News & Events

Please join us in celebrating an outstanding educator!

We’re proud to announce that Jennifer Durrant, a 4^th grade teacher at Syringa Elementary, has been named as a finalist for the Simplot Inspirational Teacher of the Year!

From my first interaction with Ms. Durrant, I could tell something was different. But it wasn’t until I volunteered in her classroom that I truly understood what I was looking at. After that first visit, I was hooked - not just because of what she was doing for the kids, but because I was growing from her example myself.

Angie S., Parent

The Simplot Education Council received 2,204 nominations honoring 407 standout teachers across District 25. We’ll be showcasing our finalists daily through Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, three educators—one from each level: elementary, middle, and high school—will be named this year’s Simplot Inspirational Teacher Award winners. All finalists receive a $100 award, and the top teacher in each category will take home a $500 prize from the Council.

Congratulations to the 140 students from Lewis & Clark Elementary and Syringa Elementary who recently graduated from the D.A.R.E. program!

The ceremony was led by Officer Nielsen, marking his final D.A.R.E. graduation after 10 years of teaching the program and positively impacting hundreds of students in our community.

Students and families also enjoyed a K9 demonstration from Cpl. Anderson and his K9 partner Flip, with Officer Nielsen bravely volunteering to wear the bite suit during the demonstration!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to this program. Pocatello D.A.R.E., Inc. is entirely supported through donations and fundraisers, and without the support of our community this program would not be possible.

Pocatello D.A.R.E., Inc. provides educational programming for students throughout Pocatello. Our elementary lessons are taught to 5th-grade students in School District 25, as well as local private and charter schools, with Pocatello Police Officers engaging with approximately 800–900 students each school year.

If you are interested in supporting the program or making a contribution, we would love to connect with you!

Source: City of Pocatello Police Department Facebook Page

#MoreTogether
#YouBelongHere
#PCSD25
#ICCU
#ISU
#PFD

At PCSD 25 and Syringa Elementary School, the safety of our students, staff, and families is always our top priority. That’s why we are grateful for a generous donation from our trusted educational partner, Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU).

This donation of light beacons for every learner at Syringa directly supports enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety measures around our schools, helping ensure that every student has a safer journey to and from class each day. Because when learners feel safe, they are free to focus on what matters most—learning and growing.

 Thank you, ICCU, for investing in our schools and in the well-being of our community. Your continued partnership makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families.

#SafetyFirst
#DriveWithCare
#MoreTogether
#PCSD25
#ICCU

This month, both Syringa's 4th and 5th grade classes were able to explore some of the beauty of Idaho at the Pocatello Nordic Center! This field trip gives both grades an opportunity to learn something new and work hard, while also having fun with their peers snowshoeing, or cross country skiing. 

Mrs. Jacobs, a Syringa 5th grade teacher, explained this about their trip, "Cross country skiing at the Nordic Center is one of the 5th grade's favorite field trips. We get to ride a bus up to Mink Creek, and spend the day in the snow. Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department sends instructors who teach us how to pick our boots and put on our skis. We spend the morning learning how to glide, stop, and get up when we fall down. It is harder than it sounds! In the afternoon they take us on a trail around the Yurt, then up and down some fun hills. It is a lot of work, but definitely one of the best days of 5th grade."

Great job Vikings!

Thank you, Syringa Elementary learners, for your patience and cooperation during Thursday’s extended Hall Check.
Today, members of the Pocatello Police Department and PCSD 25 administration visited Syringa to show their appreciation with a special treat for our hardworking learners.
Yesterday’s Hall Check was initiated by law enforcement as a safety precaution due to a police matter in the neighborhood. As always, the safety of our learners and staff comes first. While school dismissed at the regular time, extra measures were taken for children who walk home, ensuring they were released to parents or emergency contacts with proper identification. Staff escorted bus riders to the buses and transportation continued as scheduled.
During a Hall Check, all exterior doors are secured and staff and learners remain in their classrooms. Learning continues and the school day proceeds as scheduled to minimize disruption. Learn more by watching this brief video.
This response represents PCSD 25's "More Together" commitment in action, where our school community, local law enforcement, district leaders, and parents worked collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of every child. We are grateful for the support and teamwork shown by all during this situation.

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