Principal Jensen's Updates
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:
- 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!
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:
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
COVID-19 Information 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 [email protected] 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. New Safety Requirement:
All visitors to the school building MUST wear a mask or other face covering. Please help us keep everyone healthy and safe by maintaining 6 feet of distance throughout the building. Graduation: We loved seeing everyone who came for cap and gown pick up on Friday – we have missed our students and it was wonderful to celebrate with our outgoing seniors. Though the Canyons District Board of Education has chosen to postpone traditional graduation ceremonies until a later date, Corner Canyon High School is proceeding with a plan to honor our graduates and award diplomas on May 28th, when graduation would have taken place. The Celebration of the Graduates will begin at 8am on May 28th and will run until 1pm, with graduates arriving in groups of 40 every 20 minutes. Prior to arriving at Corner Canyon, graduates will meet at Willow Springs Elementary in order to participate in a vehicle processional down 7th East. Each graduate will be allowed one vehicle and the graduate will sit in the passenger seat, in cap and gown, for the processional. Once the graduate’s vehicle has arrived at Corner Canyon, it will proceed around the school to the front roundabout, where a stage will be set up. At the corner of the roundabout, the graduate will exit the car and proceed to the stage, have his or her name read, cross the stage, and pose for a picture. Any family members in the vehicle must remain in the vehicle to take any pictures. Corner Canyon will be providing a professional picture to every graduate, free of charge. After the graduate has crossed the stage, he or she will proceed into the school to return the gown to Jostens and pick up his or her diploma. The graduate’s vehicle will proceed around the school and pick up the graduate on the north side of the school. The vehicle will then be directed to leave campus so the graduate can celebrate at home with his or her family. The reading of the names and crossing of the stage will be livestreamed, but the entire program will be edited into a video with student speeches, Mr. Jensen’s speech, and the acceptance of the graduates by a board member. This video will be posted for viewing and download after the celebration. We hope all our seniors will participate in the celebration and pick up their diploma on the 28th as planned. Sign up for a timeframe for your graduate here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A4FAFA92DA5FB6-celebration. If you or your student are not feeling well, running a fever, or displaying symptoms of illness, please stay home. End of Classwork: 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. Locker Pick Up: Thank you to all who came to pick up the items from their lockers. We still have many items that have not been picked up though. Please go to the attendance office between 8am and 2pm to pick up your locker items if you have not already done so. All remaining items will be donated or thrown away on May 29th. Yearbooks: Due printing delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not yet received yearbooks for distribution. We have a tentative delivery date of May 22nd, so expect information regarding pick up next week. We will not be mailing yearbooks to students because of the possibility of loss. If you have not already purchased a yearbook, you will not be able to until the day of yearbook pick up. We will have an extremely limited number of copies for sale that day so keep in mind you are not guaranteed a copy. Fees and Fines: All fees and fines have been entered on Skyward and can be paid online. If you are expecting a refund for jewelry fees or the cancelled choir trip and have fees/fines, we will apply the refund towards the fees/fines first. If you have questions regarding fees, please call the front office at (801) 826-6400. 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. |
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