Music filled the air at Terra Linda Elementary School as first grade students stepped onto the dance floor, transforming their school into a royal ballroom for a day. The school hosted its first grade Cinderella Ball, a special event designed as the grand finale to a unit in the District’s Wit & Wisdom English Language Arts curriculum. The unique lesson goes beyond the traditional fairy tale, teaching students to explore and analyze what people around the world admire about Cinderella’s character—such as resilience, kindness, and perseverance.

To bring the global literature unit to life, students traded in their usual school clothes for fancy attire, including sparkling crowns, tiaras, and ballgowns. The event was a family affair, with parents and older siblings asked to join their first-graders as their royal dance partners. Teachers taught everyone how to dance the Waltz.

Connecting physical activities such as dance and dress-up to classroom texts helps younger students engage more deeply with the reading material, making the core virtues of the curriculum both memorable and impactful.

Thank you to the teachers and staff at Terra Linda Elementary School for putting together such an incredible and memorable event for students and families.

Two Jordan School District students were honored for their essays against youth violence at the 26th annual “Do the Write Thing” contest.  Fort Herriman Middle School eighth graders Brooklyn Billman and Jack (John) Parry were named state finalists in the competition hosted by the Utah State Board of Education. Each student received a $300 My 529 Scholarship.

The initiative, sponsored by the USBE Prevention team and the National Campaign to Stop Violence, challenges seventh and eighth graders to reflect on the causes of youth violence and propose real-world solutions. “The ‘Do the Write Thing’ challenge proves that our students have the insight and the courage to lead the way toward a safer future,” State Superintendent Molly Hart said.

This year, nearly 2,000 Utah students participated in the program’s classroom discussions, with Billman and Parry rising to the top among 261 state-level final submissions. Jordan School District congratulates both students for their exceptional leadership and powerful writing.

Mountain Ridge High School is home to the top high school gamers in the country after its esports team won the national title in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate West at the PlayVs Cup.

The Sentinels captured the championship by completing a flawless 3-0 sweep in the grand finals. The victory capped a historic season for the team, which advanced to the national stage last month after placing first in a regional competition. With the national title, student-athletes James Cox, Logan Dazley, and Teddy Cameron each earned a $1,000 college scholarship.

A new national championship banner and trophy will soon go on display at the high school. Head coach Joel Marquez, assistant coach Jesse Mlaker, and alumni player and mentor Helaman Valle said they were thrilled with the students’ performance this season.

Congratulations to the players, coaches, and the Mountain Ridge community members who supported the team on the tournament’s live stream.