Updates From D91 Supt. LaOrange

Idaho Falls School District's three guiding values of Courage, Compassion and Conviction are the bedrock of our work. These values define our efforts to help each child learn and grow.

Courage is enacted as our teachers analyze information to determine needs. Compassion assures we are focused on the individual needs of students. Conviction helps us maintain our focus on the needs of each child.
What does Conviction look like for your child? We exemplify Conviction as we monitor student learning to see if our instruction is meeting the needs of our students. Conviction is also seen when teachers deploy new and different instructional methods when they find a child's needs are not being met. This cycle of monitoring student learning and making adjustments empowers teachers to respond to each and every child's needs. It is also a way to demonstrate their Conviction to each child's learning.

The guiding value of Conviction engages all of us in supporting our children in their learning. Conviction is persistence in action and demonstrates to each child our belief that they can learn.

I am grateful for the efforts of our teachers as they partner with parents to step out in Courage, Compassion, and Conviction to ensure each child's success. I am grateful for this partnership and the dedication of our teachers and staff to this important work. There is no greater work or joy than helping a child learn and grow!

We can't wait for kickoff TONIGHT at 7 for the 59th Emotion Bowl! Here's all the information you'll need to enjoy the big game with the home team Tigers facing the Skyline Grizzlies.

• If you didn't get advance tickets, ticket sales at Ravsten Stadium resume at 5:15 pm. The gates open at 5:15 pm, too.
• Idaho Falls AND Skyline high school students with an activity card get into the game for FREE. Other tickets are: $6 for adults/students without an activity card; $5 for students from other schools with an activity card and $4 for elementary school students/senior citizens.
• If you have advance tickets, you can enter through the pass gate on the stadium's south side. (The gate is near the brown building.
• Can't make the game? You can livestream it IdahoSports.com.
• Students must pick their team and cheer from those stands. They will not be allowed to move back and forth from the IFHS side of the stadium to the SHS side.

• No outside food or beverages are allowed in Ravsten Stadium. Food vendors are located on the IFHS and SHS sides so please support our clubs, school groups and boosters. (But, remember, students cannot cross to the opposite side of the stadium to access food vendors.)
• No face painting, artificial noisemakers, coolers, bikes, camp chairs, skateboards or sideline football games are allowed.
• Re-entry into the stadium will only be allowed in case of an emergency.
• To protect the new turf, no outside paint will be allowed on the field. The winning team will be given paint to paint the special goalposts that were erected last year on the field's north side.
• Help us celebrate safely! Please allow players and students from the winning team to take the field first. Then, when the crowds around the gates dissipate, other spectators are welcome to join the celebration!

• Every Friday! D91 schools start an hour later than normal so teachers can collaborate on student achievement.
• Sept. 22: Emotion Bowl, Ravsten Stadium, 7 pm KickOff
• Sept. 28: Board Work Session, 4:30 pm, D91 District Office
• NEW! Oct. 3: Idaho Launch Application Window Opens for Idaho Seniors
• Oct. 5-6: No School! State & District Staff Development
• Oct. 10 & Oct. 17: Parent Teacher Conferences for middle schools and high schools
• Oct. 13: Skyline Homecoming Parade
• Oct. 18: PSAT for all 10th graders and 11th graders qualifying for the NMSQT (All schools K-12 will learn about and celebrate college and career opportunities and pathways.)

After two years of fundraising and with the help of some D91 matching funds, the Sunnyside PTO held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the school's new playground equipment and the addition of a gaga ball pit to the playground.

Over the last few years, several schools have been able to update playground equipment thanks to fundraising efforts by PTOs, parents, community supporters and D91 matching funds. All schools can request matching funds once a year to fund projects. Schools are also able to roll the money over from one year to another to help pay for big projects. The matching funds come from D91's school plant facilities fund.

Some of the other schools that have been able to upgrade their playgrounds in the last few years include: Ethel Boyes with an outdoor classroom and playground equipment; Temple View with kindergarten playground equipment; Linden Park with new playground equipment and the Sunnyside project.

The new elementary school planned for Idaho Falls' south side will be built on 65th South near the old York Grange. After careful review, board members decided this location best meets the district's long-term needs.

Now that a location has been selected, the design work will begin. The board has selected Design West Architects of Logan, Utah, to do the design work for the new school. While the district hopes to use the same general design that was used for Edgemont, Erickson, Ethel Boyes and Longfellow, critical updates are needed to address safety and security concerns, mechanical system upgrades and site work. A single-story version of that school also may be considered.

A Hall Check, which we used to refer to as a LockOut, is called when students, staff and visitors need to stay in a safe place like their classrooms because of an outside threat. External threats could include police activity nearby or a suspicious person in the area. Hall Checks also can be called when there is a need to minimize traffic in the halls in case of a medical emergency or if a stray animal enters the building. While students stay in their classrooms during a Hall Check, education is the priority and instruction generally continues as normal.

Hall Checks and other safety drills are conducted to prepare students, teachers and staff for any number of emergency situations. When these drills are held or if there is an emergency situation, D91 texts parents to provides updates. To receive these texts, parents should make sure their contact information is current in PowerSchool. Questions? Check with school staff or pick up one of D91's School Safety Protocol flyers.

Idaho Public Television just kicked off an anti-vape video contest, and more more than $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to this year's winners!

The KNOW VAPE video contest is open to all Idahoans 13- to 18-years old. Creators are asked to produce a video, no longer than 90 seconds, that speaks to vaping prevention, the dangers of vaping or how to quit vaping. Nearly half of all Idaho high school students have vaped at least once, according to the latest data from the Idaho State Department of Education.

"It makes sense to enlist teens in this battle against youth vaping because they know how to create content that resonates with their peers," said KNOW VAPE executive producer Jennie Sue Weltner.

Three D91 students produced award-winning videos in last year's contest. Addison Willis & Petra Christensen of Compass Academy received 1st Place honors for their entry: "Are Vapes the New Cigarettes? Is History Going To Repeat Itself." Kevin Carrillo of Skyline High School won a 3rd place prize for his submission: "Know Vape -- Don't Vape."

Video submissions are due April 1, 2024. Winners will be announced May 1, 2024. Learn more at about the campaign and the video contest.

Nine candidates are running for the three school board seats up for election on November 7.

Patrick Jackson, Jordan Oseen and Jeremy Westwood are running for the Zone 3 seat, which includes the Theresa Bunker, Edgemont, Longfellow, Linden Park and Sunnyside school areas.

In the Zone 4 race, Elizabeth Cogliati is facing Shay Ricks. Zone 4 includes the Erickson, Linden Park and part of Hawthorne school areas.

Jamie Lea Braithwaite, Melissa LaPray, Hillary Radcliffe and Kari Vogel are running for the Zone 5 seat, which includes the Hawthorne, Longfellow and Sunnyside school areas.

Questions about the election? Check with the Bonneville County Elections office.

While all the attention is on Ravsten Stadium TONIGHT, we also want to cheer on all the Grizz athletes who are competing in various games and meets this weekend.

The Cross county team will run in the Bob Firman Invite in Eagle. The swim team will compete in the Shelley Invite starting at 8 am Saturday. The boys soccer team will play Century at the Soccer Complex with varsity games at 11 am and JV at 1 pm. The girls soccer team will play at Century with varsity games starting at 11 am and JV playing at 1 pm.

Congrats to the Athletes of the Week -- Alex Dennert & Nelah Roberts. Alex was honored because of his showing as QB in the Berger Bowl. Nelah repeated as the Tiger Grizz champion. Click here for all the latest Grizz athletic news!

Good luck to the IFHS swimmers, runners, soccer teams and volleyball players who are competing this weekend!

The cross country team will be running in the Bob Firman Invite in Eagle State Park TODAY and tomorrow. The boys and girls swim team will compete in the Hillcrest Meet at the IF Aquatic Center starting at 8 am Saturday. The freshmen boys soccer team plays in Shelley at 11 am Saturday, while the freshmen volleyball team will take part in the Fresh Tournament in the IFHS Auxiliary gym on Saturday. Click here for all the latest Tigers athletic news & updates.