Connect Canyons

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It’s parent-teacher conference season in Canyons District. In the coming days, tens-of-thousands of meetings are planned throughout the District, a significant investment of time and energy on behalf of schools and families — all with the best interest of students in mind.

So, how can parents get the most out of this opportunity for facetime with faculty? What kinds of questions should they be asking? Are these meet-and-greets even still useful in today’s hyper-connected world where parents receive daily electronic homework reminders, tardy notices, and report card updates? 

 In the latest episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from Canyons Assistant Superintendent Dr. McKay Robinson who has seen the effectiveness of parent-teacher conferences as a teacher for more than a decade, an elementary principal, director of school performance, and now as Canyon’s Assistant Superintendent. 

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No student should worry about attending school hungry or without access to basic necessities.
 
 But a growing number do, which is why Canyons School District created a the Resource Closet, a central storehouse of food and hygiene items and school supplies that Canyons schools can draw upon to replenish their pantries or extend a little emergency support to students and families in need. 

Homelessness is a growing problem. Every year in America, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness. In Utah, according to the Crossroads Urban Center, the number of families with children who use emergency homelessness services increased by 30 percent from 2021 to 2022. 

“With inflation, homelessness, and food insecurity on the rise, more families are struggling financially,” said Michele Vogeler, CSD’s Community Schools Specialist. “And not just in our Title I schools. There are students experiencing homelessness in every one of the schools here in the Canyons District.”

In this episode of Connect Canyons, we sit down with Vogeler and Canyons Education Foundation Officer Denise Haycock who partners with Vogeler on keeping the Resource Closet replenished. 

“One of the best things the Education Foundation does, is to help our students in need,” says Haycock. “If there's a student out there that needs some help with school supplies or clothing or something like that, we also want to take care of those needs so they can be successful in school."

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

We discuss the rising number of families facing homelessness and economic hardships.
 

00:45 - Meet the Guests

Haycock and Vogler go over how they work to help students and families within the Canyons community. 

02:31 - About the Resource Closet

We learn about how the Resource Closet came to be and how the Canyons Education Foundation and Federal and State Programs work together to support the community.
 

04:45 - Items in the Closet

Vogler and Haycock talk about the items available for families in the Resource Closet, from shoes and hats to school supplies and laundry detergent. 

06:00 - Utilizing the Resource Closet

We learn how schools work with Haycock and Vogler to request items for students and families and how they work to ensure requests are properly fulfilled. 

31:11 - Donating to the Closet

Community members can donate to the Resource Closet whether with in-kind donations, monetary donations, or gift cards staff can use to fill immediate requests. 
 

36:52 - Impact and Outreach

Hancock and Vogler share how they’ve seen the Resource Closet impact the community and marvel at how members of the community step up to help one another. 

The Resource Closet is always in need of in-kind as well as monetary donations. To make a monetary donation, click here. If you would like to donate an in-kind donation of shoes, supplies of any sort, or gift cards, contact Vogeler or Haycock.

Denise Haycock – Development Officer, Canyons Education Foundation

[email protected]

801-826-5178 

Michele Vogeler - Community Schools Specialist, Canyons School District

[email protected]

801-826-5023

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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies impact one in 13 children. That's about two students per classroom, and those numbers are on the rise, increasing 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. 

It's all but impossible to eliminate food allergies, as they're synonymous with our main food groups. But we can work with families to create healthy plans to keep Canyons District students safe. 

In this week’s episode of Connect Canyons, we sit down with Sebasthian Varas, Director of CSD’s Nutritional Services team, Emily Jenkins the District’s Dietitian, and Canyons Nursing Specialist Jen Gerrard. The trio discusses steps schools take to safeguard students from coming into contact with allergens and put health plans in place for students with known or suspected allergies. 

Episode Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Food Allergies

We discuss leading causes of food allergies in the U.S. 

 
01:16 — Health Action Plans in Schools

Gerrard walks us through the process of understanding each student’s individual needs and how schools are working to have a record of which students may have allergies.
 

03:00 — Recognizing Allergic Reactions

Gerrard describes different types of allergic reactions, and which symptoms can indicate a serious problem. She explains the emergency protocols schools have in place to respond to and treat anaphylaxis. Each school within the District, for example, is equipped with a stock of epinephrine, most commonly known as EpiPens.

05:25 — Preventing Cross Contact in School Kitchens

Varas and Jenkins discuss the measures Canyons District has in place at each school to prevent cross-contamination, such as encouraging hand washing before and after meals, purchasing and preparing gluten-free alternatives, and preparing and serving meals in separate ovens and on separate trays. 
 

08:28 — Educating Students and Parents

Our guests share ways parents can help when it comes to educating their children about allergies, even if they don’t have allergies themselves. We also hear how parents can still provide a fun snack for a class while being mindful about potential allergies. As Varas say: “Education starts in the home. We encourage parents to talk to their children about allergies, even though they may not be allergic to something, just being aware other people may be allergic to things. That also comes with the responsibility of washing your hands and maybe not sharing food with other students. It’s not because you don’t want to be kind, it’s to keep everyone safe.”

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People are stressed. The COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and the always-connected nature of modern life are weighing on our collective consciousness. 

But no one needs to face these pressures alone. In Canyons District, there’s a resource called the Canyons Family Center, which, for 15 years, has provided a spectrum of wellness supports to families completely free of charge, from counseling to student support groups and parenting classes. 

 “The Canyons Family Center is a place where families come together to discover genuine avenues to assist each other, connect with each other, and learn from each other,” says Canyons Prevention Specialist Kelly Redican. “This resource has been a tremendous asset for so many families. But we suspect there are families out there who don’t know about the center and might benefit from what we have to offer.”

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Michele Vasconcelos set the Alta High record for the number of goals scored in a single season when she dominated the prep scene in 2011 with her Hawk teammates. The big moment came during the 65th minute of the 5A state championship at the then-Rio Tinto Stadium that gave the Hawks the state trophy. That record stood until 2016 when Brecken Mozingo, who grew up just blocks away from Vasconcelos, soared on the pitch for Alta. 

 The skills and grit they learned in Alta High’s storied girls soccer program have served them both well as they’ve continued to chase their soccer dreams on a national stage — which, coincidentally, doubles as the playing field of their hometown crowd. 

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Positive affirmations and notes tucked into lunchboxes with the encouraging words, “You got this!” 

 There is no shortage of the creative ways parents devise to ease those back-to-school jitters.

 Seasoned educators, however, will tell you the best tips and tricks boil down to three key components: routine, boundaries, and communication.

 For the first Connect Canyons episode for the 2023-2024 school year, we sit down with Sally Sansom, Canyons District’s Director of Elementary Schools, and Mindy Robison, Director of Middle Schools, to discuss what they’ve observed works best to set up students for learning success.

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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect 31 percent of adolescents while depression affects 13% of our children. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, providing a time to recognize the importance of mental health, the stigma that surrounds it, and highlighting the resources available to those who need support right here in Canyons District. On this episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from school psychologist for Midvale Middle School, Heather Bainbridge. We also hear from Shad Roundy, licensed clinical social worker at Alta High School. They provide guidance on understanding mental health and the resources provided throughout the District.

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Every retirement marks the end of an era, but also a time to reflect on the profound impact one's career can have. As we bid farewell to our Canyons School District retirees, we're especially privileged to share the story of Connie Crosby, a true cornerstone of our education family. Her role in establishing the McKinney-Vento program in Canyons School District has been nothing short of lifesaving, offering a beacon of hope to homeless students and ensuring their educational journey continues against all odds. 

Join us in celebrating Connie's remarkable contribution—a journey that began with her own challenges and evolved into a lifelong mission to empower the youth she so passionately serves.  This episode isn't just a farewell; it's a tribute to every member of our school system who's made a difference, a testament to how each role, no matter how seemingly small, contributes to the greater good of our children's future.

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when you add beautiful illustrations to a book, you open up a new world of adventure and learning for young children. For many, picture books are the first introduction to the world of literature. 

 This week we have a special guest, award winning author and Canyons parent Emily Inouye Huey. We also hear from Mariah Wall – Canyon’s Elementary Library Coordinator and Karen Kiu – A Canyons parent with a passion for reading. They discuss Huey’s books ‘Beneath the Wide Silk Sky’ and her picture book ‘Wat Kept Playing – The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka and His Rise to the NBA.’ They also discuss the importance of accurately portraying various cultures in books for young students.

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Canyons Teachers are known for going above and beyond. They are dedicated to their students in the classroom and after school, spending extra time to ensure they succeed and supporting them in their extra-curricular activities. Teachers are the profession to teach all other professions. This week, Alta High mathematics teacher Kevin Clyde was named as the 2024 Canyons District Teacher of the Year. In this episode of Connect Canyons, hear from two former District Teachers of the Year – Emma Moss and Max Edington who share their insights having held the year-long title – and their advice to Mr. Clyde as well as other educators.