Update from Three Forks CTE Department

Work continues as the team looks to assist other departments with alternative funding options. Fifteen Prek-12 teachers successfully funded approximately $500 per classroom (that's an approximate $7500 in benefit to our district) as part of the Montana OPI Literacy/Math funding boost. The Three Forks teachers that celebrated earning these OPI dollars included:

• Brittany Hall

• Sidney Houska

• Alex Alba

• Kadie Warner

• Maddi Mahoney

• Jenny Shumway

• Karsyn Houska

• Victoria Armold

• Corie Perrin

• Rachel Richardson

• Mallory Heilig

• Shayla Stemple

• Anna Berghausen

• Cathe Felz

• Jessica Oehmcke

Donors Choose is a crowdfunding-esque platform driven at boosting classrooms directly and providing additional opportunities for teachers. Since our district has started using Donors Choose a handful of years ago, Three Forks has had 71 projects funded, totalling approximately $37,255 in opportunities. This number continues to grow as Three Forks staff continue to host live projects in an effort to seek funding. CTE team members continue to work with teachers to take advantage of Donors Choose. Beyond the above listed OPI Math/Literacy projects, additional classroom boosts, funded via Donors Choose, went to the classrooms of:

• Michelle Mulhill

• Kadie Warner

• Ben Kane

• Cathe Felz

• Anna Berghausen

• Jessica Oehmcke

Aside from Donors Choose, the Three Forks Education Foundation also opened up their Educator Grant Cycle for fall, with applications closing October 7. Information about applying was shared with all Three Forks Staff, with eight classroom teachers applying. Watch for the TF Education Foundation to announce award recipients later this fall. The CTE department celebrates every grant with a caffeinated 'Teacher Toast' at all-staff meetings.

The courtyard projects are continuing to gain momentum. Plans are underway to develop the 'Bach to Nature' courtyard, driven at a PreK outdoor learning area with Middle and High School student labor to clean/prep/develop the space. Mr. Fanning met with Mrs. Felz and Mrs. Oehmcke about funding opportunities he knew of for the team to further research/apply to. Mrs. Malmquist has also been active in developing this space. We also have a lead on donated brick and stone to use for landscaping purposes, as well as constructing garden beds.

Middle school FCCLA students, along with several CTE support classes, have worked to set up one of the school gardens. While furniture was set up in two of the courtyard spaces, Mrs. Felz coordinated with Nick Wagner from Wagner Nurseries to fill the raised beds with their donation of delivered topsoil. Liner was placed under the raised beds to limit grass coming up through the gardens and CTE students worked to move the dirt into the beds. Edging to create a space for gravel was allowed, with the fill gravel to be placed around the beds and under the seating areas. Irrigation hosing was donated to the garden project by Tyler & Jatanna Williams.

Additionally, Alisa Meeks, Paula McDonald and Marie Hanson helped navigate the setup of a Point of Sale system. The system was set up by students and will be used in the school store as students learn the platform.

Beyond Wolves Live, Mr. Lauver has been working with his Media Production class on some uplifting staff and student projects with those making their debut in time for Homecoming 2024. Community members can view the staff and student lip dubs via the tfschools.com webpage.

Mrs. Felz had her Global Cuisine students volunteering for the Three Forks Senior Center, preparing lunch on October 8. Twenty two members and ten Meals on Wheels recipients dined on homemade chicken alfredo with caesar salad. As folks enjoyed tiramisu for dessert, the students were invited back anytime. Each of the six students earned four hours, with a total of 24 hours, of community service time. Additionally, thirty of Mrs. Felz's students have passed the ServSave Food Handler Program and now hold an industry certification.

Mrs. Oehmcke's Marketing class has had a hopper full of projects, benefiting a handful of local nonprofit organizations. Currently in the works are media pieces to benefit the Mason Moore Foundation, the Headwaters Area Food Bank, the Three Forks Education Foundation and the Three Forks Chamber of Commerce. While the projects are small, the students are gaining work-place learning skills while accommodating customer requests, meeting deadlines and receiving feedback.