I forgot to add one more thing that should be known and should have been addressed when it kept…read morehappening, daily. I recently had to have a Cervical Spinal Fusion done in my neck. Want to know why? The damage to my neck and spine happened at Helena High. I would have my head slammed and kicked into my locker, and this happened every, single day I was there. I would be attempting to put my books and schoolwork away and wouldn't see them coming for me. Then WHAM! So yes, my neck and spine are incredibly damaged now. I already have a Lumbar Spinal Fusion that is failed, and that was caused at Helena High, as well. I am now on Disability, since I can no longer walk or turn my head and am in constant chronic pain. Probably not much longer though, since Trump has vowed to destroy Disability, Social Security and Welfare. That is what America voted for, however. My Neurosurgeon here in Minnesota, told me that the damage was totally caused by my time at Helena High, and specifically by having my head slammed or kicked into my locker every day. I know many will insist that I am exaggerating or making it up. Nope! Many, many other students and teachers were witness to it, so it can be proven true. Am I supposed to be ticked off about it? Probably. Nothing, not one thing was ever done about it. Even though it was reported to the principal and front office, I never even got an acknowledgement that it was actually happening. They chose to ignore me. What? Am I supposed to just forget that it happened? Well, I have tried, but you cannot. It stays with you for life. Why the Helena School Board allows that kind of behaviour, I do not know. Maybe it has changed by now, and bullying and attempting to kill other students is frowned upon. I somehow highly doubt that though. I will never receive an apology from them, I know that. I mean, they condoned that type of thing themselves. Did those in Helena really think that I would just forget? Not going to happen. Now that I am getting elderly and am disabled by what happened to me in Helena, I am going to tell the world how people treat others in that town and at the public schools. I wouldn't wish what happened to me, on my worst enemy. It is just obscene, really. Then, on top of all that, Montana chooses to become one of the Hate States recently. That is how it is known as here, where I live now. Good. I want others to know my story and know that although I survived, it was just barely. My extremely painful disability was caused by those in Helena, and now I have to live with it. I had so many bad things happen to me in that town and state. I could write a book, and perhaps should. About my whole experience growing up, and almost being murdered in Helena, at both Capital and Helena High, mostly the latter. Again, you'd think they would be ashamed of how they acted. But nope, no apologies, no nothing were ever proffered to me. I am sure I am still known and hated in Helena and Montana. Especially now. Even if the Board of Schools/Education knew about the violence done to me, they would do nothing anyway. I am sure they did know, and simply chose to ignore it. It is just the way those of us who are gay, are and were treated in Helena and Montana. Likely still are, which is a shame. It is 2025 now and it appears that not much has changed in Helena.

Huge Thank you to Julie TeNyenhuis vice principle Helena High for all the support and help finding…read moremy daughter. She is an angel and very supportive of families. Thank you

If I could give this school a lower rating, I would. Attending this school was one of the most…read morefrightening periods of my life. I was not simply bullied here. I was threatened daily, beaten on a regular basis, and forced to live in constant fear for my safety. Every day I walked onto campus knowing there was a real possibility I would be hurt, and every day that fear proved justified. The violence was not isolated or hidden. Students openly used drugs in and around the school, including in the forested area nearby, which became a place of genuine danger. I was once nearly impaled there during an attack, and I am still shaken when I think about how close I came to being seriously injured or killed. There was no meaningful supervision and no sense that anyone was truly watching out for students who were vulnerable. The only reason I survived that year is because one teacher saw what was happening and chose to protect me. The shop teacher offered me a place to hide during lunch so I could avoid being attacked. I should never have needed a hiding place at school. The fact that a single teacher's quiet act of kindness was the only barrier between me and serious harm says everything about how unsafe this environment was. The abuse escalated to the point where I was hospitalized. During one assault, I was kicked so hard in the ribs that my torso was badly bruised and I could not breathe properly. I spent time in the hospital on oxygen because my breathing was impaired, and my recovery took most of a month. I was in pain, frightened, and struggling to heal while still expected to navigate a school environment that had already proven it could not keep me safe. I still carry physical scars from what happened, reminders of how real and lasting the damage was. I left this school as soon as I could because I genuinely feared for my life. No student should ever feel that attending class puts them in danger of serious injury or death. A school should be a place of learning, structure, and protection. This school failed at the most basic level to provide safety, and that failure had life altering consequences for me. I would never recommend this school to anyone. Especially not to parents of children who are vulnerable, different, or simply trying to get through adolescence without being harmed. What happened here was not just bullying. It was sustained violence, neglect, and a complete breakdown of responsibility, and it is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I feel safe in this environment, some of the teachers are horribly biased, but you will get there…read morewhatever school you attend, I am proud to have been a bruin.

This is the only public school in Helena that I was able to enjoy somewhat, and receive a good…read moreeducation. When I attended Hawthorne School in the 1970's, they had the best teachers, by far. Not sure why this is not listed as the school that it is. It is called Hawthorne Elementary School, and it should be listed as such, here on Yelp. I went to first grade in the little one or two room schoolhouse, to the side of the main elementary school. My teacher was Ms. Wilma Miller, and I shall never forget her. She was such an asset to Hawthorne School and had been there for ages already it seemed, when I attended. One of the kindest and most helpful teachers, that I have ever experienced. Ms. Miller taught us so much and her class was the best, in my opinion. She also was the first person to realize, that I was already being pegged as an outcast and seen as weird. This would be because I was born LGBTQ, and she knew it somehow. I knew perfectly well what I was and who I was, even in first grade!!! It is amazing to me, that Heterosexual people still like to believe it is a 'choice'. It should be pretty obvious that it is not, by my story. We cannot help that we were born this way. Have a little compassion, please? It is just something we have to deal with. I know many will choose not to believe me, but it is the honest truth. I knew who and what I was, even as a baby! Some humans are just born way ahead of their time and peers. I am one of them. I was also born with a eidetic/photographic memory, so I am not able to forget anything. This is why I can remember being a baby, and recall perfectly, my time at Hawthorne School, when I got a bit older. Some humans still do not believe that some of us are born with special abilities, but I assure you, it is so. Anyway, the remainder of my time at Hawthorne School was pretty great, except that I was bullied quite a lot for being different. So many cool teachers back then, and I learned more there, than at any other school. So, that is saying something, I believe! My second grade teacher was not all that great unfortunately, and I wish I had been in the other second grade class with Mrs. Cameron as teacher. Instead, I ended up with Mrs. Smith, who was not all that great, and was not such a great teacher either. She was rather mean and dismissive. Third grade with Mrs. Nyland was great, as was fourth grade with Mrs. Heen. Fifth grade was extremely memorable. I had Mr. Reuben Tucker for a teacher, and he was also someone who was way ahead of their time. He taught us Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes, which has come in more than handy in my life. He would also have The Beatles playing when we came to class in the morning. So cool!! He also taught us about archaeology and ancient civilizations, which is why I became an archaeologist when I grew up. I learned more from that man, than I can ever express, and would love to find him and thank him, even now. Sixth grade, my final class at Hawthorne School, was Mrs. Michelle Abney. She was also excellent, and also prepared us for Junior High, which I appreciate. Our principal, was Mr. Wenger, and he was such a nice guy too. We had it really good at Hawthorne, and I hope it is just as excellent as it was when I attended in the 1970's. It should be pretty obvious now, that I indeed do have a photographic memory. Thank you, Hawthorne School. I miss you. Btw, I am now 59 years old.

This place was truly amazing for our child. He is starting kindergarten this fall, and I feel…read moreconfident he is ready. The teachers truly care about their students and families. It is also wonderful to hear my son talk about Jesus and Bible stories every day. These teachers instill a love for Christ in each child. The kids leave becoming more respectful, caring, and ready for elementary school. The play area is also wonderful. Truly the best for preschool!