News & Events

Pepper, Miss Gordon's Class Cow, was arrested by Officer Hollowell right before winter break! Follow to learn more.

In November, second graders were encouraged to do a chore to earn $1 and then donate that dollar to one of the local charities through The Giving Machines. The Giving Machines were a 2 week experience for residents of Pocatello and Chubbuck to donate to local charities. Together 2nd graders earned and donated $130.00. They then voted on the items they wanted to donate.

Here is what was donated and the charities we supported:

• New shoes for kids- The United Way
• A month of breakfast- Aid for Friends
• Weighted blanket- Bright Tomorrows
• Duffel Bag- Bannock Youth Foundation
• Blanket for seniors- SEICCA
• Hygiene kit- SEICCA Shower kit- Aid for Friends

One of the valuable conversations we had with our learners was the importance of supporting and serving others in our communities. Sometimes it is hard to give away money that has been earned, but every single one of them did it with enthusiasm and excitement. Way to soar Falcons!

The second grade prepared and performed a fantastic program to honor Veterans this Veterans Day. They performed for the school on Monday, then for parents and guests on Tuesday morning. They then took the show on the road and sang the patriotic songs for Veterans Day celebrations at two different units of care at Grace Assisted Living Center.

Kidz Dental in Chubbuck is sponsoring a teacher of the month event, and for the Month of September, Mrs. Eborn's students nominated her. She was given flowers, a gift, and all the kind notes that her students wrote for her. We LOVE you, Mrs. Eborn!

Our 5th-grade learners truly shined as they researched important historical figures who have made a significant impact on American culture. Each student dedicated time to completing their portfolio projects and writing speeches to present as their chosen figure.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for the community to witness the hard work and creativity of our students!

Please join us in celebrating an outstanding educator! 
We’re proud to announce that Diana Son, 5th grade teacher at Ellis Elementary School, has been named a finalist for the Simplot Inspirational Teacher of the Year!

This year, the Simplot Education Council received an incredible 2,617 nominations recognizing 402 exceptional teachers across Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25. Finalists will be spotlighted daily through Thursday, May 15, 2025.

On Friday, May 16, 2025, three Simplot Inspirational Teacher Awards will be announced—honoring one exceptional teacher each from the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Each category features five finalists, all of whom will receive a $100 award, with the top recipient in each group earning a $500 prize from the Council.

Congratulations to Ms. Son on this well-deserved recognition!

“My 5th grade teacher, Ms. Son, prepared me in so many different ways like organization skills, teaching me lessons I will never forget and preparing me for middle school. Every morning she would greet me with a beautiful smile and a friendly ‘hello’. She always reminded me that I could do anything I put my mind to. Her wonderful laugh and smile always cheered me up if I was having a bad day. Ms. Son will always be my favorite teacher and I will never forget her.” Brilee H.

“5th grade was my favorite year in school. Ms. Son was my teacher and she planned so many fun activities for us that year. A few of my favorites were the State and Capitol contest and the wax museum." She always made class fun and I looked forward to going to school every day. I am not the best student but she brought out the best in me, I am grateful for everything Ms. Son taught me. Bensen S. 

Second grade had their annual spelling bee finals on May 5, 2025. The top three were Dean Lowder, Kalli Rice, and Carter Marble. 

Second grade had their animal wax museum on May 2, 2025. Students worked hard to research an animal, write a report, create a poster, and memorize facts about their animal. They came to life at the Wax Museum dressed up in costume. 

Thanks to all who participated in our Career Fair! The Ellis Career Fair provided new and interesting experiences as students explored different career possibilities. Additional thanks to Bannock County Search and Rescue, Chubbuck Fire Department, Chubbuck Police Department, ISU Museum of Natural History, ISU Physics Department, ISU Physical Therapy Assistant Program, ISU Automotive Technology Program, ISU ESTEC Programs (Instrumentation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering, Nuclear Operations), Idaho Fish and Game, Portneuf Air Rescue, Shay's Pie Place, Lookout Credit Union, INL (Idaho National Lab), and Adventure Orthodontics, who provided the magic! The Easter Bunny and the PTO sponsored Book Fair provided even more fun that evening. What a great time!!

In this hands-on geometry lesson, students in Ms. Whitehead's 4th grade class used Dash robots to explore and create different types of angles. Through programming, students manipulated variables such as turn degree and direction to construct angles of various sizes. As they observed the robots in motion, students identified and named the angles they created, deepening their understanding that angles can be broken into non-overlapping parts that form a whole. This interactive activity not only reinforced key math concepts but also integrated coding and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.

The Iditarod started on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Fairbanks, Alaska. We will be writing local racer Bryce Mumford, from Preston, Idaho. He participated in the race last year but dropped out at about mile 700 on the Northern Route. His dogs got sick. He is racing again this year and hoping to finish. The third grade at Ellis is tracking the race and will write Mr. Mumford at his conclusion! Good Luck Mr. Mumford!!

Emily Jayme, Ellis Elementary 2nd Grade Teacher, had her classroom wishlist fulfilled by the Idaho Lottery on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. She applied to have a classroom set of Bal-A-Vis-X supplies provided. The Idaho Lottery surprised her class with Bal-A-Vis-X bean bags, balls and balance boards. The sensory supplies are valued at $775.55. 

#MoreTogether

We want to thank Leavitt Orthodontics for sponsoring our candy grams!! The money collected from the sales will go to back to the school to help buy paper supplies, Clorox wipes, tissues, sanitizer and many other items the school may need. Thank you for all of your support!

 

Learners at Ellis Elementary generously collected 1,934 pounds of food, which they proudly donated to the Idaho Food Bank. A heartfelt thank you to Kimberly Wacaster, Ellis' counselor, for her outstanding efforts in organizing this incredible food drive. Fantastic work, Ellis Elementary!

That's absolutely incredible, and I just wanted to let you know how much we truly appreciate you guys thinking of us!

Kyle Peck, Idaho Foodbank

Shari Casper is the December "Teacher of the Month" for Ellis Elementary. Shari is being presented the award by Pennie Hugues, of Pinehurst. Each month Pinehurst is pleased to honor outstanding teachers in our area elementary school with a floral bouquet and certificate. Congratulations Shari and thank you for all that you do!
 

Mary Lynn Graham is the November "Teacher of the Month" for Ellis Elementary. Mary Lynn  is being presented the award by Pennie Hugues, of Pinehurst. Each month Pinehurst is pleased to honor outstanding teachers in our area elementary school with a floral bouquet and certificate. Congratulations Mary Lynn and thank you for all that you do!

Please join us in congratulating Scott Eldredge on his selection as the Principal of Ellis Elementary School. Eldredge is replacing current Principal, Denise Lane.

Scott Eldredge, born in Pocatello, graduated from Century High School in 2005. He pursued higher education at Idaho State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in 2011, followed by a Master's in Athletic Administration in 2014 and principal’s endorsement in 2023.

Scott started teaching science at Century High School in 2011. Apart from teaching, he is also a football coach, a member of the Building Leadership Team (BLT), chairs the Response to Intervention committee, and contributes to the biology unit development team.

Beyond his professional commitments, Eldredge coaches youth basketball, football, and soccer teams, instilling valuable life lessons of teamwork and discipline in young athletes.

Family time is a top priority for Scott. He spends much of his time skiing, camping, and playing basketball in the driveway with his wife and two young boys.

“With deep roots in our community and school district, we welcome Scott’s dedication to educational excellence and look forward to a future of growth and innovation under his guidance to Think More, Learn More, and Be MORE Together,” said PCSD 25 Superintendent, Dr. Douglas Howell. “We express our heartfelt gratitude to Denise Lane for her outstanding service.”

The administrative change will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

December is here already and we have many exciting things happening here at Ellis this month. We will be having our Title I Family Night on December 7th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. During this time, we will have ornament making in the cafeteria, pictures with Santa, story time with the Portneuf Library, and time for learners to share their data folders with parents/guardians. Then on December 14th & 15th, we will have our school holiday program. We have tried to divide the program into three different time slots in order for there to be enough room in the cafeteria for parents and guests.

The cold weather is upon us, so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately. Ellis has a cold weather policy for learners to be outside unless temperatures drop to below 10 degrees.

If you ever have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me at any time. I hope you all have a restful winter break and a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,
Denise Lane

POCATELLO – As a child, Tracy Collum saw herself in the protagonists she read about – like Ramona in Beverly Cleary’s classic children’s books. 

As an adult, she realized she was lucky to have that experience. A lack of diverse books means some young readers don’t see book characters who look like them or have similar backgrounds. 

So Collum, the associate dean for Idaho State University’s Graduate School, decided to do something about it. 

In 2020, she got the idea to host a book drive. People from the community and even around the country could participate by purchasing diverse, inclusive books to be donated to Pocatello’s K-4 students. The initiative was a hit and is now in its third year. To date, donors have gifted more than 1,800 books to Pocatello area students at 18 schools, including traditional, charter, and private schools. 

“We want to expose students to other cultures and worlds they might not be exposed to on a daily basis,” Collum said. “It’s just really important for students to be able to find a love of reading.”

This week, Collum and other Idaho State staff members delivered this year’s bounty – 764 new books headed to the library shelves.

The media clerks were thrilled – perhaps especially Irena Naumu. 

“I never saw me in books growing up,” she said. 

Naumu said she is white and Polynesian, but never saw Polynesian characters. So now, as the media clerk for Ellis Elementary, she’s made sure to change that. The library now has a copy of a book called “Punky Aloha” by Shar Tuiasoa, about a “shy little Polynesian girl on a quest for butter for her Grandmother’s famous banana bread.”

It’s one of a number of diverse books she features on a wall in the library so all students see themselves somewhere. 

And Wednesday, Naumu received a stack of about 40 more inclusive books to add to library shelves. She was thrilled to see one of the books was in Spanish, and already had in mind some Spanish-speaking students who would be interested in it. 

At Tyhee Elementary, some fourth and fifth graders were in the library checking out books when ISU made its delivery. The students’ eyes opened wide and their jaws dropped when they saw the stacks of books wrapped in ribbons. 

“Having opportunities to read and being able to choose books that are fun, and that interest and excite them is important,” AJ Watson, the director of elementary education for the Pocatello-Chubbuck School District, said. “We want everyone to feel welcome, empowered, and successful in school. We want them to see themselves in books and have that overall feeling of being included.”

Watson said the district’s media center specialists always review and approve titles before they’re added to libraries, and these books will go through that same process. 

The books were donated by more than 60 individuals and organizations, including Idaho State’s English Department, College of Business, Idaho Central Credit Union, United Way of Southeast Idaho, and the Pocatello chapter of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People.

Tyler Cooper is March “Teacher of the Month" for Ellis Elementary. Tyler is being presented the award by Pennie Hugues, of Pinehurst. Each month Pinehurst is pleased to honor outstanding teachers in our area elementary school with a floral bouquet and certificate. Congratulation Tyler, and thank you for all that you do.

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

When learners feel prepared and supported, they show up to school confident and ready. 

Create reliable morning and evening routines. Prep lunchboxes, backpacks, and outfits the night before to avoid morning stres. Staying "On Time, In School, Every Day" helps learners keep up -- and stand out.

With top notch teachers (from national awards to local recognition!) and future-ready programs, PCSD 25 is where success begins.

Because in PCSD 25, you belong here -- and Every Day Matters. 

#YouBelongHere
#MoreTogether
#PCSD25