Superintendent’s Friday Message

• Performances by the Alta, Brighton, and Hillcrest Marching Bands at the 2024 Red Rocks State Marching Band Championships. 
• A final reminder to complete Open Enrollment for health insurance.  Open Enrollment ends today at 5 p.m. 
• Expressions of thanks to Butler Elementary teachers and staff for their patience while the Facilities Department fixed the malfunctioning heating system. 
• The student-driven Hillcrest science project chosen through a NASA program to be sent to the International Space Station. 
• The planting of a “Moon Tree” at Glacier Hills Elementary.  The tiny Douglas fir was grown from a seed that was carried aboard the Orion spacecraft, flown around the moon, and then returned to Earth.  
• The numerous activities and learning opportunities planned for Veterans Day. 
• Corner Canyon’s turn on TV as Fox 13’s “Cool School of the Week.”
• Applause for the casts, crews, and directors who are working hard on the upcoming fall musicals. 
• Congratulations for Alta’s boys cross country team for a third-place finish in the 5A state competition. 
• Wishes of luck to Corner Canyon’s volleyball team in the last few games of the 6A state tournament.  Brighton and Corner Canyon also are still in the hunt for 5A and 6A football titles. 

• Next week’s start to Open Enrollment for health insurance. The Open Enrollment window is Oct. 28 through Nov. 8.  
• The Brighton High girls soccer team’s fantastic run through the 5A playoff brackets. 
• The back-to-back team state 6A championship win by Corner Canyon’s boys golf team. 
• Hillcrest High’s two individual state championship wins in 4A girls tennis — the first state titles in girls tennis for the Huskies in CSD history.
• Plans by the Canyons Education Foundation to deliver giant checks to teachers who successfully applied for Innovation Grants.  
• Trick-or-treating at the District Office from 3 to 5 p.m. on Halloween.  
• Congratulations to winners of the 15th annual Apex Awards, the highest awards given in CSD by the Board of Education and Administration. The ceremony featured performances by student groups from Brighton, Corner Canyon, Hillcrest and Jordan high schools. 

• Major wins by Canyons schools at last week’s national Shakespeare Competition at Southern Utah University.  
• A big thanks to performing-arts teachers for making our programs among the best in Utah.
• A recent inspection of Canyons District school buses by the Utah Highway Patrol that found only one corrective issue.
• The launch of a telehealth program for Canyons District employees.
• Jordan High’s time in the spotlight as Fox 13’s “Cool School of the Week.”  
• Canyons’ search for a new director to steer the growth of an Innovation Center to be housed at the former eBay building.
• Best wishes to CSD girls tennis, girls soccer, and boys golf teams at their state competitions in the coming days. 
• Eastmont Middle’s upcoming certification as an AVID national demonstration school. 
• This Saturday’s Middle School Intramurals Cross Country Championship at Jordan High. 

• The talented performing-arts students from Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Hillcrest, and Jordan high schools who are competing this week at the Shakespeare Festival at Southern Utah University. 
• Brighton High teacher Derek Chandler’s first place win in the state Veteran Affairs Veteran's Creative Arts Competition for a water-color painting titled “Building America.” His artwork is featured on the Canyons District Facebook page.  
• Wishes of congratulations to Mount Jordan Middle Student Center secretary Mindy Wissler. She’s been awarded the Middle Level Secretary of the Year honor by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals.
• Albion Middle’s student mentor Brenda Castillo, who recently received a Hispanic Heritage Congressional Recognition.
• The generosity of Midvale Elementary faculty, staff, and administration. The Mustangs donated more on a per-employee basis than any other school or department to the CSD employee-funded Aspiring Canyons Educator Scholarship Fund.  
• The Board of Education’s vote to secure financing for the purchase of the former eBay campus, which is set to be the new home of a CSD high-tech and career-focused learning center. 
• Applause for the good work done by CSD principals in honor of October’s National Principals Month. 
• Shout outs to the CSD teams and players competing at the 5A girls tennis tournament. 

• Appreciation to teachers for the countless hours spent preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences. This week’s Connect Canyons podcast gives tips to parents about how to make the most out of the one-on-one meetings with teachers.  https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/connect-canyons/
• Alta High’s time in the spotlight as Fox 13’s “Cool School of the Week.”
• Bella Vista Elementary’s selection by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School.  
• Hillcrest theater teacher Josh Long’s upcoming directorial debut on London’s West End. 
• This fall’s flu-shot clinics for Canyons District employees.
• The hard work done by CSD custodians to keep schools spotless and sanitary. National Custodians Appreciation Day is Wednesday. Oct. 2. 
• CSD’s annual golf tournament — recently re-named the Mont L. Millerberg Classic — held to raise funds for Teacher Innovation Grants and other programs. 

 In this week’s message, Dr. Robins reflects on: 

• CSD’s safety-first philosophy of responding to social media posts and other messages that may prompt a response by law enforcement.  
• Reasons why Canyons District does not usually publicly release the content of social media posts that are being investigated by police officers.   
• Words of appreciation for Information Technology Department employees in honor of Tuesday’s National IT Professionals Day. 
• CSD’s planned maintenance of the District and school websites on Saturday evening. 
• Entrada Adult High School’s positive contributions to Canyons District, especially as the state recognizes “Adult Education and Family Literacy Week,” as declared by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. 
• Wishes of good luck to Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Jordan, and Hillcrest high Unified soccer teams who will compete Sept. 23 against teams from Jordan School District.  
• The start of 4A, 5A and 6A high school state tennis tournaments later this month.   
• The expected down-to-the-wire finishes at the All-Canyons Middle School Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Jordan High. 

In this week’s message, Dr. Robins reflects on:  

• The various solemn events held in our community to commemorate the lives lost in the terror attack on Sept. 11, 2001. 
• The acts of patriotism and lessons on liberty, including during the upcoming Constitution Day, seen often in Canyons District schools and programs. 
• The regional Emmy nomination for CSDtv. In the nominated video, titled “Heart Your Chromebook,” CSD Field Technician Dallas Erekson does a great job in the starring role.   Check it out.
• How Canyons District monitors the air quality in neighborhoods surrounding our schools. 
• Basic necessities provided to students in need from CSD’s Resource Closet, a project undertaken by the Canyons Education Foundation and the State and Federal Programs Department. Click here to access the Connect Canyons podcast about the Resource Closet.
• Next week’s Canyons Education Foundation’s Mont L. Millerberg Classic, the annual fundraising golf tournament.  The event was recently named after the influential Board of Education member who passed away in February.

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.

In this week’s message, Dr. Robins reflects on: 

• This week’s series of Q&A sessions with Canyons PTA and School Community Council leaders.  
• The fun activities planned by CSD elementary schools for the 16th annual Kindergarten College-Ready Day — a day set aside to stress the importance of working hard every day throughout elementary, middle, and high school to be ready for college and careers.  
• Canyons District’s policies reflecting the importance of political neutrality in classrooms. Questions about CSD’s policies and expectations regarding political speech can be referred our Office of Legal Services. 
• Utah being named one of the best states for educational outcomes, according to the U.S. News and World Report. 
• A recent television news report featuring new CSD educators, including two Alta High graduates who have returned to teach in Canyons schools.  
• Statewide expressions of support for the Jordan High school community after last Friday’s tragic loss of a student. 

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: 

• CSD’s tradition of rolling out red carpets for first day of school celebrations. 
• Special appearances by Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals players at CSD schools on the first day. 
• The special Back-to-School Night with the Utah Royals at America First Field. Two Alta High graduates are among the players on the Royals’ roster. Discount tickets available at www.canyonsdistrict.org.  
• The Corner Canyon High football team’s massive win on Thursday over the top-ranked IMG Academy. 
• Willow Canyon Elementary’s recent 50th anniversary celebration.
• CSD bus driver Jeremy Klung’s top-three win at the national school-bus driving competition.
• The Board of Education’s vote on Tuesday to approve a contract to acquire the former regional headquarters of eBay. The deal includes the fully furnished 215,000-square-foot building and 36 total acres of land.