North Gem School News
Superintendent’s November Letter
Dear North Gem Community,
As we wrap up October, I wanted to reach out with a summary of what’s been a busy, fulfilling month here at North Gem. I’m so proud of the growth, hard work, and sense of community that’s been so evident in our students and staff over the past few weeks.
A Memorable Visit with Superintendent Critchfield
We had the pleasure of hosting Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, who spent time with us discussing the unique challenges rural schools face. It was refreshing to hear her acknowledge the additional support districts like ours need. She was particularly interested in our Agriculture and FFA programs, suggesting we consider awarding academic credit for FFA participation a possibility we may explore down the line. Her support and ideas are encouraging as we continue advocating for our district.
Boosting Academics and
Attendance
We’ve been working hard to keep our focus on academic growth and attendance. This month,our attendance initiative has been going strong, with quarterly rewards for students who achieve perfect attendance. We’ve also seen a promising boost in middle school math scores thanks to targeted interventions and support from our dedicated teachers. It’s rewarding to see the payoff from everyone’s hard work.
To those who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences last week, thank you for being there and supporting our students’ growth! It’s always a pleasure to see our families engaged in the school.
Financial Highlights
This month also brought a few positive updates on the financial front:
Increased CTE Funding: An unexpected increase in Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding will allow us to expand opportunities for our students, adding hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for life after school.
Rural Art Grant: We were awarded a Rural Art Grant, which will enable us to enrich our arts program and bring more creative opportunities to our students.
Annual Audit Completion: Our annual audit went smoothly with no findings, reflecting our strong financial practices. We’ll continue to work on the few minor recommendations the auditor provided to ensure we’re as efficient and compliant as possible.
New Website and Safety Updates
We’re excited to announce our new school website will launch on November 1st! The updated platform will be more accessible and user-friendly, helping keep our community informed and engaged.
If you have high-quality photos of the school or local area, we’d love for you to share them to help personalize the site with our unique North Gem spirit.
We’ve also added new doors and cameras around the school to enhance safety. When you visit,
please use the intercom on the right side of the doors and have an ID ready. While it may seem like an extra step, these small precautions go a long way in keeping everyone safe. Student safety remains the highest priority. On October 28, we held a practice fire drill to ensure that students and staff are prepared in case of emergency.
With colder weather rolling in, please remind students to dress warmly and be prepared for Idaho’s unpredictable temperatures!
Celebrating Volleyball Success
Our volleyball team had an incredible season, competing with heart and representing North Gem with pride. Please join me in congratulating the team and their coaches on their hard work and sportsmanship!
Thank you for your continued support as we work to make North Gem a welcoming place of growth and opportunity. As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas I’d love to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Kyler Miller
Superintendent, North Gem Schools
North Gem Education Foundation Projects
In November, the North Gem Education Foundation released figures detailing some of the projects and programs it has been able to support. A total of $17,000 was announced in this month’s newsletter, along with some of the specific destinations for those funds. In addition to grants, the NGEF also sponsors a fundraising booth at the County Fair, which helps to support expenditures like the following:
Advanced Placements Scholarship $347
Middle School Field Trip $2000
High School ISU Expo Filed Trip $204
High School Ag Water Filtration System $1386
Elementary Field Trips $612
High School Senior Scholarships $2050
Elementary Swimming and Lessons $784
Elementary Rockets $143
Elementary Summer Reading $200
High School Honor Society $785
Auditorium Curtains $7500
High School Art and Literature Class $656
FFA Scholarship $450
Elementary STEM $210
Job Openings at North Gem
There is a need for applicants for the following positions in the North Gem School District. The Office can be contacted at (208) 648-7848 for more information on applying for the following positions:
Substitute Teachers
Substitute Paraprofessionals
Substitute Bus Drivers
Substitute Custodial Workers
Substitute Teachers
Substitute Food Service Workers
