August 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends,
Welcome to Lena Whitmore Elementary School! Our school is unique in so many ways. We average around 250 students, kindergarten through fifth grade. We’re truly the ideal sized elementary school with only two classes at each grade level. Our 40-ish professional, caring, and innovative staff members are joined by numerous University of Idaho students and community volunteers in an effort to help each unique child become a successful, lifelong learner. This year our building turns 70 years old!
In addition to the outstanding reading, writing, and math instruction, our staff focuses on teaching the whole child. Students also receive fabulous instruction in the arts, music, PE, keyboarding, social studies, science, social and emotional learning. Our curriculum is well-rounded and aligned to Common Core and ID State Standards. This year we will infuse Stephen Covey’s “8 Habits of Highly Effective People” as well as growth mindset language into our monthly character education lessons.
Our staff also spends a great deal of time reviewing student reading and math data three times per year to determine which students needed extra support. Throughout this year our staff will continue collaborating in these areas to best meet our students’ needs. We thankfully continued to qualify for Title 1 services as a school and have transitioned to a school-wide model. School-wide Title 1 programming allows our school to use those federal funds and programs to meet the needs of ALL students in the areas of reading and math throughout the school year.
Please feel free to stop by to share your thoughts, compliments, and suggestions with us at any time. Be sure to check out our school website at https://lena.msd281.org. You and your child(ren) are important to us, and we feel very privileged to have this opportunity to help make a positive difference in their lives!
With Gratitude,
Kendra McMillan, Ed.D.
Principal