson@cayuse.k12.mt.us, or Kaila Forster, kforster@cayuse.k12.mt.us.
Mark Your Calendars: The Winter Concert is December 14th!
The Holidays are Coming!
Cayuse Gear makes great gifts! Click HERE to shop online for some special Mustang apparel!
Cayuse December Calendar - Right Click to Print
Great News! Thank You, Donors!
Mrs. Moses' Donors Choose Project Has Been Fully Funded!
About Mrs. Moses' Project
How effective can student leaders, athletes, and performers become if no one can hear them?
All grades will benefit from having dedicated access to wireless mics and transmitters, including approx. 305 students, and of course their families and our community.
As of Wednesday, 11/29, this project has been fully funded by three generous community members! Thank you! We greatly appreciate your support!
Paper, Rock, Scissors Tournament!!!
Let the Games Begin!
Here are the top winners for their division:
Kiley H. - 5th
Kane V. - 1st
Amorette G. - 7th
Bradley H. - 4th
Dresden V. - Kindergarten
And the WINNER is...
1st place, Amorette Garrow
2nd place, Dresden Vernon
2nd place, Bradley Taylor
What's coming up in Specials this month?
Library
LM
Book Fair and fun holiday literacy and STEAM activities
K
Book Fair and fun holiday literacy and STEAM activities
1st - 2nd
Book Fair and fun holiday literacy and STEAM activities
3rd - 4th
Book Fair and fun holiday literacy and STEAM activities
5th - 8th
Book Fair and fun holiday literacy and STEAM activities
Music & Band-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LM-GR3
Continue learning Winter Concert songs.
Learn procedures for performance on stage.
As time permits, Continue with music technology lessons.
GR5-8
Continue learning Winter Concert songs.
Learn procedures for performance on stage.
Learn about the life and music of American composer John Williams.
Continue with music technology lessons.
GR7/8 General Music
In support of the Dec 14 Winter Concert, students will learn how to operate the stage sounds system, stage/gym lighting systems, spotlight, computer technology, projector, etc. GR7/8 General Music students will assist the concert as stage hands, tech crew, ushers, safety personnel, etc.
4th-8th Bands
Finish preparations for Winter Concert band pieces.
Begin to learn pieces for May 9 Advanced Band Festival (GR7/8 Band), May 16 Beginning Band Festival (GR5/6 Band), and the June 4 CP Spring Concert (at 2 p.m. for all grades).
Technology---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LM
Ipad procedures
Little Writer App
K
Using a password to log into the Chromebooks
Keyboard and touchpad activities
1st - 2nd
Remembering passwords
Correct keyboarding with home row keys and upper row keys
Keyboarding accuracy
3rd - 4th
Correct keyboarding techniques
Keyboarding speed and accuracy
Google Slides
5th - 8th
Correct keyboarding techniques
Keyboarding speed and accuracy
Google Forms & Google Sheets- collecting data to make graphs
Physical Education/Health----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LM
Follow directions in group settings (e.g., safe behaviors, following rules, taking turns); that incorporate games
K
Follow directions in group settings (e.g., safe behaviors, following rules, taking turns); that incorporate games
1st - 2nd
Follow the rules or parameters of the learning environment that will incorporate a variety of games and sports
3rd - 4th
Practice personal responsibility in teacher-directed activities that will incorporate a variety of games and sports
5th - 8th
Participate with responsible personal behavior in a variety of physical activity contexts, environments, and facilities and use tactics to create open space and close space during small-side play by combining locomotor movements
DECEMBER PAX LEADERS
Well Done, PAX Leaders!
Back Row: Ean Matlock - 8th Grade; Cadence Egbert - 6th Grade
Front Row: Brandi Vachal - 1st Grade; Remington Avallone - 2nd Grade
Our classroom addition is beginning to have framed walls!
Tax impact on the 95 Mills Ruling
The Montana Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday afternoon (November 22nd), 7-0 against the counties regarding the 95 mills controversy. Here is a link to the Independent Record out of Helena and the Montana Free Press. We are unsure how the counties will address this in billing to the residents of the state. It is assumed that the counties that have not fully levied the 95 mills will need to determine if they are going to send out an additional tax bill, an amended fall tax bill or wait until the spring tax bill to address the change.
Yesterday (November 28th) the Montana Association of Counties sent a letter to the Governor urging him to allow counties to collect the 77.9 mills that 49 of the 56 counties have chosen to levy, arguing that the increase in mill valuation would allow for lesser mills needed for state school equalization funding. To read the full article regarding the letter from the Montana Association of Counties, please click on the link Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
As of yet, Flathead County has not issued a statement with regards to collecting the full tax amount. Once the Governor issues a response to the Montana Association of County, it is expected that each of the 49 counties will get the information out to their tax payers on what to expect on their next tax bill. It is expected that Governor Gianforte will not overrule the Supreme Court decision as he has been a proponent of following the current law.
Furthermore, according to an article in November 28th, Independent record: "State officials this week will poll lawmakers on the question of whether to hold a special session to address property taxes, a proposal that's failed twice already this year. The Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of about 20 hardline Republican lawmakers, submitted the request to the Secretary of State's Office last week. To trigger a poll of legislators, state law requires 10 members to sign the request. The Freedom Caucus' submission to the Secretary of State's Office had 19. A spokesperson for the Secretary of State's Office confirmed receipt of the request and said the office was preparing to send out the poll by Friday. The request proposes four separate pieces of legislation regarding property taxes and additional tax rebates. Perhaps the most significant proposal would set up a default system in which any surplus of state tax revenues are automatically returned to taxpayers without specific legislative intervention. The request also appears to re-litigate the school equalization funding dispute that concluded in the Montana Supreme Court last week."
Updates are yet to come, in the meantime MTSBA has provided the following table regarding the implications that property owners may see on their taxes.
County - Flathead; Value - $444,700; Tax Reduction from 78 vs 95 mills - $102.72
Updates are yet to come, in the meantime MTSBA has provided a table regarding the implications that property owners may see on their taxes. You can view the table by going to our website at: https://www.cayuseprairie.com/