District News

Celebrating Students, Community & Connection
Posted on 11/04/2025
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Boise School District News

November 4, 2025

Students Help Break Ground on New Whitney Pool

Smiles, shovels, and community spirit were on full display as Whitney Elementary students joined City of Boise and Boise School District leaders to break ground on the new Whitney Pool, coming soon to the Boise Bench.

The $9.5 million project, funded by the City of Boise and built on District property, is a shining example of how partnership strengthens neighborhoods. Together, the city and school district are creating a place where children and families can learn to swim, stay active, and connect for generations to come.

“This partnership reflects what makes Boise special—our belief that strong neighborhoods build strong schools, and strong schools build strong neighborhoods,” said Superintendent Lisa Roberts.

Construction will continue through 2026, with the new pool opening for the summer 2027 swim season.

Boise School District Superintendent Lisa Roberts speaks during the Whitney Pool groundbreaking ceremony at Whitney Elementary School, celebrating the strong partnership between the City of Boise and the Boise School District that is bringing this new community pool to life.ďťż
 

Boise School Bands Shine at Regional Competitions 🎶

Boise School District’s marching bands capped off a stellar fall season with standout performances across Idaho and the region — showcasing the dedication, skill, and teamwork of hundreds of student musicians.

Timberline High School’s Marching Band, under the direction of JosĂŠ RodrĂ­guez II, had an especially remarkable year, going undefeated in division competition and earning top honors at every event. Timberline swept caption awards for Best Music, Best Visual, and Best General Effect throughout the season, including 1st Place Overall Sweepstakes at the Treasure Valley Festival of Bands. The Wolves also earned Top Score of All Bands at the West Ada Marching Clinic and Competition and finished their season with a strong 3rd Place Overall Sweepstakes at the Mel Shelton District-III Marching Band Competition, marking their ninth consecutive year placing in the top three overall.

At the Mel Shelton Festival, Borah High School placed 3rd in the Large Open Division, while Capital High School placed 3rd in the Small Open Division, rounding out an impressive showing for Boise School District musicians at this 26-band, season-ending event held at Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium.

📸 Pictured: Timberline High School Band Majors and Captains proudly display their season’s trophies — a testament to months of hard work, leadership, and musical excellence.

Congratulations to all our band students, directors, and families for their commitment to musical excellence and school pride!
The Timberline High School marching band poses for a group photo in front of their school.
Under the direction of JosĂŠ RodrĂ­guez II, Band Director, Timberline High School’s Marching Band celebrated an undefeated season — earning top honors at every competition and finishing 3rd overall at the Mel Shelton District-III Marching Band Festival at Boise State University. 🎶👏 #BSDProud #TimberlineStrong #MarchingBandďťż
 

Parent Engagement Technology Sessions at Whittier Elementary

Families are invited to join Boise School District’s Parent Engagement Technology Sessions—short, informative gatherings designed to help parents stay connected and support their students in a digital world.

📅 Upcoming Sessions:
  • Nov. 5 (5:00–5:30 p.m.) â€“ School Technology Safety App for Families
  • Facilitator: Will Goodman, BSD Chief Technology Officer
  • Nov. 12 (5:00–5:30 p.m.) â€“ Reimagining Caregiving through Conversation and Reflection

Each session includes a 15-minute meet-and-greet, free childcare, and Spanish-language support. All families are welcome—sessions are open to anyone in the Boise School District.

📍 Location: Whittier Elementary School
🖱️ RSVP: Scan the QR code or use the link on the flyer below to sign up.

(Following flyers include full details in English and Spanish.)
Poster for Boise Schools' Technology Basics Parent Sessions, with dates and times listed.
Flyer for technology classes for parents at Whittier Community Center, Boise Schools.
 

Join the BSD Student Energy Internship!

Junior high and high school students—make a real impact on your school’s energy use and the environment! 🌎💡

In partnership with Idaho PowerTRC Consultants, and the BSD Sustainability Team, this internship offers:
⚡ Professional job training
🤝 Volunteer hours + networking
🎓 College app + letter of rec opportunities

Open to 8th & 11th graders. Meets virtually six times a year.
Apply by Dec. 1 â€” scan the QR code on the flyer to get started!

#BSDSustainability #EnergyInternship #FutureLeaders

Poster promoting BSD Student Energy Internships with Idaho Power, featuring a lightning bolt graphic.
 

Take Action Today to Support Student Well-Being

Please opt your student(s) in to the Student Well-Being Survey (Communities for Youth) by logging into Infinite Campus, the Boise School District’s secure online student information system where families can manage attendance, grades, and permissions.

Due to the nature of Infinite Campus, any prior consents will be rolled over as an active consent or non-consent for this school year. Parents/guardians are encouraged to review their current selection and update it if needed.

About the survey:
  • The survey is confidential and voluntary.
  • It helps schools and communities better understand the real-life experiences of teens regarding their health and well-being.
  • The more students who participate, the more accurate and useful the data becomes for identifying supports and improving student well-being.
  • Parents/guardians can review the questions in advance before deciding whether to opt in.
  • The survey will take place October 27 – November 7, 2025 (each school selects its own date).

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield encourages districts to participate, noting the survey was developed in Idaho with input from educators, counselors, legislators, and the Idaho Department of Education. Responses are anonymous; students may answer all, some, or none of the questions.

(see “resource files”).

to learn more about how this survey supports student well-being.

💙 Communities for Youth representatives will host information tables at select parent-teacher conferences—focusing on schools where additional outreach can help increase participation. Families can stop by to ask questions, learn more, or update their consent in person.
 

Helping Families Understand the Impact of Vaping

The Boise School District is committed to supporting the health and well-being of every student. As part of that effort, parents and guardians are invited to attend an upcoming Virtual Vaping Prevention Webinar hosted by trusted public health experts. This free online session will explore the risks of vaping, how nicotine affects developing brains, and effective strategies families can use to talk with their children about making healthy choices.

See the flyer below for registration details and join the conversation to help keep our students safe and informed. 
An informational flyer about preventing youth vaping, featuring autumn leaves and a QR code.
 

Explore Career Pathways at DTEC’s Fall Open House

Families of students in grades 6 and up are invited to attend the Dennis Technical Education Center (DTEC) Fall Open House on Thursday, November 13, from 5:00–7:00 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to explore the many hands-on learning experiences available through Career Technical Education (CTE). Visitors can tour classrooms and labs, meet instructors, and learn about programs that prepare students for college, career, and life after graduation.

From health sciences and information technology to construction trades and culinary arts, DTEC programs connect classroom learning with real-world experience—helping students discover their passions and build valuable skills for the future.

Join us to see how learning by doing can open doors to new opportunities!

#BoiseSchools #DTEC #CareerReady #HandsOnLearning

DTEC Open House announcement with building exterior and rainbow in the sky.
 

🗓️ Upcoming Boise School District Art Contests

Encourage your student to show their creativity!

🎨 Winter Art Card Contest (Grades K–6)
🗓️ Art Due: November 7, 2025

🎨 Secondary Winter Art Contest (Grades 7–12)
🗓️ Art Due: November 7, 2025

🎨 Bob Wand Memorial Art Contest (Grades K–6)
🗓️ Entries Due: May 1, 2026

🎨 BSD Calendar Contest (Grades K–6)
🗓️ Entries Due: May 5, 2026

🔗 All contest information can be found on the Boise School District Art Contests webpage.
 

2025–2026 Boise School District Sports Start Dates

The Boise School District is excited to kick off another great year of high school athletics! Below you’ll find the official start dates for the 2025–2026 school year’s sports seasons, including tryouts and the first day of practices.

We encourage all interested student-athletes to contact their school’s athletic office for details on specific tryout dates, times, and locations. Requirements such as physicals, eligibility paperwork, and registration deadlines may vary by sport and school.

This is another example of how the Boise School District offers a comprehensive public school education â€” one where all students can thrive, grow, and succeed both in the classroom and on the field. Whether you’re competing at the varsity level, joining a junior varsity squad, or supporting your team from the stands, athletics help build teamwork, resilience, and school pride.

We look forward to a safe, spirited, and successful season for all our student-athletes!
A flyer lists sport start dates for high school, junior high, and elementary school.
Athletics
 

Boise Police Department

School Resource Officer Newsletter 
NOVEMBER 2025
BPD Gazette cover features Officer Moore, an advisor for Borah High School's Student Drag Racing program.
The BPD Gazette features articles on school safety, fire safety, and a vaping prevention event.
 
Beyond the Bell Header

Get Informed: Subscribe to Beyond the Bell

Want to know more about how our schools work behind the scenes? Beyond the Bell is a new publication from the Boise School District that offers an inside look at the financial, operational, and policy decisions shaping public education in our community.

Each issue dives into key topics like budgeting, strategic planning, student safety, and our instructional approach—providing timely insights for parents, employees, business leaders, elected officials, and anyone invested in the future of our schools.'

🛎️ Don’t miss out—
Beyond the Bell Newsletter
 
ParentSquare Logo

ParentSquare Update: Smarter Notifications, Same Great Connection

Boise School District uses ParentSquare to keep families connected—with district, school, and classroom updates all in one place. And now, ParentSquare is introducing an improvement that makes it even easier to stay informed — Smart Notification Delivery.

This new feature helps streamline communication by sending post notifications through the ParentSquare app first, and by text only as a backup. The goal is to reduce duplicate messages while keeping families fully informed.

What’s Changing:
  • 📲 App-first delivery, text as fallback: Posts, post digests, and updates to posts will now send through the app first, with a backup text only if needed.
  • ⏱️ No change for time-sensitive messages: Direct Messages and alerts will still go to all your preferred methods (text, email, and app).
  • 📩 Email notifications: These will continue for all communications.

Why the Change:
This update helps simplify and streamline how you receive school notifications, making it easier to track important updates all in one place.

What You Need to Do:
✅ No action required â€” if you already use the app and have both app and text notifications turned on, you’ll automatically benefit from this update.
📱 If you haven’t downloaded the ParentSquare app yet, now’s the perfect time! It’s the best way to access, customize, and manage your school communications.

Download the free ParentSquare app from the App Store

To learn more about this change, visit ParentSquare’s Help Article.
Download the ParentSquare App Today!
 

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Join the conversation and show your #BSDProud! 💙
 
Upcoming Events in Boise School District

Dates of Interest

  • November 3-7: National School Psychology Week
  • November 4: Pre K-12 No School
  • November 4: Election Day
  • November 10: Boise School Board regular monthly meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Services Center, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise. Public is invited to attend. Agenda will be posted online, when available.
  • November 24-28: Autumn Break - No School Pre K-12
  • December 8: Boise School Board regular monthly meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Services Center, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise. Public is invited to attend. Agenda will be posted online, when available.
  • December 19: End of First Semester - Early Release K-12 to work on Report Cards, No School Pre K
  • December 22 - January 2: Winter Break - No School Pre K-12
  • January 5: Pre K-12 No School; Teacher Directed Day/Professional Development
  • January 6: School Resume
School Year Calendars
 
Boise School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to all individuals. Learn more...