What's Happening in Boise Schools
Boise School District's Everything's Possible movement shares the dreams, aspirations and experiences of our students and teachers. Idaho's next generation of movers and shakers is in public school classrooms today. Boise teachers are on the front line every day, investing time and energy to make students like Wesley feel supported and engaged. Please Like, Follow and Share his story below on social media.
DID YOU KNOW?
Education is not one-size-fits-all. Everyone's path is different. We strive to provide career technical education for students who take an interest in a specific vocational career path. Through curriculum that meets rigorous industry standards and certifications, programs that focus on high-demand job areas, and hands-on training and internship opportunities, our students are ready to take on the world.
Boise School District offers more than 200 extracurricular clubs, programs, and activities. From athletics to advocacy to arts, we have something to turn any student's curiosity into a lifelong passion.
NAMES AND FACES
Giving Students a Career Jumpstart: On Monday, December 16, 2019 a student from the Dennis Technical Education Center became the first DTEC student to register for an apprenticeship program. Denver Mansfield (pictured) signed with the International Association of Sheet Metal Workers Local 55 as a junior in high school out of DTEC's recently-established HVAC program using the School to Registered Apprenticeship Program (STRAP) through the Department of Labor. 

"DTEC has a strong history of sending students out into the workforce through job shadows and internships," explained DTEC Principal Jason Hutchison . "However, this one is different because it is our first Registered Apprenticeship through the STRAP program."

"Denver will start out working 3 days a week in the afternoon in preparation for full time work this summer," explained DTEC Career Development/Industry Liaison Sean Kelly . "He anticipates making close to $10,000 by the end of the summer. Then he will come back in the fall for his senior year working four days a week during the school year. Once he graduates, he will transition to full time work and continue his education at their trade school."
Denver Mansfield (pictured with his family) becomes the first student at DTEC to sign as a registered apprentice through the recently-established HVAC program.
Pictured left to right: Sean Kelly, CTE career development/industry liaison, DTEC; JR Finlay, business representative for Local 55 Sheet Metal Workers; Denver Mansfield, student, DTEC; parents - Tony & Wendy Mansfield; Jason Hutchison, principal, DTEC; & Todd Haylett, HVAC instructor, DTEC.
Congratulations to Winter 2019 STEP Graduates!: On Tuesday, December 17, 2019 a total of 8 students enrolled in the Boise School District's Student Transition Education Program (STEP) participated in a graduation ceremony held in the auditorium at South Junior High School. STEP students are 18-21 years of age and work on the following transition areas: vocational/employment, self-management/home living, personal/social, leisure/recreation and general community functioning. Students can be referred to the transition program by parents, student and the home school Special Education team. Best wishes for a bright future to the following 2019 STEP graduates!
STEP Graduates pictured from left to right: Jenny McIntosh, Livia Olsen, Doug Bunt, Curtis Spjute, Wade Westrick, Koa Goff, Kairee Vaudrin and Shemsa Idi.
Scholarship Semifinalists Named: Six high school students from the Boise School District have been named Coca-Cola Semifinalists in the 2020 Coca-Cola Scholars Program . Only 1,928 Semifinalists were chosen among over 93,000 applicants nationwide this year because of their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and dedication to their community. The following Boise School District students represent six of the 13 Idaho high school students selected for this national recognition.
Cierra Bryant
Senior
Capital High School
Zane Harbison
Senior
Boise High School
McKenzie Kluksdal
Senior
Boise High School
Sophia McKay
Senior
Timberline High School
Letizia Moro
Senior
Timberline High School
Siddharth Naidu
Senior
Boise High School
Music Students Recognized: Congratulations to the Borah High Jazz Ensemble students for their great performance at the District Three Jazz Festival. The band received a Superior Rating again this year. Only seven of 37 bands were rated Superior. The Borah Jazz Ensemble is the only band in District Three to be rated Superior 27 of the past 28 years.They have had the High score an unprecedented 12 times. Also, congratulations to the Capital High Jazz Ensemble for their performance at the District Three Jazz Festival. Capital received the highest possible rating, a Superior Rating, and were awarded the second highest score of the Festival.
Boise District Educators Recognized: The following teachers have been awarded The Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching . The award recognizes Kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in Idaho and beyond who make a major difference in the lives of their students through their passion and caring. Each of the four teachers selected for the awards receives $2,000, and his/her school receives $500. Congratulations to Liz Batey from Riverglen Junior High School and Taryn Waddell from Timberline High School.
Holiday Card Art Contest Recipient Named : During their regularly scheduled Board meeting held on December 9, 2019, members of the Boise School District Board of Trustees recognized this year's recipient of the District's Holiday Card Art Contest. Congratulations to Sophia Hill , 5th grade student in Sheila Brown 's class at Riverside Elementary. Her artwork was selected from 1,276 entries across the District! Sophie is pictured with Cathy Mansell , retired District art coordinator.
Festival of Trees Holiday Card Contest Recipient Named: This year's recipient of the Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees Holiday Card Contest is a Kindergarten student from Lowell Elementary School. Congratulations to Sadie Colson , a student in Tammy Taylor 's Kindergarten class at Lowell. Sadie's holiday card was chosen from 1200+ cards submitted by District students! Pictured below: Sadie & her Mom (L) & Jill Aldape , St. Al's Foundation.
HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Boise School District would like to wish you a happy holiday season! We sincerely appreciate your support of our public schools and all that you do to make Boise School District the first-choice for high quality education for our community's families. Please enjoy the following video with a sampling of some of the outstanding holiday music performed by our students.
KINDNESS ROCKS CONCERT SPREADS POWERFUL MESSAGE
On December 3, 2019, Capital High School held a Kindness Rock Concert to support the City of Boise's Kindness Initiative to spread kindness throughout our schools and community. 3rd-6th grade students from Capital High School's feeder elementary schools attended the concert, which included inspirational messages of kindness. Watch the video below to learn more.
HOUR OF CODE

Students in the Boise School District participated again this year in the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Education Week. Idaho Governor Brad Little visited Garfield Elementary School where he encouraged students to pursue STEM related fields. Learn more by watching the adjacent video.
DICTIONARY DONATION

On Thursday, November 21, 2019 members of the Rotary Club of Downtown Boise paid a visit to third grade students at Whitney Elementary School where they donated 75 student dictionaries, one for each student. Thank you, Rotary Club of Boise! Watch the video below to learn more.
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE OUR STUDENTS

Each month, 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. 

On Monday, December 9, 2019, the Board of Trustees presented the Red Apple Award to  Grace Ruddy , pre-K teacher, Hawthorne Elementary School, pictured left receiving the award from Trustee Beth Oppenheimer. 

For the Golden Apple Award, the Board honored  Vikki Green , Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, District Services Center, pictured receiving the award from Board President Nancy Gregory.

Review the words of nomination for  Grace Ruddy  and review the words of nomination for  Vikki Green . 
Grace Ruddy
Pre-K Teacher
Hawthorne Elementary School
December 2019 Red Apple Award
Vikki Green
Family & Community Engagement Liaison
District Services Center
December 2019 Golden Apple Award
A COMMUNITY OF KINDNESS: DONORS PAY OFF STUDENT LUNCH DEBT
The week of December 9th, two anonymous benefactors paid off students’ lunch debt at Shadow Hills Elementary and Timberline High School. Television station KTVB caught wind of the generous acts and covered the story , along with the deep gratitude from the District. 

Within minutes of the great news hitting the airwaves Wednesday night, generous people from across Boise began contacting schools, District administrators and the Boise Public Schools Foundation to ask how they could help with student meal debt at local schools. 

In response to this outpouring of support from our community, the Boise School District, along with the Boise Public Schools Foundation, have provided the funding to ensure that no child will begin second semester with student meal debt.

We are so very thankful for this generous community support for our public school children and their families. It is yet another sign of the caring and kind community in which we all live and work.
BOND PROGRESS UPDATE
Boise School District is ahead of schedule on the 22 capital projects approved by Boise voters in the March 2017 Bond Election. Nineteen of the 22 capital projects are either in design, under construction or completed.
HOT JOBS ALERT! 2020 STEM EXPO TO
SHOWCASE FASTEST GROWING CAREER PATHS
Do you want to learn more about the hottest growing jobs? Then be sure to attend the 2020 STEM Expo on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. That’s when you’ll learn from nurses, engineers, cybersecurity experts, physicians, skilled trades workers, software designers, geologists, STEM students, architects, contractors, university representatives, computer programmers and more about what it takes to successfully pursue a career in a wide variety of STEM fields.

All Boise School District junior high school and senior high school students and their parents are invited to attend this year’s STEM Expo 2020. The STEM Expo will be held at the Dennis Technical Education Center, 3324 S. Pro Tech Drive, Boise (behind the District Services Center on Victory Road). Exhibits open at 5 p.m. and panel discussions begin at 5:30 p.m. 

Admission to STEM Expo 2020 is free! The first 100 students admitted receive free earbuds. All Boise School District students can also enter to win an iPad, Ozobot Evo, Sphero Bolt or Ollie! Special thanks to St. Luke’s Health System, Idaho STEM Action Center, and Sparklight for being sponsors of this year’s event!
CURRICULUM PARENT NIGHTS

 What are your student’s goals? What courses should your student take? What options does the Boise School District offer for Math, Science, English and Social Studies? Boise School District will hold a series of information nights for parents to answer these questions.

Who Should Attend:  5th - 7th Grade Parents

Why:  To help parents make informed decisions about what course options are best for their student based on their goals

Where and When : Parents may attend any of the curriculum meetings at these locations and times:

  • South Jr. High Auditorium, January 8, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Timberline High Auditorium, January 14, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Hillside Jr. High Gym, January 15, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Riverglen Jr. High Cafeteria, January 28, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
WHITTIER CELEBRATES NEW COMMUNITY CENTER

A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house was held on Friday, December 6, 2019 to celebrate the completion of the new Community Center at Whittier Elementary School. Made possible thanks to voters' passage of the Boise School District's 2017 Bond Election (86% yes vote), and through a partnership with the City of Boise Parks and Recreation Department, the Community Center will help address the educational needs of our community's students well into the future. Thank you, Boise voters!
A special thank you to the Capital High School Video Production Department, under the leadership of Teacher Mr. Gabe Garcia, for producing the above highlight video.
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH COMMUNITY ED

Learn something new in the New Year! Take a Community Education class! Online enrollment begins Sunday, January 5, 2020. Choose from more than three hundred personal enrichment classes. Review our Winter 2020 course catalog . We offer classes for all ages!
2020 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATES
High School Graduation Dates
ExtraMile Arena, 7:00 p.m.
(unless otherwise noted below)

  • Thursday, May 14, 2020 - STEP Graduation, 10 a.m., at South Jr. High
  • Monday, May 18, 2020 – Capital High School
  • Tuesday, May 19, 2020 – Timberline High School
  • Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - Frank Church High School, 5 p.m. at Morrison Center
  • Tuesday, May 26, 2020 – Boise High School
  • Wednesday, May 27, 2020 – Borah High School
WINTER WEATHER PROCEDURES - KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE

 When winter weather comes our way, the Boise School District has a plan to keep our students safe. Learn more about the District's Winter Weather Procedures  or click on the adjacent image to view a video explaining the procedures.  
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
  • December 18, 19, 20: Secondary End of Semester Testing - Early Release, Grades 7-12
  • December 20: End of First Semester - Early Release Pre K-6
  • December 23 - January 3: Winter Holiday Break - No School Pre K-12
  • January 5: Community Education Winter Online Class Registration begins.
  • January 6: School Resumes
  • January 6-10: After investigating K-2 reading curriculums and programs, a team of teachers, reading specialists, and district personnel have voted to adopt McGraw-Hill's Wonders comprehensive tier 1 program. There will be an additional chance for the public to provide feedback about the program as materials will be on display from January 6th-January 10th in the lobby of the Boise School District office on 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709 from 8 a.m. 5 p.m., Mon.- Fri. 
  • January 7: Liberty Elementary School begins to accept applications for the school's Montessori Program
  • January 8: Curriculum Parent Night,South Jr. High Auditorium, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • January 14: Curriculum Parent Night, Timberline High Auditorium, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • January 14: North End Neighborhood Vision Workshop, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., North Jr. High
  • January 15: Curriculum Parent Night, Hillside Jr. High Gym, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school Pre K-12
  • January 22: STEM Expo
  • January 28: Curriculum Parent Night, Riverglen Jr. High Cafeteria, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
  • January 29: Montessori Parent Information Night, Liberty Elementary School, 6-6:30 p.m.
News Media Contact: 
Dan Hollar 
Public Affairs Administrator 
Boise School District 
(208) 854-4064 
dan.hollar@boiseschools.org 
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.