Kierstin Draper was standing outside Canyon View Elementary’s Main Office when her walkie-talkie crackled to life with news of an immediate threat requiring the school to be placed on lockdown. Class was in session, and most students were already in their classrooms where teachers calmly sprang into action, locking doors, turning off lights, and directing students to silently move away from the door and any windows. Working with the school’s Resource Officer, Draper’s next course of action was to confirm that the school was secure and her students and employees were accounted for and safe. Fortunately, in this instance, the…

The Panthers have clawed their way to the top. Peruvian Park Elementary has been named by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. The 2018 recognition, given to only two other Utah schools, was based on the school’s overall academic performance as measured by state assessments. The school celebrated the announcement today at an assembly, during which they watched a video by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and waited patiently to see if their name would appear on the screen.  When the school's picture popped up, the students and teachers roared in delight. Blue balloons bounced…

Did you know that at Canyons District, it's possible to learn two languages at the same time and to graduate from high school fluent in both? The start of October signals the opening of the window to apply for Canyons District's Dual Language Immersion Programs for the 2019-2020 school year. From Monday, Oct. 8 to Wednesday, Nov. 21, parents and guardians can apply online to have their children learn Spanish, French or Mandarin Chinese. In addition, parents and guardians who have questions about the programs are invited to a Parent Information Night on Wednesday, Oct. 24. The 6-8 p.m. event will be held in…

It’s parent-teacher conference season in Utah, a ritual dating back at least 50 years. More than half-a-million of these meetings are planned statewide in the coming weeks, which amounts to a big investment of time and energy on behalf of schools and families. So, how parents get the most out of this opportunity for facetime with faculty? What kinds of questions should they be asking? Are these meet-and-greets even still relevant or useful in today's hyper-connected world where parents are signing up to receive daily electronic homework reminders, tardy notices, and report card updates? "As a mother, if my child is sick…

America’s liberties, as delineated in the country’s major founding document, are being celebrated today, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 for U.S. Constitution Day.  While the truths in the constitution are held to be self-evident, students across the District are learning first-hand through lessons, games, and even a personal visit to an oath-of-citizenship ceremony in Salt Lake City what it means to take upon the mantle of being an American citizen. At Midvale Middle, students compared the words of the original constitution to one that was ratified later. Sandy Elementary Sharks talked about the reason for the day on their student-produced morning…