November 2022 Update

Thanks to those parents and staff who participated in the two PFSD surveys regarding the 4-day school week. Parents, staff and our school board are in favor of gathering more information about a potential change to a 4-day school week.

Currently 78 of the 176 districts and charters throughout Idaho are on a 4-day school week. For those already on a 4-day schedule, there has been no noticeable change in student achievement, and many are reporting increased attendance for both students and staff. Remember, we are exploring the 4-day school week as a means to attract and retain a workforce since PFSD cannot compete with Washington wages. As we continue to explore this option, district administrators will investigate solutions for daycare and child nutrition on Fridays.

Please read your school’s newsletter for upcoming opportunities for informational conversations about this potential change. I look forward to gathering more input through this process.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Dena Naccarato, Superintendent

With zone 3 trustee Bonnie Beaulieu's resignation from the board in August, the remaining board members conducted interviews of five applicants at a special meeting on September 12. At the end of this public meeting, Sara Rodriguez was selected as the new zone 3 trustee and she sworn in at the October board meeting. Her term expires in December 2023.

“Being a PFSD board member is a unique way for me to support our school district and students. I am all about our schools and feel I portray that in everything I do. Our students are the future, and it is important to invest in and support them.”

For over a decade, Mrs. Rodriguez has been a very involved PFSD parent as her son attended kindergarten through high school in the district, graduating in 2021. Over the years, Sara volunteered at school events, supported fundraisers, and actively participated in the PFHS Booster Club. Sara was a member of the Post Falls Football Moms all four years supporting the high school football teams and also participated in the senior class parents group. She continues to hold a general Booster board position and assists with their regular activities. Sara is also involved with the Post Falls Junior Tackle & Cheer program (2012- current). In 2020, Sara was one of the founding members of the Citizens for Post Falls Schools group, and she continues to participate with the group in support of the students in the Post Falls School District.

On behalf on the Board of Trustees and the Post Falls School District, we are excited to announce our very own Karen Lauritzen, 4th grade teacher at Treaty Rock Elementary, was named Idaho's 2023 Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Karen who will represent teachers in our state in Washington DC later this spring!

Post Falls School District celebrated our veterans in a big way on Friday, November 11th. Students learned about the history of Veterans' Day and celebrated those who served in the United States Armed Forces. Each school hosted a variety of activities. Here are the highlights:

• Greensferry Elementary honored veterans with an all-school assembly. Students in 5th grade sang patriotic songs, and students in other grade levels prepared poems and thank you cards to distribute to veteran guests. Greensferry family members who served in the past or present were honored in a slideshow.
• Mullan Trail Elementary held an all-school assembly to learn about the meaning of Veterans' Day. All branches of the military and the veterans in attendance were acknowledged.
• Ponderosa Elementary held an assembly, and the students also wrote letters in their exploratory class to veterans. These letters were dropped off to Mike White Ford who will deliver them to soldiers currently serving overseas.
  
• Post Falls High School held a Veterans' Day assembly in the morning. Then in classrooms, students took a virtual field trip to a military museum or memorial.
  
• Prairie View Elementary hosted an assembly featuring performances from Special Choir, a reader's theater presentation from 5th graders, and a slideshow honoring veteran families.
• Both River City Middle School and Post Falls Middle School held Veterans' Day assemblies and invited local veterans to attend. Their choir and band students performed various patriotic songs to honor the holiday and the service of their special guests.
• Seltice Elementary students experienced a variety of classroom activities to recognize Veterans' Day. Some classes welcomed veteran speakers; others enjoyed hearing stories about veterans, and many completed classroom projects to demonstrate their learning about this holiday. A few classes also set a remembrance table and learned about the symbolism of the items on it.
• Fifth grade classrooms at Treaty Rock Elementary hosted an all-school assembly. Students performed patriotic songs, read poetry, and presented the "America's White Table" display.
• West Ridge students filled out gold stars honoring family members who have served in the military. These were hung around the school. Students also wrote letters to local veterans groups.

It's cold and flu season in Post Falls School District. The Nursing Department has answered many calls lately about when parents should keep their children home from school.

Here is the general guidance:

If your child has a fever he/she must stay home until fever free for 24 hours without a fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol/acetaminophen or Advil/ibuprofen. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea with or without a fever, he/she needs to stay home.

To minimize the spread of contagious illnesses:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer if water is not available.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Encourage your students to cough and sneeze into elbows.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Encourage getting enough sleep, drinking water, and eating healthy.
• Discourage any sharing of drinks and utensils.
• Stay home when you are sick.

If you have any questions, please call our Nursing Office at 208-773-6976.

The winter months encompass a variety of weather conditions. Please be aware of cold, wind and ice, and dress your child accordingly. School may close for the day when weather creates hazardous road conditions. School closures and late starts are announced between 5:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on the following radio stations: KVNI, KCDA, KISS, KXLY, KDRK and on television stations KREM-2, KXLY-4 and KHQ-6. School closures will be posted on the district website. The district will also utilize the School Messenger notification system for parents with texting capabilities on their cell phones who have opted in to the School Messenger system.

*To opt in and receive school notifications through School Messenger send a text message to 67587 with the word “yes” or "Y" in the body of the text. School Messenger will send a confirmation text shortly after.

Honors Biology students from PFHS spent the day at Corbin Park and Falls Park investigating how overall water quality influences the biodiversity and health of the CDA watershed/ecosystem. With the help of expert scientists from the University of Idaho, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Panhandle Health, students mastered data collection techniques required for water quality testing, macroinvertebrate collection, and aquatic invasive species collection. Students' efforts will be utilized to support a personal area of research that they will showcase in May!

For 2022-2023, families must apply for free and reduced lunches. Your child may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals. Families may qualify if the household’s annual gross income is within the limits identified by the Federal Income Eligibility Standards. Please review the income eligibility chart found at the bottom of this webpage for the gross annual income qualifications.

The online application can be found on the PFSD website, and paper copies are available upon request from the school offices. Only one application needs to be filled out per household.

If you have received an email from Nutrition Services dated after July 1, 2022, indicating your child has been approved for the program, no additional paperwork is required for this school year.

Please contact Becky Elmore, Child Nutrition Supervisor, at 208-773-1625 with questions regarding the school lunch or breakfast program.

This year's Post Falls School District Invent Idaho will be held at Treaty Rock Elementary on Wednesday, December 7, with project drop-off on the 6th. If your child is interested in participating please see the attached flyer for more information. This event is for students in grades 1-8.

You may use the link on the flyer or the one below to register your child. Once registered, I will send out more information about the event. If you have any questions please direct them to me at sarah.triphahn@sd273.com.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/8PzSZ8ugf4avxhtHA

Invent Idaho Website: https://inventidaho.com/

Post Falls School District is seeking motivated parents and community members interested in substitute teaching.

Qualifications: High school diploma. Applicants should enjoy working with students. Daily rate of pay for substitutes is $110. Half-day rate = $55. Substitute teachers can indicate what school(s) they prefer and the day(s) of the week they are available. Bonuses are available to those who sub 12 or more days in one pay period.

Applicants will need to complete an online application and pass the State Department of Education mandated criminal history/background check. The applicant pays the required $36 fee.

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, please complete the online application @ https://hr.pfsd.com/quick-links/substitute-center.

Any questions please call the District Office at 208-773-1658.

Looking for employment? We are still hiring the following positions:

• School Nurse
• Technology - computer technician
• Custodial staff - nighttime and day staff
• Building and Grounds - maintenance and grounds
• HVAC technician
• Food Service - kitchen manager and assistants
• GAP assistants (before and after school childcare)
• Substitute teachers
• Bus drivers
• Behavior interventionists
• Special Education assistants

Applicants apply online and submit to a State Department of Education mandated criminal history/background check. The applicant pays the required $36 background check fee.

If you are interested in any of our open positions, complete the online application. Please call the District Office at 208-773-1658 with any questions.

PFSD elementary schools are excited to welcome Mobile KROC volunteers periodically during lunch recesses. The Mobile Kroc program provides recess activities for students at no cost, offering staff support, activity programming, and related equipment. Additionally, schools are supplied with a Mobile Kroc game kit containing balls and cones for continued game use outside the program.

Volunteers are screened through the Raptor program at each location. Volunteers are currently being provided by STCU, Real Life, and Northwest Specialty Hospital. PFHS students are also providing Mobile KROC opportunities at Prairie View one day per week. Typically 85 to 95% of students actively participate in Mobile Kroc days. Though PFSD is just getting started, we are excited to see our students already engaging in these fun, structured games with these caring adult volunteers.

Idaho residents now can call or text 988 at any time to talk to a trained professional who can help them through a behavioral health crisis. The new emergency phone number launched on July 16 and is available nationwide.

Anyone experiencing behavioral health-related stress -- thoughts of suicide, mental health issues, substance use crisis or any other kind of emotional distress — can call or text 988 at any time. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis intervention.

All calls made from an Idaho area code to 988 are routed to a central hub in Washington, D.C., and then re-routed to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline. The new three-digit number is available in multiple languages for everyone in Idaho and the U.S. to call and connect with the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Text is available in English only.

Read more in this press release from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Email: info@sd273.com
Website: https://www.pfsd.com/
Location: 206 West Mullan Avenue, Post Falls, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 773-1658