D93 Family Update
October 26, 2023
Superintendent's Message
Teamwork & Teacher Collaboration
Why does Teamwork matter?
We believe that teamwork is so important, that we adopted it as one of our foundational cornerstones of the culture in District 93. Here's why.
"If our highest priority--our moral imperative as professional educators--is to ensure that all students learn at high levels, then our work as collaborative teams must focus on creating collective clarity and commitments in response to four essential questions. As we use these four essential questions to drive our work, we will focus on ensuring every student gains the essential knowledge and skills they need to succeed at each grade level and after graduation."
To that end, here is the work that our teachers engage in during collaboration time on Mondays:
- Identifying the most important outcomes that every student must learn to be prepared for the next grade level
- Deepening the team's collective understanding of the incremental steps that each student needs to master that learning outcome
- Developing the ways that students will show their progress in learning the outcome
- Planning ways to support students who need additional time and support to learn the essentials.
- Planning ways to provide extended learning opportunities for students who have learned what is essential.
Thank you for your support of our Monday schedule that provides this invaluable time to our teachers.
Weekly Schedule
Support and Well-Being
Student Engagement and Well Being Surveys
Each year, schools are required to conduct at least one student engagement and well being survey. This usually happens in the spring. This year, a number of our schools will also be doing this survey this fall so that they can see the impact of various programs. Here is a link to preview the survey that will be sent to students. Please note that there are different questions for three different grade levels, K-2, 3rd-6th, and 7th-12th. To see all of the questions at each grade level, you will need to preview the survey three times, picking a different grade level each time. We are asking schools to notify families prior to having students complete the survey.
Withdrawal Request
If you need to withdraw your child from participating in this survey, you may submit an Activity Accommodation Request form by going to d93.org/2428F
Parent Resources: PARENTGUIDANCE.ORG
ParentGuidance.org is website with free online courses and resources for parents and anyone who needs support. There is Parent Coaching, Ask a Therapist and Get Help options as well as specialized courses for your specific needs and support measures. Spanish is available if needed. Again these services are free.
D93 Board News
Board Policies Approved for 30-Day Review
The following policies were approved for public review:
3518 Treatment of Opioid Overdoses
3006F Third-Party Affidavit Form
3500 Distributing Treats and Gifts at School
3375 Student Interviews By District Staff
3377 Interviews and Questioning of Students by Law Enforcement
5210 Reporting Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect and Investigations by Child Protection Agencies3281 Gender Identity, Sex, and Sexual Orientation
The next Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.
School Communications
Opportunities for Students
Idaho Day Student Contest
Each year the Bonneville County Heritage Association (BCHA) sponsors several student contests to celebrate Idaho Day (the anniversary of the day President Abraham Lincoln created the Idaho Territory in 1863). All Bonneville County students in grades 4 and 7-12 are invited to participate. A variety of contests are offered (e.g., map drawing, sculpting, painting, photography, handwriting, essays, poetry, and song writing) and students may enter as many contests as they desire. The theme for this year’s contests is “Transportation in Idaho”.
Cash prizes are awarded to all first-place winners and prizes are given to second and third place winners as well. All contest entries are displayed during the BCHA’s annual Idaho Day Celebration held on March 4th. All contest winners (1st-3rd place) will be invited to the celebration where they will be recognized.
To enter a contest, submit the entry to Todd Brown at the Idaho Falls School District Administration building, 690 John Adams Parkway, any time before 5:00 p.m., January 26, 2024. Please include the student’s name, grade, school (if applicable), contest entered, and phone number on the back of the entry or on an index card accompanying the entry. Entries will be returned to students following the Idaho Day Celebration.
Click on the this link to access the Student Contest Files on Google.
National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Submissions Now Being Accepted
Every year, thousands of school districts in over 40 states participate in local and state-level competitions to select artwork that depicts school bus safety-related themes and encourages and promotes school bus safety. The winning posters are used to promote safer school bus safety and state winners advance to the national contest.
The 2023-2024 National Poster Contest aims to select the poster that best depicts the theme of "Driving Safety Into the Future." Completed posters must be 11" x 17" or 12" x 18". Designs should be submitted on quality tag, poster illustration board or heavy paper. Construction paper may be used but entries must be mounted on quality tag paper. Lamination is not permitted.
All entries must be submitted by April 17, 2024. Submissions should be mailed to: Idaho Department of Education, Attn: Ali Stolzman, P.O. Box 83720, Boise 83720-0027. Download the complete 2023-2024 poster contest guidelines at the button below.
Exceptional High School Seniors Encouraged to Apply for the Prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Idaho high school seniors with exceptional academic achievement who will graduate between January and August of 2024 are invited to apply for the 2023 – 2024 cycle of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Students are invited to apply in one of two areas: general and career technical education. There is also an arts component for students currently participating in the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists’ YoungArts program.
Seniors who scored in the top percentiles on either the ACT or SAT during the window that began in August 2020 and runs through October 2023 will be automatically considered for participation. The automatic selection includes the top 20 female and top 20 male test-takers. These students will be notified of their selection directly from the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
The program also calls on Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield to nominate up to 20 additional candidates in the “general” category. Nominees will be selected based on outstanding academic performance and a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
Students in career technical education (CTE) fields are also eligible to apply for the program. Superintendent Critchfield can nominate up to five students based on their demonstrated commitment to academic achievement and for their accomplishments in CTE fields.
“Programs like these are some of the real bright spots in our work at the Department of Education,” said Critchfield. “I hope our amazing high school seniors will take this opportunity to participate in this prestigious program.”
Students interested in applying for a nomination may do so here. Students applying in the CTE category should note their status as CTE candidates in the self-assessment portion of the application.
Students participating in the YoungArts program are also encouraged to apply to be U.S. Presidential Scholars. YoungArts participants interested in applying can learn more about securing their nomination here.
For more than 59 years, this unique federal initiative has honored over 8,000 students for their commitment to leadership, scholarship and contributions to school and community. Learn more about the program at the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
Community Events
D93 Get Help Line
Students, parents, and employees can reach out for help with bullying, harassment, suicidal tendencies, self-harm, threats, or to report weapons at school by going to d93.org/gethelp or sending the text @gethelp to 855-528-0074.
Thank you to our community partners at EIRMC for supporting our D93 Family Update.