
Category Archives: School Stories
Students at Herriman High School Win National DECA Award
Congratulations to Herriman High School’s Jessica Smiley, Isla Homer, and Livia Hanson for winning big at the DECA 2026 International Career Development Conference. The trio of sophomores took home first place in Business Services Operations Research at the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia.
The students partnered with Utah’s Department of Corrections and Department of Government Operations to research the viability of converting the Utah State Correctional Facility to solar power with a state-of-the-art storage system using converted EV batteries from the state’s fleet. The team worked with experts from around the state to research the viability of the concept, prepare a realistic budget, and develop a proposal for training incarcerated persons as solar technicians to assist with both installation and system maintenance. The project not only got the attention of DECA, but the state of Utah also made all three students interns, and will include the project in the state’s annual report.
Great work, Jessica, Isla, Livia, and Herriman High teacher Rickee Stewart, on an impressive project!
June 9 Board Meeting Update
You are invited to a meeting of the Board of Education of Jordan School District on Tuesday, June 9 at the JATC South Campus, 12723 S. Park Avenue, Riverton, Utah. The study session begins at 4 p.m. The Regular Board Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Patrons may view the general session online at boardmeeting.jordandistrict.org.
The June 9 Board meeting agenda is now available on our Board meetings page. Administrative policies that will be discussed include AA417 – Fundraising. Board policies that will be discussed include GP113 – Board Committee Principles, GP114 – Board Representation on District Committees & Other Organizations, and GP115 – Policy Development. You can also use the following links to the printed and detailed agendas.
End-of-Year Fun at Foothills Elementary Focuses on Principal Yospe & Silly Surprise
It may be a while before Foothills Elementary School Principal Abe Yospe has any desire to hear the sound of a kazoo again. That’s because to show their sincere appreciation for his daily school announcements, sometimes intentionally annoying everyone with his not so super singing, a group of 5th grade students and their teacher decided to have some equally annoying fun with their beloved principal.
They came up with a plan to follow Mr. Yospe around the school for nearly a half hour, playing kazoos loud and proud. As you know, the kazoo creates a very distinct buzzy sound and students practiced all day to bring their kazoo playing up to perfection as they followed Mr. Yospe up and down the halls, even into his office. Principal Yospe took it all in stride and the students had a blast with the silly surprise.
We can’t wait to see all the fun students, teachers, staff, and of course, Principal Yospe will have in the upcoming school year.
Surprise of Olympic Proportions for Students During South Jordan Elementary Field Day
What was supposed to be a pretty typical, but much anticipated end of school year field day for students at South Jordan Elementary School turned into something much, much bigger. Fourteen Olympic and Paralympic athletes surprised students by showing up to take part in the field day fun… all of them fresh off competing in the recent Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
The Olympic athletes had a blast side-by-side with students in a number of races, a tug-of-war, signing autographs, shaking hands, and offering words of inspiration and encouragement.
The surprise was part of an ongoing effort by Utah 2034 to put athletes face-to-face with communities which will host the world in 2034. It was also an opportunity to promote the International Olympic Committee’s new Let’s Move 2026 campaign, a global push to get young people active.
The afternoon ended with a ‘swag toss’ of Olympic hats, shirts, and pins doled out to very excited students, some who may have hopes and dreams of representing Team USA themselves one day.
Thank you to the following Olympic athletes for being incredible role models and letting young students know hard work and determination can pay off in some pretty big ways:
- Ethan Cepuran, Long-Track Speed Skating
- Kate Delson, Para Snowboard (Snowboardcross)
- Nick Goepper, Freeski (Slopestyle/Halfpipe)
- Faye Gulini Thelen, Snowboard (Snowboardcross)
- Marin Hamill, Freeski (Slopestyle/Big Air)
- Rell Harwood, Freeski (Slopestyle/Big Air)
- Jaelin Kauf, Freestyle Skiing (Moguls)
- Kaysha Love, Bobsled
- Zach Miller, Para Snowboard
- Hahna Norman, Snowboard (Slopestyle/Big Air)
- Hunter Powell, Bobsled
- Konnor Ralph, Freeski (Slopestyle/Big Air)
- Brianna “Bri” Schnorrbusch, Snowboard (Snowboardcross)
- Sarah Warren, Long-Track Speed Skating






