Our local levy vote is March 12
Fundamentals like school safety, health services, transportation, technology and classroom supplies are funded with the 2-year Maintenance & Operations levy supporting Coeur d'Alene Public Schools. Our levy request for the next two school years is on the ballot in the March 12 election. The levy would provide $20 million a year for District operations. We invite you to watch the following short video to learn more about the local levy and how it helps fund our schools.
Public presentations on our levy
Want to know more about the levy? Join us at any of these levy talks with Dr. Steven Cook, Superintendent of Coeur d'Alene Public Schools. He will talk about the levy request on the March 12 ballot, including what the current levy funds in the district and what the proposed $20 million-a-year levy will support. Dr. Cook will answer questions about the levy at each event. Snacks and refreshments are provided. We hope to see you there!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 ... Yes, tomorrow!
Noon to 1 p.m. at the Human Rights Education Institute
414 West Fort Grounds Drive
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Coeur d'Alene Education Partnership's State of the District
5:30 p.m., Innovation Collective, 418 East Lakeside Avenue
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
5 to 6 p.m., cafeteria at Canfield Middle School
1800 East Dalton Avenue
More information is available at www.cdaschools.org/levybond
STATE OF THE DISTRICT, FEB. 19: Celebrating students, sharing updates on key initiatives
The Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership will host the 7th annual State of the District in partnership with Coeur d’Alene Public Schools. The program is sponsored by Northwest Specialty Hospital. This year’s State of the District is a celebration of students who have performed extraordinary acts of kindness. It's also an opportunity to learn more about exciting new programs the District has introduced in support of our students.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
- Update from Superintendent Steven Cook on the 2-year levy and its support of students
- Students will talk about the impact of several District mental health wellness programs
- Presentation on Coeur d’Alene Connects, our online career mentoring program that allows students to gain career insights from community professionals
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 19. Social at 5:30 PM, program at 6 PM
WHERE: Innovation Collective, Lakeside Ave. and Fifth St.
Sources of Strength training for students and staff completed
These 250 peer leaders, representing all grade levels, social circles and individual strengths, will work with adult advisors to encourage other students to individually assess and develop strengths in their lives. They will promote positivity and encourage others to connect to someone when they are going through hard times.
Following are photos from the high school training completed last week, plus a Sources of Strength video produced by students at Coeur d'Alene High School.
Preparing for new delayed-start option for severe weather
Within a week or so we hope to be ready with the option of announcing a delayed start to the school day when weather and road conditions warrant it. Soon we will share more details with you about how delayed-start days will work. Until then, we will continue to evaluate road and weather conditions daily, with the options of remaining open on our usual schedule or announcing a full-day school closure.
All of our schools are working to ensure they are ready with revised schedules in the event a delayed start is announced. A modified breakfast would still be available to students who wish to eat before school. The district's School Plus program is planning to accommodate additional elementary students at school sites for students registered with School Plus, even if they attend the program only on delayed-start days. More details about the process will be shared soon.
In an online survey last month, district families indicated strong support for a delayed start option. From 2,571 survey responses, 77.6 percent said the district should consider postponing school start times, such as a 2-hour delay, when the extra time may provide a safer morning commute. The survey also asked what are the primary concerns about pushing back school start times. Of the 1,663 responses to that question, the top concern was impact on work schedules, followed by availability of child care, transportation, and impact on morning preschool or kindergarten.
To make sure your family is ready for a delayed-start school day, think about your morning routines and alternatives for supervising young children until it's time to head to school a couple of hours later than usual.
Our spelling bee champs and the words they nailed
Grade 3 – Lalana Saitta, Ramsey Magnet School of Science
- maraca (a rattle usually made from a gourd that is used as a percussion instrument)
Grade 4 – Taylor Smith, Bryan Elementary School
- khan (a medieval sovereign of China and ruler over the Turkish, Tatar, and Mongol tribes)
Grade 5 – Bailey Burke, Ramsey Magnet School of Science
- cilantro (leaves of coriander used as a flavoring or garnish)
Grade 6 – Ashland Schnell, Canfield Middle School
- hazard (a source of danger)
Grade 7 – Carter Lingenfelter, Woodland Middle School
- clementine (a small nearly seedless citrus fruit that is probably a hybrid between a tangerine and an orange)
Grade 8 – Katarina Bried, Woodland Magnet Middle School
- buccaneer (any of the freebooters preying on Spanish ships and settlements especially in 17th century West Indies)
Invent Idaho winners advance to state competition
Our innovative students had an amazing showing in the Invent Idaho regional competition last month, with 29 of them taking awards! That includes Best of Show winners:
- JONATHAN GAGLIARDI, Northwest Expedition Academy, Grades 1-4, for “Comic Rush”
- CALEB TORGENSON, Hayden Meadows Elementary, Grades 5-8, for “The Organ Printer”
Also, four of our students won Best of Category awards:
- IAN HAMPTON, Hayden Meadows, in Working Models for “Bandage for Boxes”
- GRETA MCDEVITT, Sorensen Magnet School, in Non-Working Models for “Dog Cookie Maker”
- LYDIA KIRKBRIDE, Winton Elementary, in Games & Gadgets for “Math Path”
- CAL MCDEVITT, Sorensen, in Jules Verne for “Hyper Accumulator”
All of the winning inventions are invited to compete at the state competition March 1-2 in Moscow. Congratulations to all our Invent Idaho winners!
Stay Connected
Email: info@cdaschools.org
Website: www.cdaschools.org
Location: 1400 N. Northwood Center Court
Phone: (208) 664-8241
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cdaschools
Twitter: @cdaschools