East Sandy Happenings – 1/12/26

We have a few exciting updates and important reminders to share!  

Preschool & Kindergarten Open Houses are coming up soon for families with children turning 3, 4, or 5 (free backpack for kids who attend 🎒). Teacher of the Year nominations are also open, and our 5th graders will participate in Middle School Orientation on Feb. 3, with an evening session for parents. We’re also continuing our share our Digital Citizenship learning for families, focusing on how we can be more informed and safe online. More details below!

Preschool & Kindergarten Open Houses. Is your child turning 3, 4, or 5? Join Canyons School District for an Early Learning Open House to explore preschool & kindergarten options! All children who attend receive a FREE backpack, pencil case, and coloring book!

📍 Dates/Locations:

• Jan 13 | 4:00 PM – Sprucewood Elementary (Sandy)

• Jan 14 | 6:00 PM – Oakdale Elementary (Cottonwood Heights)

• Jan 21 | 6:00 PM – Crescent Elementary (Sandy)

🗓 Enrollment Dates:

• Tuition-based preschool & kindergarten: Jan 14–Feb 27, 2026

• Title I preschool (eligible boundaries): Begins March 1, 2026

Teacher of the Year Nomination (TOY) Do you think your teacher is amazing? Are you in awe (as we are!) of what teachers do each and every day? Now is your chance to recognize them!

💛  Teacher of the Year nominations are open: January 9 – February 6 . Nominations must be submitted online through the Canyons School District website using the link below:

🔗 Teacher of the Year Nomination (TOY) Link

Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible teachers at East Sandy! ⭐

Middle School Orientation – 5th Grade Students & Families 

We are excited to welcome your child as they take the next big step into middle school next year!

📅 On Tuesday, February 3, all 5th-grade students will participate in a special morning orientation with their future classmates. Students will be bused directly from their elementary school to their boundary middle school, where they will:

✅ tour the building

✅ learn about class schedules

✅ get a feel for what middle school will be like

Parent/Guardian Orientation (Evening) – That same evening, we invite parents and guardians to attend a Parent Orientation. This is a great opportunity to learn more about: school expectations, curriculum, schedules, and how to support your student’s success. 

📍 Orientation Locations & Times

🏫 Mount Jordan Middle School – 9351 Mountaineer Ln., Sandy

🕔 5:00–6:30 PM

🏫 Union Middle School – 615 E. 8000 South, Sandy

🕠 5:30–7:00 PM

 Digital Citizenship: Being informed is more than knowing facts — it’s about helping children learn to question, analyze, and make sense of the information they see every day.

In a world full of news, opinions, algorithms, and misinformation, students need the skills to:

✅ pause and think before reacting

✅ check if something is trustworthy

✅ recognize bias

✅ cross-check sources

These skills don’t just support learning — they also help children stay safe online and grow into thoughtful, responsible citizens.

📌 This month, we’re highlighting the “Informed” skill from Common Sense Education’s Digital Citizenship curriculum.

🏡 How families can help at home:

• Ask your child what they’re seeing online

• Talk about how they know something is true

• Model slowing down and checking sources together

When children learn to be informed, they become safer, smarter, and more empowered digital citizens. 🌟   

Common Sense Website: Being Informed Link

Please remember to review the upcoming event for East Sandy.