News of the Huskies

This is the first edition of the Huskie Newsletter. It’s scheduled for monthly publication on the Tuesday following the regular school board meetings. It’s designed to celebrate the good news in the Emmett School District and will primarily focus on our great employees and students. Occasionally, we may have a special edition.

We will continue to distribute press releases on immediate news and share information on Facebook. If you have an idea or want to contribute something, please email Public Information Officer Vickie Holbrook.

Long-time Business Manager Cheryl LaMunyon retires at the end of this month, marking 25 years and 5 days as an Emmett School District employee. Cheryl has been the financial glue that keeps this district’s budget on track, making sure federal, state and local tax dollars are allocated in the correct buckets and that everything balances correctly.

“Community and employee trust in a school district often lies within the financial department and Emmett has been fortunate to have Mrs. LaMunyon at the helm,” Superintendent Craig Woods said. “I’m grateful for her depth of knowledge and her historical perspective. We will miss her, but I’m excited for her new adventures and we wish her well.”

What has changed the most for Cheryl since she started working 45 years ago? “Definitely wages. I started my first job making about $4 per hour!”

As for working in Emmett for the past 25 years, Cheryl said she will miss “all the wonderful people I have met and worked with here.”

Cheryl said she is looking forward to spending more time with my family, volunteering in my grandkids’ classrooms and traveling.

We are fortunate to have another veteran School District employee, Crystal Vaughan, ready to assume the role as Business Manager,” Woods said.

“She’s meticulous, and has done an excellent job in her previous positions, and I know she will continue to be stellar as she takes the next step.”

An Emmett High School graduate, Crystal started out as a part-time data entry clerk in July 1997. A friend worked for the district and suggested the data entry position. From there, Crystal also handled Accounts Payable and currently manages Payroll.

“I have worked with some wonderful people and think that is what kept me here,” Crystal said.

What excites her the most? “Spending time with my wonderful grandson.”

Brandy, a 1996 EHS alumna, will soon move into the Payroll position, leaving Emmett High School where she has worked in the office for the last eight years, and has made lifelong relationships with students and staff.

“I am excited about working with a new team and moving back to the building where I started my education in 1983 at Butte View Elementary. I have worked with the students of our community since 2000. Over the last 20 years I taught Pre-School and was a daycare director for 12 years and have coached softball since 2003. I am proud to be surrounded by a community who loves our children and want nothing but the best for their future.

#foreveraHuskie #bleedblue”

Kellie assumed her new role as Accounts Payable Clerk in July, leaving Emmett Middle School where she was Librarian. Before that, Kellie served as Attendance Clerk at Shadow Butte Elementary.

“The atmosphere, I love my co-workers (past and present) and the students!!! She enjoys challenges, so working in the District Office feels like home after working in the clerical field for more than 20 years.

Outside of the office, Kellie says chocolate and theater excite her the most. But there’s more!

“I am looking forward to all of the fun things and events that will hopefully happen this year.

My son, Talen, is a senior and it should be an exciting year! Go Huskies!”

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“Homecoming is a time where we all come together to celebrate Fall Sports and the return of School! Now, more than ever, we want that warm welcoming to be infused into this year’s Homecoming with events and other fun activities.”

The Emmett High School Leadership Class organizes Homecoming Week, which started Saturday, September 12, with paw painting and wraps up Friday, September 18, with the annual parade at noon, the football game against Ridgevue High School and the crowning of this year’s Homecoming Royalty.

It is a very special time of year for the students of Emmett High School, but it’s even more special this fall, as All Student Body President Colton Sisk explains.

“Homecoming week is the pinnacle week for schools across the nation, and our amazing town of Emmett makes it a special week for the students at Emmett High School! Ever since my Freshman year, it has held a special place in my heart and has a magical aura around the whole week,” Sisk said.

It is especially exciting after COVID quashed so many traditions last spring.

“Last year, when we learned the news of having no Hit and Run Assembly, we were all devastated. This year, we had the same suspicions for Homecoming when it came to the assembly and how we might conduct it under different stages,” Sisk said. “We were extremely relieved when we heard the news that we were cleared to have all of the events that Homecoming entails!

But students were planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

“The worst was looking like no assembly, no game, and no dance. Then we were going to plan for two assemblies to accommodate for the stage plan. Now that we are in the yellow, we are good to go as long as we follow guidelines.”

This has been a good exercise for the Student Leadership class.

“As leaders all know, some things don’t go according to plan and we always have to improvise, adapt, and overcome,” Sisk said. “The students at Emmett High School would like to thank the Emmett School District Staff, Emmett School Board, Student Council Advisors and our wonderful Administration for everything that they do in order to make this amazing week possible!”

“I applaud the Student Council for taking such a positive approach to this year’s Homecoming,” Superintendent Craig Woods said. The students understand the COVID cloud that hangs over us and how it affects our day-to-day school life."

"The start of the 2020 school year is always filled with stories of triumph, courage, compassion and community pride. As an EHS alumni, I am excited to celebrate as well and I’m hopeful that we all remember last spring and take the proper precautions to ensure that our community isn’t placed in that situation again.”

The leadership team, led by Leadership/Speech/Theater teacher Marjorie Smith, encourages the Gem County and Emmett communities to support the Emmett Huskies. The students also recognize that the big week couldn’t happen without the help of so many:

Emmett Police Department, Emmett City Council, Emmett City Works, City of Emmett Fire Department, Gem County Fire Department, Emmett School Board, Emmett School District, EHS administration, Idaho Traffic Department, Mountain West Lumber, Messenger Index and all other businesses and community members for making Homecoming a memorable experience. Also:

• Messenger-Index for this week's photos of the Homecoming Royalty candidates.
• Dwight Munger III, who created the Homecoming graphics you see in this newsletter.

Honorees and Homecoming Court:

The Student Council selected the following people to honor for their commitment to supporting EHS with their attendance at sporting events and activities, their time given whether it be to teach, coach or lead a booster club and lastly, because they make a difference in their lives.

Grand Marshals for the Parade: Gage and Spencer Young. Gage has worked in the district for many years. She was the registrar at the high school, then she was at the district office running the grading platform for the district. Her husband, Spencer Young, is a teacher at Emmett Middle School and a coach. They are active members of their daughter and son's booster teams.

Huskies’ Biggest Fan: David Lileks, Government teacher at EHS

Special Events

Link for athletic events - [post press release

• Wednesday, Sept. 16th - Powderpuff game at Huskie Stadium; 7:00 p.m.

• Bonfire after - estimated time 8:15 to 8:30 - watch Facebook this night in case this event is cancelled because of the poor air quality.

• Friday, Sept. 18th - Assembly in gym - 8:30a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

• Friday, Sept. 18th - Parade begins at 12 noon. Route - Starts at Canal and Main Street, heads East on Main Street, turns south on John's Avenue - Turns West on E. 4th street goes by Emmett Middle School (Students will stay on floats and socially distance).

• Floats include - Frosh, Soph, Jr. Senior Floats, Band float, Sports Floats, and other club and activity float.

• Also Homecoming Royalty Candidates from the following: Marching Band, Cheer, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Boy's X-Country, Girl's X-Country, Volleyball, Football.

• Friday Night Football Game - 7:00 p.m. vs Ridgeview High School

• Halftime Crowning of Royalty

• Saturday, Sept. 19th - Homecoming Dance put on by EHS Cheer

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PR2TA is excited to kick off this school year at our new location: 1805 Highway 16! Administrative staff and six educational programs will be located in this building.

An open house and ribbon cutting has been planned for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 14th.

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Once again, as it has happened for several years, elementary students at Shadow Butte and Carberry elementary schools will receive fresh fruit or veggies, usually at morning recess, according to Food Services Director Tyree White.

The fresh fruit and vegetables are thanks to a state-administered grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Only 118 schools in Idaho received this year’s grant. Under the National School Lunch Act, schools with the highest enrollment of students identified for free and reduced-cost meals are given priority for participation.

That’s one of the reasons parents are asked to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch applications, White said. Applications can be completed in the Infinite Campus parent portal.

Remember, too, thanks to the USDA, all students, regardless of family income, will receive free breakfast and lunch meals at the schools through December, or when federal funding is depleted. Read the full press release here.

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Thank you Bruce BPhotography for the awesome pictures of our students!

To see his fantastic work, please visit his Facebook page.