A new study found Americans see poor mental health as one of the biggest threats to public health, just behind obesity and the opioid epidemic — more of a societal threat than cancer, COVID 19, or access to firearms. We've also seen that rise in mental health challenges in school age students over the last few years. As we've seen youth of all ages dealing with those challenges, and the cold months drag on, Canyon School District has worked to ensure we have people in place to help.

On the latest episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from two of those people working to help guide our students – Kelly Redican, Prevention Specialist for the District, and Sasha Freed, Canyons Education Therapist and School Social Worker.

“Just knowing and understanding it’s OK to be vulnerable and to express how you feel and that you’re struggling at times too,” says Redican. “I think coming out of the holidays and with winter, especially here when we get that inversion, it’s hard not just for teenagers with all the things they’re dealing with, but adults can really struggle too.”

Episode Chapters

00:56 Meet the Experts: Kelly Redican and Sasha Freed

Our guests share a bit about themselves and the experience they bring to helping Canyons students.

03:28 Support Systems in Schools: Resources and Programs

Canyons has a number of resources in place for not only students but for parents alike. We learn about the experts in place at each school across the District.

06:06 Recognizing Mental Health Signs in Students

Feed tells us about some of the signs parents can look for if their child might be struggling, and how they differ from day-to-day feelings.

11:25 Parental Guidance: How to Talk to Your Kids About Mental Health

Once parents have identified changes in their children, our experts explain how parents can start a dialogue with their child in ways that will make them feel understood. We also learn the next steps parents can take in reaching out to District staff who can help.

Merriam Webster defines the word avid as characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit. That's exactly how students in our five AVID schools pursue their education with the goal of graduating college- and career-ready.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, and it's a research-backed college prep program which is offered at 7,500 schools across the country. Five of those schools are right here in Canyons School District. Eastmont Middle, Mount Jordan Middle, Glacier Hills Elementary, Sandy Elementary, and Jordan High School. Now, Eastmont is leading the charge having just been named an AVID Demonstration School, a rare distinction shared by only 1 percent of the nation’s AVID schools.

In this latest episode of Connect Canyons, Eastmont Principal Stacy Kurtzhals and Instructional Coach Susie Baer Young explain the work that goes into becoming an AVID Demonstration School, and how AVID is changing how teachers teach, and students learn.

Episode Chapters

00:27 Introduction to AVID

We learn what AVID means and how it is used in the classroom.

01:43 Understanding AVID's Impact on Students

Kurtzhals and Young outline how they’ve seen AVID directly impacting students in how they learn and grow.

02:34 Eastmont's Journey to Becoming a Demonstration School

The steps it took for Eastmont to become one of a handful of schools in the country where other educators look to for guidance on how to be an AVID school.

10:29 AVID Elective and College Readiness

We learn about the difference between attending an AVID school and how students can take separate AVID classes.

13:43 Encouraging Parent Involvement

How parents can get involved in their children’s educational journey.

The sparkling tiara of Miss America is within the reach of a Brighton High graduate who has dreamed of winning the title since she was a small girl watching the pageant on television.

Paris Matthews, a 2016 BHS graduate and the current Miss Utah, is doing her final preparations before leaving for Florida to vie for scholarships and the crown. When she crosses the stage in a glittering gown, it will be the realization of a vision she’s had in her head since she practiced her “pageant walk” in her living room as a 4-year-old child.

“At 4 years old, I was mimicking (what I saw on) the TV,” she says, “and I grew up competitively dancing and I did Miss Drill Utah. I just really loved the experience, and I started to think when I turned 19, I wanted to do pageants.”

The competition is Dec. 31-Jan. 5 in Orlando, and Matthews says she plans to take the lessons learned in CSD classrooms and while dancing with the BHS Accadians to the national contest.

Matthews credits Canyons teachers, coaches, and advisers with helping her develop the confidence she needed to pursue her dream of winning the state and, hopefully, the national title. She attended Ridgecrest Elementary and Butler Middle before becoming a Brighton High Bengal. Matthews also spent time as a substitute teacher for CSD.

“My fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Bunderson, is probably one of my biggest inspirations,” Matthews of her former Ridgecrest teacher, Pamela Bunderson, who has since retired.

“She really believed in me when I had little confidence in my academics and that is what really stuck with me for so long,” Matthews said. “Also being part of the drill team is what really, I think, cultivated in my dedication, my perseverance, my grit, my hard work and resilience.”

Matthews also lauds the influence of her drill coach, Chelsea Divine, who now leads Hillcrest’s team, the current 4A state champions. Divine continues to work with Matthews, even choreographing her drill performance for the talent portion of Miss Utah.

Episode Chapters

0:01 Miss Utah Paris Matthews

We introduce our guest show also shares how the last few months have felt as the reigning Miss Utah.

2:24 Miss America – A Professional Development Program

Matthews shares why she believes the Miss America Scholarship Program is a Professional Development Program — and how competing has helped her to grow as a person.

3:44 Empowering Child Life Specialist and Author

Not only is she Miss Utah and, hopefully, soon to be Miss America, but Matthews is a Child Life Specialist at Primary Children’s Hospital. She also tells us about the book she wrote to help children feel safe while in the hospital.

7:33 The Lasting Impact of Growing in Canyons School District

From fourth-grade teachers to drill coaches, Matthews shares how her time as a student in Canyons District helped teach her life-long lessons and develop friendships that continue to this day.

10:04 Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Dreams

It’s a lot of hard work competing for Miss Utah. We learn that Matthews tore a muscle right before the talent portion of the state competition and how her fellow contestants were the ones to help her overcome the injury.

11:55 The Road to Miss America

Matthews now has her eyes set on the Miss America competition in just a few short weeks. Learn how she’s preparing for the pageant.

13:16 Matthews’ Message to Canyons Students

From accepting failure to celebrating achievements, Matthews shares her message to Canyons students about following their dreams.