West Ada School District Update
September 11, 2020
Community Member Makes 100 Masks for School Staff
Letter from Superintendent Ranells
Dear Staff, Parents and Guardians,
This has been a difficult week, and I apologize for the frustrations, stress, and anxiety many of you experienced. We will not make any excuses, but we do have an extraordinary IT team that worked around the clock to determine the problem and find solutions. As of this afternoon, we are seeing positive results from the changes to the system that have been implemented. As a result, more students have been able to log on. You will be receiving specific instructions and what you can do to help make certain the devices and connectivity work in a communication that will go out to all parents today. When students return next week, they will need to take their devices to school so teachers can check to determine if the updates loaded properly. If you have any questions, the help desk number is 208-350-5300, available 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
You can also enter a help desk ticket here: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/WestAda-TechSupport
Thank you to everyone who showered the IT department with random acts of kindness. The encouraging messages and treats were greatly appreciated.
I would be remiss if I didn’t share some bright spots with you.
- We were thrilled our athletics and activities programs were able to kick off this week.
- Our custodial staff has worked tirelessly to assure the schools are ready on Monday. Every building has been cleaned and disinfected. Hand sanitizers, masks, face shields, and other PPE products are located throughout the schools.
- Teachers are sharing engaging lesson ideas and materials for blended learning across the district.
- Many parents have spent countless hours helping their children participate in learning activities, even when connectivity failed. Thank you!
On Monday we will begin our alternate day schedule in yellow. Having the children back in the buildings is a dream come true, but we also know there will be hiccups along the way. If our District continues to be in the yellow category as designated by CDH, we are creating a schedule to bring back grades 1-5 over the next several weeks. For now, we want to focus all our energies and efforts on having next week be successful in this new schedule.
I have had the pleasure of visiting all 56 schools. One of our teachers told me, “Sometimes it takes an overwhelming breakdown to have an undeniable breakthrough.” We are becoming stronger, more resilient, and relentless in our pursuit to do our very best for our children.
Thank you for making this possible.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Ranells, Ph.D.
Superintendent of School
Five Schools Receive USDA Fresh Produce Grant
Shields for Performers
September 14: Alternate Day Schedule for Grades 1-12, PK-K All In-Person
Double-check your team designation in PowerSchool prior to Monday morning. Some changes may have been made to balance the number of students in the school buildings on the alternating days.
Wednesdays are late start for teacher collaboration. If you ride the bus, your route schedule is 15 minutes later these days.
Direct Admission Letters, Virtual College Fair
The Idaho State Board of Education has changed the way it delivers Direct Admissions letters to Idaho high school seniors.
Students are only a few clicks away from learning which of Idaho’s public colleges and universities they have been admitted to rather than waiting for the Direct Admissions letter to arrive in the mail.
“Starting September 15, students will be able to log into Apply Idaho on the Board’s Next Steps Idaho website create their own account, and then open and print their personalized Direct Admissions letter,” said Byron Yankey, the State Board’s college and career advising program manager. “This letter will show all the Idaho public colleges and universities at which the student pre-qualifies for admission. Students just need to apply to one or more institutions to confirm their interest.”
The change this year in Direct Admissions notifications is necessary because of disruption caused by COVID-19, which forced the cancellation last spring of college entrance exams, where student home addresses and emails are normally collected for the Direct Admissions letter mail distribution. Board staff is working with high school counselors to assist students in printing the letter if needed.
Virtual College Fair
Because the pandemic has also made it difficult for high school seniors to attend in-person visits to college campuses, the Board is partnering with the State Department of Education’s GEAR UP Idaho program and the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education to stage a three-day virtual college fair on September 29, 30 and October 1. Yankey says all eight of Idaho’s public colleges and universities will be represented along with Northwest Nazarene University, the College of Idaho and Brigham Young University-Idaho. The college fair will be open from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. (MDT) each day.
“Participants will be able to view pre-recorded videos that will help them through the process,” he said. “They will be able to visit virtual college booths with information about available programs and degrees and they will be able to interact with college staff either by electronic chat rooms or live video fees.”
A link to the Virtual College Fair will be posted on the Next Steps Idaho website later this month. Meantime, students and families are encouraged to register at https://nextstepsidahocollegefair.vfairs.com/
Beginning October 1, students can use Apply Idaho to submit their college applications free of charge.
“Students shouldn’t get in too big of a hurry,” Yankey said. “High school seniors should consider all of their options. The virtual college fair will be an easy way to learn about programs that maybe wouldn’t have occurred to them before that experience. Students should also use Next Steps Idaho to explore careers, salaries, work environments and personal interests. Even though Apply Idaho opens on October 1, students have plenty of time and tools to weigh options before making decisions and submitting applications.”
Press release provided by Idaho State Board of Education.