Brightest star food drive jonna mendes

Kate Wutz, Director of Communications (208) 720-0681 kwutz@communityschool.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 14, 2013 SUN VALLEY, IDAHO — Community School was the top school recognized at the Governor’s Brightest Star Awards on Wednesday, an honor awarded to schools, businesses and individuals who perform exemplary community service.

Community School earned the top honor in the “School” category. Students, faculty, parents and board members contributed nearly 25,000 hours of community service last year, both to local and global organizations.

“For our students, giving is second nature,” Head of School David Holmes said. “Not only do they have a desire to help others, they have the leadership skills and the motivation to go out and make a difference.

“This award is also a testimony to the commitment of the Wood River Valley community. The WOW project brought together nonprofits and schools in an innovative and comprehensive way. This is a unique achievement.”

Community School senior Taylor Adler was also recognized as a runner-up in the student category. Adler started a reusable container program in 2011 to reduce the amount of garbage created by school lunches and proposed the Sun Valley Youth Council, a group of local students that advises the Sun Valley City Council on various issues.

Community School students participate in various community service activities throughout the year, from reseeding sagebrush in fire-ravaged areas and making bowls for the Hunger Coalition to walking shelter dogs and creating care packages for the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence.

For more information on Community School’s community service programs, contact Claire Cassidy at ccassidy@communityschool.org or 208.622.3960, ext. 162. ###

Kate Wutz, Director of Communications (208) 720-0681 kwutz@communityschool.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2013 SUN VALLEY, IDAHO — U.S. Olympian Jonna Mendes has been named program director of the Sun Valley Ski Academy after bringing the fledging program through two years of incredible growth as its director of recruitment.

A ten-year member of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team and a two-time Olympic Alpine racer in Nagano (1998) and Salt Lake City (2002), Mendes won the World Championship bronze medal in SuperG at St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 2003. She also captured four U.S. national championship titles — two in downhill and two in giant slalom.

"Picabo Street told us that Jonna was her best teammate during her many years on the National Team,” said Community School Head of School David Holmes. “Jonna understands what it takes to be a successful winter sport athlete as well as a successful student."

Mendes was hired in 2011 as the Director of Recruitment for the then-newly launched Sun Valley Ski Academy. In the past two years, 23 students have moved to the valley to attend Sun Valley Ski Academy and to take advantage of the boarding program.

In her new role, Mendes will expand her academic and college placement support for current students in addition to recruiting new students for the program. Mendes said her goal is to help SVSA students enjoy a rich, full high school experience while competing at a very high level.

“Even athletes racing at the highest level can have a well-rounded extracurricular life at SVSA,” Mendes said. “There is nothing more rewarding to me spending time with student athletes, and my new role will allow me to support them while bringing SVSA the national attention it deserves.”

Mendes will work closely with Holmes and Rob Clayton, the recently hired executive director of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

"Jonna has a keen grasp of the balancing act required of high level student-athletes,” Holmes said. “She is always there to support their success and happiness." ###

Kate Wutz, Director of Communications (208) 720-0681 kwutz@communityschool.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2013 SUN VALLEY, IDAHO — Community School students held one of their largest food drives ever last week, collecting more than 1,500 pounds of non-perishable goods for The Hunger Coalition.

Associate Director Naomi Spence said Thursday that the school’s donation was one of the largest in the coalition’s history.

“It’s filling up our empty shelves!” she said. “It’s all really quality, healthy food, which is unusual.

It seems like a lot of thought was put into these donations.”

Spence said December is the beginning of “the hunger season,” when donations fall off and food banks’ stores and resources run low. As a result, many families go hungry during the holiday season and in the cold months thereafter. Spence said that thanks to Community School, The Hunger Coalition would be able to provide 1,187 more meals this winter than it would have without that donation.

Head of School David Holmes said he was proud of “each and every one” of the students who donated to help hungry families, and Elementary School Head Janet Salvoni said the effort and spirit that went into the food drive this year was “unbelievable.”

The fourth grade class donated the most of any grade, 230 items. They will enjoy the coveted “Golden Can Award” as a result, as well as a pizza party after break. Even the youngest Cutthroats, ages two through five, collected 111 cans this year — an average of three cans for every student. The school collected more than 1,700 items overall.

“I was just stunned when I went around to each grade and saw the amount of support everyone put into this drive,” Salvoni said. “It is truly impressive. Everyone is to be congratulated for their incredible service on behalf of our neediest neighbors.” ###