D91 Update Feb 7, 2025

Celebrating Our Amazing Teachers & Students!

This week, I had the incredible opportunity to visit both elementary and high school classrooms, and what a joy it was!

In first grade, I joined small reading groups, and in second grade, I saw pure excitement as students shared their love for Charlotte’s Web! In fifth grade, I watched students enthusiastically count cans for the “Souper Bowl” food drive—what an amazing way to give back to our community!

The next day, I visited high school science classes during Friday intervention. I saw teachers working one-on-one with students, helping them grasp concepts, conduct labs, master vocabulary, and prepare for upcoming lessons. The energy in these classrooms was inspiring!

One science teacher shared that this trimester, she had the fewest number of D grades ever—that means more students are passing classes and making progress toward graduation! What fantastic news!

This week reminded me of the unwavering dedication and incredible talent of our teachers. Their passion for helping every student learn and grow is truly inspiring. I am so grateful for our teachers and staff—you are changing lives every single day!

Superintendent Karla LaOrange

How do we know what our students are truly learning? A few years ago, educators began rethinking the way we frame student expectations. We often emphasize “work” – homework, classwork, and being a hard worker – but real learning is more than just staying busy. This shift in mindset has led to a renewed focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), where collaboration helps ensure that every student masters essential knowledge and skills.

PLCs operate with three key goals in mind:

✅Identifying core knowledge—what students must learn

✅Measuring learning through benchmarks and assessments

✅Developing responses to setbacks in learning

When structured effectively, PLCs create a powerful cycle of instruction, assessment, and support to ensure students aren’t just working—they’re learning. Through inquiry-based projects, performance-based assessments, and structured interventions, PLCs help teachers collaborate and adjust strategies based on student needs.

For students who need extra support, targeted interventions (Tier II and Tier III in the RTI Model) help close learning gaps. Whether through study halls, small-group instruction, or one-on-one mentoring, PLCs allow us to focus on learning, growth, and success for all students.

PLCs are more than just a meeting—they’re a commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, and student success. Together, we ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive!

We are exploring the second of a four-part series on PLCs by Larry Ferlazzo. Check out part two at the link below. Enjoy!

Three Elements of PLCs

As technology continues to evolve, so does its impact on our children. One of the biggest shifts in recent years is what some experts call “the great rewiring”—the moment a child transitions from a simple device to a smartphone with a front-facing camera, social media, and constant connectivity.

For many children, this transition means more than just access to new features; it introduces a new form of dependency. When faced with a difficult task or boredom, kids (and even adults) often turn to their phones for entertainment and distraction. However, unlike adults, teenagers' brains are still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate impulse control and decision-making. This makes them more susceptible to instant gratification and digital distractions.

The introduction of social media in the early 2000s—MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster—was relatively harmless compared to what followed. In 2009 and 2010, the rise of super-viral social media changed everything. Features like the News Feed, Like button, Retweet, and Share button created a system designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. Notifications now serve as constant interruptions, pulling kids back in with alerts like:

• "Someone tagged you in a photo."
• "Someone liked your post."
• "Someone mentioned you in a comment."

These notifications act as a direct line to our children, allowing social media companies to influence, engage, and even manipulate their attention. Unfortunately, many children don’t turn off notifications, making it even harder to step away.

As parents and educators, we must be aware of these challenges and help guide our children. Encouraging mindful phone use, setting boundaries, and fostering in-person connections can make a significant difference in helping our kids navigate this digital world.

CBS News recently profiled a Kansas 8th grader who made a bold decision—he traded his smartphone for a flip phone. Curious to see what life would be like without constant notifications and social media, his friends joined him in the experiment, swapping their smartphones for flip phones for one week. The results were eye-opening.

Find out what happened by following the link below: CBS News Smart Phone Swap

This story highlights an important conversation about screen time, digital balance, and the effects of constant connectivity on our kids. It’s a reminder of the importance of balancing technology with real-life experiences. small changes can have a big impact on our children's well-being.

Let’s work together to support our children in balancing technology with real-life experiences.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Vision Committee—an exciting opportunity for our community to come together and help shape the future of Idaho Falls School District!

The Vision Committee will collaborate to develop a new mission and vision statement that reflects our commitment to student learning and educational opportunities. As part of this work, the committee will also help select a new district logo that aligns with our renewed focus on elevating student learning and opening doors of opportunity.

How You Can Get Involved:

• The committee will meet twice per month and will include parents, teachers, and administrators.
• Members will help design parent and staff surveys to gather input from the D91 community.
• Your feedback will be critical in shaping our district’s future!

We value your voice and invite you to be part of this important process. Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate—we can’t wait to work together to create a bright future for our students!

Vision Committee Parent Interest

Does your child ride the bus to school? If so, My Ride is for you! This exciting new program provides real-time updates on pick-up and drop-off times, as well as route delays for D91 buses—keeping you informed and ensuring your child’s safety every step of the way.

With My Ride, your child will receive a unique ID card to scan when they board and exit the bus. This extra layer of security ensures they’re on the correct route and getting off at the right stop.

No more waiting in the cold! The My Ride app even lets you set an alarm to notify you when the bus is just two minutes away—making those busy mornings a little easier.

D91 is proud to be the first district in our area to offer this innovative program. Get started today! Use the link below to download the My Ride app and register your child. Once registered, you'll have real-time bus updates at your fingertips—starting next week!

My Ride Registration Apply for a My Ride card

Let’s ride smarter, safer, and stress-free with My Ride!

Did you guess it, or were you surprised? Charlotte’s Web is our One District, One Book selection, and we’re thrilled to join together as a D91 community to read and enjoy this beloved classic!

How One District, One Book Works:

• Each family with an elementary-aged student will receive a copy of Charlotte’s Web, along with a reading calendar that outlines which chapters to read each day.
• Enjoy read-aloud videos and audio recordings featuring local celebrity guest readers! Recordings are available in both English and Spanish, so everyone can join the fun. Watch them here: Video Recordings Audio Recordings
• More resources will be shared throughout the program to make the experience even more engaging for families!

Mark Your Calendars!

Wondering which chapter we’re reading this week? Check out the Charlotte’s Web reading calendar here: Charlotte's Web Reading Calendar

We’re excited to celebrate the joy of reading together—happy reading, D91!

The annual Souper Bowl food drive goes from now until Saturday, February 15. All donations go to the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket. Cash and Venmo donations are encouraged. For the sake of the contest, people are asked to indicate which school they are donating on behalf of. We are proud of our students who put this together every year and give back to our community.

Compass Academy is a school of choice in District 91. Compass is a project-based learning high school that specializes in project-based learning with projects that are related to real-world events and applications. Students have access to unique electives, advanced classes, and college classes on campus.

Compass is now accepting applications for incoming 9th-th grade students until March 1st. This month, Compass is hosting student and parent tours and project nights. Come see the campus in person or Visit the Compass Instagram to see projects in action @compasslions. Learn more and apply:https://compass.ifschools.org/

We are honoring our school counselors as we wrap up National School Counseling Week. Their kind hearts and understanding for all situations help everyone in each of our schools. Thank you again for all that you do for all that they do for our students and staff! Michele Wells from Linden Park Elementary School shares what she loves about being a school counselor.

• Feb 13: Parent Teacher Conferences for Secondary Schools, Early release for Middle Schools
• Feb 14: On-line Learning day for Secondary Schools/Teacher Comp Day
• Feb 17: Presidents Day, No School
• Mar 7: End of 2nd Trimester
• Mar 10: Teacher Work Day- No School

Skyline Drama's presentation of Anastasia opened this week and runs February 6-8, 10-11. Each show will begin at 7pm at the Eagle Rock Auditorium. You can purchase tickets here. Cost is $9 for adults, $7 for students. We talked to some of the talented cast members about the show and why you should come watch.

Later this month, the IFHS R.O.A.R Theatre Company presents The Hello Girls. The show runs February 19-22 at Taylorview Middle School. The students at both IFHS and SHS are regular contenders for the Patty Duke Awards, which recognizes extraordinary achievements in musical theater among high school students in the state of Idaho. Come see them for yourself!!

Huge congratulations to the CTEC CyberPatriot teams for dominating the Idaho State Rounds! Here are the results.
Platinum:

2nd Place: Asteria,

3rd Place: BinaryBarbarian
Gold:
1st Place: SlipperSlope PD
2nd Place: Hashbrown

These students have worked tirelessly, honing their cybersecurity skills and competing against the best in the state. Their dedication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities continue to impress!

Congratulations to Idaho Falls High School's Robin Christensen for being named the Section 8 NFHS Speech and Debate Educator of the Year. Over 11 years at Idaho Falls High School, Christensen has coached numerous state champions and two national champions – the only two in Idaho’s history. We are proud that some of the best teachers in the country are right here at D91.

Congratulations to the Skyline Grizzlies who were named to the 5A All-State football team for this past season. CarMyne Garcia, Zyan Crockett, Daxton Perkins, Kaesen Smith, and Bennett Southwick all were named to the first team. Trey Kirkham, Dylan Meek, Corbin Lancaster, and Gage Searle all earned second team honors. Well done, Grizz.

Students from both Idaho Falls and Skyline High Schools showed off their talents to the rest of the state at the Idaho Music Education Association's All-State concerts in Lewiston over the weekend. It was an amazing opportunity for our students to work with a guest conductor and expand their musical skills. Congratulations to all of our D91 students who qualified to go and thank you to the great music educators in our district for helping our students reach their potential.

Idaho Falls High School has a new wall of champions on display thanks to the Tiger Club. You can see it Wednesday night during the big rivalry game against Skyline. We appreciate the support the booster clubs in D91 give to our students. If you would like to get involved, you can find out more about the Tiger Club here.

Katie Hatch's Professional Development/Management students have begun a soda delivery service. To help her students build job skills, practice social interactions, learn about money management, staff place their orders ahead of time from the monthly menu and pay for their chosen drink. Ms. Hatch helps the students prepare the drinks and teachers then receive their mid-day boost, delivered with a smile from the students.

Eagle Rock Middle School: Track Coach

Eagle Rock Middle School: Assistant Track Coach

Idaho Falls High School: Football Head Coach

Linden Park Elementary: Title I Tutor Limited-Full-time

Longfellow Elementary: Satellite Server Part-time

Skyline High School: Assistant Tennis Coach

Taylorview Middle School: EL Tutor-Limited Full-time

Taylorview Middle School: Assistant Manager-Full-time

See all current openings here.