The Ambush

Hello High School Students and Families,

As we move further into the second half of the school year, I want to take a moment to recognize the continued dedication and accomplishments of our students. Our speech and drama competitors had an excellent season and we are so proud of the effort they put into all of their performances and competitions. Wrestling, basketball and cheer are still going strong, and we wish them the very best as they head into postseason competition. Thank you as well to our pep band, Booster Club, and to the many students, families, and community members who show up to support our Tigers. Your encouragement and school spirit make a difference!

Although we have been fortunate to avoid the harsh winter conditions this year, we know how quickly Montana weather can change. Please continue to stay mindful during daily commutes and ensure students are dressed appropriately so they are prepared for shifting temperatures and conditions. Taking a few extra precautions helps keep everyone safe and ready to focus on learning each day.

Our TIGERS expectations (teamwork, integrity, gratitude, effort, responsibility, and safety) remain central to who we are as a school community. These values guide how students treat one another, approach challenges, and grow both inside and outside the classroom. They also connect closely with our Profile of a Graduate, which reflects the skills, character, and mindset we hope every student carries with them beyond high school.

I would also like to share a personal update. This spring, I will be out of the building on maternity leave as our family looks forward to welcoming a baby boy in late March or early April. During this time, I will remain connected to the school and continue working on behind-the-scenes planning as we prepare for the upcoming school year. The daily operations of MHS will continue as normal, and I am confident in our students and staff to keep the strong progress of this year moving forward. While I am out, administrative communication should be directed to Mrs. Poole and Mr. Parseghian as the initial points of contact. If additional support is needed, they will coordinate with Ms. Fulp or another administrator in our District.

Thank you, students, for your continued effort, and thank you to our families and community for your partnership and support. Let’s make the remainder of the year meaningful, successful, and full of positive momentum. Go Tigers!

With warm regards,

Miranda Howells

High School Principal

Mrs. Guevara is our new Ag/Business teacher! She and her family are new to Montana and feel incredibly grateful to have found such a welcoming home in the Manhattan community. She has especially enjoyed the strong school culture at MHS, where high expectations are matched with genuine support for students and staff. Drawn by the school’s reputation for meaningful learning, she is excited to contribute to that positive environment in her Business and Ag role. Outside of school, Mrs. Guevara loves spending time in the mountains running, exploring, and especially free diving! She never passes up the chance to hold her breath and spend time underwater!

Mr. VanDyk has stepped in as a substitute teacher at MHS and will be teaching math while Mrs. Miller is out on maternity leave. Mr. VanDyk has quickly appreciated the kindness and respect shown by Manhattan students, noting how often they express gratitude in the classroom. After retiring as an assistant principal, he was excited to return to teaching, where he finds joy in helping students reach those “lightbulb” moments of understanding. His passion for learning and connection with students has made his transition back to the classroom especially meaningful. A fun fact about Mr. VanDyk is that he once played in a pickup basketball game with Kevin McHale, who is in the NBA basketball hall of fame!

* AI generated summaries from staff responses *

Mr. Chris Render

HS Counselor

crender@mhstigers.org

406-284-3341x225

All MHS students (and parents/guardians) can now receive free access to SimpliCollege which is designed to help families successfully navigate the college and career planning process. I have worked with SimpliCollege for many years and am excited that they have created a platform that Manhattan High School families can use free of charge! MHS Family Registration Link

• Montana Tech Spring Tech Day: March 6th
• MSU / Gallatin College Fridays: March 6 and March 27
• University of Montana Admitted Student Day: March 7 and March 28
• University of Montana Western Preview Day: March 20
• MSU Billings admissions visit at MHS: March 23

ACT testing for all MHS 11th grade students: April 7th, 8th & 9th

ACT prep is offered twice weekly through April 2rd

• March 03 - Montana Wilderness School presentation at MHS
• March 05 - Manufacturing and Mechanics Night at Helena College
• March 05 - Build Montana all girls construction event
• March 17 - Montana Conservation Corps summer expeditions presentation at MHS
• March 26 - Manufacturing Day at Williams Plumbing, Heating & Engineering (Transportation for students provided by MHS)

“Senior Scholarship Season” is in full swing! All local scholarships can be found on our school website and hard copies are hanging in Mr. Render’s room. Other very helpful scholarship sites are Reach Higher Montana and Going Merry.

• Williams Academy Pre-Apprenticeship Program
• MedStart - Healthcare career exploration program
• Heads Up - Behavioral health career exploration program
• KE Camps - Summer day camp counselor
• Teen Life - Summer programs

Summer 2026 Course Details:

Please complete and submit the Summer 2026 Driver Education Interest Form as a preliminary sign-up for the Summer 2026 driver education course. The course is tentatively scheduled for May 4-June 30. There will be a mandatory parent meeting the week prior to the start date. Ms. Jones will be reaching out with the exact date when the course list has been finalized. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jones (mjones@mhstigers.org) or (406) 284-3341. See details on qualifications, course schedules, drive schedules and fees below.

FALL and SPRING Course Options and Details:

• Fall & Spring courses will be available to students as part of our regular High School class schedule. Students will register for class during the regular registration process with Mr. Render. Enrollment in Manhattan Schools is required to participate in these classes.

• A summer course will be offered during May and June. An application form will be made available on the website at the beginning of the calendar year for students to express interest in the summer course.

Qualifications

• Teens under the age of 19 can enroll in a state-approved driver education course if they are 14.5 years of age before the scheduled Learner's License test date for the course.

• Attendance in class is mandatory! Students in the fall and spring Driver Education courses may not be absent for more than 4 classes total over the course of the semester. Summer session students may not miss a single class.

• The student must be able to schedule a minimum of twelve hours for driving and in-car observation (Six 2 to 3 hour time blocks). These hours are in addition to the class time and are scheduled to be completed by the end of the course. Completion of all six drive times is required to pass the course and obtain your learner’s license.

Class Schedule

• Class schedules will be provided at the required parent meetings prior to the beginning of class.

Drive Schedule

• The students will be responsible for signing up for their drive times during class.

Students who have difficulty with reading or have special learning needs should realize that extra help will not be available during the summer session.

In case of excess requests for a course, priority will be given to the in-district students and the older students who live in our school district. The Driver Education instructor will notify parents that their child has been selected prior to the mandatory parent meeting.

Fees

• Spring & Fall courses: $200

• Summer course: $350

*There will be a mandatory parents' meeting prior to each class session. Please bring your child’s Certified Birth Certificate and Social Security Card to this meeting. Thank you for supporting your child as they grow into responsible drivers.

Our goal is to enhance opportunity, flexibility, and options for students at MHS, ensuring that our programs adapt to meet the evolving needs of today’s society.

We are reviewing our course offerings to align with student interests and future needs. Some areas we are exploring include additional AP courses, in-person dual enrollment opportunities (college-credit courses), new elective offerings, a potential honors/AP diploma pathway, and more.

Please provide feedback using this survey to help us gather more input on these ideas. Student voice will also play a key role in shaping these options, ensuring our programming reflects their interests and aspirations.

Parent Campus, part of our Infinite Campus student information system, allows families to log in and view their student’s attendance, grades, and important school information. Please make sure your contact settings are up to date to receive accurate notifications from the school, and contact the high school office if you need help logging in.

Don’t miss out—2025-26 yearbooks are on sale now! Purchase yours for $65 either on the school website (credit card only) or in the office (cash or check). You can also click the "buy now" button to go directly to the Walsworth purchasing platform! Last year’s yearbooks sold out, so act fast and grab yours before it’s too late!

Our High School is in the process of building a Tiger Care Closet to support our students. Items in the closet will be available to all and will include clothing, hygiene, food, and other basic necessities.

We would greatly appreciate any and all donations to help grow the contents of our Care Closet. These donations can include second-hand clothing, monetary donations, food donations, etc. We have also organized an Amazon wish list (https://a.co/5sB4afF) for anyone willing and able to purchase items from there. Donations can be dropped off at the High School office.

Please reach out to Mrs. Swenson, Mr. Render, or the HS office should you have any questions!

Thank you for helping us care for our Tigers!

Our Career and Technical Student Organizations and student leadership groups play an important role in the life of MHS. Through SkillsUSA, FCCLA, BPA, National Honor Society, and Student Council, students build leadership, service, career readiness, and teamwork skills while representing our school with pride. We are grateful for the dedication of these students and advisors who help create meaningful opportunities for learning, growth, and community involvement.

National Honor Society will hold another Red Cross student blood drive on March 31. While NHS deeply appreciates the desire of members of the community to donate blood, this drive is an opportunity for students first; on March 30, should we need to do so, we will open the drive to members of the community.

The application process to become a member of National Honor Society is currently open; students who are qualified and interested are expected to submit all application materials (form available from Mr. Kitto) by 4 PM on Thursday, February 19. New members will be inducted at the NHS induction ceremony on Wednesday, April 8.

Student Council is busy preparing for one of our spring events, Spring Fling, where students coordinate and participate in a variety of community service opportunities to give back to the Manhattan community. They also continue their ongoing work of managing paper recycling throughout the 6–12 building, helping promote responsibility and sustainability in our school. In addition, Student Council is beginning the process of selecting next year’s leadership, with president and vice president petitions due February 24 and elections to follow if multiple students run for office.

Students in Business Professionals of America (BPA) are preparing for their State Leadership Conference, held March 10–11 in Billings. This event brings together students from across Montana to compete in business, finance, technology, and leadership events while building career-ready skills and connections.

SkillsUSA students will showcase their talents at the Montana State Leadership and Skills Conference April 7–10 at the Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena in Great Falls. This statewide competition highlights technical, trade, and leadership skills while connecting students with educators and industry professionals.

During the 2025-2026 school year, Skills USA members attended conferences, did

fundraising, and have attended multiple meetings. We have done concessions for fundraising and

have more fundraisers coming up soon.

Through this year, we have gone to one skills usa event, fall Leadership conference in

Butte. At this conference, the officers of every chapter meet up and go over how to become a

leader for your chapter. We also learned how to run a meeting smoothly, converse in a

professional manner, and conduct ourselves in a professional setting.

We have done multiple meetings over this year with a full new team, new president, and

new advisor. Most of the meetings consist of talking about resumes and how to build one for

Skills USA, going over Competitions and Seeing what the members want to compete in, and

fundraising ideas.

We are actively starting to make clocks out of saw blades and we will also be selling

signs for fundraising.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members will attend the Montana State Leadership Conference March 17–18 at Montana State University in Bozeman. The conference focuses on leadership development, service learning, and career exploration through competitive events and workshops.

Service - Gracie Bassett

This year, our chapter did a variety of service projects, ranging from volunteering at the food bank tohosting the annual food drive to making frozen meals.

Just this year, we had the opportunity to volunteer at the food bank two separate times. The first being in October when we help package serving size potions of macaroni noodles. The second being in January. We took 10 of our members and two chaperones. We were tasked with preparing kids' packs for students who may need food over the weekends when they don't have school lunches to rely on. Our group ended up making over a thousand packs. The average group usually only makes six to seven hundred. This past week was FCCLA week, with Tuesday being FCCLA National Day of Service. For that, we reached out to our local senior center and its Meals on Wheels program. We offered the seniors the ability to pick two of the freezer meal options tjen we prepared and delivered them to their houses for a nutritious winter meal!

FCCLA Week Recap - Ethan Romero

FCCLA week is the second week in February. For FCCLA week, each day has a theme. Monday is Membership Monday, Tuesday is Service Tuesday, Wednesday is Educator Day, and Thursday is Rock the Red. For Monday, our chapter did a Valentine's Party where each kid brought their own box and notes/candy for each member. Our advisor, Mrs. Swenson, also gave the members a Crumbl Cookie to show her appreciation for us. On Tuesday, our chapter and some Girl Scouts packaged 43 freezer meals for the senior citizens in need. We will be using this service project to apply for another Explore Act Tell grant and hopefully, win one of the grants again. For Educator Day, our chapter wrote thank-you cards for all of the teachers in our high school. On Thursday, all of our members wore FCCLA/red shirts to celebrate our amazing club!

NLC - Lia Monochie

During the summer of 2025, five of us had the amazing opportunity to attend Nationals in Orlando, Florida. There were four competitors: Lia Monochie, DeAnna Rickett, Delaney Johnson, and Ethan Romero. We all had the honor to place 26th in the National. As well as competitors, Brock Romero was a state officer and went to represent Montana's FCCLA. This was not just an opportunity to compete against students from around the world but also a chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were given the ability to go not only to Aquatica, a huge water park, but also Universal, indoor skydiving, Daytona beach and so much more. Every day was packed with fun activities, workshops, working on different skills, and one day competing. No amount of words can sum up the experience we were given. We will forever remember every moment, and we urge everyone to give it a chance in Nationals.

District Meeting/ State Office - Brock Romero

November 14th, 2025, the date of the annual FCCLA District 2/11 Meeting was held at the Manhattan High School, put on by District 2 President Brock Romero and District 11 President Madi Nelson.

Each of the 9 districts (some are combined) around the state of Montana hosts a District Meeting in the fall for all of the schools in that respective district to get together, vote on new officers, and participate in workshops hosted by their peers. The District 2/11 Meeting was a huge success! Because Brock Romero holds the presidential position for the district, he was in charge of planning the meeting and running it while it was taking place. There were a variety of pep rally games to keep members engaged, Kristin Hamburg form the HRDC as a keynote speaker, 4 different workshop choices, one of which was hosted by Ethan Romero and Gracie Bassett, and even a grant worth $2,500 given out to both the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, and the local Manhattan Senior Center, which was all broadcasted by KBZK. At the end of the meeting, new officers were installed for the coming year: Brock Romero as President, Gracie Bassett and Secretary/Treasurer, and Ethan Romero as the Public Relations Coordinator.

Manhattan High School is proud to select the following students to be recipients of Manhattan Rotary's Student of the Month award. These students model qualities that truly reflect what it means to be a Tiger! They are kind, respectful, excel in academics, and are involved in activities beyond the classroom. This is recognition well deserved by our very own. Congratulations!

Click the Rotary logo to the right to connect with our Manhattan Rotary Club on Facebook.

Hi, my name is Taylor Ward. I was born in Elk Grove, California, and I moved to Manhattan when I was 4. I have been going to Manhattan since Kindergarten, and because of this, I have met some amazing people and have made lifelong friendships.

One of my favorite parts of Manhattan is how close everyone is to each other. The community is so tight-knit, and the support they show the school during sports and other activities is amazing.

I have done many activities in high school, including: softball, volleyball, speech and drama, academic olympics, NHS, tiger buddies, band, choir, and more. All of these activities have shaped me into the person I am today. Some of my closest friends I met through these, and I never

would have known them otherwise. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do so many things with the people I love. Outside of school I do 4-H (swine, archery, dairy goats, meat goats, and photography), volunteering, and music. 4-H in particular has taught me many lessons about resilience and gratitude. Archery has been the main source of that though. I have been a state champion in archery every year, and the support I get for it is incomparable.

I plan on going to college for either computer science or cybersecurity. I also plan on minoring in instrumental music. After I graduate from college, I hope to join the FBI for whatever major I pick and to get my Master’s Degree. I will also continue playing music, even if it’s just for fun. I want to thank my parents for their unconditional support over all these years. I do a lot of stuff, but they continue to support anything new I want to do. I couldn’t do everything I do without them. I also want to thank the staff at Manhattan for always pushing me to do better than I thought I could, and I want to thank the staff that recognized and gave me the Rotary Student of the Month for December.

Hello, my name is Ethan Bryson. I was born and raised in the Gallatin County and have the pleasure of saying that Montana has been my home all my life. I haven’t been able to call Manhattan home all my life, but I can say that I’m grateful that I started and will finish my high school years in this quaint little town.

I have shied away from more traditional sports like football and basketball most of my life. Instead, I opted for the “fine arts,” such as acting and music. Both have played major roles in my life and have greatly influenced much of my passions and hobbies. I have the honor of saying that I’ve been on the speech and drama team for all of my high school career, and I do not have a single regret about it. All of high school, my life has revolved around music. I played in the concert band for three years and even played for a year in the jazz band. I’ve played with the pep band for a long time and have been to almost every game that needed the morale boost from the music we have to offer. There hasn’t been a single year where I haven’t taken a music class.

When I’m not playing music with the band or competing in drama, I’m relaxing at home with my family and my dogs. Between the family game nights and time spent arguing over what to have for dinner, it’s safe to say that my home life can be just as chaotic as school. However, sometimes when no one’s home, I like to sit down with a book and get lost for hours on end. A good book and your favorite snack are really the only therapy anyone needs.

After high school, college is in the books for me. I want to earn my forensics degree and hopefully move on to work with the police after I finish school. I am staying in Montana for my college education, but I plan to move to a bigger city where a forensic technician is in higher demand. Paying for college is the only roadblock currently. While nothing is set in stone, I am considering joining the National Guard to take advantage of the benefits they have to offer.

I am very grateful for the honor of being selected as Rotary Student of the Month. Thank you to all my family, friends, and the teachers who have supported me. I will continue to learn and work my hardest.

Hi, my name is Marisa Miller. I grew up in Manhattan Montana with one sibling. I was educated at Amsterdam Elementary School until the start of 7th grade when I continued my education at Manhattan’s Middle School and later Manhattan’s High school. Manhattan is a place full of so many kind people, and I think any other place should aspire to be like it.

Throughout High School I’ve participated in FCCLA, NHS, Academic Olympics, Speech Drama and Debate and Book Club. I’ve honestly had so much fun doing everything, and I’ve met so many unique and interesting people. I’ve found that my favorite thing to do is to listen to other people’s points of view, and all of these activities have helped me see things from new perspectives. Within FCCLA and NHS I’ve been able to help so many people through community service.

Outside of school I also participate in Girl Scouts, coach a First LEGO robotics team, play soccer, and volunteer at the Heart of the Valley. Through Girl Scouts I’ve been able to learn about finances and I have also had many volunteer opportunities. As well as all of this I have many hobbies that I do on the side such as art, animation, and video editing. I also love storytelling and I hope to one day publish a book.

Montana has also provided me with the opportunity to ski and bike, which are two outdoor activities I enjoy. As someone hoping to go into Astrophysics, I also love stargazing and pointing out constellations and planets. Our school has really provided me with a great place to learn and grow as people.

Next year I plan to go to MSU where I hope to get a degree in Astrophysics and a minor in Aerospace Engineering. I am optimistic that I will succeed in college and beyond.

Thank you to everyone around me who supported me and helped me become the person I am today. I could not have made it as far as I have without the support of so many amazing students, teachers, mentors, and coaches. I am immensely grateful to all of you for choosing me as the rotary student of the month.

Tiger High Fives recognize students who go above and beyond in modeling our TIGERS expectations—Teamwork, Integrity, Gratitude, Effort, Responsibility, and Safety. These tickets highlight positive actions, outstanding effort, and moments when students demonstrate character and leadership in school and extra-curriculars. High Five recipients are celebrated for their contributions and serve as examples of what it means to be a Manhattan Tiger.

* Please note that schedules are subject to change! *

Mr. Nate Parseghian - ad@mhstigers.org

406-284-3341 x359

As the winter season wraps up, our wrestling and basketball teams are competing in postseason tournaments—congratulations to all our teams and organizations on their successful seasons!

Looking ahead, spring sports practices kick off on March 16, rain, snow, or shine!

Here are some important updates & info on our winter and upcoming spring seasons:

Basketball

• February 25-28 - District Tournament @ MCS
• March 4-7 - Divisional Tournament @ Billings Metra
• March 12-14 - State Tournament @ Bozeman MSU

Wrestling

• Hosted 1st Annual Crossroad Classic Tournament on February 7th
• February 13-14 - 20 wrestlers competed at Divisional Meet @ Butte Civic Center
• February 19-21 - 13 wrestlers advance to compete at the State Meet @ Billings Metra
• Dani Larson reached 100 career wins

Cheer

• Little Tiger Cheer camp hosted over 60 elementary participants and performed at halftime of the Lone Peak game.

Winter Sports & Activities Celebration

📅March 9th or March 16th - Depending on State Basketball qualification

Spring Sports Information

📅March 11th 6:00pm - Preseason meetings for Softball, Track & Field, and Golf.

📅March 16th - First day of spring sports practice

Congratulations to our outstanding speech and drama participants! Our drama team took 3rd place! We also had individuals placing in the following events:

Henasee Hamblin - 1st place Extemporaneous

Scout Partain - 2nd place Impromptu

Taylor Ward and Sylas Partain - 2nd place Humorous Theater

Brock Romero and Gwen Kruse - 2nd place Classical Theater

Violet Scharen, Lainee Etchison, and Sophie Griffin - 5th place Classical Theater

We’re incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and success—way to go, Tigers!

* All team photos courtesy of Erin Wells Photography *

For more than a year, Manhattan Schools have been working to address an Office of Civil Rights complaint related to accessibility at our outdoor athletic facilities, including bleachers, amenities, and the track. Because these issues must be resolved, the District has partnered with architects to study current challenges and develop four potential site design options for an improved athletic complex. We encourage families and community members to visit the school website to review detailed information, view design visuals created by engineers and architects, and learn more about why these improvements are being considered. Community feedback is an important part of this process, and we invite you to complete the survey to share your thoughts on the proposal and whether the District should consider moving forward with a bond to fund the project.

MARCH 9 OR 16, 2025 | MONDAY, 6 P.M. | High School Commons

* date tentative to change depending on the performance of our basketball teams at postseason tournaments *

Join us in recognizing our student-athletes and coaches for all of our winter sports programs. We look forward to celebrating their many accomplishments and honoring their hard work both in the classroom and on the stage, court, and mats!

Food will be provided courtesy of the Manhattan Booster Club!

Thank you, Manhattan Booster Club for the ongoing support and dedication that you have shown Manhattan Tigers Athletics! Your efforts and generosity have made a significant impact on our athletic programs. The volunteer hours you have invested in organizing fundraisers, game-day activities, and various events have fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among our athletes, their families, and the larger Manhattan community. Your commitment to promoting sportsmanship and team spirit has not gone unnoticed. The Manhattan Athletics department extends its heartfelt thanks to each and every member of the Booster Club. Your continued support is invaluable to us, and we are grateful for your unwavering dedication and tireless efforts.

We are currently in need of substitute teachers and would be incredibly grateful for anyone willing to support our school community in this important role. Serving as a substitute is a meaningful way to make a positive impact on students while helping ensure learning continues smoothly each day.