As our community recognizes Veterans Day today, we are reminded of the service, sacrifice, and commitment shown by those who have worn our nation’s uniform. It is also a moment to reflect on how we understand and carry forward the values they defended.
This year, Boise High School senior Kate Raley offered a thoughtful contribution to that reflection through her award-winning video, which earned First Place in the Idaho School Board Association’s Student Video Contest.
Responding to the prompt, “What does it mean to be an American to you?”, Kate created a moving and personal piece that explores identity, belonging, and what it means to participate in our community. Her work stood out statewide for its creativity and insight.
Kate’s video will be showcased to more than 500 school board members and administrators at the 2025 ISBA Annual Convention, November 12–14 in Coeur d’Alene. She will also receive a $300 award for her outstanding entry.
We are proud of Kate for using her voice to engage with meaningful questions and to help deepen our collective reflection on this important day.
Boise High School senior Kate Raley’s First Place video for the Idaho School Board Association Student Video Contest.
Student Advisory Committee Meets at Boise High
Strengthening Student Voice in District Leadership
The Boise School District’s Student Advisory Committee met on November 11 at Boise High School, bringing together student representatives from across the District, members of the Board of Trustees, and District leadership. The Committee is designed to increase direct student engagement with District decision-makers, ensuring that student perspectives help guide priorities at the systems level—not only within individual schools.
During the meeting, students reviewed Student Engagement Survey results and worked collaboratively to identify ways to strengthen belonging, communication, and participation in school life. The meeting also included a presentation from Doug Stan, Social Studies Educator at Boise High School, who highlighted the deep history of Boise High and its place in the cultural and educational fabric of our city. Mr. Stan also serves with the Idaho Historic Preservation Council.
The work of our Student Advisory Committee is important to our broader community because student experience is central to school success. When students are active partners in shaping learning environments, we create schools that are more supportive, equitable, and responsive. The Committee’s work aligns with the District’s Strategic Plan and reflects our commitment to listening, learning, and acting with students.
The Student Advisory Committee will continue to meet throughout the school year, culminating in a final report to the Board of Trustees this spring.
Boise High Social Studies Educator Doug Stan shares the history and heritage of Boise High with Student Advisory Committee members outside the school’s historic front entrance.
Boise School District Students Selected for Idaho All-State Music Honors
Boise School District is proud to recognize an outstanding group of Band, Choir, and Orchestra students who have been selected for the 2025 Idaho Music Education Association (IMEA) All-State Honor Ensembles. Selection to All-State is one of the highest recognitions for student musicians in Idaho and reflects exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work.
Two district ensembles were also chosen to perform featured concerts during the All-State Conference:
Boise Honor Band – Symphonic Band, directed by Mark Young and Kylie Sheffield, will perform during the concert hour on February 5.
Borah High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Matt Clay, will perform at the Jazz Concert Hour on February 6.
These students and ensembles will join top musicians from across the state for a series of clinics, rehearsals, and performances led by nationally recognized conductors and educators.
A full list of Boise School District students selected for All-State can be found online.
Please join us in congratulating these accomplished student musicians, their families, and their directors. Their commitment to excellence reflects the strength of music education in the Boise School District.
Boise School District Earns National Recognition for Budget Transparency – 23rd Year in a Row
The Boise School District has once again been recognized for its commitment to clear and transparent financial planning. For the 23rd consecutive year, the District has received the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for its 2025–2026 annual budget.
This award honors school districts that make their budgets easy for the public to understand. Reviewers noted that Boise School District’s budget is user-friendly, includes helpful charts and visuals, and is publicly accessible online—helping families, staff, and community members clearly see how resources are allocated to support students.
“This award reflects our dedication to being responsible stewards of public funds,” said Superintendent Lisa Roberts. “Transparency is essential to building trust with our community, and we want families and taxpayers to understand how their investment directly supports student learning and well-being.”
To learn more about ASBO’s Meritorious Budget Award program, visit asbointl.org/MBA.
BOISE SCHOOL BOARD CORNER
Board Recognizes Outstanding Staff with Red and Golden Apple Awards
The Boise School Board continues its long-standing tradition of recognizing exceptional staff members with the prestigious Red and Golden Apple Awards.
Each month during the school year, the Board presents the Golden Apple Award to a classified staff member and the Red Apple Award to a certified staff member whose work exemplifies dedication, innovation, and service to students and the school community.
These outstanding individuals represent the Boise School District’s commitment to excellence and its mission of Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow. Their hard work, creativity, and compassion make a lasting impact on students and the broader school community.
Friend of Boise Schools Award Presented to Doug Holloway
The Boise School District is proud to honor Doug Holloway with the Friend of Boise Schools Award, presented at the November 10, 2025 Board of Trustees meeting. For more than a decade, Doug has been a key partner in strengthening collaboration between the District and the City of Boise. His leadership helped launch Movies Under the Stars, expand community centers at Morley Nelson, Grace Jordan, Whitney, and Whittier, and increase access to after-school and summer programs for Boise students.
Through thoughtful partnership, steady leadership, and a “how can we make it happen?” mindset, Doug has worked to ensure that community spaces and programs truly support children and families. His legacy can be seen in the connections built, the opportunities created, and the students who have been supported along the way.
As Doug retires, we extend our sincere appreciation and warmest wishes. His impact will continue to be felt throughout our schools and our community.
Doug Holloway is recognized by the Boise School Board and Superintendent Lisa Roberts during the November 10, 2025 Board meeting, where he was presented with the Friend of Boise Schools Award in honor of his longstanding partnership and service to Boise students and families.
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 Session:
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!
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!
#BoiseSchools #DTEC #CareerReady #HandsOnLearning
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
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...
