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Indian Hills News

Two brothers a first grader and a fifth grader are finding the balancing point for different objects.

It's our favorite night of the year when our learners bring their families to school to play games and learn new ways to have fun with learning at home. In each hallway, four or five classrooms host games that test skills of agility, balance, and often luck. This year families competed against each other in Mini Golf, Cookie Face, Rolling for Points, Bean Bag Toss, Dice Stacking, Egg Bouncing, Ring Toss, Cheerios, and Bolts and Nuts. We also had fun learning and beating our parents in math games, sight word games, OREO writing, balance point, comprehension strategies and juggling.  Each win earned a ticket for a chance to win a prize of your choice.  The cafeteria had three tables of prizes including legos, art supplies, games, science kits, book series, puzzles, and balls. Learners could also win an estimation prize if they guessed the right number of licorice, eraser pets, legos, or Twix minis. The PTA also had a drawing for a basket of amazing things. This night would not be possible without a lot of help. We would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to Mrs. Balmer, all of our amazing staff, Indian Hills Elementary Schoolwide Title 1: Family Engagement, United Way, Idaho PTA, Kevin Robbins, Idaho State University Ambassadors, Golf Team and Benny the Tiger, and National Honor Society Students from Pocatello and Century High Schools. It was an amazing night because of all our helpers and our families who came to have fun!

First grade learners performing Seussical the Musical on the risers in the gym. They are dressed in THIING 1 or 2 shirts.

Our first grade learners celebrated Dr. Seuss' Birthday by performing Seussical the Musical Jr. for their families and friends. Oh the thinks one can think when we sing songs about Dr. Seuss' stories. Our learners sang and read written parts from Horton Hears a Who, McElligot's Pool and Green Eggs and Ham. We celebrated that "Anything's Possible" and "A Person's a Person No Matter How Small" and poor "Sam I Am" couldn't convince our first graders to try his "Green Eggs and Ham" here or there or anywhere!! After the performance our visitors were invited to read Dr. Seuss books in the classroom with their learner. Thank you to everyone who came to support our adorable "Thing 1 - 100 Learners".

Indian Hills Productions presents: Perfect Attendance Challenge Coming Soon: 100% Attendance in March & April

Coming Soon: 100% Attendance in March and April

Let's roll the red carpet out in May for all learners who have perfect attendance for March and April! Those learners that do not receive an absence or tardy (are at school on time and stay the entire day) will be invited on a field trip to go to a movie at the Reel Theater in May! This means no tardies, leave early or absences. It is so important to be at school every day and we want to celebrate those learners who are doing their best learning everyday!

 

Jill Johnson

Happy February!

Last week was our second annual Dream Big Week! Miss Amanda and 5th grade student leaders organized activities to help students "step to success". Learners set goals, identified their strengths, and dressed to impress! We hope your learner will share their dreams and goals with you.

This year we have focused on our caring Cougar Community. We want all of our students and their families to feel welcomed and cared for at Indian Hills. We invite the families of all our learners to our second annual Family Game Night on Feb. 29th. Snacks, games, raffles, fun at Indian Hills' Title I Family Game Night 5:30-7:30pm. We hope you can join us!

Snacks.Games.Raffles.Fun. Indian Hills Title 1 Family Game Night 02-29-24 %;30-7:30 Indian Hills Elementary

 

The four characters from the play are standing in front of the students answering questions

A BIG Thank You to Belnap & Summers Orthodontics and Oak Mountain Dental for bringing the Idaho Shakespeare Theater to Indian Hills! We loved seeing The Legend of Finn McCoy come to life. Finn McCoy was able to outsmart the Evil Wizard with a little help from the Salmon of Knowledge and saved the world from destruction. We learned that even though we are small we can make a big difference in our world by making good choices and being kind. 

 January Employee of the Month PIES recipient Charonne Gunter pictured with Principal Jill Johnson, Beth Pope, Jenny  Higgins

The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25’s Employee-of-the-Month P.I.E.S. award recognizes employees who Positively Influence Educational Success. The award is for employees who go above and beyond in that effort.

This month we recognized Ms. Charonne Gunter as January’s PIES Award recipient. Ms. Gunter teaches Kindergarten at Indian Hills Elementary School.

Mrs. Gunter was nominated for the PIES Employee of the Month award by three individuals: Indian Hills Principal Jill Johnson, colleague Jenny Higgins, and Beth Pope, who has worked alongside Mrs. Gunter as her paraprofessional for the past ten years.

In her nomination, Mrs. Johnson wrote, “Charonne is super positive! No matter the challenge she chooses to focus on the good. She is a team leader both at Indian Hills and throughout the district, having served as a unit developer for years. She has also mentored new teachers in and out of the district. She wants others to succeed so she shares her tips for success with other aspiring kindergarten teachers. Charonne works so well with all of her kindergarten students. She communicates with them in a way that motivates them to work hard and want to be at school. Those who work with Charonne feel her enthusiasm and love for teaching and learning!"

Mrs. Higgins wrote, “Charonne Gunter is the most amazing Kindergarten teacher I know! She consistently finds creative and fun ways to apply the curriculum concepts for each learner, with particular attention to individual learning ability. Her classroom is bright, happy, and engaging where every learner feels valued, loved, and appreciated. Charonne cultivates joy in her classroom and our school and is an inspiration to all!"

Mrs. Pope wrote, “Charonne Gunter exemplifies the district's PIES criteria. She is always willing to share what works and what doesn't. She is also willing to use what she learns from other teachers around the district in our classroom. I have witnessed her gentle and calm way with children. She has a way of speaking with the learners that makes them feel loved and important, getting to know each learner individually. She is always looking for ways to engage the shy learner in a positive manner that boosts their confidence."

Ms. Gunter was recognized at the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and received a $50 gift card from the educational partner for this award, Lookout Credit Union. 

Student Helpers and boxes of hygiene items collected this week.

Learners at Indian Hills brought donations of personal hygiene and household cleaning items to be given to families in need in our district. Our Fifth grade student leadership helped by making posters, doing announcements, collecting the items from each classroom and counting items.  We totaled 1173 donated items! That was enough to fill our closet and give the remainders to the High School! 

Learners performing the Winter Program.

The third grade "Winter Program" was held on December 12th.  Ten songs were performed as well as 16 small speaking parts.  Everyone worked so hard to learn all the words and present beautiful music to their families.  Also, Mrs. Johnson played the piano for every song (she's amazing)! 

 

Indian Hills Learners and Staff holding hands outside around the perimeter of the school singing our new Cougar School Song .

On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Indian Hills learners and staff celebrated strengthening our Caring Cougar Community by holding hands and singing our new school song outside the perimeter of the school.  One of our 5th Grade teachers, Whitney Curzon, composed the music and lyrics with sign language and led the school over the intercom.

 

Pocatello Police Officers standing next to their police cars and their K-9 Dogs on a snowy day south of town.
Pocatello Police Officers standing next to their police cars and their K-9 Dogs on a snowy day south of town.

Pictured from left to right are Officer Namohala with K-9 Lobo, Officer Anderson with K-9 Flip, Officer Torres with K-9 Thor, and Corporal Seamons with K-9 Bruce.

Third Grade learners recently read a story in their ELA books about police partners, so on January 5, 2023, Pocatello police officers and their K-9 dogs were invited to visit Indian Hills Elementary 3rd Grade classrooms.  

Pocatello K-9 dogs are Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd. They look like German Shepherds but are not as stocky and don't weigh as much. They are also trained as working dogs rather than pets.

Officer Namohala with K-9 Lobo and Officer Anderson with K-9 Flip went into the classrooms to introduce their K-9 dogs and to educate learners and teachers about this special program.

According to the ELA story K-9 dogs are with their officers all day and all night. Their most important job is to protect their partners. K-9 dogs go through a rigorous training program running through obstacle courses, jumping as high as 8 feet in the air, and walking up very steep and open stairways.  They have very sensitive noses so they can sniff out drugs and catch criminals from scents on their clothing.  K-9 police cars don't have a backseat so that the K-9 dogs have a comfortable place to rest while in the car.  They have carpet, a built-in water bowl, and fans to keep them cool in warmer weather.  When they get home from work, K-9's have play time and rest time with their partners.

Meet "Topper" The Elk on a Shelf Idaho Fish & Game

Thank you to the Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region for this amazing experience today for 2nd grade learners at Indian Hills Elementary School with Topper the "Elk" on the Shelf.

Five students standing near the Valley Mission box truck

Our food drive for November was organized by our Community Resource Worker and a group of fifth grade student leaders. Non-perishable foods were donated from every grade and classroom. Food was distributed to our local school pantries and to Valley Mission.

Valley Mission serves between 650 to 850 families in the Portneuf Valley each month through their food pantry with the support of the Idaho Foodbank and local business partners, including Walmart, Smith's, Albertsons, Jacksons, Fred Meyer, Ridley's, COSTCO, and Big Lots!

Valley Mission offers hope and new beginnings by providing, coordinating, and delivering an efficient system of care (including food assistance, warming shelter, nutritional and financial counseling and job seeking skills) for people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Bannock County.

 

Three students and an adult loading food boxes into the back of the Valley Mission box truck
Five students standing near the Valley Mission box truck
Firefighter Dads bring fire truck and equipment to Indian Hills

On September 28, 2022, four dads of children who attend Indian Hills Elementary visited our school with their fire trucks and equipment to educate students about their careers and fire safety.

Brian O'Donnell is a wildlife operations technician for the Bureau of Land Management. His daughter Lucy is a 1st grader and his wife Ann is a Special Education Teacher at Indian Hills Elementary.

Ben Myers is an engineer for the Idaho National Laboratory's fire department. His son Carver is in 1st grade.

Dustin Williams is an assistant fire management officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His son Jasper is in 5th Grade.

Paul Davis is a Bureau of Land Management engine captain. His children are Bridger in 5th Grade and Mila in 2nd Grade.

We also had a firefighter from the City of Pocatello Fire Department who came to this event.

"Kids are engaged, they get hands-on experience and it promotes safety. Plus, the kids love seeing their parents in action."  Principal Jill Johnson

Brian O'Donnell - BLM Fire Department with daughter Lucy 1st Grade & wife Special Ed. Teacher at Indian Hills.

Brian O'Donnell, his daughter, Lucy and his wife, Ann, who is a Special Education Teacher at Indian Hills Elementary.

Ben Myers - INL Fire Department Engineer with his son Carver in 1st Grade

Ben Myers and his son, Carver.

Dustin Williams - BIA Fire Department with son Jasper in 5th Grade at Indian Hills Elementary on September 28, 2022.

Dustin Williams and his son, Jasper.

Paul Davis - BLM Fire Department with children Bridger 5th Grade and Mila 1st Grade at Indian Hills Elementary

Paul Davis and his children Bridger and Mila.

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