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What does it take to prepare a student for the future?

Strong academic skills matter. But success in college, the workplace, and life also depends on qualities that aren't always captured by a test score: the ability to solve problems, work with others, generate ideas, persist through challenges, and contribute to a community.

Those skills are at the heart of Canyons School District’s Portrait of a Canyons Scholar, a framework that defines the habits every student should develop by the time they graduate from high school. Canyons is now piloting an effort in its middle schools to intentionally embed these competencies into everyday learning.

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As we celebrate World Literacy Day, two Canyons experts explain on the latest episode of Connect Canyons how our native languages provide the building blocks students need to grow and learn in other languages.

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With the start of each new school year comes a fresh set of nerves. Some students and even teachers and administrators are getting into new routines, students are finding their new classrooms, and everyone is meeting new faces.

Students aren’t the only one who get the jitters during the first week of school, Dr. Angela Wilkinson has dedicated nearly 20 years to educating young minds, 11 of which she has been at the helm of elementary schools — most recently, Sunrise and East Sandy elementary schools. This year, she’s finding her own new routine as principal of Draper Park Middle School.

“It’s been a mishmash of feelings,” Wilkinson said on a recent episode of Connect Canyons. “Seeing the students and the teachers, that has been so exciting. But prior to them coming, I have been very nervous. Obviously, I have a pit in my stomach wanting to make sure that you're meeting and greeting everybody, and making everybody feel welcome in your building.”

Wilkinson isn’t the only one, Paige Mangan, one of Canyons’ certified social workers, says it’s common for adults — parents included — to feel nervous during the first week of school.

“I am grateful that we're living in a world that is increasingly more accepting of grown-ups and kids and teenagers being able to talk about the hard things that we go through, the hard things that we think about,” Mangan says.

Wilkinson and Mangan have a few tips and tricks to manage anxiety whether as a parent, or to help students understand and recognize their own feelings.

“We are very excited to have our families and our students back,” Wilkinson said. “I want all the students and families in Canyons District, and other districts as well, to know that we are here for your students and for you, just ask. Come talk with us. We're excited to have conversations, and we're excited to have them back.”