Montevideo Public Schools

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Winter Break - No School December 25 - January 1

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Montevideo High School Science Teacher Christopher Giese! This is Christopher’s 25th year teaching at the Montevideo High School! He grew up in his hometown of Benson, Minnesota and graduated from Benson High School in 1991. Christopher attended the University of MN – Morris and attained a B.A. in Chemistry. In his free time, Christopher enjoys spending time in the outdoors and gardening. He also likes to play games. Christopher says, “I like the sense of fun and community we have at the high school.” Thank you for your years of service, hard work and dedication to teaching, Christopher! We’re lucky to have you on our team! #longevity #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, December 15 is an Early Dismissal-Staff Development Day for Montevideo Public Schools. Winter Break - No School December 25-Janauary 1

Mark your calendar! The Montevideo High School Band & Choir will present their Yuletide Concert on Monday, December 18th, 7:00 p.m. at the high school gymnasium.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week's Staff Spotlight is Sarah Smiens, District School Nurse! Sarah grew up in and still lives in her hometown of Montevideo. After high school, she continued her education at MN West Community and Technical College and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2015. She started back to school again in 2021 at Western Governor's University and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in September of 2022. Since then, Sarah has obtained her MN Public Health Certification and School Nurse License. Sarah is married to her husband Jeremy and has four children-Brett, Erin, Braden, and Gwyn, and one grandchild Cooper. Sarah's hobbies and things she likes to do outside of work include playing cards with her kids, hunting, fishing, babysitting Cooper, watching her daughter Gwyn play sports, and spending time at her lake cabin on Big Stone Lake in the summer with her family. A Fun Fact about Sarah - she held the school record at Sanford Elementary School for girls doing the most pull-ups, and she still has the trophy that she received from Mr. Wasnick! Sarah says, "I love my hometown of Montevideo and being a part of the amazing school system that I was lucky enough to have attended when I was a child." We're proud to have you on our team, Sarah! Thank you for the caring and compassionate work you do for the health and wellness of our students and staff. #StaffSpotlight #staffappreciation

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Deb Hinde! Deb is the Activities/Principal Administrative Assistant at the high school. She has worked in her current position for 20 years! Prior to her current position, Deb worked as a paraprofessional and Community Education Program Assistant. She started with the school district in 1994. Deb is a Montevideo High School graduate. Outside of school, Deb enjoys traveling, relaxing at the cabin, and spending time with her entire family which includes four grandkids. Deb says, "My two kids are third generation Hinde's who are proud graduates of Montevideo Public Schools. We all look back fondly of the great education and relationships we made when we were in school. To this date, some of our greatest friendships are those we made connection with while students at Montevideo High School." #HawkPride Thanks for all you do, Deb! We greatly appreciate your dedicated years of service and loyalty to our schools and the Montevideo community. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #longevity

From our Thunder Hawk family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Erika Zachman! Erika is the district's Payroll & Accounting Specialist. She has worked for the school district for 6 years. Erika's hometown is Montevideo. She is a 2005 Montevideo High School graduate and a graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN. Erika and her husband Phil have one daughter, Lyla. In her free time, Erika enjoys traveling, camping, golfing, hiking, kayaking and downhill skiing. Erika says, "I am very fortunate to be a part of this great Thunder Hawk community. I grew up as a Thunder Hawk, and I’m excited that my daughter gets to continue her education as one with the great group of educators and support staff we have here throughout the district." We're lucky to have you on our team, Erika! Thank you for all the hard work you put in daily! Know that it is recognized and greatly appreciated. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Please join us at Montevideo Middle School tonight for our Fall Band Concert: Monday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the MMS Gymnasium. Presented by 6th & 7th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Riley Frank, and 8th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Hunter Hamby.

MES kicked off HAWK Pride last week! Students and staff had so much fun wearing their Hawk Pride shirts together. A BIG "Thank You" to our generous sponsors for providing these t-shirts for our MES students and staff: Friendship Homes, Clean Site, Edward Jones James Bulman, Hughes Real Estate & Auction Service, J & D Construction, Madsen Family Chiropractic, Outlaw Graphics, Tostenson Inc. and VFW Post 380. The sponsors are listed on the back of the shirt. HAWK Pride at MES implements PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports). It is a way to create positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments where everyone thrives. We Can't Hide Our HAWK Pride! - Have Respect - Act Responsible - Work Hard - Keep Safe

REMINDER - Mark your calendar! Wednesday, November 22nd is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day for the Thunder Hawks. NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 23 & Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving Break.

Special thanks go out to 1969 Montevideo graduate, Dewey Smith. Dewey is currently an electrical engineer for Black & Veatch near Sacramento, California. He is back in town for a family wedding. He took time to visit Mr. Schimming's and Mr. Foley's Advanced Math classes and Robotics classes and share his passion for engineering with students. Physics students and Furniture Building students also sat in. Thanks for spending the day with us and sharing your knowledge, Dewey! It was a good day to be a ThunderHawk and learn from a former Mohawk!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on High School Spanish Teacher Erin Lippert! Erin has been teaching Spanish for 22 years, the past 13 years in Montevideo. Erin grew up on a farm south of Prinsburg and graduated from what was then BDRSH (now RCW). When her parents retired, Erin and her husband bought the farm so she literally moved back home again! Erin got her undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University and her Masters in Education from Saint Mary’s University. Erin and her husband Ryan have two children. Their daughter Emily is a senior, and their son Hayden is in 8th grade. Erin loves running, reading, all genres of music, helping on the farm, traveling, watching her kids in their activities and long Sunday afternoon naps. Erin says, “I absolutely love my job. My amazing students make me laugh every day and my MHS colleagues can’t be beat!” ¡Gracias, Erin! Your dedication to teaching and unwavering commitment to your students is truly admirable! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Please join us Monday, November 13th @ 11am in the Montevideo High School gymnasium for a special Veterans Day Program. Guests should enter through the GYM doors at the High School to attend the program. Orange cones are out in the parking lot reserving spaces closest to the gym doors for our guests. This program will be livestreamed on our website.

Yesterday, six students from MHS's College Now-Intro to Education course attended the Aspiring Educators Day at SMSU. The conference focused on Mental Health and shared knowledge about using the QPR method to intervene preventable death (suicide). #smsucollegenow #aspiringeducatorsday #duckcupmemorial #mindingyourmind #qprinstitute

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! This week’s spotlight shines on Adam Eakes! Adam is a paraprofessional at the Montevideo Middle School. In the spring, you’ll find him at the baseball field after school. Adam is also a Montevideo Thunder Hawks Junior High Baseball Coach! Adam grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has a beautiful family of five: two daughters, two sons, and an amazing wife Karina. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his family. His favorite pastime is baseball, going to games and coaching. We’re proud to have you on our team, Adam! We appreciate all you do to support our students and teachers every day! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Preliminary Election Results: School Board: Dustin Shourds- 1,595 votes, Daniel Ohmacht- 1,528 votes to win the two open school board positions. Referendum Q1: 1,021 Yes to 1,097 No Referendum Q2: 1,018 Yes to 1,098 No Thank you to everyone who went out to vote.

Last night, over 350 students and their parents attended the career fair at the Montevideo High School gym to talk with over 48 post-secondary programs and employers! Students were able to explore careers with many hands-on activities. We want to thank the employers and colleges who attended, parents and students for attending, our featured partners and donors for making the free meal possible, Plazita Restaurant for catering, and this group of teachers who put in their own time to make this the best event for our students!

It's Election Day! Your vote matters. Cast your informed vote on the two referendum questions during today's special election. Polling Location - National Guard Training and Community Center (TACC), 711 South 17th Street, Montevideo, MN Polling Hours - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 9 & Friday, November 10, 2023 Conferences November 9: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. November 14: 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.