The first day of school is Sept. 6 for several public and private districts in the valley.

Families are reminded that school meals are no longer available free of charge for students due to expiration of Covid-19 waivers. Families with children who may be eligible for free or reduced-cost meals need to complete an application at their respective school district. Eligibility is based on income level and if the district participates in the USDA National School Lunch Program. A child in a family of four with a yearly income of $51,338, for example, would qualify for reduced-price meals, according to the USDA. If the family of four earned $36,075 a year, the child would qualify for free meals.

Following is information supplied by schools.

Bigfork School District

First day: Sept. 6

New staff: Teachers Bailey Butler, fifth- through 12th-grade media arts; Mindy Castruita, kindergarten through 12th-grade life skills; and Erik Heuchert, fifth through 12th-grade choir; in addition to bus driver Erica Person and food service employee Brenda Koch.

Website: www.bigforkschools.org

Bigfork elementary and middle school

Elementary projected enrollment: 396 students

Middle school projected enrollment: 228 students

New staff: Teachers Joe Pitts, fifth grade; Shauna Pitts, fifth grade; Kristin Vick, kindergarten; and paraprofessional Jenny Foley.

Bigfork High School

Projected enrollment: 356

New staff: Teachers Lucas Baumann, ninth- and 10th-grade English; Tannar Cummings, science; and Brandon Piazzola, P.E. and health.

Kalispell Montessori

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 86 students

New staff members: Upper elementary teacher Kami Doty and lower elementary teachers Katarina Houser and Garrett Myers.

New curriculum/programs: The school is offering seventh grade this year.

Website: www.kalispellmontessori.com

Marion School

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 166 students

New staff: Principal Julia Maxwell joins Marion School from her former position at Ulm Public Schools. The school also welcomes Arthur Fretheim who will work in special education.

Maintenance projects: The school is working to remodel the library.

Website: sites.google.com/marionschoolmt.com/home

Smith Valley School

First day of school: Grades first through eighth start Sept. 6. Kindergartners will attend “experience days,” scheduled Sept. 6-8 with the first day Sept. 9.

Projected enrollment: 220 students

New staff: Principal Dawn Matt joins Smith Valley School from her previous position as a music and Title I teacher at St. Ignatius Elementary where she also served as the district testing coordinator, Montana Behavioral Initiative facilitator and school safety liaison. Smith Valley also welcomes teachers Khrista Corpron, music; Cienna Degele, fifth grade; Joshua Eastman, health enhancement and Michael Fisher, fourth grade; and Title I/testing coordinator Crystal Evanson.

Maintenance projects: A new sidewalk installed and the school is working on upgrading its water system.

An open house is set at 6 p.m. Sept. 20.

Website: www.smithvalleyschool.org

Somers-Lakeside School District

The district office welcomes new clerk Dennice Taylor.

Website: www.somersdist29.org

Lakeside Elementary

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 293 students

New staff: Paraprofessionals Kimberly Banks and Irene Macias and teachers Brandi Boysun, kindergarten, and Mikela Olson, fourth grade.

Maintenance projects: The parking lot was resurfaced.

An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 29.

Somers Middle School

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 270 students

New staff: Somers Middle School welcomes Dean of Students and Athletic Director Jacob Alford and office manager Vanessa Barrett. The middle school also welcomes teachers Jennifer Knepper, seventh-grade language arts; Cambrie Korpela, seventh-grade math; Tina Rhoades, sixth-grade math; Jenny Scott, eighth-grade language arts and Taylre Yarn, seventh- and eighth-grade Title I language arts.

St. Matthew’s Catholic School

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 158 students

New staff: Administrative assistant Alex Porterfield and teachers Sophie Burke, third grade; Madison Deitz, Spanish; Kellie Fender, part-time pre-K; Sara Harris, art; Cady McClurg, kindergarten; Lisa Melnick, fourth grade; Holley Petrick, first grade and Sydney Schroeder, intervention. Kari Salois joins The Early Learning Center staff as co-director along with lead teachers Sherry Stockham and Carra Weber.

New curriculum, programs, activities: Theology of the Body, Institute for Excellence in Writing, Spanish and golf.

Maintenance projects: Remodeled the library and office areas.

Website: www.stmattsaints.org

Swan River School

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 200 students

New staff: Paraprofessional Tracy Boose and teachers Megan Adams, third grade; Darby Henderson, fifth- through eighth-grade math and sixth-grade social studies; Monica Norris, sixth- through eighth-grade science and eighth-grade social studies; and Stevi Siloti-Raykowski, first grade.

New curriculum, programs, activities: MidSchoolMath curriculum for grades fifth through eighth.

Maintenance projects: Front parking lot was paved; a basketball court and walking path were put in around the recently installed playground.

An open house will be held from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 4th.

Website: www.swanriverschool.org

West Glacier School

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 65 students

Staffing changes: Kati Knutson is the new lead teacher. She has served on the school’s teacher-led team for more than five years.

Maintenance projects: The school is working on getting connected to fiber internet by the fall.

Whitefish Christian Academy

First day: Sept. 6

Projected enrollment: 135 students

New staff members: Teachers Anna Kron, second grade; Courtney Lewis, kindergarten; Amy Pino, third grade; Holden Sieler, humanities; Andrea Smith, math; Kelly Sumner, first grade; and classroom aides Malia Brown, Abbi Olson and Anna Sieler, classroom aide/French.

Website: www.whitefishchristianacademy.org

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.