KSD3 News
Weekly Update from Superintendent Wendy Johnson
3/3/2023
In this update:
- π³οΈ Just five days left to vote early in Kuna bond election
- βοΈ Deadline for Open Enrollment requests for next year is April 30
- π Calendar Committee meets next week, please take the survey
- π Making big transitions easier for our tweens & teens
- ποΈ Looking ahead in our schools
Opportunities & Resources
- β° Deadline to apply for new policy committee is Thursday
- π« Free resources available for parents to discuss the dangers of vaping
- π€ Sophomores, juniors can apply for Y.E.S. Summit
- π€ Next year's sophomores, juniors & seniors invited to apply for eGirls
Kuna families,
We ended February with a bang as we greeted so many of you for the fantastic performances last weekend of Spamalot by our high school performing arts students, the College and Career Fair on Monday as well as the many concerts and activities across the district. Thank you to our teachers and staff who make these activities for our amazing students a success.
I also am grateful to our parents and community members who spend extra time serving on our committees. This week, the Superintendent Advisory Council met with great dialogue about culture in our schools and safety. Our growth committee met last night to continue the conversation about growth in Kuna, (They'll meet again March 23 at 6 p.m. It will be virtual!) Next week, the calendar committee meets.
The three weeks leading up to spring break will be busy as we welcome our secondary families for conferences, students make course requests for the coming school year, and our election March 14!
π³οΈ Just five days left to vote early in Kuna bond election
Our bond election is a little more than 10 days away. We're striving to share information with as many Kuna School District patrons as we can. Wednesday we hosted a Facebook Live event to answer your questions. You can watch that here.
I'd like to thank the community volunteers who are joining us to get information including those knocking on doors providing information with a QR code to scan so folks can learn more.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot for our bond election was earlier today. Two options remain:
βοΈ Early in-person voting - Next week: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kuna City Hall. Click link for more locations.
βοΈ Election day: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 - Click link to confirm your polling place before election day!
Would you like a text message reminder to vote in the Kuna School District election? Sign up here.
βοΈ Deadline for Open Enrollment requests for next year is April 30
Earlier this month, I shared information about the choices we provide in our amazing district. One of those is "open enrollment" which allows families to choose a school other than the one that serves their residential address. Families use this option most to help juggle afterschool child care.
The open enrollment application period for next school year 2023-24 began this week and will close April 30. Note: If your family used open enrollment last year, Idaho law requires parents to reapply every year.
β‘οΈ More information here: https://www.kunaschools.org/Page/214
π Calendar Committee meets next week, please take the survey
The district's calendar committee has a short survey on some key topics --October vacation, dates for spring break, 4-day week & more. They will review results next week and appreciate your time giving feedback.
π Making big transitions easier for our tweens & teens
The next two weeks feature important activities for our middle schoolers and our soon-to-be middle schoolers.
Incoming middle schoolers (current 5th graders): Open houses
The change from elementary to middle school is a big one for students and parents. Our fifth graders and their parents are invited to tour their middle school and ask questions. If you don't know which school is your child's middle school, look it up here. KMS's event is Monday, March 6 and FMS's event is Monday, March 13.
Incoming high schoolers (current 8th graders): CTE Showcase
The change from middle to high school also is significant as students are four short years from graduation. Kuna/Swan Falls are hosting a showcase night on March 8 for incoming freshman (current 8th graders) to learn about our high quality career technical programs.
Note: Middle school parent teacher conferences will be next Thursday, March 9 check with your child's school for details.
β° Deadline to apply for new policy committee is Thursday
The deadline to apply for this committee is Thursday, March 9. The Board seeks volunteers for a new committee to review and make recommendation on the policies that govern the school district.
ποΈ Looking ahead in our schools
For details please check our online calendar at www.kunaschools.org
- March 6 - Open house for incoming 6th Graders at Kuna Middle School
- March 7 - Kuna High, Fremont Middle and Kuna Middle School combined band concert 7 p.m. Kuna High School
- March 7 - Negotiations
- March 8 - Calendar Committee meeting
- March 8 - Freshman Pathways Showcase Night
- March 9 - Parent-Teacher Conferences Kuna Middle School & Fremont Middle School
- March 13 - Open house for incoming 6th Graders at Fremont Middle School
- March 13 - KHS Spring Choir Concert 7 p.m., Kuna High School
- March 14 - KHS Spring Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m. Kuna High School
- March 14 - Election Day - Polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- March 14 - Kuna Board of Trustees meeting
- March 20 - Superintendent's Advisory Council
- March 22 - Parent-Teacher Conferences Kuna and Swan Falls high school
- March 23 - Growth Committee 6 p.m., virtual meeting
- March 27-31 - Spring Break
- April 5 - Kuna School District Employee Health Fair
- April 11 - Kuna Board of Trustees meeting
- April 11 - KHS Spring Band Concert, 7 p.m.
- April 15 - First Lego League Explore Expo, Hubbard Elementary School
- April 17 - Superintendent Advisory Council
- April 19 - Incoming Kindergartner Open House
- May 2 - Negotiations meeting
- May 4-6 - Act III Productions "Blood & Sequins," 7 p.m. Kuna High School
- May 9 - Kuna Board of Trustees meeting
- May 9 - Kuna Middle School concert
- May 12 - No school students - teacher in-service
- May 11-13 - KHS Choir Spring pops concert, 7 p.m. Kuna High School
- May 15 - KHS Spring Orchestra concert, 7 p.m. Kuna High School
- May 16 - Kuna Middle School Band concert, 7 p.m. , Kuna Middle School
- May 18 - KHS Spring Band concert, 7 p.m., Kuna Middle School
- May 18 - KHS Visual Art Exhibition, 5 to 7 p.m., Kuna High School
- May 24 - Initial Point High School graduation
- May 25 - Kuna High/Swan Falls high school graduation
Opportunities & Supports
π« Free resources available for parents to discuss the dangers of vaping
In response to Idahoβs youth vaping crisis, a statewide information campaign -- KNOW VAPE -- is under way to provide awareness about the dangers of youth vaping. Some resources for our families:
β‘οΈ Idaho Public Television documentary - Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. featuring testimonies from Idaho teens about the negative effects vaping has had on them.
π Free counseling service available to our families
Kuna School District is partnering with BPA Health to offer a free Student and Family Assistance Program for all students attending a Kuna school.
The program is available, at no charge, to all students, parents, and siblings under age 26, beginning when a family member or legally responsible adult calls the program.
Parents are invited to learn more about the program in the video above or attend one of three 30-minute virtual meetings to learn more the program. Here are the dates of the meetings:
Wednesday, March 22, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. - Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 282 015 680 426; Passcode: MhnMt8
Friday, March 24 from 4 to 4:30 p.m. - Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 245 275 814 047; Passcode: x26jdR
- Monday, March 27 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. - Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 222 564 965 181; Passcode: EVj7XU
β‘οΈ For more information contact: Jenny Brown at Office 208-947-5140 Cell (480)232-1544 or email her at Jenny.Brown@bpahealth.com
π€ Sophomores, juniors can apply for Y.E.S. Summit
The Idaho State Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) invites Idaho sophomores and juniors to gain first-hand knowledge about our branches of government and to meet state elected officials at the Idaho Capitol this summer.
Students selected for this competitive program engage in public speaking, problem-solving, participate in firearms training at a local gun range administered by certified firearms instructors and visit government agencies and historical venues. Meals, lodging and materials are provided to participating students at no cost. Participants will also have the opportunity to compete for scholarship funding to attend the National Y.E.S. program in Washington, D.C. This yearβs local event will take place on August 3-10. Click to learn more about the local and national contests or to access application materials. Applications are due by April 21.
It is recommended that students fax or scan their applications in addition to sending them by mail. The subject line for emails should be βIdaho YES application.β For more information about applying contact Matthew Faulks at mwfaulks@hotmail.com or visit https://yes.nra.org/state-summits/.