This week of May 2–6, we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week. We celebrate teachers because when we look at our own lives, we see the imprint of the teachers who cared enough to become part of our individual stories, and in doing so, helped us make the impossible possible. Teachers activate possibility for students and illuminate opportunities they never dreamed were possible. Teachers prepare students for futures that are difficult to imagine, and through that preparation they become part of their students’ stories. We celebrate teachers in May because choosing to teach offers the opportunity to become part of someone else’s story. And when that choice is multiplied by the number of students a teacher serves across the span of their career, the impact of one teacher is incredible.

It is not just teachers who make a difference at Eastmont. There are many people that we have here who keep all the cogs working in the machine. From our nutrition workers, who have struggled with supply chain issues to keep all food choices for our students, to our custodial staff who have a huge building to maintain while short staffed. We appreciate our para-educator support staff who work to help students succeed with make up work, retaking tests, and understanding concepts. Our counseling staff who support students when they need a listening ear. We have an amazing hall monitor who has taken on the role of supporting students needs with Chromebooks. I can't forget our amazing office staff who work to meet the needs of everyone. From passing out mints to our students, fixing injuries, problem solving issues, fees, attendance, inventory, they do it all.

I am grateful for our village and couldn't pick a better group of people to serve and educate your students.

It has come to our attention that we have never explained the purpose of our PBIS activity days to our parents. Once per term we have our activity day for our students. Students earn PBIS rewards points for showing positive behaviors in school. The purpose of the points is to help motivate and give opportunities for students to participate in activities of their choice.

While the majority of our students are enjoying these activities, one difficulty we have found with this process is students checking out of school. Students checking out creates a few difficult issues, first, it takes away the motivation of students to earn the points required for selected activities. Second, it is extremely difficult on our office staff to get children from all over the school during this activity. Third, most of our parents tend to check out students not just during the activity, but they are also missing class time.

Should you or your student need to be checked out during our next PBIS activity on the afternoon of May 25th, please call the attendance office ahead of time and we will have your student wait near the office. The PBIS activity begins at 1:45. We appreciate your support in helping us navigate this process.

With the arrival of spring, we’ll see more road construction — making this an excellent time to remind families and students about transportation safety. In the Principal Portal, you’ll find a few safety tips to include in your newsletters and other communications as you see fit. You’ll note we have included some railroad-specific safety tips.

Traveling to School Safety Tips

With the start of road construction season, Canyons District asks students, parents, and patrons to be extra vigilant around work sites and be on the lookout for young children walking to school. Please take a few minutes to discuss these safety tips at home with your families.

• Pedestrians should stick to sidewalks when possible and walk facing traffic. Before crossing the street or train tracks, even at a crosswalk or designated area, stop and look left and right.

• When biking or skateboarding to school, children should wear a helmet and understand traffic rules. They should come to a complete stop at crosswalks and walk their bike or skateboard across. Bikes and skateboards are not safe for use on train station platforms.

• Never dart out in front of a parked car.

• Avoid distractions. Do not bike, drive a motor vehicle, or cross a busy area while texting, talking on the phone or using headphones.

• Obey all traffic signals and signs, and never go around a lowered gate at railroad crossings.

• At train crossings: If lights are flashing or the gate is down, wait for the train to pass completely, the gates to lift and the lights to stop flashing before crossing. It is never okay to rush across and try to beat the train. Trains may be closer and faster than you think.

• Don’t be tempted to walk along the train tracks. It is dangerous and against the law to walk on the track and the land around it because it is private property.

• Drivers must always yield to pedestrians and should take extra care in school zones and at crosswalks.

• It is illegal to pass a bus that is loading or unloading children. Keep in mind that school buses make frequent stops and must stop at all train crossings.

You may not know this, but all 6th grade students need at least one booster before beginning 7th grade. It is the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine. Some need additional vaccinations to be in compliance with state law. Midvale Middle School is sponsoring a clinic on May 5th. See the flyer below for more information. You can also do these through the health department or your pediatrician.

Lagoon day for 8th grade is the way that Canyons School District celebrates the move from middle to high school. Our 8th grade Lagoon Day this year is May 24th. 8th graders should turn in their permission slip to attend to their TA teacher. Once they have their completed permission slip turned in, they can sign up for a bus in the office. Students will need to pay for their own ticket to enter Lagoon. The discount code to use online for this is SCHOOLS22. It is much easier to pay in advance online, than to wait in line at Lagoon. If you need financial assistance in the purchase of a ticket, please call 801-826-7000 or email Brooke Rauzon at Brooke.rauzon@canyonsdistrict.org

May 2 - 6th

• Staff Appreciation Week
• RISE testing in Science

Wednesday, May 4th

• Soccer Practice 3- 4 PM

May 9-13

• RISE testing in Math

Tuesday, May 10th

• Band and Orchestra Concert 6 PM
• Choir Concert 7:30 PM

Thursday, May 12th

• State Debate Tournament
• Soccer Tournament 4- 6:30

May 16 - 20

• RISE make ups
• AVID College Week

Tuesday, May 17th

• Patriot of the Month Assembly and Talent Show

Wednesday, May 18th

• School Community Council 5:30

Friday, May 20th

• PTSA Meeting 9:30
• 8th grade poetry slam

Monday, May 23rd

• Chromebook Check in during TA

Tuesday, May 24th

• Lock return/locker clean out in TA
• 8th grade awards assembly
• 8th grade Lagoon Day

Wednesday, May 25th

• Yearbook Distribution in 2nd period
• PBIS student incentive activity 1:45
• Last day of school for 6th grade students

Thursday, May 26th

• Last day of school for 7th and 8th grade students
• School end time 11:50