Please click on the links below to hear or read the Friday Message from Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins. In this week’s message, Dr. Robins reflects on: 

• Gratitude for what our schools and teachers do to bring civic awareness to classrooms, including steps taken to mark Sept. 11, a National Day of Remembrance and Service.
• Canyons District students whose patriotic essays were chosen as winners in a contest co-sponsored with Sandy City will be honored at a 4:30 p.m. event today, Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Sandy City Hall, 10000 Centennial Parkway.  Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins will speak at the event. Sections of the essays will be inscribed in plaques that will be installed for a year at the Utah Freedom Memorial at City Hall. 
• This week, the Canyons District joins Sandy City in honoring the memories of those who died in the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The community is invited to visit the Healing Fields display of nearly 3,000 American flags posted on a grassy area south of Sandy City Hall. 
• Appreciation for Connie Crosby who recently retired after serving for decades as CSD’s homeless-student advocate. During her time with us, Connie helped nearly 9,000 Canyons students, and for her efforts, the family homeless shelter in Midvale was renamed the Connie Crosby Family Resource Center. 
• Updates on the Canyons Board of Education’s plan to acquire eBay’s former regional headquarters for an innovation center. The Canyons Board of Education has moved forward with a plan for financing the purchase and Canyons Technical Education Center faculty and staff toured the facility on Friday. We’ll soon start working with business and marketing students at CTEC to help name and develop the branding for the new educational center.
• Efforts by CSD’s Nutrition Services Department and Nursing Specialists to safeguard students – and employees — from coming into contact with food allergens. For information about everything out schools do to be food-allergy aware, check out the latest episode of the Connect Canyons podcast.
• Upcoming District-sponsored employee flu clinics on Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, 1:30-3 p.m. at the District Offices.  All employees are able to take advantage of these clinics as well as their spouses and children, 3 years of age and older. Be sure to check your email for more information and, in the spirit of the Halloween season, let’s say “boo” to the flu!
• An upcoming PEHP-sponsored health screenings for employees on Sept. 23. Participating in a biometric screening is the first step toward earning a $50 rebate from PEHP.  Again, check your email for more information, including a link to register.
• A shout out to the Canyons Education Association and ESP Association for their continued work to advocate for CSD employees.