ELEVATING EDUCATION AT BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | |
WELCOME TO BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | |
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The Board of Trustees adopted a 5-Year Strategic Plan in 2024. The Board wants to hear from you! Please submit your public comments here.
Para ver este boletín en español, pulse aquí.
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BCSD Trustees (clockwise): Amber Perkes, Blanca Romero, Chair Lara Stone, Vice Chair Dan Turner, and Leah Scarnegi | |
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Engaging the Whole Child
The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees is dedicated to providing an exceptional academic experience and fostering positive outcomes for every student. To achieve this, the Board emphasizes addressing the whole child—ensuring their academic, social, emotional, and physical needs are met.
This commitment is brought to life through the outstanding efforts of our staff, the generosity of our community, and the invaluable support of our local non-profit partners. Together, we ensure BCSD students have access to a rich array of opportunities, including a rigorous academic curriculum, a dual immersion program that nurtures bilingualism and biliteracy, outdoor education, music, art, athletics, and dynamic engineering and design instruction. Read on to learn more about some of these programs!
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OUTDOOR EDUCATION - Annual Ski Program | |
Aniah Morse, first grader at Ernest Hemingway Steam School, mastering the magic carpet | |
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Winter Wonderland
It’s the time of year so many Blaine County School District (BCSD) elementary students eagerly anticipate—the annual Ski Program!
“This is the best four days of the year. The students get exposure to what they see around them all the time, but don’t always get to do,” shared CC Breier, a first grade teacher at Ernest Hemingway STEAM School in Ketchum. “It’s all they can talk about, even a year later.”
Each winter, Sun Valley Company provides BCSD elementary students with the opportunity to learn to ski on Dollar Mountain and Baldy. Hemingway students participate in the program for four consecutive Wednesdays, while students from Hailey Elementary, Alturas Elementary, Bellevue Elementary and Carey School Elementary enjoy a full week of skiing. PK’s and Sturtevants support the program by renting ski gear to students and offering scholarships to ensure that every child can participate.
Hemingway Principal Lydia Flynn recalls with a laugh, “By the fourth day on Dollar Mountain, nearly all the kids are off the magic carpet and skiing Quarter Dollar. Then they’re eager to sign up as Baldy skiers the next year!” Read more...
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ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES - Blaine County Bots | |
WRHS robotics teammates Hank Huntsman, Benaiah Rosser, and Titan Tongg just prior to setting a new high score at the local league finals | |
Sparking a Passion for Robotics | |
This year, the Blaine County School District Engineering and Design teachers set an ambitious goal: to revamp their successful robotics program to engage a more diverse group of students and encourage participation at younger ages. By all accounts, their efforts have been a resounding success!
In previous years, Blaine County Bots teams had to travel long distances to participate in robotics competitions. For students new to robotics, this posed significant challenges, including missing school, having to make up homework, and managing travel expenses. Recognizing these barriers, the district’s Engineering and Design teachers took action. They created a local robotics league for elementary and secondary students, hosting regular competitions on early-release Wednesdays. Read more...
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS - Blaine County Education Foundation
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Students learn about AGL’s First Generation Scholarship from BCEF Board Chair, Alicia Hollis
The BCEF Scholarship Fair is made possible through the generous support of Cox Communications.
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Learn About Local Scholarships | |
Are you a high school senior looking for a scholarship? Don’t miss the upcoming Blaine County Education Foundation (BCEF) Scholarship Fair where you can learn about the many local scholarships available for graduating students who are pursuing ongoing education. Last year, high school seniors were awarded nearly $500,000 in college scholarships.
On Thursday, February 6 from 3:30 to 6:00pm at the Wood River High School Commons, senior students and their supporters can meet with local scholarship representatives and learn about available funds and scholarship criteria.
For more information about the Scholarship Fair, please contact BCEF Executive Director Deb Van Law at 208-578-5449. To learn more about the array of BCEF scholarships, visit the Scholarships page of the BCEF website.
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Blaine County Youth Mental Health
We're now in the second year of our five-year plan to reduce signs of depression and enhance protective factors for our students. We have been focused on fostering positive relationships with peers and adults and helping students improve their daily sleep habits.
To review the feedback from students this fall, we are excited to offer a virtual data walk and community voting option for anyone who missed the in-person discussions. Please watch the video and complete the three-question survey.
The progress is encouraging! Together, we can support the mental health and well-being of Blaine County’s youth!
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For more sleep FAQs, click here.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT
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Healthy Sleep Habits
When young people don't get enough sleep, their mental health can suffer. Their behaviors during the day, and especially before bedtime, can have a major impact on how well they sleep.
Children's daily routines – what they eat and drink, the medications they take, how their days are scheduled and how they spend their evenings – can significantly impact their quality of sleep. Even a few slight adjustments can, in some cases, mean the difference between sound sleep and a restless night. Read more...
The amount of recommended sleep depends on your age. Use this Bedtime Calculator to determine your child's ideal bedtime.
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SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS - School Meals | | | | |
