This week: Community Members and Educators Come Together to Celebrate Education, Student Spotlight, plus more

November 21, 2016

Educator for a Day: Community Members and Educators Celebrate Learning in Blaine County Schools

Teachers and principals welcomed community members into their schools and classrooms for Educator for a Day. Weekly Sun publisher Brennan Rego spoke to English classes, Hailey Fire Chief, Craig Aberbach observed Dual Immersion classes, and newly appointed Trustee Ellen Mandeville joined Blaine County Commissioner Jacob Greenberg in learning more about the work of principals. Pictured above is retired pedicatrican Dr. Gary Hoffman working with high school biology students. Thank you to each and every community member who volunteered to learn more about education in Blaine County Schools. View photos here.

Former Major League Baseball Player Steps Up to the Plate as Educator for a Day

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Paul Hartzell taught students the math behind baseball, as well as how he uses math in his professional life analyzing data. As Educator for a Day, Mr. Hartzell joined 8th grade math teacher Mark Gasenica at Wood River Middle School. Watch the video to learn more.

Virtual Reality Take Students to New Places

Virtual Reality not only takes students to new places, but allows them to see the perspective and scale of things in space. According to BCSD Technology Integration Specialist Paul Zimmerman, ¨It is now possible to see dinosaurs or visit a museum - the possibilities are limited by imagination only.¨ Zimmerman partnered with Wood River High School teacher Tim Rierden to test Google Expeditions as an affordable alternative to more expensive VR kits. ¨We need something durable, affordable and inexpensive,¨ stated Zimmerman. Recycled iPhone 5 and 5s's are being used with cardboard viewers, computers and projectors to take students back to the Civil Right era, and forward into the internal organs of the body. If you have an iPhone 5 or newer, or an Android 4.4 or newer, and would like to donate it for more VR kits for the classroom, please contact Paul Zimmerman.

Classroom Transformed into Nocturnal Zoo

Look out Boise Zoo, the nocturnal animals arrived at Bellevue Elementary. First grade students in Chandra Garrison and Kelly Rushton´s classes were challenged to discover facts about nocturnal animals. Students researched their animals, made masks and costumes, wrote reports and practiced their pubilc speaking skills. Students were fully engaged as they demonstrated their new-found knowledge to their peers, parents and friends. View more photos here.

Student Spotlight

Meet McKenna Norris in the Weekly Sun.

Each week, Jonathan Kane will be profiling a local high-school student. If you know someone you'd like to see featured, e-mail jkjohnkane@gmail.com.

Read the article here.

Parents Tell Us What You Think

350 Responses and Counting, Add Your Voice!

This is what you told us last year:

(2015 Results)

Tell us what you think this year.

There are three ways to take the School Climate Survey:

Look for the survey in your email
Request a paper survey from the front desk at your school
Take the survey here

Take the School Climate Survey by Tuesday, November 22.

Students, Staff and Parents Practice Emergency Evacuation and Parent Reunification

Carey students and staff practiced evacuating the entire school and reunifying with parent volunteers last week. Parents are reminded in the event of a real emergency to stay put and stay tuned. Parents will be asked to wait for instructions and bring photo ID to parent reunification. The district office practiced emergency response and communications during the drill. Thank you to the staff, students, parents and local emergency response personnel who participated. For more photos, click here. For more on safety and security, click here.

Parent Reminder:
Don´t Forget to Pay Your Child's Food Service Account

Parents, don´t forget, Blaine County School District Policy 701.2 requires prepayment on food service accounts.

To maintain a positive balance, payments can be made:

Via Skyward
Cash/Check at your child's school
Call Karen Hoffman @ 578-5018 or Claudia Patlan (Spanish) @ 578-5437 to make a credit card payment.

Coffee with the Community: Friday, December 2 at Shorty's

Friday, December 2

8:00-9:00 a.m.

Coffee with the Communtiy

Join Superintendent Dr. GwenCarol Holmes for informal discussion. No presentations, no agenda, just a chance to talk. Bring your questions and bring your friends.

Issue: 215