LPOSD Families and Community Members,

As we quickly approach the beginning of the holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to you and your family. I hope this two-week period is filled with joy, laughter, and special memories with loved ones that will be cherished for years to come. As we enjoy the holiday spirit, I encourage you to embrace the beauty of the outdoors. Whether it's a brisk winter walk, a day on the mountain, or simply enjoying a quiet hour in nature, spending time outdoors can be rejuvenating for the mind and soul.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible efforts of our Facilities Department, and Director Matt Diel. Their swift response and talent were instrumental in the rapid resolution of recent repairs at Sandpoint Middle School (steam leak, followed by a broken water main, which then caused significant damage to the electrical in the gym). Due to their hard work, we were able to reopen the school doors after just two days of closure, ensuring minimal disruption for our students.

I would also like to highlight the ongoing work of the Long Range Facility Planning Committee. This week marked their third school tour, focusing on assessing the top facility needs at each school in our district. Their commitment to this comprehensive evaluation process will guide their recommendations to the Board, helping us address the district's facility needs in a thoughtful and strategic manner.

As I look back on the year 2023, serving as your Superintendent is one of the things I am most grateful for. I look forward to the continued success and collaboration in 2024! School resumes on January 8, and our staff will be thrilled to welcome back students & hear all about their holiday break!

With Much Gratitude, bwm

Dr. Becky Meyer

Recently, there has been significant discussion surrounding facilities. The reason behind this focus stems from our stakeholder input last year, which indicated the community's desire for LPOSD to address facilities. Within the scope of facilities, both safety and the improvement of aging structures were highlighted as focus areas. To learn about the Long Range Facility Planning Committee and its purpose, we encourage you to watch the video below. The committee recently conducted its third building tour at Washington Elementary School earlier this week and has now met four times to review building condition evaluations, learn about funding options, review enrollment trends, and analyze current building costs of schools in the area.

December's Board Meeting was the last for Trustee Purley Decker, who has a long history with Lake Pend Oreille School District. He has chosen to spend his life serving others, and we thank him for his dedication to helping students...as a teacher, Trustee, and Veteran! Click the button below to hear Purley and Dr. Meyer in a recent interview.

On Thursday, December 7th, eight Farmin Stidwell classrooms took part in the third annual "Blankets of Hope" project. The students made 240 blankets and wrote notes of hope and kindness for each of them. The blankets were later delivered to our local food banks, senior centers, and churches who provide soup kitchens. This year, Kochava funded the total cost of blankets, making this a true community philanthropic event. Renee Lorden, a 4th grade teacher at Farmin Stidwell, spearheads the program each year. She says, "This is a wonderful kindness service project and allows our students to make an impact in our community."

Clark Fork High School's job shadow & mentorship program is preparing students for the future! Graduates often share that participation in this program was a pivotal experience during their time at CFHS. The program's success is attributed to the committed community members who serve as mentors, providing invaluable on-the-job training to our students.

In its seventh successful year, the program offers students unique opportunities to gain practical experience and insights beyond the standard curriculum. With a requirement of 40 hours of job shadowing and a reflective presentation before a panel of judges, students acquire essential skills for success in the workforce. LPOSD is so grateful for the local businesses and mentors who take part (see this year's list below), and their significant contributions to our students' growth and real-world experience.

The community is welcome to attend Clark Fork High's Senior Project presentations on January 19th from 8:30 to 11 am, where all 33 senior students will showcase their hard work and growth. If you are passionate about mentoring and making a positive impact on a student's life, we invite you to get involved! Please reach out to Rebecca Palmer at rebecca.palmer@lposd.org to learn more about becoming a mentor.

The slideshow above showcases many of the awesome 2023 mentors with students.

See below for the full list of businesses participating!

Another key area of the 5 Year Strategic Plan includes Recruiting and Retaining Quality Staff. LPOSD utilizes a "Mentees & Mentors" program to build unity and capacity.

• All new certified LPOSD staff are paired with a mentor.

• Mentees meet monthly in person at the District Office.

• This semester, professional development has focused on Domains 2 and 3 of the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (the evaluation tool adopted by the state of Idaho).

• Mentee training has recently included topics such as: technology integration, ideas for student engagement, and teaching strategies.
  

Did you know that each LPOSD School Board meeting begins with a student presentation? In December, Farmin Stidwell 5th graders shared their community service initiatives. These students independently plan, prepare, and execute projects, such as creating Christmas care packages for The Bridge residents and organizing Art & Science lessons for Headstart Preschool children. Next month, Clark Fork High School will present. Hope to see you there!

The Winter READY! for Kindergarten registration is now open! Sandpoint’s READY! for Kindergarten workshops include FREE 90 minutes workshops, FREE childcare and FREE toys that parents get to take home and use with their children. These workshops are free to the community due to the generous donations of community members through the Panhandle Alliance for Education. To learn more and register go to www.readysandpoint.org or call 208-263-7040.

Do you like the idea of working in Community Relations? Does a role that involves written and visual communication to enhance the district's relationship with stakeholders spark your interest? If so, click the photo to apply today! The application window is closing soon.

Click the photo to access the District's Academic Calendar.