- For Information on Individual Schools (such as School Supplies, Handbooks, registration information), click above On Prairie Elementary or Prairie Jr Sr High
Our Mission
We will create, deliver and responsibly manage opportunities for all children to learn every day and become contributing citizens. These opportunities will be developed in partnership with the community and will be provided in a safe and supportive environment.
Our Motto
Every Student Learning Every Day
Our Values
Respect, Dignity, Honesty, Responsibility and Teamwork
Awards
Prairie Jr/Sr High a 5 Star School
Prairie Elementary a 4 Star School
Distinguished Elementary School
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE 2014
Superintendent’s Welcome to School Year 2018-2019
It was a fabulous first week of school!!! Cottonwood School District’s enrollment after week one for the 2018-2019 school year is 384. Last year at this time we were at 409. We start the year in the elementary with 205 students and 179 at the junior/senior high. Of our total enrollment, 48 students are open enrolled from other districts.
Out elementary open house was a great success with approximately 88% of our parents in attendance. Our cook Cara Duman served approximately 280 meals.
Our high school volleyball and football teams are off to a great start and our junior high football and girls’ basketball teams started their season last week. Cross country has been approved as a school sponsored sport with high school and junior high options for our students. Buses will transport students to the events starting this year. Volleyball started the year with 23 students, Football 23, and Cross Country 17. Student organizations FFA, BPA and HOSA along with Knowledge Bowl are gearing up to have meetings and start their year.
Prairie is offering 13 dual credit courses this year. Dual credit courses are those that students take for high school credit as well as having the option to take for college credit. The courses include U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics, Psychology, Calculus, Math 137, Math 147, Speech, Natural Science, Statistics, English IV, Art Appreciation and Medical Terminology. You can get more information from Prairie Jr/Sr High School by calling 208-962-3901 and talking with Suzi Quintal, Counselor.
We take this opportunity to welcome new staff members. Samantha Mizer is working at the elementary as our custodial engineer. She started midyear last year and is now formally welcomed. She is married to Matt Mizer and has 2 daughters who attend Prairie Schools.
Lisa Riener started working in the elementary school midyear last year and is working in our special services department. She is back and now formally welcomed. Lisa is married to Shaun and has 4 girls who attend Prairie Schools.
Aimee Uhlenkott will be working with Mrs. DeCaria in special services department at the jr/sr high school. Aimee is married to Mike and they have 5 children.
Angel Frei will be working at the jr/sr high school with Mrs. DeCaria and giving support as well in the special services department. Angle has 4 children and her son Kyle attends Prairie Schools.
Renee Eckert is coming out of retirement to work part-time at the elementary school. She and Katrina Bentley will work a shared job helping students with one on one needs.
Don Bahlman is a new driver for the Moughmer Point Keuterville route. Don was a sub driver last year.
Gary Milliman is a returning route driver. He will be driving the Butte Route which is his old route. Gary is married to Stacie.
Rachel Wemhoff Hernandez is our new First Grade Teacher. Rachel was born and raised on the Prairie and is back after teaching two years in Texas. Rachel is married to Roberto and they have a baby named Raife.
Tessa Howard grew up in Riggins, Idaho She is teaching PE and Health at both the elementary and jr/sr high schools. She previously taught at Pilot Rock, Payette and Middleton. She is married to Rusty and they live in Riggins.
Tara Duclos is returning to the elementary school as a one day a week courselor. She previously worked as a Community Resourse Worker from 1998-2007. She is married to Mike and they have 5 children who have/or are attending Prairie Schools.
Jon Madrid is our new K-12 Music/Band Teacher. Jon is finishing his education at University of Idaho. Jon will be teaching music/band at both the elementary and jr/sr high schools. We look forward to Pep Band and with Jon a great year.
Emily Cash is teaching English IV, Speech, Psychology as dual credit courses at Prairie High School. She is also our new cheer advisor this year, we currently have 8 girls out for cheer. She taught for the past 4 years in Culdesac,. Emily is married to Taylor and they live in Cottonwood.
We finished a big summer project adding heating and cooling systems to the lower and middle floors of the jr/sr high school. It is our plan to finish next summer adding these units to the upper floor.
The bleacher project at the football field is near completion. Spencer Schumacher, Carson Schmidt and Caleb McWilliams came up with this idea as a senior project. Thank you to these young men as well as mentors, Mr. Elven and Mr. Hasselstrom.
We are looking forward to a great year. If any community member is interested in being on an email list from the schools, please contact Lynn Rehder at rehderl@sd242.org or Jon Rehder at rehderj@sd242.org.
Information about all districts in the State of Idaho can be found at the IdahoEd Trends website
Rene’ K. Forsmann
Superintendent