Bickel Elementary School

The Back to School edition of the TFSD District Focus Newsletter is out! Click here to access important information for the TFSD https://tfsd.edurooms.com/engage/twin-falls-school-district/newsletters/back-to-school-25-district-focus-71875

💖 Meet Lucy, a counselor with 18 years of experience who’s bringing heart, culture, and comunidad to the Dual Immersion program.

💬 Why do they love Dual Immersion:
“I’m excited to work with our families and learn about their culture and serve their needs.”

🌍 Fun Fact:
“I was born in Portugal 🇵🇹 and I love to play golf and I love dressing up and going dancing .”

📣 Favorite classroom catchphrase:
“Together we can do this.”

🗽 Dream Field Trip:
“To New York , I think it is the most culturally rich city in the world.”

👋 Say hola to Stephanie, a passionate educator with 13 years of experience (including 9 in Dual Immersion! ) who’s all about growing bilingual brains, curious minds , and a few vegetables along the way.

💬 Why do they love Dual Immersion:
“I absolutely love watching how quickly students’ bilingual brains grow. It’s incredible to see them absorb content and make connections in two languages. Learning a second language also helps them understand their native language on a deeper level, often in ways they wouldn’t otherwise experience! Dual immersion opens so many more doors for them in their future!”

🌱 Fun Fact:
“I love to garden! I don't really know what I'm doing, but I love taking care of plants and watching them grow to produce food that I can eat!”

📣 Favorite classroom catchphrase:
“This is why we can't have nice things.”

🌊 Dream Field Trip:
“If I could take my class anywhere in the world, I’d shrink down Magic School Bus style and dive deep into the ocean! I’ve always been fascinated by the water, and the ocean is full of incredible mysteries and lessons just waiting to be explored. There’s so much we can learn from life under the sea, science, ecosystems, and more! I can't think of a better way to experience it than with a little imagination and a lot of curiosity, just like Ms. Frizzle.”

📣 Meet Jorge, our principal with 25 years in education and a passion for empowering students through bilingualism 🌍🗣️

💬 Why do they love Dual Immersion:
“I’m excited to be part of the Dual Immersion program because it empowers students to become truly bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural. I love seeing how language opens doors and builds bridges across communities—it’s an incredible gift we give our students for life.”

🎬 Fun Fact:
“I was part of the movie Evita with Madonna and Antonio Banderas!”

📢 Favorite classroom catchphrase:
“’¡Sí se puede!’ It reminds students that with effort, persistence, and belief in themselves, they can overcome any challenge—whether it’s mastering a new concept or speaking in a second language .”

✈️ Dream Field Trip:
“SPAIN 🇪🇸 - It would be an incredible opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture, explore the rich history and architecture, and experience firsthand the diverse regional traditions that make the Spanish-speaking world so vibrant .”

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Luz Maria Lopez🎉 2nd Grade, Spanish Luz has a passion for language learning. She’s already bilingual and working on her third! ¡Qué inspiración! Why do they love Dual Immersion: "I love being able to see my native Spanish speakers who struggle in English class be the experts and help their non-Spanish speaking classmates in my class. I also love seeing my new Spanish speakers begin using phrases and then move to being able to use full sentences to answer my questions. Seeing the way their little faces light up each time is one of the most rewarding experiences!" Fun Fact: “I am working on learning a new language myself. I am trying to become more fluent in Portuguese.” Favorite classroom catchphrase: “Buenos Dias chiquitines.” Dream Field Trip: “I would take them on a trip through Central and South America so that we could experience the rich culture and traditions of all the Spanish-speaking countries we learn about in class.”

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Christina Garcia🎉 School Secretary The friendly face at the front office who keeps everything running smoothly—and now she’s helping support our Dual Immersion families with a warm “¡bienvenidos!” every day! Why do they love Dual Immersion: "The dual immersion program is a great opportunity for our community, and I’m proud to be a part of it." Fun Fact: “I have two different colored eyes. One is green, the other is blue.” Favorite classroom catchphrase: “Well, hello there!” Dream Field Trip: “The Louvre. There is something there that everyone can learn about or appreciate.”

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Heidi Higley 🎉 3rd Grade, Spanish With 14 years of experience, Heidi brings passion, creativity, and a love for bilingual learning to the classroom every day. Why do they love Dual Immersion: "Speaking Spanish all day, every day!" Fun Fact: “I’ve lived in Iceland and Argentina.” Favorite classroom catchphrase: “Your brain believes everything you tell it! Tu cerebro cree todo lo que le dices!” Dream Field Trip: “Argentina! It’s a beautiful country with a rich history and lots of delicious food!!”

📝🎒 2025–2026 School Supply Lists Are Here! 🎒📝Get a head start on the new school year — supply lists are now available!📌 Find your list online at: https://twinfallssdid.sites.thrillshare.com/page/school-supplies 🛍️ Beat the rush and shop early📚 Let’s get ready for an amazing year of learning!#BackToSchool #SchoolSupplies #ReadySetLearn

📚✨ Meet the Teachers at Bickel Elementary! ✨📚
Join us for Open House on Thursday, August 14 from 4–6 PM!

🎉 Tour the school
👩‍🏫 Meet your teachers
📘 Get ready for a great year!

We can’t wait to welcome our Bickel families back — see you there! 💙🐾
#BickelElementary #BackToSchool #MeetTheTeachers

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Daron Alleman 🎉 Computer Coordinator Introducing our tech-savvy maestro helping students navigate the digital world in both English and español! Why do they love Dual Immersion: "Getting to experience the best of the English and Spanish cultures" Fun Fact: “I’m an Eskimo (an Alaskan native from the Aleutian Island of Unalaska.” Favorite Classroom Catchphrase: “Bobcats! (When I want the student's attention)” Dream Field Trip: “Unalaska Alaska (so I could share some of my cultural history with the students).”

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Cecilee Tureman 🎉 Music Teacher Cecilee is new to the Dual Immersion program and excited to add a little más español to her musical repertoire! Why do they love Dual Immersion: "I am so excited to meet new students and families, and I look forward to teaching more songs in Spanish! Music is a fun and engaging way to learn and remember new vocabulary and concepts." Fun Fact: “I lived in Alaska and got to see beluga whales in the river by my house!” Favorite Classroom Catchphrase: Whispering: “If you can hear me, touch your nose.” Dream Field Trip: 🌴 “I would take them to the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia to listen to the youth philharmonic orchestra. I have always wanted to visit Australia!”

🎉 Staff Spotlight: Julianne Grimm 🎉 Physical Education Teacher Introducing our energetic PE teacher who’s pumped to rally the whole school around Dual Immersion goals! Why Coach Grimm Loves Dual Immersion: "Parent involvement, learning new things such as culture and language, getting to know a new staff, and having the whole school united with the same purpose and goals!" Fun Fact: “I’m a high-level pickleball player, and I am sponsored by a pickleball company named Holbrook. They give me free paddles and clothes.” Favorite Classroom Catchphrase: 👟 Coach G: "Coach G!" 👫 Students: "Believes in Me!" Dream Field Trip: 🌴‘A Disney Cruise! Because it would be so much fun and the Cruise staff watches the kids most of the time!”

Our Bobcat Families always do their BEST. Here is one of our families participating in a Make-A-Wish event.

It's the LAST day of school! 🎉 Early release on May 22nd! Enjoy a safe, fun-filled Summer break ahead! ☀️🌴 See you in the fall! #LastDay #SummerBreak #SeeYouInTheFall

Today we found the end zone. The Mahomes Project has come to an end (but, keep reading this summer). The kids had so much fun at our Tailgate Party. (FYI - the football balloons in the picture, are the same balloons that we used to kick off the project this winter. They outlived the project!) Wear your sunscreen and your Bickel shirts tomorrow. Please join us at 11 for our picnic lunch. Bring $5 for a lunch (optional) and a blanket for a picnic!

Skip the Cooking – Support Our Debate Team! 🍽️🎤 Join us tomorrow night at Texas Roadhouse and help send 6 speech & debate students to Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, next month! Present this flyer at the Texas Roadhouse Twin Falls location, and they will donate 10% of your total food purchase to the Twin Falls High Speech and Debate Team. #SupportDebate #TexasRoadhouseFundraiser #RoadToNationals

To our Bickel Families who are joining Lincoln next year...You have a special invitation to the Lincoln Block Party. They are celebrating their year together. They are also asking that everyone from Bickel who will be Lincoln Lions next year attend the party. There will be a table set up for you to meet the principal. I (Mrs. Williams) will be at the table, too, representing the Lincoln PTO. I will be at Lincoln next year with Ms. Amber and Ms Joselyn. I hope that you will consider supporting the PTO. Please come for free fun (some optional activists, like the Dunk tank do you require tickets so bring cash if you want to do the extra stuff). From Bobcats to Lions - we hope to see you Tuesday night!

Our student photographers have been capturing some end of the year moments in Mrs. Higley's math room and in p.e. class.

Ms Angell's first graders recently released their butterflies.