Now Is Your Chance To Provide Input On Calendar
|
The district is starting work on a calendar for the 2020-21 school year and now is the time to provide input. The current calendar includes assumptions based on past feedback from parents, patrons and staff. Those elements include things like a weeklong break at Thanksgiving, a two-week break at Christmas, a weeklong break at Spring Break, etc.
We're asking parents, patrons and staff to
complete a quick survey to check those assumptions. The survey also will help the district gauge the importance of things like aligning the calendar with D93 and when school starts and ends. Questions? Let us know.
|
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Maeck Family Foundation Grants. Last year the foundation awarded more than $80,000 in grants to enrich D91's classrooms, projects and programs.
|
It's Time to Start Thinking About Your FSA
|
It's time to start thinking about your flexible spending or cafeteria plan deductions for the coming school year. Open enrollment for the flexible spending plan is April 29-May 24.
Two open house meetings are planned from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 8 and May 15 at the district office. Employees are welcome to stop by the district office to learn more about the options. Computers also will be set up so employees can enroll at that time if they want to.
|
A big THANK YOU to all the businesses and individuals that sponsored our Teacher Appreciation Celebration (TAC) last month.
We had 16 businesses, individuals and/or organizations contribute funds and prizes to make the event happen.
|
Looking For A Fundraiser?
|
There’s no better fundraiser than the D91 Ed Foundation/Teton Raffle. Tickets sell for $10, $9 goes to the group, team or club selling the ticket and $1 goes to the D91 Ed Foundation. This year’s prize is a 2018 VW Atlas and it is wrapped and ready to appear at your event. Please
let us know if you would like to sell raffle tickets!
|
Know someone looking for work? Tell them to check out our career page or to follow the D91Jobs Facebook page.
On
Feb. 9 there will be a
Job Fair for Elementary Teachers. For more information go to the following
link.
|
|
What's New: 10-Year Facilities Master Plan
|
Work to develop a master facilities plan for the district is under way.
Mark your calendars to attend the first Community Meeting on the facilities plan at 7 p.m. on April 9 at Skyline High School. This meeting will give parents, patrons and staff the first opportunity to provide input on some of the initial ideas being developed as part of this process.
To learn more about this work, go to the project website at
www.dejongrichter.com/ifschools. Click on the "Resources" tab to see presentations, reports and other information. Please help spread the word about the project website and the upcoming community meeting to family and friends.
|
Moving Ahead On New Science Materials
|
After months of hard work, a committee of teachers reviewing Idaho's new science standards is preparing to recommend the adoption of new K-8 science materials. The committee will make its recommendation at the Board of Trustees' April board meeting.
For the last few months, the committee has been working to identify materials aligned to Idaho's new science standards, which are based on the Next Generation Science Standards. The new standards will change how science is taught by focusing on things like science and engineering practices, three-dimensional learning and science connections to math and literacy. The plan is for the new materials to be implemented in grades K-8 for the 2019-20 school year and in grades 9-12 for the 2020-21 school year.
Many teachers have already had the chance to review the new K-8 science materials. After the board meeting, teachers, parents and patrons will have the chance to provide additional input. The board is expected to adopt the new materials at its June meeting.
|
D91 Showcases Student Art At Show
|
We are excited about the district's first ever D91 Art Show that will showcase student art from all our schools. The show is the culmination of lots of hard work and planning by the district's art teachers.
"Our students are so talented and we wanted to show the community what great things they have been doing in Art!" said Krista Mayes, the district's elementary art director.
Each school will be able to select 36 pieces of outstanding original artwork to display in the one-day show. Two- and three-dimensional pieces will be accepted. The works will be exhibited from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at the Fox Hollow gymnasium. We hope you can make time to celebrate D91's artists.
|
PERSI Workshops Set For April
|
Are you starting to think about retirement? Are you still trying to figure out what your PERSI benefits are all about? PERSI workshops are scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at Taylorview Middle School.
The "Set" workshop designed for mid-career employees is from 4 to 5 p.m. It will cover topics such as Choice plan, Death Benefit, Disability Benefit, Retirement Dates, myPERSI and more. The "Go" session for people starting to think about retirement is from 5 to 6 p.m. It will cover topics such as retirement options, benefit estimates, working in retirement and more.
|
Mark Your Calendars Ride For Art & Ed
|
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho (TAM) and D91 Education Foundation are partnering this year to host eastern Idaho's premier bicycle ride, the 2019 HeART of Idaho Century Ride on Saturday, Aug. 17.
"We have enjoyed hosting this annual fundraiser over the last ten years and are grateful for the continued support of all our volunteers and sponsors," said Miyai Abe Griggs, executive director of TAM. "Moving forward we are delighted to work with the D91 Education Foundation to help carry on the tradition of this wonderful community event."
The museum began the ride 10 years ago but is now looking to move onto other projects. It will partner with the D91 Education Foundation on the 2019 century ride and then the Ed Foudnation will manage future rides. As always, there will be 25, 62 and 100 mile rides. The ride will be followed by a lunch at Snake River Landing with live music, prize drawings and more.
Registration for the 2019 ride is now open.
|
D91 Ed Foundation Offers Scholarships
|
If you know a senior make sure they know about the D91 Education Foundation’s Scholarship programs.
The foundation oversees the Odd Fellows Scholarship, which provides $5,000 scholarships to a graduating D91 senior and a former D91 graduate now attending college. It also manages the Maeck Family Foundation Scholarship Fund, which offers at least one $2,500 scholarship to a graduating D91 senior.
There aren’t many local scholarships around that offer such sizeable awards so please help spread the word to our students.
Learn more.
Applications are due April 5.
|
|
Increasing Password Security
|
School districts are data-rich targets for cyber-criminals. Both employee and student data are at risk of being stolen. Weak passwords are a gateway to breaches that can affect more than just the targeted users. Cyber actors use a technique called
brute forcing to crack passwords. With the use of a password-cracking tool, they can try every possible password until they get the correct one. Our current password requirement has a minimum of 8 characters with an upper case, a lower case, numbers and special character and can be cracked in 4 hours with the right tool.
For this reason,
the technology department is implementing a minimum of 12 characters password length, that will be required at your next password expiration, (along with the requirement of using three of the following conditions; an upper case, a lower case, a number or a special character).
Staff passwords will now expire every 180 days.
Using a passphrase -- a series of random words or a sentence that is easy to remember along with numbers of special characters -- will help you create a secure password. For example, "I love to read world history books for fun!" becomes "1L2rwhb4fun!". This password would take 34 thousand years to crack. Don't use part of your username in the password. Start thinking of your passphrase now and be prepared to create a longer and more secure password. You can test your password strength
here.
|
|
when the district's three year email retention policy will go into effect to comply with Board Policy 503.1.
Any emails or attachments that you need to retain must be stored in a location other than your mailbox before May 1.
On that, date emails will automatically be deleted from district email systems including @d91.k12.id.us, @ifschools.org, @cloud.ifschools.org, and @echo.ifschools.org, on their 3rd ‘birthday’.
|
|
The challenge has begun! Whether you registered for the challenge or not, challenge yourself to be more active.
Challenge goes until April 7. Track at least 300 minutes of activity per week to be entered into a weekly drawing for a Fitbit.
Here's to a Healthier YOU!
|
|
Sweetened Drinks Can Raise Risk
|
Earlier this month, the journal of the American Heart Association, Circulation, released findings that show people who drink sugar-sweetened beverages have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and some cancers. This study joins previous research that points to the relationship between a high-sugar diet and negative heart health outcomes.
"Higher consumption of sugar leads to increased incidence of weight gain and diabetes, which in turn leads to increased risk for heart attacks and strokes." Dr. Sanjiv Patel, a cardiologist
told Healthline.
Sugar replacements are risky too. "Low-calorie drinks, while containing less sugar, also carry an increased risk," Dr. Anton Bilchik told Healthline.
One in 10 people get more than a quarter of their daily calories from sugar. When in doubt, keep this rule in mind: water is best.
|
|
|
|
Apr. 5: D91 Ed Foundation Scholarship Apps DUE
Apr. 9: SAT Assessment - Grade 11
Apr. 9: 10-Year Facilities Master Plan Community Meeting at Skyline High School 7 - 9 p.m.
Apr. 13: D91 Art Show 12 - 3 p.m.
Apr. 15: Tax Day
Apr. 21: Easter Sunday
Ap. 25: PERSI workshop at Taylorview 4 - 5p.m. and 5 - 6p.m.
May 27: Memorial Day - No School
May 28-30: High School Graduations
May 29: Last Day of Pre-K
May 31: Last Day of School
June 3-7: Teacher Work/PD Days
June 5-6: D91 University
|
|
Another Successful 5th Grade Patriotic Program
|
Thank you to all our 5th grade teachers, elementary music educators and principals for their part in another successful 5th Grade Patriotic Program. And, a very special thank you to Jennifer Koreneke-Stanger who directed this year's program. This year's performance was dedicated to Leo Eton, who taught in the district for 10 years and was then a music specialist until his death in 2018.
|
From sports to academics, the last month has been a successful one for D91 students.
- Skyline & IF wrestlers competed at state earlier this month
- IFHS boys basketball won state
- IFHS Senior Rachel Harris was named National Merit Scholarship finalist
- IFHS Freshman Jacob Nathan won the Idaho State Chess Championship
- 12 D91 students were recognized at the Bonneville County Heritage Association's Idaho Day award ceremony
- IFHS Cheer took 2nd at state
- 18 students from Compass, IF and Skyline qualified for the BPA National Leadership Conference
|
In February, Hawthorne students participated in a 10-day Kindness Challenge. Every day, students were challenged to complete on act of kindness. Great job Hawthorne Hawks!
|
Feel Good Friday at Westside
|
Recently, Westside Elementary held a student assembly to honor its longtime custodian who has been fighting cancer. Student's and teachers wore black and white and could pay $1 to wear a beard to school that day. The money earned was presented to Mr. D at the assembly.
|
|
District Musical Was A Big Success
|
This year's district musical -- NEWSIES -- was a roaring success. The show had the biggest cast ever and included an extra matinee and evening performance this year. Thank you to Sharon Cole and all those who helped make the show such a success.
|
We are D91Proud of Temple View Elementary! It is one of Idaho's first STEM designated school. They were recognized earlier this month with a $10,000 check from the Idaho STEM Action Center.
|
Have something we should be D91Proud of?
|
Let us know what is going on in your school or classroom! If you have pictures, videos or information you'd like us to post
send it our way.
|
Like, Follow, Subscribe...
|
Want to stay up to date on all the reasons to be D91Proud? Like, subscribe or follow our D91 Proud Facebook and Instagram pages!
|
|
Do you have something to submit for the next newsletter?
|
|
|
Idaho Falls School District 91
|
(208)525-7500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
