January 5 - Schools of Choice window opens - explore school options now!

January 9 - Study Buddies at CHS from 9-11am

January 15 - Senior Yearbook Photos and Dedication Ads/Tributes due

January 16 - Cheerleaders hosting Senior Night at boys basketball game

January 18 - Dance Team "Performance Night" in the GYM

January 23 - Study Buddies at CHS from 9-11am

Athletics Updates:

• Congratulations to Boys Basketball Team who remain undefeated with a win over Mountain View.
• Girls Basketball is back in action this Saturday vs. Meridian!
• Wrestlers competed in the Rollie Lane Tournament over the weekend.
• West Ada is operating under the new Governors Plan for Athletic and Activities.

As you may have seen in recent press releases, Centennial High School will begin allowing a limited number of spectators at home games. We will be strictly following the new Governors Stage 2 Guidelines for Athletics and Activities. This will go into effect immediately. The Plan can be found on our Athletic Website at: https://www.westada.org/domain/9624. Some of the highlights of the Plan include, but are not limited to:

• Home fans must wear facial coverings unless they can sit 12 or more feet from others outside their household.
• All coaches, administrators, trainers, athletes not participating and other essential personnel must properly wear masks.
• Schools must clear and sanitize the gym after each game, including between junior varsity and varsity contests.
• Up to six cheerleaders can attend a game. Two Home fans per cheerleader can also attend.
• Bands and dance teams are not listed as participants or as essential (currently).
• Home fans will be allowed at wrestling duals, but not wrestling tournaments.
• Home fans must enter and leave through separate doors. They will be marked.

The plan limits the number of basketball players on a team to 13 for each freshman, junior varsity, and varsity squad. Junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams can have up to 15 wrestlers — the number of weight classes in Idaho.

The exemption also spells out consequences for schools that violate its protocols. The first offense draws a written warning from the State Board of Education. A second offense leads to a forfeit of that contest. A third results in the forfeit of the rest of that sport’s season.

We are excited to take the next steps toward allowing loved ones to watch their students participate live here at Centennial High. Please do your part to keep our kids, patrons, and facility safe so we can continue to take strides toward more inclusion.

For those individuals who are unable to attend in person at our facility we do offer live streaming of all our Winter games in the gymnasium on our NFHS Network. You can access that information and create an account at: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/users/sign_in

IDLA Registration for Early Spring Sessions ends this Friday - January 8th

Late session registration ends on 1/22

Spring Trimester registration ends on 2/26

For assistance or questions, contact Ms. Rossman in the Career Center at: rossman.wendy@westada.org or 208-855-4270

Congratulations to the following Centennial High School juniors who interviewed and were accepted into Leadership Boise Academy. Way to go!!

• Ainsley Dinger
• Benjamin Shappard
• Casandra Sipes
• Jayden Rehwalt
• Stella Rieth

A friendly reminder that NO hoods, hats, bandanas or other non-religious head coverings of any type are permitted on campus or in classrooms throughout the school district.

Beginning Monday, January 4, 2021 CHS administration will be confiscating hats, hoods, bandanas and non-religious head coverings worn by students in the building.

Current West Ada Board Policy states that students are allowed three (3) absences per class period during the semester. Students who receive four (4) absences in any class will lose credit unless cleared by the attendance office as extraordinary within five (5) days of the absence.

Grade level Vice Principals are currently reaching out to the families of students with multiple absences in a period. We understand that absences can occur for a variety of reasons. We also know that student attendance during in-person and remote days, is a critical ingredient to student success. The purpose of this communication from our grade level Vice Principal's is to inform families that their student has accrued multiple absences in a period. Continued absenteeism could result in a student being withdrawn from Centennial High School.

We understand that we are currently operating in challenging, pandemic times. Therefore, we are working with all students to ensure they receive appropriate seat time in every class. We encourage every family to logon to PowerSchool at least once, weekly, to be kept informed of their students absences. Common absence codes, noted in PowerSchool, are listed below for your reference.

Attendance Code: A
Description: Unverified Absence
Presence Status: Absent

Attendance Code: ILL
Description: Unverified Absence - Illness
Presence Status: Absent

Attendance Code: PRC
Description: Unverified Absence - Parent Phone Call
Presence Status: Absent

Attendance Code: ISO
Description: Isolated for Medical Reasons
Presence Status: Present

Attendance Code: TEC
Description: Technology
Presence Status: Absent

With the start of winter storms, West Ada School District is again planning and ready for the possibility of school closures. The decision to close schools is a process that is not taken lightly by the district. As storms approach, district staff monitor weather forecasts in preparation to check road conditions during the night and into the early morning before the start of school. If school is canceled because of poor road conditions, information about the closure will be posted on the district website and local media will also be notified.

All efforts will be made to determine school closure due to winter driving conditions by 5 a.m. on the day of the closure in order to have adequate time to alert parents, students, staff and the community of the school closure.

Television: Channel 2, KBCI; Channel 6, KIVI; Channel 7, KTVB
AM Radio Stations: KBOI, 670; KIDO, 630; KGEM, 1140
FM Radio Stations: KJOT, 105; K-106, 106; K-LITE, 104; KHEZ, 103.3; KIZN, 93.1; KBSU, 90.3

PowerSchool is the district’s online student information system. PowerSchool provides a way for parents and students to track attendance, grades and class schedules. The district will relay messages regarding school events, reminders, school closures and more using the contact information provided by families in their PowerSchool accounts. The district uses the Blackboard notification system to send out email, phone calls, and text alerts. If you have previously opted-out of receiving any of these messages, you may opt-in again using the directions included in this email and text communication webpage.

High School: June 14-July 23, 2021

• Students may take up to three classes remotely through the Fuel Ed./Peak Platform and there will be a Tutoring component on-line and in person.

Rebound Summer School: June 14-July 23, 2021

• In person

Middle School Summer School: June 14-July 23, 2021

• Schedule TBD

Enrollment for Summer School generally takes place in the Spring. Please contact your School Counselor for more information. Dates and learning platforms are subject to change in light of COVID-19 and the current pandemic.

During these challenging times, spread the word that help is available, and that it is OK to ask for help! One resource available to educators and all Idahoans to help cope with stress and connect with help is the Idaho Strong COVID Help Now Line. The COVID Help Now line is open 8am-8pm Mountain Time, 7 days a week. Call or Text (986) 867-1073 or Call Toll Free at 866-947-5186. All calls are confidential and multilingual support is available.

The Idaho Strong program provides support for Idahoans struggling with the effects of the pandemic by facilitating emotional support, resource linkage, skills for building resilience and community education. Resources are available online at ioem.idaho.gov/covidhelpnow/

Idaho students in grades 7-12 are invited to share their dreams for the future by entering our “Picture My Future” art contest! Submissions can be made online by midnight on Jan. 22 or by mail (postmarked by Jan. 19). Check out the contest rules here: https://www.sde.idaho.gov/events/future-art-contest/

"This has been a particularly challenging year for students and families throughout Idaho, but hope for the future still burns brightly, and I look forward to seeing how students envision life after high school,” says Superintendent Sherri Ybarra. “The goals and creativity of Idaho students are truly inspiring as they look toward the future they will shape.”

The winning artwork will be posted on our website and shared with Idaho legislators during Superintendent Ybarra’s budget presentation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. We can’t wait to see all the entries!

More information on Advanced Opportunities and Fast Forward funding here: https://advancedops.sde.idaho.gov/

Keep up-to-date on grade level specific College and Career Center information by using REMIND! Stay on top of what's going on in the College and Career Center, right through your phone!

• 9th Grade - Text @968bef to 81010
• 10th Grade - Text @2fhf98 to 81010
• 11th Grade - Text @d33g78 to 81010
• 12th Grade - Text @k2gcd8 to 81010

Are you interested in a hands-on career? College of Western Idaho (CWI) offers comprehensive training in just 9-24 months. CWI partners with local employers to ensure students learn the skills necessary to be competitive. Visit: https://cwi.edu/programs-degrees/career-technical-education for more information.

Programs include: Automotive Technology, Computer Support Specialist, Early Childhood Education, Heavy Equipment Technician, Welding and Metals Fabrication, and many more!

Emails from college representatives from across the country are coming in DAILY! They want to meet YOU and share information about their schools, including the application process. All visits are virtual and most begin at 3:30 PM. Invite your parents to join the meeting too!

Discussions will be the first Monday of each month.

Registration is required: https://k12foundation.wufoo.com/forms/sqs3p4m13yub6q/

Students will receive a secure Zoom link to join following registration.

Freshmen and Sophomore students at CHS can participate in the Boise State University, Sophomore Start Program. It is designed for a motivated student who can maintain a 3.0 GPA and who would like to earn 30 college credits while still in high school. Students can utilize Fast Forward Funds to pay for these college credits. This can be a great opportunity to enter college as a Sophomore for students who are planning to attend Boise State. A dedicated advisor will work with the student throughout their participation in the program.

If you would like more information about this program please visit Boise State's Concurrent Enrollment website at https://www.boisestate.edu/concurrentenrollment/sophomore-start/ or if you would like to speak with an adviser please contact Harmonee Teng at (208) 426-3772 or by email at harmoneeteng@boisestate.edu.