Rooted & Rising: Stories From Across Our Schools

Andrew McDonald

Campfire conversations celebrating the people, practices, and purpose that make our schools thrive.

  1. 6d ago

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 3 - The Brink

    Send us Fan Mail By the mid-to-late 20th century, Catholic education in Montana had grown into a strong and recognizable system. Parishes were established.  Schools were thriving.  Religious sisters and dedicated educators formed generations of students. For a time, it felt stable. But beneath the surface, things were beginning to change. In this episode, we explore the moment when Catholic education across Montana, and across the country, faced real uncertainty. Fewer religious vocationsRising costs of educationShifting cultural prioritiesAnd new pressures on families and parishesWhat had once been sustained by religious communities and a unified sense of mission now required new models, new leadership, and new sacrifice. In many places, schools closed. Others struggled to hold on. The system that had been built over decades was now at a crossroads. And yet, this is not only a story of decline. It is a story of decision. Of communities asking hard questions: What is worth preserving?  What must change?  And what does it mean to remain faithful to the mission in a new era? Because sometimes, the future of a mission is not secured in moments of growth… but in the courage to stand at the brink, and choose what comes next.

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 3 - The Brink

  2. Jul 1

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 2 - A Changing Landscape

    Send us Fan Mail As Catholic mission work spread east across Montana, the story took on a different shape. In this episode, we move into eastern Montana and the Billings region, where permanent missions did not take root until the 1880s, decades after St. Mary’s. By this time, Native nations had been forced onto reservations, and life had been profoundly disrupted. At places like St. Xavier Mission (founded in 1887 among the Crow), missions became centers of faith, education, and daily life. They offered stability, learning, and community. But they also existed within a larger system, one that reshaped culture, language, and identity for Native peoples across the region. This episode attempts to explore that tension honestly and respectfully, including: The growth of early Catholic schoolsThe role of mission communities in a time of changeAnd the beginnings of an educational system that would continue to expand across Montana

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 2 - A Changing Landscape

  3. Jun 24

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 1 - Where the Story Begins

    Send us Fan Mail The story of Catholic education in Montana begins long before classrooms, systems, or school buildings. It begins with people, and with a relationship. In this opening episode, we travel to the Bitterroot Valley in the early 1840s, where the first Catholic missionaries arrived at the invitation of the Salish people. Together, they founded St. Mary’s Mission in 1841, the first Catholic mission and first permanent settlement in what would become Montana. But this is not just a story about missionaries. It is a story of encounter. Of curiosity. Of faith shared across cultures. You’ll hear how Indigenous communities actively sought out the “Black Robes,” how early mission life took shape, and how this moment laid the foundation for everything that would follow. And yet, this is only the beginning. Because as the story moves east, the context changes.

    Faith on the Frontier: Episode 1 - Where the Story Begins

  4. Season 2 Trailer

    Faith on the Frontier: A New Miniseries Premiering June 24

    Send us Fan Mail Description: Before there were schools… there were stories. Before there were systems… there were relationships. This series explores the story of Catholic education in Montana, not just how it was built, but how it began, how it changed, and why it still matters today. From the Bitterroot Valley in 1841, where the first mission was founded at the invitation of the Salish people…  to the plains of eastern Montana, where missions emerged in a very different moment, during the reservation era…  to the rise of parish schools, and the challenges that nearly brought the system to its brink... this is a story shaped by faith, culture, sacrifice, and resilience. It is a story of encounter.  A story of tension and transformation.  And ultimately, a story of renewal. Because Catholic education in Montana is not just about the past. It is about the mission we carry forward.

    Faith on the Frontier: A New Miniseries Premiering June 24

  5. Jun 10

    13 - Summer Reading

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Andrew McDonald sits down with Katie Day, K–8 librarian, to talk about how families can keep kids engaged, curious, and learning throughout the summer months. The conversation explores the importance of reading beyond the school year, what the “summer slide” really means, and how small, consistent habits can make a lasting difference. Katie shares practical, realistic ideas for families: how to encourage reading without turning it into a chore, how to help reluctant readers reengage, and how to create an environment where curiosity can grow naturally. Together, they reflect on the role of stories in forming young minds and why fostering a love of reading is about more than academic success, it’s about helping students discover, imagine, and grow. It’s a helpful and hopeful conversation for families looking to make the most of summer while keeping learning alive.

  6. Jun 3

    12 - Mission & Catholic Identity

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Andrew McDonald shares portions of the final meeting of the year for the Mission & Catholic Identity Committee, offering a reflective look into the heart of how mission guides the life of our schools. Through conversation and shared reflection, committee members look back on the year, naming meaningful moments, celebrating progress, and considering the ongoing work of strengthening Catholic identity across the system. Their discussion highlights the importance of intentional governance structures that keep mission at the center of decision‑making, ensuring that faith remains not just a value, but a lived reality in classrooms, relationships, and leadership. This episode provides a rare and thoughtful window into how Catholic schools remain grounded, accountable, and forward‑focused, rooted in tradition while continually discerning how to grow and respond to the needs of students and families. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that strong schools are not shaped by programs alone, but by shared purpose, engaged people, and a deep commitment to mission.

  7. May 27

    11 - Support During Interesting Times

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Andrew McDonald is joined by Alissa Miller and Tanya Stewart to explore the vital work of student support in grades 5–8. The conversation focuses on how schools intentionally meet students where they are during the pivotal middle‑school years: a time marked by academic growth, social development, and increasing independence. Alissa and Tanya share how targeted support, collaboration with teachers, and a focus on relationships help students build confidence, develop effective learning habits, and experience success in meaningful ways. Grounded in a Catholic understanding of the dignity of every learner, this episode highlights how support is not about labels, but about accompaniment, helping each student grow academically, personally, and spiritually. It’s a thoughtful look at how care, structure, and responsiveness combine to ensure that every student is given what they need to flourish.

  8. May 20 ·  Bonus

    May President's Report

    Send us Fan Mail As the school year comes to a close, Andrew McDonald reflects on a year of growth, gratitude, and forward momentum across Billings Catholic Schools. In this episode, Andrew shares key updates from the President’s Report, including progress in long-range planning, a strategic investment in the Central Catholic campus with the potential acquisition of property across the street, and continued commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. He also looks ahead to the launch of a major campaign to renovate science labs and strengthen student opportunities for the future. Beyond system-level updates, this episode highlights the incredible work happening across all BCS campuses, from remarkable early literacy gains at the Early Childhood Center to strong academic growth, faith formation, and student achievement at Saint Francis and Billings Central Catholic High School. You’ll also hear about behind-the-scenes investments in technology, facilities, and financial sustainability that support the daily life and long-term strength of the system. As always, this episode is rooted in gratitude: for students, staff, families, and all who make the mission of Billings Catholic Schools possible!

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Campfire conversations celebrating the people, practices, and purpose that make our schools thrive.

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