Frequently Asked Questions |
What makes White Pine Charter School different from other schools?The school seeks to develop an educated citizenry through an accelerated, dynamic, sequential and interactive academic program where pacing is driven by student capabilities, not textbooks. The students are asked to develop personal habits and attitudes that lead to accepting responsibility for personal decisions and actions; academic honesty and the ability to face challenges with courage and integrity. Some other features that make White Pine unique include: Spanish language instruction; extended academic day; full day Kindergarten program; a focus on reading, writing and math excellence through the use of Core Knowledge Sequence aligned to state standards and state required assessments; curriculum differentiation engaging every child in respectful work; concept-based math and science programs; required homework; individual diagnostic assessments to help the teacher, child and parent create a personal learning plan; and post assessment to demonstrate annual individual growth in reading and math. The educational atmosphere is supported by a written/contractual disciplinary policy and required dress code. A half day per week is reserved for teacher planning and collaboration. Parents are asked to volunteer 20 hours of their time, per year. Where is the school located?The school is located at 2959 John Adams Parkway, Ammon.
How much does it cost?Just like any other public school, White Pine does not require any additional funding from our families. The student fees are the only thing extra that is required but are equivalent to the student fees accessed at any other public school in District 93.
Do students wear uniforms?No, White Pine Charter School has adopted a dress code as opposed to a single uniform. It has been studied and documented that student attire and appearance affects the learning environment. Therefore, compliance with the dress standard is mandatory and students are expected to arrive at school in neat appearance, wearing approved clothing. For details on dress code see Policies listed on the Parent's page.
What is the curriculum?The curriculum design at White Pine is based on the Core Knowledge Sequence. The philosophy behind the Core Knowledge Sequence is that there exists a body of knowledge that should build the framework for a child's education. Such solid knowledge includes: principles of government, important events of world history, essential elements of mathematics, reading and writing, relevant concepts and processes of science, widely acknowledged masterpieces of art and music, and stories and poems passed down from generation to generation. For more information about Core Knowledge visit www.coreknowledge.org. To ensure our students are receiving an excellent education our educators are committed to teaching important skills and content using carefully selected curriculum materials and resources;
What grades are taught at White Pine?Kindergarten through eighth grade is taught at White Pine. There will be a limit of 2 classes per grade and also a size limit to each class with the largest classes being the 7th and 8th grade classes at 24 students each.
What time does school start and end?School begins at 8:30 am each week morning and ends at 3:10 pm each afternoon except Wednesdays. Wednesday afternoons are reserved for teacher planning and collaboration; the students are released early on Wednesdays at 12:45pm.
Is my child eligible to enroll?Students from District 93 and 91 are eligible to enroll. Once a year the Education Council holds a lottery that is required by Idaho state law to insure that everyone has the same opportunity to attend the charter school as any other neighborhood school in the district. See the Enrollment information on the About Us page for more details and information on how to enroll your child.
Is there a hot lunch program available?Yes, in conjunction with Tiebreaker Elementary, hot lunches are provided at our school to our students. The free and reduced lunch programs are available as well.
Is there a busing system?Yes, there is a busing system. There is limited space but most students who requested busing were accommodated. Parents must still either drop off or pick up their students at the school. The bus runs one route in the mornings and a different route in the afternoons so that more of our school population is able to take advantage of using the bus at least once a day while having to drive all the way to school only once a day to drop off or pick up their students. See the Carpool and Bus information on the Parent's page for more information.
What are the extracurricular activities?There are a number of extracurricular activities for our students. See the Extracurricular list on the Student page for more information.
Who governs the school?White Pine Charter School's governing board is the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors keep track of any legal or financial situations that the school has to deal with. While the Administrators reports to the Board, the Administrators do not actually sit or vote on the board. See the Governing Boards page for more information.
Is the school accredited?Yes, White Pine is accredited through the State of Idaho.
Is parent involvement required?White Pine Charter School cannot "require" parents to volunteer, but 20 volunteer hours per year is requested per family. The success of both the students and the school benefit from parental involvement and since the school allocates its funds differently than the regular school district does, it limits many of the positions that would traditionally be paid positions, as a result White Pine Charter School depends a great deal on the volunteer hours donated by all of our parents. For some ideas of how parents can help please check out the Committees page.
How can I get involved?There are so many ways to get involved it is limitless. Our parents and volunteers hold positions on the Board of Directors, Education Council, Parent Faculty Association and committees including the Building Committee, the Grant Writing Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee just to name a few. If you are interested in volunteering at the school please contact the school office or the PFA and see where you could help that would fit your interests and qualifications.
What is the technology capabilities of the school?The school currently has a mobile computer lab that is equipped with wireless capabilities. White Pine Charter School recognizes the importance of technology in the future of our students' lives and have tried to meet the technology needs of the school as soon as it was financially possible. We are currently teaching computer skills in all of our classes.
Is the school equipped to meet the needs of children who are identified with IEP's or GT students?Yes, the school has a faculty member that is a qualified special education teacher that meets the needs of our students that have learning disabilities as well as setting up programs for our identified GT students. White Pine Charter School is also setup to educate our students based on their individual needs rather than that of the class as a whole. As a result, our special education students and our gifted students each get to take advantage of the individualization that each faculty member provides their entire class. Teachers accomplish this by evaluating each student individually on a regular basis and making their tasks that meet and challenge the student's individual situations. If you have a student in either of these situations and would like more information about how White Pine Charter School might more specifically meet your student's needs please contact the Administrators for a personal meeting and assessment. |
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