September 2017
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Vol. 3 Iss. 09
FREE
MIDVALE MIDDLE REOPENS AS SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE By Julie Slama | Julie@mycityjournals.com
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idvale Mayor Joann Seghini knows Midvale’s schools. Seghini attended elementary school in Midvale at a school with a bell hanging high in a tower. She watched the previous Midvale Elementary be built adjacent to the city park and be torn down. She attended a junior high school on Center Street, which no longer exists, and watched Midvale Middle be built and torn down on Pioneer Street— only to be rebuilt again. On Aug. 8, she cut the ribbon to the new Midvale Middle School, welcoming students back to their home after two years of being housed in nearby Sandy. The new building, with upgraded technology, is their future, she told the crowd of families, former administrators and teachers and community members who gathered to walk through the halls of the school. “This is a school of the future, not of the past,” she said. “This will help you learn as you continue your education. There are no limits to your future.” As students entered the 203,935-squarefoot building’s spacious entryway and commons, they saw a 680-seat auditorium; high-tech classrooms and state-of-the-art TV broadcast room; indoor and outdoor student common areas; a 40-foot-high atrium for school and community gatherings; a modern library; multiple computer, iPad, Chromebook labs and mobile carts; a 3-D printing lab; and a gymnasium with an elevated running track and exercise rooms. And air-conditioning—as Principal Mindy Robison recalled a lack of when she was hired and taught at the previous school on the same site. “We are so grateful for the community and their support of this school and our students,” she said. Canyons Board of Education board member Steve Wrigley echoed that sentiment. “It’s been a real team partnership with our community and our board,” he said. “The former building was outdated, so it is so amazing how we can change education and move forward with this gift to the community, to our students.” The 61-year-old school had its groundbreaking for the new building June 11, 2015, as about 150 current, former and future students,
teachers and administrators joined city and school officials said goodbye to the former building. The $38-million school building, situated at 7852 Pioneer St., is part of the $250 million taxrate-neutral bond voters approved in spring 2010. Several other school buildings including Midvale and Butler elementaries, Corner Canyon High School and Albion, Butler, Mt. Jordan and Draper Park middle schools have been built from the same bond. Assistant Superinten- At the Aug. 8 Midvale Middle School ribbon cutting, Canyons Board of Education member Mont Millerberg said Canyons School District dent Kathryn McCarrie said answered the community’s call for a modern learning environment that was easily accessible, energy efficient and wired for the high-tech with Midvale Middle being demands of a 21st-century education with the new Midvale Middle School. (Julie Slama/City Journals) built after other schools, “It makes it huge and it’s more of an open “As I was unpacking, I felt so special to be they were able to take what they learned and ap- part of this brand new school and hope that stu- classroom,” she said. ply it to this building. Zach added that he liked the architecture. dents feel it too,” he said. “They deserve it. The “We were able to bring this building of old building was so old my dad could have been “It’s amazing,” he said. “The design is realquality with upgraded technology to this com- a student here. This is just so awesome and has ly cool and bright.” munity,” she said. “We knew what was needed, such a different feel. I hope students feel how Seventh-grader Maria Manousakis said afwhat we wanted and have it all be included as special it is to be able to go to somewhere nice ter attending Peruvian Park Elementary and one things are more affordable now.” year at Crescent View Middle, where Midvale and safe to learn.” Canyons Board of Education member Mont Both Hendrichsen and sixth-grade math students were housed during the construction peMillerberg said that using more efficient systems teacher Bob McGee taught at the previous mid- riod, it’s nice to have a new home. and adding natural lighting throughout the hall- dle school building. “It’s a new school with new technology,” ways and classrooms also were important factors “We won’t have heat problems and with all she said. “I haven’t had that as I’ve attended all in designing and building the school. the lighting and new technology, there won’t be old schools.” “From the first days of our school district problems with our comfort level,” McGee said. Superintendent Jim Briscoe said the school (in 2009), when we asked parents, students and “As a math teacher, I’ll be able to use a large was designed for not only current students, but employees what they’d like to see in Canyons iPad to connect with our Smart Board technolo- for those of the future. District, we heard some things loud and clear: gy for projection for the students.” “This is going to benefit students for 100 You wanted new and renovated schools,” he Students were impressed with the school. years,” he said. “This is your home, your house, said. “You wanted modern learning environ- Rebecca Glover walked through the school with your community now and for generations to ments that were easily accessible, energy-effi- sixth-graders Brooklyn and Zack. come.” cient and wired for the high-tech demands of a Seghini told students to use the school and “I think it’s wonderful how open and bright 21st-century education. We are definitely giving it is in the classrooms and how they are set up in its resources. all of that to the community with this beautiful hallways to help teachers with creativity and be “We want you to go out and conquer with new school.” able to interact with each other,” she said. “The your knowledge and never lack for opportunity,” Seventh-grade science teacher John Hen- desks are able to move around and fit together for she said. “This is our gift to you, kids. Thank drichsen said it was overwhelming to walk into group discussions.” you for being our kids. Thank you for wanting his classroom in early August even though he Brooklyn liked how classroom walls can be to learn. Thank you for being the best kids in the had seen it during the construction stages. world.” l opened with garage doors.
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