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Category: Middle School Information

Published on

From: Leeson Taylor

Adventures in Utah 
Celebrating America 250
Calling All Elementary & Middle School Students

America is turning 250 in 2026!
Let’s celebrate by exploring our amazing home — Utah!
From red rock canyons to snowy peaks, deserts to pine forests, museums and monuments, — Utah has it all! 

What’s in YOUR District 2 backyard or any place you love to visit in Utah?
We want to know what YOU discover in Utah while celebrating America’s big birthday!
Be creative, be adventurous, and have FUN while honoring the beauty and freedom of our country!

YOUR MISSION:

  1. Get out and explore Utah’s natural wonders, landmarks, parks, museums, and more.
  2. Take a photo of yourself with one of our fun cutouts!
  3. Create a poster showing all the places you've visited.
  4. Snap a photo of your poster and email it to us by the end of the 2026 school year.
  5. Include permission so we can share your adventures online!

 Bonus:
The more places you explore, the more your adventures will shine! As a special thank you for sharing what you love about Utah, you’ll receive a personal thank-you letter from Congresswoman Celeste Maloy. Keep the adventures coming!

REMEMBER:
We live in a country where we are free to explore, to learn, and to connect with the people and places that matter most.  America is going to be 250 years old!  Show us what you LOVE about America!  Show us what you LOVE about Utah

Ready, Set, Explore!
We can’t wait to see where your Utah adventures take you! Be sure to bring along either Archie Bryce or Ruby Redrock in your photos as you explore — we’d love to see them by your side in all your Utah snapshots!

Email anytime, but due by May 31st, 2026:  America250utahadventures@mail.house.gov

Please include:

Name: [Your Full Name]
Email: [your.email@example.com]
School: [Full Name of Your District 2 School]
Grade: [Your Grade Level]
Parent/Guardian Permission:
I, [Parent/Guardian Full Name], give permission for my child, [Your Name], to share their work.

Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________
Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]

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Summary:
 

In 2020-21, the district provided Newsela, a K-12 online instructional content platform offering articles at five different reading levels with quizzes and writing prompts, to all schools to support online learning while we were remote. We continued to provide Newsela using ESSER funds through the end of the 2024-25 school year. Newsela is a supplement to core materials.
 

Our district-wide contract expires at the end of this year. If you would like to continue using Newsela at your school, the cost is:
 

If you have questions about usage at your school, please click here to see your school’s use and which teachers are using the program so you can speak with them about it.
 

If you would like to continue with the program at your school, there is an order form on Tab 3. The district will place one order to get the legacy partner discount. If you do not want to continue with Newsela, please indicate “decline” to stop any further follow-up.
 

Expectations for Implementation:
 

  1. Communication:
    If you are going to purchase Newsela, please fill out the order form by MAY 16, 2025.
     
  2. Collaboration:
    Tiffany Hall, 801-578-8406

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Summary: 

We are excited to announce that the Science Materials Committee has completed a review of available curriculum and resources to adopt for grades 6-8. After reviewing all the submitted programs, the committee has selected two finalists. There will be a public open house for any educators or parents interested in previewing the materials.
 

The review committee included science teachers from grades 6-8, parents, and content area specialists.
 

  • What:  Science Programs for 6-8th Grades Open House
  • When:  Monday, May 5, 2025, from 3:00-7:00 PM
  • Where:  Riley Elementary School, 1410 South 800 West
  • Why:   Materials under recommendation from the 6-8 Science Materials Committee will be available to the public for viewing. After the open house, the cost of both programs will be scored and a final decision on one program will be made. It is anticipated that the materials will be in classrooms at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.
     

Expectations for Implementation:


1.  Communication:

  • The information has been sent to all 6th grade teachers and middle school science teachers.
  • The district will send this information to parents.

2.  Collaboration:

  • Candace Penrod, District Science Supervisor, 801-578-8301

3.  Timeline:
 

  • The Open House will be held on Monday, May 5, 2025.

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Summary: The following information was provided to social studies teachers on 1.14.2025 to help them navigate topics that are, in Utah, deemed as “sensitive.” Our goal is to help teachers be able to navigate these topics in

classrooms if they are raised by students or encountered in classroom discussions.

Email

As social studies teachers, we know everything has a history. In learning social studies, part of our instructional practices call for teaching students to formulate and respond to compelling questions, conduct research, apply analytical thinking, and discern between valid and invalid sources as they seek to draw conclusions and formulate arguments about various current or historical topics. We know these are critical skills for an educated and civic ready citizenry, which is essential to sustaining our democracy.

We also recognize that today our students are savvy and care deeply about justice, and in response we provide students with valuable opportunities to explore topics compelling to them in an effort to help them better understand themselves and their communities. With

that said, as public school teachers, we are bound to follow Utah law. Our Board Policies are designed to capture the essence of the laws and inform what we must do to abide by Utah law.

This email is generated as a result of two laws: Utah Code Section 53G-10-402 and Utah Code Section 53G-10-403. I know you are not teaching health, sex ed, biology or the like, but since everything has a history, you may find that students choose to investigate a topic for a

history fair or civic action project that may be considered sensitive or unlawful according to Utah law.

What does this mean for you as social studies teachers? It means that if any instruction or information pertains to any of the sensitive topics listed in the law, I strongly encourage you to do the following:

  • Review our Board Policy I-7 regarding Curriculum and Instructional Materials

and Board Policy I-12 Human Sexuality Education to empower you with appropriate information.

$30/hour PD rate and receive 1 relicensure point for completing the course.

  • Confer with your school administrator letting them know what you are doing and

what, if any, topics might be deemed sensitive. Together, determine the parameters of the project so it stays within the boundaries of the law.

  • Keep parents informed and get appropriate parent permission prior to proceeding or allowing students to proceed with any topic deemed to be sensitive.
  • Plan accordingly. If student projects include any materials deemed sensitive under Utah law/Board policy, students are not allowed to share their projects with any other students. Students are not allowed to receive peer feedback or present their projects in any school or district venue. In these cases, what are your plans for student alternatives?
  • Please Note: Utah History Day (UHD) is aware of Utah Code and working to determine how that may affect student presentations during UHD contests.

Please be assured that this email is not meant to alarm you or stifle student learning or your instruction. It is merely meant to equip you with important information. If you have further questions, please refer to your administrator.

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Dear Administrators,

I hope this finds you well. I’d like to kindly remind you of Board Policy G-10, which applies to all district facilities, and ask that this be communicated regularly to your staff to avoid any confusion or issues going forward.

Key Points of Board Policy G-10:

  1. Facilities Staff are the only district personnel authorized to perform maintenance, repairs, or alterations in and around school buildings.
  2. Teachers, staff, and administrators are explicitly prohibited from making any alterations, changes, or maintenance to rooms, spaces, or district facilities.
  3. Unauthorized Changes Will Be Restored:
    • If alterations or changes are discovered, the Facilities team will restore the affected area to its prior condition.
    • Costs for restoration (including materials, paint, and labor) will be charged back to the school.

It’s important to understand that repeated issues or further unauthorized alterations may result in additional costs to the school and responsible staff.

To avoid disruptions, please ensure all staff are aware of this policy and remind them that requests for any changes or maintenance must go through the proper channels by contacting the Facilities Department within Auxiliary Services. We appreciate your cooperation and support as we work together to maintain safe, efficient, and consistent learning environments across the district. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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What: The Utah Code Annotated 53G-9-606 requires the state board to create a model policy on bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation. Due to legislative and rule changes (H.B. 84 (2024) and R277-613) the current model policy requires updating. We are asking for volunteers to participate in a workgroup to provide feedback on the updated model policy. We are looking for a sample of 10 members throughout the state of Utah to represent LEAs. You can volunteer using this form. Volunteers will be notified whether or not they are selected to join this workgroup.

Who: Ideal candidates include superintendents, charter school directors, building administrators, and policy analysts.

When: Starting in January 2025

  • 2-3 virtual meetings (90 minutes each)
  • Exact dates will be determined based on participant availability

      

Action: Please complete the Model Policy Workgroup Volunteer Form if you would like to volunteer.

Information: For more information, please contact Becca Rae. 

Thank you, 

Ryan Bartlett, Ph.D.

Director of Strategic Communications

Utah State Board of Education

ryan.bartlett@schools.utah.gov

605.201.7950

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