Anne Bradstreet once wrote, “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.”
Over the past two weeks, much of Montana experienced a dramatic shift—warm 80-degree days, vibrant fall colors, and then, almost overnight, snow, rain, and cold. The change of seasons happens every year, yet it's the transition into the dark, cold winter months that we tend to grumble about the most.
Growing up on a farm and ranch in Montana, I was always struck by the way my dad planted winter wheat right after the fall harvest. Those seeds would lie dormant beneath the soil all winter long, seemingly lifeless. But come spring, they’d begin to grow. That growth wasn’t accidental—it required careful planning, healthy soil, the right moisture, and well-timed planting. Without that effort, only weeds would take root.
As educators, it’s easy to get discouraged when we don’t immediately see growth in our students. But like those farmers planting seeds in the fall, you are doing the vital work of preparing, planting, and nurturing. The results may not be visible right away, but the seeds of knowledge and skill you are sowing will grow—with time, care, and patience.
Thank You and Exciting Opportunities Ahead!
Thank you to all the teachers who participated in our first round of fall curriculum revision meetings for Library Media, Science, and Health Enhancement! It was wonderful to meet each of you and collaborate on meaningful work.
During the Library Curriculum meeting, our library teachers expressed great enthusiasm about continuing the momentum through a Library Professional Learning Community (PLC). I’m happy to announce that I’ve reserved the upstairs meeting space at 3-D International for Monday, January 26, and I’d love to see any and all school librarians there! Please bring your favorite book(s) to share, along with your ideas and insights from the curriculum revision process—it promises to be a great session for collaboration and inspiration.
We also have several exciting events coming up:
On Tuesday, November 4, we’re holding our School Counselor Professional Learning Community at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB). We already have over 20 school counselors registered! This will be a valuable day of sharing, discussion, and professional growth centered on current school counseling topics. If you haven’t registered yet, please RSVP soon—we’ll be providing lunch catered by Smoked Barbecue. This event is open to both member and non-member schools via the GTCC website.
We’re especially excited to be hosting our first-ever International Teachers’ PLC on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, also at 3-D International in the upstairs meeting room. This unique event will bring together educators from around the world to discuss shared challenges, innovative strategies, and opportunities for growth. It’s a rare and valuable chance to build global connections, deepen your teaching practice, and make new friends in education.
Our Technology Coordinators met on October 8th, and I was grateful to be part of the conversation and learning. It was inspiring to hear from these impressive professionals and see the thoughtful decisions and shifts they are leading. Many coordinators came prepared with ideas and rubrics to share, fostering a rich exchange of resources and strategies. One key topic of discussion was the integration of artificial intelligence in our upcoming Technology Curriculum Revision meetings this spring. The insights and feedback shared during this discussion were invaluable, offering a clearer picture of the evolving digital landscape our students must be prepared to navigate.
I also want to share how much I enjoyed visiting Augusta School recently. It was a pleasure to meet such a dedicated team of educators, all clearly invested in supporting every student on their journey to literacy.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything I can do to support you—whether you’re a teacher or an administrator. I’m here to help.
Warm regards,
Kristi Calvery
GTCC Director
Upcoming Fall Dates
Check out our calendar @ https://www.gtccmt.org/
Monday, Oct 27: Library Media Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Tuesday, Oct 28: Science Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Tuesday, Nov 4: School Counselor's Professional Learning Community (PLC) Details/RSVP
Wednesday, Nov 5: Health Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Tuesday, Nov 18: Science Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Tuesday, Dec 2: Health Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Wednesday, Dec 3: Library Media Curriculum Revision Committee Meeting Details/RSVP
Kristi Calvery
Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative Director
1010 Oilfield Avenue
Shelby, MT 59474
Office (406) 424-8901 ext. 2104
Mobile (406) 450-1805
kristi@gtccmt.org