Accomplishments

Jami Bott, a third grader from Hayden Meadows Elementary, won the Idaho School Bus Safety poster contest. Her winning entry will be shared statewide during the 2024/2025 school year and featured the week of October 21st in conjunction with National School Bus Safety Week along with a $50.00 Amazon gift card and. 

The CollegeBoard identifies a score of "5" on an AP exam as "extremely well qualified to be successful in collegiate level work." During the score announcement in July 2024, 60 students in the 2023-2024 school year amassed 110 perfect scores, and 72% of all students earned a qualifying score of 3 or higher.

To celebrate this accomplishment, teachers and administrators throughout the district placed yard signs acknowledging this honor.

On July 23, district driver Gary Day was awarded the 2023-24 Service Award for his contributions to the community, the work environment and his coworkers.  Gary had worked for the school district as a teacher prior to becoming a school bus driver and is known for his invaluable efforts to build relationships with students and colleagues.

Fernan STEM's art educator Leatha Morgan, has received the Idaho Art Education Association’s award for Elementary Educator of the Year, receiving her award at the Idaho Art Education Association conference in Twin Falls October 5th.

Coeur d'Alene High School Junior Adeline Smith was one of 15 students nationally with the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes recognizing youth who "have made significant positive impacts on people, their communities and the environment." She accepted the $10,000 prize toward her higher education.

Smith is the co-founder of Growing the STEM, a nonprofit that creates math and science programs for students in 14 underserved Idaho schools. In the 2023-2024 school year, her team recruited more than 100 teen volunteers to coach over 900 elementary and middle school students in 45 after-school programs. Clubs include Mathletes, STEAM Club, Engineering Club, STEM Book Club, Math is Cool and Chess Club.

 The Idaho Commission for Libraries has granted four schools $5000 apiece to replenish titles/resources in their libraries and diversify selections to allow students in developmental preschool programs, Kindergarten-fifth grade, the years they are learning to read, to check out books to take home.

Four Coeur d'Alene High School seniors—Amelia Morris, Noelle Murphy, Isaac Thorpe, and Caleb Wright along with one LCHS Senior, Shawnee Madden, have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. This prestigious recognition requires scoring in the top 1% on the PSAT/NMSQT, maintaining a strong academic record, receiving a principal's recommendation, and showcasing social and civic accomplishments. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards nearly 10,000 scholarships annually, with winners announced from March to June.

Recognizing "the impact he has made on students and the field of education," Coeur d'Alene High School DECA teacher was recognized at halftime of the University of Idaho's football game on October 19th as a "Vandal Outstanding Educator."

The news release shows that Mr. Carrico has inspired countless students to pursue careers in business and marketing. His passion for teaching personal finance and fostering creativity has made a lasting impact, both in the classroom and throughout the community. Beyond teaching, Mr. Carrico is involved in extracurriculars, from coaching football to organizing school-wide events like the blood drive. His influence extends beyond academics, shaping students into engaged and productive community members.

Coeur d'Alene High School's boy's cross-country team and girls' swim team have both won academic state titles with average 3.918 & 3.997 GPAs, respectively. The award is a back-to-back championship for girls swimming and two out of the last three for the boys cross country team - six for CHS in the last 2.5 years 

Junior Sheen Broncheau (trombone), Senior Amelia Morris (french horn), and Senior Aaron Sadler (percussion) have been selected to participate in the 2024 University of Montana All-Star Band in Missoula, MT, November 8-10. These students will join top musicians from across the Northwest and Canada, performing in one of three All-Star High School Concert Bands and are also invited to perform with the Grizzly Marching Band during a home football game.

Congratulations to Coeur d'Alene High School Freshman Ella Wilson on being the 2024 6A Girls Golf Individual State Champion! The Viking team finished second for the second straight year.

Coeur d'Alene High School senior Kyle Rohlinger has been named a Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist! Kyle is part of the 1% of semifinalists chosen from a pool of more than 105,000 completed applications due to his outstanding community and school leadership, involvement, academics, and service.

Team Atlas participated in Relay for Life in October, an event dedicated to raising awareness and funds to support cancer research and patient care. Through the combined efforts of their team, they raised an impressive $1,549, all of which will go towards helping fight cancer.

The Coeur d'Alene High boys cross country team capture a second straight state title this fall, winning the 6A crown on Saturday at Eagle Island State Park.

The Vikings had six boys earning medals for finishing in the top 20. Seniors Max Cervi-Skinner (third) and Zack Cervi-Skinner (fourth), sophomores Wyatt Carr (sixth) and Gabe Heule (13th), freshman Rowan Henry (14th) and junior Mitchell Rietze (16th) led the way for the Vikings, who won with 40 points, beating Rocky Mountain of Meridian by 11 points for the team title. 

Coeur d'Alene's boys were ranked 13th in the nation by Dyestat.com at the time of the championship.

At the Idaho Association of Student Councils meeting in Twin Falls, both student councils from Coeur d'Alene and Lake City High Schools were recognized as "Outstanding Student Councils." Only 15 student councils statewide were recognized for their governance, elections process, meetings, council operations, budget, spirit/school service projects, community service, and educational outreach, among other categories.

In this image, note that the Viking leadership holds the LCHS "Spirit Stick" and LCHS leadership holds the "Viking Axe."

Exemplfying kindness, integrity, spirit, leadership, and sportsmanship, Lake City High School's student council and principal Deanne Clifford were awarded the State Student Council Spirit Award at the Idaho Association of Student Councils meeting in Twin Falls.

Upon hearing that her students were recognized, Lake City Principal Deanne Clifford remarked, "I'm so honored to serve these incredible students at our school. It's been the honor of my life." 

Coeur d'Alene High School Band

Director: Jim Phillips

Andrew Bruns, Alto Saxophone - Band

Amelia Morris, French Horn - Band

Andrew Phillips, Viola - Orchestra

Jonathan Phillips, Trombone - Band

Karsten Towery, Viola - Orchestra

Coeur d'Alene High School Choral Music

Director: Lexi Walker

Evie Andrus, Alto II, Jazz Choir

Lillian Chapman, Soprano I, Treble Choir

Jenna Davenport, Soprano II, Treble Choir

Kaiya Killingsworth, Soprano II, Mix Choir

Dahlia Kramer, Soprano II, Treble Choir

Lily Kramer, Soprano II, Treble Choir

Lake City High School Choral Music

Director: Brittany Pfundheller

Olivia Niles, Jazz Choir, Alto 1

Gabrielle Haldi, Mixed Choir, Soprano 1

Sonja Bodnar, Mixed Choir, Alto 1

Willa Cagilaba, Mixed Choir, Alto 1

Rome Armitage, Mixed Choir, Tenor 1

Milo Wright, Mixed Choir, Bass

Sage Rodgers, Treble Choir, Soprano 1

Raina Nelson, Treble Choir, Soprano 2

Prudence Clarkson, Treble Choir, Alto 1

Leo Esler, Treble Choir, Alto 2

Faith Thompson, Treble Choir, Alto 2

Aubrey Finley, Treble Choir, Alto 2

We all know that Aaron Drake is good, but he's now been recognized by Kootenai County Young Professionals as one of the "Top 30 Under 40!" A district educator for 17 years and 11 years as an assistant principal, and longtime educational leader in Kootenai County, Mr. Drake has a heart for youth in our region. He was recognized for his work in the community and his podcast about public education called “Educate208” on various social media channels.

Coeur d'Alene High sophomore Andrew Davis won the state title in the 6A boys 200-yard freestyle and Lake City High sophomore Eli Shaw won his second straight swimming title in the 100-yard butterfly at the state swim meet in Boise in November. The Lake City High girls swim team finished runner-up in the state.

Congratulations to Rowen Lair, Cooper Yake, Logan Anderson, and Jack Kennedy of Lake City High School, who won the 41st annual North Idaho College Mathematics competition. They are featured here with advisors Tahnee Meehan and Dan Schmidt. Senior Jack Kennedy earned second in the Senior level competition.

Coeur d'Alene High School, led by senior Atlas Zastrow, took third place at this year's team competition. Zastrow earned first place in the grade 12 exam, scoring the highest of every student in the competition. Maddox Le received third place in the Senior division. Junior Allen Kibler got second place.

The Coeur d'Alene Distance Project, a cross country team representing students all from Coeur d'Alene High School, won a second straight Nike Northwest Regional cross country championship in November at Eagle Island State Park in Southern Idaho, clinching a berth to the national meet on Dec. 7 in Portland and 9th at the national event. Senior Max Cervi-Skinner paced Coeur d'Alene Distance Project with an individual ninth-place finish.

Head coach Emry Carr and assistant coaches Allison Howard and Tarragh Carr represented the team of Wyatt Morgenstern, Gabe Heule, Mitchell Rietz, Zack Cervi-Skinner, Max Cervi-Skinner, Wyatt Carr, and Rowan Henry.

Students at Skyway Elementary School collected cans of food for Canopy Village (formerly Children's Village) in November. Staff members from Canopy also voted on the best design/creation and coming by on Thursday to announce the winner and pick up the cans.

Lake City High School Senior , Rowen Lair has received the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award for the 2024-25 school year!

The DAR Good Citizen Award honors outstanding citizenship qualities and recognizes high school seniors who demonstrate dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. 

From their news release: "Let us take a moment to acknowledge and commend this remarkable individual for his unwavering commitment to positively impacting our society. His hard work and dedication truly embody the spirit of good citizenship." 

Seventy district educators received EXCEL grants worth nearly a quarter million dollars this year. This prestigious recognition highlights their innovative approaches to education and unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of our students. The EXCEL grants provide critical support for these educators to implement new and creative teaching strategies, ultimately enhancing the educational experience for all.

These grants will fund a diverse range of projects aimed at fostering student engagement, improving academic outcomes, and supporting professional growth. From developing cutting-edge STEM programs to integrating arts and humanities into the curriculum, the awarded projects reflect the educators' passion for inspiring and empowering their students. The resources provided by these grants will enable them to turn their visionary ideas into reality, creating lasting impacts on the school community.

Lake City senior Garrett Leonard made school history on Saturday, becoming the first Timberwolves wrestler to win a prestigious Tri-State Tournament title, winning at 215 pounds by a 4-3 decision over Mead’s Braeden Harvey. 

“It feels great,” Leonard said. “So many great wrestlers have come to this tournament and not won it. I’m super proud to be a T-Wolf.” 

Lake City High School students in Matt Ruchti's economics courses raised over $12,000 through bake sales and other fundraising activities - allowing them to purchase gifts for local youth. Many students all arrived at the Hayden Wal*Mart, dressed in holiday cheer, with carts filled with clothing, toys, and other items. About $500 of the money was change the students dug out of their vehicles!

"We get each family, and each group takes care of that family, whether it's a 5-year-old boy to a 14-year-old girl, we take care of it all," Senior Landon said. "It's absolutely amazing. I feel very festive, I feel like that give back of Christmas, we really achieved that. I feel like we're really doing a lot and we're really making a difference."

In November and December, several of our elementary schools embraced the Generosity segment of the Sources of Strength (SOS) program by conducting campaigns that showcased kindness and community spirit. At Atlas Elementary, students organized a food drive to support the CDA Backpack Program and committed to acts of generosity and kindness during the holiday season, which they recorded and shared. At Ramsey Elementary, students created "Gratitude Trees," where they expressed their thankfulness for the people, places, and things that bring joy to their lives.

A new mural is being painted in the Dalton Elementary gym, created by CHS advanced art students and their teacher, Hanna Kuhns. The mural features a quote by the late Clark Campbell, who dedicated many years of service to the district. Stay tuned for details about the upcoming celebration, where we will honor Clark’s legacy with his family, students, and staff!

Lake City High School BPA members had an outstanding performance at the Regional BPA Competition held at North Idaho College on December 13. Several students qualified for the BPA State Leadership Conference in Boise this March.

Congratulations to the following Regional Champions:

• Collin Decker – Digital Media Production

• Asher Ramirez – Graphic Design Promotion

• Matthew Asher – Medical Terminology

• Ashley Moss – Health Admin Procedures

• Grace Larson – Banking & Finance

• Cooper Yake – Multiple categories including Financial Math & Analysis and Digital Marketing

Special recognition to the team champions:

• Savannah Lujan, Ashley Moss, Grace Larson, Anne Tenbrink – Podcast Production

• Chloe Crowley, Madi Meek – Visual Design Team

Local athletes made history at the 18U Rep Hockey Tournament in British Columbia, Canada. As the only American team in the competition, the Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy Thunder (CDAHA) defeated every Canadian team to secure the 1st place championship!

Players included are Coeur d'Alene High School’s Milo Griebel, Logan Soeder, and Blake Lovitt, as well as Lake City High School’s Tyler Kartchner, Tanner Leppert, and Camden Leppert. Teammates from Post Falls and Spokane rounded out the team. Congratulations to the CDAHA Thunder on their incredible achievement!

Congratulations to Sorensen Magnet School educator Mrs. Shanna Marshall who received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching after an extensive application process. She will receive her award this spring in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Marshall also was named the Idaho Elementary Social Studies Educator of the Year in 2023.

Our Atlas Elementary School librarian, Sara Grimm, offered a unique opportunity as she learned that Boise School District's Hawthorne Elementary was conducting a question/answer session with the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. This opportunity was extended to schools throughout Idaho. The questions were submitted, vetted, and narrowed down to the top 25, and 5th grader Mason Buntin's question was one of the top 25 that was considered! The fifth-grade classes at the school came together for a "Watch Party" of this event live! What a unique educational experience for our 5th-grade students!

Lake City High School Junior Sienna Miller has been named the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kootenai County "Youth of the Year" for helping "provide the foundation they need for advanced leadership development, academic excellence, and postsecondary success."

She will travel to Boise next month for the State of Idaho competition.

Canfield Middle School Health educator Keri Carter has been named the "Middle School Athletic Director of the Year" by the Idaho High School Activities Association representing her dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence in middle school athletics. In addition to this honor, Mrs. Carter has been selected as a finalist for the position of Middle School Athletic Director Representative on the IAAA board. We are so proud of Mrs. Carter's achievements!

Mrs. Carter, a Coeur d'Alene High School graduate and district educator since 1999, has been in the position at Canfield for four years and sees one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing how student-athletes grow over their middle school years before heading to high school. 

She was nominated by other athletic directors for the award and said she is honored to work with a pool of great athletic directors throughout North Idaho.

Students at both Coeur d'Alene and Lake City High School's worked with local businesses and organizations to conduct food, blanket and hygiene drives to provide for community members in need during "Fight for the Fish" week.

"We've got around 400 pounds of food alone, lots of infant clothes as you can see, which is awesome," Payton said, sharing some of the work of Coeur d'Alene's student body. "Half of the food will be for Canopy Village, the other half is for our counseling center for the kids who need meals for the weekend."

Lake City gathered nearly 200 blankets, many of which were donated by Tesh, Inc. Junior Emerson Rakes served as chair of the school's clothing drive.

"Five to seven boxes and bags of clothes were collected, and they're all going to go to local donation centers," she said.

She said obviously the two schools are rivals during Fight for the Fish season, but All for Awl brings them together for a greater good.

"It's really cool at the end of the month we can all be a community instead of two basketball teams," she said.

Canfield Middle School 8th grader's Eli Bardwell's essay on "The Edenton Tea Party" was selected as the best in Idaho for the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest.

He will receive an award certificate and a monetary award for winning first for our chapter and, in addition, for winning first in state. Additionally, his essay has been sent on to the "division" level where it will be judged against the best in the eight Northwestern states and may be selected for national recognition.

Coeur d'Alene High School Choir Director Lexi Walker has been recognized as the 2025 Idaho Young Music Educator of the Year by the Idaho Music Educators Association. The award is made to young teachers who have made an exemplary contribution to the music experience of their students. Originally from Bozeman, Montana, Mrs. Walker has been teaching music for over 10 years. In her third year at CHS, she has grown the choir program and diversified options available to students. 

Pictured Monday morning at the school, from left: Assistant Principal Annora Jewell, Assistant Principal Tara Nelson, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Victoria Beecher, Walker, instrumental music teacher Jim Phillips, and Principal Michael Randles.

Congratulations to Autumn McArthur, a school psychologist at Canfield Middle School, on receiving the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Idaho Association of School Psychologists last October! This honor recognizes her exceptional dedication to supporting students' diverse needs and her leadership in creating inclusive, trauma-informed environments. Autumn’s expertise, empathy, and advocacy for systemic changes in educational and mental health policies have made a huge impact on students, families, and the school community. Her unwavering commitment to her work makes her truly deserving of this recognition. Autumn was presented her award this morning in October and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the entire district staff.

At the Idaho Middle Level Association Conference in Nampa, Leslie Odenthal, 6th grade English Language Arts teacher at Woodland Middle School was honored as the Idaho Region 1 Middle Level Educator of the Year for 2024-2025! 

Leslie taught in all three district middle schools for 28 years, and this is her third year at Woodland Middle School.

In the classroom, Leslie creates a true community of learning. She establishes an environment where students feel safe to explore, learn, and be vulnerable, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. Her classroom is a space where every student knows they are valued and their contributions matter.

Beyond her work with students, Leslie is a respected instructional leader among her peers. Her ability to guide and inspire others to improve their practice has made her a cornerstone of professional development in our district and a sought-after resource throughout Region 1. Leslie’s influence is felt far and wide through mentoring or collaborative planning.

Leslie exemplifies what it means to be a leader. Her dedication to continuous improvement, passion for education, and unwavering focus on building relationships make her the epitome of excellence in middle-level education.

Four Coeur d'Alene High School seniors, (Amelia Morris, Noelle Murphy, Isaac Thorpe, and Caleb Wright) and one Lake City High senior, (Shawnee Madden) were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists back in September, but all five students have recently been named finalists!

This prestigious recognition requires scoring in the top 1% on the PSAT/NMSQT, maintaining a strong academic record, receiving a principal's recommendation, and showcasing social and civic accomplishments. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards nearly 10,000 scholarships annually, with winners announced from March to June. Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Nurse Amy Bell, currently serving students at Fernan STEM Academy and Sorensen Magnet School was named Idaho's 2025 School Nurse of the Year in a ceremony in front of student at Fernan in February.

Nominated by Assistant Principal Sandy Doering, wrote, in part, "Our school nurse is really good at working with everyone to make sure our students stay healthy. She goes to meetings, talks to parents, and keeps everyone informed about what the students need." 

Amy holds a distinguished national school nurse certification, which only about 6000 nurses in the country have obtained. She'll be recognized at the National Convention for School Nurses in June in Austin, TX.

Victoria Sandford, Family and Consumer Science instructor at Lake City High School was named a Soroptimist "Woman of Distinction" at a banquet in February. 

Chartered in 1948 as the first civic service group for women, Soroptimist works to better the lives of women and girls in the local community and chose Sanford for her long-time dedication to local education and the insistence in developing young adults to live healthy and productive lives.

This is Mrs. Sandford's 23rd year in our school district, all at Lake City High School. She has taught a wide variety of courses including Adult Living, Culinary Arts, Nutrition and Foods, Teen Living, and leadership courses. She's also the advisor of the school's chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. 

The Woodland Middle School basketball team recently came together to support airmen stationed overseas in Jordan, packing a total of seven boxes filled with essential items, including sanitary products, jerky, and oatmeal. In addition to assembling care packages, students wrote individual thank-you notes to express their gratitude. As part of this project, students also completed a special learning activity—a "homework packet" on the history of the 332nd Air Wing, a descendant of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the "Red Tails." Great work, Woodland athletes for your generosity, hard work, and dedication to honoring those who serve our country.

Coeur d'Alene High School's DECA (business and marketing) courses will send 28 students to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), Orlando, FL from April 24th to April 30th. Also, Sibley Higgins ran for a State DECA officer position and was appointed the Vice President of Leadership for the 25/26 year. Placers include:

FIRST PLACE/STATE CHAMPIONS

• Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series: Noelle Murphy

• Automotive Services Marketing Series: Adeline Smith

• Buying & Merch. Decision Making: Morgan Rossberg, Gabrielle Ramirez

• Community Giving Project: Ben Crabb, Rachel Corette, Paisley Goings

• Financial Literacy Project: Adeline Smith, Makena Halone, Kyrie Kelson

• Marketing Manag. Team Decision Making: Stella Deitz, Libby Morrisroe

SECOND PLACE

• Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making: Aubri Curry, Annika Hain

• Career Development Project: Noelle Murphy

• Community Giving Project: Brooklyn McCully

• Entrepreneurship Series: Bodie Oliverio

• Financial Services Team Decision Making: Ben Crabb, Brooklyn McCully

• Hospitality Services Team Decision Making: Lyla Bailey, Alyx Mathews

• Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service: Sara Siegler

• Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series: Jack Child

• Retail Merchandising Series: Nathan Simon

THIRD PLACE

• Automotive Services Marketing Series: Thalia Tevis

• Hospitality Serv. Team Decision Making: Rachel Corette, Paisley Goings

• Principles of Entrepreneurship: Samantha Freligh

Students Tanner Bosworth and Kylianna Swofford were elected Idaho Vice Presidents and 30 LCHS Timberwolves are advancing to the national conference identified below:

FIRST PLACE/STATE CHAMPIONS

• Financial Operations Research: Matthew Asher/Rowen Lair 

• Integrated Marketing Campaign - Event: Shawnee Madden/Tressa Meech

• Finance Team Decision Making: Matthew Asher/Rowen Lair

• Principles of Hospitality and Tourism: Tanner Bosworth

• Career Development Project: Cooper Yake

• Sports and Enter. Market. Decision Making: Greyson Kortus/Cooper Yake

• Student Based Enterprise: Gold Certification - Elsie Ragan/Jaben Cline

SECOND PLACE

• Buying and Merchandising Operations Research: Taryn Lommasson/Rylee McHenry/Ashlynn Swing

• Buying and Merch. Decision Making: Stella Cosgrove/Emily Demarre

• Business Growth Plan: Joel Bryan/Aidan Rice

• Innovation Plan: Asher Ramirez

• Prin. of Bus. Manag. and Administration: Shawnee Madden/Tressa Meech

• Principles of Business Management and Administration: Asa Sutton

• Principles of Business Management and Administration: Kaden Dufield

• Business Solutions Project: Kylianna Swofford/Jonnie Vedder

• Community Awareness Project: Grace Larson/Ashley Moss

• Restaurant and Food Service ManagementKylianna Swofford

THIRD PLACE

• Retail Merchandising Series: Bai Zhu

• Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making: Joel Bryan/Aidan Rice

Recently, Eva Brown, a senior at Coeur d'Alene High School won the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Good Citizen Essay Contest, earning a $300 check.

Eva was nominated by her school counselors for the DAR Good Citizen award for her dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

After being nominated, she then had to write an essay to complete the application process. The main subject of her essay was on how service is an essential attribute of a good citizen that fosters a strong sense of community and strengthens American identity.

“It’s surreal,” Eva said. “I was not expecting it. That I had the opportunity to do this and actually won was amazing. I love my country so much, and I love just being able to help people. It makes my heart happy."

DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s volunteer organization whose members' ancestors fought in the American Revolution. DAR's main missions are historic preservation, patriotism and education, with a dedication to help preserve freedoms and promote an appreciation of American history, especially among young people. (Photo courtesy of the CDA Press)

Bringing a little extra warmth and color to the season, The Hayden Meadows Elementary School Garden Club successfully forced tulips and daffodils to bloom early, creating beautiful floral arrangements for HearthStone Village Assisted Living. 

Mrs. Larcaria’s 4th-grade class added a personal touch by decorating the containers, making each one a cheerful gift. On Monday, February 24th, teacher Mr. Vern Harvey delivered the flowers, brightening the day for many residents. This thoughtful collaboration is a wonderful reminder of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Fifth-grade students from Ramsey Magnet School of Science and Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities won their respective divisions at the North Idaho "Math Is Cool" competition. Dalton Elementary and Fernan STEM Academies finished in second place.

During the completion, students completed individual and team competitions, which are compiled, earning points for their schools. Individual top scorers include:

• Bridger Gatten, Dalton Elementary School

• Jack Harrison, Dalton Elementary School

• Alex White, Ramsey Magnet School

• Jack Stavish, Winton Elementary School

• Asher Johnson, Winton Elementary School

Four district student athletes won individual state championships at the Idaho State Wrestling Championships in late February in Pocatello. 

Coeur d'Alene High School (Head Coach Jeff Moffatt)

• Brock Armstrong defeated Damion Hamilton of Post Falls, 4-3.

• Colton Turcker beat Rocky Mountain's Tyler Irish by pin.

Lake City High School (Head Coach Corey Owen)

• Senior Alexxis Johnson defeated Charlee Noah of Tri-Valley, 8-4.

• Senior Garrett Leonard defeated Porter Cottle of Madison, 4-1 to cap an undefeated season at 44-0.

Coeur d'Alene High School ended the boys tournament in 5th place overall.

Two Lake City students won state championships at the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference in Boise:

• Savannah Lujan took first place in Management, Marketing, and Human Resources

• Asher Ramirez was the champion for Digital Communication and Design. He also took second place in Digital Marketing Concepts.

Congratulations to Sydney Moyle and Jerren Bailey from Lake City High School, who have been selected to exhibit their artwork at the 2025 Art and Design Exhibit at the University of Idaho, beginning April 14th. The University receives entries from students across Idaho and selects only a few to be displayed in person.

• Sydney Moyle will showcase her oil painting, Candlelit.

• Jerren Bailey will present his glazed clay and yarn piece, Sacred Bonds.

Congratulations to Skyway Elementary 5th grader Daniel Jacobs for his outstanding achievement in the 2025 Winter Music Competition hosted by the Charleston International Music Competition! Practicing piano for four years, he was selected as a finalist, later earning third prize in the 9-10 division

In this video, he plays Polonaise in G Minor by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Mahan Esfahani.

Three high school students were selected by the Idaho Music Educators Association to join the 2025 All-State Treble Choir. Earning a spot in this prestigious ensemble required a rigorous audition, with selections based on a performance-based rubric. Once chosen, students had only three days to learn their music before collaborating with a skilled clinician to prepare for the performance. Our selected students include:

• Prudence Clarkson (Alto 1 - Freshman, LCHS)

• Dally Kramer (Soprano 2 - Freshman, CHS), and 

• Lily Kramer (Soprano 1 & 2 - Freshman, CHS)

Winton Elementary School, led by Advanced Learning Program teacher Katie Lovitt, amassed the highest point total and district schools swept the competitions at the 4th grade "Math Is Cool" competition:

• Winton Elementary School, 132 points, Pi division

• Hayden Meadows Elementary School, 127 points, Euler division

• Sorensen Magnet School, 120 points, Fi division

Dalton Elementary and Atlas Elementary Schools finished second in their respective divisions.

Hayden Meadows Elementary School student Jeremy Bott was the top scorer in the competition.

The Coeur d'Alene High School chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA) made an impressive showing at the Idaho TSA State Leadership Conference in Meridian. The Technology Student Association is a career and technology student organization that works hand in hand with the engineering program to enhance leadership, applied learning, and real-world application. At the conference, students participated in a variety of competitive events focused on engineering and architecture, all designed to foster leadership, critical thinking, and 21st-century skills. Several district students were recognized for their talents:

• Haileigh Alban - co-1st place in "Structural Design and Engineering"

• Jack Daigle - 2nd place in "CAD Architecture"

• Oliver Forsberg - 1st place in Manufacturing Prototype and 2nd place in "Dragster Design"

• Abigail Kendall - 1st place in "Structural Design and Engineering"

• Quinn Warner - 1st place in "Dragster Design" and "Technology Problem-solving"

The students of Canfield Middle School's Mentor Program raised $1000, which they donated to Canopy Village (formerly Children's Village) to help children and family support services, including emergency shelter and residential treatment.

They raised money through ticket sales and raffles for a neon-themed school dance and game night they hosted in late January, which was attended by about 375 students. Additionally, many Canfield Middle School staff/faculty matched student donations.

The North Idaho Business Journal has recognized Canfield Middle School counselor Melissa Hook as one of the 2025 "Top 40 Under 40" awardees.  Mrs. Hook was nominated by a community member and selected by the organization.

She will be spotlighted in the April edition of the North Idaho Business Journal and honored at their awards event on April 30th at the Coeur d'Alene Best Western.

Our Skyway Elementary School students collected donations for animals at the Kootenai Companion Humane Society as part of their house compecompetitions.

Each month, Skyway has a house lead and each month they do a service project.  The month of March hasthefocusof     resilience and they chose to support animals that may have struggled but continue to find a forever home.  

The students collected over 100 items for the animals. 

Students recently helped plant a NASA "Moon Tree" at Coeur d'Alene High School. The three-year-old Douglas fir seed was among about 1,000 seeds to orbit the moon during the Artemis I mission in late 2022.

This "Moon Tree" orbited the moon in November and December 2022 on the Artemis I mission, which launched a mega moon rocket into space and sent the Orion spacecraft on a 1.4-million-mile journey beyond the moon and back during an uncrewed flight test. Teacher Jennifer Haas filled out an application to have one of the seedlings and the application was granted. The seedling is planted behind the sign immediately behind the sign on the corner of 4th Street and Dalton Avenue.

The Coeur d'Alene District Elementary Librarians hosted their third annual Idaho Battle of the Books (IBOB) District Tournament on Tuesday, March 25, at Ramsey Elementary. Teams from Ramsey, Winton, Sorensen, and Atlas Elementary schools competed in the exciting trivia-style reading competition, with Sorensen’s team, The Girls plus George, claiming victory. Their prizes included the traveling IBOB trophy and donations from Figpickles and Honeypeeps.

IBOB is a statewide program where teams of 4-5 students read 16 books and compete to test their comprehension. The top two teams from each school will advance to the Regional Tournament, hosted by the East Bonner County Public Library in Sandpoint on April 12.

Congratulations to both Coeur d'Alene and Lake City High Schools for being recognized as 2025 National Gold Councils of Excellence by the National Association of Student Councils! This prestigious honor celebrates their exceptional leadership, community engagement, and commitment to making a positive impact. Both councils have demonstrated excellence through their projects, activities, and service to their schools and communities. Well done, Vikings and Timberwolves!

Lakes Middle School Choirs, under the direction of Citlali Sanchez Zuniga, had a strong showing at the Idaho Music Educators Association District 1 Large Group Festival on March 18 at North Idaho College, where 16 choral ensembles from around the region performed. The 6th Grade/Open Choir earned an Excellent rating in "Sight Singing," while the Advanced Choir achieved a Superior rating in "Sight Singing." Both groups also received Excellent overall performance ratings.

Take a look at these amazing performances: 

• Advanced Choir: Selections: Cantar, Danny Boy, J'entend Le Moulin

• 6th Grade/Open Choir: Selections: Murasame, Hold on, Lily and the Rose

Lake City High School was identified as the 6A winner of the Idaho High School Activities Association "Battle of the Fans." The school submitted a video of their student body being loud and positive at athletic and non-athletic events which was selected as the winner.

Former Lake City High School head basketball Coach Jim Winger was elected into the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame and LCHS Senior Wrestler Garret Leonard was named the Male Athlete of the Year at the annual banquet in April.

A list of winners are available HERE.

Through the kindness of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber, and all the local businesses and community members, 122 school district Seniors received a $1,000 scholarship, with an additional $1,000 for those attending college in Idaho. Ten students earned $1,000 Strength of Character scholarships, recognizing their academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and future aspirations. Students pursuing careers in education in Idaho will receive an additional $2,000. Thank you to everyone who made this incredible event possible!

Congratulations to Olivia Niles, Lake City High School senior, for winning the Solo Competition at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. Olivia received a $1,500 scholarship and performed as part of the opening act for 10-time Grammy-winning group Take 6 at the ICCU Arena.

She was joined on stage by fellow LCHS students Olin Young (drums), Aeden Kelley (bass), and Milo Wright (piano)—a special exception granted after Olivia advocated for her band to perform with her.

Congratulations on an amazing achievement for these talented students!

Congratulations to the talented young inventors from our district who shined at the 2025 Invent Idaho State Competition held at the University of Idaho.

Bryan Elementary third grader Jennifer McDonald earned Best of Category in the Jules Verne Division for her innovative “Under the Sea Farm,” a solution to protect agriculture from natural disasters. She’ll now advance to the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in Michigan next month.

From Winton Elementary, fifth grader Thomas Borchert won 1st Place in the Jules Verne category for his fear-fighting invention, the Phobia Off-Load 3000, while Wesleigh Haas, fourth grader, earned 2nd Place in Working Model for the Mix Fix, a no-spill mixing bowl that makes cooking more fun for kids.

The Skyway Special Chorus recently participated in the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and was announced as the winner of the Elementary Vocal Large Ensemble.

Coeur d'Alene High School Seniors Kimberly Priebe and Max Cervi-Skinner won their respective events at the Idaho State 6A track and field championships in Boise this May.

Coeur d’Alene High senior Connor Judson didn’t flinch on Friday after posting back-to-back 6-0, 6-0 wins to advance to the state 6A boys singles semifinals. In his final match, he defeated his opponent from Boise 6-0, 6-1 to win the Idaho State 6A tennis championship. 

Eighty-five schools sent 512 "mathletes" to compete at Math is Cool Masters in Moses Lake May 17th. Hayden Meadows' Jeremy Bott was amongst the winners as 1st Place!

Alex White, a student from Ramsey Magnet School of Science, also took 5th place in his division.

Winton Elementary's 5th graders placed 3rd and their 4th graders placed 4th in their division.  Winton's Asher Johnson placed 2nd as an individual. 

Since December, CHS Environmental Science students have been working hard on projects they presented this week at the Youth Water Summit, judged by experts with decades of experience in the field. CHS students earned top honors:

• 1st Place: Jane Dance and Jack Jenkins (each awarded a $1,000 scholarship to NIC)

• 2nd Place: Chloe Orear and Kelsey Breaux

• 3rd Place: Ava Gabbert and Lola Bell

CHS sophomore Haggen Walker holds up the Mental Health Champion of North Idaho award Tuesday next to his mother, Tiffinay Vargas. Walker was surprised Tuesday to learn he had been made the recipient of the award for his work in his school and in the area to uplift fellow high school students.

Four different staff members at CHS lauded his efforts to uplift his fellow students that made him this year’s mental health champion for North Idaho, from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Read more in this release from the Coeur d'Alene Press.

We’re thrilled to share that Lakes Middle School's Tanya Lilley has been recognized by Made With Kindness, a new nonprofit honoring those who go above and beyond in serving others. Nominated by her students, Tanya received heartfelt notes, a surprise classroom celebration, and an incredible prize package—including a $5,000 wardrobe, summer wellness services, and a personal style consultation. Her humble, emotional reaction reminded us all why she’s so deserving. Tanya’s compassion and commitment make a lasting impact at Lakes, and we couldn’t be prouder! Learn more about Made with Kindness here.

The Idaho High School Activities Association have named six high school

juniors as the 2024-2025 recipients of its annual Interscholastic Star Student Recognition Awards, including Lake City High School Junior Gracie Ford. She was also selected as the "Idaho Star” for 2025 and will grace the back covers of the 25-26 state tournament programs. Nominees for the scholarships are exemplary students who:

• Through their participation, strengthen interscholastic sports and activities programs.

• Are active contributors to school and community organizations and programs.

• Are good citizens and positive role models for their peers.

• Promote the ideals of good sportsmanship and citizenship.

She will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice.