Caldwell School District Update
From Superintendent Dr. N. Shalene French
December 15, 2023
Message from the Superintendent
"A friend is a gift you give yourself" - Robert Louis Stevenson
Caldwell Families,
Today our youth navigate challenges dominated by virtual realities, "likes" and "dislikes", "share", "follow" and "unfollow", "friend" and "unfriend" options. Recently, I posed the question to parents and educators, "What advice would you give your younger self?"
- Appreciate the moment because moments become memories very quickly - be present
- Value time - time is precious, waste it wisely
- Build positive relationships and meaningful human connections
- Value yourself because your individuality is your strength
- Trust the journey, even when it seems uncertain and don't let the fear of failure hold you back
- Treat others as you would like to be treated
- Don't sweat the small stuff
This is great advice for our children and youth today!
This holiday season, we wish you limited screen time and more positive human connectedness. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the children, youth, and families of Caldwell.
Newsflash for Parents
Friday, December 22, 2023 - Half-Day Release
Secondary Students will end their day at 12:00 pm
Elementary Students will end their day at 1:00 pm
*Students will receive lunch before they leave school.
Generous Donations
Shelley-jean, Teacher at JDC, was awarded $3,000 from the Idaho Lottery to help purchase new books for her students.
The Whittenberger Foundation awarded the District $7,500 for the new Mariachi program that will start next school year.
The Whittenberger Foundation also awarded Mr. Wurtz, History Teacher at Caldwell High School, $1,000 to help purchase supplies for National History Day.
Earlier this year, Syringa Middle School was a recipient of a $10,000 grant through the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation. This will help enhance the caliber of the PAWS program.
Van Buren Elementary School won the 2022-2023 VFW National School of the Year Award receiving a $1,000 donation for their achievement.
Delores Madrigal received a $1,500 donation from Great American Appetizers to help support the District's Migrant Program.
Acts of Service
- Jefferson Middle School is collecting stuffed animals to donate to the Caldwell Police Department.
- Van Buren, Wilson, and Washington Elementary Schools are helping families in need with Giving Trees and canned food drives.
- Santa's workshop is taking place at Lewis and Clark Elementary, where each student can pick two gifts to take home to family members.
- School Board Trustees along with Caldwell staff members helped wrap gifts for students at Shop with a Cop last weekend.
Facility Improvements
- Building new front security entrances at Caldwell High School and Jefferson Middle School
- Updating the HVAC systems in the gym and auditorium at Caldwell High School and the music/choir room at Syringa Middle School
- Roof repairs at Washington, Van Buren, and Jefferson Middle Schools
- New water fountains at both Washington and Van Buren Elementary Schools
Our maintenance department will be hard at work over Christmas Break working on these projects. Thank you for your support in helping maintain, upgrade, and make improvements to our Caldwell schools.
Monthly Student Safety Tip
Driving to School
- When driving your child to school in Caldwell, stay alert and never drive while distracted.
- Always obey school zone speed limits and watch for children crossing the street in crosswalks. Remember, the area 10 feet around a school bus is most dangerous for children.
- NEVER pass a school bus loading or unloading children. It is also important to learn and follow your school’s drop-off and pick-up procedures.
- Washing your car can be an easily overlooked task, but driving toward the morning sun with a dirty windshield can be blinding, especially when it has snowed outside. To make certain you can see children walking and riding to school, make sure your windshield is clean, especially during morning school drop-off hours.
KNOW VAPE | Be Smart. Don't Start.
KNOW VAPE is a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of youth vaping in Idaho. The project includes a documentary, Nic Sick: The Dangers of Youth Vaping, which follows Idaho teens in different regions of the Gem State as they talk with heartbreaking authenticity about how and why they started vaping and the consequences that followed. Health, science, and law-enforcement experts, Idaho parents, and vaping prevention and cessation counselors are also featured.
College & Career Update
Save the Date: New, Streamlined FAFSA Application Coming Soon
Reminder: Idaho students interested in applying for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship will need to fill out Better FAFSA in order to be eligible. The deadline to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship is March 1, 2024.
Additionally, Office of the State Board of Education staff members are offering free webinars for families interested in learning more about financial aid, Better FAFSA and state scholarship programs:
- December 7, 7:00 pm MT – Click here to register
Please reach out to your school counselor if you have more questions.
Community Events
Below are a few dates for upcoming community events happening in the Caldwell School District.
Special Education Parent Training
- Spanish Speaking Families - Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 6-8 pm, Caldwell School District Office
- English Speaking Families - Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 6-8 pm, Caldwell School District Office
Screenagers Next Chapter: Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age
Millions of young people experience high stress, anxiety, and depression. On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Caldwell High School, we will follow physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston as she discovers solutions for improved adolescent well-being in the digital age.
Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age
On Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Caldwell High School, we will watch an award-winning film that probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.
Health Services Notification
Destination Education
Destination Education is a weekly video series highlighting students and staff from around the District. Each week this segment will bring you fun and exciting news stories. You will not only hear from administrators and educators during this weekly series but from students as well. The videos will be posted to the Caldwell School District Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages every Sunday during the school year.
WE ARE HIRING!
Do you want to make a positive difference in a student's life? Caldwell School District has several open positions.
If you know someone who would be a good fit for any of these positions, please encourage them to apply online at www.caldwellschools.org.
We provide substitute teacher training through STEDI.org.
Superintendent Dr. N. Shalene French
Committed to Caldwell School District's mission, vision, and values to ensure equity and access for all students.
Email: nfrench@caldwellschools.org
Website: www.caldwellschools.org
Location: 1502 Fillmore Street, Caldwell, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 455-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caldwellschools.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caldwellschooldistrict/
Twitter: @CSD132Sup