North Idaho Schools Win ‘A-Plus’ Awards Statewide Honor Given To Schools That Strive To Meet Student Needs

Thu., May 18, 2000

By Alison Boggs alisonb@spokesman.com (509) 459-5314

At Fernan Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene, parents are so involved they help obtain grants for school programs.

At Ponderosa Elementary in Post Falls, students have uninterrupted reading time every day, and they write the school’s newsletter.

At Sagle Elementary, the parent-teacher association works to help secure laws that emphasize the care and protection of children.

These schools are among seven in North Idaho awarded the A-plus for Excellence Award from the Idaho Education Association this week. The award honors schools statewide that demonstrate extraordinary efforts to meet student needs. This year, 29 schools received the award.

“The overall purpose of the award is to recognize the great things that go on in our schools,” said Robin Nettinga, president of the IEA and a seventh and eighth grade teacher.

Criteria for the award include a safe, orderly environment, ongoing staff development, parent and community involvement and innovative staff participation.

Nettinga played the part of Regis Philbin as she traveled from school to school doling out the awards this week.

She asked assemblies of children if they liked the show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” which Philbin hosts. Then she recreated it, asking each grade level a question with multiple choice answers.

At Fernan on Wednesday, the kindergarteners couldn’t wait to answer their question. They yelled out “Mittens!” in unison when Nettinga asked what the three little kittens lost. They knew it wasn’t (A) their mother or (B) their hats.

“Every single one of you is already a winner,” Nettinga told the students and teachers. “The things that go on here will help you throughout your whole life.”

Other schools honored were Betty Kiefer Elementary in the Lakeland School District, Borah and Ramsey elementary schools in Coeur d’Alene and Sunnyside Elementary in Kellogg.

Ponderosa Elementary has the distinction of being the only school in the state to win the award five consecutive years.

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North Idaho Schools Win ‘A-Plus’ Awards Statewide Honor Given To Schools That Strive To Meet Student Needs

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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