West Ada Update
School Community - September 2, 2021
West Ada School District (WASD)
2021-22 School Year Theme: Reflect on the past, embrace the present and build on the future.
Email: communicate@westada.org
Website: https://www.westada.org/
Location: 1303 East Central Drive, Meridian, ID 83642, USA
Phone: 208-855-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JointSchoolDistrictNo2/
Twitter: @westadaschools
Important Dates:
- September 6 - NO SCHOOL: Labor Day
- September 8 - International Literacy Day
- September 8 - Special Meeting of the School Board
- September 12-18 - National Arts in Education Week
- September 27 - School Board Meeting
- September 29 - World School Milk Day
PLEASE NOTE: To meet our goal of all students achieving at high levels, the West Ada School District Service Center is closed from 8:00-9:00 AM every Wednesday for collaborative team meetings and the work of Professional Learning Communities (PLC). In these meetings, teams review data, establish goals, and monitor school/district improvement strategies.
School Safety
In light of schools needing to be more security and safety minded, please understand that each school in the West Ada School District has an Emergency Response Plan that has been carefully developed and addresses a multitude of emergency situations. In addition, all West Ads School District Schools conduct lock down drills in conjunction with local law enforcement two times each school year. If there is an emergency at your child’s school, your cooperation is necessary to help us respond effectively to such situations.
In the event of an emergency, please help us by doing the following:
● Please do not call and do not go to the school.
○ In an emergency, onsite staff are focused solely on getting everyone to a safe location. Showing up to the site can create unnecessary traffic, preventing emergency vehicles from responding quickly. You could also put yourself or others in danger.
○ If you get a call or text from your student, help him or her remain calm. Remind your student that school staff know what to do in an emergency situation, and will work to keep everyone safe.
○ Please know we will communicate with parents/guardians about reunifying you with your child and that this reunification site may not be at the school.
● Check the West Ada School District homepage at www.westada.org
○ We will provide credible, accurate and useful information to the public as soon as possible. Please be aware that Information received from sources other than the school administrator or West Ada School District may be inaccurate.
○ Expect to see our posts updated as necessary. We will also provide updates to local news media, but emergency situations can change rapidly. Typically, multiple agencies are involved, so communication is coordinated through the “lead agency,” which may cause a delay in notification.
● Sign-Up for Emergency Text Messaging:
○ We will use our emergency text notification system to contact parents and guardians. Please make sure your emergency contact information in PowerSchool is always up to date.
● Familiarize yourself with the terms that can be used during any emergency situation:
○ Hall Check: Used to secure the building from a potential threat outside the building, such as when an unauthorized person is loitering on school grounds or when there is criminal activity in the neighborhood. Exterior doors are locked, but normal activities continue inside the building. Used during severe weather or other environmental threats (e.g., air contamination due to a local fire) to keep people safe while remaining indoors.
○ Lockdown: Used when there is a perceived danger inside the building. Doors are locked, windows are closed and locked, blinds are closed. People are directed to move away from windows and doors. Hallways are cleared of students and school staff.
○ Evacuation: When students and staff are moved out of the building to a pre-designated safe location.
○ Reverse Evacuation: When students and staff are moved from the outside of the building to the inside due to outside safety concerns.
○ Reunification Site: An alternative site other than the school where school administrators will check-out students to the child’s parent/guardian. Students will only be released to authorized parents/guardians with proper identification (e.g. driver’s license, state identification, etc.)
All West Ada School District staff members, parents, students and community members are encouraged to report anything they see, hear or are made aware of that may impact a school or school program. If you see or hear something, say something, call 911.
Please discuss these matters with your immediate family. Planning ahead will help alleviate concern during emergencies. Thank you in advance for following these steps to ensure our students, staff members and public remain safe and secure.
Sincerely, The West Ada Emergency Planning Team
Thank you to the Kiwanis Club!
Linking Up Fore Kids - Education Foundation Annual Fundraiser
The Education Foundation of West Ada School District hosted their annual golf tournament last Friday: Linking up Fore Kids, benefiting students and teachers in WASD. Overall, the foundation was able to fundraise over $40,000 dollars, thanks to our generous donors, that will all go directly to West Ada teachers, classrooms and students. Thank you to the various vendors and donors who contributed to this event, it would not be possible without all of you.
A special shout out to Keri Davidson, Education Foundation Director, Tammie Shappee, Education Foundation Accountant, and Carolyn Olson and Erin Gillen, Education Foundation Administrative Assistants. Your hard work and efforts toward making this such a successful event to benefit the teachers and students of WASD is greatly appreciated.
A thank you also to Eagle Hills Golf Course for allowing us to host this event on their greens.
Technology Monthly Maintenance
The West Ada School District conducts monthly maintenance for District technology on the first Thursday of every month. The next scheduled maintenance and updates will be conducted this Thursday September 3, 2021, beginning at 5:00 PM. Minor interruptions to services can take place between the hours of 5:00 PM and 12:00 AM. There are several maintenance activities that students and parents should be aware of:
- PowerSchool: PowerSchool will be offline between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM for the installation of operating system and application updates.
Optional Device Protection Plan
West Ada School District offers optional device protection to families to cover the accidental breakage or damage that might occur to a child’s iPad or laptop. This voluntary protection plan is available for $25 per device and covers repairs or replacement due to accidental damage from drops, spills, vandalism, loss, theft, and incidental damage to another student’s device. Device protection does not cover intentional damage to a device, or damaged or lost accessories such as district provided cases, chargers, pens, or hotspots. Please see the Parent Student Device Handbook or Optional Device Protection Plan in the Student Handbooks for detailed information on the District’s Optional Device Protection Plan.
The optional device protection plan enrollment period is August 16-October 31. Families may sign up and pay for optional device protection through the Payment Portal located in PowerSchool. Please refer to the image below for instructions on accessing the optional device protection form in PowerSchool.
Families are responsible for the repair or replacement of devices which are damaged, lost, or stolen outside acceptable use guidelines published in student handbooks. Device protection is a voluntary, non-refundable, yearly cost for each device. Families may be able to add devices to their homeowner’s or renters’ insurance plan and may consider these alternatives prior to purchasing optional device protection.
Mask Requirement Updated for the 2021-22 School Year
The West Ada School District Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the West Ada School District administration, decided during the Board meeting on August 24 that all students are required to wear masks/face coverings properly, covering mouth and nose, while they are in the classroom until further notice. Staff should wear masks whenever they cannot physical distance.
The West Ada School District and the Board of Trustees also recognize that parents have a choice when it comes to the health of their child and are allowing an opt-out to this requirement.
Click here to download the Opt-out form.
The Board heard from several medical professionals before making their decision. “Our medical community is asking for our help. I do believe as a community we need to work together,” said Trustee Rene Ozuna.
The Board went on to approve a separate motion that changes the quarantine policy so that a person that is exposed in the classroom setting, but wearing a mask and/or vaccinated, maintain their school and work-related activities. Students would be required to complete a 10-day symptom check, and mandatory mask requirement for 10 days, or a negative test at the five-day mark.
Therefore, quarantine will not be required if a student/staff member is exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting if the exposed individual was wearing a mask and has no symptoms.
Click here for more information on COVID-19 protocols.
Schools will be accepting OPT OUT forms beginning Monday, August 30 during school hours.
School Mask Opt Out Percentages as of August 31, 2021
Andrus Elementary 29%
Barbara Morgan Stem Academy 25%
Centennial High 19%
Central Academy 14%
Chaparral Elementary 27%
Chief Joseph Elementary 30%
Christine Donell School of the Arts 34%
Crossroads Middle 26%
Desert Sage Elementary 16%
Discovery Elementary 31%
Eagle Academy 18%
Eagle Elementary 47%
Eagle High 45%
Eagle Hills Elementary 41%
Eagle Middle 44%
Frontier Elementary 15%
Galileo STEM Academy (K-8) 48%
Heritage Middle 42%
Hillsdale Elementary 41%
Hunter Elementary 50%
Idaho Fine Arts Academy (6-12) 36%
Joplin Elementary 28%
Lake Hazel Elementary 30%
Lake Hazel Middle 25%
Lewis & Clark Middle 24%
Lowell Scott Middle 20%
Mary McPherson Elementary 32%
McMillan Elementary 15%
Meridian Academy 13%
Meridian Elementary 17%
Meridian High 25%
Meridian Middle 29%
Mountain View High 29%
Owyhee High 43%
Paramount Elementary 58%
Pathways Middle 33%
Pepper Ridge 26%
Peregrine Elementary 23%
Pioneer Elementary 28%
Pleasant View Elementary 49%
Ponderosa Elementary 35%
Prospect 38%
Rebound High 13%
Renaissance High School 18%
River Valley Elementary 24%
Rocky Mountain High 39%
Sawtooth Middle 48%
Seven Oaks Elementary 36%
Siena Elementary 32%
Silver Sage Elementary 18%
Spalding Elementary 24%
Star Elementary 49%
Star Middle 47%
Summerwind Elementary 18%
Ustick Elementary 13%
Victory Middle 35%
Virtual School House 2%
Willow Creek Elementary 42%
Mitigating Measures in the Classroom
- Teachers and students must sanitize their hands upon entering the classroom. Building custodians will check wall mounted hand sanitizer dispensers daily to check levels and replace cartridges. Teachers are responsible for requesting individual bottles of hand sanitizer from administration.
- Student desks should be distanced as much as possible, at least three (3) to six (6) feet apart is ideal.
- Remind students of the need to maintain distancing and that students should only get up to move around the classroom with teacher permission and supervision that ensures adequate physical distancing as much as possible, three (3) to six (6) feet is preferable.
- Remind students NOT TO SHARE laptops or computer keyboards, drinks, food, snacks, gum, writing utensils, tissues, face masks, make-up, chap stick, eating utensils, musical instruments, or personal items.
- Student desks, chairs, keyboards, or other items frequently touched at the student’s desk should be cleaned between use by different students.
- In those school buildings in which the building maintenance staff indicates that it is not possible to perform at least four air exchanges per hour, consider opening your classroom door and the classroom windows if weather allows and the open door and windows do not create excessive noise in the classroom. You can learn more on this page Modifying Facilities
- If you, or a member of your family are experiencing symptoms, please contact your School Nurse for information on exposure and quarantining. Stay home until you are symptom free for 72 hours without fever or symptom reducing medications.
School Nutrition Update!
Breakfast and Lunch meals are FREE for all students again this year, but if you would like to set up an account for purchasing milk or ala carte items, we are using a new system called Titan for our family portal. (https://family.titank12.com/BFR56W) Please note that all student balances have been transferred over to the new system.
For more details on school nutrition visit their website by clicking here: https://www.westada.org/domain/746
Lunch Menus
CTE Shuttles
Students who are enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Magnet program, will travel off-site to a CTE Center. The West Ada School District has three centers located at Centennial High School, Meridian High School and Renaissance High School. To accommodate all students, the West Ada School District will provide bussing from each zoned-home high school to all three centers and back. Shuttles run the entire school year in the morning and afternoons on both A and B days. For ease of access, shuttles will pickup and drop off students in designated high school bus loading zones.
Students may choose to self-transport, but must commit to driving themselves for the duration of the CTE class. Once bussing has been established, special accommodations will not be made. Students who choose to self transport must have a parent or guardian complete the self transportation form found in the PowerSchool application.
Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)
ISAT SCORES for students in grades 3-8 and 10, from spring 2021, are now available through PowerSchool!
1. Log in to your PowerSchool account
2. Click on Historical Documents in the left navigation menu
3. From the folder drop-down select "Test Results"
4. Click on the document you want and then select the Download button.
For more information on the ISAT Comprehensive Assessment System: CLICK HERE