IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE MISSION OF FAIRFIELD SCHOOLS IS TO PROVIDE A SECURE AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS GAIN KNOWLEDGE, GROW IN WISDOM, DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND VALUE LEARNING FOR LIFE.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Ben Franklin

Hello Fairfield Community, Parents and Students,

We have officially begun the August countdown to the first day of school for 2024-2025 and I am excited for this fresh start to a new school year! I am excited to welcome everyone on staff back as we continue our mission of providing a rigorous and enriching educational experience that prepares every student for success.

We successfully filled our two open positions and are excited to welcome Mr. Beau Harrell as a new paraprofessional and Mrs. Rachel Hatch to our kitchen. Both are already part of our community and we are happy they are also part of our staff team.

We have focused our efforts over the summer on several projects that will not only enhance our facility, but will ultimately enhance education. The summer maintenance crew: Dennis Barnett, Scott Hoyt, Mike George and Bruce Lee have been awesome and have really worked hard to get our planned projects completed. The summer cleaning crew: Eleni Geday, Rachel Hatch, Beau Harrell, Matt Barta and Cora Hirst have just about finished polishing up every room. It really looks great and is just about ready for staff and students!

We have moved a few classrooms to accommodate a couple very large classes in the elementary, primarily the first grade. The old JH science room received an overhaul from maintenance and will really help relieve some pressure for enough rooms. The small gym will be getting a bleacher upgrade as part of a creative agreement between the Simms district and the Fairfield district for a used bus that ultimately did not cost either district anything. Thanks to Mr. Schmidt’s work with various community businesses who advertise on the football field, we were able to replace our broken football scoreboard with those funds that have accumulated over the years. Coaching rooms have been added to the locker rooms for increased supervision and storage. But probably the most needed project that should be completed before school starts this year, is the final completion to some air conditioning in the upstairs high school classrooms that has been part of a multi-year project.

The quote from Ben Franklin at the head of this letter has significant meaning in our school, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” We are always striving and pushing to do and be better as educators, as people and as an institution. We also work hard to instill that same growth mindset in the students who attend Fairfield. Growth and improvement often require individuals to push boundaries and challenge outside of an individual’s comfort zone. Problem solving and achievement require effort, and it is that effort that finds reward regardless of the outcome. The Fairfield school district employs 58 people who all are part of the same team and our goal is to work hard to provide the best education we can for our community and the students who attend this school.

I feel very fortunate to be the superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools. I truly believe we are privileged to work with the best staff in the whole state; we in turn are fortunate to serve the best community and best student body in the land. Together we have overcome some serious challenges and obstacles over the past three years, and I know we are all looking forward to launching past those into a year looking forward, not backward, and continuing on our quest to provide our students with everything they need to become capable, confident and successful in life. The Fairfield School is full of caring and dedicated educators and staff who are skilled at helping students reach their maximum potential.

Let’s make this an exceptional year and continue our “Tradition of Excellence!”

Dustin Gordon

Superintendent, Fairfield Schools

As we welcome the new year, I am filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement for the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for our school community. The start of a new year is always a time for reflection and renewal, and I am confident that together, we will make 2024-2025 a year of growth, achievement, and joy.

We would like to welcome Mr. Beau Harrell to our elementary staff as a para professional. Beau is a Fairfield Alum and is excited to be working with all the students and staff!

We are fortunate to have Mrs. Megan Helmer and Mrs. Amy Mills team teaching 1st grade this year! Students will get the best of both worlds by having opportunities of learning from both teachers at various times of the year!

Back to School Night will be on August 20th from 5-6 PM. This is a casual event in which students can see/meet their teacher and bring their supplies! We have found that this process makes for an easier transition on the first day of school. Junior High students are encouraged to attend to get their lockers and their schedules.

We will be researching and purchasing a new ELA series this coming year. Staff have gone and observed several different series at different schools this past year and we will continue to look into what will fit best for our school and students.

Continuing on with our work as a Response to Instruction/Intervention school, we will continue to teach your children in the best possible way. This includes quick benchmark assessments of your student three times a year to see if they are working at grade level. If they are below or above, we do some further assessing to see what is missing or what needs to be challenged and go from there! We get together as a team at least every 5-6 weeks (along with everyday discussions) to discuss the best way to educate EK-6 students.

Also new this year will be the statewide MAST testing several times a year. MAST is the general mathematics and reading/language arts assessment for academic state achievement reporting in Grades 3-8. The MAST assessment is aligned to the Montana Content Standards (2011) in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). It is used to provide state, district, school, and individual student achievement information on the state-adopted content standards in math and ELA. It is used by the state to provide a consistent picture of student proficiency and progress across Montana's public schools and private schools seeking accreditation. It is an important measure for understanding comparisons between schools, over time, and for gaining an understanding of equity in educational services.

We will continue to SOAR at Fairfield Elementary. SOAR is an acronym for Safe, Organized, Accountable, Respectful/Responsible. Students learn this as a way to follow the rules and behavior expectations in all the common areas at Fairfield Schools including hallway, playground, lunchroom, busses, assemblies, and the classroom! Look for this info in the first few days of paperwork from the school so you can help us help your kiddo!

The energy of a new year is always contagious! Looking forward to seeing all the current and new students at Fairfield Elementary! Don’t hesitate to call if you have questions!

Courtney Bake

eK-6 Principal

Although it’s still plenty warm these days, the days are getting a little shorter and the nights a little longer. That means we are getting closer to the start of another school year. I hope everyone had a great summer spent enjoying the few months of warm weather we get to experience here in Montana. While I have done my fair share of outdoor activities this summer, I have spent a lot of time this past week enthralled with watching the Olympic games being held in Paris. I don’t normally watch much TV in the summer, but something about an event of this magnitude that only happens once every four years makes it nearly impossible for me to get away from it. Even when there are events that I don’t normally watch or fully understand, I love watching the athletes compete. I think for me, it’s the understanding of the amount of commitment and dedication that is required of these competitors that is the most impressive. Most of them dedicate their lives to their chosen field. They sacrifice their social lives, commit to training and nutrition, put careers on hold, or try to find a work/life balance, and often have a support system of friends and family to help them reach their goals. I did a little research about the Olympic Games and found the official Olympic Creed. Its origin is credited to a Dominican priest named Henri Didon. It says, “The most important thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.”

I think there is a lot of wisdom in placing a higher value on how we pursue our goals and put in the work to try to accomplish them than on the outcome of any event. This translates quite easily into our shared school experience. With instant access to information at our fingertips, it is easy to get complacent about the process of learning. While I am not opposed to technology, I feel like an overreliance on it takes away from the process of learning many valuable skills and life lessons for our students. I’m sure that every student in the high school knows of at least one or two AI websites like ChatGPT or Photomath that will write a 2,000-word essay for them or solve a difficult math problem without any effort. I am also sure that no matter what AI detector teachers use, some students will get away with it.

That is why I believe that we are at a critical point in time to encourage our students to remember the words of the Olympic Creed and teach them that it’s ok to struggle once in a while. Far more personal and emotional growth comes from working hard to get something done to the best of your ability even if the product isn’t as good as what can be created with little to no effort through an online AI program or app. Working hard and struggling to accomplish a difficult task builds a sense of accomplishment. Understanding that they can do hard things, encourages our students to develop a better work ethic and will translate directly into them becoming more successful adults someday.

For the upcoming school year, it is important to remember that we are all (students, teachers, parents, administrators, coaches, etc.) on the same team working toward the goal of providing the youth of this community with a top-notch academic education. Much like the support system for Olympic athletes, we are also charged with helping them achieve their goals and providing support when they are struggling. We can’t do it for them, and shouldn’t try to, but we can encourage them and provide resources to help them get through their struggles. If we all work together to provide support, resources, and encouragement through the struggles, I think we will all be amazed at what our youth are capable of.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call, email, or schedule an appointment with me.

Paul Wilson

7-12 Principal

Hello and welcome to another school year! I hope you are as excited as I am for some cool weather and junior high sports to get underway. Below is some information to help you get started and make sure your child doesn’t miss any practices.

1. Dragonfly max: All forms need to be uploaded on Dragonfly before your first practice. Please join the Fairfield 7-8 organization for all junior high athletics even if your child is a 6th grader. The code for this is LRSVCU.

1. Physical form. The MHSA has changed this form. You can pick up a physical copy from Brenda Evans at the front office.

2. Training rules. This form is online and can be completed online.

3. Concussion statement. Also online and can be completed online.

2. Activity tickets and pay to play fees. Each athlete must pay for an activity ticket and their pay to play fees. These can be paid directly to Brenda Evans in the high school office or online through infinite campus.

Activity tickets

$35 - students

$70 - adults

Pay to play

$30 - 1 sport

$60 - max per child

$100 - max per family

Pay to play free and reduced

$15 - 1 sport

$30 - max per child

$50 - max per family

1. Start dates:

1. Junior high football: Monday 8/19

2. Junior high girls basketball: Monday 8/19

3. Junior high tennis: Monday 8/19

1. Coaches will communicate game and practice schedules with you when the season begins. The school calendar also has games posted.

2. Coaches and contact information

1. Football: Angel Diaz: 406-564-3371

2. Girls Basketball: Carissa Jenkins: 406-451-4565

3. Tennis: Liz Vick: 406-590-3151

4. AD: Marshall Lagge: 406-868-1946

I am looking forward to watching your children compete and learn valuable lessons that sports provide. If there are any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me. Let’s have a great year!

Sincerely,

Marshall Lagge

Welcome to the 2024-2025 Sports Season with the Fairfield Eagles!

Hello Fairfield Eagles families!

As the Athletic Director, I want to extend a warm welcome to all our students and parents for the 2024-2025 sports season. Whether you're returning for another year or joining us for the first time, we're thrilled to have you as part of our Fairfield Eagles community. Our sports program is all about growth, teamwork, having fun, and competing at a high level, and we can't wait to kick off another exciting season together.

A New Season Full of Possibilities.

At Fairfield High, sports are more than just games; they're about building character, making friends, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. From the excitement of competition to the friendly bonding on the bus rides home, being part of a team is an experience like no other. We're here to support our student-athletes every step of the way, helping them grow both on and off the field.

A Few Friendly Reminders

As we gear up for the season, here are a couple of important things to keep in mind:

1. DragonflyMax.com for Registration and Paperwork: We use DragonflyMax.com to handle all the sign-ups and paperwork for our sports teams. Parents, please make sure to complete everything at least a week before our first practices on Friday, August 16th. This includes physicals, consent forms, and any other necessary documents. Getting this done early helps us start the season smoothly and ensures that everyone is ready to go.

2. Watching Games on NFHS Network: Many of our varsity sports games are streamed live on the NFHS Network, allowing you to watch the action even if you can't attend in person. We encourage you to purchase a subscription and select the Fairfield Eagles of Montana as your school during the signup process. By doing so, our program benefits directly, as the Eagles receive approximately 25% of the subscription fee through a revenue-sharing arrangement. It's a great way to support our teams and stay connected with all the excitement, even from afar.

3. Clock Operator Positions Available: We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jay Ratliff, our long-time clock operator for football and basketball, who has retired from these duties. Jay's professionalism and dedication have been invaluable, and we are grateful for his many years of service. With Jay's retirement, we now have openings for new clock operators. If you are interested in taking on this role for one or more of these sports, please contact the school. It's a rewarding opportunity to contribute to our sports community.

Looking Forward to a Great Year

We are so excited to see what this season has in store for our Eagles. From learning new skills to celebrating victories, and even bouncing back from tough losses, every moment is an opportunity to grow and have fun. Let's make the 2024-2025 sports season unforgettable!

Thank you all for being part of our Fairfield Eagles family. Let's have an amazing year!

Thank You,
Mike Schmidt

A.D., Fairfield High School

Dear Families,

On behalf of Eagle Pride, we would like to welcome everyone back to school for the 2024-2025 school year. We are so excited to kick off this school year!! Many have asked what is Eagle Pride? We are the PTO/Booster that consists of parents and teachers working together to support and enrich all students. We support school staff, help promote student self-esteem, and assist in efforts to solve school needs through volunteering and funding.

Who is a part of Eagle Pride and who can join?

My name is Kimberly Lattin, I have been the President going on almost 4 years now. Honestly though I could not be doing this without all the families and community members that do help. Kari Cleveland is my Treasurer and we have had some consistent key members from Angelica McNary, Jennifer Gruber, Nikki Misner, Angel Wall, Cora Hurst, Rachel Hatch, Julia Diaz and a few more. We usually host our meetings at someone’s house on the first Tuesday of the month. Our First meeting this year though will be August 15th, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Jennifer Grubers House. For who can help, the more the merrier. This year we will be running Eagle Pride a little different. It will be by if people can help then, we can make all the events happen!! Unfortunately, if we can’t get the help to set up and participate and assist with the event, we will not be able to do certain events.

Eagle Pride Programs & Fundraising

This School year our goal with Eagle Pride will be to have a set agenda! We know what events work and we will structure our time and create committees to run them this year. Some highlighted things we have done, Eagle Pride donated $200 to the music department from last year’s glow dance. We will also be having our Book Fair drawing for 2 students to win $25 to the book fair this year. The first event will be Homecoming where we have the Tailgate which is usually in the cafeteria, that will be September 13, 2024. We also will be purchasing coffee k-cups, and creamers for the staff, usually every other month. The next events will be Parent Teacher conference, and then the Secret Santa Shop which will be in Dec. Date TBD. The New year will bring our Glow Dance, ME and My Guy Dance and the Nerf War event as well as one more Parent Teacher conference, followed by Teacher Appreciation week!! We are encouraging everyone to wear their Fairfield Blue every Friday!! If needing an Eagle shirt, there are some down at the Drug Store for sale! We are always welcoming new people and new ideas!! And we are looking forward to a wonderful school year!!

Become a Volunteer….Why YOU should get involved!

As you can see, we are a small and busy group. This is where you can come in! We need your help, and so do your child(ren). A special thanks to all of our volunteers from last year for all their hard work and dedication. Here at Fairfield, we strive for excellence and what better way than to become involved today. We are in need of growth and are seeking volunteers to continue re-establishing the organization. We have planned some exciting events this year in hopes to get more parents involved. Eagle Pride is a team effort in which we cannot succeed on our own. Please come and join us by signing up or contacting Kimberly Lattin 406-750-7584

Sincerely,

Kimberly Lattin

Great Day To Be An Eagle!!!

Mr. Beau Harrell, Elementary Para Professional

Mrs. Rachel Hatch, Cafeteria Extraordinaire

Children need healthy meals to learn. Fairfield Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs K-12 is $1.65; lunch costs K-5 is $2.50, 6-12 is $3.00. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price

meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.

Free and Reduced Form is attached to this newsletter. This is a vital part of our school funding. These are completely confidential and help us to obtain critical funding for areas of our school. Please take the time to look at and fill out the application! Many thanks.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED

Fairfield Public Schools is making a list of individuals interested in substituting at either the elementary or high school level. If you are interested in substituting, please call 467-2528 or submit the form below.

Email: website@fairfield.k12.mt.us
Website: fairfield.k12.mt.us
Phone: 406-467-2528
Facebook: facebook.com/FairfieldPublicSchools
Twitter: @fairfieldsd21