Senior Daniela Rosales says educator Danna Sinnott had a significant, positive impact on her life despite the fact that she has never hadher as a teacher at Helena High.

The pair became acquainted though the school group Mentoring Teens against Drugs, or MTAD, of which Rosales is the co-president this year.

“I admire her dedication to MTAD,” Rosales said. “She levels with the students and can joke around.”

Sinnott says there is no greater honor than being recognized by a student. She says when she walks into a room full of students she doesn’t just see people — she sees their hearts.

Read more in the Independent Record.

Garett Mitchell has agreed to be Jim Weber’s guinea pig in the machining program at Capital High School.

Mitchell, a senior, will use the lesson plans Weber wrote to design, engineer and machine a fly rod, which came about because of a Great Ideas Grant from the Helena Education Foundation. If all goes well, Weber will later roll out the project to all his upper level students.

The Great Ideas Grant program was a commitment by the founding board of HEF to enhance educational opportunities for Helena’s students and has continued to be one of its most popular programs. Thegrants are awarded twice annually in a competitive application process.

Read more in the Independent Record.

Mosaic Architecture is proud to support the Helena Education Foundation including sponsorship of Great Conversations for the last three years.  Mosaic will be working with the Helena School District in developing an Educational Master Plan that will define education programs and facilities for the future success of our students.  Mosaic encourages community involvement in this process and is excited about the opportunities to work with all that make up the Helena educational network.