News & Events

At Edahow elementary, they took time this week to honor the paraprofessionals who make a profound difference in their school. Para's guide learners, support instruction, and help their building function with care and consistency. Their commitment and high standards elevate every learner’s journey. Thank you to these outstanding paraprofessionals for all you do.

The Distinguished Schools Program, a project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), recognizes federally-funded schools from each state for their outstanding achievements in education. Each year, up to two schools per state are chosen as National ESEA Distinguished Schools, underscoring the prestigious nature of this honor, and selected schools are recognized for effectively leveraging their ESEA federal funds to enhance educational outcomes for all students – including those who are economically disadvantaged. This national recognition highlights your school’s exceptional student achievement and ongoing commitment to educational excellence in 2025.

Edahow Elementary School showed exceptional student performance and academic growth in ISAT scores, ranking in the top 15% of schools in Idaho for growth, for both ELA and Math, which is Category 1 for nomination.

Check out Edahow's story of success.

In November, Edahow's student council ran a food drive for the holiday season. We lined our halls with non-perishable food for an entire week. The turn out was incredible and we were able to donate over 3,000 items to help our community. Our student council worked so hard boxing it all up and helping load it onto a truck. Thank you to everyone who donated to help families in need this holiday season. Great job Edahow Eagles!

Edahow Elementary was visited by Zoo Idaho's Curator of Education, Dan Albro and Aggie the desert tortoise.

Dan led a school-wide educational assembly about native Idaho animals that Edahow learners found engaging and fun. After, Dan and Aggie visited each classroom.

On Monday, September 15, Edahow 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers requested a professional development session from district coaches on implementation of SchoolAI. The purpose was for teachers to learn how to use this program to help teach writing, and to help Edahow learners improve their writing skills.

On Friday, September 19, SchoolAI was already being implemented in Edahow 5th grade classes taught by Megan Bullock and Kelsie Olson. District coaches Kimberly Thompson and Janelle Arvas stepped in to help facilitate the lesson and support Edahow staff and learners.

We truly are More Together.

#PCSD25
#MoreTogether

This week, Edahow Elementary kicked off our first Intervention Management Team (IMT) meetings of the year!

These meetings bring together our principal, interventionist, special education teacher, and grade-level teams to focus on one important goal: helping every Edahow learner succeed.

During IMT, teachers review student progress, celebrate growth, and collaborate on strategies to support at-risk learners so they can achieve at least a year’s growth in a year’s time. We also look at ways to ensure all students are challenged at just the right level to keep their learning moving forward.

IMT meetings happen every six weeks and are built on the Response to Intervention (RtI) model, giving us a structured way to problem-solve, plan, and provide the best support possible for every learner.

Edahow Elementary wrapped up their 4th Annual Kolor Kraze Fun Run, hosted by the amazing Edahow PTO — and it was a blast!

True to tradition, the weather was chilly and wet, but that didn’t stop the fun!

Learners showed off their energy in the run, danced to a live DJ , tried their luck at the silent auction , and even got to toss color on their brave teachers and staff!

The day was packed with smiles, school spirit, and unforgettable memories. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a colorful success!

#EdahowElementary #KolorKraze2025 #FunRun #PTOProud #SchoolSpirit #ColorUsHappy

At Edahow Elementary, exciting things are happening, making it a school where innovation, learning, and community come together in the best way possible.

One of the standout new initiatives this year was the arrival of 15 Wonder Robots, funded by the dedicated Edahow PTO. These robots are not just toys—they're educational tools, designed to supplement the curriculum in math, science, and the state's new computer science standards. Mrs. Macarthur, a passionate 4th-grade teacher, has taken the lead in training her colleagues on how to incorporate the robots into their classrooms. With the district’s support and a rental process that gives all schools access to different robots, Edahow students are gaining hands-on experience in coding and robotics, enhancing their problem-solving skills and deepening their understanding of these subjects.

While technology is driving learning in the classroom, Edahow’s connection to the community continues to be just as strong. Recently, the school had the honor of hosting firefighters from the Pocatello Fire Department, as part of a two-week reading challenge that encouraged students to dive deeper into stories. The firefighters didn't just come to talk about fire safety—they read books to students, answered curious questions about their job, and made sure the learners understood the vital role they play in keeping the community safe. The visit was a hit with students who loved the chance to learn firsthand from local heroes.

And then, of course, there was the Deleta Skate Night—a long-standing tradition at Edahow, organized by the PTO. For years, families have come together for a night of fun and skating, and this year was no different. The PTO rented out the Deleta skating rink, where students, parents, and teachers alike laced up their skates, enjoyed some pizza, and bonded over a few laps around the rink. It was an event full of laughter, friendly competition, and a sense of unity that only moments like this can create.

From tech innovation in the classroom to strengthening ties with the local community and fostering school spirit, Edahow Elementary continues to be a hub of positive change, where learning and fun go hand in hand. Whether it's coding robots, reading with firefighters, or skating with friends, these experiences are building memories and skills that will last a lifetime.

Jeminee Ternus, the author of "You Are A Match For Your Mountain," came to Edahow and shared her story with us.

Edahow Elementary teachers have been working on their Individual Professional Learning Plan (IPLP) goals, as well as their Student Growth Objective (SGO) goals. These goals are set in the fall by teachers and other certified staff. Each teacher has an IPLP that they choose that is a professional area of development he or she will focus on improving throughout the year. The SGO is a measure of student growth based on various student growth measures including Istation, ISAT practice, IEP goals or other measures. These goals are required by the state as accountability measures for certified staff.

In this photo, Edahow teachers work on creating goals for the school year.

Edahow Elementary had Student Council officer candidates gave election speeches for the upcoming election. Many brave learners wrote and delivered speeches in front of all of Edahow’s 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The candidates seeking leadership positions did an excellent job in this difficult task.

Edahow’s Student Council is a leadership representative body that gives willing students a hand in serving the school and representing their classmates.

Computer Repair Technician Nick Fullmer speaks to Edahow teachers about things to look for in order to keep student Chromebooks functioning properly. He also outlined the plan for teachers to use in order to streamline the Chromebook repair process to ensure all learners have functioning technology.

Edahow kindergarten learners got a chance for an introduction to basic coding through an activity with Ozobots. Technology Specialist, Janelle Arvas, worked in conjunction with Edahow kindergarten teacher Sophie Blake to bring this opportunity to Edahow which give learners a chance to manipulate the Ozobot robots with coding squares.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) firefighters recently made a visit to Edahow Elementary School. They hosted three different sessions based on grade-levels. The USFS firefighters had several interesting and informative stations that learners got to participate in. They learned about aging trees (and were able to spend time aging trees themselves) forest fire prevention and the effects of forest fires on the flora and fauna. Additionally, they were able to see what gear firefighters use and even did a little spraying with the fire hoses. It was an awesome event and made possible by the generosity of the USFS.

By Courtney Fisher

Neighborhood schools shape more than education — they shape childhood, community, and the friendships that last a lifetime.

When I was a student at Indian Hills Elementary in the 1980s, the upper stretch of Country Club Drive wasn’t paved and lined with homes the way it is today. It was a craggy dirt road — the kind best suited for off-roading — bordered by open fields. I lived in the upper Johnny Creek neighborhood, and most mornings my friends and I climbed onto the bus together, sharing stories from the day before, laughing about playground adventures, planning whose house we’d hang out at after school, and hoping it would be a good lunch day with chocolate peanut butter bars. 

Getting to school took a little longer in those days. Without today’s straight shot down the hill, our bus hugged the tight curves of Johnny Creek Road before heading south on Bannock Highway—a route that added miles and minutes to the trip compared to the bus routes children ride today.

On warm spring days, my brother and I rode our bikes instead, gripping our handlebars as we bounced along the rutted road until it gave way to smoother pavement, where we’d coast the rest of the hill toward a building that felt as familiar as home.

Indian Hills looked different then. The school was organized in a mix of open pods and closed classrooms — a different approach to learning spaces than we see today. But what hasn’t changed in nearly 40 years is how that school made me feel.

I felt welcomed. I felt known. I belonged.

Those neighborhood friendships extended beyond the classroom. We played on the same teams, attended the same birthday parties, and sang and danced — and yes, even clogged — in the same community groups. We grew up together.

Many of those friendships still exist today. In fact, one of those neighborhood friends, Mrs. Baird, now teaches kindergarten at Indian Hills — welcoming a new generation of learners into the same community that shaped us.

Years later, my own children walked through the doors of Indian Hills.

They formed tight-knit friendships with classmates who lived just down the street. They played on the same teams. They found teachers who knew their strengths and encouraged their growth. They experienced the same sense of belonging that shaped my childhood.

Neighborhood schools are more than buildings. They are anchors of community — where children form their first friendships, build confidence, and begin to understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Today, the dirt road is gone. The fields are neighborhoods. Classrooms have evolved. Technology is integrated. Instruction is more research-based than ever before. But when I walk into Indian Hills — through the same hallways I once walked — I still see what matters most: relationships.

At Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, we believe strong foundations start with belonging.
Kindergarten is often a child’s first experience in structured learning outside the home — a milestone for children and parents alike. That first day brings excitement, but also uncertainty.

Neighborhood schools ease that transition.

When children attend school close to home, they see familiar faces at the park, at community events, and on their own street. Classmates become teammates, neighbors, and often lifelong friends. Parents build relationships with families who share the same sidewalks and routines.

Inside those classrooms, our educators focus on the whole child.

PCSD 25’s kindergarten classrooms are built on safe, welcoming environments where every learner is known and supported. Teachers use proven instructional practices to help students understand not only what they are learning, but how they learn best. Structured routines, play-based exploration, and strong early foundations in literacy and math nurture curiosity and confidence.

The results speak for themselves.

PCSD 25 ranks among the districts with the highest graduation rates among large school districts in Idaho while maintaining one of the highest teacher retention rates. Those outcomes do not begin in high school. They begin in kindergarten classrooms — where children first discover they are safe, valued, and capable.

Public neighborhood schools also reflect something essential: accountability and access. There is no tuition. No barriers. Our schools are rooted in the communities they serve and committed to supporting every learner.

As someone who once rode the bus down a dirt road to Indian Hills — and later watched my own children grow in those same hallways — I see the continuity clearly. School has changed. Our community has grown. Our tools have advanced. But the heart of our neighborhood schools remains the same.
They are places where children belong.

Online kindergarten registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open, with in-person visits to complete the process scheduled on April 2. If you are considering where your child will begin their educational journey, I encourage you to look close to home.

Strong communities build strong schools. Strong schools build confident learners.

And in PCSD 25, your neighborhood school is ready to welcome your family — just as Indian Hills once welcomed me.

You belong here.
                                      
Courtney Fisher is the Director of Communications & Community Relations for the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, where she also serves as the Director of the SD25 Education Foundation. A native of Pocatello and graduate of PCSD 25, she is passionate about strengthening local public education. Courtney and her husband, Ethan, are the proud parents of two daughters, both now in college.
 

Experienced. Caring. Relationship-driven.

Our Kindergarten teachers specialize in easing the transition to school through structured routines and engaging learning.

Online registration opens March 20

Enroll Today

On Time, In School, Every Day! 

Keep the Joy Hold the Routine

Every Day Matters

December brings joy and holiday excitement - but don't let routines slide! Keeping consistent school attendance help learners stay connected and focused. Mark holiday events on the calendar and build in reminders for school days.

Let's finish the calendar year strong with the message that learning, laughter, and belonging happen across PCSD 25 every single day.

#YouBelongHere
#PCSD25
#EveryDayMatters

Across PCSD 25, our schools took time to recognize and thank the brave men and women who have served our nation. Here’s a look at some of the special Veterans Day assemblies and activities that took place.

#MoreTogether

#MoreTogether