Perhaps you remember what it was like: The wide hallways, lockers that wouldn’t open, trying to wend your way from class to class. The first day of middle school is, for most people, an experience they wouldn’t want to repeat. Canyons wants to change that by hosting half-day orientations for CSD’s middle-school first-timers on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. 

This year, Canyons middle schools have planned orientations for both the sixth- and seventh-grade classes, which this year will move into the middle school simultaneously. The seventh graders will attend orientation on Thursday, Aug. 15 and sixth graders are invited for Friday, Aug. 16.  

This year, the grade structure changes in Canyons District, making elementary schools for kindergarten through fifth grades, middle school for sixth- through eighth-grades, and high schools for ninth- through 12th-grade classes. 

The back-to-school event is planned to make sure the students, who the year before didn’t have to worry about negotiating hallways with much larger teenagers or changing classes several times a day, become acclimated to their new surroundings.  

At the orientations, students will be at their respective middle schools at about 8 a.m.Until noon, the students attend shortened classes, find (and open) their lockers and visit the cafeteria for a treat. Some principals also plan an orientation assembly to talk about school goals and rules.

For the events, the District is following the usual Monday-through-Friday start time.  This will help the sixth- and seventh-grade students adjust to their scheduled times.  The times are: 

• Albion –  7:55 a.m.-11:55 a.m.
• Butler – 7:55 a.m.-11:55 a.m.
• Draper Park – 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Eastmont – 7:50 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Indian Hills – 8:05 a.m.-12:05 a.m.
• Midvale – 7:50 a.m.- 11:50 a.m.
• Mount Jordan  – 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Union – 7:55 a.m.- 11:55 a.m.

Click here for information about bus routes and pick-up times.