The Morgan County School Board reviewed and unanimously accepted the final fiscal year 2013 budget Tuesday. Business Manager D’Lynn Poll said the school district collected more redemption taxes than usual this year and tax collection rates are up. Redemption taxes are property taxes that land owners have failed to pay in years past.
At Morgan Elementary School, one of the smallest classes of fifth graders completed their school year in May. The kindergarten class that has registered for the upcoming 2013-14 year is about 20 students larger than the fifth graders that recently completed the school year, said Principal Tim Wolff. The 116 registered kindergarteners represent a typical class size, Wolff said. The 2012-13 kindergarten class was large with 128.
During the course of the public debate on the necessity of a Voted Local Levy in the Morgan School District, we often times forget the larger picture of the financial struggles faced by the state and most districts. State Superintendent of Schools Martell Menlove stated in a community meeting in Morgan County last month that Morgan School District is not alone in facing financial challenges when it comes to balancing their budgets this year. A quick review of the state’s newspapers and television stations and you will see many headlines, news stories and editorials dealing with school finance. One example can be found on the editorial page of the Sunday, June 2, issue of the Ogden Standard Examiner.
It was standing room only in the Morgan City offices for a town hall meeting with six resident panelists prepared to offer options to the voted local levy.
The Agriculture Science Department has been busy this spring! If you have driven past Morgan Elementary School you may have noticed some new benches and ground cover in the far corner of the elementary playground.
Summer is always such a great time of year. In education, summer signals a time for celebration. At this time of year we celebrate the end of another successful school year, the excitement for a change of pace, and the collective pride as a group of young adults graduate and start adventures of their own. Summertime in education is also frequently a time to say professional goodbyes to colleagues who are leaving our schools.
The Morgan School Board recognized three distinguished residents during the annual Morgan High School graduation ceremonies held at the Dee Events Center on May 24.
John Rock began teaching in 1980 when Ronald Reagan went into office and the moon dance was popular. Over the next 33 years, taught at least one class to nearly every MHS graduate.
Morgan High School held its annual Scholarship Awards Night on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Parents, families, teachers and community members all gathered to honor the nearly 100 members of the Class of 2013 who received scholarships to help them pursue their dreams of gaining a post high school education.
Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, both elementary schools will realize the full implementation of “skill classes.” An idea planned many years ago, this change has become necessary now as the district faces ongoing funding deficits. With this change, the Morgan County School District is projected to save $76,800 over the next two years.
During the month of April the eighth graders had two different opportunities to explore career options and participate in hands-on activities to see what careers could meet their interests.
A huge reason we have so many individual success stories in our special education program at Morgan Middle School is because of the success of our peer tutor program. These students play a vital role in the success of some of their fellow students.
Join the Morgan High School Class of 2013 in celebrating their graduation. The accomplished seniors will walk across the stage to accept their diplomas today at 12:30 p.m. in the Dee Events Center at Weber State
University.
Instead of just another field day, the students and faculty at Morgan Elementary School participated in Relay Recess, raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.
A huge reason we have so many individual success stories in our special education program at Morgan Middle School is because of the success of our peer tutor program. These students play a vital role in the success of some of their fellow students.
During the month of April the eighth graders had two different opportunities to explore career options and participate in hands-on activities to see what careers could meet their interests.
Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, both elementary schools will realize the full implementation of “skill classes.” An idea planned many years ago, this change has become necessary now as the district faces ongoing funding deficits. With this change, the Morgan County School District is projected to save $76,800 over the next two years.
Morgan High School held its annual Scholarship Awards Night on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Parents, families, teachers and community members all gathered to honor the nearly 100 members of the Class of 2013 who received scholarships to help them pursue their dreams of gaining a post high school education.
One of the joys of education is seeing students successfully go from learning their ABCs to the art of reading and understanding. When the lights come on and a child says, “I can read this myself,” parents and teachers see the accomplishment of their endeavors and the true triumph of a small child. This achievement was made in part by the importance of our current reading teachers in our elementary schools.
The past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to reflect on this school year and all the intricate details that make up our educational system. It reminded me of a quote I heard recently:
After 36 years Mrs. London is finally getting out of 2nd grade! Please join us in honoring Lyn London at a retirement open house as we celebrate her years of love and dedication as an elementary teacher. Wednesday May 22, 2013 2:30-7 p.m. Coalville Fire Station 86 E. Center St. Coalville. Please no gifts.
Morgan’s special needs group brought a measure of unexpected joy to mothers living in an Ogden domestic violence shelter during Mother’s Day weekend.
For the past couple of weeks, the group had a collection bin set up at Hinds Quick Stop, where more than 100 purses were donated by members of the community. On May 9, the group met at the Milton Church and in assembly-line fashion, stuffed each purse with lip balm, combs, sewing kits, vanity kits, hand sanitizer, lotion and tissues.
The Morgan High School Trojan
baseball team left Spanish Fork on May 11 with an invitation to the second round of the state baseball playoffs. After dropping their first game to top-seed Snow Canyon, the team routed the Uintah Utes, 14-4. It was a balanced attack, with several Trojans amassing hits, RBIs and runs scored. Two other Region 11 teams, Stansbury
and Grantsville, were ousted from the tournament, while Bear River moved on to the next round as well.
The role of a successful teacher extends far beyond the classroom.
Teachers take on numerous roles to ensure that our children obtain the skills and resources they need to become responsible citizens.
One of the joys of education is seeing students successfully go from learning their ABCs to the art of reading and understanding. When the lights come on and a child says, “I can read this myself,” parents and teachers see the accomplishment of their endeavors and the true triumph of a small child. This achievement was made in part by the importance of our current reading teachers in our elementary schools.
The eighty-sixth Morgan Utah and Morgan Utah North Stake Seminary Graduation exercises will be held Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the Morgan Utah Stake building.
Morgan Middle School took 10 seventh graders and 10 eighth graders to the state math competition last month and the results are back. Four of our students deserve a special congratulations for scoring in the top 30 percent. They are Parker Bailey, Weston Blocker and Colin Smith with Peter Christensen scoring in the top 25 percent. Our students did great considering we were competing with all schools participating this year no matter their size.
On Tuesday evening, the Morgan High School Scholarship Board held their annual scholarship awards night. Parents, patrons, sponsors, school officials and students gathered for this prestigious evening.
Interscholastic extracurricular programs are vital to the positive social, physical and educational development of our students. These activities offer opportunities for service to the school and community; develop fellowship and goodwill; promote self-realization with physical, mental and emotional growth; and encourage the qualities of good citizenship.
The Northeastern Utah Region Sterling Scholars competition was held Monday, April 15, 2013, at Wasatch High School in Heber City. This region consists of students from Altamont, Duchesne, Dugway, Grantsville, Morgan, North Summit, Park City, Rich, South Summit, Tabiona, Uintah, Union, Wasatch and Wendover high schools.
As we grow closer to the end of another school year, I wanted to take the time to pay tribute to all of our wonderful and dedicated teachers within the district. They are truly professionals who have made the decision to center their careers on the betterment of our youth.
Carolyn Dee Morrison will graduate with a Bachelor of Art Degree from Weber State University on Friday, April 26. She received her Associate Degree in 2011.
Many different opinions were aired at the last community meeting hosted by the Morgan County School District discussing the voted local levy. The April 18 meeting was held at Morgan Elementary School and was one of the last of the 18 meetings the district scheduled to disseminate information regarding the levy that will be on the June 25 ballot.
The purpose of Operation Graduation is to keep our graduates safe and in a positive environment where they can celebrate with their graduating class the night of graduation. Preparation for this year’s Operation Graduation began in July of 2012. Operation Graduation sponsors a food booth at the Morgan County Fair. Seniors and their parents work at the booth to raise money for the Operation Graduation Celebration that will be held the night of graduation.
We have had a lot of success this year with our Science Olympiad program. The students worked hard for many months. I am so proud of their hard work and dedication. The following paragraphs explain what this program is about.
This school year I have had the opportunity to participate in a Principals Academy for the elementary math and science core curriculum. One of the presenters at the academy asked,with all of the expectations we have on teachers in regards to high-stakes testing and student growth, why do we set elementary teachers up to fail? He went on to explain that traditionally elementary teachers are expected to teach multiple different subjects yet are expected to provide the same quality instruction in each of those classes as a teacher assigned to teach one or two subjects. While listening I found myself wondering what we could do at MMS to help our sixth grade teachers and students have the greatest opportunity for success. During a recent PLC I shared with the sixth grade team the things I had learned and was thinking about to get their ideas on how we could make changes to enhance student learning.
Natasha Andersen, daughter of Lance and Janel Andersen, has been selected as Morgan High School’s English Sterling Scholar. Natasha has loved taking art, choir, English, and creative writing classes because they allow her to express herself. She loves reading and writing, drawing and painting, and participating in choir, soccer, and track. Natasha has been involved as a member of FBLA, National Honor Society, choir, Academic Decathlon, Academic Olympiad, and the soccer and track teams. She currently serves as the Interact Service Club President, an NHS president, an Ovation! choir section leader, and a Seminary Council member. Natasha is proud of her accomplishments of being selected as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, getting a 36 on each section of the ACT, and being selected for Academic All-State in girls’ soccer. Natasha plans to attend either Brigham Young University or Utah State University in the fall and major in English.
There exists a very generous group of individuals who donate to a program at Weber State University. This program is known as TAPT (Teachers Assisted Path to Teaching).
Morgan County School Board members, teachers and residents are talking about a website created by Morgan community members that voices opposition to the voted leeway that will come before voters on June 25.
Interest was high in the Morgan County School Board seat vacated by Joey Skinner, but Mark Farmer was chosen above four other applicants as the newest school board member. On Tuesday, he was appointed to serve until the end of 2014.
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