West Ada School District

🔥 Idaho Wildfires Update: Show Support for Our Firefighters! 🔥 As of mid-September 2024, Idaho's wildfires continue to intensify, with the Lava and Boulder Fires merging and covering over 95,700 acres. The Wapiti Fire has now expanded to more than 125,000 acres and is 72% contained. Firefighting teams are working under extreme conditions, and evacuation orders remain in place for several areas. With over $39 million spent on firefighting efforts this year and several areas under evacuation, our firefighters need more than just resources—they need our emotional support. ❤️ We reached out to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and they shared something powerful: "While donations are appreciated, thank you notes and posters mean the most." These small acts of kindness have a huge impact on the morale of the fire crews working tirelessly to protect our communities. 📝✨ A huge thank you to the schools and students who have already turned in posters, notes, and cards. We appreciate you and your efforts to brighten the days of our hardworking firefighters! 💛 Let’s continue coming together as a community to express our gratitude. 💪 #IdahoStrong #SupportOurFirefighters #ThankYouFirefighters #CommunityEffort #WestAdaCares #GratitudeInAction

Teacher Spotlight: A Father-Son Duo Shaping Idaho's Future Mental health and teacher retention have been hot topics nationwide, and here in Idaho, we're getting unique insights from a dynamic duo. Alan Heikkila, in his 37th year of teaching, is a beloved West Ada Ag instructor specializing in small engines. His son, Daniel, carries on the legacy, teaching welding at Meridian High. Join us as they share their perspectives on teaching, what keeps them passionate, and their thoughts on the future of education. You might be encouraged—and even surprised—by what they reveal about the profession! Stay tuned for the full conversation! 👏 #WestAdaProud #TeacherSpotlight #MentalHealthMatters #IdahoEducation #TeacherRetention WASD CTE - Career and Technical Education of West Ada School District For more information and past podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.westada.org/page/podcast

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Dropping Monday, September 9! Ever wonder how the school district’s budget impacts your child’s education? 💰📚 Join your hosts Ken Hyde and Katie Rhodenbaugh as they dive deep into this important topic with two special guests: 🗣️ Jonathan Gillen, West Ada Chief Financial Officer 🗣️ David Binetti, West Ada School District Trustee, Zone 4 Get the inside scoop on how financial decisions shape the learning experience in West Ada. Don’t miss it! 🎧✨ #WestAdaPodcast #EducationMatters #SchoolBudget #ParentEngagement #wearewestada For more information on the West Ada Podcast, please visit: https://www.westada.org/page/podcast

🏆 Celebrating Excellence in Education! 🏆 We are incredibly proud to announce that several of our schools have been recognized as top performers on the 2024 ISAT statewide! 🎉 This achievement highlights the dedication and hard work of our students, educators, and staff. These results reflect our commitment to academic excellence and the strong support from our community. Congratulations to all involved in making this possible! Let's keep striving for even greater success together. 💪📚 #WestAdaProud #EducationExcellence #ISAT2024 #BrightSpots Idaho Education News For the complete article, please visit: https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/bright-spots-lists-of-2024-isat-top-performers-statewide/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFITq5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSjs9RaOI-r0pcweYQa0PUED7P6kn80PMixFr0aPctK_XBo7bdxrvkaUJA_aem_z4zYGseJjPFcGk8xYC_RjQ

📸 A proud moment for West Ada educators! Brittany Dutton from Eagle High School-Mustangs and Heather Bachman from Prospect Elementary Schoolwere both honored at this year's SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Education) Idaho State PE and Health Conference. Brittany received the Health Education Award, while Heather was recognized with the Elementary PE Teacher of the Year Award. 🎉 Their dedication to promoting healthy minds and bodies in schools is truly inspiring. Congratulations to both! 💪 #SHAPEIdaho #PEandHealth #TeacherOfTheYear #ProudEducators #WestAda

🚍🍦 The “Cool Bus” rolled through West Ada today! Led by district administration in partnership with @durham_school_services, the Cool Bus visited all 59 school sites across the district, delivering ice cream treats to all our amazing faculty and staff before the first day of school. We can’t thank our West Ada Family enough for the countless hours and effort they’ve put into planning for a successful start to the school year. 🍦 You all make us proud! 🙌 #WeAreWestAda #ProudToBeWASD #BackToSchool #CoolBusFun

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! 🎓✨ We love you and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of you. ♥️

Congrats to our Lowell Scott Middle School 8th-grade students who were honored today as part of the 8th Grade Celebration Assembly. Linda Ventura Memorial Award: Maxwell Campbell & Avery Manwaring Tressa Sharp Award- Hannah Jensen & Avery Simpson Duane Hardy Memorial Award- Abigal Standing & Maximus Hungtington-Richardson Amelia Linkert Memorial Award- Holly Huckstep & Cailyn Pierson Jeff Grove Memorial Award- Annabelle Eldredge & Edrick Irakoze Joan Parks Memorial Award- Carson Lindemood & Lily Matthews Librarian Patron Award- Katherine Holderness & Simon Poulsen Mayor’s Award- Scarlett Manwaring & Holly Huckstep

Congratulations to all of our former Pepper Ridge Bears on graduating this year and to all of the members of the Class of 2024! We are so proud of all of you. Once a Bear, always a Bear! #wearepepperridge #wearewestada

During the school year, and with parental permission, students in grades K, 1, 3 and 5th grade are pulled out of class, during valuable instruction time, for vision and hearing screenings and dental services. To lessen the impact on instruction, West Ada is proud to provide these services, in conjunction with summer meals and additional valuable services, throughout the treasure valley this summer. Please consider attending one of these Health Fairs, especially if you will have a child in K, 1, 3 or 5 grade. Parent permission is required. 🌟 West Ada School Health Fair: Your Passport to Total Wellness! 🌟 📅 Date: June 13th ⏰ Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM 📍 Location: Meridian High School, 1900 W. Pine Ave., Meridian 📅 Date: June 25th ⏰ Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM 📍 Location: Desert Sage Elementary, 9325 W. Mossywood Dr., Boise We're excited to offer a comprehensive range of health services at our upcoming School Health Fair. It's a one-stop destination for: 💉 Immunizations/Vaccines: Protect your health with essential vaccinations for children for the upcoming school year. Vaccines provided by Central District Health. Schedule an immunization appointment here: https://cdh.idaho.gov/.../imm.../cio/school-vaccine-clinics/ 👀 Vision Screenings: Clear vision is crucial for learning. Take advantage of our free vision checks to ensure your eyes are at their best. 👂 Hearing Screenings: Hearing loss can affect educational success. Get your hearing tested with our quick and easy screenings. 🦷 Dental Services: Strengthen your smile with fluoride varnish applications. A quick treatment for lasting dental health. Services provided by Central District Health. Don't miss out on these vital health services. Let's take a step towards a healthier community together.

Celebrate the end of the school year with West Ada Jazz Bands at Kleiner Park staring at 5:15 PM. You'll hear from the jazz bands and students of Centennial, Meridian, Lake Hazel Middle School, Eagle High School, Mountain View and Owyhee High School. Don't miss this great event.

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🌟 Join us for an insightful conversation on "How do you handle social media in your house?" in the latest episode of the West Ada School District podcast, dropping this Monday, May 13! 🔊 Special guests include John Condie, MD, from St. Luke's Children's Neurology Boise, and Officer Gomez, School Resource Officer from Boise County Sheriff's Department. Tune in to hear expert advice and real-world insights on navigating the challenges of social media in our homes. 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wherever you stream podcasts. 📺 Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist... Don't miss out – your family's digital well-being could depend on it! More information about the West Ada Podcast: https://www.westada.org/page/podcast

🌟 Celebrating Anne Marie Antilla from @cjschoolofthearts ! 🎨 We are delighted to announce that Anne Marie Antilla has been honored with a $5000 Fine Arts Grant from Alpha Delta Kappa, an international organization dedicated to supporting women educators. This prestigious grant recognizes Anne Marie’s dedication to the arts and her ongoing efforts to integrate creativity into education. Thank you to Alpha Delta Kappa for their generous support and commitment to enhancing educational opportunities through the arts. We are excited to see how Anne Marie will use this grant to inspire and impact our community with her upcoming projects. #ArtEducation #WomenInEducation #AlphaDeltaKappa #FineArtsGrant #wearewestada #proudtobewasd

🍎✨📚 Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner, and it’s time to show our incredible educators some well-deserved love! From May 6th to May 10th, we’ll be celebrating the amazing teachers and staff who make our educational journey extraordinary. To all our dedicated teachers: Your passion, commitment, and tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for shaping the minds and hearts of our students every single day. 🌟 And let’s not forget our classified staff members! Your hard work behind the scenes keeps our schools running smoothly, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do. 💼 Join us as we honor our educators with a week filled with appreciation and gratitude: 📝 Monday, May 6th: Express Gratitude - Encourage your child to write heartfelt notes to their teachers and spread positivity with high fives in the hallway. 🎉 Tuesday, May 7th: School Spirit Day - Show off your school pride by wearing our vibrant colors and celebrating our dedicated teaching staff. 💌 Wednesday, May 8th: Thanks from Parents - Take a moment to send a personal note or email expressing your gratitude to your child’s teacher. 📷 Thursday, May 9th: Community Support - Share stories, photos, and videos on social media to showcase the impactful work of our teachers. 🎁 Friday, May 10th: Token of Appreciation - Shower our teachers with tokens of gratitude, whether it’s handmade cards, thoughtful notes, or school supplies. Let’s make this Teacher Appreciation Week one to remember! Together, let’s celebrate the extraordinary contributions of our teachers and staff. 🎉🍎 #WeAreWestAda #proudtobewasd #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher #WestAdaCommunity 🏫

🎓🍎 Today, we celebrate the dedicated leaders throughout West Ada School District who shape the future, one student at a time. Happy School Principals' Day to all the amazing principals out there! Your passion, commitment, and vision are the guiding force behind every success story in our schools. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to education and for making a difference in the lives of countless students, teachers, and staff. #SchoolPrincipalsDay #WeAreWestAda #proudtobewasd #EducationalLeadership #ThankAPrincipal 🏫✨

🗳️✨ Don’t miss the May 21 ballot, where you’ll find a crucial measure directly impacting education quality and safety in our district: the West Ada School District Supplemental Levy. It’s essential to understand that this levy isn’t a new tax but a replacement, designed to sustain vital support for our educational programs. 💼💰 Here’s a breakdown: 🍎 Salaries and benefits for 152 Teachers: $12,983,251 🚓 Contracted Services for 19 Student Resource Officers: $867,404 The estimated average annual cost to taxpayers on the proposed levy is $27.13 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. This proposed levy replaces an existing levy expiring on June 30, 2024, which currently costs $27.43 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. Therefore, if approved, the proposed levy is expected to decrease the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value by $0.30. Your vote matters! For further details or if you have any questions, please visit our Supplemental Levy web page: https://www.westada.org/page/supplemental-levy-2024

🎉 Exciting News Alert! 🎉 🌟 Let's give a big round of applause to our newly approved leaders! 🌟 👏 Please join me in congratulating: 👩‍🏫 Katie Mittleider - Principal at Barbara Morgan STEM Academy 👨‍🏫 Matt Mura - Principal at Crossroads Middle School 👩‍🏫 Nichole Velasquez - Principal at Meridian Middle School 🙌 A huge congratulations to these exceptional leaders! Your dedication and commitment to education are truly inspiring. 📚✨ 👏 And let's not forget to extend our gratitude to: 👩‍🏫 Lauri Wright, who will be serving as an assistant principal at Victory Middle School for the 2024-25 academic year. 👨‍🏫 Joe Palaia, previously approved by the Board to serve as the principal at Central Academy High School starting the 2024-25 academic year. 👩‍🏫 Rachel Edwards, approved by the Board to serve as the principal of Owyhee High School for the 2024-25 school year. 👏 Thank you all for your dedication to our students' success! Here's to an amazing year ahead! 🌟📚 #Leadership #WeAreWestAda #proudtobewasd #EducationExcellence #Congratulations

🎉🥁 **HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to TJ Eriksen, EHS Director of Bands and our @officialehsmustangs Percussion students!** 🥁🎉 We are thrilled to announce that they are now the **Percussion Scholastic Concert A Class WORLD CHAMPIONS**! This is a monumental accomplishment, and we couldn’t be prouder of TJ and the entire team’s hard work and dedication. Their performance was simply unbelievable! Thank you to everyone who supported our champions on this journey. Let’s continue to celebrate this amazing victory! 🌍🏆 #EagleHighPercussion #WorldChampions #PercussionPride #wearewestada #proudtobewasd

We're thrilled to celebrate Amelia Darlow, whose artwork represented Summerwind STEM Academy at the WASD Art Show. Amelia received recognition, with her dedicated teacher, Mrs. McNamara, and family by her side. Congratulations to all the talented recipients of the West Ada School District art show for the 2023-24 academic year! Your creativity and hard work make us incredibly proud.

🌟 We're thrilled to announce Ruize Sun's remarkable achievement at the Idaho State Mathcounts competition! 🏆 Ruize, from Eagle Middle School Colts, clinched 2nd place overall and aced the written test, securing his spot as a STEM champion! 🎉 This is his second consecutive win at the written test, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication. 📝 Ruize will proudly represent Team Idaho at the national Mathcounts competition in Washington DC this May! 🇺🇸 Let's rally behind Ruize and our Team Idaho representatives as they showcase the incredible STEM spirit and talent within our district! 💡 #STEMChampion #WeAreWestAda #proudtobewasd #Mathcounts #TeamIdaho #WestAdaPride 🌟