ST. GEORGE — Ready or not, here it comes – the official first day of school.
On Aug. 11, the 2022-23 school year officially begins in the Washington County School District.
And in anticipation of the upcoming school year, Coral Cliffs Elementary School hosted its first annual Back-to-School BBQ community event on the evening of July 20. This practice follows a trend in education and is designed to help bring comfort to students, families, and school staff and to serve as a welcome-back to another year of education.
While the opportunity for students and parents to meet their teachers normally has been conducted through a back-to-school night and small meet-and-greet opportunities, many schools now host similar social events to ease the transition, according to an article in “The PTO Today, “the national publication for the Parent Teacher Organization,
The article discusses the benefits of promoting back-to-school events that will help put parents and youth at ease for the upcoming school year.
A get-together at a local park or on school grounds is a laid-back way families can meet, mingle, and reconnect after the summer break. A picnic is great for families new to the school, like kindergarten students and middle schoolers. Have lawn games on hand so kids can play while parents get to know each other.
This event created a sense of excitement for the Coral Cliffs faculty and families for the upcoming school year. Students and families could mingle with their classmates, meet their new teachers, and high-five Principal Steve Eves.
Second-grade teacher Andria McCaul said she thought it was wonderful to see the families meet and interact with each other.
“I met a student new to the school,” McCaul said. “It was a great opportunity for him to meet his new classmates before that first day.”
Principal Eves was impressed with the turnout despite the heat, which reached a high of 108 degrees in St. George.
“I loved seeing all the staff come and support the students and families at Coral Cliffs,” he said.
New teachers felt relief from nervousness and anxiety for the upcoming school year by having the opportunity to get to know parents and students ahead of being in the classroom.
“It was a great time,” third-grade teacher Raegan Fay said. “Being a new staff member helped me calm this new teacher’s first-day jitters.”
Families brought blankets and lawn chairs, and kids played on the playground. The parent-teacher association also offered a sign-up opportunity.
“It was an awesome evening with our community, and I could not be more excited for the school year to begin,” Eves said.
Added school district Director of Communications and Foundation Steve Dunham: “What a fun way to get the ball rolling.”
School starts on Aug. 11 for most Washington County School District students. Kindergarten students will not have school on Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 15-19, as they will be completing assessments.
The Kindergarten Open House will be on Aug. 19 at each school. Elementary grades 1-5 will be having diagnostic assessments during the week of Aug. 15-19. Minimum days will be held during the week.
Contact your local school to know the schedules and process for the assessments.
Back-to-School events for elementary schools-
- Arrowhead Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Bloomington Elementary – Meet the Teacher Open House, Aug. 10, 1:30-2:45 pm
- Bloomington Hills Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 1-4 pm
- Coral Canyon Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 5-6:30 pm
- Coral Cliffs Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 9, 5-6:30 pm
- Crimson View Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 10, 5-6:30 pm
- Desert Canyons Elementary –
- Popsicle Party, Aug. 4, 7 pm
- Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 6-7:30 pm
- Diamond Valley Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 6-7:30 pm
- Enterprise Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 10, 6-8 pm
- Heritage Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 5-6:30 pm
- Horizon Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Hurricane Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 5: 30-6:30 pm
- LaVerkin Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 1-3 pm
- Legacy Elementary –
- Popsicles with the Principal, Aug. 4, 7-8 pm
- Back to School Open House, Aug 10, 2-4 pm
- Little Valley Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 4-5 pm
- Majestic Fields Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 2-3:45 pm
- Panorama Elementary – Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 5-6:30 pm
- Paradise Canyon Elementary – Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 5:30-7 pm
- Red Mountain Elementary –
- Popsicles with the Principal, Aug. 3, 7-8 pm
- Back to School ‘Meet & Greet’ BBQ, Aug. 9, 5-6 pm
- Bed Time Story with Mrs. Leavitt, Aug. 10, 7-7:30 pm.
- Riverside Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 4-6 pm
- Sandstone Elementary –
- Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 8, 5-8 pm
- Back to School Open House, Aug. 10, 4-5:30 pm
- Santa Clara Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 6-7:30 pm
- South Mesa Elementary – Back to School Open House, Aug. 9, 5-6:30 pm
- Springdale Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 11, 6 pm
- Sunset Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 5-6 pm
- Three Falls Elementary – Parent Back to School Night, Aug. 9, 6-7:30 pm
- Washington Elementary – Meet Your Teachers Open House, Aug. 10, 12:30-3:30 pm
- Water Canyon Elementary – No event is listed on the school site. (School did not return call). Call the school for information about back-to-school events.
For more information about the start of school and Washington County School District, click here. You can also contact your assigned school for your child.
To read the PTO Today article mentioned above, click here.
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