Iron County School District

It was an intense Battle of the Books as third, fourth and fifth-grade teams from Enoch and South Elementary met in a quiz game format and answered questions based on 20-25 books the students read throughout the year. Some questions brought immediate correct answers of the book title and author, while others stumped both teams. The winners are Enoch fifth-grade Flying Chickens, Enoch fourth-grade Ravenclaws and South third-grade Green Ninjas. Congratulations students!

The old adage states "The worst day fishing is better than the best day working." Second- through fourth-grade students from Escalante Valley Elementary put that to the test with a visit to Lake at the Hills. The Division of Natural Resources provided a quick lesson, fishing poles and power bait so every student could try to catch the big one. For some it was a preview of future summer activities, while others held a fishing pole for the first time. Some students even tried scooping up the small fish that swam close to the shore. All agreed it was the perfect day for fishing.

Eleven Iron County School District students who participated in the Utah Aerospace Pathways program were honored today at Southwest Technical College. Megen Ralphs, Vice President of ALIGN PRECISION and Chair of the State Workforce Development Board, said the program helps students develop an interest in aerospace through a variety of hands-on experiences. The industry itself is vast, she said, which allows students to find an area of interest for a possible career. Align Precision General Manager Corey Judd said he received a college degree in history but found he was more interested in aerospace after working in the industry while he obtained his degree. Family members cheered on the students and learned more about the work students participated in throughout the year. Congratulations to Cedar High students Samuel Rasch, Braxton Fife, Ethan Lunt, Quade Taylor, Jayson Ziegler and Kaleb Ringle; Canyon View High students Ian Gibson, Rylan Jacobs, and Mallory Huhtala, and Parowan High students Carson Hoyt and Gideon Carter.

Schools could not get through each day without the help of so many substitute teachers. Today, the district's substitute provider ESS Southern Utah celebrated all of the substitutes who have assisted in Iron County School District's 19 schools throughout the year. Attendees were treated to pizza from Pizza Hut and prizes. Additionally, four individuals were recognized with a certificate and bag of goodies: Alan Kunihiro, Iron County’s Substitute of the year; LaRee Kurtz, most days in the classroom this school year at 168 scheduled; Norma Perez, most schools worked (16 of our 19 campuses); and Laura Hall, most days at one school with 65 days at Cedar High. Thank you for all you do to keep classrooms running as smooth as possible when the regular teacher cannot be there!

Sometimes it's OK to brag and we can't help but brag about Canyon View/Launch High School student Tilisa "T" Matakaiongo. She recently took home the title from the USA Wrestling World Trials in Las Vegas. This sophomore lady wrestler holds two Utah state titles, a national title and now the World Trials title. High fives to her and all of her accomplishments.

Cold, gusty winds did not take the energy away from the annual adaptive track meet held at Cedar High School. Canyon View, Cedar, Parowan and Post High students ran the 50 meter and 100 meter dash, long jumped and threw "javelins" and discs. First, second and third place ribbons were awarded and every student went home with a medal. The smiles and excitement were contagious for all who cheered the students on.

Canyon View High School dance classes and the Colla Voce choir took on a unique project for their end-of-year performance. The large-scale collaborative work featured student-choreographed and performed dance along with the live music of the Colla Voce choir. The performance "I Never Saw Another Butterfly” is a song cycle set to poems written by children in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust. These hauntingly beautiful poems were brought to life through song and dance. Each illustrated finding hope and beauty in the world around them despite their circumstances.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Students throughout Iron County stepped back to the Elizabethan era with a visit to Southern Utah University for the annual Bard's Birthday Bash. Period activities included cake with Queen Elizabeth, maypole dancing and jousting. Some students also participated in Shakespearean performances. Three Peaks Elementary second-graders in Susan Parker and Tonya Hunter's classes performed a shortened version of Midsummer Night's Dream as they took to the stage in the Adam's Theatre.

Check out these pictures of future scientists and inventors at the STEM night at North Elementary. Students and their families were able to explore science, technology, engineering and math with hands-on activities and experiments. Big thank you to SUU Stem Center and others who helped make this night a success.

Can you spell R-E-C-U-S-A-N-T? That was just one of many words that fourth- and fifth-grade students participating in the district spelling bee spelled correctly. In fact, the group of finalists exhausted the judges' list as they expertly spelled their way to the region competition. In the end, the first place winner was Anna Nesha Seegmiller, second place to Cameran Benson and third place Bridget Thompson. Congratulations to all of our participants: Maxwell Hayes, Jexlee Anzalone, Addison Hardman, Joshua Hruby, Ty Huff, Sadie Hallows, Braxton Hardman, Sadie Tebbs, Aubrey Tuttle, Hanna Scherzberg, Leilani Haycock, Korver Sheridan, Keaton Payne, Grant Pearson, Saige Petersen, Eva Heaton and Jackson Marrugi.

Please note: The Iron County School District offices will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. Regular hours will return Monday, March 20.

Fiddlers Elementary was placed on a Level 1 Lockdown just as school was releasing due to police activity in the area. The Lockdown was lifted at about 3:45 p.m. All students and staff are safe. Students are being released to their parents or boarding the school bus. Children on the bus will be arriving home later than usual. We appreciate local law enforcement and the quick actions of school staff in keeping students and parents safe. We also thank parents for their patience and cooperation with Lockdown Safety Protocols as this occurred just as school was releasing and parents were arriving at the school. These protocols help keep students safe and allow law enforcement to focus on the safety of the community.

Cedar Middle School was placed in a Level 2 Lockdown today for about 45 minutes following a report from a student who said a group of students were heard talking about a gun. Law enforcement and administrators investigated the rumor. Students were interviewed and backpacks were checked and there was no evidence of a weapon found. Students are safe and school has returned to normal. A Level 2 Lockdown means all exterior and interior doors are locked and no one is let in or out of the building. Students move to the nearest classroom immediately, teachers clear the hallways and regular classroom activities continue inside the room. We are appreciative of local law enforcement and the quick actions of school administrators in an effort to keep our students safe. We also want to thank parents for their cooperation when Lockdown Safety Protocols are initiated. Those protocols help keep students safe and allow law enforcement to focus on their investigation.

Southern Utah University is preparing for the annual Sterling Scholar competition on March 30, 2023. Students from 19 high schools will meet on SUU's campus to complete the final round of judging. The day’s events will include competitive interviews followed by an Awards Program in the evening. This statewide academic competition recognizes the achievements of Utah’s high school seniors in 15 categories: Agriculture Science, Business and Marketing, Computer Technology, Dance, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, General Scholarship, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, Speech and Drama, Skilled and Technical Science Education, Visual Arts and World Languages. Each of the 181 finalists will be interviewed by judges and given time to explain their personal achievements and awards compiled in their digital portfolios. The winners will be chosen based on their experience and skills in scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. A winner and two runners-up in each of the categories will be chosen. These deserving scholars will receive a scholarship and a Sterling Scholar pin. Finalists from each high school will also receive a Sterling Scholar Certificate. The three judges in each category come from local communities, Utah Tech University and Southern Utah University. Congratulations students!

Cool science! South Elementary's PTA set up a interactive science day in the school's gymnasium recently. Activities for the students included looking at slides and other items through a microscope, viewing their skin, nails and hair through an easi-scope, creating harmonicas and learning about sound waves, and simple coding with ozobots. The students also learned how animals adapt to their environment. Students immersed their hand in ice water to experience the cold and then covered their hand in lard and immersed it again to experience how blubber keeps an animal warm in colder environments.

Launch High School students listen to Leon Logothetis of the Kindness Diaries. Student Mel Earl worked with the Southern Utah University A.P.E.X. program to bring him to Cedar City. Logothetis stayed with the Earl family during his kindness trip around the world. Logothetis also spoke with students at Southwest Tech and SUU. He will be at the Cedar City Library at 7 p.m. tonight, March 9. Traveling on a vintage motorcycle, with no money, no food and no place to stay, he documented the help that others gave him along his journey. He spoke to the students about courage and speaking their truth. Speaking your truth requires bravery, he said. Taking that bravery and adding the courage to act on it leads to a magnificent life, he said. “It’s not easy to be brave,” he said. “It’s not easy to speak your truth. It’s not easy to live your best life.”

The annual third-grade pioneer program in Parowan did not disappoint. Students performed for teachers, students and parents "Westward Ho The Wagons" with third-grade teachers Rex Burton, Emily Contrys, and Sidney Adams leading the production. Two members of the Summit community — Shirley White and Carlisle Hulet — were honored for their influence and contributions to Iron County. Students sang, danced, memorized personal histories of White and Hulet, as well as performed skits and stories that depicted the history and heritage of Parowan and Iron County.

A visit from Ballet West kept students on their toes as they watched six visiting dancers stretch, demonstrate different dance positions and perform a shortened version of "Sleeping Beauty." The company's education and outreach program brings the ballet dancers to schools with a performance that is as much about education as it is entertainment. Students learned that being a ballet dancer is a full-time job with company members practicing more than six hours a day, five days a week, not including the actual performances. They also learned that the story is told through motions, not words.

Parents unable to attend the open house for new elementary math curriculum can view the top vendors until Feb. 28. Materials will be on display in the upper hallway at 2077 W. Royal Hunte Dr., during office hours. Scan the QR code to give feedback

Valentine's Day was the perfect setting for "Love Your Bus Driver Day" in Iron County School District. Bus drivers and transportation staff were treated to lunch and other treats. How much do you love your bus driver? Years of service were also recognized, with each receiving a token of thanks. Those honors are as follows: Five years — John Webster, Lynn Smith, Rose Rood, Sarah Pine, Ralyn Jessup, Thomas Bemis, Ricki Mumford, Wendy Sherman, Bruce Blackner and Larry McDonald. Ten years — Aubree Larson, Robert Espinoza and Marlys Nunez. Fifteen years — Trisha Ashworth, Kori Barker, Kenda Mortensen and Laura Wright. Twenty years — Daniel Petty. Twenty-five years — Ricky Sanderson, Lois Melling. Thirty years — Steven Johnson and Debra Nelson.