Updates From D91 Supt. LaOrange

Good news! The Intervention Committee kicked-off its work this week with a presentation about our current challenges and a look at how an intervention model might help improve student achievement in Idaho Falls School District 91.

The committee is looking at how schools could use time differently with a different schedule structure that would provide support for all students, especially those who struggle.

The presentation included information about how intervention models in surrounding school districts have impacted student achievement. One of the positive impacts learned was that intervention models improve student graduation rates. Now that’s a win for everyone!

Committee members were also able to ask questions and dig into the needs, advantages, and challenges of intervention models being used in surrounding school districts. At the next meeting, committee members will study the specific impacts of intervention models on student achievement. Committee members also will visit schools to see intervention models in real time.

The committee will submit a report, including recommendations, to the School Board in March. You can submit questions for the committee by sending an email to Supt. Karla LaOrange at laorkarl@sd91.org. Watch future editions of the newsletter to learn more about the work of this important committee!

• Jan. 23: Board Work Session, 4 pm
• Jan. 30: D91 Career Exploration Fair for all Juniors & Seniors, Mountain America Center
• Feb 6: Middle School & High School Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Feb. 6: CTEC Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30 to 7 pm
• Feb. 13: Middle School & high School Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Feb. 14: Drawing for CTEC's Skoolie
• Feb. 15: Board Business Meeting, 5:30 pm, District Office
• Feb. 19: President's Day, No School
• Feb. 27: Board Work Session, 4 pm
• Feb. 29: End of 2nd Trimester

Shay Ricks join the Idaho Falls Board of Trustees in January, and here's your chance to learn a little more about D91's newest trustee. Shay represents the areas around Dora Erickson, Linden Park and Hawthorne elementary schools.

Background & Personal Information:

• I am a D91 graduate! I am a Hawthorne Hawk, Taylorview Wolverine, and IF Tiger!
• I hold a finance degree from BYU-I.
• I worked for The Bank of Commerce for seven years, and am now working as a real estate agent.
• I have three children. The oldest will start kindergarten this fall.
• Kayaking is one of my favorite hobbies!

What is the most important thing you want to focus on during your term? I want to expand and enhance the curriculum and opportunities available to our students.

What are you looking forward to most about being a trustee? I am excited to collaborate with parents, faculty and administrators to determine how to best support our students.

Learn more about all of D91's trustees, along with the dates and agendas of upcoming board meetings, trustee zone maps, board policy and more on the D91 Trustees webpage.

For the last 18 years, Idaho Falls and Skyline high school student leaders are collecting food and donations to address food insecurity in eastern Idaho in what has become the region's second largest food drive.

It's easy to support the 2024 Souper Bowl by making an online donation! You can support Skyline's efforts by donating through the Grizzlies' GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/4dd1fefd OR you can support the Tigers' efforts by donating to the Community Food Basket's Venmo at @CFBIdahoFalls (Be sure to put "IFHS" in the comment box.)

Students are also planning a money blitz at the IFHS-Skyline basketball game TONIGHT. And, they will also be at grocery stores collecting donations this weekend. Skyline will be at Broulims and the Albertson's on Broadway from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday. Idaho Falls students will be at the Albertsons on 17th Street from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday.

D91 is hosting the East Idaho E-Sports Regional Invitational this weekend at Compass Academy!

E-Sports is a fast-growing sport that can earn top players college scholarships. Most of D91's secondary schools -- Idaho Falls High School, Skyline High School, Compass Academy, Eagle Rock Middle School and Taylorview Middle School -- now have teams that compete in school, local, regional and even state tournaments. Even some elementary schools like A.H. Bush have their own team.

"This program has really taken root in our district, and it's been very rewarding for our coaches to watch our students and teams grow so much and do so well," said Tito Paredes, D91's IT Director.

Students from around the region are expected at this weekend's competition. Games will run from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday, Jan. 27, in Compass Academy's auditorium and classrooms.

If you have a junior or senior, please help them prepare for D91's annual Career Exploration Fair on Tuesday, Jan. 30!

The fair will give students the chance to learn about Idaho's top jobs, meet experts in popular career fields, find out what they will need to do to land those jobs and how they can be successful after graduation.

Talk to your child this weekend about the kinds of jobs that interest them? Find out what is important to them? Ask them how do they like to spend their time and what they like do?

Encourage them to dream big and most the most of this cool event! And, a big thank you to all the local employers who are helping to support this event.

A big thank you to the Ucon Fire Department for its donation to the Career Technical Education Center's Firefighter program! They donated special clothing and the SCBA breathing apparatus that firefighters need to battle structure fires.

The Idaho Falls Tigers face the Grizzlies Friday night at Skyline High School. Freshman and JV games are at 6 pm. Varsity will play at 7:30 pm. Good luck!

And, remember to bring some cash to support the Souper Bowl. IFHS & Skyline are both doing a money blitz during the game to support their annual canned food drive.

Skyline's girls team took third overall in the tournament. Kayli Ranstrom, a junior, made it to finals and took second out of a field of more than 200 of the toughest female competitors from Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. She was also named Skyline's Athlete of the Week for being a hard worker and a dedicated teammate.

In addition, Skyline senior Xander Zollinger placed third, junior Xoey Zollinger placed 4th, senior Abby Wegener placed 5th and freshmen Ayden Tokita placed 6th. From Idaho Falls, DJ Neider took third. Saxton Scott took 4th.

Make time to watch the popular documentary "Nic Sick: The Dangers of Youth Vaping" on Feb. 8 on Idaho Public Television. IPTV is partnering with Eastern Idaho Public Health for this presentation to help raise awareness about the dangers of vaping. Learn more about the documentary and watch the "Nic Sick" trailer. This is a great opportunity for parents and kids to watch together and have a conversation about vaping.

Another great resource is ParentGuidance's January Newsletter: Clear Lungs, Bright Futures(English/Spanish) . Check out the latest issue to learn the latest insights, trends, and essential information about vaping. Discover why it's crucial for parents to be in the know about this pressing issue and how you can safeguard your children's health.

D91 is pleased to provide this resource as part of it's ongoing partnership with ParentGuidance, which provides parents with education and therapeutic support, including online courses, coaching and "Ask a Therapist.