The 2008 Fabulous Firsts Celebration has kicked off, with first grade students in local schools receving their own copies of hardbound books. Students are receving one of the following titles:

• When Rain Falls by Melissa Stewart
• Dadblamed Union Army Cow by Susan Fletcher
• Ivan the Terrier by Peter Catalanotto
• The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola
• The Little Red Hen by Jerry Pikney
• Knut by Hatkoff and Uhlich
• Library Lion by Michelle Knudson
• When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins
• Because by Mikhail Baryshnikov

“One of the things we think is critical is lifelong learning,” said Lisa Cordingley, HEF executive director. “Reading is the key, so we chose that for a vehicle. It’s a personal statement about lifelong learning and gives those first-graders a sign the public is happy that they are embarking on this educational journey.”

Thanks to Aidan Myhre for underwriting this program and to the Montana Book Company for assistance with purchase these wonderful books for our first grade students!  Thanks also to the Qwest Pioneers for providing copies of the Fabulous Firsts books to each of the elementary school libraries.

Read about this year's event in the Independent Record or a letter by a fifth grade student to  one of the first graders receiving a book.

Many employers say new hires are often severely lacking in "soft" skills like communication and team work.

And that issue was one of the main topics at a day-long workshop, "Leadership Institute, Out of Both Worlds: Connecting Business and Education for Work Force Success," held Wednesday.

Communication, work ethic, timeliness, and loyalty are the first skills students need to learn by the time they graduate from high school, according to recent survey of 61 area employers conducted by the Helena Education Foundation.

Also, 70 percent of respondents said students are not given sufficient guidance and preparation in making career choices. Keynote speaker Patrick Kelly said it was obvious the survey shows that employers think their employees need stronger soft skills, but the question is to what degree acquiring those skills is the responsibility of elementary, middle and high schools.

Read the full story in the Independent Record.

See the results of the Helena Business and Industry Survey (PowerPoint, PDF)

Read Patrick Kelly's report on the challenges facing workplace development (PPT, PDF)

Brandi Swingley, a senior at Capital High School, was mourning the death of her great-grandfather and had writer’s block when a friend suggested looking inside herself for inspiration, in places she’d usually avoid.

Swingley was one of four local high school students who recently won the Harrison Writing Award from the Helena Education Foundation. The other recipients are Helena High School junior Erinleigh Caughron, Capital sophomore Renee Elsen and Helena High senior Alexis Graman.

The Harrison Award is a targeted donation to HEF in memory of Ethel Harrison by her daughter, Lee Harrison, who selected the award’s purpose in order to focus the community’s attention on the importance of good writing skills.

Local author Clay Scott was among the committee members to select the winning writing from fiction and non-fiction categories.

He said often committee members agree on the best entries, even though there are superb pieces that are neck-and-neck until the end.

“Every year there are some difficult choices,” Scott said. “This year we were really blown away by the range of the entries and the depth. (Students) showed a nuance and maturity you wouldn’t find in a high school writing class.”

Read the award winning pieces:

Creative Writing:

Alexis Graman (Helena High) – “David’s Hike”
Brandi Swingley (Capital High) – “Grief is Timeless”

Expository Writing:

Erinleigh Caughron (Helena High) – “A Struggle to Stay Alive: Preserving a Culture”
Renee Elsen (Capital High) – “Tradition”

Learn more about the Harrison Award and read the whole story about this year's winners in the Independent Record.