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. Today, we're sharing the story of Vishali . She started the Sunflower Lunch Bunch at Les Bois Junior High School to help special needs students make friends. She's trying to connect the entire student body by doing something simple we all hoped for at one point: being invited to sit together at lunch. Please Like, Follow and Share her story on social media.
Sunflower Lunch Bunch at Les Bois Junior High School
DID YOU KNOW?
Public schools are a core part of our community, and our teachers are the heartbeat. They go the extra mile to mold the minds of our students!
NAMES AND FACES
Yes, I Can! Award Recipients: The names of this year's Yes, I Can Award recipients are now public. The Yes I Can! Awards Program was established in Idaho to celebrate the achievements of children and youth with disabilities, to encourage children and youth with disabilities to seek their highest potential, and to increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of people with disabilities. The 2019-20 Yes, I Can Award recipients are:

LeAnn Brilz ,  STEP Program , 13th Grade (LeAnn has also been named Idaho's Yes, I Can Award recipient).

Jaiden Rupp , Horizon Elementary, 5th Grade

Daniel Smith , West Junior High School, 7th Grade

Watch the following video to learn more about these outstanding students.
Students Recognized

 Boise School District had four groups selected to perform at this year's Idaho All-State music conference. 

1. District Junior High Honor Orchestra - Directed by Sandy Shoen and Enrique Martinez
2. East Junior High 9th grade Concert Band - Directed by Enrique Martinez
3. Boise High Chamber Orchestra - Directed by Laurel Talley
4. Boise High School Wind Ensemble - Directed by Meghan FayOlswanger

More than 120 Boise School District students were selected for the Idaho All-State performing groups. They include students from Boise High School, Borah High School, Capital High School, Timberline High School, East Junior High, Hillside Junior High, Les Bois Junior High, North Junior High, South Junior High, and West Junior High.
Students Make 'Totes of Hope' for the Homeless : Recently, Maple Grove Elementary School second grade teachers, Lara Luthy and Alison Messersmith , wrote a kindness grant and received it from the Boise Public Schools Education Foundation . Students made Totes of Hope for the homeless. Fifty for men, the same for women and children. The Maple Grove School community dropped off things to help the Boise Rescue Mission and also to help fill the totes. Watch the adjacent video to learn more.
STEM Fair Fosters Student Passion To Succeed: Borah High School recently held a student-organized STEM Fair for the third straight year on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 to foster and nurture student interest in STEM related fields. Watch the adjacent video to learn more.
Educator Receives Recognition: Kristen Wall, U.S. History Teacher, Frank Church High School, received the High School Teacher of the Year Award from the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post #63 on Monday night (Veteran's Day).  
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, November 11, 2019, the Board of Trustees presented the Red Apple Award to  Jill Hanford , 6th grade teacher, Horizon Elementary School, pictured receiving the award from Board President Nancy Gregory. 

For the Golden Apple Award, the Board honored  Nikki Day , head custodian, Pierce Park Elementary School, pictured receiving the award from Trustee Dave Wagers.

Review the words of nomination for  Jill Hanford  and review the words of nomination for  Nikki Day . 
Jill Hanford, 6th grade teacher, Horizon Elementary School
November 2019 Red Apple Award
Nikki Day, head custodian, Pierce Park Elementary School
November 2019 Golden Apple Award
Hidden Springs Girls Basketball Wins Championship: The Hidden Springs Elementary School Girls 5/6th Grade Basketball Team won the Boise School District City Basketball Championship. The team is coached by Jahan Borjian , 4th grade teacher, Hidden Springs Elementary and Mandi Horning , assistant coach, P.E. teacher, Hidden Springs Elementary.
Academic State Championships Announced: The Idaho High School Activities Association has announced the winners of the Fall 2019 Academic State Championships. The awards recognize school teams with the highest cumulative GPA. Timberline High School earned a number of Academic State Championships:
5A State Soccer Academic State Championship
Timberline High School Boys Soccer Varsity Team, Cumulative GPA: 3.730
5A State Volleyball Academic State Championship
Timberline High School Girls Volleyball Varsity Team, Cumulative GPA: 3.846
5A State Swimming Academic State Championship
Timberline High School Girls Swimming Varsity Team
Cumulative GPA: 3.903
Fall Sports Teams Win Championships: The following Boise School District high school varsity athletic teams won 5A State Championships and/or Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) Championships this fall:
Girls 5A State Cross Country Champion
Boise High School Girls Cross Country Team
Boys 5A State Cross Country Champion
Timberline High School Boys Cross Country Team
Boys 5A State Swimming Champion
Boise High Schools Boys Swim Team
Girls 5A State Swimming Champion
Boise High Schools Girls Swim Team
Boys Soccer 5A SIC Champion and State Sportsmanship Winner
Borah High School Boys Soccer Team  
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Gifted and Talented Education Parent Night: Gifted and Talented Information - Parent Night , Monday, December 2nd from 6:30-7:30
Boise School District Offices - Boardroom, 8169 West Victory - Boise, 83709
Attendees will learn about our referral process and our program options. This is for new parents interested in making a referral. For more information, please contact Helga Frankenstein (Gifted Program Supervisor) at [email protected] or call at 208-854-4101.   Spanish version .
Boise High Choir's Madrigal Dinner: Tickets are on sale now for the 47th Annual Boise High School Madrigal Dinner. Come and be transported back in time to a Medieval Castle and join in the feasting and merriment. The dates of the dinner are December 6th and 7th. Seating begins at 6:00 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Rockies Fellowship Hall. Purchase tickets online or contact David Burton, BHS Choral Director at 854-4353 or email: [email protected] . Tickets are $25 Adults, $20 Students/Seniors.
Kindness Rocks Concert: The City of Boise has adopted a new initiative called Boise Kind . The Capital High School Quadrant will join the City's efforts of spreading kindness throughout our community. On December 3rd, Capital will be hosting a kindness concert in the main Gymnasium with the theme being Kindness Rocks. The event will feature the Capital Music Department and a local band that will perform original music and cover songs. We will also have performances by The Capital Golden Girls and Cheer Team. 
 
On December 3rd, we will be busing in all of the 3rd-6th grade students from Capital High's feeder elementary schools. Their concert will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with half of Capital’s student body joining the show. In the afternoon, we will be busing Riverglen and Fairmont junior high school students to Capital. Their concert will be from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. and will include the other half of Capital’s student body.  
 
During the concert there will be messages of kindness, and ideas on other ways to promote kindness throughout our schools. We will have limited seating for parents. Please contact your home school if you are interested in attending. We can’t wait to share this event with our future Eagles!

Local news media are invited to cover this Kindness Initiative event.
Boise Voters Make School Improvements Possible: Thanks to Boise voters' support of the 2017 Bond Election , major school improvements are being made to address the educational needs of our students well into the future. Recently, Hillside Junior High School and Fairmont Junior High School held ribbon cutting ceremonies and open houses for the schools' new gymnasiums, cafeterias and classroom additions. Watch the adjacent video, produced by Capital High's Video Production students/Department, to learn more about the Hillside ribbon cutting ceremony. Below are photos from the Fairmont ribbon cutting ceremony held on November 19, 2019.
TEACH WITH COMMUNITY EDUCATION!

Do you have a skill, talent, hobby or interest you would like to share with the community? Community Education wants YOU! 

We are always searching for new instructors to join our wonderful team of volunteers. Diversity is the key to meeting the community's needs, so we are always open to fresh ideas for new and interesting courses. 

 Why become a volunteer instructor?

  • To have FUN!
  • To enhance personal well being - volunteers live longer, healthier lives
  • To build networks for personal and professional growth
  • To share talents, skills, and expertise
  • To inspire life long learning in others
  • To create a more productive and enriched community
READY! for Kindergarten Parent Workshops

The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children regularly offers workshops that encourage parents to talk, sing, read and play with their child in simple ways that foster essential pre-literacy, pre-math and social-emotional skills. 
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
  • November 18-22: American Education Week
  • November 23: Boise Holiday Parade, 10 a.m., downtown Boise
  • November 25-29: Thanksgiving Holiday Break - No School Pre K-12
  • December 2: Gifted & Talented Education Parent Night. See above article.
  • December 3: Capital High School will host an inaugural Kindness Rocks Concert with the intent of spreading kindness throughout our community, main gymnasium, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. (see above article for more information).
  • December 3: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House for the new Community Center at Whittier Elementary School, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Public is invited to attend.
  • December 6 & 7: Boise High Madrigal Dinner. See above article.
  • 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 6: School Resumes
News Media Contact: 
Dan Hollar 
Public Affairs Administrator 
Boise School District 
(208) 854-4064 
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.