March 8, 2016

School District News

From Superintendent

Robert Vian

District

Parents Weekend at Idaho Youth Challenge

The town of Pierce more than doubled in population on March 5^th as over 700 family members came to town to visit cadets at the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy. The three motels in Pierce were book solid for the weekend.  Several parents stayed in Orofino.  Restaurants and grocery stores saw their businesses bottom lines improved dramatically over the weekend.

The Academy had a BBQ for family and cadets on Saturday as cadets got to be reunited with their families for the day. 

The Idaho Youth Challenge Academy provides nearly fifty good jobs for the community and brings dollars into the county for events like the Parent Weekend while also helping many young people get their lives back on track. 

When you vote in May, remember those in the legislature who support the academy, Senator Nuxoll and Representative Shephard.

Solar Panel

Jim Gustin and Kaye Weller, teachers at Orofino High School have been working on a garden located between the Programs Office and the Bus Barn for the past two years.  Last year they were able to get a grant for a green house, installed raised beds for plants, and constructed a simple watering system.

The teachers’ goals are to teach botany to students while supplying fresh vegetables for the district’s food service program during the school year and to the community during the summer. 

Mr. Gustin wrote a grant for a solar panel, the power from the panel will allow the green house to function like a professional growing operation.  Vents, fans, heaters and a misting system are required with the temperature ranges of the valley. 

One interesting side light is that the solar panel is operating and supplying electrical energy to the grid.  The amounts of energy are small at this time, to see the outputs visit http://10.3.1.141  Since Jan. 1 the panel has earned $59.

Between the garden and the solar panel there will be several learning opportunities that are hard to duplicate from a book.  Thanks Kaye and Jim.

Timberline High School

Michele Brown, Timberline teacher and parent, coordinated a group of HS students that volunteered for habitat for humanity on February 29^th.  (Principal Hunter also chaperoned the trip and worked on the house.)  The experience was great for our kids and they were big help in framing the walls for the house we were working on.  The house was in the Lewiston Orchards.  Our students worked directly with the home purchaser and were able to experience the reward of giving of oneself for a stranger.  Our kids were hard workers, eager to help, and a positive reflection on all of us.  

There will be a brief spot on the KLEW (I think) news on March 1.  We should be getting a lot of pictures back.  I believe this will be good positive PR for us.

Thanks to Michele for coordinating and for our kids and their hard work.  

Jason Hunter Principal Timberline School