School is back in session across the Castle Country Area, and with that comes some students who are either still adapting to the school life, or those who may be entering the environment for the first time. For Bruin Point Elementary Principal Connie Todachinnie, she’s excited to balance the kids and the challenges that come with being a school administrator.
“I’m always excited to see what the new kids are going to bring. But with the changes that we’ve made I’m excited to see our kids grow, not just academically, but in their social-emotional learning.” spoke Todachinnie about this school year,” We’ve focused our interventions and our extension classes to target where our kids are. So I’m looking forward to seeing growth in their social-emotional learning and their academics.”
Principal Todachinnie also spoke on what the Summer was like for the administrators and teachers at Bruin Point,” we started right after school got out with three professional development days to get ready for the next year. My teachers didn’t get out until June, but it was nice. It’s nice to be able to get together with your teachers and your paraprofessionals and get some things straightened out.” She continued,” We also have a new language arts curriculum in our district for kindergarten through fifth grade. So the teachers had to get used to that, get to know it, see how it navigates and start to plan. We also had the Utah Rural Schools Association Conference in Richfield that a lot of teachers attended.”
Todachinnie then took the time to explain some of the changes that are coming to the school this year,” We’ve got two new teachers this year, and so they’ve been in and out all summer trying to get things ready.” Those new teachers are kindergarten teacher Julia Sanders and second-grade teacher Francie Aufdemorte. “I’m also excited about bringing Mrs. Hepworth to our social skills class … we did not get the grant to continue our Rising Raptors program in our district. And because of that we do not have an after-school program this year. So we took her from there and I am excited to see the work that she’s going to be doing with our kids.”
Another change that applies to the entirety of the Carbon School District is the new Kindness, Engaged, Yes Mindset (K. E. Y) program, which aims to recognize district employees and encourage community involvement.” It’s a wonderful way to shout out to our teachers and thank them, our teachers and any district employee, and thank them for what they’ve been doing.” Said Todachinnie of the program.
The last thing Principal Todachinnie wanted to remind people of was a change in date for the school’s back-to-school night, which was moved to Tuesday, Aug. 27 starting at 6 p.m.
For more information and to stay up to date with Bruin Point Elementary, the school can be found on its website or Facebook. For more information on the Carbon School District or to recommend a teacher for the K. E. Y program you can visit their website here.