Peers, teachers, parents, and administrators cheered on kindergarten students at Ridge View Elementary as they prepared for a voyage to “Planet Kindergarten.” Jordan District’s Planet Kindergarten initiative launches students into literacy through engaging space-themed activities and reading goals. Students decorated space helmets, teachers dressed as astronauts, and the administration wore inflatable raptor astronaut costumes to ensure that the start of their mission to learn letter sounds and shapes was a fun and memorable experience.

Attending school online doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with classmates in person! Students from Rocky Peak Elementary, Kelsey Peak Middle School, and Kings Peak High School met for the Jordan Virtual Learning Academy Back-to-School BBQ. Principals David Hullinger, Spencer Campbell, and Ammon Wiemers worked the grill, while Kings Peak student body officers helped load up the plates. Students played games, met with their teachers, chatted with friends, and took selfies with Rocky the Goat in a fun night at the Jordan Learning Center.

The sweet smell of a new school year was in the air at Herriman Elementary, and it smelled a lot like delicious baked goods. The school PTA hosted Donuts and Grown Ups before the first bell, with donuts for all who attended. The event gave students, parents, guardians, and grandparents a chance to enjoy a sweet breakfast together on the lawn outside of school and start the school year off on a high note.

Mission Control at Jordan Hills prepared the newest set of recruits for their voyage to Planet Kindergarten. This space-themed program is designed to help students achieve their literacy goals during their first year of school, starting with the objective of knowing all letters and their sounds by November 1.

To help the young astronauts reach for the stars, the Jordan Hills administration and Superintendent Anthony Godfrey dressed as astronauts, while kindergarten teachers wore green and donned alien headbands. Principal Lansford led the kindergarten classes in a reading of the book Planet Kindergarten and held a mission briefing on their reading goals for the school year. The students suited up with hand-decorated space helmets and embarked on their voyage, cheered on by Jordan Hills sixth graders, staff, and parents.