Superintendent June Newsletter
June 2024
Graduations, Endings, Memories, and Beginnings
Graduations for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and High School Seniors.
In the past two weeks, I have attended several graduations and promotions - from pre-school to kindergarten, kindergarten to first grade, and seniors into the world. I noticed several common themes: education, kindness, and pride in being a St. Maries Lumberjack. Adults and students spoke about using their learning/knowledge as they successfully transition to the next chapter in their lives. Adults and students also addressed the importance of kindness. They referenced their St. Maries community as the example for how to be positive and kind, moving forward. All participants frequently chanted Lumberjack pride.
Pre-Kindergarten Promotion
UpRiver Kindergarten Promotion
High School Graduation 2024
The Middle School and High School Concert
Parade of Graduates at UpRiver
Heyburn Kindergarten Graduation
Oh the places you will go, on to 1st grade you go. Congratulations!
Happenings and Highlights in the Month of May
Last month was filled with many learning and school community events!
- Field Trips
- Field days
- Shadow Days where the elementary students join the middle school for a day, and the middle school students join the high school for a day.
- School spirited dress-days (i.e. wear clothes representing your favorite sports team).
- High School Awards Night. Over $85,000 locally was awarded to our SMHS seniors on May 22nd!
- Student Leadership Elections (for grade 5 and Middle School).
- Smokey Bear made an appearance at the elementary schools.
Smokey Bear makes an appearance
Smokey Bear shared some fire safety tips with the elementary students.
Book Blast
Every elementary student received at least one new book for summer reading!
6th Grade Students got their "Reading On" this School Year.
6th grade students who read enough books this school year and earned 100 points, enjoyed a day at Silverwood. Read on!
Middle School Students visiting the High School
Student Leadership Elections (ASB)
HS Scholarship Awards Night
Over $85,000 from local donations were awarded to our high school senior lumberjacks on May 22nd! What a great example of the profound community support. Thank you to our St. Maries community!
The SD 41 Strategic Plan
The SD 41 Strategic Plan is a road map of goals and action steps, value statements and a vision/mission statement, that the School District will use as a guide covering the years 2024-2029.
The new vision statement is the following:
"Committed to quality education and collaboration by teaching skills, developing knowledge, and fostering both responsibility and confidence so that all students become productive citizens."
Staff, parents, patrons, and students can visit the District website to view the entire strategic plan.
More Happenings and Highlights
Field Trips:
- 6th grade Field trip. The 6th graders from UpRiver School visited the Historic Hughes House Museum in Benewah County. On the significant election day, students witnessed the election bell getting rung, gaining firsthand experience of the election process. The students also paid their respects at the Logger's Memorial . Mrs. Stowell gave them an enlightening lesson on local area history, showcasing their keen interest and respect for their local heritage.
- 5th grade field trip. The 5th graders at Heyburn Elementary visited the Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, placing American flags throughout the cemetery.
- 4th grade field trip. The 4th grade from Heyburn Elementary visited the Cataldo Mission and learned the history of the Mission.
- 3rd -5th field trip. The 3rd -5th grade students from UpRiver School visited Heyburn State Park, where the Idaho Fish and Game Department provided education on native fish, local wildlife, and endangered species.
Heyburn Field Day. The students and staff enjoyed a day outside playing different fun and active games. Many 11th-grade high school students assisted in the event. Overall, the day was filled with activity and community. Thank you to all our volunteers!
Welding certificates. A big round of applause for the five high school students who recently earned their Welding certificate. They not only demonstrated their Welding skills at Osarc, but also performed at a competent level, earning a certification that speaks volumes about their dedication and skill. Let's also acknowledge the 17 students who earned the OSHA safety certificate, which is a testament to their readiness for the workforce.
Local Official Class Visit. Senator Phil Hart, from Legislative District 2, visited a U.S. History class at St. Maries High School, of which I fortunate enough to attend. The class and I learned some new information about the Idaho State Government and the State Constitution.
Fallen Heroes
Field Trips
Heyburn Field Day
Senator Hart visited SMHS on May 31
Parade of Graduates at Heyburn
SMHS Senior Graduation - June 1.
Congratulations again to the graduating class of 2024.
Facilities and Building Safety Projects for the Summer
Building Safety Projects
- Surveillance cameras at SMMS and UpRiver
- Perimeter fencing at SMMS
- Exterior lighting at all four school sites
- Intercom systems, assessed with a 3 -4 year plan for updates per site
- Secure exterior doors at Heyburn Elementary
- Exit door at the Heyburn Elementary Gym
- Secured entrances at UpRiver School and SMHS.
Facilities Projects
Heyburn
- Upgrade the plumbing in the first floor bathrooms
- Reframe the exit door between the bleachers in the gym
- Repairs in the gym at the Southeast corner.
- Replace some bricks and repoint the water for drainage
- Add a fob key entrance near the gym and the new wing
- Improve landscaping with a sprinkler system
UpRiver School.
- Add a fob key entrance at the side entrance
- Repair/replace 2 surveillance cameras
- Install a new paging/audio intercom system
SMMS
- Build perimeter fencing at the outside field
- Install 4 new surveillance cameras
- Install a new intercom system
SMHS
- Construction of a new CTE shop
- Design plans for a more secure building entry way
- Install more exterior lightening around the perimeters of the buildings
The 2023-24 Preliminary Data is Looking Promising
Idaho Reading Inventory ( K -3)
English Language Arts Preliminary Results
Math Preliminary Results
The state preliminary results show improvement with 33% of the students at or above grade level. There is another 55 students who are now proficient/advanced, which happens to be a 55% increase in the number of students who are now proficient/advanced.
Math Curriculum Committee Update
Secondary, grades 6 -12, are adopting Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Into Math for the next six years.
Elementary, grades PK - 5, are recommending forward Singapore Dimensions at the June 10 Board Meeting.
Important Calendar Dates
- June 10. Regular School Board Meeting
- June 24. Special School Board meeting on Board policies
- July 8. Regular School Board Meeting
- July 22. Tentative Special School Board meeting on Board policies.
Regular School Board Meetings Broadcasted
The Regular School Board Meetings are now being broadcasted through this link: https://www.youtube.com/@SD41YouTube/streams
The next School Board Meeting is Monday, June 10, 2024.
Full Circle
The 2023-24 school is ending on Friday, June 7. The District Office remains open through the summer. While the school year comes to a close, there are memories and new experiences on the horizon:
- Students will be starting kindergarten.
- Elementary students are transitioning to middle school.
- Middle school students are transitioning to high school.
- High school students are…….well, the seniors graduated, entering life after their K -12 education career.
SD 41 started the year with a theme of “being a champion” and a “marigold” for each other and students. A “champion” being one’s go-to person and a “marigold” being one’s cheerleader. The themes of kindness and community resounded throughout the year and especially surfaced in these final weeks of school.
Now, our SD 41 graduates enter higher education, the workforce, or the military, spreading love, support and kindness with people they come in contact with. They get to use their skill and knowledge, confidence and hard-work as they build a productive adult life.