We want to thank the professionals who have gone above and beyond for their program, by thinking outside the box to help students, submitting detailed applications to departments/agencies, and doing the legwork to improve programs. CTE grants from the state were awarded last month. We have highlighted 3 of those received below.

• Randy Wilhelm, at Lake Pend Oreille High School, was awarded $10,000 from the Idaho State Department of Education. Students at LPO who participated in the Technical Skills Assessment over the last couple of years scored low on questions related to vector images.
• As a result, Mr. Wilhelm was eligible and applied for the grant in order to improve scores. He sought grant funding to purchase a Glowforge for his students.
• A Glowforge uses a powerful laser to cut, engrave, and score a plethora of materials. The machine works with vector files, which will give students hand-on and real-life application practice with the established growth area, thus increasing scores and understanding for the Technical Skills assessment.
• The Glowforge was ordered with grant dollars earlier this month. It will be utilized in the Graphic Design curriculum at LPO beginning in 3rd quarter!

• In Mrs. Meschko's class, the decade-old computers have been making it difficult for students. They struggle to run the industry level computer software incorporated in the course. The software allows for varied training to meet the state drafting standards.
• As a result of the incompatibility of the aging machines and software, students were scoring lower on their Technical Skills Assessment than years prior. There was often frustration by all due to the malfunctioning products, and the excess time it would take to regularly troubleshoot.
• Mrs. Meschko took initiative to apply for a PQI grant from the Idaho State Department of Education, which would allow the district to update the entire lab with new PC’s and graphics cards to meet the standards for SolidWorks, AutoCAD and Chief Architect.
• She was awarded a total $59,655.75! The 25 new computers will arrive sometime in quarter 3 of this school year!

• The CTE Welding Program at SHS qualified for the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education PQI Incentive Grant Award of $5,000 due to being a high performing technical education program.

• The program will add a Tig Welder, which 2nd and 3rd year students will earn the privilege of using.
  

• The Tig Welder will allow students to weld with greater precision; students will have an opportunity to use it on steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.

• The SHS welding students have taken on a variety of unique projects to experience working for a customer. Every project has a foreman who is responsible for communicating with the clients. Recent projects have included: silhouette art at the dog park, community swings, signs for the 4-H Club, and most recently, a specialty trailer for a private customer. Mr. Stark says that he is open to any inquiries that would give students real, hands-on experience and provide them with unique projects. If you have something in mind email: jacob.stark@lposd.org .

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, a steam leak was discovered at Sandpoint Middle School. The LPOSD maintenance team was able to isolate the issue, allowing for school to stay in session and leaving only three classrooms without heat for the next few days. Space heaters were provided – although they struggled to keep the rooms comfortable. The leak in the 3 inch pipe was in a hallway under 2 feet of concrete and dirt, yet the team was able to create a solution without tearing up the hallway. After the facilities team removed and reinstalled the pipe, a local business came in to weld up the final connections. Heat was restored December 15 shortly after 10:30 am thanks to the diligence and handiwork of this outstanding team!

We welcome your input as we synthesize the survey results and begin drafting the LPOSD 5 Year Strategic Plan to be presented to the LPOSD Board in February. We hope to see a wide range of community representation at this forum.

The District Safety Task Force established the installation of controlled access points throughout LPOSD as a top priority. We are happy to report the following:

• Controlled access points have been installed at Sandpoint High School, Clark Fork High School, Lake Pend Oreille High School, and Sandpoint Middle School.
• LPOSD elementary schools will be next.
• Tech and Facilities departments are working cohesively to get software up and running. We anticipate that all secondary schools will be fully functional soon!

Thank you to the dedicated men and women who have made this happen so quickly for our students and staff!

For over a decade, Kootenai Elementary School has organized a "change drive" between Thanksgiving and Christmas Break called Collection for a Cause. What began as a way to help a handful of kids be able to have access to food over their two-week break, has expanded into an amazing program that the entire school rallies around. Kootenai Elementary School students collected $3,574 through their annual change drive! Additionally, private donors contributed to the program, two of which gave donations of $1,000 or more!

As donations poured in, a handful of children worked to help count change. Staff thoughtfully selected breakfast and lunch items that do not require heat, so students are able to prepare meals themselves if parents are at work. They also found unique ways to cut costs, such as ordering wholesale turkeys from a local vendor for Christmas dinner. Older students produced a musical commercial to encourage kids to support their peers, and every classroom participated in the competition to collect the most change. The winners are awarded with a small classroom party to celebrate their generosity!

Any Kootenai Elementary family was able to apply for the program. Last week, 24 selected Kootenai Elementary families were gifted with boxes of food to ensure their children had access to nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals...and a Christmas dinner complete with all the fixings. Principal Knowles said of the program: "The most important and beautiful thing about this fundraiser, is that kids are helping kids. We are using this fundraiser as a lesson...we are growing hearts and minds here at Kootenai Elementary."

On December 10th, the "Shop with a Cop" event gave 34 Lake Pend Oreille School District students an opportunity to have a positive interaction with law enforcement and take joy in the holiday season. Click here to read more about this year's incredible event!

The Design for Change class at Sandpoint Middle School set a goal of donating at least 500 pounds of animal food and supplies to the Panhandle Animal Shelter! Guess What? They met their goal! Great job SMS on such a successful drive!

Cold, RSV, and flu season are in full swing. Many schools in Lake Pend Oreille School District, and across the United States, have seen an increased number of students and staff with symptoms (see chart below) in recent weeks. Bonner County Health District has stated that our area is at 24% for RSV and 7% for flu just last week. These numbers are much higher than previous years. We ask that our families take precautions during break, and as we return to school in January. These include:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Coving nose and mouth with a sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth to prevent the spread of germs

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects

• Staying home from school and work when sick.