St. Maries Lumberjacks and UpRiver Panthers continue to provide a quality education where students made noticeable gains, especially in their reading and math skills. Over 60%of the student K -3 demonstrated early literacy fluency and over 60% of the high school students demonstrated grade-level reading comprehension performance.
Furthermore, the lumberjacks and panthers showed significant growth in math fundamentals and grade-level math standards.
Moreover, the staff works tirelessly to create a physically and mentally secure and stable school setting.
- The High School students simulated job interviews this past month. They also participated in several vocational and college-oriented field trips.
- The elementary schools celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday by having guests read a book to the different classrooms.
- Winter sports are winding down. All sports teams represented St. Maries well at both District and State games.
- The schools continue to reach out to the St. Maries/Fernwood community and school community with food drives and blood drives. They also hold different activities within the school to build a sense of connectivity for all students.
1. We believe in a safe and secure environment for our students.
2. We want students and staff to be held accountable to and for our work and actions.
3. Staff and students value constitutional freedoms, and civic responsibility.
4. Staff and students believe in integrity, matching our actions with our words. (doing the right thing even when no one is watching us).
5. Staff and students necessitate respect towards all individuals.
6. Staff will make data-driven and informed decisions on behalf of the students.
Lumberjack and Panther adults and students, we lean into these values when interacting with each other and when making decisions.
The new CTE Shop is under construction. The new shop will house an auto-repair shop and a forestry shop. The contractors have rerouted the water lines, the electrical wires, and the wi-fi cable. The contractors have also upgraded the goal trail/stairway. Furthermore, the construction team has begun excavation to lay the foundation. This process has been slow due to the extra water run-off and clay-like dirt. The contractors hope to make up for lost time in the summer, once the frame is built.
There are several ways to stay connected to the "happenings" in St. Maries Joint School District.
- The monthly District-Corner is published in the Gazette (the first Wednesday of each month in the back section).
- The monthly Superintendent eNewsletter
- The School and District-wide weekly Facebook posts
- The School and District websites, especially the calendar found on the front pages
- The Staff of the Month is published in the Gazette (the last Wednesday of each month)
- Weekly Wednesday Gazette articles covering different topics relevant to the School District
The Regular School Board Meetings are now being broadcasted through this link: https://www.youtube.com/@SD41YouTube/streams
The following Regular School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025.
A Special Board Meeting on Policy Review will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025
St. Maries Joint School District recognizes the importance of technology in the educational setting. Electronic communication devices, like cell phones, pose a significant distraction to the learning environment. A growing body of evidence suggests that student access to cell phones and other electronic communication devices can be detrimental to students' well-being and academic success. Therefore, the use of electronic communication devices at school is prohibited, unless otherwise noted in this policy.
The Board adopts this policy to place safety controls on the use of student-owned electronic devices at school. The Board's priority is that all students are engaged in learning without distraction.
By placing limits on the permissible use of such electronic devices, the Board intends to:
1. Promote student safety;
2. Support staff in maintaining a school environment that is safe and focused on academic learning;
3. Promote responsible technology use;
4. Prevent cyberbullying
5. Mitigate privacy concerns; and
6. Optimize instructional time
The policy shall apply to any electronic device not issued by the District and that is capable of accessing the internet or sending an electronic message to another device.
Definitions
Devices: All personal electronic communication devices including, but not limited to, the following personal devices and accessories used for communication and entertainment: cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds, headphones, video recording devices, personal digital assistants (PDA), iPods, iPads, laptop computers, tablet computers and other similar electronic devices.
School day: From the official school start time to the end of the day, school dismissal, including class periods, passing periods, free periods, lunch periods, recess, and assemblies.
During the School Day
Students must keep their devices powered off, out of sight, and not on their person (in PK - 8 grade) while on school campuses for the duration of the school day. Each school’s procedures will determine where students shall keep devices during the school day, such as in a separate backpack, bag, locker, cubby, purse, a designated location in the classroom, etc.
Restrictions on Location of Use
Students are prohibited from using their device as defined above.
1. During class time
2 During passing periods (PK -8)
3. During lunch (PK - 8)
4. At school activities during the school day (i.e. a school assembly)
5. In bathrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms.
Students are permitted to use cell phones in the following times and locations:
1. Before and after school;
2. At school activities outside of school hours;
3. During passing periods and lunchtime for the high school only
Any use of an electronic device required by a student's 504 Plan, medical plan authorized by a licensed physician, or Individualized Plan (IEP) shall be permitted.
Students may use a personal electronic device in the case of an emergency to contact help. In this policy, an emergency is an event that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any person or a risk of damage to property. If a student needs to use a personal electronic device in such an emergency, they should ensure they are in as safe a location as is feasible.
If a student’s parent/guardian or their designee needs to contact a student in the case of an emergency at a time when student cell phone use is not permitted, the school staff should bring the student to the office to speak with the parent/guardian or designee by phone or in-person.
To be clear, students may use district-issued devices (i.e. Chromebooks) during the school day.
Consequences
If a student’s device is visible, stored on their person, or turned on during the school day, the following will happen:
1. For the first violation, the device will be confiscated by a St. Maries Joint School District No. 41 employee and may be retrieved from the school's front office by the student at the end of the school day.
2. For the second violation, the device will be confiscated by a St. Maries Joint School District No. 41 employee and may be retrieved from the school's front office by the student’s parents or guardian at the end of the school day.
3. For the third violation, the student cannot have the device during the school day. TThe school uses a check-in and check-out system.
Communication with the Parent or Guardian
A parent or guardian should not expect to communicate directly with their children using their devices during classtime. In case of an emergency, a parent or guardian can always reach the school’s main office. St. Maries Joint School District No. 41 knows there will be times when a student needs to utilize a telephone during the day. St.
Maries Joint No. District No. 41 also knows that there will be certain conditions or situations where an individualized plan will permit the use of a cell phone.
Conduct
Students may not use devices (nor district-issued devices) in any manner that disrupts the educational environment, violates student conduct rules, or violates the rights of others. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Using any devices (or district-issued devices) to take photographs in locker rooms or bathrooms.
- Cheating
- Creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent visual depiction or non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images (i.e., sexting).
- Inappropriate use of any devices (or district-issued devices) at other school activities or events, on or off campus, either during or outside the school day.
Responsibility
SMSD 41 is not responsible for the loss, theft or damage to any device brought to school. If the device is confiscated for a violation of the SMSD 41 policy and/or procedures, the district and its employees shall not be responsible for safekeeping, loss, or damage.
This policy will be strictly and fairly enforced by all district personnel.
Understand that each building currently restricts where and when to use a cell phone during the day. For PK–8, the phones are not to be used in the school building. For high school students, phones should not be used in the classroom. Refer the school's student handbook to read more detail.
To be clear, students use district-issued devices (i.e., Chromebooks) during the school day.
In case of an emergency, parents/guardians can always reach the school's main office. SD 41 knows that there will be times or situations when a student needs to utilize the school phone or cell phone during the day.
The policy goes to the Board for its second read and amendment on February 10, 2025
SMSD works to establish a place where students are safe and secure and feel special and important. SMSD reaches out to families and the community to work in partnership as we provide a safe place and a quality education where we teach the necessary skills and knowledge so our children can be productive and successful citizens.
The school district has many good people, staff, students, and parents, making the school district a good place. You can click on the link to see a list of strategies used to support behavior, mental stability, training for staff, and security features for the buildings.
