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Episode 270: One Family’s History of Having Students Attending Heartland Elementary Since the 1980’s
It has been a decades-long tradition for members of the Whitchurch family, and it started with siblings attending Heartland Elementary School in the early 1980’s.
On this episode of the Supercast, hear from Michelle Whitchurch who has had members of her immediate family attending Heartland consistently for 25 years. Find out how it’s turned into a family affair with generations of students carrying on the tradition of having a great big heart for Heartland.
Audio Transcription
Michelle Whitechurch:
For my kids is 25 straight years with kids at Heartland and I realize my siblings have been here since the school. So in 1987 I had brothers and sisters who started here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I see here that you have the list of every teacher that each of your kids has had here at Heartland. On this episode of the Supercast hear from Michelle Whitchurch who has had members of her immediate family attending Heartland consistently for 25 years. Find out how it's turned into a family affair with generations of students carrying on the tradition of having a great big heart for Heartland.
Anthony Godfrey:
On location at Heartland Elementary today to talk with Michelle Whitchurch and your lengthy connection to this school. Thanks for taking some time to talk with me. Tell me about how --- well first let's start out with how long you have had a family connection to Heartland Elementary.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This year for my kids is 25 straight years with kids at Heartland and I realize my siblings have been here since the school opened. So in 1987 I had brothers and sisters who started here and because of the extensive my mom and dad have eight kids and my youngest brother is only a year in school older than my oldest son so we've just consistently had kids here since 1987.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow! 1987 is actually the year that I graduated from high school.
Michelle Whitechurch:
I was not too long after that.
Anthony Godfrey:
That is a long time ago for me. So talk us through let's go right back to 1987. Let's talk about what that connection was with your siblings when Heartland Elementary opened and it's been it's been rebuilt since then.
Michelle Whitechurch:
It has and we've stayed through all of that. I had three siblings here at the time. My mom and dad's fourth was in sixth grade and then the next was in third grade and the next was in first grade.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me their names.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is Cameron, Damien and Courtney and they're all you know parents with grown kids of their own now and this one right here started kindergarten. She was born in 87, started a few years later and now has her own kindergartner here.
Anthony Godfrey:
And who's this?
Michelle Whitechurch:
Her name is Olivia.
Anthony Godfrey:
Olivia has her own kindergarten here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yes he's right here at this very school.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow!
Michelle Whitechurch:
With her and he's part of our little car pool and then my youngest brother was actually born after I was married so that was kind of how that weird connection all started and then we moved into the area and brought our own kids along.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you have this all laid out pictures of your family from over the years and all of the siblings that went here to Heartland.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
I could tell that's 1987 even if it wasn't written on there because of the hairstyle and I think the stripes on the shirt. So now tell me about beyond the siblings. So when these guys were here through, he started in 1998?
Michelle Whitechurch:
Uh-huh and so he would have been done in 2007 and then my own kids started in 99 and they're gonna be here through I guess the 40th anniversary of the school.
Anthony Godfrey:
So talk me through each of these photos. All of your kids.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is my oldest son.
Anthony Godfrey:
What's his name?
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is Matthew and he has his own kindergartner this year but they live in a different state so that's pretty fun. Yeah the Heartland boundaries don't go far enough to include him and his son.
Anthony Godfrey:
Dang.
Michelle Whitechurch:
But with the way their birthdays fell they were only a year apart in school. So then my second —-
Anthony Godfrey:
So your youngest brother was born —
Michelle Whitechurch:
after I was married.and then my son came along 17 months later.
Anthony Godfrey:
So they were were they at Heartland just a year apart?
Michelle Whitechurch:
At Heartland and then West Jordan Middle and West Jordan High just a year apart the whole time. And then my kids are each two and a half to three years apart so they just consistently followed. So I have eight.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me each of their names and when they were here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Matthew and he would have started in 99. And he's now in Maine with his own kindergartner.
Anthony Godfrey:
Uh-huh.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yes he is and this is Gabrielle and she now has a brand new newborn lives up in Boise. And this is Emily and she's down in Pleasant Grove works for Provo School District has her own preschooler this year. And this is my Victoria who just this year started after graduating college here as a reading assistant.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh wow. So Victoria is back as an employee.
Michelle Whitechurch:
She is. Isn't that fun?
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And this is my son who's on a mission right now. My Anna's in high school as a sophomore. Jason's in fifth grade and Natalie's a fourth grader.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Yeah. So you have.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And this is my Victoria.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh Victoria we were just talking about you. So there's your picture there in kindergarten years ago. So you have attended Heartland and now you're working here.
Victoria:
Yeah I am.
Anthony Godfrey:
Did you just start out as a reading aid this year?
Victoria:
I did. I did like last week so it's been crazy.
Anthony Godfrey:
When did you start at Heartland as a student?
Victoria:
That's a great question. 2007. 2007.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow 2007 doesn't seem that long ago to me. It should seem longer than it is. 17 years ago. Wow 17 years. Okay time is passing me by. So tell me what made you want to come back and work at Heartland after you spent your time here as an elementary student?
Victoria:
Well in college I majored in human development and so a lot of what I learned and a lot of what I know is how kids develop how they grow and so coming back to Heartland was just an easy natural transition for me because all of a sudden I could take what I know and help apply it to these kids. And in reading especially like these kids are just struggling and finding a way to be able to say hey I know what you're going through right now let's like find a way to talk this through and find a way to help you learn. It's been really fun and really interesting for me to be back here now finding like walking down the same halls and saying oh I used to be this little kid just like this and how would I have wanted someone to help me and how can I help them?
Anthony Godfrey:
I love how you connect your experience as a student here to your work as a reading aid that's fantastic. Tell me what are some of your favorite memories including maybe some favorite teachers from when you were here at Heartland?
Victoria:
That's a great question. I was very shy as a kid and so for me I had a lot of really good teachers who didn't push me too hard but pushed me enough so that I grew and became more than I was so like in first grade my teacher was super understanding her name was Miss Nierl and she would just let me walk up to her desk and ask her questions and she wouldn't be like, “Victoria raise your hand like everyone else.” She was super understanding about.
Michelle Whitechurch:
She was so shy. Yeah, she really didn't speak out loud in school out the middle of kindergarten she just was so so shy but the teachers they were really good.
Anthony Godfrey:
So the teacher under your first grade teacher what was her name again?
Victoria:
Miss Nierl.
Anthony Godfrey:
Miss Nierl. She knew that letting you come up to the desk was the way to connect and allow you to ask the questions you had.
Victoria:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's awesome. What other memorable interactions and teachers and classes did you have?
Victoria:
I remember in third grade my teacher. he was Miss McDowell and she really focused on helping us learn how to read which is funny now that I'm reading aid but I remember in second grade I was behind the rest of the class in reading and then by the end of third grade I was way ahead. I was in fourth grade reading because my teacher cared enough to sit down with me and say, “Okay Victoria, let's work through whatever this book is.” I think we read like “The Boxcar Children.” I still remember the book.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes a classic.
Victoria:
Yeah because she just sat there and helped me understand what I was reading and that comprehension helped me to grow.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now you're paying it forward as a reading aid and all the investment that she and other teachers made in you is continuing to pay out for students at Heartland.
Michelle Whitechurch:
I think we've experienced 48 teachers over the years. 48 teachers and five principals that have been here since the time my kids have been here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Some of them had a few repeats. The one Miss McDowell she mentioned another student had later but we just you know just have had such great experiences here.
Anthony Godfrey:
For those listening, how many of those principals can you remember?
Michelle Whitechurch:
All of them.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me which principals were you? Jean Gordon, Trenton Goble, Aaron Ichimura, Shelley Davis and Buddy Elker.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh wow. Fabulous. I knew all but one of those. I knew all but one of those. That's awesome. Fabulous groups.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah. Our first four had the same kindergarten teacher which set a really fun I guess tradition going on and as a mom I've been able to come and help it be involved in classes and PTA and community council and field trips and all the things. Well you mentioned that your kids had the same kindergarten teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
For the first four.
Michelle Whitechurch:
For the first four. Uh-huh.
Anthony Godfrey:
Has there been overlap in other grades throughout the time?
Michelle Whitechurch:
My middle son was did the Spanish Immersion so he had the same teacher come up with him twice.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And only a couple other times. Miss McDowell was taught two of them and another one taught in fifth grade and then again in second grade.
Anthony Godfrey:
So a wide variety of great teachers.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah a wide variety of great teachers. You mentioned you're volunteering.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
When somebody told me about your long connection to Heartland and we wanted to talk with you. I already knew who you were.
Michelle Whitechurch:
There you go.
Anthony Godfrey:
Because you've organized these Dr. Seuss reading days.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Oh that's so fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it's a blast. I've had a great time. It hasn't always worked for my schedule but when I've been able to do it it's been really fun.
Michelle Whitechurch:
That's the thing I think I love the most for me personally about Heartland is that community connection. That not only have we been here but family's been here, neighbors have been here. You can, you know and it's walkable. So many other things like that are just really important to me in a local school. You've put a ton of time into the school and you know. But as a mom I think you want to just or any parent you want to be as involved as you can with your kids and get to know get to know the teachers.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well I know how dedicated Mr. Aldridge is to this school. I know how dedicated the staff is and the success the school has seen. Especially in the last few years is also really dependent on that deep community connection and extraordinary things are happening here. They always have.
Michelle Whitechurch:
The last few years have been really great for Heartland I feel like. You know we joke sometimes with some teachers it's like you bring in a new baby or whatever. Job security. I've got another one for you. You know. Yeah the Witte churches have really kept Heartland going over the years. I'm done now so it's time for the you know for the rest of them.
Anthony Godfrey:
Fair enough. Fair enough. Stay with us when we come back. More about the Whitechurch family and Heartland Elementary School.
Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.
Sandy Riesgraf:
Hello I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District, and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Jordan District. We can't wait to connect.
Anthony Godfrey:
We have Principal Buddy Alger here. Tell me about the Whitechurch influence on Heartland Elementary.
Buddy Alger:
Well as she was talking about the Whitechurches have always been a very important part of Heartland Elementary. I met Michelle I think it was right after I was officially announced that I was going to be the principal of Heartland. I came to a PTA meeting and I just said, “Hey, I'm the new principal. What do you want me to know? And I think Michelle was one of the first ones to say, “Well there's a few things that we'd like to continue forward as the traditions at Heartland Elementary.” I think we've been able to accomplish that over the years. Michelle has served as my PTA president. I was actually just telling your husband how proud I was because she's talked about all of her years of service and I said, “Well but she was my PTA president.” We spent a lot of good time in council and working to make our community a better place and Michelle has been instrumental in advocacy for our school and most importantly our children in the work that she has done in the City of West Jordan.
Anthony Godfrey:
I understand you've been School Community Council Chair more than once here and elsewhere.
Michelle Whitechurch:
But for me it's really important as a mom to be involved at all levels with my kids. I mean there's still my kids even if once a lot of parents will just I'm done with elementary okay I'm done serving but you know I've tried to continue with the middle school and the high school and currently this year I don't want to get anybody in middle school and that feels a little bit of relief to not quite have so many in. Yeah it's okay. But you know it's just I just think as a parent you want to stay connected and kind of find out what's happening with the kids and serve where you can.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about times when people at Heartland have had a positive impact on your students. I know it's happened over decades but what are some moments that stand out?
Michelle Whitechurch:
My youngest son has he's a lot, he's a whirlwind of joy and excitement and —
Anthony Godfrey:
I see your daughter smiling.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah personal phone calls that just say, “I'm concerned about this how can I help.” Those moments have really meant a lot. Moments when like she said, the love of reading and feeling like they cared about her personally.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Feeling like I don't know, just as I've met with admin and teachers and just feel like they really care about my student they care about them personally they care about us as a family and that really matters and what matters to us.
Anthony Godfrey:
I get that sense every time I come here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah yeah the people matter and that and that you know as we talk about this some of those traditions. We've had a dance festival here, I think I was talking to some of my neighbors, probably since the beginning of time.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
It's an end of year celebration and we kind of even continued it through the COVID years as we had dance parties online and you know some of those kinds of things but just when they when I talk to the kids and they remember those moments and they just talk about how much they love school and I think it just sticks with them from if you get a good foundation elementary school I think it lasts through all the years.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I see here that you have the list of every teacher that each of your kids has had here. Part six and then two more and the other.
Michelle Whitechurch:
There you go it's a party. A few repeats in there but that is so cool. Just a way to remember. Just a way to remember. I wish I had this for just for me even. Yeah I think I could name all but one of my elementary teachers. There's one I just can't remember so I wish I had this here.
Anthony Godfrey:
I remember most of mine as well but this is this is really cool and this represents a lot of a lot of a lot of connection a lot of learning a lot of caring and a lot of friendships over the years. Well, thank you for doing that. Thank you for talking with us today and for being such an important part of Heartland. Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.
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By Jordan Supercast
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It has been a decades-long tradition for members of the Whitchurch family, and it started with siblings attending Heartland Elementary School in the early 1980’s.
On this episode of the Supercast, hear from Michelle Whitchurch who has had members of her immediate family attending Heartland consistently for 25 years. Find out how it’s turned into a family affair with generations of students carrying on the tradition of having a great big heart for Heartland.
Audio Transcription
Michelle Whitechurch:
For my kids is 25 straight years with kids at Heartland and I realize my siblings have been here since the school. So in 1987 I had brothers and sisters who started here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I see here that you have the list of every teacher that each of your kids has had here at Heartland. On this episode of the Supercast hear from Michelle Whitchurch who has had members of her immediate family attending Heartland consistently for 25 years. Find out how it's turned into a family affair with generations of students carrying on the tradition of having a great big heart for Heartland.
Anthony Godfrey:
On location at Heartland Elementary today to talk with Michelle Whitchurch and your lengthy connection to this school. Thanks for taking some time to talk with me. Tell me about how --- well first let's start out with how long you have had a family connection to Heartland Elementary.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This year for my kids is 25 straight years with kids at Heartland and I realize my siblings have been here since the school opened. So in 1987 I had brothers and sisters who started here and because of the extensive my mom and dad have eight kids and my youngest brother is only a year in school older than my oldest son so we've just consistently had kids here since 1987.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow! 1987 is actually the year that I graduated from high school.
Michelle Whitechurch:
I was not too long after that.
Anthony Godfrey:
That is a long time ago for me. So talk us through let's go right back to 1987. Let's talk about what that connection was with your siblings when Heartland Elementary opened and it's been it's been rebuilt since then.
Michelle Whitechurch:
It has and we've stayed through all of that. I had three siblings here at the time. My mom and dad's fourth was in sixth grade and then the next was in third grade and the next was in first grade.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me their names.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is Cameron, Damien and Courtney and they're all you know parents with grown kids of their own now and this one right here started kindergarten. She was born in 87, started a few years later and now has her own kindergartner here.
Anthony Godfrey:
And who's this?
Michelle Whitechurch:
Her name is Olivia.
Anthony Godfrey:
Olivia has her own kindergarten here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yes he's right here at this very school.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow!
Michelle Whitechurch:
With her and he's part of our little car pool and then my youngest brother was actually born after I was married so that was kind of how that weird connection all started and then we moved into the area and brought our own kids along.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you have this all laid out pictures of your family from over the years and all of the siblings that went here to Heartland.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
I could tell that's 1987 even if it wasn't written on there because of the hairstyle and I think the stripes on the shirt. So now tell me about beyond the siblings. So when these guys were here through, he started in 1998?
Michelle Whitechurch:
Uh-huh and so he would have been done in 2007 and then my own kids started in 99 and they're gonna be here through I guess the 40th anniversary of the school.
Anthony Godfrey:
So talk me through each of these photos. All of your kids.
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is my oldest son.
Anthony Godfrey:
What's his name?
Michelle Whitechurch:
This is Matthew and he has his own kindergartner this year but they live in a different state so that's pretty fun. Yeah the Heartland boundaries don't go far enough to include him and his son.
Anthony Godfrey:
Dang.
Michelle Whitechurch:
But with the way their birthdays fell they were only a year apart in school. So then my second —-
Anthony Godfrey:
So your youngest brother was born —
Michelle Whitechurch:
after I was married.and then my son came along 17 months later.
Anthony Godfrey:
So they were were they at Heartland just a year apart?
Michelle Whitechurch:
At Heartland and then West Jordan Middle and West Jordan High just a year apart the whole time. And then my kids are each two and a half to three years apart so they just consistently followed. So I have eight.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me each of their names and when they were here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Matthew and he would have started in 99. And he's now in Maine with his own kindergartner.
Anthony Godfrey:
Uh-huh.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yes he is and this is Gabrielle and she now has a brand new newborn lives up in Boise. And this is Emily and she's down in Pleasant Grove works for Provo School District has her own preschooler this year. And this is my Victoria who just this year started after graduating college here as a reading assistant.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh wow. So Victoria is back as an employee.
Michelle Whitechurch:
She is. Isn't that fun?
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And this is my son who's on a mission right now. My Anna's in high school as a sophomore. Jason's in fifth grade and Natalie's a fourth grader.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Yeah. So you have.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And this is my Victoria.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh Victoria we were just talking about you. So there's your picture there in kindergarten years ago. So you have attended Heartland and now you're working here.
Victoria:
Yeah I am.
Anthony Godfrey:
Did you just start out as a reading aid this year?
Victoria:
I did. I did like last week so it's been crazy.
Anthony Godfrey:
When did you start at Heartland as a student?
Victoria:
That's a great question. 2007. 2007.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow 2007 doesn't seem that long ago to me. It should seem longer than it is. 17 years ago. Wow 17 years. Okay time is passing me by. So tell me what made you want to come back and work at Heartland after you spent your time here as an elementary student?
Victoria:
Well in college I majored in human development and so a lot of what I learned and a lot of what I know is how kids develop how they grow and so coming back to Heartland was just an easy natural transition for me because all of a sudden I could take what I know and help apply it to these kids. And in reading especially like these kids are just struggling and finding a way to be able to say hey I know what you're going through right now let's like find a way to talk this through and find a way to help you learn. It's been really fun and really interesting for me to be back here now finding like walking down the same halls and saying oh I used to be this little kid just like this and how would I have wanted someone to help me and how can I help them?
Anthony Godfrey:
I love how you connect your experience as a student here to your work as a reading aid that's fantastic. Tell me what are some of your favorite memories including maybe some favorite teachers from when you were here at Heartland?
Victoria:
That's a great question. I was very shy as a kid and so for me I had a lot of really good teachers who didn't push me too hard but pushed me enough so that I grew and became more than I was so like in first grade my teacher was super understanding her name was Miss Nierl and she would just let me walk up to her desk and ask her questions and she wouldn't be like, “Victoria raise your hand like everyone else.” She was super understanding about.
Michelle Whitechurch:
She was so shy. Yeah, she really didn't speak out loud in school out the middle of kindergarten she just was so so shy but the teachers they were really good.
Anthony Godfrey:
So the teacher under your first grade teacher what was her name again?
Victoria:
Miss Nierl.
Anthony Godfrey:
Miss Nierl. She knew that letting you come up to the desk was the way to connect and allow you to ask the questions you had.
Victoria:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's awesome. What other memorable interactions and teachers and classes did you have?
Victoria:
I remember in third grade my teacher. he was Miss McDowell and she really focused on helping us learn how to read which is funny now that I'm reading aid but I remember in second grade I was behind the rest of the class in reading and then by the end of third grade I was way ahead. I was in fourth grade reading because my teacher cared enough to sit down with me and say, “Okay Victoria, let's work through whatever this book is.” I think we read like “The Boxcar Children.” I still remember the book.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes a classic.
Victoria:
Yeah because she just sat there and helped me understand what I was reading and that comprehension helped me to grow.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now you're paying it forward as a reading aid and all the investment that she and other teachers made in you is continuing to pay out for students at Heartland.
Michelle Whitechurch:
I think we've experienced 48 teachers over the years. 48 teachers and five principals that have been here since the time my kids have been here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Some of them had a few repeats. The one Miss McDowell she mentioned another student had later but we just you know just have had such great experiences here.
Anthony Godfrey:
For those listening, how many of those principals can you remember?
Michelle Whitechurch:
All of them.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me which principals were you? Jean Gordon, Trenton Goble, Aaron Ichimura, Shelley Davis and Buddy Elker.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh wow. Fabulous. I knew all but one of those. I knew all but one of those. That's awesome. Fabulous groups.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah. Our first four had the same kindergarten teacher which set a really fun I guess tradition going on and as a mom I've been able to come and help it be involved in classes and PTA and community council and field trips and all the things. Well you mentioned that your kids had the same kindergarten teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
For the first four.
Michelle Whitechurch:
For the first four. Uh-huh.
Anthony Godfrey:
Has there been overlap in other grades throughout the time?
Michelle Whitechurch:
My middle son was did the Spanish Immersion so he had the same teacher come up with him twice.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
And only a couple other times. Miss McDowell was taught two of them and another one taught in fifth grade and then again in second grade.
Anthony Godfrey:
So a wide variety of great teachers.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah a wide variety of great teachers. You mentioned you're volunteering.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
When somebody told me about your long connection to Heartland and we wanted to talk with you. I already knew who you were.
Michelle Whitechurch:
There you go.
Anthony Godfrey:
Because you've organized these Dr. Seuss reading days.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Oh that's so fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it's a blast. I've had a great time. It hasn't always worked for my schedule but when I've been able to do it it's been really fun.
Michelle Whitechurch:
That's the thing I think I love the most for me personally about Heartland is that community connection. That not only have we been here but family's been here, neighbors have been here. You can, you know and it's walkable. So many other things like that are just really important to me in a local school. You've put a ton of time into the school and you know. But as a mom I think you want to just or any parent you want to be as involved as you can with your kids and get to know get to know the teachers.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well I know how dedicated Mr. Aldridge is to this school. I know how dedicated the staff is and the success the school has seen. Especially in the last few years is also really dependent on that deep community connection and extraordinary things are happening here. They always have.
Michelle Whitechurch:
The last few years have been really great for Heartland I feel like. You know we joke sometimes with some teachers it's like you bring in a new baby or whatever. Job security. I've got another one for you. You know. Yeah the Witte churches have really kept Heartland going over the years. I'm done now so it's time for the you know for the rest of them.
Anthony Godfrey:
Fair enough. Fair enough. Stay with us when we come back. More about the Whitechurch family and Heartland Elementary School.
Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.
Sandy Riesgraf:
Hello I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District, and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Jordan District. We can't wait to connect.
Anthony Godfrey:
We have Principal Buddy Alger here. Tell me about the Whitechurch influence on Heartland Elementary.
Buddy Alger:
Well as she was talking about the Whitechurches have always been a very important part of Heartland Elementary. I met Michelle I think it was right after I was officially announced that I was going to be the principal of Heartland. I came to a PTA meeting and I just said, “Hey, I'm the new principal. What do you want me to know? And I think Michelle was one of the first ones to say, “Well there's a few things that we'd like to continue forward as the traditions at Heartland Elementary.” I think we've been able to accomplish that over the years. Michelle has served as my PTA president. I was actually just telling your husband how proud I was because she's talked about all of her years of service and I said, “Well but she was my PTA president.” We spent a lot of good time in council and working to make our community a better place and Michelle has been instrumental in advocacy for our school and most importantly our children in the work that she has done in the City of West Jordan.
Anthony Godfrey:
I understand you've been School Community Council Chair more than once here and elsewhere.
Michelle Whitechurch:
But for me it's really important as a mom to be involved at all levels with my kids. I mean there's still my kids even if once a lot of parents will just I'm done with elementary okay I'm done serving but you know I've tried to continue with the middle school and the high school and currently this year I don't want to get anybody in middle school and that feels a little bit of relief to not quite have so many in. Yeah it's okay. But you know it's just I just think as a parent you want to stay connected and kind of find out what's happening with the kids and serve where you can.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about times when people at Heartland have had a positive impact on your students. I know it's happened over decades but what are some moments that stand out?
Michelle Whitechurch:
My youngest son has he's a lot, he's a whirlwind of joy and excitement and —
Anthony Godfrey:
I see your daughter smiling.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah personal phone calls that just say, “I'm concerned about this how can I help.” Those moments have really meant a lot. Moments when like she said, the love of reading and feeling like they cared about her personally.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Feeling like I don't know, just as I've met with admin and teachers and just feel like they really care about my student they care about them personally they care about us as a family and that really matters and what matters to us.
Anthony Godfrey:
I get that sense every time I come here.
Michelle Whitechurch:
Yeah yeah the people matter and that and that you know as we talk about this some of those traditions. We've had a dance festival here, I think I was talking to some of my neighbors, probably since the beginning of time.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Michelle Whitechurch:
It's an end of year celebration and we kind of even continued it through the COVID years as we had dance parties online and you know some of those kinds of things but just when they when I talk to the kids and they remember those moments and they just talk about how much they love school and I think it just sticks with them from if you get a good foundation elementary school I think it lasts through all the years.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now I see here that you have the list of every teacher that each of your kids has had here. Part six and then two more and the other.
Michelle Whitechurch:
There you go it's a party. A few repeats in there but that is so cool. Just a way to remember. Just a way to remember. I wish I had this for just for me even. Yeah I think I could name all but one of my elementary teachers. There's one I just can't remember so I wish I had this here.
Anthony Godfrey:
I remember most of mine as well but this is this is really cool and this represents a lot of a lot of a lot of connection a lot of learning a lot of caring and a lot of friendships over the years. Well, thank you for doing that. Thank you for talking with us today and for being such an important part of Heartland. Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.
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