The Eagle Express

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE MISSION OF FAIRFIELD SCHOOLS IS TO PROVIDE A SECURE AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS GAIN KNOWLEDGE, GROW IN WISDOM, DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND VALUE LEARNING FOR LIFE.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and

success have no meaning.” Ben Franklin

Hello Fairfield Community, Parents and Students,

We have officially begun the August countdown to the first day of school for 2025-2026 and I am excited for this fresh start to a new school year! I am anxious to welcome everyone on staff back as we continue our mission of providing a rigorous and enriching educational experience that prepares every student for success.

We successfully filled our open positions and are excited to welcome…

Ms. Katelyn Morrow, our new 7-12 Social Studies Teacher.

Mrs. Katie Dailey as a new paraprofessional and elementary office secretary.

Mr. Robert Rhodes working in maintenance.

Mr. Dave Huggins driving bus, substitute teaching and helping with the food pantry.

Welcome to the team!

We have focused our efforts over the summer on several projects that will not only enhance our facility, but will ultimately enhance education. The summer maintenance crew: Scott Hoyt, Robert Rhodes and Bruce Lee have been hard at work to get our planned projects completed. The summer cleaning crew: Eleni Geday, Matt Barta and Sharon Lucas have just about finished polishing up every room. The school really looks great and is just about ready for staff and students!

The school served as a core component for the successful All School Reunion this summer. The maintenance crew and everyone here during the summer did a great job of preparing the building and making sure the organizers had everything they needed. I would like to thank Mike Johnson, Mike Manuel and Sherlyn Lear for all the communication and organizing they did in conjunction with the school. The program was excellent and it took a lot of work behind the scenes to pull everything off so well, especially with all the events for Swim Days going on at the same time.

The quote from Ben Franklin at the head of this letter has significant meaning in our school, “Without

continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”

We are always striving and pushing to do and be better as educators, as people and as an institution. We also work had to instill that same growth mindset in the students who attend Fairfield. Growth and improvement often require individuals to push boundaries and challenge outside of an individual’s comfort zone. Problem solving and achievement require effort, and it is that effort that finds reward regardless of the outcome. The Fairfield school district employs 58 people who all are part of the same team and our goal is to work hard to provide the best education we can for our community and the students who attend this school.

I feel very fortunate to be the superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools. I truly believe we are privileged to work with the best staff in the whole state; we in turn are fortunate to serve the best community and best student body in the land. Together we have overcome some serious challenges and obstacles over the past three years, and I know we are all looking forward to launching past those into a year looking forward, not backward, and continuing on our quest to provide our students with everything they need to become capable, confident and successful in life. The Fairfield School is full of caring and dedicated educators and staff who are skilled at helping students reach their maximum potential.

Let’s make this an exceptional year and continue our “Tradition of Excellence!”

As we welcome the new year, I am filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement for the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for our school community. The start of a new year is always a time for reflection and renewal, and I am confident that together, we will make 2025-2026 a year of growth, achievement, and joy.

We are fortunate to have Mrs. Megan Helmer and Mrs. Brooke Shalz team teaching Kindergarten this year! Students will get the best of both worlds by having opportunities of learning from both teachers at various times of the year!

Back to School Night will be on August 19th from 5-6 PM. This is a casual event in which students can see/meet their teacher and bring their supplies! We have found that this process makes for an easier transition on the first day of school. Junior High students are encouraged to attend to get their lockers and their schedules.

Continuing on with our work as a Response to Instruction/Intervention school, we will continue to teach your children in the best possible way. This includes quick benchmark assessments of your student three times a year to see if they are working at grade level. If they are below or above, we do some further assessing to see what is missing or what needs to be challenged and go from there! We get together as a team at least every 5-6 weeks (along with everyday discussions) to discuss the best way to educate EK-6 students.

We will continue to SOAR at Fairfield Elementary. SOAR is an acronym for Safe, Organized, Accountable, Respectful/Responsible. Students learn this as a way to follow the rules and behavior expectations in all the common areas at Fairfield Schools including hallway, playground, lunchroom, busses, assemblies, and the classroom! Look for this info in the first few days of paperwork from the school so you can help us help your kiddo!

The energy of a new year is always contagious! Looking forward to seeing all the current and new students at Fairfield Elementary! Don’t hesitate to call if you have questions!

Courtney Bake

eK-6 Principal

As the harvest season commences, the surrounding fields are abuzz with activity. The sight of combines and grain trucks serves as a clear indication that a new academic year is imminent. I trust that your summer afforded you ample opportunity to rest, rejuvenate, and appreciate all that Montana has to offer before the demands of the coming months.

While I have taken full advantage of Montana’s remarkable outdoor offerings this summer, I have also engaged with the audiobook version of a compelling work entitled The Comfort Crisis. The author examines how individuals and groups respond when deliberately placed outside their comfort zones and confronted with challenging, high-pressure circumstances. A key insight that resonated with me is the understanding that genuine growth occurs not in times of ease, but when one embraces adversity and uncertainty directly. The book underscores that discomfort, when approached thoughtfully, can serve as a powerful catalyst for innovation, problem-solving, and personal development.

There is considerable merit in valuing the effort and dedication invested in the pursuit of goals, rather than focusing solely on the end result. This principle is particularly relevant to our school community. In an era where answers are often readily accessible with minimal effort, the temptation to circumvent the more arduous aspects of the learning process is strong. However, it is precisely during moments of grappling with challenges, independently seeking solutions, and persevering through setbacks that authentic growth is fostered. These experiences not only deepen comprehension but also cultivate resilience, confidence, and perseverance—attributes that will serve our students well beyond their academic careers.

Consequently, I believe we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture in encouraging our students to internalize the lessons presented in The Comfort Crisis: that encountering struggle is acceptable, and that difficulty frequently precipitates growth. Far greater personal and emotional development arises from diligent effort aimed at producing one’s best work—even if the outcome is imperfect—than from bypassing the process altogether. The endeavor to overcome difficult tasks engenders a profound sense of accomplishment. Recognizing their capacity to surmount challenges promotes a stronger work ethic and will directly contribute to their future success as adults.

As we embark on the new school year, it is important to remember that students, educators, parents, administrators, and coaches collectively form a unified team, committed to providing our community’s youth with an exceptional education. Much like the supportive framework described in The Comfort Crisis, our responsibility is to guide, encourage, and furnish the necessary resources for students to surmount obstacles. While we cannot—and should not—undertake their efforts on their behalf, we can stand alongside them as they persist. Through our collective and consistent support, we will witness remarkable achievements by our students.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, email, or to schedule an appointment.

Free and Reduced Form is attached to this newsletter. This is a vital part of our school funding. These are completely confidential and help us to obtain critical funding for areas of our school. Please take the time to look at and fill out the application! Many thanks.

Email: website@fairfield.k12.mt.us
Website: fairfield.k12.mt.us
Phone: 406-467-2528
Facebook: facebook.com/FairfieldPublicSchools
Twitter: @fairfieldsd21