Hamer Elementary School

West Jefferson schools were honored to host Idaho's Replica of the Liberty Bell. Students in Terreton gathered to listen to a short speech by Mr. Shadrack Gore, our high school History and Government teacher. Then they listened as a few teachers rang the bell. At Hamer Elementary, in addition to students seeing and ringing the Liberty Bell, they also learned about Patriot Day for 9/11.

(Mr. Gore's full speech can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWlmvC8hWXI )

Interesting Information:

* Cast in France in 1950, Idaho's Replica Liberty Bell was one of many replica bells distributed to U.S. states and territories by the Department of the Treasury.

* The bell first toured Idaho on a pickup truck in 1950 before finding a permanent home in front of the Idaho State Capitol in November 1951.

* Ahead of America's 250th anniversary, the bell underwent comprehensive professional restoration (including a new wooden yoke housing and reinforced steel supports).

* The newly restored bell is currently touring all 44 Idaho counties to celebrate America250. The tour kicked off in early September 2026 through Eastern Idaho and will continue across other regions of the state.

* The bell is scheduled to return to Boise for the Veterans Day Parade on November 14, 2026, followed by reinstallation on the Capitol steps and a dedication ceremony on November 19, 2026.

These scammers are tricky and are preying on the generosity of our awesome community!

And the timing couldn't be worse because our WJ Booster Club is currently doing fundraising and our HS football team will soon be doing fundraising!

Reminder: If you don't recognize the person calling, or the information has not come through our official social media pages or our local athletes, DO NOT PAY THEM! Our school programs or WJ Booster Club will not ask for credit card information or online payments over the phone.

If you have a question for the WJ Booster Club, please contact Janice Wilcox directly.

In the comments, let us know if you or your business has received one of these calls and tell us what they said! More information will be helpful for others to read so they don't get tricked by the scammers!

Panther Cross Country Running Club - See flyer for details!

Terreton and Hamer Elementary kids are invited to participate!

*This youth sports club is not school-sponsored.

Our High School Football Program has scheduled their youth football camp fundraiser for Tuesday, May 19, from 4:00pm-6:00pm. All kids from Kindergarten through 7th grade are invited!! Please help us spread the word!!

Participants do NOT need to sign up ahead of time, but they will need to bring a signed liability waiver with them to camp on Tuesday.

Payments can be made with cash, check (written to WJHS - Football), or by sending a Venmo payment to @WJHS_253 with the description "Football Camp - ( first & last name of participant )." Please make sure payments are made before the start of camp.

Click here to print the liability waiver to send the signed form with your child if they will be walking over to the football field after school:

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3558/Wjhs/282f1d5d-86f1-4248-b548-72d7293252cd/West-Jefferson-Youth-Football-Camp-Release-Form.pdf?disposition=inline

Waivers and payments must be taken care of before your child can participate. Printed forms will be available at the beginning of camp for those that don't have a printer, but parents will need to be present at the beginning of camp to sign them.