Dear Parents of an Online 9th and/or 10th Grade Students,
 
Canyons School District continues to embrace an academic plan with the goal that all students will gain the skills they need to be successful in college and careers. Next month, your student will join high school students throughout Utah in taking the new Utah Aspire Plus exam. The Aspire test was designed by ACT and Pearson, Inc. with the goal of providing students a chance to practice taking timed tests in preparation for the ACT college-entrance exam. Utah Aspire Plus scores are predictive of a student’s performance on the ACT. 
 
All Aspire testing will be done IN-PERSON, at your neighborhood/home base school.  This is necessary because of the requirements of the platform in which the test is taken.  Online administration is not possible.  All details to the specific procedures, as well as times and days, can be found below. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact your student’s assistant principal.
 
The Utah Aspire Plus will be administered: Monday, April 19th - Friday, April 23rd.


Online Class                           Test Dates and Times                                              Testing Location

English 9                       Monday 4/19 & Wednesday 4/21 at 9:24 - 10:52 a.m.                        N219

English 10                     Monday, 4/19 & Wednesday 4/21 at 1:02 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.                 N225

Secondary Math I       Tuesday, 4/20 at 1:02 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.                                                   S214

Secondary Math II       Monday, 4/19 at 1:02 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.                                                   S214

Earth Science              Wednesday, 4/21 at 7:55 a.m. - 9:18 a.m.                                              S101

Chemistry                     Wednesday, 4/21 1:02 p.m. - 2:22 p.m.                                                  S120

Biology                          Thursday, 4/22 at 7:55 a.m. - 9:18 a.m.                                                 S106

Physics                         Wednesday, 4/21 1:02 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.                                                  S103

Make up testing        Friday, 4/22 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.                                                           Atrium

 
Your student will be receiving more information through Canvas from their online teachers a week prior to the Aspire test. The main office of your home base school will also have this information for your convenience.
 
The Aspire test must be taken on your student’s school issued Chromebook. Please make sure that your student’s device is fully charged and that your student brings their device to school the day of testing. Please make a special effort to ensure your child arrives on time that day, is well-rested, and ready to do his or her best on the exam.
 
The exam will provide you with feedback on your student’s college- and career-readiness, and help you to pinpoint which courses will best help him or her achieve one of Canyons’ college and career-ready diplomas. 
It is also a good time to have discussions with your student on their short-term and long-term goals.  Having goals upon which to focus is important for all of us.  The state has nice resources to support you and your child’s planning, https://www.utahfutures.org .
 
Thank you for your attention, and for partnering with us in the education of your child. 
 
CCHS Administration

Coach Eric Kjar was honored by the UHSAA Distinquished Service Award Selection Committee as the 2020 Recipient of the 6A  Coach of the Year Award.
Coach Devin Moody was selected by the NFHS Coaches Association as the  2019-2020 Utah Boys Cross country Coach of the Year.
Corner Canyon wants to congratulate both coaches on their achievements. They were selected based on their coaching performances, lifetime community involvement, school involvement and philosophy of coaching. Both coaches are considered leaders in their sports by their colleagues. Thank you Coach Kjar and Coach Moody for all of your time and dedication to the athletes and students at Corner Canyon.

Corner Canyon’s teacher of the year is Rebecca Hill. Rebecca has been a Charger for 6 years. She is the teacher we all wanted in high school. Her lessons are well planned with supports and challenges. Her class is always running on high energy while creating a safe learning environment for all students. The success of her students is her top priority. As the Department Chair, she is a voice for students and teachers. She goes above and beyond behind the scenes to create a culture of learning where everyone can be successful. She excels at being a leader in BLT constantly advocating for her department and staying positive.
As one student explained, “Mrs. Hill worked very hard with me and others to master college level concepts during a pandemic. During the semester we transitioned between in-person and online multiple times. I had moments of extreme challenges and frustration. Learning math online is very frustrating and made me cry at times. Mrs. Hill is the only reason I passed this course. I emailed her numerous times on questions, tips, etc. and she responded every time quickly.  She has worked so hard and made difference for me in this course.”
It is clear to everyone that Mrs. Hill  has had a positive impact in the lives of the students she has taught and the teachers she works with. Rebecca is quite simply lives by our CHARGE motto. Care, Honor, Achieve,  Respect, Give, Engage. She is always professional, approachable, and quite simply amazing and Corner Canyon is proud to have her as our 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year.

Two stellar Canyons District educators have been selected by a NASA-affiliated institute to attend a prestigious astrophysics teacher-training program that includes a flight into the stratosphere on a jumbo jet carrying a massive reflecting telescope used to detect light sources from the depths of space.  Hillcrest High’s Clief Castleton and Corner Canyon High’s Milo Maughan are among the 30 high school, middle school, and community college instructors from 10 states chosen as 2021 NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors.
 
They are the sole Utah teachers in this year’s co-hort, which was announced Thursday, Feb. 23, 2021 by the SETI Institute. SETI houses the NASA-funded ambassador program, which was created to bolster U.S. student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math. 
 
See the announcement here:  https://www.seti.org/30-teachers-selected-airborne-astronomy-ambassadors-bring-nasa-science-classrooms
 
Castleton and Maughan were selected via a competitive application process. To qualify to be an ambassador, educators must have taught at least three years and have experience teaching physical science, earth and space science, astronomy, astrobiology, or integrated science. Teachers also must be scheduled to lead physics and astronomy classes the year they attend are selected as AAAs. Castleton and Maughan will teach those classes next year at their respective schools. 
 
Ambassadors also receive curriculum and equipment to heighten the classroom experience after they return from a weeklong immersive training and take a flight on NASA’s Strategic Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, called SOFIA, the Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 106-inch diameter telescope. The teachers do not conduct research on the flight of SOFIA — which has been referred to as the world’s largest flying observatory — but can observe and interact with scientists and mission crew members. 
 
The SOFIA aircraft, a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, is maintained and operated from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, Calif. NASA’s Ames Research Center manages the SOFIA program, science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association in Maryland.
Before Castleton and Maughan leave this fall for their week of training and flights, plus the interaction with scientists and mission crew members, the AAA co-hort is provided extensive professional development made up of webinars, asynchronous content learning and hands-on curriculum workshops. 
Castleton and Maughan also will gain access to the ongoing AAA “Community of Practice,” connecting participants with one another and astrophysics and planetary science experts, even after their program-based training is completed.
After their training, the AAAs teach a physical science curriculum module created by the SETI Institute that connects curriculum concepts to NASA- and SOFIA-enabled research. 
 

On March 9th, 2021, Corner Canyon High School, along with high schools throughout the state of Utah, will be participating in an administration of the ACT.  The morning will be dedicated exclusively to junior students and the administration of the test. Testing takes about 3 ½ hours plus distribution, collection and a short break between the 2ndand 3rd tests.  Students will be tested in classrooms with about 16 students per classroom and where social distancing will be observed.  (Freshman, sophomore and senior students can come for lunch and a teacher/student consultation time in the afternoon.)
 
In preparation for this test, junior students are expected to complete non-test information.  Non-test activities consist of two parts: examinees must complete answer document demographics (must be completed before testing begins), and examinees must complete non-test information online.
 
Students who are attending classes in person, at Corner Canyon High School will complete these portions in their US History classes or will be called out of another class.  Students who were absent when their US History class completed these activities, as well as any other students who have not completed their documents, may come to the Student Center at their convenience during school hours and will be assisted in completing both of these non-test activities, (the paper answer document and the online portion.)
 
A dedicated time for students who do not attend any classes in the school building will be provided in the cafeteria, between 9:00am and 12:00 noon on March 5th.  This is a Friday when there are few students in the building and where social distancing is observed and students can come anytime within that window.  Student will be assisted in completing both their paper answer document and the online portion of the non-test activities.
 
Other information:

• You may bring your own calculator to the ACT test on March 9th.  It must be an approved calculator. 
  
• Students may not bring any electronic device other than a permitted calculator (this includes cell phone, smart watch, fitness band, media player, iPad, headphones and camera.)
• Watches (analog or digital) can be brought to the test but must be removed and placed face up on the desk during testing. 
  

- Congrats to Kyle Holland, Nicole Kim Ni, Nickolas Solum, and Benjamin Dastrup. They have been named Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. It's great to see their hard work and academic accomplishments recognized and rewarded. Good Luck going forward.

- Congrats to the following students for earning Academic All-State recognition from the Utah High School Activities Association. This award is based upon GPA, ACT scores, and success in their sport or activity.
Basketball: Trace Ross
Drill: Ella Fankhauser, Maya Robson, Savannah Savage
Swimming: McKay Larsen, Chloe Seeborg, Steele Smith
Congrats to their teachers, counselors, and coaches for mentoring these Chargers!

- Shout out to our Performing Arts Department. They have all been working so hard the past several months and it all paid off.  Matilda ran last week in the auditorium and all those lucky enough to attend walked away  entertained and appreciative for the efforts of the directors and cast. I am always amazed of the talent that is highlighted at every performance.

- CCHS played host to the 6A State Wrestling Championships on 2-19-21. Wrestlers, along with their parents were able to celebrate the year with a fantastic tournament put on by our own Coach Eure. CCHS walked away with a 5th place overall finish and three individual State Championships. Tyler Vivanco 113 pounds, Brigham Bagley 126 pounds, and Kam Moss 170 pounds. Congratulations on a great year.

- The boys and girls swim teams ended the year in winning style. Coach Thurman led both teams to a 3rd place overall finish. The following swimmers made it to the podium:
Steele Smith - 200 Medley Relay
McKay Larsen - 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke
Karson Spencer - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke
Ryan McNeill - 200 Medley Relay
Ethan Bangerter - 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle
Stephanie Guzman-De La Hoz - 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke
Britta Catmull - 100 Breaststroke
Lily Afualo - 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle

- The State Basketball Tournament kicks off this week. The Lady Chargers will host Cyprus Tuesday night at 7:00 in Charger Arena. The boys will tip off on Friday night at 7:00 here at CC. Their opponent is yet to be determined.

Things are settling down here at Corner Canyon as we finish our second week. The students continue to be amazing and our teachers are making sure learning is happening. We're so proud of the entire Charger community for their efforts in making this a smooth transition back to school. Nothing new to report, but we hope you watch our Homecoming game livestream on Friday, September 11th! Go Chargers!