Schools and Sports

Garfield County School District Teacher Highlight

by Danette Verde

Jordan Cottam - Escalante High School

PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

both our boys and girls teams are really loaded.

Basketball season is over and up next is track season. The track meets are all over the state, and it makes it hard to follow them, but

One thing I always leave out is the cheerleading squad. They put in so many mornings working on their routines that are different for each game, and they are perfect, with each girl making the right moves. Next week, I will have their names. Sorry, girls, you are the best.

BVES Presents 'Mamma Mia' April 19-22

through 11th grades in English Language Arts, Spanish I, Spanish II, and Creative Writing for three years at Escalante High School. Cottam uses a CS/Tech tool called Meta-Quest 2 Oculus, which she uses with the students in her Spanish courses. The photo above shows Cottam's students receiving a Spanish lesson before using the Oculus glasses.

ESCALANTE - Jordan Cottam has been an amazing addition to the staff at Escalante High School since moving to Escalante in 2020. This is her third year teaching 7th through 11th grades in English Language Arts, Spanish I, Spanish II, and Creative Writing. Cottam grew up in Panguitch and loves all of the adventures she can have with her fam ily living in Garfield Coun ty. Cottam’s favorite re source for computer science/technology is Canvas, an online learning management system. “I love that I’m able to create an online classroom that is available to my students whether they are in class, or elsewhere,” says Cottam. “I am also able to create quizzes, selfchecks, assignments, and informational pages to help build my lessons. We enjoy navigating Canvas on the Smart TV, where the whole class gets involved in learning,” she adds.

Another valuable CS/ Tech teaching tool in her classroom is the MetaQuest 2 Oculus. Students in her Spanish courses use the Oculus to experience an interactive video visiting different parts of Spain. It also allows them the opportunity to practice Spanish phrases and learn about the cultural aspects of the country.

“I love that the Computer Science program allows me to bring technology into my classroom that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise… Technology that students may or may not have had the opportunity of using in life. I love how excited they get when we have Oculus days,” said Cottam.

Cottam hopes her students will remember how much their learning was enhanced with CS/tech tools that they were able to use in the classroom. “I hope it allows them to navigate the technological world and gives them confidence in learning new things!”

Bryce Valley Elementary will present "Mamma Mia" for four performaces from April 19-22, 2023.

BRYCE - “Mamma

Mia!,” the smash-hit musical based on the songs by the mega-selling, 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA, is presented at Bryce Valley High School for four performances from April 1922, 2023.

Southern Utah University is preparing for the annual Sterling Scholar competition on March 30, 2023. One hundred and eighty one students from nineteen 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.

Sterling Scholars:

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.

Many colleges and universities in Utah offer scholarships to both the winners and the runnersup to help these students in achieving their goals.

Some of these scholarships include cash amounts up to $2500 or full tuition waivers. The support from the higher educational institu- tions in the state is much appreciated and utilized by Sterling Scholar recipients.

Since its inception, the program has expanded from its origins in Salt Lake City to include five region-wide competitions throughout the state that continue to publicly recognize outstanding seniors and encourage academic excellence. The program began in the early 1960s, when Steve Hale, a Deseret News columnist; Lavor Chaffin, an education reporter at the Desert News; and Keith West, the Deseret News’ director of marketing realized that while their newspaper had been recognizing outstanding athletes for years, there was no mechanism in place to recognize outstanding scholars. Together with the Utah Board of Education, they developed the Sterling Scholars program.

We applaud all those who labor to make this program a reality each year.

The parents and teachers of all nominees have dedicated untold hours to ensure the success of these students. We give a heartfelt thanks to all that have donated so much time and energy into providing this opportunity for the best and brightest in Utah.

Congratulations to all the finalists and we wish you the best in all your future endeavors.

—Sterling Scholar Awards

The show, written by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, tells the story of Sophie’s quest to find the identity of her father so he can walk her down the aisle. Over the course of 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love blooms and old romances rekindle on a lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by ABBA’s songs—from “Dancing

Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me”—“Mamma Mia!” is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. Bryce Valley High School performances for “Mamma Mia!” are at 7:00 p.m. from April 19-22.

The Bryce Valley Prevention Coalition is sponsoring a “Family Night” April 21. Dinner and tickets are paid for. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students 12 and under and seniors 60 and older.

—Bryce Valley Elementary