The band students were marching around getting one last practice in Thursday morning, and 300 students attended the Vigilante Academy sponsored by the Helena Education Foundation at both high schools.

Lisa Cordingley, HEF executive director, was in the HHS cafeteria setting up snacks for students to enjoy during breaks.

Cordingley said students learn life lessons at the academy they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn, unless it’s the hard way.

“The response has been fabulous,” she said about the academy. “It turns an unusual school day into something profoundly productive.”

Read the whole story in the Independent Record.

The Helena Education Foundation is proud to announce its Distinguished Achievers, Students and Educators for the 2008-09 academic year.

For the full list of 48 students and educators, please visit our Celebration of Excellence page or view the list directly.

Please consider registering to attend our celebration dinner to honor our distinguished students and educators on May 18, 2009.

Buswell’s horse story is one of many she’s sharing with Kim, who will write her biography after recording their visits. He asked her questions about her children, her careers and her hobbies, gathering as much information as he can.

The project was made possible through a Helena Education Foundation Great Ideas Grant awarded to Erika McMillin, Hawthorne social service coordinator. The $773 voices grant paid for transportation costs and digital recorders so the students could document their visits with the senior citizens. A few times a month 22 students meet with their matches to compile information and stories about their lives.

The biography writing grant is among Great Ideas Grants awarded twice a year to educators in Helena Public Schools. Last month 13 projects were awarded totaling $18,000, which included the inaugural award in honor of the Lewis Fund, established last summer to celebrate the work of HEF’s first executive director Cindy Lewis, who created the Great Ideas program.

Read about all of the grants in the Independent Record.