March 1, 2016

School District News

From Superintendent

Robert Vian

District

Idaho Youth Challenge Academy

If you drove down Michigan Ave in Orofino on Saturday you probably saw two crews of Cadets from the Idaho Youth Challenge doing community service projects.  One group helped build a awning over the entry door at the VFW Hall while a second crew worked along the sidewalk outside Family Eye Care.

OHS Batting Cages and activities building

Jeff Wilson, OHS Baseball Coach, has raised funds for a new multi-purpose building outside the right field fence near the OHS Baseball Field.  Construction started on this new building on Tuesday.  Last Saturday about 20 high school baseball players, coaches, and parents worked in the rain to strip the concrete forms.

All monies for the building has come from donations by contractors, suppliers, architect, and fund raising by Coach Wilson.

The building will contain a restroom, changing room, storage room, and a large area for a batting cage.  Wrestlers, cheerleaders, dance teams, and other groups will be able to utilize the building when it is not being used for batting practice for softball and baseball. 

The plans for the building call for a deck near the right field fence that could provide seating for those who struggle to get to seats in the concrete bleachers.  The new building will make our fantastic baseball field even more alluring to others around the state.

The Baseball and Softball program bring thousands of dollars into the local economy each year when we host the state softball or baseball championships during alternating years. 

Board of Trustee Packets

If you would like to see what the school board is considering on any given night, book mark the web URL http://goo.gl/3J6u6E.  This address has a complete set of board packets for the past two years and the packet for next Monday night’s Board of Trustee meeting at Timberline School.

The packet contains reports on enrollment, bills paid, minutes of the previous meeting, building reports and reports from each department (transportation, food service, special education, technology, superintendent, and includes the district’s teacher mentor/test coordinator and school nurse).  Each item that is up for discussion and a board vote is also listed.  If the board is discussing a district policy the policy is also included in the packet.

Kindergarten Reading Levels

The change to fulltime kindergarten three years ago at Orofino Elementary School (Timberline was already full time) has provided our students with a big boost educationally.  In the 2014-15 school year the kindergarten students were tested in fall and 52% were at grade level for “reading” (being able to recognize letters and sounds).  Testing in the spring showed that 85% were at grade level.

At Timberline, 53% were at grade level in the fall and 93% were at grade level in the spring. 

The head start these students are receiving is proving dividends as they progress.  The first group of students to have full time kindergarten are now in the second grade.  According to teachers they are academically ahead of prior second grade classes.