October 2026

Hello LPOSD Families!

It's hard to believe how quickly fall is flying by! 🍂 As we look ahead to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, two holidays especially close to my heart, I'm reminded of how much we have to be grateful for. I hope you'll join me in honoring the brave men and women who have served our nation and thank them for their service 🇺🇸💖!

Keeping our students and staff safe is always our top priority. Every three years, our Region 1 representative from the Idaho Office of School Safety conducts a safety assessment at each of our schools. These assessments help us review our safety preparedness and identify ways to improve the safety of our buildings. This is one part of our ongoing commitment to school safety. Our One Trusted Adult initiative, district safety task force meetings, armed security personnel, controlled building access, scenario-based planning and emergency drills all help us strengthen the layers of safety and support across our schools. This work is intentional, ongoing, and something we never take for granted.

Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gifts 💚, bwm

Dr. Becky Meyer, Superintendent

LPOSD's kindergarten students from the 2025–26 school year ranked #1 in the entire state on the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI)! This outstanding achievement places LPOSD at the very top among 116 traditional school districts and 82 charter LEAs across Idaho. What an incredible accomplishment for our youngest learners! A big thank you to our dedicated teachers, staff, and families for helping build such a strong foundation for reading success! 💚

We're incredibly grateful to Litehouse Foods for pledging up to $500,000 in matching funds and Panhandle Alliance for Education for contributing $250,000 toward that match! We're now working to raise the remaining $250,000, creating a wonderful opportunity for community donations to go twice as far. We're excited about what this program will mean for our students and our community, and we welcome the support of anyone who would like to be part of it. If you're interested in making a donation, or partnering with this program, please visit the webpage linked below.

Inspired by this year's districtwide theme, Shine on Your Strengths, Hope Elementary librarian Cindy Kiebert led students in a creative activity celebrating what makes each of them unique! Using a picture of a flashlight, students filled the beam of light with colorful drawings representing their individual strengths. The activity sparked meaningful conversations about what makes each of us special and how our different strengths help us shine in our own ways. What a fun and thoughtful way to encourage students to recognize and celebrate the strengths in themselves and others! 💚

Students at Southside Elementary had some special visitors during Walk to School Week! Members of the Bonner County Sheriff's Office and Selkirk Fire joined students for a hands-on lesson in pedestrian safety, helping them practice how to navigate roads safely while walking to school. Students also had the opportunity to learn more about the important work our local deputies and firefighters do to keep our community safe.

A HUGE thank you to the Bonner County Sheriff's Office and Selkirk Fire for taking the time to connect with our students, share your knowledge, and help our young pedestrians build safe habits. We're grateful for community partners who make learning experiences like this possible!

What started with a grant for 32 mountain bikes in 2021 has grown into a regular part of PE at Sandpoint Middle School, giving more than 1,000 students the opportunity to develop biking skills and build confidence! Led by PE teacher Tonya Sparks, the Riding for Focus program helps students of all experience levels learn everything from basic bike safety to navigating obstacles, opening the door to new ways to stay active and explore our community. Read the full story on our new LPOSD Substack to learn more about the program and the impact it's having on students!

Some of the sweetest lessons happen when students become the teachers! Each year, Mary Imaz's Spanish IV students from Sandpoint High School partner with the Sandpoint Children's Learning Center to introduce preschoolers to Spanish through songs, stories, art, and other hands-on activities. It's amazing to see how quickly these young learners pick up new words and how excited they are to share what they've learned! For our high school students, the experience is just as meaningful, giving them an opportunity to practice their Spanish, build connections with younger students, and discover the joy of teaching. It's a wonderful collaboration that brings learning, kindness, and plenty of smiles to students of all ages.

LPOSD staff recently participated in a pickleball tournament hosted by our Wellness Warriors, a staff wellness initiative led by school nurses Kristina Gavin and Renee Dunn. The initiative promotes mental and physical well-being through activities that encourage healthy habits and connection among staff. Thank you to our Wellness Warriors for organizing the event, and great job to everyone who participated!

Today and always, we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of our employees who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Thank you for your dedication to our country and to our district.

Veterans Day is a special day across LPOSD! With schools in session, students have the opportunity to honor those who have served our country through meaningful celebrations, personal connections with veterans, and lessons about service and sacrifice. From student performances to special assemblies and tributes, our schools have planned a variety of activities to recognize and thank our nation's veterans. View the full schedule of celebrations below!

Does your student dream of playing sports in college? Or maybe they're just beginning to consider the possibility? As early as 8th grade is a great time to start learning about the process! We invite student athletes and their families to join us for a special presentation where you'll hear valuable insights into college recruiting, academic eligibility, scholarships and what students can do now to prepare for opportunities at the next level. Whether your student has a clear goal in mind or is simply exploring their options, this is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and better understand the road ahead!

Sandpoint High School's Mentors class is hosting a Donkey Basketball event, and the whole community is invited! Come watch SHS teachers compete against one another in a basketball game with a fun twist... they'll be riding donkeys! 🫏

The event will take place in the SHS gym, with proceeds supporting the Mentors class. Bring your family and friends for an evening of fun while supporting our students!

Ticket Prices:

Adults & Grades 7–12: $15 | Grades K–6: $7 | Free for Seniors (65+) and kids not yet in Kindergarten

This school year, LPOSD transitioned from four quarters to three trimesters for elementary school grading and report cards. Recommended by our elementary teachers, this change allows more time to teach, assess, and respond to student needs, giving families a more complete picture of their child's learning and growth. Elementary families will now receive three report cards instead of four, while middle and high schools will continue reporting grades each semester. Teachers will continue communicating with families throughout the year to keep you informed of your child's progress.