“Get the glasses on! Don’t look at the sun without your glasses!” shouted Ms. Jackie Rubalcava to her first-grade students as they walked out of their classroom at Rose Creek Elementary.

Outside on the pavement, Ms. Rubalcava’s students pressed their glasses against their heads, their gazes fixed on the sky. She guided them in a straight line, making sure everyone had a clear view, and transformed the eclipse into an engaging, live-action lesson.

“Wow! Does that look like first contact or second contact?” Ms. Rubalcava asked her students, who shouted back, “Second!”

Her classroom was among the many at Rose Creek Elementary that went outside Monday afternoon to watch the moon pass between the earth and the sun. As the eclipse cast a shadow, dimming the daylight, the students lit up with questions.

“It’s awesome,” said one first-grade student. “I like it. You can see the moon taking over, and I can kind of see the black in it, like a fourth part.”

From eager first-graders to science buffs in middle school, students of all ages embraced the eclipse. At Sunset Ridge Middle School, the clouds parted just in time for a great view. Other schools in the Jordan School District gave out protective eyewear to children heading out to recess, allowing them to look up when they wanted.

Watching the eclipse, as long as it was done safely with glasses, provided a fantastic learning opportunity for kids. The next total solar eclipse like this won’t be visible in the US until 2045. By then, Ms. Rubalcava’s first-grade class will be in their late 20s!

The new “My County Rec Pass” is an exciting opportunity for young residents of Salt Lake County (ages 5-18) to enjoy recreational activities throughout the year at no cost.

The My County Rec Pass is an all-access ticket to make a splash in any of the 18 swimming pools, glide at the three ice centers, reach new heights on the two climbing walls, and stay in shape at the numerous gyms, weight rooms, fitness areas, and walking tracks.

All children and teenagers aged 5 through 18 who are residents of Salt Lake County are eligible to apply for the My County Rec Pass.

Registration for the pass opens on April 1, 2024. You can sign up at any Salt Lake County-operated recreation center. The child and guardian must register in person, and the parent/guardian must bring ID or proof of Salt Lake County residency. Passes become active starting June 1, 2024.

The pass will provide a free ticket to fun, health, and safety for kids, whether after class, over school breaks, or throughout the summer and weekends.

Find out more information at the Salt Lake County My County Rec Pass page.

It’s game time for students in the Jordan School District as the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) approves Esports as an official activity starting in the 2025-26 school year.

The UHSAA Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Thursday, March 28, to formally recognize Esports as a sanctioned activity, providing a structured platform for students across 156 member high schools to participate in Esports competitions.

“It’s good to see recognition coming their way. We’ve been fighting for this for almost a decade,” said Tabor Redford, a Physics/Chemistry teacher and Esports Assistant Coach at Herriman High School. “It’s good news to have this sanction because it opens up a lot more doors for us.”

Herriman’s Esports team competes in League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch, Valorant, Splatoon 2, and Minecraft.

“Most of the games I’ve played and tried, I’m not very good at them,” Redford said while one of his students shouted “Amen!” in the background.

It has yet to be decided which games will be in the sanctioned Esports arena. Still, the UHSAA hopes this decision will bring students together in new ways.

“By embracing Esports as an official activity, we hope to provide students with opportunities for growth and personal development both on and off the virtual battlefield,” said Rob Cuff, Executive Director of the Utah High School Activities Association.

“It’s awesome and important to include something so widespread, rapidly growing, and competitive,” said student Caleb Griner, the state’s Super Smash Bros champion.

Beginning in Jan. 2025, Utah high school students will represent their schools in Esports competitions, with the inaugural season stretching until April.

In the meantime, Herriman High School streams its Esports games online. You can watch live and recorded games

• Herriman High Esports Twitch Page
• Herriman High Esports YouTube Channel