June 22, 2026

Dear NExA Community and Incoming Kindergarteners: 

Overview:  

We are so very excited to welcome you to NExA! The Coeur d’ Alene School District hosts a balanced beginning for all incoming Kindergarten students.  A balanced beginning serves as a soft start offering shorter time frames in the school day for the first few days, smaller class groupings, and prepares students to become school ready.  NExA will conduct our Balanced Beginning from Tuesday, September, 8th to Friday, September 11th.  The schedule is:  

Students will resume to the full day schedule on Monday, September 14, 2026 from 9:00-3:30. 

Tuesday, September 8th to Friday, September 11th Schedule:  

Students will be broken into small and varied groups Tuesday through Friday.  Groups will change each day.  All students will report to Room 203 for check in.  Parents will walk their student to room 203.  Specialists/ teachers will provide an in-class activity to better acquaint themselves with our new students before jumping into specials’ classes.  

Lunch and Breakfast: 

Breakfast will be provided at 8:40 to the AM students.  Students eat breakfast in the cafe.  Students will be offered lunch prior to dismissal each day.  Stay tuned for lunch and breakfast costs.  

Transportation/Dismissal:  

There will be NO MIDDAY bus transportation for Kindergarteners the first three days of school. Kindergarteners will have access to before and after school bussing contingent on completion of bus registration starting Friday.  Bus registration can be completed in Skyward.  

Students will be dismissed the first week in the carlane.  Please await your student until you pull up to the front of the line.  Students will be loaded in small groups in the center of the car lane.  

School Supplies:  

Please DO NOT bring supplies to Open House or on September 8.  The team prefers you bring your school supplies on Monday, September 14th to avoid confusion amongst classes.  Parents are encouraged to walk your student to class with your school supplies on September 14th.  This will allow the parent and teacher to connect more personally.  After the 14th, we ask parents to discontinue walking students to the classroom and use our drop off system.  

Class Lists are Subject to Change 

The Balanced Beginning process will help us place students preliminarily for the first week of school.  As we progress through the month of September, the Kinder staff will be ensuring placements are balanced and equitable.  Changes may be made based on behavioral and academic needs.  Class lists are subject to change through September 30th and this will be addressed on an individual basis.   

Other Important Back to School Information:

Kindergarten Screener Day - August 31st 

We hope to meet your Kinder in a 1:1 setting to pre-screen early literacy and math skills and kinder readiness.  Please join us on August 31st from 9:30-1:30.  Please open this link for a sign up genius to pick a time that best meets you.   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084EA4AB2EA1FE3-64604349-kindergarten

Each slot will take about 20 minutes.  At the time of the screening, a staff member will assess your kindergartner.  We kindly ask for the parent to remain in a separate location.  The office will be open for any registration needs you may have.  

NExA Open House -September 2nd

4:00-4:15: Meet the NExA Administration, Counselor, Title, PTA, and Office Staff.  An introductory meeting will be held in the NExA Gym.  

4:15-6:00: Open house style, meet the teachers and learn more about the classroom.  

Throughout the first week of school, the Kinder team will work with each child through a rotation process beginning on Tuesday, September 8 to Friday, September 11th.   Please watch for an email from NExA on Friday evening (September 11th) notifying you of your classroom teacher for SY26-27.  Official Class Lists will be posted on Monday morning (September 14th) at the front of the school. 

NExA Parent Night - September 22nd

NExA will host a parent night to address curricular and behavioral systems for each grade level.  Parents will be given information about grade level standards, grading and proficiency levels, communication systems, our SWIM system and general grade level expectations.  Parent Night- September 22nd from 5:00-6:30.  

Thank you and please feel free to contact me with any further questions you may have.  jpeak@cdaschools.org. 

Jennifer Peak, Principal

Heather Hidalgo, Kindergarten Teacher,  Kristina Jantzer, Kindergarten Teacher and Jaclyn Orr, Kindergarten Teacher