BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Focus On Learning: EMT Students Learning To Save Lives
Students enrolled in Boise School District's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program are learning to save lives thanks to the Boise Fire Department. Recently, firefighters visited the Dennis Technical Education Center to lead an Extrication Demonstration for EMT students.  Learn more by watching the following video:
Supporting Student & Family Well-Being
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, Boise School District families will soon receive information about how they can access free, confidential counseling, consultation and referral services through the Student and Family Assistance Program. During May, postcards (see below) will be mailed to every Boise School District family. 
Free Developmental Screening
Free Developmental Screening Flyer - Spanish Language
Free Summer Meals!
Boise School District will once again participate in the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and/or lunch will be provided to children ages 1 through 18 at a number of school and park sites without charge.
Timberline Music Department Sweeps International Competition
On Friday, April 21st, the Timberline High School Music Department (band, choir, and orchestra) competed in the WorldStrides Music Festival in Anaheim, CA along with 25 other schools from across the U.S. and Canada. Timberline swept the competition, bringing home 27 awards in total. Nearly every single category was a Timberline victory.  

All 10 ensembles (3 bands, 3 orchestras, 4 choirs) received top marks, some competing in the same division against each other. Gold/Silver is the score's category rating and the Place is their ranking against all the other schools. Timberline received:

Band:  
  • Jazz Ensemble: 1st Place, Gold
  • Wind Symphony: 1st Place, Gold 
  • Concert Band: 1st Place, Silver 
  • Outstanding Band Group - Highest single band score -Timberline Wind Symphony
  • 2 Adjudicator Awards for instrumental groups scoring over 92 - Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble

Choir:  
  • Encore: 1st Place, Gold
  • A Cappella: 1st Place, Gold
  • Chantez: 2nd Place, Gold 
  • Cantor Bel: 3rd Place, Gold 
  • 3 Adjudicator Awards for choir groups scoring over 95 - Encore, Chantez, A Capella
  • Choir Program Sweepstakes (Best scoring overall Choir Program)

Orchestra:
  • Chamber Orchestra:1st Place, Gold 
  • Concert Orchestra: Gold 
  • Symphonia Orchestra: 3rd Place, Silver 
  • Outstanding Orchestra Group - Highest single orchestra Score - Chamber Orchestra
  • 2 Adjudicator Awards for instrumental groups scoring over 92 - Chamber Orchestra and Concert Orchestra 

  • Band and Orchestra: Instrumental Sweepstakes - best scoring overall Instrumental Program

  • All Department: Festival Sweepstakes for the best combined music department of all schools

  • Individual Soloist Awards: Kaitlin moses, bassoon - 12th grade, Minnie Aagard, tenor saxophone - 12th grade, Jinwoo Baek, violin - 10th grade, Bella Yang, violin - 10th grade, Ben Gallafent, cello - 10th grade
Timberline High School A Capella Choir on stage at WorldStrides Music Festival
Timberline High School Chamber Orchestra on stage at WorldStrides Music Festival
Timberline High School solo award recipients at WorldStrides Music Festival
Timberline High School Wind Symphony on stage at WorldStrides Music Festival
Timberline High School swept the competition, bringing home 27 awards in total, at the WorldStrides Music Festival.
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Timberline High School Music Department Wins
WorldStrides Music Festival Sweepstakes Award
Know Vape Video Contest Award Recipients
Congratulations to Fairmont Junior High School 8th grade student Eli Richey and Boise High sophomore Halle Lowman (Boise High Video Broadcasting & Production student) for winning the Grand Prize ($2,000 each) in the KNOW VAPE Public Service Announcement video contest through Idaho Public Television. Their winning videos are featured below.

In addition, congratulations to Boise High Video Broadcasting & Production students Sophomore Lauren Pollari who won 3rd place ($150) and Senior Charlie Johnson who won 1st place ($500).  

Here's the link to winning videos: Know Vape Video Contest Winners

Grand Prize Winner
The Vaping Rap
Eli Richey, Fairmont Junior High School
Grand Prize Winner
Your Future is Bright Don't Throw It Away
Halle Lowman, Boise High School
Boise School District Students Recognized
  • Congratulations to Boise High Sophomore Delaney Blekinsop whose video essay won first prize in the District of Idaho Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. This year's prompt asked students to consider what should be the focus of the next amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This year's contest had a record number of entries, and the District of Idaho had more entries than any other district in the Ninth Circuit. Delaney won $1,000 for her efforts in the Idaho contest and her work will now be entered into the larger Ninth Circuit contest where she has a chance to win up to $3,000 more!
  • Congratulations to Boise High Seniors Fynn Erman and Charlie Johnson for winning "Best in Show" at the 19th Annual Kiwanis Teen Film Festival. Their entry, titled "The Film", earned them a $1,000 cash prize. 
  • Congratulations to the following Borah High School students for being recognized for their work in computer science by the National Center for Women and Information Technology:
  • Hailey Blakely, Idaho State Honorable Mention
  • Nicola Hodson, Idaho State Rising Star
  • Ava Westerberg, Idaho State Rising Star
Whitney Starts Podcast Featuring Students
Whitney Elementary School Multi-Language Co-Teacher Ainsley Boan recently started a podcast at her school to feature the talents of Whitney students. Take a listen as students read stories they wrote, sing songs, etc. "The Whitney Podcast empowers our students to take ownership of their learning, gives them authenticity, novelty and a real audience for their work," explained Boan. The Whitney Podcast is also uploaded to Spotify and Apple podcasts. Listen to the March 2023 Whitney Podcast and to the April 2023 Whitney Podcast.
Elementary Educator Selected for Life-Changing, Field-Based Experience to Help Her Students
Hawthorne Elementary School 6th Grade Teacher Misha Smith (pictured) is one of 50 highly respected educators selected as the 15th cohort of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Society Grosvenor Teacher Fellows.

The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship (GTF) is a professional development opportunity for pre-K–12 educators that provides educators with rich professional development experiences into new ways to teach students, engage colleagues and bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities.

Smith will travel to Patagonia. Her expedition will take her on a voyage around the southern tip of South America where she will be learning from National Geographic photographers and Lindblad Expedition naturalists to bring a piece of the world back to her Hawthorne classroom. "I chose Patagonia as my destination to bring to life our social studies curriculum of learning about the geography and culture of Latin America, and to connect students with our science units on climate and ecosystems, said Smith. "I hope to help my students understand the interconnectedness of humans and nature, and foster an explorer mindset." 
Community Education - Learn Something New This Spring!
This Spring, Boise School District is excited to offer you in-person Community Education classes, as well as online courses.  

Select from two hundred personal enrichment classes! From Active Aging, Arts, Culinary Arts, Music, Leisure, to Dance, Fitness, Health & Wellness, Computers & Technology, Culture & History, Garden & The Great Outdoors, and much more! Review Community Education classes beginning the week of May 8, 2023.

Enroll today at www.boiselearns.org  

Annual Plant Sales to Benefit Horticulture Programs
Each year, students enrolled in the Boise School District's Horticulture programs hold annual plant sales to showcase their skills and talents in raising healthy plants, with the proceeds collected going to support their respective school's Horticulture program. Below is information about upcoming plant sales.
Borah High School Plant Sale
Capital High School Plant Sale
Frank Church High School Plant Sale
Annual Día de los Niños 2023
Attention Boise School District families: The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) is partnering with local libraries and organizations to bring its annual Día de los Niños event to the Treasure Valley. You are invited to attend this special event, which will celebrate children, families, and literacy. The event will take place at Cecil D. Andrus Park (across from the Statehouse, downtown Boise) on Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 12 to 4 p.m. This fun, free event offers entertainment, information, and resources helpful to parents of children of all ages.

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), often known as Día, is a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates every year on April 30.

Celebrated since 1925 throughout Mexico, Día emphasizes the importance of literacy and reading fun for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds through bilingual storytimes, family literacy fairs, community events, and other programs that encourage family reading and increased understanding of other cultures.
Summer Driver Education Program
Registration for the Summer Sessions of Driver Education is now open.

  • All classes are held at Fairmont Junior High.
  • First Session dates: June 01 - June 29
  • Second Session dates: July 06 - August 03
  • Registration is online only.
  • Fee is $265
  • Limited spots available so register quickly.
Summer School Program
Boise School District offers a wide variety of summer school programs for students to enhance their educational experiences. Our summer programs range from elementary to high school. Registration for Summer 2023 programs is now open. For detailed information on each of the Summer School options that are available for Boise School District students in Summer 2023, please visit our Summer School 2023 website.
Results from Spring PowerDown Challenge
In an effort to be good stewards of our energy resources, Boise Schools participated in the Spring 2023 Powerdown Challenge. The results are now in as indicated below. A special thank you to Idaho Power for helping track the energy usage data, to our students and teachers who "unplugged" before spring break, and to our District's Facilities & Operations Team that works to maintain and schedule our energy usage in our buildings.
Spring 2023 Graduation Information
Boise School District is pleased to announce the following spring 2023 graduation dates.

Spring 2023 Graduation Dates
ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
(unless otherwise noted)

  • Thursday, May 18, 2023 - STEP Program (10 a.m.; South Junior High School Auditorium)
  • Monday, May 22, 2023 - Boise Online School (3:00 p.m.; Morrison Center)
  • Monday, May 22, 2023 - Frank Church High School (7:00 p.m.; Morrison Center)
  • Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – Borah High School
  • Wednesday, May 24, 2023 – Capital High School
  • Thursday, May 25, 2023 – Timberline High School
  • Friday, May 26, 2023 – Boise High School

Boise, Borah, Capital and Timberline High School graduation ceremonies will be live streamed and posted on the Boise School District's main home page: www.boiseschools.org
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.

Show Your Pride With Boise Schools Gear!
Caps, keychains, and even fashion for your four-legged friend — show your Boise School District spirit by shopping our new online store!
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
  • May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week
  • May 8: Boise School Board Meeting 6 p.m., District Services Center. When available, agenda will be posted online.
  • May 18: Last Day of School for Seniors, Early Childhood Special Education Programs and Pre K
  • May 18: STEP Program Graduation (10 a.m.; South Junior High School Auditorium)
  • May 19: Early Release K-6
  • May 22: Boise Online School Graduation (3:00 p.m.; Morrison Center)
  • May 22: Frank Church High School Graduation (7:00 p.m.; Morrison Center)
  • May 23: Borah High School Graduation, ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
  • May 24: Capital High School Graduation, ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
  • May 25: Timberline High School Graduation, ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
  • May 26: Boise High School Graduation, ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
  • May 23, 24, 25: Secondary End of Semester Testing - Early Release 7-12
  • May 25: Last Day of School - Early Release K-6
  • June 5-19: Secondary Summer School - Semester 1
  • June 12: Boise School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., District Services Center
  • July 5-28: Secondary Summer School - Semester 2
Notice: If you are a Boise School District staff member, you are provided a District email address. This email address is provided to you in part for the distribution of District communications; as such, you are required to check your email and remain active on District mailing lists. If you are an employee of the Boise School District, please do not unsubscribe from this mailing list. If you are a parent or guardian of a student in the Boise School District, this newsletter is intended to inform you about happenings in the Boise School District. As such, we ask that you please do not unsubscribe from these emails.