Truck Raffle Supports Kids and Schools

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Here’s a fun, easy way to support public schools and their students – buy a truck raffle ticket!  Every dollar spent directly benefits a student organization or a classroom grant. The Win This Truck Raffle is the most popular fundraiser for the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation. For each $10 ticket sold, $6 goes to the student group selling the ticket and $4 goes into classrooms. And one lucky winner gets a brand-new Toyota pickup donated by City Motor Company. Second prize is a $1,000 gift card from North40. But the real winners are the students and teachers of Great Falls.

Tickets are available now from dozens of school organizations – PTAs, sports teams, and school clubs – and online HERE.

(Commercial produced by Bison TV Production students. Featured are GFH librarian, Doug Deffe, and GFH Principal, Geff Habel.)

A Decade of Excellence

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Dave Crum’s Time as Director Winds Down

As the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation celebrates our 10th birthday, we give special recognition to our founding Executive Director, Dave Crum. In the past decade he built the Foundation from merely a good idea to the largest public schools foundation in Montana. …

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Davidson Family Auditorium – A Generous $2 Million Gift

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As students, teachers and families navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, an 18-month transformation took place behind the scenes. The historic stage and auditorium at Great Falls High School were renovated and completely updated. This video shows the extensive improvements made and the importance of this heartfelt gift to our community.

The project was made possible by the largest gift ever administered by the Foundation. It was funded by Ian and Nancy Davidson, longtime community and education supporters. As Covid-19 restrictions ease, the public will soon be able to enjoy this state-of-the-art venue.

How to Support Teacher Appreciation Week

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Teacher Appreciation Week is next week, May 3 – 7. If you’re grateful to any teachers for the work they’ve done in a tough year, consider letting them know. We can help!

The Great Falls Public Schools Foundation’s Gold Star Awards are a way for parents, grandparents or anyone in the community to recognize teachers and school staff members who’ve made a positive impact. Those wishing to honor the educator can make a donation of any amount to the Foundation, then the teacher is presented a special card and recognition in front of his or her class and school principal. …

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CMR and North Middle School Grant Projects

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Have you ever bought a $10 Win This Truck raffle ticket? Or have you honored a school employee with a Gold Star Award? If so, thank you for contributing to students and classrooms across Great Falls. In the past 10 years your contributions allowed the Foundation to award teacher grants worth over $906,000! 

Learn more about two such grants in this video produced by students at C.M. Russell High School. Pictured are CMR Video Production teacher Brian Crosby, and video student Alex Thayer.

How the Foundation Saved Recess

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Plus Other Pandemic Solutions

Getting pandemic-stressed schoolchildren outside for fresh air and exercise is a given at our public schools. But just as classroom instruction poses new challenges, so do playgrounds.

At West Elementary, for example, Principal Lyndsey Stulc explained that each class is kept separate from others to maintain distance and reduce possible exposure to illness. With six different classes on the playground for each recess, that meant dividing the playground into six separate spaces. …

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From Scholarship Winner to PGEC Teacher

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For Paris Gibson Education Center math teacher Kathryn Heryla, the calculation is simple: Hard work + scholarships = path to success.

A 2016 graduate of C.M. Russell High School, Kathryn relied on scholarships – including two awarded by the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation – to finish college without debt. Now she’s working at what she calls her “dream Job” and even thinking about buying a house. …

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A Combined 27 Years of Commitment and Service

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.—Margaret Mead

In 2011 three community leaders were nominated to serve on the founding board of directors for the newly formed Great Falls Public Schools Foundation. These three women accepted the challenge and dedicated their time, talent, and resources to enhancing education in Great Falls. They served on the Foundation Board for nine years each contributing a combined 27 years of their keen insight which has been so important in making this Foundation a success. As their terms of board service come to an end, we want to share with you a little about these incredible women.

The Foundation would like to recognize their invaluable service to the board and to improving teaching and learning in our public schools. …

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Donate A One Time Or Ongoing Scholarship For High School Graduates

Setting up an educational scholarship fund can be a meaningful way to give back to your community or to honor a loved one. There are a number of things to consider when planning a scholarship. Please contact the Foundation for assistance, we are happy to help you. Contact Stephanie Schnider at stephanie_schnider@gfps.k12.mt.us or call 406-268-6021.

(406) 268-6021