Back-to-School Guide

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of West Ada School District is to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges.

2023-24 School Year Theme: Attitude Over Adversity

Website: https://www.westada.org/
Location: 1303 East Central Drive, Meridian, ID 83642, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JointSchoolDistrictNo2/

We've prepared a few tips that can be used on school-issued devices to help them perform their absolute best on the first day of school.

• Turn devices on and/or restart and log in
• Connect to your home Wi-Fi to ensure internet connectivity
• Complete a Company Portal Sync
1. Click the Windows button
2. Right click "Company Portal"
3. Click "sync this device"
• Check for Windows updates using system settings
1. Click the Windows button
2. Click Settings
3. Click Update and Security
4. Click "Check for Updates"
5. If prompted, restart the device to complete update installation
• Short on time or not seeing any updates available? Simply keeping the device powered on, logged in, and with the lid open will allow updates to install in the background.

West Ada School District is changing 1st, 2nd, and 5th-grade student passwords beginning at 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 3! The passwords for students in other grades will not be updated.

To assist your student(s) with this change, parents and guardians may access their student’s usernames and passwords in PowerSchool beginning Friday, August 4.

To access this information in PowerSchool, follow these steps:

• Log into PowerSchool
• Click the School Information link on the left navigation panel
• Scroll down the page to find the Student Username and Student Password information

We are excited to share that West Ada School District is rolling out Remind districtwide beginning Fall 2023 on August 9! If you're not already familiar with Remind, it's a classroom communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your child's learning. Remind is free to use, and you'll be able to receive and send messages on any device—even a simple text from your phone!

As part of this rollout, official accounts will be created for all the educators, parents, and students throughout West Ada School District, in the Fall of 2023, you will receive an email or text message from Remind. All you need to do is follow the steps in the message to finish setting up your account. Here is a video demo to see how Remind works.

PARENT ONBOARDING GUIDE - https://www.remind.com/resources/parent-onboarding-guide

West Ada values and recognizes our role in the healthy development of our children. It is important that we share our attitudes and goals and that our families have access to resources to promote good development. This year we updated the website, health history information being collected and the acknowledgement and consent for services offered at West Ada. We ask you to update or complete, if not already completed, these forms before the upcoming school year and anytime your child has a change in medical or mental condition, to include changes in medications. Ensuring this information is up to date will help us better serve your child(ren). Thank you.

In response to questions about medical and mental services being provided at school, West Ada has taken the following actions to ensure that you are informed and aware of your child's health while at school. Please view the Health Services and School Counseling Services on the West Ada Website for additional information and resources available to parents. Please note that we will continue to notify you of changes to your child's medical or mental condition.

1. In Power School, the Acknowledgement and Consent for Services has been updated. The consents MUST be electronically signed (verbal consent on a case-by-case basis will not be honored). Please complete this before the onset of the school year.
2. We are doing our best to limit the disruptions to the educational environment and classroom instruction and therefore we are finding ways to provide community health services, such as central district health providing vaccines or dental services, outside of the school day during after school events and summer feeding programs. Please watch social media and the community newsletter for location and time of events. And know, these events are open to all our families in the West Ada school District.
3. Please keep parent/guardian contact information up to date so we may reach you in the event of an emergency.

It's very important that you and your child review and understand the West Ada Dress Code Policy before the first day of school to avoid any possible disciplinary actions. To review the dress code in its entirety, please click here.

We hope you're enjoying your summer vacation. As the 2023-24 school year rapidly approaches, we wanted to remind all of our families about our Optional Device Protection plans. These plans offer a smart and practical safeguard to your family from the expense of repairing any accidental damage to your school-provided devices. Without an Optional Device Protection plan, loss or damage to school-issued devices or accessories can result in a charge of either $30 or $150 per incident. Purchasing a $25 plan covers the first incident for free, and for $20 for subsequent incidents. Furthermore, families who enroll before August 1st can enjoy the Early Enrollment price of $20.

Important Dates:

July 31st: Last day to sign up for Device Protection at the discounted Early Enrollment rate of $20.

September 30th: Last day to sign up for Device Protection at the regular rate of $25, without a device inspection.

• Families may still sign up for Device Protection after this date, but will be required to have their school-issued device inspected by a District technician to ensure it has not already been damaged. Students can have this completed by bringing their device into their school's library or designated technical support location.
• New students to West Ada will have 30 days from the student's first day at their new school to sign up for Optional Device Protection.

Changes to Repair Costs and Device Protection Coverage for 2023-24:

This year, we are simplifying the repair cost schedule for when damage occurs to a device that is not protected by an Optional Device Protection plan.

• Major Repair (Including Screens, System Boards, Chassis, or Hinges) - $150
• Minor Repair (Cosmetic Damage, Keyboard, Touchpad, Camera, Digital Pen, Power Cord, etc) - $30
• Full Device Replacement (Total Loss or Destruction of a Device) - $50 to $545, Depending on Age and Value of the Device

Also of note, in previous years, accessories such as digital pens and chargers were not covered by Device Protection. Starting this school year, these items will be covered.

How to Purchase Optional Device Protection:

1. Login to PowerSchool (https://ps.westada.org/public/)
2. Click on the Payment Portal in the left sidebar
3. Click on the name of the child you would like to purchase protection for
4. Click on either Early Enrollment Optional Device Protection or Optional Device Protection
5. Click Add to Cart
6. Click the cart icon in the upper, right-hand corner.
7. Enter payment information, and click Submit to complete your purchase.

Notifications for Outstanding Balances Coming Soon

In the next few weeks, reminder emails will be coming out for any unpaid fines for lost or damaged student technology for the 2022-23 school year. For any questions about Optional Device Protection or outstanding balances in our online payment system, Rycor, please send an email to onlinepayments@westada.org.

For more detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our website:

Device Protection Program | West Ada School District)

The applications for free/reduced meals are now open. Families can visit LINQ Connect - Making Schools Stronger to fill out an application to see if they qualify for free or reduced school breakfast and lunch. In addition, families may use the same link to add money to their student’s meal/nutrition account.

If you or any member of your family needs any help filling out an application, you are welcome to reach out to the Nutrition Team at 208-855-4575.

For detailed information on student school supply lists for the 2023-24 school year, please visit: https://www.westada.org/page/school-supply-lists

Please consult your school website or your building principal for any supply list items that may not be needed. Items may need to be replenished if lost, used up, or damaged. throughout the course of the school year.

Near the conclusion of the 2023 legislative session, HB 269 was voted into Idaho Code (33-1614) requiring every student in an Idaho public school district in grade 7 or 8 to complete one (1) or more career exploration courses. Effective Fall 2023, West Ada School District will be implementing this requirement as an 8th grade course. In order to add this requirement to student schedules, while still maintaining elective options, the District is implementing the following change in 8th grade student schedules: Physical Education (P.E.) courses in 8th grade will be reduced from yearlong to single semester or every other day in course length.

We thank you and your student(s) for your flexibility and understanding in this matter. We are excited about this new career exploration course as we aim to prepare all of our West Ada students to be both college and career ready.

Should you have questions about how this may impact your child's schedule, please feel free to reach out to your child's School Counselor or building administrator directly for further information or with questions.

Any child in Idaho may attend preschool through 12th grade, provided that upon admission the parent or guardian provides proof of immunization status. Proof of immunization status may include a medical record outlining the necessary and completed immunization requirements or an Exemption Form or a Conditional Admission Form (if applicable) verifying that the child has received or is in the process of receiving (Conditional Admission) immunizations as specified by the state board of Health & Welfare. Any student enrolling, transferring or returning after withdrawing must show verifiable documentation of immunization status at entry or re-entry. Proof of immunization status is also required at 7th grade and 12th grade when additional boosters are required.

West Ada follows Section 39-4801, Idaho Code: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Rules, IDAPA 16, Title 02, Chapter 15 and Idaho State Law (39-401).

Please refer to this link or to your primary care physician for more information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/IdahoImmunizationProgram/SchoolandChildcare/SchoolRequirements/tabid/3785/Default.aspx

Need Immunizations?

Contact your primary care provider or refer to the West Ada Web site for
some of the many community resources. For more information, visit the hyperlinked page, and scroll down until you see the "Need Immunizations?" dropdown.

Lost or Missing Immunization Records

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website also provides information regarding lost or missing immunization records. For more information and recommendations regarding immunization records, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/immuniz-records.html

In light of schools needing to be more security and safety minded, please understand that each school in the West Ada School District has an Emergency Response Plan that has been carefully developed and addresses a multitude of emergency situations. In addition, all West Ads School District Schools conduct lock down drills in conjunction with local law enforcement two times each school year. If there is an emergency at your child’s school, your cooperation is necessary to help us respond effectively to such situations.

In the event of an emergency, please help us by doing the following:

Please do not call and do not go to the school.

• In an emergency, onsite staff are focused solely on getting everyone to a safe location. Showing up to the site can create unnecessary traffic, preventing emergency vehicles from responding quickly. You could also put yourself or others in danger.
• If you get a call or text from your student, help him or her remain calm. Remind your student that school staff know what to do in an emergency situation, and will work to keep everyone safe.
• Please know we will communicate with parents/guardians about reunifying you with your child and that this reunification site may not be at the school.

Check the West Ada School District homepage at www.westada.org

• We will provide credible, accurate and useful information to the public as soon as possible. Please be aware that Information received from sources other than the school administrator or West Ada School District may be inaccurate.
• Expect to see our posts updated as necessary. We will also provide updates to local news media, but emergency situations can change rapidly. Typically, multiple agencies are involved, so communication is coordinated through the “lead agency,” which may cause a delay in notification.

Sign-Up for Emergency Text Messaging:

• We will use our emergency text notification system to contact parents and guardians. Please make sure your emergency contact information in PowerSchool is always up to date.

Familiarize yourself with the terms that can be used during any emergency situation:

• Hall Check: Used to secure the building from a potential threat outside the building, such as when an unauthorized person is loitering on school grounds or when there is criminal activity in the neighborhood. Exterior doors are locked, but normal activities

Every school day, more than 9,000 students walk to bus stops and board one of more than 175 buses to get to school within West Ada School District schools. Many others walk, ride bikes, or drive themselves to school or are driven there by parents, other family members, or caregivers. All of these methods of getting to school have one thing in common: Safety. Here are some simple ways we can all help to keep children safe on their way to and from school:

Walking or riding a bike to school or to a school bus stop:

• Adhere to all public health orders or school safety measures currently in place
• Parents or guardians should show their children a safe walking path to use and encourage them to follow that path
• Obey all traffic signals, signs, and/or crossing guards; Use crosswalks where available
• Walk bikes through intersections
• Walk with a buddy, if possible, and be aware of the surroundings
• Never talk to or respond to strangers - If a stranger approaches or tries to get a child to come to him/her, the child should run home, to a neighbor’s house, or another safe place such as a business and ask an adult for help
• Reflective material makes walkers and bicyclists more visible to street traffic
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike

At the bus stop:

• Adhere to all public health orders or school safety measures currently in place
• Know your school bus number
• Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive
• While waiting for the bus, stand at least five giant steps (10 feet) away from the curb and line up away from the street
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it is OK to board before getting onto the bus
• Be sure that the bus driver can see you if you need to cross the street to reach the school bus, and that you can see the driver. The driver will motion you over when it is appropriate to cross the street. Be sure to watch for traffic coming both ways. If you need to cross the street, do so IN FRONT OF the bus.
• When you are dropped off at school or at the bus stop, walk 10 giant steps away from the bus
• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus
• If you drop something near or under the bus, tell the bus driver - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PICK IT UP because the driver may not be able to see you
• School buses are loaded and unloaded at established school bus stops only, unless an emergency dictates otherwise
• Parents and guardians are encouraged to supervise their children at all school bus stops before and after school

While on the bus:

• Adhere to all public health orders and school safety measures currently in place
• Do not talk to the driver unless it is necessary
• Stay in your assigned seat and face forward - Stand up only after the bus has stopped at the bus stop or at the school
• No eating or drinking on the bus
• No yelling or shouting - it distracts the driver. Speak in a low voice
• Never throw anything on the bus
• Never stick anything out of the window (arms, legs, head, books, etc.)
• Keep aisles and exits clear and personal belongings under control (backpacks, musical instruments, etc.)

Students qualify for bus transportation if they live more than 1.5 mile from their school.

This West Ada School District news update is brought to you by the District's communication team. For access to previous updates, please visit: https://www.westada.org/o/wasd/page/west-ada-weekly-newsletter.