It is a sweet treat for everyone in the audience as students at South Jordan Elementary School take the stage in an impressive and upbeat performance of the musical “Willy Wonka Jr.” The costumes and set design bring the show and characters to life, characters like Charlie Bucket and the green-haired Oompa Loompas.

“Willy Wonka Jr.” tells the story of the famous candy inventor, Willy Wonka, and the chaos that ensues when he decides to open his factory gates to five lucky kids and their parents for a tour.

A total of 92 cast members, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade students, are part of the production, which involved more than 1,500 volunteer hours, with incredible support from parents.

Congratulations to all the talented students involved in this phenomenal production along with the supportive staff and parents including:

• Willy Wonka Jr. Director, Diane Witt-Roper
• Choreographer, Alan LaFleur
• Music Director, Luke Durbin
• Set Director, Stephanie Miller
• Props Director, Sarah Anderson

You can catch performances of “Willy Wonka Jr.” March 25 – 28 at 6:30 p.m. at South Jordan Elementary School.

It was a night of fun and looking to the future as members of the community gathered for Jordan School District’s Special Education Transition Fair. It is an event that brings together students, families, educators, and community organizations for an evening focused on future planning and opportunities.

Post high school students, along with students from all Jordan School District high schools, Kings Peak Virtual High School, and several middle schools, showed up to explore resources and learn about the many supports available to them. The special education team was thrilled to welcome thirty outside agencies which provided valuable information on services related to education, employment, independent living, and much more.

For the 75 families who attended, the fair fostered meaningful connections and conversations about next steps beyond high school. Educators received great feedback from students and parents, who appreciated the opportunity to gather information and network with local organizations.

 A huge thank you to Chick-fil-A and Swig for their generous donations, which helped make the event even more enjoyable for everyone who attended.

Thanks, as well, to everyone who participated, making the Transition Fair such a success! This is just one example of Jordan School District’s Special Education team working hard, always looking for ways to support students as they transition to their next chapter in life.

Please join us in congratulating Jordan School District’s Counselor of the Year from Mountain Creek Middle School, David Parker.

Mr. Parker is described as the essential force driving his counseling department’s success. Colleagues say Mr. Parker ensures the program remains robust, data-driven, and current.

Another reason David Parker was selected for this honor is because of his work connecting with students. In fact, for the last five years, he has met every student individually to celebrate their birthdays, fostering those vital connections. We’re told he is dedicated to his students, ensuring they feel valued and heard and spends hours supporting students and parents in crisis, conducting thorough PCCRs, and working late to manage schedule changes efficiently.

Mr. Parker has been a counselor at Mountain Creek Middle School since 2019 and in that time has profoundly impacted the school’s culture and success.

Keep up the great work, David Parker!

Mountain Ridge High School hosted the 4th annual Jordan School District Culture and Art Festival. The festival was a combination of competitions and Chinese culture. Teams composed of classmates from throughout Jordan School District vied for championships in “Charades” and “Jeopardy” in both Chinese and English. Awards were also given out during a talent show and a visual arts competition.

The fair included plenty of yummy food and drink options including food trucks from Cupbop and Salty Baja Tacos. Attendees could also participate in Chinese crafts, learn how to use chopsticks, play Jianzi, and dress up as a traditional Chinese dragon.

Thank you to the Riverton High and Mountain Ridge High (RMR) Chinese Club for organizing the event and to all the competitors and attendees for showcasing their talents and love for language and culture learning.

The surprises, along with some big smiles and a few tears, continued today as Jordan School District teachers were honored with the Jordan Education Foundation’s 2025 “Outstanding Educator of the Year” awards. The educators are being honored as “All Stars” for their winning ways in supporting students and giving them opportunities to reach their highest potential on the road to success. All of the teachers are nominated by colleagues, their peers, and/or parents.

Congratulations to the following “Outstanding Educators” honored on Monday. Stay tuned, more teacher honorees to come later this week!

• Colette Memmott, Sunset Ridge Middle School
• Kellie Freestone, Antelope Canyon Elementary School
• Jamie Wilhelm, Oakcrest Elementary School
• Trish Packer, Fox Hollow Elementary School
• Julie Hilbig, Copper Canyon Elementary School