Sandpoint High School

Dear Bulldog Students, Families, and Friends,

Happy Spring Break! We hope this week offers you a chance to relax, recharge, and create meaningful memories with your loved ones. At Sandpoint High School, our dedicated staff has been working closely with students to wrap up the third quarter on a strong note. Keep an eye on your inbox next week for your child’s report card—it's a great opportunity to celebrate their successes and set goals for the final stretch of the year!

As we return from Spring Break, we will dive into the exciting sprint to the finish line. For our current juniors, SAT testing is right around the corner, alongside Idaho ISAT assessments in ELA, math, and science. These exams are an important way for students to showcase their skills and progress. Meanwhile, our incredible counseling team has been busy collecting course “forecasts” for next year. After the break, counselors will meet one-on-one with each student to ensure their schedules align with graduation requirements, personal goals, and future aspirations.

We are thrilled to share the impact of our efforts to limit cell phone usage at SHS. By creating a learning-focused environment, we’ve seen students become more engaged in the classroom, build stronger face-to-face connections, and even reduce stress levels. At the District Safety Summit last week, research from the book, The Anxious Generation, highlighted the toll excessive screen time can take on mental health, and our policy has helps students stay present and connected in meaningful ways. Let’s continue to encourage responsible technology use at home to support this positive momentum!

As always, we value your partnership in your student’s success. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, the SHS administrative team, or our dedicated counselors and teachers. Together, we can make the remainder of this school year our best yet!

Sincerely,

Principal Jacki Crossingham

Did you know that in the State of Idaho parents are always free to contact us if they would like their student to opt out from any class, activity, or program that conflicts with their “firmly held beliefs, values, or principles"? Here at Sandpoint High School we are more than happy to do this for students.

Specifically for students opting out of SmartPass, our alternative is a traditional school planner. Here’s how it works: The student would note their destination and departure time in the planner, get a quick signature from their teacher, and, for destinations beyond the restroom or water fountain, the receiving staff member would sign next to the arrival time. It’s a simple, reliable way to keep track while respecting your preferences. If you’d like to sit down with us to fine-tune any details or discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to let us know, we’re happy to set up a time that works for you.

Wil is a dedicated student-athlete who has excelled both in the classroom and on the court. He has been a member of the high school varsity golf and basketball teams, serving as the captain of the boys' varsity basketball team during his senior year. Beyond his own athletic achievements, he has devoted countless hours to mentoring young athletes, assisting with basketball camps, tournaments, and coaching multiple summer camps. His commitment to academics and athletics earned him the Boys' Basketball Team Scholar-Athlete Award. Wil holds a weighted GPA of 4.09, ranking 46th out of 215 students, and an unweighted GPA of 3.97, ranking 26th out of 215. Following high school, he plans to attend college and pursue a degree in the medical field.

Carys is a senior at Sandpoint High School with a 4.35 weighted GPA, ranking her ninth in her class. She has a wide variety of activities outside of school, including being a pianist of 14 years, a guitar player, a former Academic Decathlon member, and a current member of National Honor Society and Sandpoint Interact Club. In piano, she is progressing towards earning her Associate's Diploma in the Royal Conservatory of Music program (based out of the University of Toronto). Her achievements also include being an Academic Decathlon nationalist medalist, Junior Top Scholar, three-time Honorable Mention recipient in the Spokane Music Artistry Program, and multiple honors and first-class honors awards on her RCM exams. After she graduates from high school, she plans to study astrophysics and piano performance as a double major, though she has not yet chosen where she is going to study. After completing her PhD in astrophysics, she hopes to use her degree to travel around the world, observing the cosmos in different places and teaching internationally.

Allison Inge is the head teacher in SEC, here are some of the things people are saying about her:

• Allison works tirelessly to support both the students and staff in the Life Skills room as well as those of us in the rest of the building. She has a heart of gold and brings energy and positivity to the team. We are so lucky to have her here at SHS.
• She's amazing!
• Allison works with a very important student population that often flies under the radar. Being a special services provider in my previous school district, I understand the importance of providing a meaningful learning environment for each and every student, and this is exactly what Allison does on a daily basis. She cares for each and every one of her students, and does everything she possibly can to provide for each of their unique needs. Although it is a very rewarding position, it is equally challenging. She is very deserving of staff member of the month recognition.
• She is a very hard worker and she should be recognized for her hard work.

Congratulations to Makayla Upshaw our SHS March student of the month. Makayla's English teacher Russ Bean nominated her and had this to say. "Makayla embodies everythig that defines a hard worker. I know that there are aspects of English 11 class that present challenges for many student, but Makayla approaches each challenge with an, "I'm going to be successful at this," mindset. She advocates for herself in class by asking questions for clarification, seeking examples, and getting feedback on her progress. Makayla takes ownership over her learning, and it has been my pleasure to watch her skills grow this year."

Other students recognized were Sean Ketchum, Darrin Flanigan, Emma Lopez, Breanna Sosa, Ashwin Brown, Wyatt Mitchell, Jakob Miloglav, and Danielle Nader. You are all awesome and we appreciate you!

We are proud to announce the achievements of our Sandpoint High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) students at the Idaho State Leadership Conference. Competing against top students from across the state, 16 of our students had the opportunity to showcase their skills, professionalism, and dedication. Overall, there were 13 awards earned.

The following students have earned the honor of competing at the BPA National Leadership Conference this spring in Orlando, Florida:

● Rachel Aylward – 2nd in Administrative Support Team and 3rd in Advanced Office Systems &

Procedures

● William Bean – 4th in C# Programming

● Ruby Evans – 2nd in Administrative Support Team

● Ryan Hanson – 2nd in Administrative Support Team and 5th in Fundamental Desktop Publishing

● Phoebe Lang – 2nd in Administrative Support Team and 2nd in Intermediate Word Processing

● Wyatt Lang – 5th in Fundamentals of Web Design

Congratulations to our students who placed in the Top 10 in their events:

● William Bean – Fundamentals of Web Design

● Karli Lippert – Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications

● Rece Wolff – Advanced Spreadsheet Applications and Integrated Office Applications

Beyond the awards, every member of our BPA team showcased leadership, professionalism, and hard work. Whether competing, networking, or learning, they represented Sandpoint High School extremely well.

Back Row: Wyatt Lang, Ruby Evans, Nathan Whittier, Asher Nieman, Rece Wolff, Marlee Korsten, William Bean. Front Row: Kiana Klinginsmith, Phoebe Lang, Ryan Hanson, Olivia Alt, Olivia Hull, Lauren Bynum, Rachel Aylward, Karli Lippert, Abigail Schickedanz

Sandpoint brought three teams and a total of 18 students to compete in the state competition in Rexburg, Idaho and came home as state champions for the seventh straight year. All team members won at least one medal, and in total we hauled in 30 gold medals, 32 silver medals, and 20 bronze. Sandpoint swept the overall high scorers for each division (Torin Haesle for honors, Wyatt Lang for Scholastic, and Bruce Landano for Varsity). Sandpoint's Team One also won the SuperQuiz contest. Students competed in seven objective testing events, gaining experience taking standardized tests on Friday and on Saturday they competed in Speech and Interview. Sandpoint traditionally excels in the subjective events and this year was no exception, sweeping gold in all three divisions for speech and taking home silver and bronze in Honors and Scholastic as well. Students have used their Aca Deca polished speech and interview skills for college admittance, to gain employment, and in their careers after high school. Students are more capable of thinking quickly and conversing in a professional manner thanks to their experience on the Aca Deca team,

From here we need to raise another $4000 in the coming weeks to pay for the trip for all nine students that will be going to Nationals. Fundraising goes on year round, and typically our efforts get us about half of what we need for a trip to Nationals. The "National Nine" (Torin Haesle, Evan Brubaker, Abby Eldore, Wyatt Lang, Ellie Klippel, Keagan Cole, Sophia Sperry, Bryce Landano, and Sophia Capodagli) will continue to study for Nationals and the rest of the class will start exploring next year's topic-- The Roaring Twenties. We are hoping to finish in the top three at Nationals, which we have only done once before, but we feel like this ambitious goal is attainable and it is best to reach for the stars!

Aca Deca celebrates their 7th consecutive state championship win!

Front: Jack Lovin and Kodo Klippel

Middle and Back: Becky Haag, Bodi Demmons, Ryan Gaffney (putting a choke hold on Keagen), Keagan Cole, Bryce Landano, Torin Haesle Wyatt Lang on Torin's shoulders, Evan Brubaker, Harrison Giles, Sohpia Sperry, Felix Kohout, Sarah Wolff (who is behind Abby), Abby Eldore, Julieanna Carla, Miriam Hammond, Stella Haag

From March 10-15, 20 students and 3 chaperones of SHS’s honors-level International Relations class trekked to the heart of New York City to attend the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference, the largest and most prestigious MUN conference in the world! Students participated in various committees for 3+ hours a day, attempting to pass resolutions on real-world issues around the globe.

Our students had hands-on experience in international diplomacy, developed public speaking and negotiation skills, and broadened understanding of global affairs as they represented either Switzerland or Bangladesh. The academic work was rigorous over the conference, and definitely a trip of endurance. I was deeply impressed with how hard they had to work in these committees as they are under a time constraint to agree upon the best course of action, oftentimes in committees of 50-100 delegates.

But, while work was intense, the group was able to play as well. We attended The Museum of Natural History, strolled through Central Park, and saw Aladdin on Broadway on our first day before the conference started. Then next, some students elected to go see the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial while others attended the Museum of Modern Art. The conference also had Joe Biden as a guest speaker one morning.

New York City is pretty incredible in contrast to Sandpoint, Idaho, and our students had experiences that I hope will last a lifetime. The cultural diversity of the city and at the conference was staggering. Our class worked with students from Italy, France, Venezuela, the UAE, England, Georgia (the country), Australia, Costa Rica, Spain, Cambodia, Mexico, China, Canada, Germany, California, Florida, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, and many more!

By the time we purchase plane tickets, these students had raised around $35,000 in just a few months, and it was a significant grind with ups and downs in confidence that we would ever get over the threshold needed to actually attend the conference. In the end, the community was so supportive of these students’ academic goals, and we are all so very thankful. As I said before, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that we made lifetime memories.

We’re already making plans for NHSMUN 2026!

~ Conor Baranski

Students pictured: Bailey Lancaster, Fisher Dail, Houston Cordle, Carys Perilloux, Elizabeth Craven, Sophie Capodagli, Alex Appl, Trevor Richardson, Sienna Todd-Murray, Ari Holle, Jetta Thaete, Lane Gavin, Ada Anderson, Brooke Brown, Kenzi Norris, Gavan Miles, Maddie Hall, Bryce Tyburski, Maddie Mitchell, Camille McClelland

Teacher pictured: Conor Baranski

"Students in Mrs. Mullen's Everyday Physics & Chemistry classes made model Medieval Siege Weapons, including trebuchets, catapults, and ballistas. Their models completed maximum range, over-a-wall, consistency, and destruction tests."

Mr. Clary chose Gavin Day as the Coca Cola student athlete for the month of March. Mr. Clary chose Gavin for his ability to be a leader on the team and leading the team with his batting average.

SHS Grad-Night Parent Committee needs YOUR help to make Grad-Night happen for the senior class of 2025! Grad-Night will be your seniors final get-together with their classmates! This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to get involved with your kiddo's classmates, community, and to show these young adults how proud we are of their scholastic accomplishments, all together, ONE. LAST. TIME. To get on Grad-Night's mailing list, follow this link below:

Mailing List Request Form!

The SHS Grad-Night Parent Committee has several fundraising events coming up and need volunteers to make them happen! Follow these links below to take a look at the upcoming volunteering opportunities available!

Annual Grad-Night Banquet volunteering!

MISC volunteer opportunities!

Raffle related volunteering!

Food & drink volunteering for event night!

Security volunteering for event night!

Game related volunteering for event night!

Follow SHS Grad-Night Parent Committee on their social media outlets to stay up to date on this years Grad-Night!

Instagram!

Facebook!

SHS Grad Night Website!

For more information you may email the Grad-Night Parent Committee shsgradnightparentcommittee@gmail.com

' *The SHS Grad-Night Parent Committee is independent from Sandpoint High School. Funds raised are used for and go to the graduates of Sandpoint High School for their traditionary sober and safe post graduation celebration, funds raised do not go to Sandpoint High School* '