Megan Wallgren | American Fork Citizen

Local university graduates entering the teaching profession are facing one of the tightest job markets in years, with many new degree holders finding it difficult to secure positions amid a broader national slowdown that has left recent college graduates across multiple fields competing for fewer openings.

Utah Valley University (UVU) graduate Gracie George expected to join the workforce quickly after finishing her student teaching this spring. Instead, she’s struggled to get interviews, competing for elementary teaching positions that are attracting more than 100 applicants for a single position.

“Most people are saying there’s not a lot of availability,” George said. “I only know of two of 24 in my cohort who have signed teaching contracts already.”

Her experience reflects the frustrations facing many of this year’s graduates, around 250 in UVU’s 2026 School of Education class, who started their programs shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, hearing about an impending teacher shortage nationwide.

“Nationally, there is a shortage of teachers. In terms of the Wasatch Front, if you want to stay in one of these school districts, it’s one of the most competitive markets in the entire country,” said James Jacob, Dean of UVU’s School of Education.

Numbers provided by Alpine School District (ASD) show how competitive the local market is, with just 20 elementary positions and six secondary positions open as of June 1 in Utah’s largest district.

ASD is averaging 150 applicants for every elementary position and around 100 applicants per opening in secondary subjects such as English, PE and History. Specialized CTE positions and openings for Math or Science receive fewer applications, though it is still a large pool.

ASD Director of Communications Rich Stowell cited supply and demand. “We are blessed with three large teacher education universities nearby — Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University, and Western Governors University. All three programs produce hundreds of high-quality teacher candidates each year,” he said. “It becomes a challenge to have so many qualified candidates when job opportunities tighten.”

Another factor is dynamic student populations. “Because student numbers are plateauing or dipping in some neighborhoods, there aren’t as many open positions available,” Stowell said.
Stowell also pointed to strong teacher retention, calling ASD a destination district for teachers. “Alpine School District has a reputation of being a great place to teach, both for new teachers and established educators,” he said. “We typically see application rates that outpace our openings.”

Jacob said that, despite the daunting numbers, there are still opportunities for new graduates locally, and especially a little further from home.

“If students are willing to consider a different location, they can get a job, no problem,” Jacob said, noting that the Clark County School District in Nevada and the Denver Public School District in Colorado face heavy shortages.

Many of Utah’s rural districts, within a couple of hours’ drive of the Wasatch Front, have openings they struggle to fill. “It’s always been competitive on the Wasatch Front. If you want to and are willing to relocate, you can still get the job,” he said.

To compete locally, Jacob said job-seekers should consider credentials that can help them stand out. “There are still certain fields where, no matter what, you can get a job. For instance, there is a shortage of certified Special Ed teachers everywhere in the country,” he said. “Planning to go into coaching is also a value-added you can bring into the position.” Specialized CTE credentials are also in demand.

Jacob said networking improves a candidate’s chances. “Our K-12 alliance is the strongest one in the state. As they are getting their degree, students have exposure to classrooms and schools as they go throughout their coursework. It’s really helpful for school districts to get to know the candidates.”

On the flip side of the crowded job market, principals are finding themselves weighing large numbers of applicants as they search for candidates who will best serve their students.
Erin Gates, principal of Lehi’s Fox Hollow Elementary, recently closed a kindergarten position with 148 applicants. “I love the caliber of applicants we’re getting, but it’s really difficult. We are getting a lot of really good candidates, but we can’t hire them all.”

Gates narrows the field to approximately eight candidates, generally a mix of new and experienced teachers, and conducts panel interviews with other members of the administration and staff.

“It truly comes down to the right fit for the right person and place. We look at the dynamics of the grade level and what our students need for success,” she said.

The advice she’d give to new grads is simple: “Be patient. Do all you can to get into the schools, and vary your experience as much as possible to give you the edge,” Gates said. “As enrollment numbers are finalized in August, new positions will open up.”

George, who is looking for an elementary position, continues to check several district job pages and send in resumes daily.

“I wasn’t feeling very nervous throughout my time in school because I didn’t think it would be that hard to find a job,” she said. She’s feeling nervous now.

If she can’t find a position by the time school starts, she plans to sub or take a part-time job to get her foot in the door at a school or district. Until then, she keeps applying and hoping for that one chance to prove herself.

Megan Wallgren | American Fork Citizen

Families looking for help with meals during the summer break can take advantage of Alpine School District’s free summer meals program, which provides breakfast and lunch to all children under the age of 18 at several locations throughout northern Utah County.

The program is open to all children to help ensure they receive nutritious meals while school is out of session. Unlike during the regular school year, families do not need to meet free or reduced-price meal qualifications to participate. No pre-registration is required.

Meal service began June 1 and will continue every weekday through June 26 at designated school sites around Utah County, including Forbes Elementary in American Fork.

Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., while lunch is available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Adult meals are also available for purchase. Breakfast costs $3, and lunch is available for $5.

Children may receive meals at any participating location and do not need to be enrolled at the host school.

Meals will be served at the following schools:

• Cherry Hill Elementary, 250 East 1650 South, Orem
• Forbes Elementary, 281 North 200 East, American Fork
• Mount Mahogany Elementary, 618 N. 1300 West, Pleasant Grove
• Mountain Trails Elementary, 3951 N. Wood Road, Eagle Mountain
• Mountain View High School, 665 W. Center Street, Orem
• Orem Junior High School, 765 North 600 West, Orem
• Westmore Elementary, 1150 South Main Street, Orem
• Windsor Elementary, 1315 North Main Street, Orem

The Boys and Girls Club of Utah County will offer free meals June 26 – August 14 at Parkside Elementary and Windsor Elementaries in Orem from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and at Westmore Elementary and Orem Junior High School in Orem from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. No meals will be served on July 4 and July 24.

By: Elizabeth Spencer

American Fork Citizen

Thousands packed the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University to send off American Fork High School’s 2026 graduating class. This year marked the 113th class to graduate from AFHS with their graduation theme “Forged by Fire.”

Adi Gardner, Student Body President, welcomed the senior class for their last time together. The salutation speech was given by Emma Clark, which was followed by a beautiful musical arrangement by the AFHS Symphony Orchestra. Elijah Thornton was this year’s valedictorian.  

Ellie Collette, a senior cabinet member, gave a wonderful tribute to parents and teachers.  The highlight of her speech was her comment directed to the adults, “At times you probably thought we weren’t listening. … We weren’t, but you never gave up on us.” The crowd went wild with laughter upon the remark.

Peter Glahn addressed the students, reminding them that with his departure from his position as principal he and the 2026 class were “graduating together.”

“As you move on, I want you to make sure that you’re surrounding yourself with great people,” said Glahn. He told the graduates that, just because their years of high school were over, they would still be working and learning for the rest of their lives.  

“The secret of life is not to look for your happiness outside of work and learning. Work and learning is going to help you become who you are destined to be. Becoming who you are destined to be, that’s where the joy is,” said Glahn.

Glahn shared that his last name is derived from the German language, and it means “reflected light.” He encouraged students to be just that. His counsel to the Class of 2026 was to surround themselves with good people, reflect light and find joy in the learning.

Collette, who is heading to study at BYU shared, “Graduating high school doesn’t feel real. The day of graduation was a mix of excitement, [feeling] nervous for what was going to come after high school, and also a little bittersweet leaving the relationships and friendships I have made over the years. I feel like it won’t truly hit me that it’s over until I’m not going back to American Fork High School in the fall.”

“The Class of 2026 will be remembered by me forever. It is full of incredible young people who will continue to impact the world in a positive way,” shared Glahn.

“The Class of 2026 is so special because we are a class that doesn’t give up and we push ourselves,” added Collette. “I’m aware of so many students who have gotten far academically with scholarships and even getting their associates degree, and I also know many students who had injuries this year that stopped them from playing a sport they love, but we never gave up. We were a team that helped our peers push themselves and cheered each other on!”

Graduation concluded with a senior tribute video and the AFHS school song. Later that evening, hundreds of graduates gathered for celebration at the Provo Beach Club. Glahn pulled out the karaoke machine one last time. Students were able to participate in numerous activities as they said their final farewells to one another. 

Congratulations Class of 2026, being “forged by fire,” you will make the world a better place for all of us. 

Brynn Carnesecca | American Fork Citizen

The front entrance to American Fork High School has a new centerpiece: a striking 15-by-5-foot mural depicting the story of the Caveman in all its glory.

The mural project was spearheaded by visual arts teacher Heidi Boden in just three weeks. When the district offered for various schools to have a mural specially designed and created for their school, Boden jumped at the opportunity. Together with graphic design company 80% Studios, the AFHS team began working on the project the week after Spring Break.

“It starts with a worksheet of collaboration questions,” Boden said. “They ask questions like ‘What is AFHS about?’ and ‘What are you known for?’”

From there, the students, alongside Dimi Macheras and Casey Silver from 80% Studios, began working on multiple versions of sketches and drawings. Every single painting student worked together to create the ideas that would influence the mural.

For the next while, 80% Studios worked on synthesizing the 110 student responses. In the end, they came up with three compositions to present to the students. After multiple days of collaboration and discussion, the students agreed on the final design for the mural.

“They asked if students wanted a realistic style or more graphic,” Boden said. “The students unanimously wanted it to feel caveman-like and not cheesy.”

Once the design was finalized, the color scheme was decided on. Students once again threw their ideas into the mix using worksheets of the drawing. They each chose a color scheme and submitted it to the pool of ideas. After looking at all the ideas, the students decided to keep a limited color palette, focusing mostly on the school’s colors: red, white and black.

The line drawing was then projected onto the stretched canvas and traced. From there, students spent hours painting in each detail. No one student did all the work. Each individual had to put in their own special touch, even if it was just a small detail of the mural.

“We set up the mural in the old commons [to paint]. It was really like a public exhibition for people to watch it evolve,” Boden shared. “There were artist leaders who came about. They became really proud of the process and were brave enough to add their skills to it. … I wanted every single person to paint at least a brushstroke on it.”

After two weeks of painting, the mural was finally completed. The finished design was incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.

The mural is chock-full of easter eggs. Thumbprints from retiring faculty, a star map from 1902, a powerful-looking cavewoman, the allegory of the cave, and trophies from other schools all have their place. Looking closely, one can see a LPHS Knight’s helmet, PGHS Viking helmet, THS Wolf hat, OHS Tiger pelt and LHS Oxen yolk. Each department in the school, such as English and drama, also has a token in the mural.

Another unique detail centers on the three cavemen in the center of the cave. Each caveman represents one of the new districts being formed next year.

“We wanted to acknowledge we are one district, but we are going forward with hope in our new district split,” Boden said.

The mural represents hundreds of hours of work and planning.

“This is the best example of deep learning and collaboration that you could have with a group of students,” Boden emphasized. “They could feel success at the end of it. … It let everybody shine.”

On May 7, the school gathered for an unveiling party. Students took turns in the auditorium presenting different pieces of the project, followed by a reveal in the school entrance. In addition to the presentation, the school CaveTV team documented the entire process in their videos and YouTube channel.

The mural is on display in the entrance of AFHS. A permanent location has not been chosen yet.

Brynn Carnesecca | American Fork Citizen

In the next few weeks, Dallin Lesher will graduate from Salem Hills High School. Lucky for him, Dallin doesn’t need to worry about rent, tuition or books. He has earned over $1.2 million in scholarships throughout his time in high school.

Dallin’s scholarship journey was partially influenced by his sister, Hannah Lesher, but mostly came from his sense of drive and commitment to higher education. Born in American Fork, Dallin’s achievement means big things for his future.

“I just started looking outside of the state and seeing what these places have that I would want. I didn’t stay strictly in Utah or around Utah, but looked around the whole country and applied everywhere,” Dallin said.

Most of his scholarships are merit scholarships given to him in recognition of his high GPA, course load and extracurricular activities. Out of all the scholarships offered, Dallin’s two largest scholarships came from the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Preparatory Program (NPP) scholarship at Norwich University in Vermont and a scholarship given to high-achieving scholars.

The NPP scholarship is given to students with a special interest in the military. Through the funds, students are enrolled in a five-year program that prepares them for the military and a career afterwards.

“I will finish my college, then owe four years in the military. After that, I can choose to stay in the military or go elsewhere,” Dallin explained.

The scholarships Dallin has accepted cover tuition, room and board, food and a bit extra on the side. Thanks to these funds, Dallin won’t have to worry about how to afford college.

“This means that I can start living my life sooner. I don’t have to worry about finding a job immediately,” Dallin said. “When I get out of the military, I can get a job and start working. Everything I earn can go towards what I want for the future. It gives me so many more opportunities.”

For Dallin’s mom, Emily, the scholarships are a great comfort.

“It’s a huge weight off our shoulders and a sigh of relief to have their college paid for and to have a path forward for the next decade,” Emily shared.

For anyone interested in getting scholarships either in or outside of Utah, Dallin encourages them to go for it.

“Apply for everything. It might be really tedious, but who else is going to give you a million dollars for free?” Dallin laughed. “If they give [the scholarship] to you, then you have an opportunity. It doesn’t mean you have to take it, but at least it’s on the table.”

After his time in college and in the military, Dallin hopes to give back to the youth in the community.

“I want to be a high school teacher. I love the relationships I’ve been able to have with my teachers. I know that a good teacher can make an incredible difference,” Dallin expressed. “ I’ve had personal experiences with that, and I want to be able to help people like me potentially get a million dollars in scholarships.”

Dallin plans to attend Norwich after graduating this May. On top of academics, he also has the chance to continue being a competitive swimmer in college.

Megan Wallgren | American Fork Citizen

As Alpine School District prepares to split into three new districts in the fall of 2027, families living along the boundaries have faced questions about whether they will be able to remain in schools that will then be outside their district.

On April 23, the Aspen Peaks and Timpanogos school districts sent a letter to approximately 250 families whose children live within the Timpanogos School District boundaries, but currently attend schools located in Aspen Peaks School District. More than half of those students attend Deerfield Elementary in Cedar Hills.

The letter tells families they have the choice to transition to a school within the Timpanogos boundaries, or choose to stay in the Aspen Peaks school their student currently attends.

Deerfield students living in Pleasant Grove will, in the future, be boundaried in Manilla Elementary. PG students in Barratt Elementary in American Fork will be transitioned into the Mount Mahogany Elementary boundaries. Junior high and high school students living in Pleasant Grove will now all be slated to attend Pleasant Grove Junior High and High Schools.

“You are welcome in Timpanogos School District. We are excited to serve you in the Timpanogos District schools and we will help your students thrive,” the letter says. It continues, “You can choose to remain in Aspen Peaks School District. APSD is willing to partner with you to help support this transition.”

“Parents will essentially be able to choose their schools, irrespective of district boundaries. Current Utah law protects these rights,” said Aspen Peaks’ named Chief of Staff Rich Stowell. He said the two new districts are expected to adopt Alpine District’s current process for managing those requests. “We will keep parents informed as we develop procedures,” he said.

Aspen Peaks School Board member Amber Bonner, who represents the area that includes Deerfield Elementary, said, “I’ve had a lot of families reach out to me with questions about what will happen to their students. We just wanted to put out the letter showing we’re working with the Timpanogos District to make sure they feel supported wherever they choose to have their children attend school.”

Transportation will play a big role in the support of families, whether they move to new schools or stay in their current school placement. Both districts will provide bus service for qualifying neighborhoods. APSD will provide bus service until the end of the 2032-2033 school year, to support students currently enrolled and bused in APSD schools who choose to stay until they age out of their enrollment.

District leaders say the goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible for students and families. “We know this issue is a concern for parents of students at the affected schools,” said Aspen Peaks Superintendent Joel Perkins. “Transitions that affect a student’s schooling can be challenging for families, and we want to provide options to help students and families manage those transitions.”

In February, Alpine School District invited parents and staff from affected schools to provide feedback. TSD held its own community meetings. Following those meetings, Superintendent Perkins and Timpanogos Superintendent Joe Jensen worked with their school boards to create the current plan, which received consensus support from both boards.

Students attending Dry Creek Elementary in Lehi, but living in Saratoga Springs, will face similar issues on the west side of the APSD. Aspen Peaks is also working with the Lake Mountain District and Alpine School District on a plan to support those students.

Elizabeth Spencer | American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School Marching Band recently named four new drum majors for the upcoming season. Alyson Beardall, Kamalu Willing, Zachary Warner, and Micah Rajaratnam were honored during the band’s annual Step Off Meeting. Last year’s drum majors ended their service by passing their plumes to Beardall, Willing, Warner and Rajaratnam.

Following this recognition, Beardall, a 4th-year member of the marching band, reflects on her journey. Before becoming a drum major, she played sousaphone, inspired by her mother, who also held the same role in high school. To Beardall, being a drum major means leading with character, being responsible, and showing respect to people. She looks forward to watching new band members improve, adding, “I think it’s going to be so much fun.”

Similarly, saxophonist Willing recalled feeling “shocked” to be named drum major. Willing, who will be a senior, said he wanted to follow in his friends’ footsteps as drum majors. He looks forward to growing with and befriending the other drum majors. Feeling special to be inaugurated by a former drum major, he shared, “It just felt really cool.”

AFHS Marching Band Director Orien Landis said he is most impressed by the new drum majors’ teamwork and collaboration.

Warner, transitioning from his role as a percussionist in the front ensemble, also shared his excitement at being named drum major. “Seeing the drum majors made me want to be like them.”

As band members look ahead, trumpet player Micah Rajaratnam, entering his junior year this Fall, expressed excitement at following in his two older brothers’ footsteps. He aims to “set a new standard for greater success.”

Moving from individual goals to broader band ambitions, this year the band will continue to focus on culture. The band leadership met and set specific goals to make rehearsals more effective by maximizing practice time. Landis said they will accomplish that by focusing on the small but challenging details. He hopes this will lead to more productive rehearsals. With that goal for the season, Landis says he’ll be happy with any outcome.

Complementing this focus on growth, Percussion Director Dana Slabaugh called this year’s percussion auditions the strongest the band has ever had in his 15 years at AFHS. He praised the strong players throughout the section, saying, “They’re going to be very strong.”

Reflecting the group’s optimism, Warner shared, “This season is going to be special, and I think everybody’s going to enjoy it. I’m excited to see how we grow as a band and how good we can get this show.”

At the Step Off Meeting, students and parents were given a sneak peek at this year’s show theme, inspired by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake.” The performance will feature music from “Swan Lake” and swan props to capture the ballet’s essence. Building on this excitement, the marching band hopes to advance to the final round this year at Grand Nationals in Indianapolis.

With aspirations set, both Beardall and Slabaugh are looking forward to performing alongside some of the nation’s best bands and returning to Grand Nats, an opportunity AFHS only gets when traveling to Indianapolis.

Echoing these ambitions, Willing said, “We have a good chance at making finals again and possibly improving on last year. It will take more work.”

Rajaratnam added, “We’re going to do things this year that have never been done before,” emphasizing the group’s determination to break new ground.

Concluding the season, Landis said, “Helping students become better people and teaching them to value quality time means we’ve had a successful season.”

Brynn Carnesecca | American Fork Citizen

American Fork High School’s award-winning band collaborated with Utah’s Cars and Coffee chapter to hold a barbecue competition to raise money for their yearly activities. The event, coined the Caveman Cookoff, brought the city together in a new way.

The band has over 300 ninth through 12th grade students and numerous regional and national accolades. The event took place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at AFHS. People from all over the city and beyond gathered on the field and in the parking lots to support the band. The idea to bring the various activities together came from band director Orien Landis.

“We’ve been doing [the band barbecue] for a few years since COVID as a way to do something outside,” Landis explained. “It’s slowly developed over the years into what it is now. It’s really organically grown over time.

In one corner of the parking lot, hundreds of supercars and their owners were parked for people to come see, free of charge. Lamborghinis, Ferraris and other supercars sat out front of the high school with doors open.

“My little brother plays in the marching band,” shared Coffee and Cars representative Alex Thang. “I’ve been a big part of the car community. My mom said ‘Let’s try to combine two worlds at once.’”

For those who had no tie to the marching band, the supercars were a huge draw. Local organizations, including Club Paddock and Fast Lane Drive, made a special appearance to bring the community together while supporting the school’s band.

AFHS’s own band played jazz tunes on the grass for everyone to enjoy. Vendors lined the field as well with various foods to keep everyone satisfied. In the far corner, a rib cook-off invited visitors to come and taste test. For $8, visitors could get a ticket and be an official judge.

“Our daughter is a sophomore in the marching band. When she first came in as a freshman, as her parents, we wanted to help out wherever we could,” said Miram Benson from Uncle Jesse’s Barbecue. “We wanted to contribute and make it a great event.”

With various audiences being drawn to the school, the event was a smash hit with the community.

“Truthfully, I didn’t expect this many supercars to show up,” Jeevz Dusara from Cars and Coffee laughed. “I’ve never seen this many supercars at an event. We’ve been doing Cars and Coffee for the last six years. It’s been pretty awesome that a lot of cool car groups came together. It’s really cool to bring that to a high school event.”

All funds raised from the event will go towards the marching band attending the Grand National Marching Band competition in Indianapolis.

“The band just has certain needs. We have to truck two loads worth of semi items to Indianapolis, rent buses, buy plane tickets, and things like that,” Landis explained. “Everything that we’re doing here is going to go to the band program to make sure that the students have what they need.”

Community members of all ages attended the event.

“It’s a community feel. As soon as you step into the band program, no matter if you’re a student or parent, you feel included and united. It’s such a cool feeling,” Benson expressed.

For more information on the band, visit http://www.americanforkband.com.

Megan Wallgren | American Fork Citizen

The Aspen Peaks School District Board of Education members have embarked on a “Gratitude & Listening Tour” of the district to meet with teachers and residents to express appreciation, share thoughts and ideas, and answer questions.

The outreach effort includes several open-house style events at district schools throughout April and May. District leaders say the sessions are not formal presentations, but rather opportunities for discussion.

“This isn’t a formal presentation or a defense of past decisions; it’s an open engagement session where you can help us identify what to change and what to maintain,” APSD posted on social media.

Each stop on tour features multiple stations where attendees can interact with board members and district leadership. Visitors are invited to scan QR codes to provide feedback, share what they appreciate about their current schools, and offer ideas for the district’s future. Participants can also pick up an Aspen Peaks Community Builder sticker, meet administrators, and contribute a “Legacy Letter” to a time capsule planned for the district’s 2027 grand opening.

The open houses run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The remaining stops on the tour will be at:
● Timberline Middle School on Thursday, April 23
● Mountain Ridge Junior High on Tuesday, April 28
● American Fork Junior High on Tuesday, May 5
● Viewpoint Middle School on Thursday, May 7

Residents, parents, teachers and students are encouraged to attend any of the sessions to share feedback and help build what leaders describe as “the next generation of excellence” for the new district.

Aspen Peaks board member Jeanne-Marie Burrows said the first stops on the tour have already provided meaningful conversations with educators and community members.

“The two stops of the Gratitude & Listening Tour that we have had so far have been a great experience for us to truly listen to our communities,” Burrows said. “A group of staff members attended our first stop at Willowcreek and shared their questions and fears. At Lehi Junior, I spoke with a kindergarten teacher from a school that is decreasing in size and listened to her worries about losing amazing teachers because of the decrease.”

Burrows said she was able to bring administrators into the conversation to help address concerns on the spot. The teacher later followed up with an email expressing appreciation for the opportunity to be heard.

“This tour gives us the time to not only have our communities give us feedback for the future, but also to connect with them and answer questions now,” Burrows said. “We want our teachers, staff, students, parents and community members to be involved with the creation of our district. We also want them to feel appreciated and heard right now.”

STAFF WRITER | American Fork Citizen

About 200 students with special needs from across Alpine School District will step into a night designed just for them this week, as Lehi High School hosts the district’s annual Special Schools Prom.

Set for Friday, April 17, from 7 to 9 p.m., this year’s event carries the theme “Prom in the Enchanted Forest,” transforming the school into a space where students can celebrate, connect and take center stage.

The prom brings together students from four district programs: ATEC, ATEC-West, Dan Peterson School and Horizon. These programs serve students with disabilities ranging from preschool through early adulthood, offering support in education, independent living and employment skills.

Students themselves play an active role in planning and preparing for the event, with organizational responsibilities rotating among the participating schools each year.

For many, the evening represents more than a traditional dance.

“The Special Schools Prom is more than just a dance; it’s a night where every student, regardless of their challenges, gets to step into the spotlight and feel truly celebrated,” said Ryan Hemming, principal at Dan Peterson School. “Seeing our community come together to create this inclusive environment reminds us why we do this work—to ensure every student knows they belong.”

The event also offers students the opportunity to attend with dates, enjoy music and immerse themselves in a themed environment tailored to create a memorable experience.

Members of the media are invited to attend, with district staff and students available for interviews throughout the evening.