A newsletter delivered each month after the Regular School Board meeting to update parents, students, and our Philipsburg community.
What It Means To Be A Prospector
“A Prospector is a symbol of class, hard work, and character.”
🎓 Graduation & End-of-Year Celebrations
GHS Senior Graduation: Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
8th Grade Graduation: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Graduation: Friday, May 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Congratulations to all of our graduating students and families!
📚 Enrollment Update
Philipsburg Schools currently has:
64 students in grades 7–12
83 elementary students
149 total students districtwide, including ESSA and Job Corps students.
🏫 Campus Improvements & Facilities
Recent Projects
The new Granite High School sign was installed by Mr. Blume’s Shop Class and Mr. McGuire.
High school track at the city park has been refreshed with major improvements.
A yellow safety line was painted near the bus drop-off area.
Gravel spread near the shop and the elementary gym.
Conduit and electrical outlets installed in the Concessions/Board Room.
Continued maintenance and upkeep across all school buildings and grounds.
Entryway wall project at GHS completed by Dave Kesler.
Upcoming Projects
Kitchen freezer/refrigerator caulking project.
Bus barn roof improvements.
Concrete concession pad project.
Parking area gravel improvements near the high school entrance.
Football field maintenance and watering.
Community and highway clean-up day scheduled for May 26, with students in grades 4–11 participating.
Summer Maintenance Projects
Floor waxing
Painting touch-ups
Carpet shampooing
Locker room deep cleaning
Playground equipment staining
Grounds and irrigation upkeep
📖 Academics & Student Achievement
Attendance Highlights
Elementary attendance continues to remain strong across grade levels:
1st Grade: 98.25%
3rd Grade: 95.19%
Kindergarten: 94.08%
ACT Testing
Juniors completed ACT testing on April 13.
Current district average ACT score: 18.7
Additional score updates may occur following statewide testing adjustments.
State Testing
MAST testing for grades 3–8 and Science MSA testing for grades 5 and 8 are currently underway and due by May 22.
Honor Roll
Fourth quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll awards will be distributed with report cards.
🏅 Athletics & Activities
Track & Field
Junior High Track concluded successfully in Frenchtown on May 8.
High School Track athletes are competing strongly, with several students projected to qualify for the State Meet in Laurel.
Tennis
Boys and Girls Tennis teams continue to perform well, with athletes in contention for State Tournament qualification in Anaconda.
🌟 Student Recognition & School Culture
National Honor Society
Philipsburg Schools inducted 11 new National Honor Society members on April 27.
NHS promotes scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
The Philipsburg NHS chapter has proudly served students since 1959.
Prom 2026
GHS and Drummond held their first combined prom at
The Ranch at Rock Creek
.
A huge thank you to The Ranch at Rock Creek for generously hosting the event and providing food for students and staff.
Students and staff from both schools enjoyed a memorable evening together.
Bikes for Books
The Granite County Masonic Lodge awarded bicycles to students who demonstrated growth in reading.
Special thanks to Tom Burden, Dustin Keltner, and the Masonic Lodge for supporting literacy and student achievement.
👩🏫 Staffing Update
After recent hiring efforts, the district currently has only one remaining certified opening:
6th Grade Elementary Teacher
Coaching positions for the 2026–2027 school year will also be available.
❤️ Community Partnerships & Events
Philipsburg Schools hosted:
Health Fair: April 22
Job Fair: April 29
Thank you to all community organizations and partners who continue supporting our students and schools.
📅 Upcoming Dates
May 2026
May 24 — GHS Graduation
May 26–27 — Track & Field Day
May 27 — 8th Grade Graduation
May 29 — Kindergarten Graduation
June 2026
June 1–2 — Semester Finals
June 9 — School Board Meeting
June 17 — Last Day for Classified Staff & Assistant Principal
August 2026
August 17–19 — Teacher PIR Days
August 24 — First Day of School for K–12 Students
You can always check the Events Calendar on the school website for more information.
🤝 PTO & Booster Club Updates
The PTO provided Crumbl Cookies treats for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week.
PTO also helped fund the 5th-grade field trip to the prison.
Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community members for your continued support of Philipsburg Schools. Together, we continue building a strong tradition of hard work, character, and student success.
📱 Stay Connected with Philipsburg Schools
Get the School App
Download the Philipsburg Schools app from your device’s app store to receive real-time notifications about school events, announcements, newsletters, and updates.
Download for Android https://aptg.co/0FLGH1
Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/Pd43CS
Watch this video for more information about our school app.
🌐 Website Resources
Our school website offers valuable information and resources for students, families, and the Philipsburg community, including:
You can also find:
Graduation Requirements
Assessments and Academic Rewards
“How to Help” student support strategies
Career exploration resources
Standardized testing information
Course Catalogs
Scholarship and FAFSA resources
Apprenticeship and College & Career Pathway information
📲 Follow Us on Social Media
Stay connected by following Philipsburg Schools on:
Please note: Social media accounts are not monitored for direct messages. If you need assistance, please contact the school directly:
🏛️ School Board Information
The Philipsburg School District No. 1 Board of Trustees includes:
Chairperson Genevieve Kulaski
Vice Chairperson Margie Lee
Trustees Karl Kanduch, Connie Schiedermayer, and Jennifer Graham
Community members can access:
Board messages
Meeting minutes
District policies
Academic calendar and district resources
School Board Meetings
Regular board meetings are held on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the GHS Board/Concession Room. Click here for more information.
If meeting dates or times change, notices will be posted:
Around town in public locations
On the school website
On the school app
On both school front doors
Community members are encouraged to attend and stay involved.
🏫 Facility Information
A facility information page is available on the district website.
The page will include:
Facility user agreements
Volunteer forms
Facility calendars
Helpful facility-use resources
📝 Out-of-District Enrollment
Families interested in out-of-district enrollment can find:
Policies
Application links
Important Deadline
Applications and all supporting documentation are due by 4:00 p.m. on the first day of June.
Applications must be hand-delivered during regular school hours to:
Superintendent/Principal
Assistant Principal
District Clerk
Location:
407 Schnepel Street, Philipsburg, Montana
✅ Attendance Reminder
Families are encouraged to review the Parent/Student Handbook for updated attendance policy information and how attendance may affect student grades.