Connect Canyons

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Inside the Canyons Innovation Center, a solution to America’s broken school-to-work pipeline

Walk into a traditional classroom almost anywhere in America and you will see a familiar scene: desks in rows and students sitting face-forward, learning largely the way their grandparents did. Outside those classroom walls, however, the world those students are preparing to enter has fundamentally changed. 

America is...

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Long before Jordan High Choir Director Jaron Putnam ever stood in front of a choir, music was already shaping who he would become. 

“One of my first memories of being a human being was singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" with my family,” Putnam says. “My dad sang in a barbershop quartet growing up and so my siblings were harmonizing, and I just was surrounded by harmony from a very early age.”

 That foundation — music...

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Quarterback-to-Quarterback: CCHS grad and NY Giants QB Jaxson Dart speaks to Superintendent Robins about his time as a Charger, the lessons he’s learned through playing football, and what it’s like to hit the NFL field against the world’s very best.

 The former Corner Canyon High gunslinger now in his rookie year as a New York Giant says the Chargers’ selection to vie for a national football title will raise the profil...

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For most people, if you need a pencil or a binder, it's a quick trip to the store or an even faster click of a button. But what if you need hundreds of pencils or electronic devices for a classroom? That's where Canyon School District's Purchasing Department comes into play. 

“Our department handles anything a school could need,” says Canyons Purchasing Director Nancy Webb. “Whether it’s student furnitur...

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One of the storylines swirling Friday’s 6A semifinal battle between perennial powerhouse Corner Canyon and the on-the-rise Mountain Ridge is a good-natured question of allegiances: Which team will Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins be cheering for during the 11 a.m. battle at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. 

Will Dr. Robins, a Hall of Fame quarterback for Southern Utah University, be cheering for the ...

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According to a recent Forbes article – Research has found students who participate in theater programs exhibit higher scores on standardized critical thinking tests than those who do not – Not to mention it’s just fun to step into the shoes of different characters and worlds.

As all of Canyons School District’s five traditional high schools prepare for their fall musicals, on the latest episode of Connect Canyons we si...

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To say we live in a digital age has become a bit of a cliché – but it’s true. From how we schedule appointments or make a reservation – to how our vehicles operate – to devices on our wrists and in our pockets – Technology has become a major part of our day-to-day lives. 

The same can be said for children – According to a 2025 study by the Pew Research Center – Nine-in-10 parents of children ages 12 and younger – say t...

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Here in the Beehive state, we are no strangers to volunteering. Utah consistently tops the nation when it comes to donating time to help others. In the Canyon School District, our community goes above and beyond to volunteer in our schools in a variety of ways.

 In this latest episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from two members of the Canyons community who have dedicated countless hours to schools throughout the Distr...

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Have you noticed your child has a penchant for asking deep questions or noticing patterns and connecting ideas their peers don’t see? Perhaps your child is a fast-finisher who gets frustrated at having to wait for next steps.  All of these signs could point to your child being a candidate for Canyons’ gifted and talented magnet program, SALTA.

 “Some of us, when we learn to play an instrument, we learn one instrument a...

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It was a job at the Canyons School District that first brought Dr. Molly Hart to Utah from Georgia’s education system.

Good thing.

After a month-long search, the Utah State Board of Education recently named Hart, former principal of Mount Jordan and Albion middle schools, the state’s new state superintendent of public instruction. She’s been on the job since July 1. 

 I would not be here if it weren't for my experie...

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Canyons students are back in the classroom, and those first few weeks of school can be a little jarring. Whether it's remembering to set that alarm clock or getting acquainted with a new class schedule, it can take a while to get back into the learning groove.

So, we’re devoting the first Connect Canyons episode for the 2025-2026 school year to helping students and parents alike find that rhythm again. Joining us ...

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This year, more than 2,750 seniors will don their caps and gowns and step up to receive their hard-earned diplomas. They head out into an ever-changing world at a time of economic uncertainty and rapid technological advances. 

But they carry with them a confidence earned from having already faced and surmounted challenges — while notching a few wins along the way. The personal achievements of Canyons District’s Class o...

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For 15 years, students of all ages across Canyons School District have competed in the annual CSDtv Film Festival. Each festival entry is directed, acted, and produced by a student or teacher, from documentaries and shorts to podcasts and stop-motion creations. One winner comes out on top in each age bracket and category.

This year was the first year students at Entrada High School chose to compete in the film festival...

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Behind every successful school stands an army of dedicated volunteers—parents who give their time selflessly to enrich student experiences and support faculty. Every day thousands of volunteers are lending a helping hand all across Canyon School District. Whether they're spending time in the classroom, cutting out shapes for a kindergarten project, or helping on a field trip, they're the relatively unknown f...

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Each spring, while students count down the days to summer break, Canyons District’s Human Resources team kicks into high gear. That’s because it’s hiring season, and the task of recruiting the best and brightest teachers for a school district the size and caliber of Canyons is nothing short of Herculean.

In the latest episode of Connect Canyons, we explore how school systems like ours manage to hire hundreds of educato...

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When Canyons was created in 2009, the school district inherited a portfolio of aging buildings, some of which hadn't seen major upgrades in decades. In 16 years, the District has made huge strides rebuilding or significantly remodeling 27 schools. 

These modernized buildings are safer, more efficient, and designed with today's learners in mind. But the work isn't done. With 49 buildings — rangi...

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In education, collaboration is key. No one person can do it all, and that’s where paraeducators come in, playing an indispensable role in the success of our students.

On National Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day, we recognize the contributions of these dedicated professionals. To better understand their impact, we spoke with Nate Edvalson, the Director of Special Education for Canyons School District, and Stacey Nofs...

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The pencil was invented in 1795. The first documented use of the chalkboard in the United States was in 1801, and the ballpoint pen came into popular use in the 1940s. 

We’ve been using these tools in education for decades, and now we're sprinting into a new era with new tools.

How are Canyons District schools using such modern tools as Chromebooks and artificial intelligence? In what ways do these tools ...

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We all know reading is fundamental to learning. But did you know it also reduces stress?  Or that it can help you sleep better, keep your mind sharp, and improve your relationships?

Imagine, then, the benefits of an entire school community reading together, from every student and teacher to the custodians, Main Office staff, and principals — even the parents. 

 “I’ve never had such an immersive experience,” said Daniel ...