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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handicap accessible playground

A 100-Year Connection Leads To New Playground

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BACK IN THE 1920s, the Ford Building in downtown Great Falls housed several business offices including those of dentist Dr. Roy Severance, attorney A.H. Gray and stockbroker David Adams Davidson. It’s unknown how well these men knew each other, but a century later their descendants came together in a project to benefit Great Falls kids.

“It’s like a full-circle,” said Doug Grey of the three families. “We assume our grandparents had at least social or professional relationships. Now two generations later we’ve joined together once again.” …

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How Scholarships Change Lives

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Foundation Awards $336,615 in Scholarships in 2020

A few short years ago, Katie Beisecker saw no future for herself. Buffeted by depression and anxiety, the Great Falls teen lost hope and tried to end her life. But now her story is unfolding differently.

This fall Katie is headed to the University of Montana-Western in Dillon, along with a substantial scholarship made possible by the estate of a local family. Katie points to a caring school environment and the Jennifer Joy Astrin Memorial Scholarship as two factors in giving her a new path forward. …

How Scholarships Change LivesRead More »

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 Dave Crum at (406) 268-7340 or Dave_Crum@gfps.k12.mt.us.

(406) 268-7340