Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!  

Dear Swan River School Families,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying the start of the new school year. As we embark on this journey together, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share some important information with you.

My name is Monica Norris, and I am thrilled to be your child's 8th-grade homeroom teacher and middle school science teacher. It is truly a special privilege to teach here at Swan River School. The students, staff, families, beautiful scenery, and community make my job incredibly rewarding. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and after a long and winding road, I am grateful to have finally obtained my dream job here at Swan River School.

I am delighted to be starting my second year at Swan River School and continuing to work with the fabulous 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students. This year, I will be teaching a variety of subjects including earth/space science, life science, physical science, US & Montana history, Indian Education, yearbook, and study hall. I am passionate about learning, teaching, and the sciences, and I can't wait to share my passion with your children.

To give you a little background about myself, I completed my undergraduate studies at California State University, Channel Islands in 2011, and shortly after, I made the move to Montana. For the past decade, I have worked in the healthcare field, but after the challenges brought by COVID, I knew it was time for a change. In the winter of 2022, I enrolled in graduate school and, after a fast and intense 16-month program, I graduated from Montana State University, Bozeman with a Masters in Teaching K-8 in May 2023.

When I am not in the classroom, I love exploring different parts of the world, spending time with my children and husband, riding horses, cooking, and simply relaxing in the backyard. I truly believe that middle school is a fun and adventurous time in a student's life, and I am excited to help your children navigate and grow during these special years as they prepare for high school.

Class of 2024!  

As the 8th grade teacher, I am excited to carry on the tradition of our 4-day 3-night MT history trip, which has been a highlight for our students for over 20 years. To make this trip possible, our students raise all the funds themselves, with crucial support and volunteering from families like yours.

With a class of 28 students, we have a fundraising goal of $15,000. To achieve this, we will be organizing various events such as home game concession dates, tournaments, selling homemade wreaths, and our famous Spaghetti Dinner and Auction in April. I kindly request your support and participation in these events.

To stay updated on all the important details, I encourage you to join the REMIND app, see below for instructions. This will ensure you receive timely updates and reminders. 

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your continued partnership and support in your child's education. We are truly a team, and together, we can create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for your children. Please know that I am here for you and your child, and I encourage you to reach out to me anytime via phone, email, or by stopping by my classroom.

Thank you once again for entrusting me with the education of your child. I am looking forward to an incredible school year filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences.