Big Sky Students & Parents-

I hope this weekly update greets you feeling rested and able to spend time with family and friends during the long break.  Winter sports and activities are in full swing, so make sure you are checking the Big Sky Calendar for all the action.  Everything from Swimming, Basketball, Wrestling, FFA, Choir, Orchestra, Band, Speech & Debate and more! Let’s turn out for all Big Sky events and show our students the Big Sky spirit! 

Here are a few more updates:

BSHS Holiday Giving Tree

We want every Big Sky student and family to have a special holiday season. Please review the available wishes below and click on the button to sign up. Please bring labeled items to Big Sky High School front office by Monday, December 11th. Gifts can be either wrapped or unwrapped, any unwrapped gifts will be taken care of by our Family Resource Coordinator.

Big Sky Giving Tree

December Meal Kits are ready for sign-up! This Family Engagement event is a breakfast meal kit available for pickup before the winter break.  Please sign up here-Breakfast Meal Kit, these are available to all Big Sky families! 

• Thursday-Late work deadline, don’t forget to have any outstanding assignments turned in.  This will be our first-grade check for student-athletes, so don’t miss out on your first competition by having missing assignments that impact your grade! 

Have a great week Big Sky, please be in touch if you need anything! Go EAGLES!

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students & Parents-

Short week, short weekly updates! I’d like to say I hope you all have a good break, and enjoy some time away from school, but remember if anyone needs help or support during this long break don’t hesitate to reach out.  The FRC (Family Resource Center) will be open Monday and Tuesday if students need to get any food or toiletry items for the time away from school. 

• The Holiday season can be stressful, we would love to help fill a need and want for your student to help ease the stress of the season. Sign Ups are now open for our Holiday giving tree. Requests are open to families that are not receiving gifts from other organizations. Please fill out the Holiday Giving request form by Monday, November 21st. 

Here is the link to sign up: Holiday Giving Tree Request 

Seniors and senior parents: 

• Your senior photos for the yearbook are due by December 13th. Late photos will not be accepted due to publishing company deadlines.  You can email your photo directly to Laci Dunfee at bigskyyearbook@mcpsmt.org. Please be sure they are portrait orientation, high resolution, and in color. There is no charge for your senior photos to be in the yearbook.
• Caps & Gowns-this year Big Sky will finally be shifting over to our updated school colors of Royal and Yellow,  I have worked with Jostens to make sure all orders will be the correct colors, so don’t be surprised when you receive your gown. We will continue to have gowns for students to borrow and will reach out in the spring to find out who will need one.  If you planned on wearing a previous graduate gown (navy), please email me so we can work to get you a royal blue one.

Have a great week, and don’t forget only Monday & Tuesday at school, see you all back on November 27th! Go Eagles

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students and Parents-

Don’t forget the Winter Sports meeting is tomorrow, Monday at 6 pm! 

The Holiday season can be stressful, but we would love to help fill a need and want for your student to help ease the stress of the season. Sign ups are now open for our Holiday giving tree. Requests are open to families that are not receiving gifts from other organizations. Please fill out the Holiday Giving request form by Monday, November 21st. 

Here is the link to sign up: Holiday Giving Tree Request 

• Seniors and senior parents: 

Your senior photos for the yearbook are due by December 13th. Late photos will not be accepted due to publishing company deadlines.  You can email your photo directly to Laci Dunfee at bigskyyearbook@mcpsmt.org. Please be sure they are portrait orientation, high resolution and in color. There is no charge for your senior photos to be in the yearbook.

Senior parents, you also have the option to purchase a baby ad for your senior. Ads are 1/4 page for $100, which includes 2 photos of your choice and a message. To purchase a baby ad, go to www.yearbookforever.com, enter Big Sky High School--under "create a senior ad" click "get started" and go from there.  NO CODE NECESSARY!

• 1 week left for the Key Club food drive to help the Missoula Food Bank with its annual “Can the Cats” food drive competing against the Gallatin Food Bank. We will be accepting donations through Friday the 17th. Boxes will be set up in classrooms to collect donations. 

Have a great week Big Sky! Please be in touch if you need anything, Go EAGLES!

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students and Parents-

It’s hard to believe we are almost to our next break! Don’t forget there is no school Wednesday, November 22nd-November 24th.  If you plan to miss any additional days that week, please reach out to your teachers to collect any work, and parents please notify the attendance office. 

Here are a few additional reminders:

• Seniors and senior parents: 

Your senior photos for the yearbook are due by December 13th. Late photos will not be accepted due to publishing company deadlines.  You can email your photo directly to Laci Dunfee at bigskyyearbook@mcpsmt.org. Please be sure they are portrait orientation, high resolution, and in color. There is no charge for your senior photos to be in the yearbook.

Senior parents, you also have the option to purchase a baby ad for your senior. Ads are 1/4 page for $100, which includes 2 photos of your choice and a message. To purchase a baby ad, go to www.yearbookforever.com, enter Big Sky High School--under "create a senior ad" click "get started" and go from there.  NO CODE NECESSARY!

• ALL STUDENTS:

Yearbooks are selling fast! We have already sold over half of our 2023-2024 yearbooks.  Order yours by November 8th, for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card. Go to www.yearbookforever.com

• We still have a few meal kits left!  This is one of Big Sky’s many Family Engagement events.  These meal kits are open to all families with the goal that for at least one meal, families will cook and eat together! There will also be a special dessert video by our very own Culinary 3 students! All ingredients are included and pick up takes place on November 20th and 21st.  Here is the link to sign up-November Meal Kit
• Key Club is conducting a food drive to help the Missoula Food Bank with their annual “Can the Cats” food drive competing against the Gallatin Food Bank. We will be accepting donations from November 1st to the 17th. Boxes will be set up in classrooms to collect donations. 
• Winter Sports Meeting!! If your child plans to participate in Swimming, Wrestling or Basketball you need to plan to attend the winter sports meeting on Monday November 13th @ 6pm in the Big Sky Theater.  If your child did not play a fall sport, you need to have an updated physical no earlier than May 31st, 2023.  We would also encourage you to join Booster Club! They will have their November meeting directly following the sports meeting! 

Have a great week Big Sky, please reach out if you need anything! GO EAGLES! 

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Dear Big Sky Students & Parents-

There are lots of happenings at Big Sky this week! Check out all the ways to get involved below-

• It’s time to sign up for our 4th annual November Meal Kit.  This is one of Big Sky’s many Family Engagement events.  These meal kits are open to all families with the goal that for at least one meal, families will cook and eat together! There will also be a special dessert video by our very own Culinary 3 students! All ingredients are included and pick-up takes place on November 20th and 21st.  Here is the link to sign up-November Meal Kit
• NHS Costume Contest on Halloween Tuesday, NHS (National Honor Society) members will be at the front of the school near the office before school, during lunch, and after school to take photos of everyone's costumes. There will be two main categories and three subcategories for prizes. The two main ones are single and group costumes. The three subcategories will be included in both main categories and are as follows: funniest, most unique, and overall best. The winners of the overall best for both single and group will receive prizes! 
• ****Please remember costumes must be school-appropriate, no face masks, and no weapons. 
• Key Club is conducting a food drive to help the Missoula Food Bank with their annual “Can the Cats” food drive competing against the Gallatin Food Bank. We will be accepting donations from November 1st to the 17th. Boxes will be set up in classrooms to collect donations. 
• Choir Trivia Night! This is a great way to have fun, win some prizes, and help raise funds for the trip to New York City! Here is the link to sign up for a team: Trivia Team Sign Up!
• Trivia Night Flyer.pdf
• Winter Sports Meeting!! If your child plans to participate in Swimming, Wrestling or Basketball you need to plan to attend the winter sports meeting on Monday, November 13th @ 6pm in the Big Sky Theater.  If your child did not play a fall sport, you need to have an updated physical no earlier than May 31st, 2023. 

Have a great week Big Sky, don’t forget that grades will be updated at 4pm on Tuesday.  You will want to reflect on the green box in IC for the most current and up-to-date grade.  Please be in touch if you have any questions! Go Eagles! 

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students & Parents-

Welcome back after the long 4-day break! I hope you all got some good rest and got outside and enjoyed the nice sunny days! I want to encourage you all to follow Big Sky on Facebook, this is the place to see all of the shoutouts and celebrations for all the hard work and efforts of our students, athletes, and community! Here are a few reminders for this week:

• Thursday Late Work Deadline! Don’t forget to get any outstanding work turned in, grades will be posted by Tuesday 10/31 at 4pm.  Parents-you can check out the “Grade Posting” in IC to see the current grade (remember it’s the grade in green). 
• Check out this fun Trivia event coming your way Thursday, NOVEMBER 2nd brought to you by the Big Sky Choir. Please invite family/friends to put together a team.  Use the QR code on the flyer to register your team.  If you would like to be a part of the club (help with Silent Auction organization, silent auction donations, donate/make refreshments, help in the kitchen), please email Ms Labbe (nklabbe@mcpsmt.org).  
• Trivia Night Flyer
• Don’t forget this week our Big Sky Theater students will be putting on A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody by Ron Bernas. Performances begin at 7:30pm and tickets are $8 at the door on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. 
• Winter Sports Meeting!! If your child plans to participate in Swimming, Wrestling, or Basketball you need to attend the winter sports meeting on Monday, November 13th @ 6pm in the Big Sky Theater.  If your child did not play a fall sport, you need to have an updated physical no earlier than May 31st, 2023. 

Have a great week Big Sky, please be in touch if you need anything! Go Eagles! 

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students & Parents-

Don’t forget this is a short week, we do not have school on Thursday & Friday this week.  The bell schedule for Wednesday is a 1-7 period, no block schedule this week! 

There are a few upcoming events you won’t want to miss-

October 26th, 27th, and 28th our Big Sky Theater students will be putting on their first Theater performance of the year.  The show begins at 7:30 pm and tickets are $8 at the door. 

Upcoming Trick or Treating through the halls of Big Sky-we are encouraging all clubs and activities to sign up! Click on this link for more information.  Big Sky Club Event

We have one more chance for students, athletes, coaches, and parents to fill out our Biomedical Innovations surveys for data collection! 

Surveys for Students (you do need to be logged into your Google account to complete them)

• Financial Preparedness
• Student Scheduling Questionnaire
• Student Schedule Assessment
• Student Food Survey 
• Bullying Survey for Students
• Parking at Big Sky for Students
• Bathroom Accessibility- Student Survey
• School Schedule Survey 
• Student Culture Survey 
• absences due to school activities - student response
• Student Litter Survey
• Student Survey - BSHS Grading System
• Student Survey - Social Dynamic
• Student Survey- Locker Rooms 
• Course Effectiveness Survey
• Student Survey- Big Sky Student Parking Lot
• Course Offerings- Student survey
• Parking at Big Sky-Students

Surveys for Parents (You don’t need a Google login for these)

• Parking at Big Sky for Parents
• Parent Parking Survey

Athletes & Coaches

• Athlete Survey- Locker Rooms 
• Coaches Survey- Locker Rooms 

Enjoy your short week at school Big Sky, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything! 

GO EAGLES!

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students & Parents-

This week marks our first Orchestra and choir performances! I would encourage you to stop by Big Sky on Monday @ 7pm for the Orchestra and Wednesday @ 7pm for the Choir.  Don’t forget you can see all of the upcoming events on the-Big Sky calendar.

There are a couple of really great volunteer opportunities for students- each of these groups will have a table at the main entrance on Tuesday for you to sign up and ask questions:

• Big Brother’s Big Sisters- Big Sky and Target Range are the only high school to elementary programs in Missoula! TR is looking for at least 7 BIG’s to work with their Little 1 day a week for 1 hour.  You need to be an 11th or 12th grader and able to transport yourself to TR.  Attached are materials and a permission slip to get you started. 
• ROW (Reading Opens your World)-another partnership with Target Range where students read to and with students to open up literacy experiences for elementary-aged students.  There will be a volunteer meeting on Tuesday, October 17th at 4:30 pm in the Target Range Library.  This link takes you to all the necessary documents. 

Each year our 12th grade Biomedical Innovations, Health Science Academy students collect data for their yearlong research project.  The surveys below are for STUDENTS, PARENTS & ATHLETES/COACHES to complete and are completely optional.  You can fill out as many of them as you would like, and remember these surveys provide data and also feedback to administration:

Surveys for Students (you do need to be logged into your Google account to complete them)

• Student Scheduling Questionnaire
• Student Schedule Assessment
• Student Food Survey 
• Bullying Survey for Students
• Parking at Big Sky for Students
• Bathroom Accessibility- Student Survey
• School Schedule Survey 
• Student Culture Survey 
• absences due to school activities - student response
• Student Litter Survey
• Student Survey - BSHS Grading System
• Student Survey - Social Dynamic
• Student Survey- Locker Rooms 
• Course Effectiveness Survey
• Student Survey- Big Sky Student Parking Lot
• Course Offerings- Student survey
• Parking at Big Sky-Students

Surveys for Parents (You don’t need a Google login for these)

• Parking at Big Sky for Parents
• Parent Parking Survey

Athletes & Coaches

• Athlete Survey- Locker Rooms 
• Coaches Survey- Locker Rooms 

Thank you so much for the advisories that helped with Campus Cleanup last Thursday, it makes a huge difference when we all chip in together to improve our school! Have a great week Big Sky!

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Dear Big Sky Students & Parents-

Thank you for a great Homecoming week! We have never in all my 11 years had the student section at a Football game full from top to bottom! This makes me so proud of our school spirit and pride.  I also want to give a shout out to Jake and Carlyn our Student Body Co-Presidents for making this week fun and safe! GO EALGES!

Here are some important updates:

• Parents…we need your help!
•  Please reinforce your child reading these weekly updates…countless times I have students tell me they didn’t know something was happening and I tease and tell them to read the Weekly Updates! 
• Remind your child to bring their charged Chromebooks to school along with their chargers! We are spending lots of precious class time charging them or going to the library to get a charged computer. 
• Activity Cards-if your child is able to purchase their Activity Card for $25 they can get into all games for the remainder of the school year! I am watching many students paying $6 each time to enter a game, if they would like to save money have them stop by the Attendance Office and talk to Becca.
• Parking passes-students if you do not have a parking pass yet, you must stop by the Main office before school, during lunch, or after school to get one from the Main Office. 
• The Health Science Academy is hosting its annual Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Big Sky High School Auditorium. There are still a few spots if any parents or guardians would like to sign up. If you follow the link below, you will find available slots and be assigned a time. Hope to see you there! https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=BIGSKYHS

Attendance Updates from 9/1 - 9/29:

Big Sky students have missed a total of 1896 days (does not include activity absences)!

• 1165 excused
• 731 unexcused

The goal was less than 2,000 (which beats September of 2022), but we are still considered in the “Federally Chronic” level of absences.  So let’s continue to push through and improve for October. 

October is going to be focused on “Campus Clean Up”. During Advisory we will have some class competitions to help beautify our Big Sky campus, stay tuned for more information during Advisory! 

Don’t forget to check out the Big Sky Calendar for all of our upcoming events including Music Performances! 

Have a great week Big Sky, reach out if you need anything!

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org

Big Sky Students & Families-

There are only 26 spots left to register for the PSAT! The test will be Wednesday, October 25th and is open to 10th and 11th graders. To register you just need to bring $18 (cash or check made out to Big Sky), in a sealed envelope with your name written on the outside, to Debi Turner in the front office. The deadline for test registration is Friday, September 29th.

Practice materials can also be accessed digitally at: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice. If you have any questions about the test, please contact Big Sky’s Test Coordinator, Jack Young jyoung@mcpsmt.org

Dropping a Class:

If students choose to drop a class after 9/25/23, the student will receive an “F” on their transcript for the dropped class.   

• Students must email their counselor and Assistant Principal with the request.
• A grade of "F" will be recorded on the student's transcript for the dropped class. 
• The "F" grade will be factored into the student's GPA. 

College Fair:

The annual College Fair at UM is September 26 from 9:15-11:15am, buses will leave at 9 am. This is a great opportunity to learn about lots of different colleges, career pathways, and the programs they offer, and get you thinking about what you want to do after high school!

YOU MUST REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 25!! 

Chose one of these ways to register:

• Use the link below to register online
• Scan the QR code on the posters in the counseling office
• Grab a card from the counseling office's tables and follow the instructions

Strive Fair - College Fair Student Registration-https://app.strivescan.com/students

Yearbook Information:

The yearbook staff would like to remind you to send in senior photos to bigskyyearbook@mcpsmt.org and be sure to include their name. 

We would also love to encourage you to send photos of events and activities if you have them. Yearbook staff can’t be everywhere all the time, and we know you have great photos to share. You can upload to the yearbook snap app with code bigskyeagles OR you can email to bigskyyearbook@mcpsmt.org.  If you have any questions contact Laci Dunfee.

Homecoming Week Events-we want all students to participate, so check out all the fun events and dress-up days happening! 

Join us for the 1st Annual Blue & Gold Booster Gala! 

• When: October 14 th
• Where: Missoula Fairgrounds- Home Arts Building
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Adults Only
• Live/Silent Auction, Food, Drinks, Games

Please join us for a night of fun and fundraising. Proceeds will help fund Athletic programs, Speech & Debate, and various other events that the Booster Club supports. Some items available for the auction include a Mexico vacation, weekend Getaways, Yeti coolers, Spa packages, and much more! Help us continue to build a strong Big Sky community!! A limited number of tickets will be sold, get yours soon!!!

Purchase tickets at: bigskyboosterclub.org

This will be a great week celebrating our Big Sky Eagles! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Jennifer Courtney

Principal, jccourtney@mcpsmt.org