Bigfork School District

Maintenance projects completed over the summer: New lighting and flooring throughout the district and the installation of new stairs by the bus loading zone. 

For more information, visit bigforkschools.org or call 406-837-7420. 

— Bigfork Elementary and Middle School 

First day: Aug. 31 for first through eighth grade. Kindergartners will be placed on a rotating schedule for the first two weeks. 

Projected enrollment: 333 elementary students and 341 middle school students. 

New Staff: The elementary and middle school welcome teachers Earl Bach, fourth grade; Emily Bonner, third grade; Chase Breitbach, middle school band and middle and high school choir; Anders Epperly, second grade; Hannah Holderbaum, middle school English; Kristin Lavelle, middle school math; Whitney Lockman, first grade and Samantha Modderman, middle school science. 

Maintenance projects completed over the summer: New playground equipment. 

Open house: New students are invited to visit the school from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31. Bigfork Elementary and Middle School is located at 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. 

For more information call 406-837-7407. 

— Bigfork High School 

First day: Freshmen and new high school students start Aug. 31. Sophomores, juniors and seniors start Sept. 1. 

Projected enrollment: 341 

New Staff: Bigfork High School welcomes science teachers Collin Buck and Mary Heinert. 

Open house: A freshman parent orientation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31.

Cayuse Prairie School

First day: Aug. 24 for first through eighth grade. Lil' Mustangs and kindergartners start Aug. 25.  

Projected enrollment: 330 

New Staff: Superintendent and Principal Christy Bortz joins Cayuse Prairie from her prior position as an instructional coach at Hedges Elementary School in Kalispell. Bortz holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational leadership. 

"I know that strong schools start with strong teachers. My job is to support them so they can do their best work for kids," Bortz said. "Our theme this year is Strong Roots, Strong Growth, and I can't think of a better way to describe what we're working toward." 

Paxton Doty joins the staff as the new assistant principal. Doty previously served as a fifth-grade teacher at Hedges Elementary School in Kalispell. Doty holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational leadership. 

Cayuse Prairie also welcomes teachers Lynette Capacio, sixth grade English language arts and social studies; Stacy Hughes, seventh and eighth grade science and social studies; Lucy Megerth eighth grade English language arts, social studies and literature and Shyla Russell, special education. Also joining the staff are special education paraprofessionals Nikkole Beougher and Sarah Sheldon; horticulture director Brad Hooley and assistant business manager and front office assistant Melissa Hooley. 

Open house: 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at the school, 897 Lake Blaine Road, Kalispell. 

For more information visit cayuseprairie.com or call 406-756-4560.

Somers-Lakeside School District

— Lakeside Elementary 

First day: Sept. 8 

Projected enrollment: 260 

New Staff: Lakeside Elementary welcomes fourth-grade teachers Valerie De La Torre and Hannah Sempf; paraeducators Barb Ewing, Heather Forbes and Charles Maxwell and Office Manager Brandi Walker. 

New curriculum: The elementary is implementing digital programs Lalilo and Freckle to supplement core curriculum instruction. Lalilo builds foundational reading skills for grades K–2, while Freckle provides adaptive math and reading practice tailored to each child's level. Used during small group instruction, these tools supplement our core curriculum to target skill gaps and accelerate academic growth, according to administrators.

Maintenance projects completed: The gym was repainted and refurbished.

Open house: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at the school, 225 Adams St., Lakeside.

For more information visit somersdist29.org or call 406-844-2208.

— Somers Middle School 

First day: Sept. 8

Projected enrollment: 260

New Staff: Principal Julia Maxwell joins Somers Middle School from her previous principal and superintendent position at Marion School.

“As we begin this school year, my goal is to build a school where every student feels known, valued, and challenged to grow every day. I believe the best schools are built through strong relationships, high expectations, and a shared commitment to doing what's best for kids. I'm excited to learn alongside this incredible staff and community as we continue building on the great work already happening at Somers Middle School," Maxwell said.

The middle school also welcomes teachers Samantha Aklestad, seventh and eighth grade Title I; Kara Basko, art; Mary Maloncon, eighth grade math; Erin Shea, seventh grade math and paraeducator Cassidy Speck.

Open house: 3:30 to 5:30 Sept. 3 at the school, 315 School Addition Road, Somers.

For more information visit somersdist29.org or call 406-857-3661.

Swan River School

First day: Aug. 31

Projected enrollment: 130 to 140

New Staff: Swan River School welcomes teachers Ryan Hillebrand, eighth grade/middle school science; Claire Stam, special education and Shayenn Weimer, music and library. 

The school is looking to fill two paraprofessional positions.

Open house: A back-to-school barbecue is planned Aug. 26 at the school, 1205 Swan Highway, Bigfork.

For more information visit sites.google.com/swanriverschoolk-8.org/swanriver/home or call 406-837-4528.