October 26, 2015

School District News

From Superintendent

Robert Vian

District

District Audit

Each year the law requires that every school district has their books audited by a bonded and licensed independent auditor.  The audit for the 2014-15 school year was received by the district Board of Trustees at the regular meeting on October 19.

Audit highlights include:

The issuing of a “clean” report to the question of, “Did we find any significant instances where the District was not following selected Federal regulations?”

The district reserve fund has grown to forty nine (49) days of operating expenses.  The auditor recommends 60 days of reserve.  Forty Nine days is the most days of reserve the district has carried in recent years, in 2003 the fund was as low as 20 days.

The district/state retirement fund has 95% of the funds on hand to cover all retirements, this compares to an average of 77% in other state’s retirement systems.

Copies of the audit are available at the District Office from 7:30 to 4:00 weekdays.

Testing for Banned Substances

Our school district is one of only a few in Idaho that has chosen to test student athletes for banned substances.  To date we have randomly tested 30 student athletes.  Student ID numbers are drawn from a hat after the secretary prepares a list of all student athlete ID numbers for the principals. 

After the numbers are drawn, the secretary checks the ID numbers against a list of student names and brings the students to the office.  The District Nurse conducts the random tests.

To date, we have had one of the thirty plus students tested, register a “positive” for a banned substance.  That student immediately indicated that he/she had used a banned substance and the athlete was suspended from athletes for a prescribed period of time.

The district policy states,  “Our commitment to maintaining the extracurricular activities in the District as a safe and secure educational environment requires a clear policy and supportive programs relating to detection, treatment, and prevention of substance abuse by students involved in athletic activities.”

“The drug-testing program is not intended to be disciplinary or punitive in nature. Students involved in athletics need to be exemplary in the eyes of the community and other students. It is the purpose of this program to prevent students from participating in athletics while they have drug residues in their bodies, and it is the purpose of this program to educate, help, and direct students away from drug and alcohol abuse and toward a healthy and drug-free participation.”

No student athlete will be disciplined, suspended, or expelled from school for a positive test.

OES News

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

OES Students and staff recognized Down Syndrome Awareness on October 22^nd by wearing blue and yellow.  This is an opportunity to show school support and awareness, advocacy and inclusion throughout the school community. During the month of October, is a chance to celebrate individuals with Down syndrome and make people aware of their abilities and accomplishments.

School Attendance Matters

Once again OES will begin its Perfect Attendance weekly drawings.  All students who have perfect attendance & no tardies each week will be placed in the attendance drawing. Good Attendance equates to good academic performance. Students drawn will receive a King’s Variety Store Treasure Chest Coupon.  The coupon is good for one free prize.  The students must redeem the coupon at King’s Variety.  At the end of the school year King's will put all the student’s coupon into a drawing for a new bike. 

Huge Thank You to Harvest Foods

Harvest Foods donated 65 pumpkins to the OES kindergarten classes.  The students & teachers will use the donated pumpkins for their science and mathematics units over the next two weeks.  Each child will bring their decorated pumpkin home on October 29th. 

Orofino Elementary Annual Fall Book Fair

Mark your calendars for the Annual Fall Book Fair will be held at Orofino Elementary on November 2^nd through the 5^th.  The fair is open during the school days at specific times and for approximately 30 minutes after school.  The Book Fair Committee is asking & looking for parent/grandparent and community members to volunteer to work a shift during the school day at the book fair.  If you can help us out to clerk and manage the Book Fair please contact OES at 476 4212.  

OES Parent, Teacher, Student Conferences

Orofino Elementary will hold the Fall PTS Conferences on November 4th & a5^th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. OES teachers will send home conference appointment notices home the week of October 26^th with students to schedule conferences. Each parent can return the notice to the classroom teacher to schedule a conference appointment.

Wonder of Math Coming to OES

Mr. X the Math Magician is coming to OES November 9th through the 11^th.  He will provide an in-depth understanding of mathematics through Math Magic and a creative magical form of entertainment.

Students will learn about:  the power & importance of mathematics; magic of probabilities; magic of equality; the adventure and excitement of mathematics and the power to persevere in learning. Mr. X combines his talents of motivational speaking, storytelling and magic to spark the creative side in students. An all school assembly is planned for November 9th and specialized learning activities will be presented to each grade level on Monday and Tuesday.  A special Family Math Night featuring the Wonder of Math and Mr. X will be held on November 11th at OES.  This opportunity for the OES students and staff was provided by the OES PTO and district funds.

OES STUDENTS & STAFF HONOR OUR VETERANS

The OES Veteran’s Day committee under the chairperson of Deborah Schmidt is organizing a Veteran’s Day Assembly at OES on November 11^th for our local Veterans, students and staff.  The Orofino Color Guard will present Colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.  Local Veterans will be honored.  OES students will be sending invitations to family members that are Veterans and all other community Veterans are invited to attend.  Chairperson Deborah Schmidt is requesting that all Veterans who will attend the assembly to RSVP by November 9^th by calling the elementary school at 476 4212.

Please join and like Orofino Elementary on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/OrofinoElementarySchool

Shelley Brooks Principal Orofino Elementary School

Orofino Junior High

Seventh graders have done an outstanding job this year with their first quarter book projects. Each student read a novel of their choice, and then developed a creative object that represented some important aspect of the novel. Presentations ranged from original artwork to diary entries to 3-d models and dioramas. Mastery of plot elements along with solid oral presentation skills were the goal, and students exceeded expectations. A slide show of projects will be available in the next online newsletter. Michelle George, Junior High Advisor OJSHS