You’ll Be Proud of What’s Happening in Boise Schools 👏 Preview: New pool, top band honors, student opportunities, and ways to support our community — all inside.
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.
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 José Rodríguez 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!
Under the direction of José Rodríguez 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 #MarchingBand
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.) – School Technology Safety App for Families
Facilitator: Will Goodman, BSD Chief Technology Officer
Nov. 12 (5:00–5:30 p.m.) – 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.)
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 Power, TRC 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 — scan the QR code on the flyer to get started!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 — 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!
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.'
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 — 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
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
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...
