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Headlines and highlights
School District News
Coeur d'Alene Public Schools — August 5, 2021
A message from your new Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents
COVID update: Masks not required in 2021-22 operating plan
You may be wondering about COVID mitigation for the coming school year as the first week of school approaches. We are making plans to operate this fall in person, full time, under the parameters established by our Board of Trustees.
On June 7, the Board voted to declare that for this school year:
- The District will not require anyone to wear masks in our schools.
- The District will require a quarantine period only when an individual has tested positive for COVID-19.
- The District will not perform contact tracing and will not require quarantine for anyone who is not positive for COVID-19.
At its July 12 meeting, the board formalized its position by rescinding related policies it had approved for the previous school year.
The Board's directives were incorporated into the district's draft operating plan for this school year, which the state required the District to develop and publish. The draft plan was approved unanimously by the Board at its August 2 meeting.
At an August 16 board workshop, the Trustees will receive an update on COVID activity in our community. Final adoption of the 2021-22 COVID mitigation operating plan is scheduled for the Board's next business meeting, September 13.
New school leaders announced
We have several new school leaders to introduce to you, as well as a new director of our Transportation Department:
Mike Randles is our new Principal at Coeur d’Alene High School. He was Assistant Principal and Activities Director at CHS for the past five years. Prior to that he spent more than 20 years in the classroom, primarily as a secondary English teacher.
“I am both honored and humbled by this opportunity,” Mr. Randles said. “Having been part of the Viking Family for the past five years, I have a profound sense of appreciation for our caring and dedicated staff, our resilient students, and our Viking community at large – alumni, parents, and boosters – whose support and passion is second to none.”
Bill White will assume the role of CHS Activities Director after having served as Assistant Principal for several years.
We also have five new Assistant Principals in the District:
- Winton Elementary School: Kathleen Corbeill. She has taught 13 years at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities, including as a special education teacher the past two years.
- Fernan STEM Academy: Sandra Doering. She was a teacher and assistant principal in the Post Falls School District for more than 20 years.
- Ramsey Magnet School of Science: Austin Hoyer. He has been a teacher at Woodland Middle School for 10 years.
- Dalton Elementary School: Becky Miller. She was Assistant Principal of our eSchool last year, and was an instructional coach in the District before that.
- Lakes Middle School: Aaron Drake. He was Assistant Principal at Ramsey Magnet School of Science for the past six years and has been with Coeur d'Alene Public Schools for 14 years.
In addition, Donda Walsh is our new Director of Transportation. Donda previously was Office Manager in our Transportation Department.
School supply lists online
NEED HELP?
Families who need help obtaining their back-to-school supplies are welcome to stop by our District Office on Thursday, August 26, from 2-6 PM. We will have a limited number of backpacks and other school supplies available from business and community donors. The District Office is at 1400 N. Northwood Center Court, Coeur d'Alene.
Have you verified student enrollment information?
Heads up! Our annual online verification is open now, and we need families of all returning students to log into Skyward Family Access and go through this verification process no later than August 27.
Each summer we ask parents and guardians to complete Online Verification for each student, grades 1-12. It's easy! Simply log into your Skyward account at https://skyward.cdaschools.org/
Why it's important: Online Verification allows you to confirm that all information listed in Skyward for each student is accurate and up to date. This includes health information, contact information, and emergency contacts.
Families also are able to submit an application for free/reduced-price meals as part of the process.
For more information, or if you are having technical difficulties, please visit https://www.cdaschools.org/verify
Enrollment for new students
Do you have a student who is new to our District this fall? Whether a kindergartener or any grade above, they can be enrolled online. To begin the process, please visit cdaschools.org/newstudent.
You may also enroll a new student in person, or complete the online enrollment process, at our elementary and middle schools later this month. No appointment is necessary.
Elementary Schools
Thursday, August 19, 12-6 PM
Middle Schools
Tuesday, August 24, 12-6 PM
High Schools
Once you've completed the online enrollment, the school will contact you to schedule a new student appointment to meet with a school counselor, complete enrollment and build your student's class schedule. If you prefer to enroll in person, please contact your high school counseling office to set up a new student appointment:
- CHS students: Call (208) 667-4509
- LCHS students: Call (208) 769-2942
Plan to attend your school's open house night
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - Wednesday, September 1
4-6 PM at all elementary schools
MIDDLE SCHOOLS - Tuesday, August 31
- Canfield: 4-5 PM for grades 7 and 8; 6-7 PM for grade 6
- Lakes: 4-5 PM for grade 6; 5:30-6:30 PM for grades 7 and 8
- Woodland: 3:30-6:30 PM for all grades
HIGH SCHOOLS
Venture High SchoolAugust 25, 12-6 PM.
Open House, registration, orientation and barbecue.
Coeur d'Alene High School
- September 1, student tours offered 12-3 PM.
- September 9, open house, 5:30-7 PM.
High school student check-in
Our comprehensive high schools host student check-in events in August. Students will sit for their school photo, get their student ID card, and may pay their ASB, yearbook and parking pass fees.
Coeur d'Alene High School: August 19
- 8-11 AM, Seniors and juniors
- 1-3 PM, Sophomores
- 3-5 PM, Freshmen
Lake City High School: August 23-24
- August 23, 9 AM-12 PM and 1-3 PM, students with last names beginning A-L
- August 24, 9 AM-12 PM and 1-3 PM, students with last names beginning M-Z
Late-start Mondays return this year
Download our 2021-22 Family Calendar
Look up bus routes and stops for your home address
Looking for information on school bus routes for the coming school year? You can search for routes and neighborhood bus stops for elementary, middle and high schools using our online guide. Just visit InfoFinder and enter your home address to display the routes and stops near you.
Our Transportation Department is updating some route information now and soon will add bus stop times. Please check back in mid-August for updates and to find stop times using InfoFinder.
We also invite you to visit our Transportation web page at cdaschools.org/transportation.
You also may call the Transportation Department at (208) 667-3451.
Students must register to ride the bus
You will need to know your student's bus route number and stop location to complete the registration form. To look up the route and stop location for your home address, please use our InfoFinder guide.
All kindergarten students who ride the bus need to have an adult meet them at the bus stop for drop-off each day.
School district job fair is august 19
We will host our annual classified job fair on Thursday, August 19, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Woodland Middle School in the gymnasium.
We are looking to fill many positions, both part time and full time, including custodians and custodial subs, bus drivers and driver subs, classroom assistants, special education paraprofessionals, playground assistants, crossing guards, nutrition services assistants, and child care assistants.
We hope to have all of our schools and departments represented at this event, including School PLUS child care, Nutrition Services, Transportation and Maintenance.
Schools meals to be provided free of charge this year
The federal fee waiver for all school meals has been extended through the coming school year. There will be no charge for breakfast or lunch for any students in 2021-22.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program is continuing to waive meal fees as the pandemic continues to threaten the food and nutrition security of our most vulnerable. This ensures that all students, regardless of their educational setting, have access to free, healthy meals for in-person learning.
Families do not need to complete a Low Income Eligibility application to receive free meals this year. The fee waiver applies to all enrolled students at all schools.
Questions? You may contact our Nutrition Services staff at cdaschoolsnutrition.com.
You can support our students at the Sept. 18 Color Run, benefitting Sources of Strength
Whether you run, walk, roll or stroll, you can support our incredible Sources of Strength program that prepares students for the difficult times they may encounter. Kids from all walks of life create a culture within their school that empowers positive change. This dynamic club is student-led and assists in helping all students find their personal strength through a message of hope, health and strength.
The 1.5-mile Color Run is our big community fundraiser supporting Sources of Strength. Begin wearing white clothing and allow yourself to be dusted with organic, biodegradable chalk along the way!
The Color Run is open to kids and adults. Registration is $15 for adult, plus a $1.87 signup fee. All students between ages 5 and 17 participate for free with donation of a can of food for the Coeur d'Alene Food Bank. A 5K run is optional.
Sources of Strength is active at Lake City High School, Coeur d’Alene High School, Canfield Middle School, Lakes Middle School, Woodland Middle School, Northwest Expedition Academy, Skyway Elementary School, Atlas Elementary School, and Winton Elementary School.
Register now for the Color Run HERE.
Growing the STEM has opening for executive director
Growing the STEM, a local nonprofit organization that organizes and supports math and science programs for students in Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, has an opening for a part-time executive director with a desired start date of early September.
The director will lead the organization’s fundraising and will manage Growing the STEM’s day-to-day program priorities. Programs include Math is Cool teams, the Mathletes Mentor program, STEM Clubs, and STEAM Clubs (integrating the arts) at elementary and middle schools.
Growing the STEM has an emphasis on developing youth leaders and encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue science, technology, engineering and math education and activities. Last year the organization, overseen by a volunteer board of directors, held 18 programs in 13 public schools, with over 40 youth leaders and 18 teachers serving more than 350 students.
This position is open to everyone, but educational connections or background are a plus. Apply HERE, or visit growingthestem.org/careers.
Keep up with school news all year
There are several ways to follow news and updates from Coeur d'Alene Public Schools.
MOBILE APP - Download our app for school menus, bus information, school supplies, safety information, breaking news alerts, and much more. Get it in the App Store or on Google Play. Just search for Coeur d'Alene Public Schools.
NEWSLETTERS - Our "Headlines & Highlights" newsletter and other District news is emailed to parents and guardians at your address listed in Skyward Family Access. You also can find our newsletters at cdaschools.org/newsletter.
SOCIAL MEDIA - Coeur d'Alene Public Schools (@cdaschools) is on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
WEBSITES - Visit our District website at cdaschools.org, or visit any of our school websites, which are linked from the top of our District home page.
Stay Connected
Email: info@cdaschools.org
Website: www.cdaschools.org
Location: 1400 N. Northwood Center Court
Phone: (208) 664-8241
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cdaschools
Twitter: @cdaschools