Despite the cold conditions outside, Riverton High School students were all smiles as they received a really warm welcome arriving at school on Thursday. Riverton City Mayor Trent Staggs, city council members, Riverton police and fire, along with Principal Rochelle Waite, school administrators, teachers, and staff were all there to greet students with words of encouragement. It was a way to show students support from the community and from those within their own school. The students received notes letting them know they are amazing and they all have what it takes to make it successfully to the end of the school year.

Thanks to everyone who came out in the cold to let students know they are valued and their education is important to the entire community.

It is a beautiful example of a teacher’s true love for her students, especially during the most difficult of times in their lives. When Antelope Canyon third-grade teacher Megan Dotson learned one of her students, Lucas Ellis, might be missing a lot of school because of his battle with cancer, she wanted to make sure he still felt a part of everything happening in her classroom. You see Lucas, who has leukemia, loves school and wanted to be there, even when he had to be hospitalized for treatment or had to stay home.

So, Ms. Dotson did some research and found a non-profit which helps to keep kids with cancer connected to their classroom called “Monkey in my Chair.” The non-profit provided Ms. Dotson with a big stuffed monkey wearing a backpack and eye glasses just like Lucas. The monkey, who the class named George, sits in Lucas’ desk when he’s not at school, goes to lunch filling in for Lucas, to the playground, the library, on field trips, or wherever the class goes.

Ms. Dotson documents it all and shares the class activities with Lucas, whether he’s at home or hospitalized. George and kids in the class also wear “Smile Like Lucas” t-shirts which Ms. Dotson designed hoping to inspire Lucas to keep fighting and smiling. She sincerely wants Lucas to feel the outpouring of love and support from everyone at school every single day.

It’s known as the most prestigious high school national championship competition in the country and members of the Bingham High School cheer team just performed their way into first place. The team competed in the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and captured the national title.

Their coach, Amber Thomas, said “During finals, there was just a magic spark to this team. We felt it at state, in prelims, and once again in finals. They had an absolute perfect performance and when they left the mat, we knew that they had done exactly what we had asked them to do.”

Ms. Thomas went on to say that this national title is what programs dream of and when they announced Bingham took first place, everyone knew the Miner Magic was once again ignited.

Congratulations on this incredible achievement, Bingham cheer team!

Amber Thomas said the Mountain Ridge High School cheer team was also part of the competition and both teams cheered each other on, supporting one another. Mountain Ridge did an incredible job as well, placing 22 out of 112 teams.

Thanks to both teams for representing Jordan School District and making us proud.