South Jordan Elementary School Students Debate Mock Bills at State Capitol

Picture of students at State CapitolIt was a lesson in the legislative process that some 5th grade students from South Jordan Elementary School won’t soon forget. Students in Diane Witt-Roper’s class received a personal invitation from State Representative Susan Pulsipher to have a private tour of the Capitol. Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller joined the class at the Capitol as well.

The students experienced what it is like to sit in the Senate chamber where they learned about how our State government operates and how to present a bill.  After lunch, the students were invited to sit in the State House of Representative’s seats where they held their own mock session.  During the mock session, they presented, debated, and voted on bills such as; eliminating pizza in school lunch, requiring schools in Utah to start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., requiring children under the age of 18 to obtain a permit before they can use social media, and honoring the Utah Jazz for all they do for the State of Utah.

It was a great opportunity for the young students to better understand what goes into passing a bill in the legislature. Thanks to Representative Pulsipher and everyone involved in this hands-on legislative lesson!

Supercast Episode 110: Brand New Literacy Program Helping Students Read & Succeed

Superintendent stands with two students showing their workIt is an entirely new approach to teaching students how to read and succeed. On this episode of the Supercast, find out how Jordan School District’s Literacy Launch program is already helping students learn to read at higher levels than ever before. The results we are seeing in the classroom is bringing some teachers to tears, beyond excited about student success.


Halloween Creativity in the Classroom and Hallways at JATC South

Picture of hair design studentsThey are getting into the spirit of Halloween at JATC South and having a lot of fun in the process. The school held a Halloween-themed gingerbread house decorating and pumpkin carving contest with different programs from the school participating like Fire Science and EMT’s. Nail tech and hair design students put their skills to work creating crazy hair and nails for some really creative costumes.

Great job to everyone participating in the ghostly fun.  Students, your talents are spooktacular!

Prison Pumpkin Delivery Brings Big Smiles to Students at Kauri Sue Hamilton School

A mascot shakes a students handThanks to the Utah Department of Corrections, students with special needs at the Kauri Sue Hamilton School were all smiles on Wednesday. That’s because corrections officers from the State prison set up a makeshift pumpkin patch in the atrium of the school, complete with hundreds of pumpkins. Students were able to choose their very own Halloween pumpkins, which for some wouldn’t otherwise be possible. The pumpkins are part of the Green Thumb Nursery program at the prison and they are grown by inmates.

Some of the pumpkins were decorated with elaborate designs painted by inmates who typically harvest a crop of about 2,000 pumpkins each year.

Fort Herriman Middle Science Department Team Top in State

Picture of Science TeamCongratulations to the Fort Herriman Middle School Science Department team, which was recently recognized as the Utah Science Teacher Association’s (UtSTA) 2021 Middle School Department of the Year. The award was presented at UtSTA’s annual conference in Provo over the weekend.

Members of the Fort Herriman Middle Science Department have been together for several years and were recognized, in part, for how well they work together as a team, and for being pioneers in creating meaningful PLC’s, developing an inquiry-based curriculum focused on phenomena, 3D science, and the 5 E’s.

Colleagues say the team never stops trying to improve their curriculum and they work tirelessly each year to make it better, always pushing the boundaries to find the most engaging ways to teach science to students.

Thank you for making a difference in education! Keep up the great work, Fort Herriman Middle Science team.