District News

Stronger Together: Student Success Stories
Posted on 12/05/2025
This is the image for the news article titled Stronger Together: Student Success Stories
Boise School District Logo

Boise School District News

December 5, 2025

Community Partnerships Strengthen Student Learning Across Boise Schools

The Boise School District is proud to highlight another example of how strong community partnerships support our students and make our community stronger. Through a new agreement with McClatchy Media—and with generous support from the Boise Schools Foundation, which is covering all student access costs—all high school students and staff now have free digital access to the Idaho Statesman while on school Wi-Fi. This gives students immediate access to credible local journalism that builds critical thinking, media literacy, and civic awareness.

This partnership pairs powerfully with our collaboration with KTVB’s Student News, where video production teachers and students work alongside professional journalists to create stories featured in KTVB’s weekly student segment. The accompanying photo shows KTVB Executive Producer Kim Devine engaging with high school video production teachers during a recent visit to the KTVB studio—another example of how local professionals are investing in student learning.

“We are grateful for these strong partnerships with the Idaho Statesman and KTVB because they directly support our mission of preparing students to be informed, engaged citizens,” said Superintendent Lisa Roberts.

“Providing our high school students with free access to high-quality local journalism gives them a powerful window into their community and how it functions, and our collaboration with KTVB’s Student News gives students the opportunity to learn alongside professional journalists as they create stories that matter. We appreciate Editor Chadd Cripe and the Statesman team, as well as Kim Devine and the KTVB newsroom, for their vision and collaboration in making these opportunities possible for our students.”

With access to trusted reporting and real-world storytelling experiences, Boise School District students are gaining valuable skills that will serve them far beyond high school. This is community partnership at work—lifting students and strengthening Boise.
 

🎓 Celebrating Academic All-Conference Success Across Our High Schools

This fall, student-athletes from Boise, Capital, Timberline, and Borah high schools earned Academic All-Conference honors, a distinction reserved for 6A athletes who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA while competing at the highest athletic level. Achieving this level of excellence in both academics and athletics takes determination, balance, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth.

These accomplishments matter deeply to our Boise community. When students challenge themselves in the classroom and on the field — and succeed — they strengthen the fabric of our schools. Their dedication inspires younger students, reflects the values shared by families and educators, and shows what can happen when a community works together to support its youth.

Congratulations to our Braves, Golden Eagles, Wolves, and Lions!

Your achievements lift our entire district and exemplify what makes Boise a great place to learn, grow, and thrive.

#BoiseSchools #AcademicAllConference #BSDProud

Boise High School congratulates student athletes with a list of names.
A Borah High School graphic congratulates student athletes for academic honors.
A graphic congratulates student athletes from Capital High School, listing names by sport.
Timberline High School congratulates its student athletes on academic all-conference honors.
 

Capital High Celebrates Kindness Week With Community Spirit

Capital High School wrapped up its annual Kindness Week with a joyful Kindness Assembly that brought the entire school together. 💛✨ Since 2019, this tradition has helped students and staff build a more connected, compassionate campus — and this year showcased the very best of what community can do.

Throughout the week, students participated in activities centered on wellness, service, and positivity: a self-care kickoff with inspirational messages and a guest speaker, the return of Cuts for Kindness hair donations, a collaborative food drive supporting local families, and kindness rocks painted with uplifting messages placed around campus.

The celebration culminated on November 17 with Capital’s much-loved Kindness Assembly — filled with fun games, shared moments, and schoolwide unity. It was a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness can create meaningful impact across an entire community.

Way to go, Capital Eagles, for continuing to lead with heart! 💙✨

#KindnessWeek #WeAreCapital #BoiseSchools #CapitalKindness
 

🏀 Shadow Hills Claims the Girls Basketball City Championship! 🎉

Congratulations to Shadow Hills Elementary on an incredible championship victory! Dallas Harris made an impressive run and gave it their all, but Shadow Hills proved to be a powerhouse — tough to beat on any night.

A big thank-you to the fans from both schools for bringing the energy and cheering on these amazing athletes all season long. What a fantastic year of basketball! 🙌

#ShadowHillsBasketball #CityChamps #GirlsBasketball #HoopsSeason #Teamwork #AthleteSpotlight #BoiseSports #BasketballFamily #GameDayVibes #SchoolPride
 

Gratitude was alive and well at Garfield Elementary in the days leading up to Autumn Break.

Students and staff celebrated Gratitude Week with daily themes focused on being helpful, showing appreciation, and expressing thankfulness — simple actions that brought the school community together.

Led by Everyday Leadership students, the week featured positive morning messages and schoolwide art activities that gave all students a creative way to spread kindness.

The result was a warm, joyful week that reminded everyone how gratitude strengthens our school and lifts up our community — just in time for the Thanksgiving season.

Great job, Garfield!
 

Junior Achievement (JA) in a Day at Garfield Elementary! 💼✨

Garfield Elementary students recently took part in Junior Achievement (JA) in a Day, a program from Junior Achievement â€” a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching young people about financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Volunteers from our local workforce spent the day in classrooms leading fun, hands-on lessons that connected learning to the real world.

Students explored future careers, practiced smart financial choices, and discovered how their actions can make a positive difference in their community — all skills that support the Boise School District’s Strategic Plan and help prepare them for success in college, career, and life.

A huge thank-you to our incredible volunteers for sharing their time and expertise. Experiences like this strengthen our schools and our community! 👏💙

 

🎭✨ Taft Elementary brought pure magic to the stage with their production of The Lion King Musical! ✨🦁

Students dazzled the audience with their talent, teamwork, and heart. From the vibrant costumes to the powerful performances, the show was a celebration of creativity and dedication — and a reminder of what our students can achieve when supported by a caring community.

This production was made possible thanks to generous funding from the Boise Schools Foundation, whose support helps ensure students have access to rich, memorable arts experiences like this one.

The Lion King also reflects the Boise School District’s Strategic Plan in action, giving students meaningful opportunities to build confidence, collaborate, and grow as learners and leaders. 🌱📚

A heartfelt thank-you to the families, staff, and volunteers who helped bring this experience to life. Your support makes moments like these possible and strengthens our entire school community. ❤️👏

#BoiseSchools #TaftElementary #LionKingKids #StudentTalent #PerformingArts #ProudSchoolCommunity #BSDStrategicPlan
 

🎉 Maple Grove Elementary Celebrates New Track with Community Ribbon Cutting! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Recently, Maple Grove Elementary kicked off the morning with a joyful ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the school’s brand-new track — a project made possible by the leadership and determination of three extraordinary students.

These student leaders partnered closely with the PTO and our wider community, rallying support and raising the funds needed to bring this vision to life. Their commitment shows what happens when students feel empowered to dream big, collaborate, and take meaningful action.

This new track isn’t just a physical space — it’s a symbol of what our community can accomplish together. It will provide a safe, fun place for students to grow, play, and thrive for years to come.

At the Boise School District, we are proud of our young leaders whose small, intentional efforts continue to strengthen our schools and inspire those around them. 🌟

#BoiseSchoolDistrict #MapleGroveElementary #StudentLeaders #CommunityMatters #BeTheChange
 

💙💛 Whittier Elementary wrapped up “Be The Change” Week with a celebration full of heart, laughter, and Viking pride!

From November 3–12, Whittier students explored how they can make a positive impact at school, at home, and in the community. Their ideas—shared on colorful post-it notes and read aloud by student volunteers—reminded everyone that even the smallest actions can spark meaningful change.

A school assembly brought extra joy as students cheered through three surprise challenges: Principal Regina Hoffman-Flock bravely kissed Nigel the bearded dragon 🐉, Miss Steingraf got the silly-string treatment 🎉, and Ms. Griffin debuted a bold, student-designed hairstyle 🎨.

What a powerful example of students lifting one another up and a school community encouraging leadership, kindness, and courage. Way to go, Whittier Vikings—keep being the change! 💛💙
 

🎉 Student Spotlight: Making a Big Difference at Monroe! 🎉

Julian, a Monroe second grader showed incredible heart recently by organizing his own food drive to support the school’s Paw Pantry — and the results were amazing! 🐾💙

He gathered 328 food items, helping ensure weekend food bags are ready for the 23 Monroe students who rely on the pantry each Friday.

This act of kindness is a powerful reminder of how our youngest learners can inspire an entire community. Julian, thank you for your compassion, leadership, and commitment to helping others. You’re making Monroe—and Boise—stronger! 💙📦✨
 

Boise Students Learn from Dr. Jill Lepore

📚 Recently, Boise School District juniors from each of our high schools experienced an inspiring learning opportunity with Dr. Jill Lepore — award-winning historian, bestselling author, and Harvard professor. 🎓✨

Dr. Lepore reminded students that history is far more than remembering dates and events — it’s a way of thinking. It’s about examining multiple perspectives, asking big questions, and understanding why democracy matters in our lives and communities. 🇺🇸💬 Her visit brought history to life, helping students see how the stories we share shape who we are and who we aspire to be.

This kind of real-world learning reflects our District’s commitment to meaningful partnerships that deepen student understanding and spark curiosity. 🌎🤝

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated educators and our incredible community partners — The Idaho Humanities Council and The Cabin â€” for making this powerful learning experience possible. Together, we’re helping students discover new ideas, engage thoughtfully with the world, and continue building a stronger, more informed community. 👏🙌

 

Capital High Wins First Place at Festival of Trees with Community-Inspired Tree

Capital High School earned 1st place in the School Non-Traditional division at this year’s Festival of Trees â€” and their award-winning entry was truly a community effort.

Every ornament on the tree was handmade by Capital’s art students, who found their inspiration in drawings created by first graders at Valley View Elementary. The younger students sketched imaginative “monsters,” and Capital students transformed those playful designs into colorful, three-dimensional ornaments that brought the tree to life.

This project is a wonderful example of cross-grade collaboration, mentorship, and the creative spirit that shines across the Boise School District. Our community can be proud of the way these students supported one another and showcased the power of artistic partnership.

Congratulations to the Capital Eagles and the young artists at Valley View — and thank you for representing our district with such creativity and heart!
Capital High School art students and staff celebrate their 1st-place win at the Festival of Trees with their handmade, community-inspired tree.
Capital High art students and art teacher Cathy Younger pose with their 1st-place Festival of Trees entry, decorated with ornaments inspired by Valley View first graders.
 

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
 
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!
 

🌟 Stay Connected with Boise Schools

Follow us for stories, celebrations, and updates from across the Boise School District!

📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram

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

Dates of Interest

  • 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
  • January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School Pre K-12
  • February 16: Presidents' Day - No School Pre K-12
  • March 5: Kindergarten Registration/Open House, 3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • March 13: End of Third Quarter - Early Release K-6 to work on Report Cards, No School Pre K
  • March 16-20: Spring Break - No School Pre K-12
School Year Calendars