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Dear TFSD Families, Staff, and Community Members,

As we move into fall, we’re proud of the momentum our schools have built this year. Parent-student-teacher conferences are just around the corner, and these meetings are a vital part of our shared commitment to student success. Open and ongoing communication between home and school helps us work together to support academic growth and well-being. Take this opportunity to learn about what's happening at school and how we can work together to ensure your child reaches their full potential.

One of our top priorities this year is attendance. Research shows that students do best when they are in class on time and ready to learn. Currently, our district-wide attendance rate is 94.09%, compared to 93.35% last year. Even a few missed days can have a big impact, so we’re encouraging every student to make attendance a habit and every family to partner with us in this effort.

As we look ahead, it’s also time to prepare for the possibility of winter weather. This edition of the District Focus includes details about how those decisions are made, how you will be notified of closures, and how you can prepare for Idaho winter conditions.

Thank you for being an active and engaged part of the Twin Falls School District community. Together, we’re creating strong schools and brighter futures.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brady Dickinson
Superintendent of Schools

The leaves are changing, and spooky season is around the corner, but parent-teacher conferences don’t have to be one of the things that gives you chills. While sitting down with your child’s teacher might feel a little intimidating at first, these conversations are really about teamwork and setting your student up for success. With the right approach, you can transform a short meeting into a powerful opportunity to celebrate progress, address challenges, and enhance the home and school connection. 

1. Come Prepared with Notes

Think ahead about what you’d like to know, questions about academics, friendships, or classroom behavior. Jotting down your thoughts ensures you won’t forget important points once the conversation starts. Teachers also appreciate when parents bring specific examples or observations from home, because it gives them more insight into the child’s whole experience.

2. Celebrate Successes First

Conferences aren’t only about areas of growth. They’re also about celebrating how far your child has come. Ask the teacher about your child’s strengths and share what’s working well at home. Recognizing achievements builds confidence and motivates continued effort. When your child hears that both their teacher and their parent notice their hard work, it’s a powerful boost.

3. Partner on Challenges

If a concern comes up, approach it as a team problem-solving session rather than a report card. Ask: What strategies have you tried in class? What can we reinforce at home? Collaboration is the key to progress, and when students see that the adults in their lives are working together, they are more likely to stay engaged and positive.

4. Involve Your Child’s Voice

Even if your child isn’t in the room, bring their perspective into the conversation. Share what they’ve told you about school, their friendships, and what feels easy or hard. Some schools even include students directly in the conference, which gives them ownership over their learning. Either way, making sure their voice is represented helps keep the discussion student-centered.

5. Clarify and Summarize

Before you leave, restate the main takeaways from the conversation. Confirm what the teacher will do, what you’ll do at home, and how you’ll keep in touch moving forward. A clear plan helps everyone stay aligned and makes follow-up conversations more meaningful.

6. Address Tough Topics with Openness

Sometimes, conferences bring up difficult issues, like behavior, learning challenges, or social struggles. These moments may be uncomfortable, but they are also crucial to ensure your child's success. As a parent, our initial reaction is often to be defensive, but approaching these conversations with an open mind is the best way to truly support our child. You can be part of the solution by asking clarifying questions, and remember that the teacher’s goal is to help your child, not criticize. By staying focused on ways to improve, you can turn a challenging conversation into an action plan for growth.

Parent-teacher conferences are a chance to really dive into who your child is as a person and a learner. As a parent, you have valuable insights into your child's unique personality, what drives them, and any hurdles they might be facing. Teachers can share their expertise on how your child learns best and where they might need a little extra help. It's all about working together to support your child’s growth! By collaborating, you create a supportive team around your child, helping them feel confident, cared for, and prepared to succeed throughout the year.

At the Twin Falls School District, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities, especially during winter weather. Decisions to close schools due to snow or other hazardous conditions are made by the superintendent in consultation with the district’s administrative team, our bus transportation provider, and local law enforcement agencies. These partners help monitor road conditions, as well as sidewalks and walking routes that students use to get to school. District Office staff and our maintenance crew typically begin surveying campuses and roads by 4 a.m. We also carefully consider the impact a closure can have on families, particularly those who rely on schools for meals, supervision, or a warm, safe place for their children.

If school is closed due to weather, families will be notified as soon as the decision is made. A text message and email will go out immediately, followed by an automated phone call after 6:00 a.m. The goal is to make and communicate this decision before 6:00 a.m. whenever possible. Closure information will also be posted on the district and individual school websites, as well as the district app.

We encourage families to plan ahead for winter weather. This includes packing an extra pair of socks in your child’s backpack, allowing additional time for your morning commute, and making backup child care arrangements in the event of an unexpected school closure. A little preparation now can make those snowy mornings go a lot more smoothly.