Welcome back and Happy New Year!
As the calendar turns to January, a new year, and the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains stand a little covered in snow (we need more), we are excited to welcome our students and staff back on campus! We hope your Winter Recess was safe, restful, and filled with the people you love. The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on the progress our students have made since August and to recommit to the strong study habits that lead to success.
Our Primary Goal: Every Day Counts!
As we begin the second half of the year, we remain committed to making every instructional day count. We ask for your continued partnership in reaching our primary goal: Improving student attendance. Meaningful instruction happens every day—Monday through Friday! Please remember:
Attendance Competitions: Grade levels are still competing weekly for the highest attendance percentage.
Consistency is Key: Help your student stay on track by ensuring they are here every day school is in session—including Fridays!
Simple Ways to Partner with Us at Home
To keep our momentum strong through the winter months, please continue to encourage these three simple habits at home:
1. Read Daily (20–30 Minutes): It's a small ask with big rewards! Reading builds vocabulary, develops imagination, and improves concentration. Whether they read independently or you read together, the rewards are immeasurable!
2. Ensure a Good Night’s Sleep: The transition back to a school schedule can be tough. Rested minds are ready minds—help your child get the sleep they need to stay focused.
3. Maintain a Positive Attitude: Remind your student to come to school ready to try their best and, most importantly, to be a kind friend to everyone in our building.
We are so excited to see what our students will achieve in 2026. Let’s work together to make this year our best one yet!
TRANSLATE SKYWARD INTO ANY LANGUAGE
Watch this short YouTube video to find out how. [Traducir SKYWARD al español. Mire este vídeo de YouTube para ver cómo.]
6TH GRADE OPEN HOUSE & PARENT NIGHT @ JOEL P. JENSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 6-7 PM
Incoming 7th graders (current 6th graders) and their parents are invited to explore the middle school, meet teachers and students, practice opening lockers, and enjoy a special message from their administrative team. Joel P. Jensen Middle School is located at 8105 S 3200 W, West Jordan, UT 84088. Parent Night flyer: ENGLISH or EN ESPAÑOL
UTAH FOOD BANK MOBILE PANTRY COMING THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH
Food bags will be available for all Oquirrh families on the 15th. Parents are welcome and encouraged to help carry bags (which can be heavy) either home or to your cars. HERE is the Food Bank's January Flyer.
NO SCHOOL: MONDAY & TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 & 20
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Grade Transmittal Day, there will be no school on Monday & Tuesday, January 19 & 20. We will look forward to having our students back on campus on Wednesday, January 21st. Line-up music plays at 8:52 AM.
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS!
Information and permission slips have been sent home with 4th, 5th, & 6th grade students. If your student would like to participate, but no longer has their permission slip and wants to join in--we would love to have them--all 4th, 5th, & 6th grade students are welcome! Have your student stop by the school library to pick up a permission slip. Students may begin checking out books once they return their permission slips! Click on the Battle of the Books header in the slide show above or the blue Battle of the Books box on the right of our home page for this year's book list. Books are available at the school to check out or through the free SORA app. The final Battle, students vs. teachers, will be in the Spring. The student team won last year--so our teachers are looking to redeem themselves.
A SAFETY REMINDER
We welcome parents at our school and want you to feel like a vital part of our school community. However, in the interest of student safety, all visitors entering the building MUST stop in the office first and get a visitor badge. This includes anyone entering the cafeteria during breakfast hours. You must have valid ID and show it at the office each time you visit the school in order for us to make sure we are only allowing adults in the building who are authorized to be here and have access to students. We also need ID every time you come to check your child out of school. So please don’t leave it in your car, or home even if you have been in the office before!
INFORMATION FROM MRS. ROBINSON
Our school social worker, Mrs. Robinson, has supported many students and their families for many years. As a result of her work, she has put together a list of helpful resources for parents. Her Fall welcome letter is HERE or EN ESPAÑOL. See these stats on the importance of attendance: ATTENDANCE MATTERS or EN ESPAÑOL
BULLYING PREVENTION SEMINAR RECORDING
Jordan School District recently sponsored a one hour bullying prevention seminar through the Cook Center. Several of our school staff members watched it and found it very useful. The seminar was focused on helping families understand bullying and how to support their children. A recording of the seminar is available for free at THIS LINK.
WELLNESS CENTER and IN FOCUS
Oquirrh will support our students socially and emotionally this year using In Focus curriculum. Students face unique challenges, and well-being life skills are critical during these formative years. This curriculum which focuses on well-being helps students develop the skills they need to navigate challenges and build a foundation for success.
Oquirrh opened a fully-staffed Wellness Center in August 2019! Watch a short introduction video HERE to see more about how it works. A 10-minute visit to the Wellness Center gives all students an opportunity to regroup, recharge, and proactively manage their emotions in healthy ways. We understand that learning can be hard work and sometimes the social-emotional part of a child's day can be especially challenging. A trip to the Wellness Center can provide needed support and a safe place for students to prepare to get back to work in their job as students and friends in our school community. In Focus is a curriculum we use to help our students: Learn about emotions and how to manage them; know how to set positive goals and achieve them; develop social skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving; and understand how stress can affect their well-being and learn how to deal with it.
PTA
2025-26 PTA Memberships are available for $7 in the school office or by electronic membership payments. This is a great way to help support our school to help fund field trips and extra curricular activities for our students.
Thank you for your continued support. Please call us with your questions at 801-565-7474 from 8:15-3:45, Monday through Friday.
Jennifer Ludlow
Principal
