BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Focus On Learning: Environmental Field Experience For Students
This fall, Boise School District is improving its longstanding environmental field trips for elementary students in an effort to increase student participation and opportunities for hands-on student learning. This fall, eight schools have the opportunity to participate in the new Environmental Field Experience (EFE) program. Within four years, we hope to expand the program to include all 33 elementary schools in the Boise School District. Hawthorne Elementary School 6th Grade Teacher Misha Smith recently wrote an article for the Idaho Environmental Education Association that further explains how the new program benefits our students and our environment.
Students from Hawthorne & Owyhee elementary schools participate in an Environmental Field Experience at Lucky Peak to study the natural area and the area's watershed.
Hawthorne & Owyhee elementary school students visit Bogus Basin to study human impact on the environment.
Dallas Harris Elementary School Taking Shape
A new elementary school is currently under construction in the Harris Ranch area of Boise. Made possible thanks to voters who passed the 2017 bond election by an 86% yes vote, the new school, named Dallas Harris Elementary School, will continue Boise’s tradition of offering high-quality neighborhood schools, as well as reduce overcrowding at Riverside, Adams and other nearby schools. The Harris family donated the land to the Boise School District in the growing Harris Ranch area in east Boise. Construction for the Dallas Harris Elementary School broke ground this past spring. The new school is estimated to open in the fall of 2023.
Dallas Harris Elementary School Construction Progress
Educators Recognized
Two Boise School District educators were recognized by Boise State University with Distinguished Alumni Awards. Taft Elementary School Principal Tim Lowe, 1991, 1999, BSU College of Education; and Timberline High School Head Athletic Trainer Tony Fitzpatrick, 1988, 1995, BSU College of Health Sciences, were honored by the university as 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients.
The Award is awarded to extraordinary alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the university by making a difference in the world through daily impact in their companies or chosen profession, communities, and for Boise State University. 
Tim Lowe '91, '99, BSU, College of Education
Principal, Taft Elementary; Adjunct faculty member, Boise State’s Educational Leadership program (MEd)
Tony Fitzpatrick '88, '95, BSU, College of Health Sciences
Head Athletic Trainer, Timberline High School
Boise School District Is Again Idaho's Top District For National Merit Semifinalists
Boise School District is once again Idaho's top school district for the number of National Merit Semifinalists. A total of 38 students from the Boise School District (the most of any Idaho school district) have been selected as Semifinalists, which represents 41% of Idaho's total number of 2023 National Merit Semifinalists (93). That's an impressive showing considering Boise School District enrolls approximately 7% of Idaho's public school students.
We Celebrate Our AP Capstone Diploma Recipients
We're proud to recognize our AP Capstone Diploma recipients, as well as our students who earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. In the Boise School District, 31 students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma™ and 10 students have earned the Advanced Placement Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2021-22 school year. That's up from 17 Boise District students who received the AP Capstone Diploma & AP Seminar and Research Certificate in 2018. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical to academic success.
Honoring Those Who Serve Our Students
Each month during the school year, the Boise School Board honors deserving teachers and support staff through the District's highest awards program - the Red Apple Award for teachers and the Golden Apple Award for classified employees.

For September 2022, we congratulated Natalie Roberts, 4th Grade Teacher, Shadow Hills Elementary & Peggy Danner, Librarian, Trail Wind Elementary for being selected to receive the Red & Golden Apple Awards. Watch the following video to learn more.
Peggy Danner, Librarian, Trail Wind Elementary School receives the Golden Apple Award as presented by the Boise School Board. Board members pictured L to R: Trustee Andy Hawes, Board Vice President Maria Greeley and Board President Dave Wagers.
Natalie Roberts, 4th Grade Teacher, Shadow Hills Elementary receives the Red Apple Award as presented by the Boise School Board. Board members pictured L to R: Trustee Beth Oppenheimer and Trustee Nancy Gregory.
September 2022 Red & Golden Apple Award Video
Trustees Sworn Into Office
Newly elected and re-elected Trustees of the Boise School Board were sworn into office during September 12, 2022 Boise School Board Meeting. Elizabeth Langley, Andy Hawes, Dave Wagers, Shiva Rajbhandari, and Beth Oppenheimer took the Oath of Office as presented by Clerk of the Board Sharon Mast. During the September 12th Board meeting, the Board of Trustees voted to re-elect Dave Wagers as President of the Board, Maria Greeley as Vice President of the Board and Sharon Mast as Clerk of the Board.
L-R Boise School Board Trustees Elizabeth Langley (video), Andy Hawes, Dave Wagers, Shiva Rajbhandari, and Beth Oppenheimer taking the Board of Trustees Oath of Office.
Thank you, Durham Bus Drivers!
As a way to say thank you for their dedication to safely transporting our students to their schools and activities each and every day, we held a breakfast on the morning of September 29, 2022 for our school bus drivers. Thank you Durham drivers! 
NOW HIRING!
Come Serve With Us

Do you want to make a positive difference in a student's life? Currently, Boise School District has a number of open positions, including Special Education Paraprofessionals, Just for Kids Childcare Providers, Food & Nutrition Services, Title I Tutors, School Nurse, Health Technician, School Support Assistants, School Custodians, Sprinkler Irrigation System Repair Technician, Warehouse Delivery Driver, and more. Review our current job postings and apply online.

Substitutes Needed

Boise School District is seeking qualified individuals to fill our classified and certified substitute pool. We currently have openings and encourage you to apply online today!

Now Hiring Crossing Guards, Bus Drivers & Monitors

Our outside contractors have job openings for crossing guards, bus drivers and bus monitors. Learn more....


Do You Love to Learn?
Fall Community Education Now Enrolling!
This Fall, Boise School District is excited to once again offer in-person Community Education classes, as well as online courses. Select from more than two hundred personal enrichment classes, including Active Aging, Arts, Culinary Arts, Music, Leisure, Pets, Dance, Fitness, Health & Welfare, Computers & Technology, Culture & History, Garden & The Great Outdoors, and much more!

Enroll today at www.boiselearns.org

Interested in Athletics?
Boise School District has always been highly regarded for academic achievements. At the same time, we have always been considered a leader throughout Idaho and the Pacific Northwest in the area of athletics. Many of our programs have become models for other districts. Below are the try-out dates and first days of practice for the 2022-2023 athletics program. Please contact your school for more information.
Love Sports? Become A Certified Official!
Do you love sports and want to support our student-athletes? The Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA) certifies officials in the following sports: baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. All officials must be at least 16 years of age. To learn more, including how to register to become an IHSAA official, review How To Become an IHSAA Certified Official.

In addition, we are currently recruiting for basketball officials for the upcoming winter season. Review further details here.
Not Feeling Well?
Follow Illness Procedure
Staying home when a person has symptoms of illness protects the school community by preventing the spread of illness and allows the person experiencing symptoms of illness the opportunity to rest and recover. If you're not feeling well, please follow the Boise School District Illness Procedure before entering any school or workplace.
Gifts. Passions. Dreams. Possibilities.
WE SEE IT, TOO.
Boise School District's Everything's Possible movement shares the dreams, aspirations and experiences of our students and teachers. As a parent, you see your child’s potential. And we see it, too. Everything’s possible.

"One teacher who impacted me in a positive way was Miss. Loftis, my health teacher. She made learning fun, made sure she knew all her students closely, and I looked forward to being in her class every day" - Sneha, a Timberline High School graduate. See Sneha's artwork below, which was chosen to appear on an ACHD street sweeper.
"I try to set my students up for success by keeping a really high standard with them. The students really amaze me every year. Parents, they can't believe what their students are able to achieve." - Dr. Marinelli, a fifth grade teacher at Collister Elementary
"I love the Montessori program. There is a mix of fourth, fifth and sixth graders, so if you need help with some harder problem you can help each other. We learn as a whole group which is really nice because I love having a bunch of kids not the same age as me in my class." - Ava, a 6th grader at Liberty Elementary
Timberline High graduate Sneha recently won an ACHD Art Contest and her artwork is now being featured on an Ada County Highway District street sweeper that you may see being used in our community.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. Learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Student Device Monitoring 

A reminder to parents that Boise School District provides parents/guardians with the ability to monitor your student’s activity on their District-assigned digital device via the GoGuardian Parent App: 

Keep In Contact
Parents - Sign-Up for Emergency Text Messaging: The Boise School District offers emergency text messaging for parents/guardians. Learn more and sign-up.

Non-Parents - Mobile App Available: Boise School District has a mobile app to improve communication to you. The app offers emergency alerts and is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Dates of Interest
  • October 10: Regular monthly meeting of Boise School Board. When available, agenda will be posted online
  • October 14: End of First Quarter - Elementary Pre K-6 No School
  • October 19: No School Pre K
  • October 20: No Pre K-6 Elementary Classes - Parent Conferences
  • Elementary evening conferences will be held Wednesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 20 until 7:30 p.m.
  • Junior high evening conferences will be held Wednesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 20, 4 -7 p.m.
  • High school evening conferences will be held Tuesday, October 18 & Wednesday, October 19, 4-7 p.m.
  • October 21: No School Pre K-12
  • November 21-25: Thanksgiving Holiday Break - No School Pre K-12
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