Bickel students were in an uproar Friday afternoon. Mrs. Williams noticed that the Bickel Elf had lost his Magic (and his hat) as he was found lying on the floor. Using her training, she immediately called for help. Mrs. Garcia sprung into action and contacted the North Pole Emergency Services. The Elf Medical Services (EMS) promised that they would come as soon as possible. Hopefully, the Magic will be restored before Monday. Rumor has it that a mischievous student touched the Elf and caused it to lose its Magic and fall off the wall. More info as we get it.
Please note that Monday Mr. and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to visit our students. If your child wants to wear red and green or a holiday outfit that would be fun. Each child will be invited to get their picture taken with the Clauses if they would like to. We will be dismissed at 2:00 on Monday and 12:45 on Friday. (Winter break starts at 12:45 this Friday). This week we will be learning and building magical memories.
Ms. Angell's first graders enjoyed their special Grinch Day.
The staff and students had lots of fun wearing their Holiday Hats today. Monday everyone is encouraged to wear red and green to welcome our special guests from the North Pole. Mr. and Mrs. Claus are planning to stop by at lunchtime on Monday as long as there are no major issues at the workshop. They will be taking a picture with every Bobcat (that wants to participate). Our wonderful PTO has used their contacts to bring in these VIPs and a staff photographer (the infamous, Title Math teacher, Mrs. Higley. Whether she helps resolve math issues, or takes your photograph, she always helps our Bobcats "get the picture!"). Happy Friday!
Mr. Bones and Bickel's Elf want to remind you that tomorrow, Friday the 13th, is Holiday Hat Day! Wear a holiday/winter hat or a holiday hairdo.
Congratulations Katie Schwabedissen, Certified Employee of the Month for December. Katie teaches language arts and Social Studies at O’Leary Middle School
Katie is a Twin Falls native who enjoys gardening and reading when she is not at work. Someday she would like to learn to speak Spanish fluently. She has always wanted to be a teacher. She loves working with kids and seeing them grow and change throughout the year. Her inspiration is when she sees her children being successful. Her best day on the job is when students from older grades (particularly graduating seniors) return to visit. She would like to be remembered as helpful to her students. A word that best describes her is caring.
Principal Note:
Ms. Schwabedissen is the manifestation of a master teacher. She cares deeply for her students and her curriculum. The last two years she has asked to have her 3 sections of Language Arts filled with the students that are struggling the most. She makes sure that there are accommodations that are appropriate for them but is still holding them to the same standards as the other teachers at the school. Her students showed great growth last year and I expect that this year’s students will be just as successful.
🐦📖A huge thank you to Bickel's PTO for inviting local author Valerie Olson to visit and share her delightful book, "Gregory the Pigeon/Chicken" with Bickel students! Valerie, who lives right here in Idaho, told the heartwarming story of a real pigeon named Gregory who still lives on her family’s farm. 🐦❤️
As a generous gesture, Valerie also donated several copies of her book to Bickel, so our students can continue enjoying Gregory's adventures! Thank you, Valerie, for inspiring our young readers! 📖✨
#BickelsPTO #LocalAuthor #GregoryThePigeonChicken #BookDonations #BobcatPride #ReadingAdventures #StorytimeMagic #SupportingYoungReaders
The Bickel entryway feels so magical! Rumor has it that we have Ms. Kate to thank for this. I think she may have worked at the North Pole before she came to Bickel. (Remember- Friday is Holiday Hat Day!)
Looking for a fun holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy? Do you love Studio C and or Whose Line is it Anyway? Then TFHS Theater has the activity for you! Come see our Holiday Comedy Show on December 13 and 14 at 7 PM. We will be featuring holiday themed original comedy sketches written by the students and faculty of the theater department at TFHS, as well as performances from our in-house improvisation troupe, The Whoopsie Daisy Show! Admission is just $2 per person! Also, Santa will be in the house ready to visit with the kids after the show! Come let us have you "laughing all the way" to winter break and help support the theater arts program at TFHS while you're at it!
Imagine trying to finish your homework in a car or a crowded space with no privacy. That’s the reality for some of our students experiencing homelessness. TFSD is committed to ensuring all students have the resources they need to succeed in school, and we need your help. Every donation to the Avenues for Hope campaign will help provide essentials like food, hygiene supplies, and more. Let’s give these students a fighting chance! Donate here: https://www.avenuesforhope.org/organizations/twin-falls-school-district #AvenuesForHope #SupportTFSD
This Friday is Holiday Hat Day! Please join us in helping the kindergarten students celebrate their letter of the week - Hh. Wear a holiday hat, winter hat or holiday hairdo on Friday.
Reminder - Mondays we dismiss at 2:00.
It was nice to see our Bobcats showing school spirit today. You can see Miss. McNeil's 3rd graders and the Kindergartners really did their BEST to share their school spirit. Stay tuned to find out which K-5 class won the PTO prize for the challenge. We look forward to next month's School Spirit Day (First Friday of each month).
December 6 is School Spirit Day. Wear your favorite Bickel attire and maybe your class will earn a special visit from the Bickel Bobcats!
Coach Grimm has added a Jump Rope Ninja Challenge to Bickel's p.e. curriculum. Nova is the first Bobcat to have completed all of her jump rope belts and has become an official black belt, Jump Rope Ninja! Way to go, Nova!
We’re excited to share the Bickel Elementary December Newsletter with you! It’s packed with important updates, upcoming events, and helpful resources for the month ahead. Please remember that this Friday is our monthly, PTO sponsored, School Spirit Day!
https://secure.smore.com/n/8nkvg
The Bickel Elves welcomed our Bobcats back today. The students will report Elf sightings in the next few weeks of school. Mrs. Brewer was also seen sporting her new cast. She traded in her Bickel Blue one for the students 2nd choice - hot pink! Speaking of Bickel Blue, don't forget that this Friday is Spirit Day! Whose class will have the most school spirit this month?
This month the PTO Teacher Feature highlighted Mrs. Higley, Mrs. Hill, and Ms. Kolar. Mrs. Higley is the Title Math instructor. Mrs. Hill is the 2nd grade teacher. Ms. Kolar is the Title Reading instructor. Enjoy getting to learn a little bit more about each of these special ladies.
Happy Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for our incredible students, dedicated staff members, and the supportive community that makes public education thrive.
Wishing everyone a joyful and restful holiday! 🦃
🎉 Students at Bickel celebrated Red Ribbon Week with enthusiasm! A huge shoutout to Mrs. Wills, our amazing guidance counselor, for organizing such a meaningful event. 🌟
#RedRibbonWeek #BickelPride #HealthyChoices
❤️🥗 Chobani recently celebrated Everybody Eats Week ! 🥗 During Everybody Eats Week, food deliveries were made to Bickel Elementary and Oregon Trail Elementary schools, ensuring students and families have access to nutritious meals. This generous effort highlights the importance of community partnerships in promoting well-being.📸✨
#EverybodyEats #CommunitySupport #ChobaniCares
The Food pantry received some beautiful handmade hats. Here you can see some of our Bobcats sporting their new, winter hats.
Speaking of winter...
When winter weather arrives, school operations can be impacted by snow, ice, and dangerous road conditions. Our priority is ensuring student safety while balancing the needs of families. Here’s what you need to know about how we make decisions on weather-related school closures, delays, and notifications.
How We Monitor Weather and Road Conditions
Our district works closely with local law enforcement, highway departments, and our bus company to gather up-to-date information about road conditions. School officials monitor the weather continually, especially in the early morning hours, to determine if travel conditions are safe for buses, student drivers, students who walk to school, and staff. You can often find district office personnel out on the road between 4 and 5 a.m. on days when forecasts call for winter weather conditions.
Balancing Safety and Family Needs
We understand that many families rely on schools as a safe place for children while parents are at work. For some children, school is the only place where they receive consistent meals. These realities weigh heavily in every decision we make.
Addressing a Common Misconception
There’s a myth that schools stay open during bad weather to avoid losing funding. In fact, the opposite is true. On inclement weather days when schools remain open, attendance is often lower, which can actually reduce our funding. The decision to stay open or close is never based on financial considerations. It’s always made with safety and family needs in mind.
How and When You’ll Be Notified
If we decide to delay or cancel school, we will notify families through multiple channels:
Text messages and emails: Sent as soon as the decision is made.
Phone calls: Sent as close to 6 a.m. as possible to ensure families have time to adjust plans.
Website and social media: Updated immediately with any changes.
Now is a great time to ensure your contact information is up-to-date with the school. Make sure your phone number is correct and that you’ve enabled text notifications from the district.
Help Us Prepare
We encourage parents to take a few proactive steps to help us keep students safe and informed during the winter months:
Update contact information with your child’s school to ensure you receive notifications.
Review your emergency plans for child care in the event of a school closure.
Dress your child for the weather, even if they typically ride the bus—weather changes can be unpredictable, and extra layers (and an extra pair of socks) help keep everyone comfortable.
Thank You for Your Patience
We know weather-related changes can disrupt your routines, and we do our best to make decisions quickly and communicate them promptly. Our goal is always to keep students safe while minimizing disruptions as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding and support during the winter months!
