Originally published in the 4/6/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.
The impact of the spring weather has been noticeable this year. The impact on high school activities pales in comparison to those in local agriculture who are working to get back into the fields, but the district has been making attempts to get our student athletes out on our fields as well. The season is short in the spring and this year’s weather has limited the Red Devils, along with many other Montana teams, on practice and game availability.
Teamwork is a valued element of activities, and several examples come to mind to show teamwork in the best of all terms for us in this community. Our coaching staffs have balanced a workable rotation to share practice space between the three activities. The prior planning by Guy Croy, our activity director, to purchase a netted training cage has been a valuable addition. This has allowed the school district the ability to welcome the Little League baseball team in for practice as well as supporting the district’s needs. We extend thanks for the efforts of our maintenance staff, activity director and coaching staffs to put in extra time to ensure practice and game fields are getting prepared for activities.
Those sentiments and ideals are what high school activities are meant to represent the ability to appreciate and support each other as we try to get things accomplished. The teamwork ideal has become a seldom-seen trait in some parts of the world, but together we can accomplish great things. The families who support their students participating in activities are a valuable thing. The springtime activities going on now include District Music Festivals, Honor Band, the HP Players, FFA contests and the spring athletic teams. These items come on the heels of State FCCLA, State BPA, Close-Up, and the winter activities that just wrapped up.
All of these activities encourage and solidify a team mentality. It would be nice if everyone held those aspects of supporting each other close at heart, but at times individual or small group intents can minimize this philosophy. Some tell me it is human nature that at times we may think team isn’t as important, but I challenge that ideal when I can see the great support extended to the district in the recent past.
I appreciate the efforts made by many to make this last couple months of the school year valuable for many in the Huntley Project School District. The individuals who are supportive and strive to create a better setting are noticeable and their doing a little something extra is appreciated. This includes community members who may help “encourage” a bus out of the mud, a person donating seven hours of running a skidsteer to help clean our track, or community members giving insight and advice on how to set up our greenhouse to foster success. These are only a few of the great things our community has given to us in the recent months but all are appreciated and valued. These efforts make us better as a whole and are too often forgotten.
Together we can accomplish great things and Huntley Project has a sense of togetherness when things get tough — but we don’t have to wait until it gets tough.
I appreciate all the community members who have helped to welcome our new teachers, administrators and support staff. The changes over this last year have been many and the Huntley Project School district will make more changes in the future. These changes will take time and effort to continue to foster an ideal that I know matters: TEAM.
Part of our team will be moving on to new adventures next year, I would like to thank Dona Kruse, Mary Decker, and Jay Caster for their efforts in the Huntley Project School. These individuals have impacted countless lives and leave the district with 88 years of experience. Huntley Project has two other valuable individuals who have resigned as well. Erin Reilly and Steve Glick have helped the district in various needs of support and have left their mark on HP. I thank all of them, along with all our current teachers and staff, for their efforts and support of our students and community.
Thank you, Huntley Project community, for allowing us to work with and be a part of the lives of your students. May we all strive together to strive to improve daily and make a better tomorrow for everyone. The Huntley Project School District will be out cleaning up in our community, and in support of our veterans, as our traditional thank you in May. The Huntley Project School District would like to thank the Lions/Lioness for the support on the cleanup day and for helping to provide the 7-12 Student Council BBQ.
I would like to thank Tichelle Ickes for the proofreading and editing of my monthly column, as it is valuable and appreciated. The combined efforts to support others can be in various forms and it is noticeable.
In May we will try to be out and about in the four larger communities of Huntley Project with doughnuts and coffee. On May 8 we will be in Pompeys Pillar by the Post Office, May 10 we will be in Ballantine by the Post Office, May 15 we will be in Worden at the Mini-Merc and May 17 we will be in Huntley at Barkemeyer Park. Please stop by and offer any insights you have or just enjoy a cup of coffee or a doughnut.
I encourage anyone who cannot make those meetings to utilize the Red and Black Attack, visit the website at huntley.k12.mt.us, and follow HPREDDEVILS on Twitter or Huntley Project School District on Facebook.
Go Red Devils!
Editors Note: The Superintendent Sandbox is a weekly column that local school district superintendents write that is published in the Yellowstone County news. Superintendents Scott Carter from Shepherd School District, Superintendent Tobin Novasio from Lockwood School District, Superintendent Dave Perkins of Custer School District and Superintendent Mark Wandle of Huntley Project School district contribute to the community message from each school district in the Newspaper.
