Montevideo Public Schools

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, September 15th is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day for the Thunder Hawks. Early dismissal times are: Ramsey 1:15 pm Sanford 1:20 pm MHS 1:25 pm MMS 1:30 pm

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Today’s spotlight shines on Kathy Jessen! This is Kathy’s second year in the district and her first year at a new position as an ELL teacher at Ramsey Elementary School. Kathy grew up on a farm west of Clarkfield and currently lives on a hobby farm between Montevideo and Clarkfield with Rick and their two dogs. Kathy loves spending time outdoors, where she enjoys her garden and dogs. She also enjoys fishing and upland hunting. Kathy says being a part of the Thunder Hawk community has been a great experience for her this past year, and she has truly enjoyed meeting so many wonderful staff and students. Thank you, Kathy, for your hard work and dedication to Montevideo Public Schools! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Want to lead the 2023 MONTEVIDEO HOMECOMING PARADE? The Homecoming Parade will be @ 5pm on Friday, 9/29

Stay tuned on our social channels as we answer a frequently asked question about the district's facilities referendum every week until Nov 7. We want to make sure your questions are being heard and answered. This week's question is: Q: How is this facilities referendum different from the last one? A: - Cost Reduction: We've put in the effort to lower the project's total cost by carefully resizing sections of the building while preserving essential improvements. - Career and Technical Education (CTE) is essential to the Montevideo area. Therefore, this referendum proposal revised the new high school to include new woods and manufacturing shops, Ag labs, and classrooms to support the new CTE space and provide our students with the skills and knowledge required for these careers. - Same Vital Improvements: Despite cost-saving adjustments, we're committed to delivering the same essential improvements our schools urgently need. - Community Feedback: We've actively incorporated the valuable input from our community, with a strong focus on addressing concerns related to the overall project cost. This has guided us in creating a more balanced and fiscally sustainable proposal that respects the financial considerations of our residents. #MontevideoForward

Did you know public school funding in Minnesota creates a unique opportunity for the Montevideo Public Schools and our local taxpayers to make extensive improvements to our facilities by capitalizing on significant state equalization funding provided for bond referenda? Learn more on our website: https://www.ehlers-inc.com/microsite/montevideo2023nov/ #MontevideoForward *Chart shows estimated sources of payments for debt service on the proposed bonds over the life of the bonds. Estimates assume no changes in property values, state equalizing factors, or in-state law. “Agriculture Land & Buildings” excludes taxes on the house, garage and one acre of land, which are included with “Residental / Other.”

We will have two questions on the November 7 Special Election Ballot. The change made to Question 1 on the ballot from the last referendum includes reducing the tax impact on taxpayers. Question 2 remains the same as the previous referendum and will only pass if question one is approved. More information on the referendum can be found on our website: www.montevideoschools.org/page/referendum #MontevideoForward

A special election is being held on November 7, and Montevideo Public Schools will have two school facilities referendum questions on the ballot to address district-wide needs. Since the previously failed referendum in the Spring, we've been listening to the community feedback and looking into other options for our schools' facilities planning. With much of the feedback received revolving around the cost of the referendum, we've found an option to reduce the tax impact and scale back spaces while keeping the important learning areas intact. Visit our website for more information on the referendum: www.montevideoschools.org/page/referendum #MontevideoForward

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Jenna Vick to the Thunder Hawk family! Jenna is our new Elementary Music Teacher. Jenna is from Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She attended elementary school in Redwood Falls and middle school and high school at Wabasso Public Schools. Jenna graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in May with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. Jenna enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece and two nephews! Also, in her free time, she enjoys going to the lake, hanging out with friends, reading, and playing with her dog, River. This is Jenna's first year as a teacher, and she is excited to begin this journey at Montevideo Public Schools! Welcome, Jenna! We wish you a wonderful first year of teaching as a Thunder Hawk! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Matthew Runck to the Thunder Hawk family! Matthew is the new ESL teacher at Montevideo Middle School. Matthew is from Lamberton, Minnesota, so he grew up knowing about Montevideo as a community. He attended the University of Northwestern - St. Paul for his undergraduate in ESL Education, and he received a Master of Education and Educational Technology certification from the College of St. Scholastica, also earning a 5-12 Social Studies license from CSS. This will be Matthew's tenth year as a teacher. Matthew has two wonderful daughters that he is very proud of, and they love to do all kinds of activities together, such as playing games, camping/hiking, reading and cooking/baking. Their favorite haunts are parks, zoos, and children's museums. Welcome to Montevideo, Matthew! We're so happy to have you here! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Hunter Hamby to the Thunder Hawk family! Hunter is joining us as the Montevideo High School Band Director. Hunter grew up and graduated from Waconia High School in Waconia, Minnesota. He participated in Pep Band, Show Choir Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and the Wind Ensemble. From there, Hunter pursued a degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. He student taught at Cloquet and Duluth East High and fell in love with teaching. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hunter sought to further his education and accepted a Graduate Teaching Assistantship position at the University of Missouri Columbia and received his Masters of Trombone Performance degree. Coming back to Minnesota was always his goal, and he is excited to be back! Some of Hunter's favorite hobbies include kayaking, pickup hockey games, and camping in the great Minnesota parks. Go, Thunder Hawks! Welcome to Montevideo, Hunter! We're so happy to have you on our team! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Kayla Harwick to the Thunder Hawk family! Kayla will be teaching first grade at Ramsey Elementary School. Kayla grew up in Montevideo with her mom, stepdad, brother, Gavin, and sister, Aubree, and she is a Montevideo graduate. Kayla graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She has the best English Springer Spaniel named Marley, who loves to run around the farm with Kayla's boyfriend, Josh. In her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, running, golfing, and spending time with friends. Kayla is excited to have the opportunity to teach in the wonderful community that she grew up in, and we are so happy to have her here! We wish you the best school year, Kayla! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Ashley Haff to the Thunder Hawk family! Ashley will be teaching third grade at Sanford Elementary School. She is especially excited for this opportunity as she graduated from Montevideo High School and attended Sanford Elementary School as a child. Ashley always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She attended Southwest Minnesota State University and received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. After gaining a few years of classroom experience, she proceeded to earn her Master's degree in Education from Walden University. Ashley currently lives on a farm in rural Montevideo with her husband, Mike, and son, Carter. Ashley enjoys spending time outside with her family, going to the lake, home improvement projects, and canning vegetables from their garden. Ashley is so excited to start this new adventure at Montevideo Schools, and we are so happy to have her here! Have a great year, Ashley! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Mitchel Koebnick to the Thunder Hawk family! Mitchel is joining us as a Social Studies teacher at the Montevideo High School. Mitchel received a Bachelor's degree at Saint Cloud University while working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. He spent the last couple of years working at Brandon-Evansville and St. Cloud Public Schools. Mitchel enjoys spending most of his free time fishing when he's not helping on his family's farm near Hutchinson. Mitchel is looking forward to his first year at Montevideo High School and wishes everyone the best of luck for the upcoming school year! Welcome, Mitchel! We wish you a great school year! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Linden Kirscht to the Thunder Hawk family! Linden is joining us as the Grades 7-12 Vocal Music teacher. Linden graduated from Winona State University with a B.M. degree in Vocal Performance and a B.S. degree in Vocal Music Education. Linden spent two years with South St. Paul Public Schools developing passions and opening up the beginnings of some incredible programs. Linden is excited to continue growing as an educator with Montevideo Public Schools! Linden's hobbies include video games, exercise, music production, cooking and nutrition. Welcome, Linden! We are so happy you're here! #HawkPride

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Lyndsae Dack to the Thunder Hawk family! Lyndsae is joining us as a Special Education teacher at Ramsey Elementary School. Lyndsae was born and raised in Montevideo as a Thunder Hawk and is a 2008 Montevideo graduate. She received her degrees in Special Education, Physical Education, Health Education and DAPE from SMSU in Marshall. Lyndsae has been married to her husband Erik for 12 years, and they have a 1st grader this year, Thea. Lyndsae enjoys curling up with a good book, the outdoors and spending time at the lake. Lyndsae is excited to return to the Montevideo Thunder Hawk family! Welcome, Lyndsae! We wish you a great year! #HawkPride

Happening Wednesday, August 16, 2023 7/8 THUNDER HAWK ATHLETE & PARENT MEETING, 6:00 p.m. at MMS Commons. This meeting is for parents and students (7/8 grade) who plan to participate in athletics at any time during the 2023-24 school year.

REMINDER - Online Registration is open for the 23-24 school year! Please update parent and student information, complete the registration process, and pay your Chromebook insurance fee through your JMC family portal before school open house on Tuesday, August 22nd. If you have any questions, please contact your school office. RECORDATORIO - ¡La inscripción en línea está abierta para el año escolar 23-24! Actualice la información de padres y estudiantes, complete el proceso de registro y pague la tarifa de seguro de su Chromebook a través de su portal familiar JMC antes de la jornada de puertas abiertas de la escuela el martes 22 de agosto. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con la oficina de su escuela.

NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT We are excited to welcome Riley Frank to the Thunder Hawk family! He is joining us as the Montevideo Middle School Band Director. Riley grew up in Western Wisconsin close to the Mississippi River. He has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In his free time, Riley enjoys playing the latest video games, listening to music and podcasts, taking care of his many plants, playing saxophone and clarinet, cooking and spending time outdoors. He can't wait to help foster a passion for music in all of his students. Welcome, Riley! We're so happy you're here! #HawkPride

Online Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. today, Tuesday, August 1st for the 23-24 school year! Please update parent and student information, complete the registration process, and pay your Chromebook insurance fee through your JMC family portal. If you have any questions, please contact your school office. ¡La inscripción en línea se abre a las 8:00 a. m. hoy martes 1 de agosto para el año escolar 23-24! Actualice la información de los padres y del estudiante, complete el proceso de registro y pague la tarifa del seguro de su Chromebook a través de su portal familiar JMC. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con la oficina de su escuela.

NEW THIS YEAR! Pay your Chromebook insurance fee through your JMC Family Portal! After logging into the Family Portal, click on Tuition/Fees on the left-hand side of the screen. Have a great day!