Raise your hand if you played school as a little girl. Raise your hand if you took notes in your elementary school classes on things your teachers did that you liked so you could do those same things when you became a teacher as an adult?
Mrs. Metcalf did! She took playing school seriously and she knew from a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. She taught in Alpine for seven years, and became passionate about helping students learn to read when she saw them struggling. She went back to school to get her master's degree with an emphasis in Reading. She loves to read and learn so she devoured everything she could about teaching kids to read.
Now she's a Literacy Coach at South Summit Elementary School and she loves working with the paras and teachers and students there. She credits the community, teachers and coaches for all having a positive influence on her family. "My favorite thing about South Summit is how close this community is and how we all take care of each other. I am so grateful to work here and give back to the community that has been so welcoming and kind to our family," she says. Melissa, her husband and four kids, have loved living in the Kamas Valley for seven years.
When she's not working, Mrs. Metcalf is usually spending time with her family, reading, quilting or cheering on the Denver Broncos. #WeAreSouthSummit #StaffShoutout #SSElemWildcats
Attention Parents! Schools will be administering a School Climate Survey on April 11th to all students. You have the ability to opt your student out of taking the survey if you choose. Survey questions will be available to preview at the District Office (285 E. 400 S. in Kamas) on March 28th and March 29th from 8:00-5:00. Opt out forms will also be available at that time. Additionally, principals will send opt-out forms to parents prior to April 11th.
Tomorrow is the last day to submit nominations!
It's that time of year again... Nominations are now open for educator of the year. Nominate an educator who is making a difference, it only takes a minute. Nominations close on March 22, submit yours today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G2NBRWZ #EducatorOfTheYear23 #SSEF #SSEdFoundation
Painting with 7th and 8th graders! Mrs. Cummings' classes got to learn how to make their own watercolor paint. Have you ever wanted to invent your own color? These students got to play around with various colors as they made their own, like people did back in the primitive times--with plants. Once they got the colors they wanted, they painted pictures in their nature journals using their new paints. #WeAreSouthSummit #SouthSummitMiddle #YouthArtMonth
Ms. Moss has been teaching at Silver Summit Academy for three years and she loves it. She commutes from Salt Lake every day. "I love this district, I feel like I am seen as a valuable employee, and respected as an educator, that is why it is worth the commute," she says. After working in a lockdown treatment center for teenagers, loving the work, and knowing it was so important, she decided to return to school for a master's in education and become a teacher.
She wanted to make a difference in the lives of more kids than just the few she would see temporarily at the treatment center. "I ended up teaching math because I fell in love with problem-solving based math instruction, and found I could help kids recover from prior bad experiences with math. Pre-algebra (7th grade) was the only class I ever failed throughout my schooling. I just did not understand how to solve equations. After some tutoring, it finally clicked for me, and I was able to get through the rest of math without incident, she says. "I wouldn't say I was one of those kids who math was easy for, but I have practiced enough now that I am pretty good at it, and I am always trying to learn more."
Practice and a growth mindset are critical components in her classroom because she wants her students to know that they can do difficult things with enough effort and dedication. She loves teaching a subject that many kids dislike or have a bad history with in a fun, accessible, and interactive way. She describes it as the ultimate teaching challenge! #WeAreSouthSummit #MathRocks #SSAUtah #StaffShoutout
Check out what you missed at last week's school board meeting. #WeAreSouthSummit #SSSDBoardOfEd
Ms. Regan is a Champion of students. She recently led another group of SSHS students to Sterling Scholar success. Five of our students were named as runners up this year. Ms. Regan has been full time with South Summit High for four years and is committed to helping students. She says, "My door is always open to students who want to chat about college, scholarships, Sterling Scholar, service opportunities or anything else!"
She loves what she does and she's good at it. She helps students find their best "fit" for post-high school education or training. She also loves the people she works with and say, "I work with the best people I know, who make me feel loved and valued in my work."
Amy was already familiar with South Summit when she started working here, because her kids grew up in the district. They're both proud graduates of South Summit and Southern Utah University. Patrick works in graphic design and spends most of his time skiing or mountain biking, and Grace is a writer/producer at CNN and recently completed her first marathon. I've been married to my husband Tom for 32 years.
Although she and Tom bought their home in Oakley three decades ago, she says they're still "newcomers". Luckily Amy has found some good hobbies to enjoy when school is out. You can usually find her outside. Walking, biking, hiking, gardening, snowshoeing, and always reading. If you run into her in any of these ventures--don't spoil the Wordle of the day. #WeAreSouthSummit #SterlingScholars23 #SSHSWildcats
Congratulations to these five Sterling Scholars for being named runners-up! And to all Sterling Scholars from South Summit High and Silver Summit Academy for your hard work and dedication.
Kaylee Burton in Family & Consumer Science
Mia Butikofer in Dance
McKelle Creer in Ag Science
Rocky Millburn in Mathematics
Coy Prescott in Social Science
Meet Mrs. Owens.
Being new to Summit County, a para educator job at Silver Summit Elementary is juts what Mrs. Owens needed. "I have love, loved, LOVED being a para! I love learning and asking questions to learn. I also love to read! Give me a good book and I am happy."
Besides being parents to four children, Michelle and her husband just became first-time grandparents. Although they're new to the area, they think it's great. Michelle has enjoyed utilizing her creativity and crafting skills while she's putting her new house together. They were settled in their previous home, after living in it for 20 years.
We're glad you're part of the South Summit family, Mrs. Owens.
It's that time of year again... Nominations are now open for educator of the year. Nominate an educator who is making a difference, it only takes a minute. Nominations close on March 22, submit yours today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G2NBRWZ
#EducatorOfTheYear23 #SSEF #SSEdFoundation
School Board meeting is tomorrow night, Thursday, March 9th at 5:30 p.m. Check out the agenda and join us in person or via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@southsummitschooldistrict/streams
#WeAreSouthSummit #SSSDBoardOfEd
Mrs. Cook has been doing social work her whole life. It's kind of who she is. Although she's only been getting paid to do for the past few years, after she went back to school to earn her master's degree. (It's never too late, kids!) "I have always been someone who has a soft place in my heart for the underdog- the person sitting alone, feeling rejected, or misunderstood, she says. "Social work feels like the way for me to help those who may not have had the same opportunities as others, for whatever reason. It feels rewarding to offer help to students who may have or are experiencing traumatic events and challenges and to be able to offer healing and support. "
Speaking of dogs, Mrs. Cook has two: Moe, the goldendoodle who looks more like an irish setter and Ford who is known by name at the after-hours emergency vet due to his sneaky Halloween candy eating antics.
Besides her furry family, Kelly loves her husband and four children. All of whom are in Utah now after living in the San Francisco area for 20 years. As a family they love to do all the outside things like hike, bike and ski.
She wants the community to know that we have awesome kids in the district! "They are kind, humble, willing to face hard things, and are making the world a better place through their hard work and compassion. "
We want Mrs. Cook to know that we are lucky to have her in the District. She is such a great addition to our team and a great advocate for our students. Happy School Social Work Week! #WeAreSouthSummit #SSWeek2023 #WeRise2023
It's Coding Week at South Summit School District! Students will be participating in various computer programming and coding events all week and showing their work off Thursday, March 9th at the Student Showcase.
We have some amazing faculty and staff at South Summit. We think you should get to know them as well as we do. #staffshoutout #wearesouthsummit #ssautah #hereforthekids #psw23
School fees hearing, Thursday, March 9th at 6:00 p.m.
We have some amazing faculty and staff at South Summit. We think you should get to know them as well as we do. #staffshoutout #wearesouthsummit #southsummitmiddle #hereforthekids #psw23
It's Public Schools Week and we are #hereforthestudents
#wearesouthsummit #utpubliced #PSW23
Don't forget Parent Teacher Conference tonight at Silver Summit Academy. All meetings are via Zoom. #wearesouthsummit #ssautah #ptc
Thrive Registration closes soon! This is the last session of the school year so register now to gain the necessary tools and life skills to improve your well-being, live with purpose and intention. For Summit County & Wasatch County youth grades 6-12. THRIVE is currently free, thanks to generous donations and grants to Live Like Sam. Youth participants will receive $80 after completing the Thrive program and its requirements. Thrive is a virtual youth well-being and life skills program. On average, recent Thrive participants have experienced a 55% decrease in anxiety and a 28% decrease in symptoms of depression while recognizing a 7% increase in quality of life after participating in a 6-week Thrive program. Register by March 1st @ 11:59pm https://wlev.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gQvOLAiPf5FnVA Spring 2023 Cohort Time Slots: Week of March 12 - Week of April 26. There will be no cohorts during Spring Break (April 4-14). For more information, please visit: www.livelikesam.org/Thrive
