Spring Into Updates
April 19, 2022
Admin Changes For The 2022-23 School Year
D91 Supt. Dr. Jim Shank has announced some exciting administrative changes for the coming school year:
- Dave Webster will be principal of Taylorview Middle School next year. He will soon select an assistant principal. He is currently principal at Edgemont Elementary School.
- Kathy Smith will move to Theresa Bunker Elementary School where she will be principal. She is currently Taylorview’s principal.
- Mark Morgan will become principal of Hawthorne Elementary School. He is currently Bunker’s principal.
- Katie Francis, Hawthorne’s current principal, has been selected as D91’s new Safety and SEL Coordinator. This work is especially important as we strive to have all our schools reach HRS Level 1, which emphasizes the creation of safe, supportive and collaborative cultures so students can be successful.
- Ellie McAffee has been named the new assistant principal at Skyline High School. She has been serving as the interim assistant principal since this winter.
- Stacey Barrett will move to the district office where she will be a curriculum coordinator. She is currently assistant principal at Taylorview.
- Bev Hott has been selected as the district’s new Coordinator of Career and Technical Education.
Last Day of School Reminders:
It’s hard to believe the school year is coming to an end. Here are a couple reminders about the last day of school.
- The last day of this year is Friday, May 27, the Friday before Memorial Day.
- There will be no Late Start Friday on the last day of school.
- There will be no kindergarten on the last day of school.
- There will be no pre-k on May 26 & 27. The last day of classes for the early childhood program are on May 25.
- All schools will be dismissed 90 minutes early on the last day of school.
Board Reviewing Curriculum for History, Physics & K-8 Math
The materials are currently on a 30-day public review, which gives parents and patrons the chance to review the recommended materials and provide input before the board makes a final decision. The board is scheduled to adopt the curriculum during the May 9 business meeting.
Click on these links to learn more about the recommended K-8 Math curriculum, U.S. History II curriculum and Principles of Physics curriculum. The links provide access to a one-page summary with directions on how to access digital samples and a way to provide feedback.
Materials, including student and teacher textbooks can also be reviewed at the district office. K-8 Math materials are also available at all our elementary and middle schools. The U.S. History and Physics materials are available at IFHS and Skyline.
Questions? Contact Curriculum Director Kris Smith or curriculum coordinators Lisa Armstrong & Todd Brown.
Congrats to ODOB Winners!
FREE Mental Health Services!
Did you know D91 provides students and families with access to free mental health services like online courses, individual coaching and “Ask A Therapist”? Learn more at ParentGuidance.org.
We are #D91PROUD
Congrats to all our BPA students who just took part in the state competition. And, special congratulations to those who qualified for nationals, including: Daisy Venegas Aguilar, Kleyn Baird and Julie Sejnohova from Skyline; Kaden Searle, Jacob Meziani, Will Waetje and Caleb Cloutier from Compass and T.J. Lambert, Marcel Harward, Jessica Romrell and Jefferson Ogden from Idaho Falls High School.
It Is Scholarship Time At The Ed Foundation
- The brand new Heart of D91 Go On Award: It provides at least two $1,000 scholarships to graduating D91 seniors and at least two $1,000 scholarships to former D91 graduates. The scholarship is new this year and funded by proceeds from the D91 Ed Foundation’s Heart of Idaho Century Ride. Here’s a link to the application.
- The William J. and Shirley A. Maeck Family Foundation Scholarship: It provides at least one $2,500 scholarship to a D91 senior. The scholarship was established by Idaho Falls philanthropist Bill Maeck. Here’s a link to the 2022 application.
- The Odd Fellows Memorial Scholarship: was established after Idaho Falls’ Odd Fellows’ Bingham Lodge #14 shut down in 2014. It provides a $5,000 scholarship to a senior graduating from one of D91’s high schools and another $5,000 scholarship to a former D91 graduate now in college. Here’s a link to the 2022 application.
- The Go Tigers! Scholarship: provides up to $2,000 for tuition and fees to a senior graduating from Idaho Falls High school with plans to attend an accredited Idaho university, community college or technical school. Here’s a link to the 2022 application. The deadline for this scholarship is Wednesday, May 4.
Have You Downloaded The D91App?
With the app, you will be able to: get news, updates and notifications; track grades and absences in PowerSchool, see lunch menus, pay lunch fees, make other payments and more. It’s easy to start using the app. Search the App Store or Google Play Store for #D91Proud or Idaho Falls School District, download the app and then follow these directions to set it up and customize it. If you need help, contact the Tech Help Desk at (208) 525-7556.
Important Dates:
- April 19: In-Person Open House for D91 Online Academy, 6:30 to 8 pm, Linden Park Elementary School. Learn more about east Idaho’s newest choice for online learning!
- April 20: Virtual Open Houses for D91 Online Academy, 10 am & 2pm. Go to www. ifschools.org for links. Learn more about east Idaho’s newest choice for online learning!
- April 22: Deadline for most of D91 Ed Foundation’s Scholarships, including Odd Fellows, Maeck and the brand new Century Ride!
- April 26: Board Work Session, 4 pm, Idaho Falls High School Media Center
- April 28: Open House For K-6 Counseling Curriculum, 5:30 to 7 pm, District Office
- May 2-5: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 2-13: Kindergarten Orientations at most D91 elementary schools. Check with your school for dates and times!
- May 4: Deadline for D91 Ed Foundation’s GoTigers! Scholarship
- May 11: Board Business Meeting, 6 pm, Idaho Falls High School Media Center.
Learn About D91’s Online Academy
- An In-person Open House from 6:30 to 8 pm on Tuesday, April 19, at Linden Park Elementary School. The event will give prospective families the chance to meet teachers, ask questions and learn about the academy’s curriculum and digital tools. Students will also be able to take part in some STEAM activities with classmates.
- Virtual Open Houses at 10 am and 2 pm on Wednesday, April 20. Here’s the link for the morning open house and here’s the link for the afternoon open house.
Have You Filled Out Free Reduced Meal Application?
The free and reduced meal application can be completed online here. Paper copies are also available at your school.
Please fill out the form by May 15 to ensure no lapse in the district’s federal funding. If you have any questions, please contact D91’s Child Nutrition Office at: (208) 525-7532.
D91 Expands Summer School Options
As D91 continues to focus on student achievement, it is expanding summer school options this year in an effort to close learning gaps and help all students be successful.
All D91’s elementary schools will be offering summer school this year. Students can attend the first session, from June 13 to July 1, the second session, from July 11 to July 29, or both sessions. Classes will be from 9 am to 2 pm Monday through Friday. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Watch for more information from the elementary schools. Please note elementary schools are partnering on this initiative so classes may not be held at your elementary school, but at a nearby elementary school.
Taylorview and Eagle Rock middle schools will offer summer school from June 6-30. Classes will be held from 9 am to 2 pm Monday through Friday and include a focus on English, math and enrichment. Watch for more information from the middle schools, and follow up with them if you have questions.
High school students can take part in D91’s credit recovery summer school at Emerson Alternative High School. Three sessions are planned: June 13-24, June 27-July 13 with no school on July 1, 4-5; and July 14-28. If you’re interested, check with your high school counselor. In addition, Compass Academy also is offering summer school opportunities June 6-24 for Compass students. If you’re a Lion, check with your school to learn more about these classes.Ready For Next Year?
Ravsten Stadium Upgrades:
That’s A Wrap!
A Chance To Give Input on Counseling Curriculum
The district’s top learning targets for the counseling curriculum include: a creative approach to learning tasks and problem solving, self-discipline and self-control, perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals, empathy and leadership and teamwork skills to work effectively in diverse groups. Check out the complete curriculum outline here. And, if you can’t make the open house, you can ask questions, make comments and provide input by completing this short survey.
Feedback from the open house will be shared with the Board of Trustees, along with the final recommendation at the May board meeting. Then, parents/patrons will have another chance to provide input when the materials will be available for public comment before the board makes a final decision on the K-6 counseling curriculum. Watch for more information about those input opportunities. And, if you have any additional questions, you can contact Curriculum Director Kristoffer Smith at smitkris@sd91.org.
Don’t Miss Kindergarten Orientations!
Do you know a 5-year-old who is ready to start school this fall? Kindergarten registration is under way in Idaho Falls School District 91, and D91 is proud to offer all-day kindergarten at all its elementary schools this fall.
It’s important to register early so you don’t miss the kindergarten orientations most D91 elementary schools hold the first week in May. The orientations are lots of fun. They give kindergarteners the chance to visit their new schools and give parents the chance to learn about what to expect in the coming year like lunch, transportation and more.
If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time. It's easy to register online here.
And, don’t forget, there’s no better way to prepare your child for kindergarten than reading to them every day. In addition, some of the skills that help children be more successful in kindergarten include: recognizing their letter; recognizing numbers 1 to 10; counting from 1 to 10; recognizing colors like black, white, yellow, green, red, blue, orange and purple; and recognizing shapes like triangle, circle, square, hexagon and rectangle and to write his/her name.