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!

The first week of school has come to a close and it has been wonderful to have our students back. They seem to have adjusted well to the changes, although we are still learning about how best to protect our students and faculty . Thank you to the students and parents who have made this back to school much easier than we anticipated. We love our Chargers!

COVID-19 Guidelines and Protocol:
If you have any questions about how Canyons District is handling COVID-19 issues, please refer to the district website here: https://web.canyonsdistrict.org/covid-19/. All updates will be posted to this page.

Chromebooks:
Corner Canyon High School is going one-to-one this year with Chromebooks! This means that we will issue a Chromebook to every student this year that is theirs to keep for the rest of their time at CCHS. Our brand new Chromebooks have been delayed to COVID shipping complications, so 9th graders will be receiving their Chromebooks later in the year. Most 10th, 11th, and 12th graders have been issued one of our older model Chromebooks to use.

If a student has been issued a Chromebook, he or she should bring it to school every day. It is an essential school supply, and we do not have extras to lend if a student forgets theirs. Teachers are posting all course content online and will ask students to use their Chromebooks to access that material.

9th grade teachers will also be posting online course content, but will be providing in class materials until Chromebooks have been checked out to all students.

If a student's Chromebook stops working or has issues, we have QR codes posted all over the school. Scan it, or follow the link on the flyer, to request service.

Dress Code:
It's hot outside and strange inside, but dress code still needs to be followed and will be enforced. We have been seeing a lot of open tanks, midriff baring shirts, and other violations of dress code. Please make sure your student is following the district guidelines:

Dress code standards prohibit: immodest or suggestive clothing; apparel advocating illegal or inappropriate behavior or language; head wear; gang symbols; disruptive apparel; and unsafe apparel.

Students shall not wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, or immodest. Clothing shall cover the midriff, underwear, backs, and cleavage at all times, and must be at least mid-thigh length or longer when seated.

The student dress code standards include, but are not limited to the following:

• All students shall wear clean clothing.
  
• Shoes shall be worn at all times to ensure personal safety and hygiene.
  
• Items that disrupt the educational mission shall not be allowed. Clothing that may draw undue attention, disrupt, or pose a health or safety issue, or interfere with the learning atmosphere, shall not be allowed.
  
• Items which bear advertising, promotions and likeness of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs or which are contrary to the educational mission, shall not be allowed.
  
• Personal items such as clothing, paraphernalia, jewelry, backpacks, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignias, which are crude, vulgar, profane, violent, or sexually suggestive.
  
• Gang-related clothing, colors, and paraphernalia shall not be allowed in school or activities. School officials will determine what constitutes “gang” clothing, colors, and paraphernalia after consultation with law enforcement agencies as needed.

Dear Canyons District Parents and Guardians,
 
The countdown to the start of school begins! As we prepare to welcome students back on Monday, Aug. 24, I want you to know how much we look forward to reconnecting with students and providing them the support, resources and encouragement they need to settle back into learning. School will look a little different this fall. We’ll be wearing face coverings, staggering lunches and recesses, promoting physical distancing, and keeping classrooms and buses freshly scrubbed and disinfected. Some of our students will be learning online, and we’ll be ready to pivot to remote instruction for all students should the need arise. Our commitment to keeping all students safe, learning, and growing endures. Families have made it known that the connection students have to their school is important, and our principals and teachers are working to renew those connections and restore a sense of normalcy for all learners. The COVID-19 pandemic also has reinforced the value of strong school-to-home connections as we pull together as a community, each of us doing our part, to stop the spread of this virus and keep everyone safe. As a District, we are committed to keeping families informed in this fluid, fast-changing environment. Following are a few key points of information to help make this first week a success, and resources to keep top of mind as the year progresses. Welcome to a new school year. Stay safe, stay positive, and be ready to do great things.
 
Sincerely,
Superintendent Dr. Rick L. Robins
 
Back-to-School Checklist

• Check your temperature each morning and monitor for symptoms. [Symptom Checker link to attached pdf]
• Feeling sick? Do not come to school. Call your school’s attendance secretary.
• Bring and wear a face covering.
• Practice physical distancing.
• Check your school safety plan, posted to school websites, for information about lunch, recess, morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups.

 
COVID-19 Information Resources

• Canyons District’s COVID-19 Portal
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Learning Options and Resources

 
2020 CENSUS UPDATE: The pandemic has resulted in some unexpected changes from the U.S. Census Bureau — namely, they have begun sending emails to non-responders. This is an about-face from their previous decision to avoid email so as to not confuse residents about official 2020 Census correspondence. The email messages will come from 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov and will give recipients the option to opt out of receiving future messages. The Bureau is also considering sending text messages to areas with low response-rates.
 
CLARIFICATION ON FACE COVERINGS: On Thursday, Aug. 13, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and the Utah Department of Health clarified that face shields are not a substitute for face coverings, except in special situations. CSD’s Department of Responsive Services is working on forms and protocols for granting exceptions to students with special medical or mental health needs (see this week’s memo for more information about the face covering requirement). In the meantime, we have updated our FAQ page to reflect the following:

Will the District require students and school staff to wear face coverings? If so, how is that being enforced?
Canyons District schools and facilities are adhering to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s order requiring the use of face coverings in K-12 schools. Schools will make accommodations for students with disabilities and special medical or mental health needs, which often can be handled through the use of face shields. Students may remove face coverings while eating lunch and participating in outdoor recess provided they are able to maintain adequate physical distancing. The face covering requirement will be enforced in the same way all behavioral expectations are enforced, through positive feedback and working with families to make sure students have the resources and supports they need to succeed. If a student forgets to bring a face covering, the school will provide one. Refusal to wear one will result in an office referral and, if necessary, a phone call home to the student’s parents or guardians. Online learning is an option available for those who will not wear a face covering.

Can students and employees wear face shields?
On Thursday, Aug. 13, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and the Utah Department of Health clarified that face shields are not a substitute for face coverings, except in special situations. This is in line with recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which advises that face shields do not provide protection comparable to a face covering. The use of face shields may be permitted for students seeking accommodations for disabilities or special medical or mental health needs; in situations when a teacher is communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing; or for speech therapy where seeing the mouth and lips is necessary. A cloth face covering is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears, or is wrapped around the lower face. A cloth face covering can be made of synthetic or natural fabrics. Information on how to make and properly care for cloth face coverings can be found on the CDC’s website.
 
Will face coverings be provided by the schools?
Students are encouraged to choose and bring their own face coverings. Schools and buses, however, will have on hand supplies of cloth and disposable face coverings, and will make them available as needed. 

We are so looking forward to welcoming our students back in a few short weeks. Please take the time to read through our re-opening plan.

We are nearly done! And though this year has presented unique challenges, I have never been prouder of the teachers, students, and community of Corner Canyon. Thank you all for the support and feedback you've provided throughout the school closure.

Yearbook Update:
We have received official word that yearbooks have been delayed district wide due to the pandemic. As of right now, the Corner Canyon yearbooks have not even been shipped and will not be shipped until June at the earliest. As soon as we have confirmation that the yearbooks have shipped, we will set a date for pick up.

If you are unable to pick up your own yearbook in June, we will allow an alternative pick up person. That person must have photo ID and a handwritten, signed, and dated note indicating you have given them permission to pick up the book. We will keep the note on file at the school. More details to come when we have a confirmed pick up date.

Summer Hours:
Our summer hours will be 8am-2pm on Mondays through Thursdays. While the state is still in the Yellow Phase, visitors will be asked to wear masks when they come into the building. After June 5th, only the main office will be open.

Item Pick Up:
Remember to come pick up locker items and pictures from the attendance office before May 29th! All unclaimed items will be donated or thrown away after next week.

 As Utah has transitioned from Red Status to Orange Status, we have finally been able to begin concrete planning for the end of the school year. But first, a celebration!

 Senior Cole Hagen was honored last week with the Top Utah Scholar Athlete Award for the National Football Foundation. You can watch Cole give a speech on behalf of the Utah athletes during the virtual banquet here.

 
Locker Clean Out/Pick Up:
  Health department guidelines are still limiting the number of students we can have in the building at once, so our staff has been hard at work cleaning, organizing, and emptying lockers. All belongings left in lockers are being bagged and labeled with the student's name and locker number. Pick up will occur on March 12th. Specific instructions will be emailed through a Skylert.

Last Day for Curriculum:
  May 15th is the last day teachers will be assigning new work or giving tests. Between May 15th and 28th, students will be given the opportunity to submit make up work to improve their grades, but will not be receiving additional work. Some upper division classes, such as Concurrent Enrollment and AP classes, may be completing class projects and preparing for AP exams after May 15th as a class.

Graduation:
  The Canyons District Board of Education has decided to allow schools to award diplomas on May 28th as planned, with a traditional ceremony tentatively scheduled for a later date. Corner Canyon has put together a plan for a May 28th virtual/drive through hybrid celebration and we will release details once the plan has been approved by the health department and Draper City. Look for specific information and directions to be emailed this weekend.

 We love and miss our students deeply. This week seems to have been a difficult one as we work through online classes, online meetings, and online communication. Our amazing faculty and staff have a message for all Corner Canyon students, especially our seniors.

Graduation:
We WILL be doing a graduation ceremony, though the timing and structure of that ceremony is still being decided. The Canyons School District Board of Education met on April 21st to discuss plans for graduation and decided to survey seniors and their parents regarding the presented options. Whichever option is chosen must comply with Salt Lake County health department recommendations. For more information on which options were discussed, please see the published summary of the board meeting.

Cap and Gown Pick Up:


Grading Scale:
At the board meeting, an alternate grading scale was approved for 4th quarter. At Corner Canyon, we want every student to receive a passing grade for 4th quarter and we hope this new grading scale will relieve some of the stress and pressure students and families are feeling. This grading scale will not apply to Concurrent Enrollment classes, as they are governed by the college. If you have questions about the grading scale or how it will affect your student, please reach out to your student's counselor and/or assistant principal.

I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break last week. Our world was rocked a little bit yesterday with the announcement that students and teachers will not be returning to school for the 2019-2020 school year. Decisions are currently being made about end of year activities such as yearbook distribution, awards nights, and graduation. We should have answers to those pressing questions by next week.

Teacher of the Year!
I am so happy to announce that this year's Corner Canyon High School Teacher of the Year is Ms. Melissa Thorne! Ms. Thorne, affectionately known as "Mama T," directs our award winning choir program and is responsible for the beautiful singing that can occasionally be heard under the dome.



"[Ms. Thorne] is one of the hardest workers at the school. She works long hours, by choice, and she never complains. She always has a positive attitude. She also is great at connecting with the students inside and outside the classroom."

"She brings music and positivity and confidence to the students."

"[Ms. Thorne] makes every student feel like they can sing. She provides skill and knowledge and technique with humor, love, and care."

Congratulations Ms. Thorne!

Honor Cords:
We’ve moved all Honor Cord applications to an online format.  From this point forward, we will not accept physical Honor Cord applications requiring teachers’ signatures.  Online applications for Honor Cords should take between 1-3 minutes to complete depending on which Honor Cord.  Here are some things to know:

• To find Honor Cord applications go to the CCHS website under the “STUDENTS” menu under “AWARDS and RECOGNITION”
  
• All Honor Cord applications are due on or before Friday, May 1, 2020
  
• Students can check their eligibility for an Honor Cord by accessing their transcripts through parchment.com (see email from our Registrar, Debra Clark, dated Tuesday, March 31, 2020)
  
• Students do not need to submit a transcript when applying for an Honor Cord.  Simply fill out the applicable online application. Teachers and assigned staff will check/verify applications.  
• Honor Cord recipients will be notified by Friday, May 15, 2020
  

NOTE: Honor Cords are $5 each.  We have not yet determined a method of payment and delivery.  We are taking a “wait and see” approach before we make a decision on a payment and delivery process.  Recipients will be notified as soon as we make this decision.

Charger Medallion:
We’ve moved the Charger Medallion application to an online format.  From this point forward, we will not accept physical Charger Medallion applications requiring signatures from teachers, advisers, or coaches.  Here are some things to know:

• To find the online Charger Medallion application go to the CCHS website under the “STUDENTS” menu under “AWARDS and RECOGNITION”
  
• The Charger Medallion applications are due on or before Wednesday, May 6, 2020
• Students can check their eligibility for the Charger Medallion by: 
  • accessing their transcripts through parchment.com (see email from our Registrar, Debra Clark, dated Tuesday, March 31, 2020)
  • referring to the CHARGE Point Category document, which can be found by clicking the link in the online Charger Medallion application
• Teachers and assigned staff will check/verify applications.  You do not need to submit a transcript when applying for Charger Medallion.  Simply fill out the online application.
• Charger Medallion recipients will be notified by Friday, May 15, 2020
  

NOTE: There is no fee/charge for recipients of the Charger Medallion.  We have not yet determined a method of delivery.  We are taking a “wait and see” approach before we make a decision on a delivery process.  Recipients will be notified as soon as we make this decision.

CANVAS Use and Communication:
All class content has transitioned to online delivery through Canvas. Each teacher should have an outline for the week, 2-3 hours worth of weekly assignments, and clear due dates for those assignments on their Canvas page. Many teachers are using the Announcements feature to provide that information. To receive the announcements for your student's courses, you must first set up a parent observation account using this tutorial.

To opt into the communications once you create your account, go into the Notifications setting for your account. Follow the tutorial below.

Corner Canyon High School is usually bustling with activity from early morning to late at night. Walking through the empty building these days really shows just how unique and unsettling this situation has become. We miss the students, teachers, and community members who bring the school alive and we are hoping to see you all again after May 1st. In the meantime, here is more information about the current state of the closure.

School Access:
In support of Salt Lake County’s stay-at-home order, Corner Canyon will not be accessible to students and parents except by appointment. On Tuesdays (April 14, 21, and 28), students and parents may access the main office and Media Center from 9 - 11am. No other parts of the building will be open. We also highly encourage you to avoid coming to the school if you don't have to.

As a reminder, no school or district employees will be in buildings or available during Spring Break, April 6-10th. We are encouraging everyone, including parents, students, teachers, and staff, to use that week as a much needed break.

Online Learning:
This week marked the start of new instruction being delivered online. Students at the high school level are expected to do 2-3 hours of work per class each week. Content is being delivered through Canvas and grades will continue to be transferred to Skyward each week. Teachers are expected to keep "office hours" where they will be available for virtual meetings. They are also expected to respond to emails within 24 hours ,so please reach out to them if you and/or your student has questions regarding class content or procedures. Administration is also available by email or phone to help you and your student navigate online learning.

Canyons District has created a Parent Connections page to help parents and student navigate online learning. You will find information about Canvas, lesson structuring, and the district's response to the COVID-19 situation at that site.

As a friendly reminder, online school is still school and discussions held online should be appropriate and academic. GoogleMeets and Canvas discussion pages are being used for instruction, so good online etiquette is crucial. Remember, if something is against the rules in a physical classroom, it's also against the rules in a virtual one!

Senior Students:
At this time, we have no information about any possible impact to graduation ceremonies. We will send information out to the community as soon as we have answers. As of today, April 2nd, graduation is scheduled as normal but that is absolutely subject to change as the situation changes.

Administration and Counselors at Corner Canyon have made the decision to clear NGs for all Seniors, as they will not have the time or opportunity to make those up prior to graduation. If a senior was on track to graduate or was only deficient due to NGs prior to closure, he or she simply needs to pass 4th quarter classes to be eligible for graduation.

Any questions regarding senior graduation status should be directed to the student's counselor.

Special Education Students:
Accommodations will be provided for Special Education students during the school closure. Case managers will be reaching out to parents of Special Education students weekly to provide support and facilitate those accommodations. Any required meeting (IEP, Eligibility, etc) will be held virtually via GoogleMeet. If you have questions or concerns about your Special Education student, please contact your case manager.

Have a wonderful Spring Break! We hope to see you soon!