Joint statement from Park City Police and District on today’s incident

Park City Police Department responded at 9:30 a.m. today (Nov. 14) to a suspicious incident involving a man brandishing a handgun in the field between Park City High School and McPolin Elementary School. A high school student spotted the individual and immediately alerted school authorities.

The police located the individual at the 1700 block of Kearns Boulevard. Police identified and detained the individual at 10:09 a.m. Appropriate charges are being screened through the City Attorney’s Office.

The lockout at all schools was lifted by police at 10:12 a.m. All schools are back to normal operation.

Police remind parents to follow district protocol and stay away from the schools until law enforcement deems the area safe. Park City Police and district officials thank the student who utilized the “see something, say something” protocol to report suspicious activity to officials.

The Park City Police were assisted by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Utah Highway Patrol.

Parents are asked to review the PCSD Emergency Procedures with their students tonight (see below)

Board members holding informal meetings to engage community

In an effort to engage parents, employees, and members of the community, the Park City School District Board of Education has started holding informal monthly meetings.

The board’s first Information Exchange Meeting was held Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School. Each month the meetings will be held at a different school. Some will be held during the day, and other meetings will be held at night to accommodate those who work.

The following items were discussed last night by the parents and teachers who attended the meeting with Andrew Caplan, board President, and JJ Ehlers, board Vice President:

Homework policy being piloted at Jeremy Ranch Elementary this year: A parent from Jeremy Ranch asked if the policy was really working. Sherry Barski, a reading specialist at the school, said they are already seeing a decrease in the stress level of students and parents.  Students are also accountable to read every night. “It has been a very positive thing so far,” she said.

The parent expressed concern that not having homework may “dumb down” school. She wondered how a student goes from no homework at the elementary level to taking AP courses at the high school level that require a great deal of homework. Superintendent Ember Conley said a lot of Professional Learning Communities in the schools are looking at their homework policies. Teachers are naturally looking at students individually and their different styles of learning.

One parent from McPolin Elementary said his child is dyslexic so they have to do homework at their house. He said a lot of students need socialization, creative time, and playtime. “You can’t fit all those things in a child’s day. I’d love to see the district get into more project-based learning.”

Study Skills: A parent expressed the need for an overall study skills class. “Our students need to learn how to learn,” she said.  “Learning how to study is essential for student success.”

Challenging Classes:  A parent said students need to be encouraged more to take challenging classes.  Jamie Weeks, a math teacher at the high school, said when students don’t do well in rigorous classes they drop the class.

Graduates: President Caplan asked the question, “What do we want our graduates to look like? What do they need to be equipped with as they leave high school? We need to make sure they are prepared with life skills.”

A parent commended the PCCAPS program saying the project-based learning teaches skills not only related to the business world, but the real world. Dr. Conley said there is talk among the regional superintendent about the need for a technical center.  There are students who don’t succeed in a traditional classroom and the tech center would provide them with hands-on training, she said.

The board’s next Information Exchange Meeting is Dec. 13 from 1-3 p.m. at Ecker Hill Middle School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elementary artwork to be featured at Saluting Our Heroes Luncheon in Salt Lake City

Student artwork from three Park City elementary schools will be featured this month at the Saluting Our Heroes Luncheon at the Grand America on Nov. 15.  The National Ability Center (NAC) and Kimball Art Center (KAC) partner each year for the event.

The Park City Education Foundation and KAC provide grants to three schools for visual arts education: Trailside, McPolin, and Parley’s Park Elementary Schools.  Each school has one art educator, and receives the same lesson plan. Even though instructions are similar, interpretations vary, which make it so dynamic.

The Elementary Visual Arts (EVA) lesson for October featured the art of Romero Britto. Each elementary school student created a Romero Britto inspired drawing for the luncheon.

The luncheon honors military men and women, while building awareness of the needs of returning service members. The event highlights opportunities and resources available in Utah to assist veterans as they transition back to civilian life. This year’s keynote speaker is Martin Frey,  the first person to successfully climb the world’s Seven Summits and sail the Seven Seas.

Park City schools to honor local veterans

Several schools in Park City School District will celebrate Veterans Day by honoring the service of local veterans.

Treasure Mountain Junior High

Now in its eighth year, Treasure Mountain Junior High’s veterans assembly is planned for Friday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at the Eccles Center. The program, which is centered around “How Can I Honor my American Military Heroes?” will include the presentation of the colors by the Honor Guard from Hill Air Force Base, student Kaia Swanson singing The National Anthem and accompanied by bagpipes, and a patriotic slideshow presentation. Three veteran awards will be given to Special Ops soldiers, six students will be honored for their essays on patriotism, and four students will be honored for their patriotic art.

Parley’s Park Elementary

Major Jen Eaton, public affair officer for the Utah Air National Guard Joint
Force Headquarters, has children attending Parley’s Park Elementary. Each year she organizes special Veterans Day and Memorial Day visits to classes. This year Brig. Gen. Christine Burckle, Commander of the Utah Air National Guard (UTANG), will speak at the school on Nov. 10.  She is the first woman to be promoted to the rank of 1-star general in the Utah Army or Air National Guard and the first woman to command the UTANG. She will be speaking about Veterans Day and patriotism is general terms, plus
addressing the importance of diversity and inclusion.  Brig. Gen. Burckle will speak to the dual immersion third grade classes first thing that morning, and will talk to first grade classes after lunch.

McPolin Elementary

McPolin Elementary will host a Veterans Day Assembly on Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. in the lunchroom. The program will include a flag ceremony, songs by the fourth and fifth grades, a performance by the school choir, and a presentation on “What is Veterans Day.”

Trailside Elementary

Trailside Elementary is having a Veterans Day Reception at the school on Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Veterans Day Assembly at 9 a.m.

Park City Leadership Academy created for at-risk sixth-grade students

Rob Harter, executive director of the Christian Center of Park City, knows that one of the most critical transitions in a student’s life is the transition from elementary school to middle school.

“We heard of stories of students who were doing great in school in elementary but quickly began to lose interest in school throughout middle school and for some later dropped out altogether by high school,” said Harter. “When we coupled that with the reality that there are no current leadership programs for at-risk students in sixth grade at Ecker Hill, we were motivated to start a leadership program specifically for them.”

Thus, the Park City Leadership Academy (PCLA) was created. It provides an environment where students can both learn and apply leadership skills from hearing and interacting with local, regional, and state leaders.

“We hope our end result is that these sixth graders will believe that they too can become leaders,” he said.

“This is a pretty amazing program,” said Ecker Hill Middle Principal Traci Evans. “It’s a pre-leadership program for our sixth-grade students.”

A ninth-month curriculum was developed and the PCLA consists of once a month meeting from 3:50 to 4:50 p.m. at Ecker Hill Middle School.

The curriculum for the remainder of  year includes:

-Nov 15: Panel Discussion including local Latino business leaders such as Gabriel at Chase Bank, and Jorge Fierro from Rico Brand

-Dec. 13: Service opportunity through Operation Hope Toystore in Park City

-Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day with guest speaker

-Feb. 15: Multicultural Youth Leadership Day at the Capitol (all day event)

-March 14: Guest speakers within hospitality industry

-April 18: Panel discussion from nonprofit leaders who love what they do and give back to the community

-May 16: Joint meeting at Camp Kostopolous with Latinos in Action, Bright Futures, Teen Council, and Young Life

PCHS to present ‘The Addams Family’

They are creepy and they are kooky, and they are coming to the Eccles Center in November.

Park City High School’s theater department presents “The Addams Family” Nov. 16-18 at 7 p.m., and a Nov. 18 matinee at 2 p.m.  Doors open a half hour before each show. Director Rick Kimball said to come when the doors open because the show starts the moment you enter the theater.

Comedy ensues when the Addams family tries to fit in with Wednesday’s boyfriend’s family. This show has all the great characters you would expect like Gomez Addams, Morticia Addams, Wednesday Addams, Uncle Fester, Pugsley and their crazy Grandma. You will also meet tons of their dead relatives and new characters as well.

“This new musical, which premiered on Broadway a couple of years ago with Nathan Lane, has a contemporary sense of humor,” said Kimball. “You will find yourself laughing the whole time, as the characters try to fit into a world that considers them a little different.”

Kimball said the students have been working really hard at this musical. “They have been looking over the script during the summer and were actually memorized completely the first day of school,” he said. “On top of that, this is the most choreography our musical theater department has had in recent memory. The music in this is really difficult, but you will really see how talented our students are as they excel in this musical.”

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students and children under age 12. Tickets are available at the door (cash and checks accepted).

A silent auction will be held Friday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. outside the Eccles Center. The theater department is presenting seven shows this year, performing and Disneyland, and raising funds to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Europe in two years.

For more information about this production and all future productions, please visit www.parkcityhstheater.com

Last year, Park City High’s musical “Little Women” won best orchestra and best set design in the state of Utah.

The cast includes: 

Gomez Addams: Jack Jorgenson

Morticia Addams: Makenzie Addams

Pugsley Addams: Tori Kenton

Wednesday Addams: Alexa Wilcox

Uncle Fester: Dallin Gull

Grandma Addams: Katie Lobrot

Lurch: Stryder Larsen

Mal Beineke: Adam Hickey

Alice Beineke: Joey Neubecker

Lucas Beineke: Marcello Caro

Dead Bride Ancestor / Grandma Addams understudy: Katie Rusconi

Zookeeper Ancestor / Fester Understudy:  Jonathan Cook

Dead Pioneer Ancestor /Mal Understudy: Caleb Strange

Dead Flapper Ancestor / Alice UNDERSTUDY : Caroline Waldmann

Dead Native Ancestor :  Courtney Peabody

Dead Saloon Girl Ancestor : Kalli Peers

Dead Conquistador Ancestor: Olivia Netland

Dead Pirate Captain Ancestor: Aubrie Walker

Dead Caveman Ancestor: Jared White

Dead Soldier Ancestor: Blake Matamoros

Dead Baker Ancestor: Ellie McGinnis

Dead Athlete Ancestor: Bella Shaw

Dead Queen Ancestor: Gemma Feltovich

Dead Royal lady Ancestor:  Sadie Gualazzi

Dead Old Police Officer Ancestor: Heidi Brown

Dead Ballerina Ancestor: Rachael Guthery

Dead Victorian woman Ancestor: Coco Berwald

Dead Cowgirl Ancestor: April Buys

Dead Naval Captain Ancestor: Zoe Lupcho

Dead Hunter Ancestor: Josie Chesley

Dead Gladiator Ancestor: Kasey Kriklen

Dead Housekeeper Ancestor: Mylie Lenard

Thing: Chelane Clift

The After Life Dance Company includes:

Caroline Applegate

Clara Bradford

Bella Buehner

Rylee Bukovinsky

Ella Hansen

Ali Herman

Allison Lambert

Ella Markham

Alexa Medes

Vivian Pinnell

Shelby Porges

Franzi Ritzinger

Taylor Sharrar

Amelia Skinner

Josie Slobodow

Bailey Stowall

Mia Strup

Nicole White

 

More strategic planning meetings held for employees, community

The Board is meeting with Park City School District employees this week in an effort to get their feedback on the district’s Strategic Planning.  Board members met Monday with staff from Park City High and Treasure Mountain Junior High.

Additional meetings include:

-Wednesday, Oct. 25: Meet with administrations at 9 a.m. at the District Office.

-Friday, Oct. 27: Meet with Ecker Hill Middle and all elementary staff at 3:30 p.m. at Parley’s Park Elementary.

-Wednesday, Nov. 1: Meet with community members at 6 p.m. at the District Office.

The Board has spent the last few weeks reviewing all the feedback it received at its Oct. 2 community meeting. From that meeting, the Board has narrowed the district’s values to five: academic engagement, communications, community involvement, excellent personnel, and leadership accountability.

“These values reflect the overarching PCSD goals of a student-centered culture promoting a safe, healthy, challenged, supported and engaged child,” said Board member Anne Peters. “Everything we as a board, administration, and district do must uphold these values as communicated to us by the community.”

Peters said the Board is reaching out to the Latino community via Eric Esquivel and his Latino Outreach team.

Those not able to attend the follow-up meetings are invited to share input by emailing communication@pcschools.us.

The values, in more details, include:

We value:

Academic Engagement

-Engaging all students, no matter where they are in their academic journey.

-Creating a culture of inclusiveness and respect for the rich diversity of our community.

-Meeting the children where they are and accommodating for their types and speeds of learning.

-Equity for all learners.

We value:

Communication

-Trust and transparency.

-Frequent and easy to understand.

-Two ways.

-Listening to feedback/suggestions and communicate back how it is to be used.

-Explain why we are doing things, what is the outcome and how does it affect me and my child?

-Consistency in how information is communicated.

-Inclusion of non-English speakers.

-Inclusion of the entire community.

We value:

Community Involvement

-Inclusion of the whole community in all ways to better understand the direction and needs of the district.

-Collaborating with our partners to uphold our mission of supporting the whole child.

-Outreach to local support first, including the community and local talent base.

-Creating opportunities for the community to engage with the schools and staff.

We value

Excellent Personnel

-Consistently hiring the best and the brightest for all positions.

-Recruiting outside the district.

-Always hiring personnel in a transparent, fair, equitable and consistent manner.

-Building trust and respect for all employees.

-An inclusive, talented, collaborative and diverse talent pool.

-Training and support to set every position up for success.

We value:

Leadership Accountability

-Holding everyone no matter their position or status accountable for their actions.

-Tangible goals that are established then monitored and measured starting with the Board, Superintendent, Administration and all-staff.

-Clear processes and procedures that are transparent, free of favoritism, by the book and available for all to review, participate in and measure.

-Leadership’s commitment to honor their word and deliver the expected level of service on time.

-Consequences for those not upholding their goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 1 Lunch & Learn to feature ‘Mindfulness’ techniques

If you need to reduce your stress or make healthier food choices, then you won’t want to miss Park City School District’s next Lunch and Learn planned for Wednesday, Nov. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. at the District Office. Featured guests will be Randi Jo Taurel and Rebecca Brenner who will teach mindfulness techniques. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, Taurel and Brenner will also teach mindful eating exercises.

Mindful learning includes simple ways to reduce stress and improve impulse control, attention span, emotion regulations, and empathy. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

Thanks to a grant from the Park City Education Foundation, the two experts are working with 12 teachers and three counselors at Ecker Hill Middle about the benefits and uses of mindfulness. The mindfulness exercises are then taught to their students and used in their classrooms.

Taurel has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to adults, children, and families since 1999. She is certified to teach yoga through Yoga Works, City Yoga (Anusara) and Yoginos; Yoga for Youth.  She was voted one of the top yoga teachers in Park City for the past four years (The Park Record), 2013 Woman of the Year (PC Women’s Business Network) and a member of Park City Leadership (class 21).

Brenner is a mindfulness meditation teacher, speaker, and practitioner. Her studies have led her through a BFA and MA in movement and expression, trainings in somatic therapy, certifications in yoga through the Himalayan Institute and the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, short stints at Yoga Ashrams and weekly sits with mindfulness teacher Lama Richard Glade. Brenner is the author of “The Kid’s User Guide to a Human Life.”

 

 

Navigating reading success is topic of Oct. 25 Barbara Wilson presentation

Barbara A. Wilson, co-founder and president of Wilson Language Training in Oxford, Mass., will be speaking Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at Park City High School’s Lecture Hall.

Her remarks, “Navigating Reading Success,” will describe key cognitive skills and environmental factors related to reading success. She will share the importance of early screening and explain the difference between screening and a more comprehensive evaluation for students with dyslexia. This event is being held in conjunction with National Dyslexia Awareness month.

Wilson will also provide an overview of structured literacy for all students with a focus on key instructional needs for students with dyslexia. Lastly, she will share how her 30  plus years of experience has shown her that ALL students CAN learn to read and write — and it is never too late.

This is a free presentation for parents, educators, community members, and anyone who has a struggling reader, and is hosted by PC READS and the Hall Family Fund.

Wilson is also the author of Wilson Fundations. Park City School District implemented the Fundations program this year. It is a recognized leader in multisensory, structured language programs. The program was piloted at McPolin Elementary last year and is being implemented in K-3 classrooms this year. Jeremy Ranch, Parley’s Park, and Trailside Elementary Schools are implementing the program this year in K-2 classrooms.  Fundations’ assessment, communication and funding are supported through the Park City Education Foundation courtesy of the Hall Family Fund.

While in Park City, Wilson will meet with the district’s Implementation Task Force comprised of teachers and interventionists from each elementary school. She will also visit McPolin and Trailside Elementary Schools to view implementation of the Fundations program.

Dance ‘Informances’ coming to Parley’s Park Elementary

Parley’s Park Elementary School is inviting the public to its upcoming Dance “Informances” starting in November.

-Kindergarten parent interactive class: Nov. 1, 2, 6 and 8, from 11:55 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. in the dance room.

-First grade parent interactive class: Nov. 2, 6, 8, 9 from 12:45-1:30 p.m. in the dance room.

-Second grade parent performance of “Changes in the Night Sky:” Dec. 6, 2:25 p.m. in the Gym.

-Third grade parent performance of “Cultural Customs and Traditions:” Dec. 8, 10:20 a.m. in the Gym.

“We had so much fun working on these projects and integrating curriculum from their classrooms,” said instructor Melissa Gonzales. “Anyone interested in seeing how dance works in elementary schools is invited.”

Gonzales is sponsored by the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.  The dance program is sponsored by the Park City Education Foundation.