Photo credit: Kene Sperry, Eye in the Sky Photography
Friends of Big Education supports a number of projects:
  • Post secondary study scholarship for Lone Peak High School
  • The Big Sky School District (BSSD) Superintendent’s Programming Fund
  • The International Baccalaureate Program at the Big Sky School District
  • The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC – a community and school theater)
  • Artists in our Schools and Community
  • Professional Education & Development support for BSSD72 Staff
Tori Pintar photo
Andrea McArdle (the original Annie) and Vanessa Williams in “Concert for America” at WMPAC. Tori Pintar, photo
drama class
Laura Savia, Associate Artistic Director of the Tony Award-Winning Williamstown Theater Festival works with local middle school students on delivery of their Shakespeare scene in a day of outreach surrounding WMPAC’s presentation of “The Winter’s Tale.” Meghan Buecking, photo

Artists in our Schools and Community:
In 2013, after 4 years of design work and a 2 year capital campaign, FOBSE opened the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, which is located on the school campus. In addition to a state-of-the-art 280 seat theater for the Big Sky schools and community, the WMPAC also includes a public gallery space. Click here to access the WMPAC website.

FOBSE supports the school district’s long-standing practice of enhancing students’ cultural experiences through community artistic resource extension into the classroom.

The WMPAC is essentially two theaters in one school-based facility, programming for both school and community. Those two functions meet when the professional casts and visual artists work with Big Sky’s middle and high school students, arranged by WMPAC’s Executive and Artistic Director John Zirkle. Zirkle’s goal is to integrate WMPAC performers and artists with our students.

Tablets for all students create new opportunities in the classroom. Jeremy Harder, photo

Learning Through Technology:
The BSSD’s unique curriculum requires students use digital tools and resources for collaborating, problem solving and decision-making skills, applied with creativity and innovation in self-expression and reflection, knowledge construction, and product development. All BSSD teachers support student-centered and experiential classrooms by integrating technology into teaching and assessment experiences so that students learn WITH and THROUGH technology.

FOBSE proudly spearheaded initiative support by grant writing and fundraising so that every student has a digital tablet for learning. After the initial infusion of grant funding, BSSD local budget has assumed the financing of individual tablets.