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Sophia Aldous
NEWPORT — While there is still summer left to be enjoyed, it won’t be too long into the future where children in the Pend Oreille River Valley will be heading back to school. With that in mind, here’s a compilation of important dates at Newport, Cusick, Selkirk and West Bonner County school districts, as well as House of The Lord in Oldtown.
Projected enrollment is based on the number of full-time students in each district at the end of the 2024–2025 school year and does not reflect an exact number for the 2025–2026 school year.
Also, check out the Miner Newspaper’s free Back to School supplement coming out Wednesday, Aug. 20 with more information and resources for students of all ages, children and adults.
Newport School District
Projected enrollment: 1,147 Teachers: 90 Stratton Elementary principal: Jennifer Erickson Sadie Halstead Middle School principal: Tony Moser Newport High School principal: Steve Bouldin Pend Oreille River School /Home Link principal: Dave Smith First day of school: 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 First day of school for kindergarten: Wednesday, Sept. 3 Family engagement/parent- teacher conferences: Tuesday, Aug. 26, Stratton (call 509-447-0656 if the time sent to your email doesn’t work for your family); Sadie Halstead with sessions starting at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.
(families pick time that works best for them, each session lasts between 90 minutes and two hours); Grizzly Passport Day for Class of 2029 and new students at Newport High School (check with school for more information).
Community Health Fair: 3–6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, Stratton Elementary bus loop Stratton Open House: 4–6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 Meet the Grizzlies: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, Ellersick Field, open to all families to come meet student athletes, enjoy a free hotdog dinner and play child-friendly games.
Stratton Elementary is located at 1201 5th St. and can be reached at 509447-0656. Sadie Halstead is located at 331 S. Calispel Ave. and can be reached at 509-447-2426. Newport High is located at 1380 5th St. Phone number is 509447-2481. Pend Oreille River School is located at 1020 W. 1st. Phone number is 509-447-6640.
Cusick School District
Projected enrollment: 377 Teachers: 28 Transitional Kindergarten– 5th grade principal: Doug Theil 6th–12th grade principal: Steve Bollinger First day of school: 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25 Open House, 1st–5th grade: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21 Orientation, 6th–9th grade: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21 For more information, call 509-445-1125, email [email protected]. edu and go to www.cusick. wednet.edu. Cusick schools are located at 305 Monumental Way.
Selkirk School District
Projected enrollment: 238 Teachers: 21 Selkirk Elementary principal: Brittany Moore Selkirk Jr./Sr. High principal: Amanda Burnett First day of school, grades 1st–12th: 8 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 25 First day of school, kindergarten: 8 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 Student Resource Fair: Friday, Aug. 15 (TBA), Ione Park. Free items available for Selkirk students. NEW Health is also offering sports physicals for $20.
New student registration, K–12th grade: Tuesday, Aug. 19– Wednesday, Aug. 20 Open House, grades 1st–5th: 4–5 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Students can drop off school supplies, pick out desks and meet their teacher.
Orientation, grades 6th–12th: 4–5 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug.
20. Selkirk Middle/ High School will be holding orientations for 6th and 9th graders as well as all new students to the district. Contact the high school office for details.
For more information, call the district office at 509-4462951 and go to www. selkirkschools.org.
Selkirk Elementary is located at 219 Park St., Metaline Falls and can be reached at 509446-4225. Selkirk Middle/High School is located at 103723 Hwy. 31, Ione and can be reached at 509446-3505.
West Bonner County School District
Projected enrollment: 903 Teachers: 62 Priest Lake Elementary principal: Tommy Hansen (also vice principal at jr./sr. high) Priest River Elementary principal: Lynn Parker Idaho Hill Elementary principal: Loretta Glazier Priest River Lamanna Jr./Sr. High principal: Vanessa Haggett First day of school: 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25 Meet n’ Greet: 4–6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21, Idaho Hill Open House: 5:30–7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, Priest Lake Elementary Back to School Night: 5:30–7 p.m. Friday, Sept.
5, hotdog barbeque, jr./ sr. high football field.
Stay for the football game against Grangeville.
Idaho Hill is located at 402 East 3rd Street South, Oldtown and can be reached at 208437-4227; Priest River Elementary is located at 231 Harriet St., phone number 208-448-1181; Priest Lake Elementary is located at 27732 Hwy. 57, phone number 208-4432555; and Priest River Jr./Sr. Lamanna High is located at 5709 Hwy.
2, phone number 208448-1118.
House of The Lord Christian Academy
Projected enrollment: 155 Teachers: 30 Principal: Liberty Williams First day of school: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3 High school registration: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 Parent Night for K–6th grade: 6–7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 28 Pre-Kindergarten Meet Your Teacher: 9–11 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2 Parent Night, 7th–12th grade: 6–8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 For more information, call 208-437-2184 or email hlcaschool@gmail. com. House of The Lord Christian Academy is located at 754 Silver Birch Lane, Oldtown.
SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.
