Amanda Curtis received three of the 11 grants given to Helena teachers by the Helena Education Foundation earlier this week.
Curtis, a math teacher at Helena Middle School, said submitting three grant applications gave her better odds of being awarded at least one.
“The probability is higher the more you apply,” said Curtis, who always thinks with a math brain.

HEF awards grants to teachers twice a year, designed to finance projects or merchandise that goes beyond what the Helena School District would fund.
Lisa Cordingley, Helena Education Foundation executive director, said the Great Ideas Grant is an important part of what the foundation does.
“It’s a tangible measure of the value the community places on the work (teachers) do,” she said.
The grants are also a symbol of how the community values public education, Cordingley added.
“All you have to do is see them when we bring them the checks to see it’s a really important thing we do for teachers,” she said. “Whatever job it is you do, if there was a way for everyone to feel the way teachers feel when we come with grant awards, the difference in the community would be immeasurable.”

Read more in the Indpendent Record.

Anders Harris, a fifth-grader at Central Elementary, was the first to hit the bullseye, sending Helena Middle School Assistant Principal Josh McKay into a dunk tank of freezing-cold water on Sunday.
Harris paid $5 to stand closest to the target, giving him a distance advantage, and he yelled with excitement when he nailed his throw, sending McKay into the water.

McKay said he was hoping the weather would be warmer — like in the 80s — but nonetheless was a willing participant because it benefited his students.
The HMS Student Council booth was one of nearly 30 hosted by Helena public schools, clubs and parent groups at the Helena Education Foundation’s Carnival Classic at Memorial Park. Each organization got to keep 100 percent of their proceeds.

“This is a huge part of our mission,” HEF Executive Director Lisa Cordingley said. “To equalize fundraising opportunities by improving the infrastructure, so small schools have the same opportunity as larger schools.”

Read the whole story in the Helena Indepent Record and check back soon for photos of the event.

Get ready to have some fun at the Helena Education Foundation’s Carnival Classic! There will be activities, games, food, and great entertainment on the stage that can be seen and heard from all over Memorial Park. The best part is that all of the school groups sponsoring an activity or food booth get to keep all of their proceeds! This year the seventh annual Carnival Classic will be on Sunday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 4p.m.

All of the Helena elementary schools and middle schools, many of the high school clubs and sports teams, plus Montana City School, sponsor dozens of booths– from the ever-popular dunk tank, to the irresistible Jim Darcy petting zoo. There will even be pony rides! Try your luck at winning a goldfish, pie in the face, football toss and ring toss, or work up a sweat on the HEF-sponsored inflatables, then cool off with refreshments in the food court. Duck pond, “Tumbling gnomes”, tie-dyed socks and yo-yo balloons will provide activities for even the youngest fair-goers, while mini golf, soccer and basketball hoop shoot will challenge older kids.

And don’t worry about getting hungry– the Booster Clubs from HHS and CHS will have brauts, dogs, burgers, PB & J sandwiches, tiger tacos and drinks for every age; lots of groups will be selling tasty treats like mini donuts, cotton candy, and popcorn. Check out the many community information booths, climb on some construction equipment, and recycle at the SAVE Mobile. Entertainment will take place continuously on the band shell stage. Check out the Carnival Classic page for more details. Or contact HEF at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (406) 443-2545 for more information.