Explore With New Potomac Teacher

POTOMAC - Crissina Quinn is the new coordinator and teacher for the Friday Potomac School Explorers Program.

Quinn grew up in Missoula and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman. She completed her student teaching at Seeley-Swan High School the fall of 2014 and graduated that December with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education focusing on Social Studies broadfield.

The students have already had lots of fun adventures since school began, according to Quinn. They learned about Montana's native fish habitat, visited the Jocko River Trout Hatchery, went rock climbing, had a field trip to Travelers' Rest and learned about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Quinn likes being the Explorers Teacher at Potomac. "We get to do all sorts of fun activities that supplement their regular school day curriculum."

She also likes spending time with a variety of ages (of students) on those Fridays. "It offers so many more learning activities that they may not have access to otherwise," she said.

To become familiar with staff and students, Quinn has been substitute teaching at the school and hopes that more students will attend her Explorers sessions on Fridays.

"The biggest challenge I face is that many students and parents do not know me or what this year's Explorers program entails," Quinn said.

Currently Quinn travels between Seeley Lake and Missoula because she works at Lindey's Prime Steak House in Seeley Lake and substitutes at the high school when the opportunity arises. Quinn enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing and traveling and attending Montana State football games when she has the chance.

Future Explorer activities include having a Day of the Dead celebration for Halloween, cookbook making, set designing for the Potomac School Holiday Program and ice skating.

"I enjoy Potomac School, the students, the staff and the community very much. It is a close-knit environment and it is evident that there is endless support in all those aspects," Quinn said.

Explorers is offered most Fridays, when class is not in session because of the four-day school week in Potomac. This program is the 21st Century Program that was granted to Potomac as an after school program.

Anyone interested in the schedule of events for Explorers can visit the Potomac School website http://www.potomacschoolmontana.us, the Potomac School Facebook page or call the school 406-244-5581.