Upcoming News and Events

• Winter Break is  12/23/19-1/3/20.  We hope you have a wonderful break, we will see you Monday, 1/6/20!  Please see attached flyer for School's Out meals.
• 5th Grade Band and Orchestra Concert: Tuesday, December 17th, 3:00-3:25pm.
• Save the date for our first PTA meeting of 2020! Tuesday January 7th at 8:30am-9am in the FCC.
• We are Hiring!: We are looking for a Crossing Guard to get our students safely to and from school. If you are interested, please email Pam Wright at pwright@mcpsmt.org
• January is our Box Tops fundraiser! Look for more information after winter break. Clip and save those holiday meal ingredient tops to help the school raise money this winter!
• Save the Date: The Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT), the nation’s largest touring children’s theater, will be at Rattlesnake Elementary School in February. Students from 1st to 5th grade will have the opportunity to audition, rehearse, and perform the play Peter and Wendy the week of February 3rd 2020. Look for more information after winter break!
• FCC Needs: Our Family Connection Center has the ongoing need of gently used youth XS and S sweatpants. We are also currently in need of peanut butter, canned meat (tuna or chicken), Nature's Bakery Fig Bars, Kirkland chocolate chip granola bars, and string cheese. If you are able to donate any of these items, please bring them to the FCC during school hours. Thank you so much for your support, we greatly appreciate your donations!

Direct Donate

Did you know over 50 families have donated to the Rattlesnake PTA Direct Donate fundraiser so far? Please consider making a donation before winter break begins. It's easy - just send a check to school with your child (made out to Rattlesnake PTA) or donate online. Find more info HERE:

December Character Trait

Our December character trait is  GRATITUDE - expressing an appreciation for what one has; being thankful.

We're almost 2 weeks into our Direct Donate drive! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far- we are nearly halfway to our goal already! 

Ready to make a donation? It's easy - send a check to school with your child (made out to Rattlesnake PTA) or donate online: https://www.crowdrise.com/RattlesnakePTA

More info: https://rattlesnakepta.org/2019/11/23/direct-donate-2019/

• Rattlesnake Elementary Book Fair Novemeber 12th, 13th and 14th! We need volunteers! Please visit the PTA website for more info or sign up here to help out! 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences November 13th and 14th. You will receive a scheduling email this week. Please note there will be no childcare available at  school during conferences.
• Half Day Thursday, November 14th! (11:05 for grades K-2, 11:35 for grades 4-5. No school Friday, November 15th.
• Fall Spirit Gear ordering is open now! Visit HERE today through November 10th to order your Rattlesnake gear!. 
• Can the Cats Food Drive:  The week of November 11th-14th. Look for information to go home with your student soon!
• Chess Club is starting!: Beginning Monday, November 18, Chess Club will meet during lunch recess every Monday in the FCC. Sign-ups will be on the door of the FCC. If your student if interested, encourage them to sign up, spaces are limited!
• We are Hiring!: We are looking for a Crossing Guard to get our students safely to and from school. If you are interested, please email Pam Wright at pwright@mcpsmt.org
• Going on a trip? Visit our website for information and forms if your student will miss school for a family educational trip.
• FCC Needs: Our Family Connection Center is in need of gently used youth XS and S sweatpants. We also are in need of peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and gift cards to Great Clips. If you are able to donate any of these items, please bring them to the FCC during school hours. Thank you so much for your support!

• No School October 17th and 18th. Please see the attached flyer to find where free meals are being served on those dates.
• Family Fun Night with Animal Wonders: Thursday, October 24th, 6-7:30pm in the school gym. Look for information to go home with your student next week!
• We Are Hiring!: We have job openings for a noon duty aid position (2.5 hours/day) and a para-educator position (4 hours/day). You can pick up an application for the noon duty position at the main office. The para-educator position must be applied for online.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be November 13th and 14th. Look for a scheduling email in the coming weeks.
• PTA Meeting: Tuesday, November 5th, 8:30-9am in the FCC. All are welcome!
• Thank you to all that got your Beef Jerky orders in. The PTA anticipates getting the jerky distributed in mid to late October, and will be in touch will all of the kids (and their parents) that earned the limo ride in the next week or two!
• Plan ahead! The PTA is hoping to have Fall School Spirit Gear online ordering in early November, with delivery in early December.
• The Bike Rodeo is being postponed to April/May

Halloween 

We look forward to having a fun day on Halloween! Here are our guidelines and expectations for that school day:

• Costumes must conform to the Rattlesnake School Dress Code.
• Costumes may not be demeaning to any ethnic group, race, religion, nationality, disabilities, gender, or individual (staff or student) at the school.
• Costumes may not cause a disruption or distraction to the school program.
• No weapons, toy weapons, or props replicating weapons (sorry no light sabers either!) are to be brought to school.
• No costumes are allowed that would completely hide the identity of the student, i.e. Hazmat suit, gorilla suit, "Scream" character. Face paint shouldn’t cover more than 50% of the face (again we want to know who you are).
•  No full face masks are permitted (they may not be worn OR carried)

Classroom Celebration Food Guidelines

This school year, our District is focusing on consistent approaches to student health through the foods that are served during classroom parties and school celebrations. Here are some healthy suggestions for those classes who are including food in their Halloween celebrations. Rattlesnake classes will not be serving refined sugar treats on Halloween. Please pay attention to and follow any food allergy guidelines for your student's classroom in order to keep all students safe.  

• fresh fruit (grapes, oranges, apples, & strawberries, etc) 
• fruit kabobs 
• yogurt parfaits 
• veggies & dip 
• cheese cubes & baked crackers 
• turkey rolls with cream cheese 
• chex mix (homemade with no nuts)
• popcorn 
• finger sandwiches (no peanut butter)

After School Pick-Up

Please be on time to pick up your students. Grades K-3 are dismissed at 3pm (2pm on Thursdays). Grades 4-5 are dismissed at 3:30pm (2:30pm on Thursdays). We do not have staff to watch students between dismissal times.

Thank you!