SigMT

SiG MT 48 snowmobile. No other type of vehicle could have made it to the school," said Dawson. "In the years I've been here, no one has had to stay the night." e students work together and hear one another's lessons in one big room. Because of the room's size, desks can be placed at a distance not only during the pandemic but also at any given time. A table next to the center of the room is where the students work with the teacher on a particular subject. ey can work on the computers and have books for pleasure reading found in bookcases both in the classroom and in the library room. "I know I am buying quality books for the children when I purchase new books recommended by the Junior Library Guild," said Dawson. Dawson initiated the pre-school program. Children who aend as preschoolers are then ready for kindergarten. In the hall a row of lockers contains the student's things, but another row of lockers is filled with coats of various sizes. "e kids get wet and need another coat, so I have extra on hand," said Dawson. A rack also holds a second pair of shoes for each child. "We almost always go outside during a recess. Right now, tag ball is their favorite game. e person with the ball is `It,' and he or she tries to hit someone else with the pliable ball. If the throw is successful, that person becomes 'It'. Our preschooler always wants to be 'It,' so we give him an extra ball. ey are a great bunch of kids and play well together regardless of the age range." e school also has a full basement with a large activity room. "We use the activity room for recess on miserable cold days," said Dawson. Behind the activity room is the kitchen where the children eat home- packed lunches. Microwaves are available for warm ups. e lunch room also holds a piano where the children have music. Along one wall are storage tubs. "I have art supplies ready to pull out for each month," said Dawson. She is also the school's janitor. e children go on frequent field trips. "In a normal year, we hire a bus to take us into Great Falls for swimming lessons. I think every child should have enough skill in the water to save himself," said Dawson. ey also take skiing lessons and go on Amtrak from Shelby to Havre. "is might be the only time the students will ever ride a train," said Dawson. "We also take other field trips, such as to the Boone and Crocke Club, Dinosaur Museum in Bynum, or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center." "e school at Benton Lake is all about individual aention. With only ten students I can give them my time," said Dawson, "and I know them well. I visit in their homes and even know many of their grandparents, some who also aended Benton Lake School." A life-long interest in communications made Suzanne Waring first a college instructor and then a writer. She lives in Great Falls and writes about Montana people and their communities. S MT Elton Good takes a leadership role among the students. Yvonne Whitehorn works independently on her assignment.

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