Montevideo Public Schools

This week is National School Counseling Week 2024, "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused," sponsored by the American School Counselor Association. Montevideo Public Schools would like to recognize our high school counselor Gabby Mazer for being actively engaged in helping students and focusing on positive ways to enhance students' academic, career and social/emotional development. Thank you for all you do each and every day to help our students succeed, Gabby! #HawkPride #NSCW

HELLO FEBRUARY! SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, February 2nd is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day Break

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Maddie Sletta. Maddie teaches seventh grade science at the Montevideo Middle School, and she is the head coach of the Thunder Hawk softball team. This year is Maddie’s seventh year teaching in Montevideo. Maddie is from New Ulm, Minnesota. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, and she received a Master’s degree from Western Governors University in Middle Level Science. Maddie and her husband Tom have a two-year-old son named Ray. They live on a hobby farm outside of town so they have many pets and projects to tend to. Maddie’s hobbies include coaching softball in the spring and summer, gardening, traveling, hunting, fishing and many other outdoor activities. Maddie says, “It’s been fun getting involved with the Thunder Hawk community and getting to know so many great people!” We’re proud to have you on our team, Maddie, and we appreciate your dedication to teaching and coaching and your years of service. Thanks so much for all you do! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Just a reminder - the Montevideo Senior Class has their Annual Scholarship Supper this Friday night, January 26. This will be the 53rd Annual Supper!! Montevideo will also be hosting a boys/girls basketball doubleheader on Friday. GIRLS BASKETBALL C - 4:00 TACC JV - 4:00 HS Gym Varsity - 5:30 HS Gym BOYS BASKETBALL C - 4:30 MMS JV - 5:30 TACC Varsity - 7:15 HS Gym

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Samantha Nokleby. Samantha is a Title I Teacher at Sanford Elementary School. This is her 8th year, six years at Ramsey Elementary School and the last two years at Sanford. Samantha is from Montevideo, and she is a 2012 graduate of Montevideo High School. She received a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, Morris. Outside of work, Samantha likes to spend time with family and friends, bake, read, play piano and travel. A fun fact about Samantha is that she has a goal to visit all 50 states and all national parks, so during summer break she tries to hit as many new states and parks as she can! We’re proud to have you on our team, Samantha, and we appreciate your hard work and dedication. Thanks so much for all you do! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Friday, January 19th - Early Dismissal Day and End of Quarter 2 Monday, January 22nd - No School

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Michael Oellien. Michael’s career journey has taken him from working at Mentor Network in Marshall, MN to becoming a Special Education Paraprofessional at Ramsey Elementary School. Michael’s hometown is Montevideo, where he grew up with his parents, Doug and Laura, and two older sisters, Amanda and Samantha. Michael has an AS degree in Computer Science. Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with friends, whether it’s watching TV and movies, playing board games, or simply catching up. Some hobbies that he enjoys are drawing, reading, and coin collecting. Micheal’s favorite quote is: Even dust can make a mountain. We’re so glad you’re on our team, Michael! Thanks for all of your assistance and support to our teachers and students at Ramsey Elementary School! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Monday, January 15th - Staff Development Day No School for Students Friday, January 19th - Early Dismissal Day End of Quarter 2 Monday, January 22nd - No School

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Brittany Zamora! Brittany teaches fifth grade at the Montevideo Middle School. She joined our team of educators in August 2015. Brittany’s hometown is Starbuck, Minnesota. She graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) with a degree in Elementary Education, and she received a Master’s degree from Western Governors University in Technology and Instruction. Brittany is a coach for both boys and girls swimming. Her husband Fernando is a math teacher at the Montevideo High School. They have a son named Kyzer and a black lab named Meeko. Brittany’s hobbies include swimming, spending time with family, going to the lake in the summer, fishing and baking. Brittany says, “It has been so much being a Thunder Hawk! It is a great community with awesome people who support each other.” We’re so happy to have you on our team, Brittany! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for teaching and coaching are truly appreciated! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Ana Pineda, second-year teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Montevideo High School. Ana was born in Honduras and came to Montevideo in 2013. She is a Montevideo High School graduate, and she received her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. Ana started working for Montevideo Schools as a paraprofessional shortly after she graduated from high school. She worked as a School Success Coordinator at the high school before getting her teaching position. Outside of work, Ana enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, and going on walks and to the movie theater with her husband. Ana says, “I feel fortunate to be part of the Thunder Hawk Community. It has been a great experience to work with wonderful staff and students.” We’re proud to have you on our team, Ana! Thank you for your dedication and hard work in all of your positions at Montevideo High School! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

On behalf of the Montevideo Public Schools School Board, we wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Have a safe and joyful winter break!

Please tune in to the latest Superintendent Stream. Happy Holidays to all! https://youtu.be/Bfwd9QWdYi4

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Molli Tostenson, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) servicing grades 3-12. Molli is also a JH volleyball coach. This year is Molli’s fifth year with Montevideo Public Schools. Molli grew up in Montevideo and graduated from Montevideo High School. She received an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders and a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is married to Ryan Tostenson (fellow Monte graduate), and they have one daughter Everly (4) and a yellow lab Laela. Molli enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, going to concerts, golfing, traveling and relaxing at the lake. Molli says, “As a fellow Thunder Hawk graduate, I am blessed to be back in town to help the students in our community become successful communicators! It is also so fun to work alongside some of the teachers I had. I have so much fun watching my nieces and nephews play as Thunder Hawks in all of their extracurricular events. I'm excited to watch my daughter start her education here with a great group of educators and staff!” We’re proud to have you on our team, Molli! Thank you for being an exceptional teacher and for making a difference in the lives of our students. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

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!