Safe Routes to School Program a Big Success
 On April 24th, Mountain Rides launched the month-long Safe Routes to School program to encourage everyone to reduce their carbon footprint and ride a bike or walk to school. That first day, 214 students biked and 83 walked, for a total of 297 participants! Many elementary school students completed "trip trackers" for all the times they pedaled or walked, and that also made them eligible for the grand prize of a new bicycle.
 Hailey Elementary School had the best results and won the Outstanding Achievement award. Eighty-three students kept trip trackers that totaled 2,736 trips. On May 16th, 135 bikes overflowed the bike racks and 30-40 students walked, with more than 50% of the students getting to school in a safe and healthy way. And Miriam at Hailey was the proud winner of a new bicycle!
Hats off to everyone who organized and participated in this great program. Keep those bike tires spinning and enjoy your walks. You and the planet will benefit. WAY TO GO!
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Thank You and Enjoy the Summer
 Many thanks to the Wood River Valley's impressive learning community for another great school year. Our staff, students and parents have all contributed to a challenging and exciting academic year.
The Blaine County School District appreciates your hard work and wishes you a most excellent summer. Enjoy it and come back refreshed and eager to start again!
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May is Thank a Teacher Month
 There are over 300 teachers in the Blaine County School District and countless other paraprofessionals, support staff and administrators who are making a difference every day in the lives of our children. May is Thank a Teacher Month! Join us in thanking the professionals in the Blaine County School District for their hard work and dedication to our youth. There are many great ways to thank teachers. Here are a few ideas:
- Send them a note! It may sound simple, but teachers appreciate knowing how they make a difference for your child.
- Sign one of the many "Thank a Teacher" posters you will see in businesses and schools across the community.
- Donate to a classroom or school. Teachers often reach into their own pockets to provide supplies needed for classrooms, especially at the end of the school year. Ask your teacher what supplies he or she needs most in the classroom, or contact the Education Foundation to make a donation.
- Become a school volunteer. Contact the Education Foundation or your school principal for details.
- Join a parent or community organization that supports our schools.
- Share an inspiring story. We have all had at least one teacher we remember because he or she inspired us, made learning fun, or expressed a genuine interest in our lives. The Education Foundation is collecting stories about favorite teachers. Stories will be published on our website and in various local media through the month of May.
 “Few other professionals touch as many people as teachers do,” notes Heather Crocker, Executive Director of the Blaine County Education Foundation. “Thank a Teacher Month is a good time to learn about the contributions educators make to our community. They are role models dedicated to making great public schools for every child.” To quote Lee Iacocca, “In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less.” Teachers deserve the best, including the best community support possible. Join us in thanking teachers in the Blaine County School District.
For further information, contact Heather Crocker of the Education Foundation at 578-5449 or hcrocker@blaineschools.org.
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Summer School Registration
 Time is flying and our school year ends on May 30th. So we need to prepare for Summer School 2008! This year our youngsters can have fun while they improve their reading and math skills. The summer school program will be hosted at Hemingway, Woodside and Carey Elementary Schools on the following schedule:
Hemingway and Woodside: July 14 - August 8, 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Carey: July 14 - August 1, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 Snacks and a grab-and-go lunch are provided at all three schools. At Woodside, the School District has partnered with the Hunger Coalition to offer a hot breakfast as well.
The tuition fee is $25.00, but you can request a scholarship for your child.
Letters about the summer school program will be sent home with our students the week of May 12th in English and en Español. They should be returned to your child's teacher by May 21st. Please turn in the letter whether your children will be attending or not. The School District doesn't want anyone to be overlooked if they wish to participate.
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Hunger Coalition Summer Food Pilot Program/Programa de Almuerzos Gratuitos
WHAT: LUNCH CONNECTION--NOURISHING BELLIES & BODIES
WHEN:
 June 9 - July 11: FREE Hot Lunch
11:00 AM-12:00 Noon
June 9 - July 11: FREE Activities
12:00 Noon-1:00 PM
July 14 - Aug. 8: FREE Hot Breakfast
8:00 AM-9:00 AM
July 14 - Aug. 8: FREE Grab-and-Go Lunch
11:00 AM-12:00 Noon
WHERE: Woodside Elementary School in Hailey
WHO CAN COME: All kids ages 1 to 18 are welcome, regardless of financial situation. No need to qualify. Lunch is free to kids and costs $3.25 for an adult.
 The Hunger Coalition and the School District are teaming up to initiate this pilot program to feed the valley's children this summer. Local community organizations are also joining in to provide fun activities for participants. Mountain Rides will offer free bus transportation within Hailey city limits (the bus stop is a block away from the school).
In order to determine community interest and prepare for program participants, the Hunger Coalition has prepared a very brief survey in English and en Español. If you'd like to take advantage of this generous summer program, please go to SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM SURVEY or ENCUESTA DE INTERÉS. Surveys are anonymous and must be completed by Friday, May 16th.
The Hunger Coalition's motto is "fighting hunger, feeding hope". Please call 788-0121 or visit the HUNGER COALITION WEB SITE to learn more about the services they offer to our community and see how you can help.
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NASA Comes to Town for Family Tech Night
EVENT: FAMILY TECH NIGHT
WHEN: APRIL 30th, 6:00-8:00 PM
WHERE: WOOD RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
NASA will be visiting all of the elementary schools this week. In conjunction with NASA's visit, NASA's 50th anniversary and Space Day (May 2nd), the Tech Ed Teachers from Bellevue, Hailey, Hemingway, Woodside and the Wood River Middle School are joining together as a team to host Family Tech Night, a FREE valley-wide community event where families will be actively involved in discovering more about science, math and technology.
The tech teachers along with NASA, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Educational Resource Center, and many local tech-oriented businesses will be presenting and running interactive carnival-like booths to engage children and adults in a festival of learning. We also have over 45 parent volunteers to help!
Don't miss this great opportunity to expand your horizons!
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Strategic Planning Hard Data
Available
 In
addition to the comments, surveys, and interviews conducted
with our stakeholders, our hard data (demographics, program
participation, college prep, finances) is also being
considered in the formation of our new Strategic Plan.
Please see the
Strategic
Planning Page to review this data.
Latest Planning Team Update to the Draft Strategic Plan
The Planning Team met on April 11, 2008 to review our
consultant's recommendations for the strategic plan.
Please review the updated summary by clicking
Working Draft Strategic Plan.
Go to Strategic Planning Meetings
for summaries of our teams' meetings.
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