Salem Hills High’s Bart Peery Four-day school week named Utah’s Principal of Year approved for ALA
By Lana Hiskey
Nebo’s own Bart Peery, principal at Salem Hills High School in Salem, was recently selected as Utah’s Principal of the Year. “Mr. Peery possesses all of the skills, knowledge, values, personality and work ethic found in an administrator worthy of this honor,” said Nebo School District Superintendent Rick Nielsen. “Because of his commitment to students and his focus on best practices, Mr. Peery is truly a leader among his peers. He is well-respected and loved by his students, community members, fellow staff and district leadership. His genuine concern for others, instructional leadership abilities, commitment to building positive relationships and ability to communicate a vision of success have enabled him to be successful in all of his endeavors. Almost every student of his that I ever visit with talks about their gratitude journal, their focus on the positive and their efforts to lift others around them.” Peery fundamentally believes that happy, positive and grateful students and employees are more successful and productive in their current circumstances and throughout their lives. This belief led him to the research of Shawn Achor as summarized in the book, “The Happiness Advantage.” Peery is an administrator who deeply cares for each individual student that is under his stewardship. He is constantly striving to be out amongst the students
By Bryson Walker
Salem Hills High School Principal Bart Peery is congratulated by his staff after being named Utah’s Principal of the Year.
as often as his responsibilities allow. He makes an effort to get to know each student and lets each student know he cares. Principal Peery has initiated a social media blitz that truly engages his students. The students want to be a part of his positive reflections on Instagram, Facebook
and Twitter accounts. He is known for his hashtags #shhshero, #changingtheworld, #GoSkyhawks. When asked about his award, Principal Peery was quick to deflect the recognition and say that the award is truly about the students and staff See SHHS on page A3
On Jan. 13, the Utah State Board of Education passed American Leadership Academy’s proposal to waive the 180 school days required each school year and allow a four-day school week. The four-day school week will begin at ALA with the 2017-18 school year. ALA is a charter school located in Spanish Fork. “It was clear in our conversations with members of both the State Charter School Board and the State Board of Education that they were both interested in our proposal and believe that it will be successful,” said Rich Morley, director of American Leadership Academy. ALA will report to the state school board/charter school board on an annual basis certifying that they have provided 990 hours of instructional time and met other academic goals. The waiver will be reviewed in three years for possible renewal. “Research on the four-day school week demonstrates that attendance actually increases,” said Paul Ashby, ALS’s assistant principal of secondary education. “For example, parents will be able to schedule doctors and dentist appointments on Fridays instead of checking them out of See WEEK on page A3
Fundraising underway for Halvorsen aviation center By Ed Helmick Aviation education is an important mission of the Civil Air Patrol for senior and cadet members; the patrol also strives to serve as an educational resource for our local community. The local CAP Squadron has proposed an 8,000-square-foot facility to be built at the Springville-Spanish Fork Airport. A nonprofit foundation was established in September of 2016 to facilitate fundraising, construction and management of the center. To honor a local, national and international hero, the facility will be called the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Center. The Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Center will be named in honor of the man who has come to be known as the “Berlin Candy Bomber.” During the Berlin Blockade Air Lift in 1948, he conceived the idea of dropping candy to the needy children of Berlin who were watching the goings and comings of the airplanes bringing relief supplies to their starving city. U.S. Army Air Corp “Operation Vittles” became “Operation Little Vittles” as Lieutenant Halvorson and the crew of his C-54 (DC-4 in the civilian world) cargo
Col. Gail S. Halvorsen
plane dropped homemade parachutes with candy. This personal gesture of goodwill was widely recognized and ultimately grew into a national effort to donate candy and make homemade parachutes. By the end of the Berlin Air Lift, 23 tons of candy had been dropped using 250,000 parachutes by Halvorsen and his colleagues. The Education Center will be a beauti-
The local Civil Air Patrol Squadron is raising money to construct the Halvorsen Aviation Education Center at the Springville-Spanish Fork Airport. Above is a rendering of the building, which would be named in honor of famed “Berlin Candy Bomber” Gail Halvorsen.
ful addition to the airport and will feature displays and memorabilia describing Colonel Halvorsen’s remarkable career. Two large meeting rooms will be available for
use by community organizations in addition to the Civil Air Patrol to improve coordination and enhance local capacity See CENTER on page A3