⛏️ PROSPECTOR PRIDE

Celebrating Our Students, Staff, and Community!

What It Means to Be a Prospector

“A Prospector is a symbol of class, hard work, and character.”

“A Prospector is a role model to fellow students, demonstrating maturity both in the classroom and in athletics.”

— Zach Waldbillig

Great Things Are Happening at Philipsburg Schools!

The first quarter of the 2026–2027 school year has wrapped up, and there's so much to celebrate throughout Philipsburg School District! From exciting educational opportunities and academic improvements to outstanding student achievements, athletic success, and incredible community support, our Prospectors continue to make us proud.

Our teachers and staff are finding innovative ways to support student learning; our students are demonstrating leadership and determination; and our community continues to make a meaningful difference.

It's a great time to be a Prospector!

🌟 Celebrating Our Prospectors of the Month!

We are excited to celebrate the success of our new Prospector of the Month recognition program! This program recognizes students who consistently demonstrate the qualities that make a great Prospector: kindness, responsibility, perseverance, leadership, and strong character.

Congratulations to our October Prospectors of the Month!

Emelia Todd • Dillon Conn • Duke Dennison • Wyatt Kulaski • Karbon Miller • Klutch Miller • Xander Johnson • Emersyn Rich • Allison Davey • Emily Davey • Mesa Maw • Brayden Hess

Students were thrilled to receive their certificates and prizes, and we are incredibly proud of the positive examples they set for their classmates.

Way to go, Prospectors! Keep shining!

📚 Building Stronger Readers and Lifelong Learners

Expanding Reading Intervention Opportunities

Reading success remains a top priority at Philipsburg Elementary, and we're taking exciting steps toward expanding reading support for students!

Our teachers will participate in specialized professional development with Dr. Frank Smith, a certified trainer in Corrective Reading and Phonics for Reading programs. This training will help establish additional reading interventions for students in grades 3–4, with plans to expand services to grades K–2 and 5–6 by the end of the school year.

Our ultimate goal is to provide every elementary student with consistent reading intervention opportunities, ensuring students have the tools and support they need to become confident, successful readers.

Origo Math: Learning Together

Our elementary teachers recently participated in a professional development check-in with Origo Math trainers.

Teachers had the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and explore additional resources to strengthen mathematics instruction. Feedback has been very positive, and staff is enthusiastic about the curriculum's potential to support student success.

Tracking Academic Growth

Students in grades 3–8 are participating in Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics.

Teachers have been working collaboratively to align classroom instruction with state standards, helping students build confidence and familiarity with important academic concepts. The first MAST testing window closes December 11, with the second window scheduled for January 11 through March 5. Elementary students will also complete their middle-of-year DIBELS reading benchmarks in December.

These assessments help teachers celebrate progress, identify learning needs, and provide targeted instruction.

Strengthening EdReady and Academic Preparation

At the junior high and high school levels, adjustments to the EdReady program are providing students with more focused learning opportunities.

Students now have a dedicated 29-minute morning advisory period, allowing more time for individualized academic preparation. A separate Pathway to Algebra section has also been established for ninth-grade students, helping create a smoother transition from junior high to high school mathematics.

These changes demonstrate our commitment to continually improving programs to better serve students.

Looking Ahead to the ACT

Our juniors are preparing for the ACT, with testing tentatively scheduled for April 28, 2027.

The ACT provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their academic knowledge and prepare for future educational opportunities. We look forward to supporting our students as they prepare for this important milestone!

🌲 Bringing Education to Life: Annual Woods Tour

Our eighth- and ninth-grade students enjoyed an incredible hands-on learning experience during the annual Woods Tour on October 20!

Students traveled to Jerry Creek near Wise River to observe a KLM Logging operation on Bureau of Land Management property. They then visited Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge to learn how timber is processed into finished products.

This experience provided a firsthand look at Montana's timber industry, from selecting and harvesting trees to transportation, processing, and sales.

A special thank-you to School Board Trustee Karl Kanduch, the KLM Logging crew, Sean Steinbach, and Sun Mountain Lumber for sharing their knowledge, expertise, and hospitality.

These opportunities connect classroom learning to real-world careers and highlight the importance of Montana's natural resources and industries.

🏛️ Learning About Leadership and Government

On November 9, our sixth- and twelfth-grade students traveled to Helena for an educational field trip that included an opportunity to meet with Governor Greg Gianforte.

Experiences like these help students better understand government, civic responsibility, and the importance of leadership. We appreciate opportunities that encourage our students to become informed, engaged citizens and explore the role they can play in shaping their communities.

🏈 Titan Pride: What a Season!

Flint Creek Titans Head to the Semifinals!

What an incredible football season for the Flint Creek Titans!

Our Titans have battled their way into the state semifinals and will host Chinook on Saturday, November 14, at 1:00 p.m. in Philipsburg!

A victory would send the Titans to the state championship game, scheduled for November 21 in Drummond.

We are incredibly proud of our athletes, coaches, families, and everyone who has contributed to this successful season. Let's pack the stands and show our Titans how much our communities support them!

Supporting the Future of Titan Football

The district is working to preserve the longstanding football cooperative between Philipsburg and Drummond.

Following the Montana High School Association's denial of the cooperative renewal application, the district is preparing an appeal scheduled for Monday, November 23, 2026.

The cooperative has provided valuable opportunities for student-athletes from both communities to participate in football, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and build lasting friendships. Maintaining this partnership is especially important for small rural schools, where student participation numbers can make sustaining athletic programs challenging.

We encourage our families and community members to support our student-athletes as the district advocates for the continuation of this important partnership.

Additional information regarding the appeal meeting time and opportunities for community participation will be shared as it becomes available.

Basketball Season Is Here!

As football excitement continues, basketball season is getting underway!

Our junior high boys basketball team has already begun competing under coaches Dustin Keltner and Heather Rich.

High school basketball practices are scheduled to begin November 20, with Jackie Walter leading the girls program and Paul Kulaski coaching the boys. The district is also continuing its search for a junior high girls basketball coach.

We look forward to another exciting season of teamwork, determination, and Prospector pride!

🎃 Halloween Fun at Philipsburg Elementary!

Halloween was a tremendous success at Philipsburg Elementary!

Students enjoyed a fun-filled day featuring morning activity stations, delicious Halloween-themed lunches, a parade through downtown Philipsburg, and classroom celebrations.

The lunch menu even featured Mummy Dogs and Witches' Cauldron Brownies!

It was wonderful to see students, families, staff, and community members come together to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so memorable!

Honoring Our Veterans

On November 11, Philipsburg School District held a special Veterans Day assembly to recognize the brave men and women who have served our country.

Veterans Day provides an important opportunity for students to reflect on the meaning of service, sacrifice, and gratitude. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all veterans, especially those within our school families and local community.

Thank you for your service and for the example you set for future generations.

❤️ Celebrating Our Amazing Staff!

Behind every successful student is a team of dedicated educators and support staff. This month, we have several individuals to recognize for their outstanding contributions!

Mrs. Baumgartner Secures Backpack Food Program Grant!

A huge congratulations to Mrs. Baumgartner for successfully writing and receiving a grant to support our schools' Backpack Food Program! This important program will help provide food assistance to students and families who need additional support. Mrs. Baumgartner's compassion, initiative, and dedication to our students exemplify what it means to be a Prospector.

Thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of our families!

Ms. Beattie Receives Classroom Grant!

Congratulations to Ms. Beattie for receiving a Granite County Center Foundation classroom grant! The funding will support additional reading materials that complement the Superkids reading curriculum in her classroom. Her dedication to strengthening literacy opportunities demonstrates the commitment our teachers have to helping students succeed.

Way to go, Ms. Beattie!

Our Facilities Team Goes Above and Beyond!

Our buildings and grounds require constant care, and we are fortunate to have an outstanding team keeping everything running smoothly.

Bob McGuire continues to tackle projects throughout the district, including heating system maintenance, repairs, and cost-saving improvements. He recently cleaned the high school cafeteria's stove hood and fan, completing work that previously required an outside contractor. He has also prepared our facilities for the colder months by getting the biomass heating system operational as a backup to propane heating.

Jason White has gone above and beyond preparing the high school gymnasium for volleyball, basketball, and school events while continuing his regular custodial responsibilities. His dedication helps ensure our students, athletes, and community have welcoming spaces for school activities.

Sam LaTray has been hard at work maintaining the elementary grounds and preparing the building for winter, including clearing leaves to help prevent drainage issues when the snow begins to melt.

Their work often happens behind the scenes, but the results are visible throughout our schools.

Thank you, Bob, Jason, and Sam, for your hard work and dedication!

Celebrating 29 Years of Dedication!

After an incredible 29 years in education, Mr. Dustin Keltner has announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 school year.

Mr. Keltner has dedicated nearly three decades to educating, mentoring, and supporting young people. We look forward to celebrating his remarkable career and the lasting impact he has made on generations of students.

Thank you, Mr. Keltner, for your years of service and commitment to education!

Introducing Staff VIP of the Month!

We're excited to recognize our outstanding employees through the Staff VIP of the Month program!

This recognition will celebrate staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication, teamwork, and commitment to our students and school community. Recipients will receive a Prospector coffee mug or water bottle along with some special treats.

It's another way to show appreciation for the amazing people who make our district such a special place to learn and work!

🏫 Investing in Safe, Welcoming Schools

Our district continues making improvements to ensure students and staff have safe, comfortable, and well-maintained learning environments.

Recent projects include upgrades to the WiseNet security camera system, continued work on building access and security improvements, heating system maintenance, and repairs throughout district facilities.

The high school biomass heating system is operational and available as a backup to propane heating during particularly cold weather.

The district also completed a K–12 fire drill on November 4 using the E3 emergency communication app. The drill provided an opportunity to evaluate communication procedures and identify improvements. Going forward, phone announcements will supplement app notifications when appropriate to help ensure staff receive emergency alerts.

These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a secure and supportive learning environment for every student.

🤝 Strong Schools, Strong Families, Strong Community

Thank You for Supporting Parent-Teacher Conferences!

We were thrilled with the strong family participation during our November 5 parent-teacher conferences!

These conversations are an important part of building partnerships between home and school, celebrating student accomplishments, and identifying opportunities for continued growth.

A special thank-you goes to our wonderful PTO for providing refreshments and a much-appreciated energy boost for staff during the long conference day!

Your thoughtfulness and support mean so much.

Save the Date: End-of-Year Family BBQ!

We are excited to introduce a special opportunity for families to come together at the end of the school year!

May 26, 2027 | 5:30–6:30 p.m.

The district plans to host an end-of-year family BBQ in place of traditional third-quarter parent-teacher conferences. Families will have an opportunity to connect with school staff, celebrate the school year, and receive summer learning materials and supply lists for the upcoming school year.

We look forward to gathering as one Prospector family!

🎄 Holiday Cheer Is Just Around the Corner!

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and we have several exciting events to look forward to!

The spirit of giving is alive and well in our community! The Operation Santa Giving Tree is located at Huffman's Grocery. This wonderful program is made possible entirely through the generosity of community donations. Thank you to everyone who helps spread holiday cheer and make the season brighter for local families!. If you'd like to donate monetarily, please click here.

Our high school and elementary students are preparing for their Christmas concerts, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their musical talents and hard work.

The Ladies of Rock Creek Christmas Sale will return to Philipsburg Elementary on December 16, bringing a special holiday shopping opportunity to our school community.

Our high school students can also look forward to the annual Winterfest Dance on December 21, held at the Forge Hotel in Anaconda from 6:00–10:00 p.m. Transportation will be provided to and from Philipsburg.

We look forward to celebrating the season together!

📅 Important Dates & Upcoming Events

Please watch for additional announcements and schedule confirmations as events approach.

💛 A Season of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to take a moment to express our appreciation for the people who make Philipsburg School District such a special place.

To our students, thank you for your hard work, enthusiasm, and willingness to grow.

To our teachers and staff, thank you for the countless ways you support, encourage, and inspire our students every day.

To our parents and families, thank you for your partnership, trust, and involvement in your children's education.

And to our community, thank you for continuing to support our schools through donations, volunteering, attending events, cheering on our athletes, and investing in the future of our young people.

Our district may be small, but our dedication, heart, and Prospector pride are tremendous!

Together, we are making great things happen at Philipsburg School District!

GO PROSPECTORS! ⛏️

Our Mission: “To provide a rewarding and positive learning environment for our students through parent, student, and staff teamwork.”

📱 Stay Connected

Visit PhilipsburgSchools.org for school news, upcoming events, announcements, Board information, and more.

Stay connected through the Philipsburg Schools app and ClassDojo for important updates and reminders throughout the school year.