WEE-play Grant 2024 Awarded

In The Beginning Preschool was the recipient of our latest WEE-play grant. They shared with us some pictures of the fun they had with the materials and equipment from the grant!

Kathi Gibbons

Details matter. To a child, those details, reflected by simple acts, genuine engagement, and unconditional support are priceless. Remembering what is important to them. Recognizing their struggles. Celebrating each day. Honoring every moment. Never forgetting the value and impact of …

Sydney Allard

Her smile is a gift. Her intelligence is a gift. Her joy is a gift. She is determined, caring, generous, and devoted to the children of the Flathead Reservation. The dedication she shares with her students is inspiring. As a …

Roxi Mcdermott

Roxy feels the Preschool years are the most formative years in a child’s life and does not take that lightly. Roxy loves what she does and the children she gets to work with. Roxy was first introduced to the Montessori …

Bonnie Peterson

Bonnie Petersen, a veteran educator with two decades of service in the Polson School District, stands as a beacon of inspiration and excellence in the field of education. Nominated for the Big Sky Bright Lights Educator Award, Mrs. Petersen’s unwavering …

Dixon Bright Light Educator

Children know. They just do. When they see an adult who will be a friend or anadvocate or a coach. They know. They connect. They listen. They respond.Everyone loves that connection. But it doesn’t come easily to all adults. In …

Jessica Edwards Leading The Way

This month, we’re putting the spotlight on Jessica Edwards and how she’s enhancing the lives of children through gymnastics, dance, parkour, karate classes, and more with her business Head Over Heels. Tell us a little bit about your background… My …

Family Yoga Day

Family Yoga day at Satori Holistic Healing was a great success. It was the perfect way to get centered with family after Christmas. All ages enjoyed yoga, storytelling and coloring with family. It was a great way to end 2023 with a …

Mayuk C Novembers Profile of the Month

In this month’s Leading the Way, we’re highlighting Mayuk Caye, Parent Educator with the Early Foundations Home Visiting Program. Tell us a little bit about your background… I graduated from Polson High School in 2010. From there, I went to …

Welcoming Mariah Neiss to the Zero to Five Team

We are thrilled to have Mariah Neiss joining the Zero to Five team as the Outreach Coordinator! You might have seen Mariah and her family on photos throughout our website. Here’s a little bit about Mariah. My name is Moriah …

Eating Smart Being Active Class

Is your family SNAP or WIC eligible and interested in learning more about healthy cooking on a budget, staying physically active, and learning food safety skills?  Join this Eating Smart Being Active class series through SNAP-Ed and get all this …

CSKT Early Childhood Services

Early Childhood services from CSKT include: Head Start & Early Head Start for children aged 0-4 years old. 2023-24 Registration here.

Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels provides gymnastics, tumbling, dance and cheer for the Mission Valley. They have classes for young children ages 18 months and older. They also have open gyms, party space rentals, children’s preschool programs.

New Childcare Business Connect Website

Montana Child Care Business Connect is thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, www.childcarebusinessconnect.com. The new website serves as a comprehensive resource hub for all stakeholders in the child care industry, providing valuable information, tools, and support to help businesses …

MT Childcare Business Connect

Montana Child Care Business Connect is thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, www.childcarebusinessconnect.com. The new website serves as a comprehensive resource hub for all stakeholders in the child care industry, providing valuable information, tools, and support to help businesses …

Winners of Wee Play Grants 2023

The Wee Play Grant program, sponsored by the 0-5 Flathead Reservation-Lake County Coalition, supports childcare centers with the purchase of new equipment. This year’s recipients received grants between $200 and $1,000. Support for this project comes from the Headwaters Foundation. …

Tammy Krahn, KW Harvey Bright Light Educator

Tammy Krahn started her educational path in Arkansas, before moving to Charlo, Montana as a 4th grader. She graduated from Charlo High School, growing up oin a dairy farm. She has been married to a fellow educator, Mike Krahn for …

Peggy Rowe, KW Harvey Bright Light Educator

Peggy Rowe was born in Culbertson and was raised in Lewistown, MT, home of the mighty Fergus Golden Eagles. Peg went to one semester of college to become a teacher at Eastern Montana College in Billings, now MSU-B, and then …

M’lissa McElderry Dixon Bright Light Educator

Finding one’s perfect niche is part of every person’s life quest. For some, thesearch has lots of stops and for others they find that ideal place and make it theirown. In education, the teachers that have the gift; that ability …

Barnaby Smith KW Harvey Bright Light Educator

Barnaby Smith graduated from high school in Lewistown, Montana. He attended Concordia College in Minnesota, pursuing art education. “I enjoyed helping others learn new things and art is one subject that encompassed all other subjects as a visual and tactile …

Betsy Wade on this month’s Leading the Way

Tell us a little bit about your background… I’m in my 8th year as a school counselor at Polson High School.  I come from a family of educators – my dad serving as an elementary school principal for most of …

Desiree Alexander from Cherry Valley, Educator Award

This lady is known for her contagious joy and inviting smile.  As a mother, she understands the challenges every parent faces in a modern world filled with constant change and expanding technology. It is an unpredictable place and the realities …

Jessica Johnson Leading the Way

This month the Leading the Way profile is Jessica Johnson. She has been working in public education for nearly two decades, as a teacher and now as the Ronan High School Vice Principal. Johnson has been active with a variety …

Valley View School Bright Light Educator Award

Cynthia Davey – Valley View School  – Bright Light Educator. She made a choice and has demonstrated the highest level of commitment to one of the most important professions in the world. Education. Over the last few decades, her caring …

Mission Valley Christian Big Sky Bright Lights Award

Congratulations to Andrea Brown! Her love of discovery guides the outstanding work that she does with her students each day.  As a mother, she understands the challenges facing children and parents. This awareness guides her classroom approach and interactions with …

Charlo Big Sky Bright Light Educator Award

Congratulations to Mindy Cox! She has a commitment to education and a passion for teaching that have served the students of the Charlo community for nearly three decades. During that time, this excellent instructor has received a master’s degree, raised …

Cynthia Davey Leading The Way in Febraury

This month the Leading the Way profile is about Cynthia Davey.  She has been an educator for decades, working with learners of all ages. Tell us a little bit about your background… I was born in Westport, Connecticut, the youngest …

Polson Big Sky Bright Light Educator Award

Mr. D  Educator Award Recipient 2023 He is a teacher who brings every classroom to life, through his actions, words, and love of discovery.  He instructs students in a way that embraces individuality.  He believes in the power of one’s …

Big Sky, Bright Light Award – St.Ignatius Elementary

Colleen Frey (left in picture) Big Sky Bright Light Educator pictured with St.Ignatius Elementary Principal Chantell Moore. Colleen is being honored with the Big Sky, Bright Light Award! Growing up in the Mission Valley has given this educator an understanding …

Felicia Paul

This month’s Leading the Way profile is on Felicia Paul, a home visitor and parent educator with the Early Foundations Home Visiting Program. Tell us a little bit about your background… I grew up here on the Flathead Indian reservation. …

Lisa Hales

For this month’s Leading The Way Profile, we’re highlighting the Head Start Program. It originated in 1964 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Since that time, Head Start programs have reached 40 million children and their families. The program has a …

Gwen Hadrits

My name is Gwen Hadrits, I am originally from Minnesota and have lived in the Polson area for 5 years now. My husband and I moved out here to be in the mountains since we both enjoy outdoor activities such …

Lona Boushie

For this month’s Leading The Way Profile, we’re beginning by highlighting the Parents As Teachers Home Visiting Model being used in the local community. Parents As Teachers Home Visiting Model THERE ARE FOUR DYNAMIC COMPONENTS TO THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS …

1st Interstate Bank Volunteers Make Backpacks with Items for Mothers

On September 14th, Helping Hands and Zero to Five Flathead Reservation – Lake County participated in First Interstate Bank’s Volunteer Day—an event that celebrates the collective contributions of local non profit organizations and the Polson First Interstate Bank staff’s “commitment to community” to make a difference …

Janet Jolley

For this month’s Leading The Way Profile, we’re beginning by highlighting key developments in education theory and some of the practices being used today. Early Childhood Education Helping families and children thrive is one of the main objectives behind the …

Rhea Pierre Gates

Rhea Pierre Gates-Early Foundations Home Visiting Program Manager What is home visiting? Home Visiting with families and children is new to Montana but has been a standard in some states for decades. It involves a home visitor working with a …

Parenting.org

Explore a library of parenting information and articles developed over many decades by our child behavior experts.

Nurturing Center

The Nurturing Center provides support services to help increase the number of children raised in nurturing environments.

Young Child Wellness Council

The Young Child Wellness Council is a diverse group of community representatives from across CSKT. The focus of the group is to bring together those who work with young children, in order to learn more about resources available and to …

Ronan Childcare

Ronan Childcare is part of Ronan Early Head Start and Childcare Center.