#KSD Ready & Resilient
Update from Kuna Superintendent Wendy Johnson
4.16.2021
Future Ready: Planning for the next five years
Thank you Corey Barton & CBH Homes!
Perhaps you were wondering about ...
Incoming kindergarten events next week!
FFA Annual Plant Sale!
COVID data dashboards
Future Ready: Planning for the next five years
Today is time to celebrate!
Ada County Highway District crews will be picking up the orange and white traffic cones signaling the completion of the Linder and Deerflat intersection project.
This work impacted so many of our staff, our parents, our buses, as we negotiated the safety cone trails and delays for most of the school year.
I'm grateful for the improved intersection envisioned six years ago.
It's reminder that meaningful change requires a vision, a plan, hard work, and resources.
In Kuna, our mission is empowering students to lead productive lives guided by the vision that our students are future ready.
We have a plan for the next five years focused future ready students, but we need your help to finish the plan.
We know that perusing a whole strategic plan is challenge for many in our busy lives, so we're chunking it up.
Each day next week, we'll focus on one area in an email to our families and ask for your feedback. You are also welcome to review the whole plan using this link.
We'll also reach out to our city, chamber, and business partners feedback as our plan includes connecting with them.
Thank you Corey Barton & CBH Homes!
One of the focus areas of our strategic plan is strong relationships with our community to help support learning. We celebrate one of those relationships: Corey Barton and CBH Homes in our Construction Trades Program at Swan Falls. This week, they presented a $120,000 donation to support this new program.
Perhaps you were wondering about ....
When I heard the news, I wondered: "what's critical race theory?" Some have reached out to see if this is happening in Kuna. The answer is "no this isn't training happening here."
So, what are we doing about addressing the topic of race in our schools?
Safety
We serve an increasingly diverse community. We do not tolerate harassment, bullying or other actions, and we expect all our students and their families to be treated with respect.
Curriculum
At the heart of our instruction are standards that outline what we expect students to know and be able to do. In our state, groups of Idahoans write standards in nine areas: arts humanities, computer science, English language, health, technology, mathematics, physical education, science, and social studies. (You can review all the standards at this site.) Standards under go public review and are approved the Legislature.
Race is most often addressed in the context of history, social studies, government, etc. as we expect our students to know about slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement, etc. In recent years, race is likely to emerge as current events of the day -- court decisions, protests, conflict -- that influence our lives. Race emerges certainly in literature like in the classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
Controversial topics are part of our culture and history.
We don't serve our students by teaching them to avoid controversial topics, and we don't develop critical thinkers by telling our students what to think.
We serve our students by developing critical thinking skills through research, analysis, and discussion, and students come to their own conclusions about issues.
So back to "critical race theory," as I've learned some about this topic, I can assure you this approach is not in our training. Idaho standards shape our curriculum choices. That doesn't mean that as our students do their own research and study, they won't encounter these theories and discuss them as they shape their understanding.
Know that our teachers won't tell students if they are right or wrong. We'll equip them with tools to be critical thinkers about this or any area.
New Principal Hubbard
Justine is no stranger to the Kuna School District. She served as a third and fourth grade teacher at Silver Trail, and for the last three years served as a Building Administrator at Reed Elementary.
Incoming kindergarten events next week!
Kindergarten Registration & By Appointment Visits
If you have a child who will start kindergarten in August (or you know of one), please register here. Registering now helps us plan for staffing.
Our elementary schools are hosting kindergarten visits by appointment in lieu of the traditional open house. Below are the dates and links to sign up.
- April 22 - 23 Sign Up at this link for Hubbard Elementary School
- April 23 Sign Up at this link for Indian Creek Elementary School
- April 23 Sign Up at this link for Reed Elementary School
- April 23 Sign Up at this link for Crimson Point Elementary School
- April 23 & April 30 Sign Up at this link for Silver Trail Elementary School
Superintendent Wendy Johnson
Email: ksdcommunications@kunaschools.org
Website: www.kunaschools.org
Location: 711 East Porter Street, Kuna, ID, USA
Phone: 208-922-1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kuna-Jt-School-District-No-3
Twitter: @Supt_Wendy_J