The Mountaineers have come home. With the snip of a red ribbon twisting in the summer afternoon wind, officials at Canyons District and Mount Jordan Middle officially opened the school for business.

The celebratory ribbon-cutting event, held Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, attracted more than 500 students, parents, teachers, staff, former students and members of the community. The crowd cheered as dignitaries and school district officials took the large, red-handled scissors and sliced through the ribbon.  Then, students were able to use the scissors to cut a piece for a keepsake.

The new Mount Jordan, which officially opens on Tuesday, Aug. 18 with a sixth-grade orientation, was built with money from a $250 million, tax-rate-neutral bon approved by Canyons voters in 2010. In the past six years, Canyons has been able to build, rebuild or renovate six schools, add air-conditioning to schools that did not previously have it, and construct new wings at Brighton and Hillcrest high schools. 

Clareen Arnold, who represents the Sandy school, thanked Mount Jordan’s teachers for the professionalism while they worked in temporary quarters since the old Mount Jordan’s demolition two years ago.

“They’ve had to pack up and move their classrooms, and they did it two times,” she said.  “They sure did a great job of making the best of a difficult time – but they did it with good cheer and an eye toward the future.  Our teachers are truly instrumental for our success as a District.  We owe them so much.”

Dr. Molly Hart, Principal of Mount Jordan Middle, said the building is not only a fantastic place for students to learn but a great place for employees to work.

The Mount Jordan community will enjoy such amenities as an elevated running track, fitness rooms, a spacious commons area and cafeteria, a 180-seat lecture hall, and an abundance of natural light in the hallways and classrooms. The school also will be wired for the high-tech demands of a 21^st century education.  

Hart also thanked the crews from Hogan Construction and MHTN Architects for their hard work on the design and construction of the building. “Thank you for all your work on our school,” she said. “From now on, you are all honorary Mount Jordan Mountaineers.”

The Mount Jordan community also will enjoy a performing arts suite and a state-of-the-art theater and auditorium made possible by an investment from Sandy City.