Montevideo High School

NEWS RELEASE (LONE FINALIST) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Andrew Stenson, School Board Chair, astenson@montevideoschools.org Montevideo School Board Selects Superintendent Montevideo, MN— At a special board meeting on January 23, 2025, the Montevideo School Board unanimously voted to select Dr. Jamie Skjeveland as the district’s next superintendent. “We believe Mr. Skjeveland has the qualifications and skills to move the school district forward, and we are excited about him joining our school district,” said Andrew Stenson, Montevideo Public School’s Board Chair. The school board will be conducting negotiations with Dr. Skjeveland, and a contract is expected to be approved by the school board at a February 10 board meeting. The pending start date for Skjeveland will be July 1, 2025.

🌟Staff Spotlight!🌟 Meet Nicole, Family & Community Liaison at the Montevideo High School! Hello! My name is Nicole Valenzuela. I was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I moved to Montevideo in 2019. I started working as an EL paraprofessional at the high school in 2020. Now I'm working as a liaison, and I help hispanic families in the school, ensuring that they understand school policies and programs, translation, and know their child's progress. In my free time, I enjoy playing UNO with my siblings and cousins, going to the movie theater, go-karts, traveling, attending live concerts and hanging out with my family. We're proud to have Nicole on our team! #HawkPride #StaffSpotlight

Due to the weather, Montevideo Public Schools will open two hours late tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. There will be no morning sessions of ECSE, Small World Preschool, or Community Ed activities. Thunder Hawk Care will open at the normal time.

January 20-26, 2025 is Minnesota Paraprofessional Recognition Week! THANK YOU to our amazing paraprofessionals at Montevideo Public Schools! We couldn't do it without you!💜🌟 #HawkPride #ThankAPara #ParaprofessionalsWeek

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER We're almost halfway through the school year! Thursday, January 16 is the end of Quarter 2/Semester 1. NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS Friday, January 17 - Staff Workshop Day Monday, January 20 - Staff Development Day Qtr. 3/Sem. 2 begins Tuesday, January 21.

Mark your calendar! The Montevideo High School presents A Night for the Fine Arts! Monday, January 20th, 7:00 p.m. at the Hollywood on Main, Montevideo. We hope to see you there! #FineArts #HawkPride

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Friday, January 3rd, 2025 - Staff Development Day NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS (PreK-12)

Due to projected high winds beginning across our area this afternoon, Montevideo Public Schools will dismiss at 2 pm. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled. Thank you. Debido a los fuertes vientos proyectados que comenzarán en nuestra área esta tarde, las Escuelas Públicas de Montevideo cerrarán a las 2 p.m. Todas las actividades de tarde y noche quedan canceladas. Gracias.

Due to the weather, Montevideo Public Schools will open two hours late today, Thursday, December 19. There will be no morning sessions of ECSE, Small World Preschool, or Community Ed activities. Thunder Hawk Care will open at the normal time.

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, December 13th is an Early Dismissal-Staff Development Day for Montevideo Public Schools. Early Dismissal Schedule: Ramsey 1:15 p.m. Sanford 1:20 p.m. MHS 1:25 p.m. MMS 1:30 p.m.

🌟Staff Spotlight!🌟 Meet our Activities Director, Jesse Nelson! Hello, my name is Jesse Nelson, and I am the Activities Director for Montevideo Schools. In my role, I take great pride in providing students with enriching extracurricular experiences that not only promote school spirit and strengthen our sense of community, but also foster personal growth. I’m fortunate to work alongside our dedicated Thunder Hawk coaches and advisors, sharing a vision to continually improve our programs and build a strong, collaborative team dynamic. I firmly believe that extracurricular activities play a key role in students' development and contribute significantly to their overall school experience, offering opportunities beyond academics to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, hunting, fishing, and traveling—activities that allow me to unwind and enjoy life outside of my professional commitments. We are proud to have Jesse on our team! #HawkPride #StaffSpotlight

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Early Dismissal/Staff Development Day November 28-29, 2024 - NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Vacation

🌟Staff Spotlight!🌟 Meet our Visual Arts teacher at the Montevideo High School, Eric Van Sickle! The best part of me, is the company I keep. I am a husband, father of five and papa of one. I feel the same of my co-workers and students, I’m made better by them every day. I am proud to be in my ninth year at Montevideo High School, the first six as a Special Education teacher and 2+ as the Art teacher. This is my thirty-fourth year as a teacher, having taught in both Minnesota and North Carolina. My spare time is almost always devoted to my family, but I also love outdoor activities, working on our 100+ year old farmhouse and watching or coaching just about any level of soccer. Highlights of my year so far, are becoming a father again (through adoption) and a grandfather within a four-day period in October. We are proud to have Eric on our team! #HawkPride #StaffSpotlight

📚✨ It's American Education Week! ✨📚 This week, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of everyone who contributes to education, from teachers and support staff to administrators and volunteers. Their commitment shapes the future, one student at a time. Let’s honor those who inspire lifelong learning in our schools every day! Join us in saying THANK YOU to all those making a difference in the lives of our students. 🍪Also, THANK YOU to the Montevideo American Legion Auxiliary for treating our staff to delicious cookies during American Education Week!📚🌟 #HawkPride #AEW2024

Montevideo school board members, along with Career Coordinator Kati Birhanzl and Superintendent Wade McKittrick, are at the 2024 MREA Greater Education Summit. Mr. McKittrick and Mrs. Birhanzl present on a framework for education: The Montevideo Medical Academy. MREA's Greater Education Summit brings together rural educators, administrators and school board members across greater Minnesota for professional development, networking and career recognition. #MREA #ruraleducation #GreaterMinnesota #HawkPride

"You can never change your past, but you can change your future". Most of all, this is the fact Reggie Dabbs drives home when he addresses the schools he visits. Montevideo High School received the gift of hearing Reggie's message this morning. It was complete with lots of music, laughter, clapping, tears, and overall comfort and inspiration from a man we've never met and will not soon forget. Reggie travels the world speaking to schools, corporate groups, and professional sports teams. A ripple in his schedule while passing through Minnesota was to our benefit! https://reggiedabbsonline.com/

🌟Staff Spotlight!🌟 Meet our Agriculture teacher, MaQuelah Miner! Hi, my name is MaQuelah Miner. I am originally from Willmar, MN. I grew up on a small hobby farm, which sparked my love for agriculture early on. Through my involvement in FFA and 4-H, I gained valuable leadership experiences that ultimately lead me to a career in teaching. After high school, I attended South Dakota State University where I earned my bachelor degree in Agricultural Education. I had the unique experience to student teach during the COVID-19 pandemic at Montevideo, and I have been the Agriculture teacher now for 5 years. A few of the things I love most about my job is being able to teach a variety of classes, build strong relationships with students, and share my passion for agriculture with them. Outside of school, I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, hunting, and spending time with my animals, family, and friends. We are proud to have MaQuelah on our team! #HawkPride #StaffSpotlight

Happy National School Psychology Week! ✨November 11-15, 2024 This week, we proudly recognize the invaluable work of school psychologists in promoting academic success and overall well-being for all students. ✨A special thank you to Nicole Redmann, our dedicated school psychologist, for her commitment in helping our children thrive - in school, at home, and in life! Thank you for all you do! #NSPW #SparkDiscovery #HawkPride

🌟Staff Spotlight!🌟 Meet our Print Room Assistant for the school district, Chanda Norby! Hello! My name is Chanda Norby. I am a Montevideo graduate (Class of ‘94, the last of the Mohawks!). I work in the district’s print room and do printing for all six school buildings in the district. Along with my job in the print room, I also worked as a testing proctor for the NWEA's, MCA’s, and the ACT's for 9 years. I live on a farm outside of Milan with my husband of 25 years, Jason. We have three children, Cale (19), Jessa(17), and Ty (17). Outside of work I enjoy reading, traveling, spending time with my family, and cheering on my kids in their activities. We are proud to have Chanda on our team! #HawkPride #StaffSpotlight

Montevideo High School would like to thank the students and parents who attended the Career Fair last night. Without the generous donations from our 2024 Featured Partners: Friendship Homes, Minnwest Bank, and Southwest Initiative Foundation, this would not be possible. La Plazita and their talented crew provided a delicious meal to the attendees. We cannot forget our amazing staff who work tirelessly to make sure this event comes together. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!