October Newsletter

The Calder School, home of the Wolverines, is the only school in the Avery, Clarkia, Calder School District. We have 2 full-time certificated teachers, and one PreK/Title I aide. Less than 20 students PreK through 8th grade attend our school.

The Calder School boasts rigorous coursework for our students. Many of whom perform at above grade-level. 80% of students in kindergarten through third grades read at above grade level.

Math proficiency increased by 8 percentage points during the '23/'24 school year.

English Language Arts proficiency increased by 19 percentage points last school year for a proficiency rate of 50%!

The Avery, Calder, Clarkia School District proudly offers every 8th grade graduate from the Calder Junior High the opportunity to secure a scholarship after graduating from high school.

When students successfully complete their first year of a college or other post-secondary training school, they can be reimbursed for up to $1000 for each year they attended the Calder School.

This is a very unique opportunity only available to graduates of the Calder School.

We value education and prioritize early childhood learning opportunities. Therefore we offer a free pre-school program for 4 year-olds. Preschool students work closely with the kindergarten and first grade students during activities like PE and art. They also enjoy learning their colors, shapes, letters in a flexible environment with ample outdoor and free play time.

Weekly story time is hosted for all area youngsters. No registration is required. Contact the Avery District Office for more information.

Our district not only prioritizes the education provided to the youth in our district, but we also value adult learning opportunities for our stakeholders. We are proud to host adult learning and community events at the Calder School to benefit the area as a whole. The first Avery School District Safety Summit was held this summer. All are welcome to join us again on October 8 for another free Safety Summit event.

The Avery District loves making connections with our community. Staff and students look forward to meeting and conversing with community members at our annual Veteran's Day luncheon and Christmas program each year.

The District and Parents' Club are working on other community events this year including Community Library Hours and Bingo. Stay tuned for more information.

The Calder School is eager to welcome new out-of-district students for the 2024-2025 school year. Openings are limited. For information on the application process please call the Avery School District Office at (208)245-2479.

Calder School students participated in a Patriot Day celebration to commemorate those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Students learned about 9/11 in their classrooms and lowered the flag to half-staff.

Students' lessons centered on the different branches of government and particularly the Constitution and what it means on September 17, Constitution Day. Classes listened to messages from State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, Representative Matthew Bundy, Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan, and Governor Brad Little. Students discussed what the Constitution guarantees and how to be informed citizens.

Last year, middle school students were nationally recognized for Best in Show Award for Best Evaluation of Results for their Plant the Moon Challenge results. They competed against other students in the U.S. as well as South Korea and Canada!

Calder students again have the opportunity to participate in this competition with the help of the Idaho Space Grant!

Students have begun setting their experiment parameters. Discussions include finding out what kind of fertilizer will work best for their seeds.

Teachers have set a lofty ready challenge goal of 500 hours for the student body. When students reach their goal of reading 500 hours collectively, all students will be invited on a field trip to the Mobius Discovery Center in Spokane!

Students are mapping their progress in the gym. Each week students move the school bus down the road toward Mobius for each hour read.

Math classes created a scaled down version of the road and marked the miles to the Discovery Center. Art classes created stops along the way including the historic Heyburn Elementary School in St. Maries.

Students are eager to check out books from the library to take home to help reach their goal!

Miss Lyssa taught a lesson to the student body about Respect at the beginning of this month. October's Star Tickets will prioritize Respect.

We believe that partnering with local businesses and individuals will not only enhance the impact of this program but also foster a stronger connection between our school and the community. Your support would be greatly appreciated and would contribute significantly to the success of our initiative.

There are three ways for you to help:

1. You can provide an incentive for one of our Citizens of the Month. Incentives can be small or large from gift certificates, to fidgets, to food. You can choose to donate one item or something for each month of the school year.

2. You can reinforce positive character traits among our students by handing out Star tickets from your business. The District will provide you with Star tickets, and when you see one of our students doing something positive, you can hand them a Star ticket. They can then turn in their star ticket at the school for points.

3. Sponsor the Citizen of the Month in the Gazette Record. Each sponsor's name or business logo will be printed in the newspaper with a picture of the Citizen of the Month.

Family members, community members, and homeschool families are welcome to join us each afternoon for a drug/alcohol awareness activity. Call the District Office with questions.

The Idaho State Police is teaming up with the Idaho State Department of Education to provide informative talks geared toward students about the dangers of fentanyl. Join us on Monday, October 28 at 2:30 to learn more. All families and community members are welcome!

The Panhandle Health Department will be providing information to students about vaping and smoking on Tuesday, October 29 at 1:15. Guests are welcome to join us for this talk as well!

The Parents' Club has been hard at work collecting donations and conducting fundraisers to replace the gym floor.

With the help of the Innovia Foundation, we are over 1/3 of the way to getting the new floor installed. We are so grateful for the support of foundations like Innovia and our Parents' Club.

We have an involved Parents' Club that works to support students and teachers by fundraising and providing classroom incentives, special trips, and hot lunch or breakfast for students.

The Calder Parents' Club hosts a spaghetti feed fundraiser each year that funds activities. They provide hot lunch once per month, fund trips to Coeur d'Alene for an Eagle Cruise and Christmas Cruise every other year, and organize an annual schoolwide trip to Triple Play at no cost to students.

The club is always seeking more volunteers and activity ideas for students each year.

Megan Dittman will be serving hot lunch on October 18. Lasagna is on the menu!

The Parents' Club is looking for more parents who are interested in serving hot lunch once a month. Volunteers will be reimbursed $35 for each meal by the Parents' Club.

The Parents' Club is working on a fundraiser. Proceeds from the above raffle will support Erin Hanson's recovery and the Parents' Club's efforts to support students and staff.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Parents' Club Halloween Carnival on November 1. Free dinner will be served at 5:00. Games will start at 6:00.

*Bring a carved pumpkin to enter a contest.

**Wear your best costume. Prizes will be awarded to best dressed adults and kids.

The Parents' Club is seeking volunteers, candy donations, prize donations, and dessert donations for the cake walk.

Contact Ashley or Christen with questions.

A special thank you for these individuals, business, and organizations that have supported recent and/or upcoming programs for the Avery School District students.

• Panhandle Health District

• Idaho State Police
• Shoshone County Sheriff's Office
• Idaho Office of School Safety and Security
• St. Joe Tastery
• TFP's in Avery
• The Avery Store and Motel
• Innovia Foundation
• Idaho Community Foundation
• Calder Parents' Club
• Speelman Photography
• Jerrad Sindt Logging
• Ken and Kim Sharp
• PoltatchDeltic
• Jack Buell

We couldn't do it without you!