Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated today’s storm. We appreciate the flexibility and support of our students, families, and staff as we worked to ensure everyone’s safety and continuity of learning.
Additionally, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Flathead Electric and the surrounding cooperative workforce. Their linemen braved difficult conditions to restore power, ensuring that many of us could sleep in warm homes tonight. We are deeply grateful for their service and dedication to our community.
We look forward to welcoming students back for a regular school day tomorrow.
We are pleased to share that power has been restored at both schools. Please plan for a normal day of school tomorrow.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated today’s storm. We appreciate the flexibility and support of our students, families, and staff as we worked to ensure everyone’s safety and continuity of learning.
We look forward to welcoming students back for a regular school day tomorrow.
We at the Somers and Lakeside schools want to provide an update regarding the ongoing power outage and our planning for school tomorrow. Based on the most recent information we have received, major transmission lines are down in both directions, which makes restoration efforts more complex. As a result, the likelihood of power being restored overnight is yet to be determined.
If power is not restored overnight, it is unlikely that school will be in session tomorrow. A final decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. If power has been restored by that time, school will be held as usual. If not, school will be canceled.
Please check your email, social media and the school webpage for a final answer in the morning as we will make an announcement via Thrillshare.
If the school is closed the middle school building will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as a safe place for students and families to fill water containers and for students to spend time in a supervised, safe environment. Lunch will not be served during this time.
We understand the uncertainty this situation creates for families and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please continue to watch for updates through our normal communication channels.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools.
Dear Families,
We would like to provide an additional update regarding today’s power outages.
Power has been restored at Lakeside School; however, we are continuing to plan for the possibility of intermittent outages. At this time, power remains out at Somers School.
Local authorities continue to advise limiting travel, and we understand that some families may wish to pick up their child. If you choose to do so, we will accommodate that parental decision. We do want to reassure families that both Lakeside and Somers Schools are warm, have running water, and have plans in place to ensure students receive lunch.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we navigate these conditions together. We will continue to share updates as they become available.
Sincerely,
Somers and Lakeside Schools
Dear Families, Staff Members, and Members of the Community
We are aware that power is currently out in our local area and across much of the greater Flathead Valley. This is also affecting our phone lines and internet access. We understand the challenges this creates for families, and we want to share how this impacts the school day.
At this time, we plan to keep school open. Many households are experiencing the same outage, and our school building remains warm, safe, and able to support students throughout the day.
If parents do plan to pick up students. We do not have working phone lines so please just come to the office. Again we are open and operating at this time so this would be a parent decision and a normal absence. We will continue to monitor this throughout the day.
In response to the outage, we have implemented a plan to provide a cold lunch option to ensure that all students are able to eat.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and communicate any changes as needed. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to support our students and families during this disruption.
Sincerely,
Somers and Lakeside School
🏀 7th Grade Boys Basketball – End of Season Tournament Recap! 🏀
Our 7th-grade boys had an incredible run at the end-of-season tournament held December 4–6 at Stillwater and West Valley (championship game).
Game Results:
12/4 vs Whitefish: W 53-39
12/5 vs West Valley White: W 56-38
12/6 Semifinals vs West Valley Blue: W 41-39 (OT!)
12/6 Championship vs Polson: L 31-48
💪 Despite having 5 players out, including 2 starters, our team played with heart and teamwork, finishing 2nd place for the season with an impressive 19-1 record! Every player contributed, including those who saw more playing time than usual, proving the strength and depth of our roster.
We are so proud of this team and their amazing effort all season long! 🏀👏
Our 7th-grade boys had an incredible run at the end-of-season tournament held December 4–6 at Stillwater and West Valley (championship game).
Game Results:
12/4 vs Whitefish: W 53-39
12/5 vs West Valley White: W 56-38
12/6 Semifinals vs West Valley Blue: W 41-39 (OT!)
12/6 Championship vs Polson: L 31-48
💪 Despite having 5 players out, including 2 starters, our team played with heart and teamwork, finishing 2nd place for the season with an impressive 19-1 record! Every player contributed, including those who saw more playing time than usual, proving the strength and depth of our roster.
We are so proud of this team and their amazing effort all season long! 🏀👏
Holiday Fest at SMS on Saturday, December 6th - A Celebration of Music!
Holiday Fest at SMS was a joyful showcase of student talent, filled with music, rhythm, and holiday spirit! Our elementary, middle, and junior high students all brought their instruments and voices to the stage, creating a truly festive atmosphere.
Mrs. Kilduff’s 5th Grade Music Class kicked things off with two lively BoomWhacker pieces, Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bell Rock, delighting the audience with their energy and enthusiasm. The younger elementary music students also performed, adding to the fun and excitement of the event.
Our 5/6 and 7/8 Bands rocked the stage with incredible performances. The 5/6 Band played Theme from Jaws and Jingle Bells, while the 7/8 Band performed Ode to Joy, Good King Wenceslas, and Seven Nation Army. Special shoutout to 5th-grade flutist Ruby Winkel, who impressed the crowd with a solo of Up on the Housetop. These students have shown remarkable progress over the past two and a half months, practicing daily, even during PACE, and their dedication was clear for everyone to see.
The 7th and 8th Grade Choir added even more holiday cheer with small-group performances combining singing and dancing. Their confidence and teamwork were on full display, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish.
A huge congratulations to all our performers, you made Holiday Fest truly magical!
Holiday Fest at SMS was a joyful showcase of student talent, filled with music, rhythm, and holiday spirit! Our elementary, middle, and junior high students all brought their instruments and voices to the stage, creating a truly festive atmosphere.
Mrs. Kilduff’s 5th Grade Music Class kicked things off with two lively BoomWhacker pieces, Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bell Rock, delighting the audience with their energy and enthusiasm. The younger elementary music students also performed, adding to the fun and excitement of the event.
Our 5/6 and 7/8 Bands rocked the stage with incredible performances. The 5/6 Band played Theme from Jaws and Jingle Bells, while the 7/8 Band performed Ode to Joy, Good King Wenceslas, and Seven Nation Army. Special shoutout to 5th-grade flutist Ruby Winkel, who impressed the crowd with a solo of Up on the Housetop. These students have shown remarkable progress over the past two and a half months, practicing daily, even during PACE, and their dedication was clear for everyone to see.
The 7th and 8th Grade Choir added even more holiday cheer with small-group performances combining singing and dancing. Their confidence and teamwork were on full display, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish.
A huge congratulations to all our performers, you made Holiday Fest truly magical!
We are incredibly grateful for our generous sponsors at Lakeside who help make our Olweus Program initiatives possible. Your support strengthens our efforts to build a safe, positive, and connected school community.
This week, our school gathered for an assembly centered on Kindness as our strongest counterattack to bullying. The Olweus Program (Ol-VAY-us) is a comprehensive, long-term approach that engages the entire school: classrooms, individuals, and the broader community, to create a climate where every student feels valued and supported.
A special highlight of the event: our student-designed T-shirts, promoting inclusiveness, kindness, and anti-bullying messaging.
Together, we can continue fostering a culture where kindness is the norm and everyone belongs.
Thank you to our sponsors and our staff for putting this together!
West Shore Food Bank Holiday Food Drive
Our Lakeside Elementary community came together in a big way for this year’s West Shore Food Bank Holiday Food Drive, collecting an incredible 271 pounds of food!
A special thank-you to Kevin and Laura Robinson, who sent donations with their kindergartener Weston, every single day of the drive. Your generosity truly made a difference.
We are grateful for our partners, Mr. Nick and Sandra Koness, who lead the West Shore Food Bank and continue to support Lakeside Elementary by providing weekly food bags to families in need.
Photo: Mr. Nick and Sandra Koness, West Shore Food Bank
Thank you to everyone who donated and helped support our community this holiday season!
Our Lakeside Elementary community came together in a big way for this year’s West Shore Food Bank Holiday Food Drive, collecting an incredible 271 pounds of food!
A special thank-you to Kevin and Laura Robinson, who sent donations with their kindergartener Weston, every single day of the drive. Your generosity truly made a difference.
We are grateful for our partners, Mr. Nick and Sandra Koness, who lead the West Shore Food Bank and continue to support Lakeside Elementary by providing weekly food bags to families in need.
Photo: Mr. Nick and Sandra Koness, West Shore Food Bank
Thank you to everyone who donated and helped support our community this holiday season!
The power at the Lakeside school has been restored! Thank you for your patience and understanding!
🏓 Wood Shop Club – 6th Grade | November 4, 2025
Our 6th-grade Wood Shop students got creative this week by designing and building their very own mini ping pong tables and paddles! After completing their projects, they put their craftsmanship to the test with a fun in-class tournament.
The results? Tons of laughter, friendly competition, and some seriously impressive woodworking skills on display! 👏
We’re so proud of these young makers for their hard work and creativity. Next up, they’ll be diving into new woodworking techniques for their winter projects. Stay tuned to see what they build next! 🔨✨
Our 6th-grade Wood Shop students got creative this week by designing and building their very own mini ping pong tables and paddles! After completing their projects, they put their craftsmanship to the test with a fun in-class tournament.
The results? Tons of laughter, friendly competition, and some seriously impressive woodworking skills on display! 👏
We’re so proud of these young makers for their hard work and creativity. Next up, they’ll be diving into new woodworking techniques for their winter projects. Stay tuned to see what they build next! 🔨✨
🌟 Kindergarten Counseling Lesson with Mr. Nick! 🌟
This week our Kindergarten classes enjoyed a special counseling lesson with Mr. Nick, focused on our school-wide monthly theme , Kindness 💛
Students were all smiles as they laughed, learned, and acted out kindness scenarios using sock puppets! Through these fun role-playing activities, they discovered simple ways to show kindness and solve small problems together.
We’re excited to keep spreading kindness in our classrooms every day, continuing the wonderful lessons Mr. Nick shared! 💫
#KindnessMatters
This week our Kindergarten classes enjoyed a special counseling lesson with Mr. Nick, focused on our school-wide monthly theme , Kindness 💛
Students were all smiles as they laughed, learned, and acted out kindness scenarios using sock puppets! Through these fun role-playing activities, they discovered simple ways to show kindness and solve small problems together.
We’re excited to keep spreading kindness in our classrooms every day, continuing the wonderful lessons Mr. Nick shared! 💫
#KindnessMatters
SMS Choir Shines at the FVCC Middle School Choir Festival! 🎶
On October 27, 2025, our talented SMS Choir joined nearly 200 middle school students from across the valley for the FVCC Middle School Choir Festival! The students performed beautifully, representing our school with pride and making their director so proud! 💙
Their hard work, teamwork, and passion for music truly stood out during this incredible concert experience.
✨ What’s next? The SMS Choir will be spreading more holiday cheer with performances at Holiday Fest and their Christmas Concert in December!
#MusicMatters
On October 27, 2025, our talented SMS Choir joined nearly 200 middle school students from across the valley for the FVCC Middle School Choir Festival! The students performed beautifully, representing our school with pride and making their director so proud! 💙
Their hard work, teamwork, and passion for music truly stood out during this incredible concert experience.
✨ What’s next? The SMS Choir will be spreading more holiday cheer with performances at Holiday Fest and their Christmas Concert in December!
#MusicMatters
🧶 Kindergarten Kindness in Action! 🧢
Ms. Schroeder’s Kindergarten class had a cozy surprise this week: each student got to choose a handmade hat crafted and donated by the Kalispell Senior Center!
The room was filled with smiles and excitement as students picked out their colorful new hats, each one lovingly made just for them. ❤️
A huge thank-you to the Kalispell Senior Center for sharing warmth and creativity with our youngest learners. These hats will be keeping little ears warm all winter long — just in time for the snow! ❄️🎩
#ThankYou
Ms. Schroeder’s Kindergarten class had a cozy surprise this week: each student got to choose a handmade hat crafted and donated by the Kalispell Senior Center!
The room was filled with smiles and excitement as students picked out their colorful new hats, each one lovingly made just for them. ❤️
A huge thank-you to the Kalispell Senior Center for sharing warmth and creativity with our youngest learners. These hats will be keeping little ears warm all winter long — just in time for the snow! ❄️🎩
#ThankYou
🎨💙 Mrs. Riech’s Kindergarten class spent Friday, September 19th, exploring the “Blue Zone” through art! As part of their learning with the Zones of Regulation, students created self-portraits using blue crayons, markers, and water blending to show what “blue zone” feelings might look like.
This creative project helped students connect how colors and art can reflect our feelings and moods. 🌧️➡️🖌️
Next up: the “Green Zone” 🌿 — art inspired by feelings of calm, happiness, and being regulated. We can’t wait to see what they create! 💚
The September meeting of the Somers/Lakeside School Board opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a warm welcome to our newest trustee, Chelsea Spence, who introduced herself in her first official meeting.
The board approved the consent agenda, which included district requests, meeting minutes, warrants, and payroll. Key items highlighted were custodial and facility updates, additional football equipment for the unexpectedly high participation numbers, and an update on tuition adjustments related to Crossroads placements.
Community and Administrative Reports
Both Lakeside and Somers schools reported a smooth start to the year, with strong enrollment and activities underway.
Insurance walkthroughs at both schools identified minor safety and facility updates, including signage for playgrounds, securing ladders, and addressing storage areas. Staff are already addressing these recommendations.
Staffing Update
For the first time since before the pandemic, both schools are fully staffed across all positions, including custodial and music—a positive milestone for the district.
Committees
The board discussed forming more structured committees for Discipline and Public Relations, with representation from principals, staff leaders, and front office staff to ensure consistent input and strong communication.
Substitute Lists
The board approved the updated substitute teacher list and clarified long-term substitute pay rates. While the number of available substitutes is slightly lower than in previous years, the district is managing well and will continue recruiting.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Ator provided a detailed look at enrollment trends, noting that while overall numbers remain steady, Montana as a whole is experiencing a decline in school-aged children despite population growth.
Work continues on website updates and staff biographies, which will improve accessibility and communication.
The district is also piloting a partnership with Dayton Elementary, providing school meals through our food service program—an innovative effort that both supports a neighboring school and strengthens our own program.
Other Board Actions
Approved support for continuing the district’s food service agreement with Dayton Elementary.
Approved a motion to move forward with shredding obsolete files, with staff looking into local services for efficiency.
Delegated approval of new classroom and library book purchases to the curriculum committee, which will review materials and provide recommendations.
Discussed upcoming policy updates related to recent state legislation, including classroom displays, holiday and recognition days, and other compliance requirements.
Board Goals
The board reviewed existing board goals and discussed ways to strengthen communication, recognition of staff, community engagement, and data reporting. A community/staff survey will be developed later this fall to gather input and help guide district priorities moving forward.
The meeting closed with appreciation for the positive start to the school year and recognition of the teamwork from staff, parents, and community members that continues to make our district strong.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Somers/Lakeside School Board
Chance Barrett
Middle School Art.
Middle School Art.
Middle School Art.
Middle School Art.
