To nominate an employee or student who has been an outstanding example of positivity, please go to d93.org/positivity

Please note that all middle school and high school students are required to attend classes on Monday for the first two weeks of the trimester.

Students from D93 High Schools represented our district well at the annual Mayor's Scholarship Awards, bringing home 44 of 58 total scholarships, totaling $32,250.

• 1 of 5 Adam's Foundation Awards ($1,500)

• 7 of 12 Senior Awards ($10,500)

• 3 of 4 Senior Legacy Awards ($7,500)

• 27 of 30 Promise Awards ($6,750)

• 6 of 7 CEI Awards ($6,000)

Way to represent D93!

The Board recognized the following student accomplishments:

• Carson Burton, a student athlete at Thunder Ridge HS, who won the state wrestling championship in the 5A 145 lb. weight class.
• Jacob Briggs, a student at Bonneville Online HS who won the 2023 Statesman Torch Award at the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference
  
• Hannah Woodrum, Cason Adair, Brooke Porter, Ammon Fosburg, students at Praxium Mastery Academy who also brought home 1st Place Honors in Website Design Team at the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference
  

Student Council members from Thunder Ridge High School and Technical Careers High School presented reports on the great things happening in their schools and the service they have provided to their schools and the community.

• Thunder Ridge HS presentation
• Technical Careers HS presentation

Wendy currently works as the Director of Special Education in Ririe School District, but in 1999, she started her career as a special education teacher in District 93. In 2008, after earning an Education Specialist degree, she then transitioned to the role of school psychologist. In 2014 she left D93 to become the Director of Special Education at White Pine Charter. Wendy brings more than 20 years of special education experience and eight years of experience as a special education director to our district. She will officially assume the role of Director of Special Education on July 1, but she is hoping to be able to spend time over the next few months visiting our teachers, students and principals to learn more about her new job responsibilities.

The Board also approved our recommendation to hire Brody Birch as the new assistant principal at Sandcreek. Brody has been working as the assistant principal / dean of students and activities director at Teton High School since 2007. He brings 26 years of knowledge and experience in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator to our district.

We also want to thank Patti Suitter, the current assistant principal at Sandcreek, for her years of service to the students, faculty, and families of D93 as a teacher and assistant principal. Happy retirement, Patti!

If 2/3 of voters support this bond on May 16th, the funds will be used to build a new elementary school. While the new school will primarily address overcrowding in Iona, Discovery, and Ucon elementary schools, we will also work to also address overcrowding in other elementary schools when we create new school attendance zones. The resolution also provides funding to replace and repair school roofs. If approved, the bond will cost taxpayers $36 a year for every $100,000 of their property's taxable value.

D93 owns property near the northern edge of the Iona corridor. With voter approval, a new elementary school would be built on this property, providing relief to Iona, Discovery, and Ucon elementary schools.

Our parent engagement survey for 2023 is now open. This survey provides principals with valuable feedback from our parents on what's going well and what areas they should focus on for improvement. Will you please take 5 minutes to provide your feedback to us?

Here is what you’ll find in this week's D93 News:

• We have an update on the effort from a group of fourth graders at Ucon Elementary to get the legislature to adopt a state dinosaur

• The Culture and Dance Club at Bonneville and Bailemeos at Thunder Ridge have teamed up to host Jaripeo, Saturday night at 7:30 at Bonneville. We have a preview of what you can expect from this great event.

• Thunder Ridge students recently competed in an international trade competition for macroeconomics. We’ll show you what strategies were used to achieve global domination.

• The Hillcrest boys basketball team won their second state championship in a row. The tournament was held at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa where it has been since the 1990s. We’ll tell you what efforts are being made to possibly bring the tournament to this side of the state.

On Monday, March 13, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. on Facebook, Superintendent Woolstenhulme and his Team will be holding a D93 Live to talk about the district and budget priorities. This is a great time to have your questions and your concerns heard.

Nominations are now open for Idaho’s most prestigious award in teaching, Teacher of the Year. The Idaho Teacher of the Year will receive a cash award and travel across Idaho talking with other teachers, legislators and policymakers about education in the state. They will serve as Idaho’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Applications are due by March 20.

On March 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Center for the Performing Arts in Idaho Falls there is a free screening and panel discussion about the new documentary Nick Sick the Dangers of Youth Vaping. Click the poster for more details.

Reminder: The KNOW Vape Video Contest (idahoptv.org) entries are due April 1, 2023.

Parent’s Guide to Fentanyl was created to help families learn more about this drug and provide tips to help educate children.

The resource includes:

• Tips for Parents
• Information on Fentanyl
• Online Safety Tools
• Helpful Videos & Articles

Idaho Falls Power supports a variety of educational opportunities to empower today's youth to become tomorrow's leaders.

Each year, Idaho Falls Power sponsors several local high school students at the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association's (ICUA) annual Youth Rally. The mission of the Youth Rally is to inspire, pique curiosity and help youth develop the leadership qualities they possess. For one week, youth -- representing Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Alaska -- converge in Caldwell, Idaho, at the College of Idaho Campus to participate in a variety of activities and classes to promote positive relationships and build skills in leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and more. Students have a chance to learn more about government, drug and alcohol awareness, business, and the electrical/energy industry. Activities include an obstacle course, dance, talent show, roller skating, volleyball, bowling, swimming at the water park, a tour of the Capitol, and more! It is a week filled with fun, friends, and learning and gives youth the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with other local area students and youths attending the rally.

Those selected to attend will receive a $500 scholarship. Delegates also have the opportunity to earn MORE scholarship money at the week-long rally and to compete to be selected as the Idaho Representative at the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) National Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The National Youth Tour expenses are paid by the ICUA.

IFP covers all expenses for students to attend the event. The scholarship program is open to high school sophomores and juniors and whose parent or legal guardian is an Idaho Falls Power utility customer.

Applications are available at local high school counselor's offices, in person at the Idaho Falls Power office at 140 S Capital Avenue, or by CLICKING HERE.

Applications and essays are due by April 15, 2023 to be considered for the July 10-15, 2023 Youth Rally and can be dropped off or mailed to the Idaho Falls Power office or email them to: ifpinfo@ifpower.org, ATTN: ICUA Youth Rally Scholarship Application

Students, parents, and employees can reach out for help with bullying, harassment, suicidal tendencies, self-harm, threats, or to report weapons at school by going to d93.org/gethelp or sending the text @gethelp to 855-528-0074.

Thank you to our community partners at EIRMC for supporting our D93 Family Update.