Good luck to our friends at the Weber School Foundation as they kick off their annual Christmas Tree Jubilee this week! Be sure to stop by the tree room to see all the amazing trees and wreaths for sale, including this one donated by the Ogden School Foundation and decorated by the Ogden School District Special Education Department. Did you know WSF provides up to $10,000 each year from tree and wreath sales to support Special Education students in the Ogden School District? We’re grateful to WSF for continuing to honor the spirit in which this event was originally created years ago. We’re proud to share in the important work of supporting education and all of the students in our community alongside our colleagues in our neighboring school district.
We are so grateful for the incredible community partners who show up for our students! Today, we celebrated the official Ribbon Cutting for the newly named Wasatch Peaks Credit Union Food Pantries, located inside our Student Support Centers. It was so great to come together and recognize the generosity of Wasatch Peaks in providing funding for these pantries. The ceremony was held at the Family Support Center at Odyssey Elementary School, but Wasatch Peaks’ support also extends to our other Student Support Centers at Ben Lomond High School, Ogden High School, and OTECH High School .
This funding will help sustain ongoing pantry needs, ensuring we can continue meeting some of the most essential needs of our students and families. These pantries are being utilized often, but it is only through the support of our community that we are able to provide these resources and remove barriers so students can be successful in the classroom. So thank you, Wasatch Peaks, for not only stepping up, but for setting such a meaningful example of community care.
This funding will help sustain ongoing pantry needs, ensuring we can continue meeting some of the most essential needs of our students and families. These pantries are being utilized often, but it is only through the support of our community that we are able to provide these resources and remove barriers so students can be successful in the classroom. So thank you, Wasatch Peaks, for not only stepping up, but for setting such a meaningful example of community care.
Congratulations to Shasta Moses, Shadow Valley Elementary's winner of the Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award for the 24-25 school year! A few of her nominations include:
-She is such a great teacher. Gets to know her students and helps to get them what they need when starting out on their school journey.
-Shasta is an amazing teacher, she knows the curriculum and standards well and she uses that knowledge to help her students learn and grow. She is a great leader in her team and helps and shares her ideas with others.
-Shasta is an outstanding teacher. She teaches Kindergartners and brings them in, many who have not had any time away from their own home, and teaches them how to start a life long love of learning.
-I have enjoyed working with Shasta and teaching her students. She has gone above and beyond by assisting me with finding new Kindergarten music activities, and I can see how much her students love learning from her.
-She is such a great teacher. Gets to know her students and helps to get them what they need when starting out on their school journey.
-Shasta is an amazing teacher, she knows the curriculum and standards well and she uses that knowledge to help her students learn and grow. She is a great leader in her team and helps and shares her ideas with others.
-Shasta is an outstanding teacher. She teaches Kindergartners and brings them in, many who have not had any time away from their own home, and teaches them how to start a life long love of learning.
-I have enjoyed working with Shasta and teaching her students. She has gone above and beyond by assisting me with finding new Kindergarten music activities, and I can see how much her students love learning from her.
“Watching something happen on a video is exciting and educational. Making something happen in a lab is unforgettable!” That’s how BLHS science teacher Mrs. Williams opened her grant application, explaining that students don’t just want to watch someone else run experiments on a screen, they want to "do science" themselves. Since Mrs. Williams is launching a new AP Biology class at BLHS, she turned to the Classroom Grants Program for help outfitting her lab with a blueGel electrophoresis system, giving her students the chance to genetically engineer bacteria and make them glow in the dark. Through hands-on scenarios, her students are now exploring cutting-edge biotechnology tools such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, and even CRISPR. These experiences show them that they truly can become the next generation of scientists, making discoveries and changing the world through science.
“Saying thank you does not seem like enough,” Mrs. Williams shared. “Your generous donation will help change the education of my students and may lead to a positive change in their lives. Thank you for giving them a real scientific lab experience in our classroom.”
“Saying thank you does not seem like enough,” Mrs. Williams shared. “Your generous donation will help change the education of my students and may lead to a positive change in their lives. Thank you for giving them a real scientific lab experience in our classroom.”
Congratulations to Special Education Preschool teacher Sarah Price, 24-25 winner of the Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award! A few highlights from her nomination include:
- As a Special Education Preschool Teacher, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create an environment where each child can thrive. Her dedication to individualized instruction and her integration of the S.T.A.R. program into the daily schedule has made a profound impact on the lives of her students. By embedding these skills into the classroom routine, she is helping her students build essential skills that are critical for their development.
- Sarah is a true advocate for her students and parents by sharing strategies and insights that empower them to continue supporting their children’s growth at home. Her teamwork and dedication extend beyond the classroom, creating a strong network of support for her students.
- She is a true champion of her students and a role model for educators.
- As a Special Education Preschool Teacher, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create an environment where each child can thrive. Her dedication to individualized instruction and her integration of the S.T.A.R. program into the daily schedule has made a profound impact on the lives of her students. By embedding these skills into the classroom routine, she is helping her students build essential skills that are critical for their development.
- Sarah is a true advocate for her students and parents by sharing strategies and insights that empower them to continue supporting their children’s growth at home. Her teamwork and dedication extend beyond the classroom, creating a strong network of support for her students.
- She is a true champion of her students and a role model for educators.
Ogden School Foundation board members and staff spent the morning volunteering at Odyssey Elementary with Catholic Community Services of Utah as part of their Bridging the Gap program. Bridging the Gap is a mobile food distribution program that visits local elementary schools to provide students with extra food to take home for the weekend. We’re so grateful for CCS and all they do for Ogden School District students and families!
Hope to see you tomorrow night at the Pack + Party at Weber State’s Davis Campus! It’s a great opportunity to get involved and support students in our community. We’re so grateful to our friends at The Policy Project for all they do for Utah’s students and families!
Want to make an even bigger impact? The Policy Project is forming Impact Teams across the state to understand local needs, build connections, and help put policies into action. To join the Weber County Impact Team and make a real difference, contact Jayden Davis at jayden@thepolicyproject.org.
Want to make an even bigger impact? The Policy Project is forming Impact Teams across the state to understand local needs, build connections, and help put policies into action. To join the Weber County Impact Team and make a real difference, contact Jayden Davis at jayden@thepolicyproject.org.
WE SCARE BECAUSE WE CARE! Happy Halloween from our Ogden School Foundation team! Have a fun and safe night, Ogden! (And don't forget to file your paperwork...)
Mrs. Clow, music teacher at Polk Elementary, is passionate about giving her students a deeper understanding of music. But without a piano, a foundational instrument in any music room, it was challenging for students to fully grasp concepts like harmony, solfege, composition, and melodic patterns. Enter the Ogden School Foundation 's Classroom Grants Program! Thanks to this foundation funding, a beautiful new digital piano soon found its way to her classroom, opening the door to countless creative opportunities. Students are now composing, experimenting, and singing with a whole new level of confidence, and are well on their way to becoming pitch perfect!
“I am so grateful to have been gifted this beautiful digital piano!” said Mrs. Clow. "The first week of students walking in and seeing this brand-new beautiful instrument was so special. The excitement on their faces, and the anticipation in their comments was truly joyful to experience. I can’t thank you enough for your role in providing that. This piano is already making such a difference, and I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
“I am so grateful to have been gifted this beautiful digital piano!” said Mrs. Clow. "The first week of students walking in and seeing this brand-new beautiful instrument was so special. The excitement on their faces, and the anticipation in their comments was truly joyful to experience. I can’t thank you enough for your role in providing that. This piano is already making such a difference, and I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
The biggest thank you to Dutch Bros Coffee! Their Buck 4 Kids Day last month raised an incredible $4,304.91 for the Ogden School Foundation, supporting students across the Ogden School District. We’re so grateful to Dutch Bros and their amazing customers for showing up for our schools. We felt the love in every cup poured!
Congratulations to AbiGayle Neil, 2024–25 Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award winner, formerly at Bonneville Elementary and now teaching at Hillcrest! Here are a few of Ms. Neil’s nominations:
-She works hard to support all her students and helps to bridge their gaps in learning.
-Abi Neil continuously utilizes "best practices" to help her students achieve the high standards that she sets. Her students continue to flourish in the safe learning environment that she provides.
-Abi goes above and beyond to ensure her students are successful inside and outside of the classroom. She is always trying to find ways to make the learning fun and relevant to her students.
-Ms. Neil has helped my daughter in many aspects. My daughter loves math and going to school because of Ms. Neil. She teaches with love, compassion and structure. She is creative and dedicated. My daughter comes from school with a smile in her face.
We just received the kindest letter from Sy Montgomery about her visit to Ogden for our Fall Author Event! She was so impressed with our community, and we can’t blame her! We’re so lucky to be surrounded by such dedicated supporters. Read Sy’s full letter (and letters from many of our past authors) at the link below.
https://www.ogdenschoolfoundation.org/o/ogdenschoolfoundation/page/author-letters
https://www.ogdenschoolfoundation.org/o/ogdenschoolfoundation/page/author-letters
29 years and counting! We just moved our 2025 Fall Author to our past authors webpage, and WOW! What a lineup through the years! From legendary sci-fi writers to documentary filmmakers, from celebrated historians to professional athletes (and just about everything in between!), it's been an amazing journey. Thank you, Ogden, for showing up and supporting our students every single year!
We’re so grateful for our amazing community partners! America First Credit Union stopped by Ben Lomond High School today to surprise every BLHS staff member with a new HydroJug and a Swig appreciation card good for a drink and a cookie, just to say thank you for all they do to support their students every day. Gestures of community support like this mean so much, and we can’t say enough about how much we appreciate both our incredible district staff and the organizations and community members who show up for them. Thank you!
Congratulations to Ogden School Foundation Board Member Suzanne Lindquist, who was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Weber State University Alumni Association at last week’s WSU Salutes Award Ceremony! Suzanne has been a longtime champion of education in Ogden and is endlessly generous in her service to our community. We’re so grateful to have her as part of our Foundation family and so glad we got to celebrate this well-deserved honor with her!
Our amazing Fall Author Event last week would not have been possible without the generous sponsors who continue to invest in the students and staff of the Ogden School District. We are so grateful for all of those who join us in prioritizing education here in our community. THANK YOU!
The Ogden High Unified Sports Soccer Team is in Salt Lake City today competing in the Special Olympics Unified Sports State Soccer Tournament. Out of 178 Unified teams across Utah, Ogden High is one of just 24 teams competing. Amazing! Go Tigers!
Thank you to everyone who let us take their picture in the community photo area! See the full album on our Facebook Page.
Our 2025 Fall Author Event was… well, let’s just say it was a little WILD! These past few days have been nothing short of unforgettable, from our incredible gala dinner last night to our student assembly this morning. Best-selling author and animal adventurer Sy Montgomery wowed our sold-out crowd on Thursday, sharing thrilling (and sometimes hair-raising!) stories from her animal encounters across the globe and right in her own backyard. From the life lessons she learned from her beloved pig Christopher Hogwood to marveling at the brilliance of her octopus friend Octavia, Sy left us all with a renewed sense of reverence and wonder for the animal kingdom and our place in it. Truly magical. This morning, Sy spent time with our ten student essay contest winners, diving into their writing and lighting up with excitement over the animal facts they had uncovered. “I’m learning so much about animals from YOU!” she told them. From there, she took the stage in front of more than 1,000 5th and 6th graders from across the district, sharing jaw-dropping turtle facts of every kind—including the story of her friend Fire Chief, a 42-pound snapping turtle she helped save after a car accident six years ago. Students were so invested in his story that they gasped and cheered when they saw Fire Chief's photo today—alive, thriving, and happily paddling around the pond next to her house. This assembly was definitely one for the books! Sy Montgomery has been one of the most fascinating, fun, and joy-filled guest authors we’ve hosted in our 29 years of this event. Her generosity, humility, and gracious spirit made her an absolute delight to welcome into our community. We feel so lucky to have met her.
IT'S HAPPENING! We've taken over the Conference Center, the decorations are going up, and that can only mean one thing: the Fall Author Event is here! If you've ever attended this event before then you know that our decorating crew does not hold back—and this year is no exception! We can’t wait to take it all in and hear from the amazing Sy Montgomery with our ticket holders tomorrow night. It's going to be one for the books! (And do we have the best board members or what?!)
