By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Last spring, hundreds of students and the community turned out to help Edgemont Elementary celebrate its 60th at their annual Grant Event. 

However, this fall, the celebration continues as students will benefit from contributions that were earmarked to bring the school to a 1:1 student-to-device ratio. 

“We have iPads for kindergartners through second grade and Chromebooks for third- through fifth-graders,” Principal Cathy Schino said. “It will help not just with testing, but also for allowing the students to research projects, write, play educational games and create on them. The technology is helping students learn and be engaged.” 

The upgrade was made possible May 18 after the Grand Event’s silent and a live auction[AC1] , emceed by Edgemont School Community Council chair Greg Futrell. The auction, which helped raise its goal of $10,000, also featured items donated by several local businesses.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the community for supporting our students and for coming to be a part of the Grand Event. It really is a special feeling here,” Schino said. 

The ninth annual Grant Event included performances by each grade level and a concert by the orchestra. 

Teachers got involved, volunteering to run multiple game stations including activities such as basketball toss, duck pond, hole in one, ring toss, can toss, disc throw, football toss, fishing pond and treat walk. 

The PTA also sponsored an inflatable obstacle course and organized a student art show, where parents could purchase their children’s artwork. Edgemont student council sold water and snacks.  

Parents, Edgemont alumni and community members also contributed, Schino said.

There were steady lines for youngsters to have their face painted — a booth organized by parent Jaszmine Mayhew — and to get snow cones and cotton candy — organized by a former student.

Another former student, sixth-grader Lily McCauley, returned with her parents, Chelsea and Morgan, and her grandfather to make and launch about 400 commemorative rockets. 

“We’ve made rockets over the years and the design has evolved, but this year we decided to spray paint them silver and include Edgemont’s logo on one side and ‘Celebrating 60 years’ on the other; we made enough so each student could launch and keep one,” Chelsea McCauley said about the sixth time they have helped at the Grand Event. “It’s our excused to do the rockets with all the kids in our neighborhood and to continue to support the school that we love. Everyone comes to the Grand Event and we look forward to seeing each other there.” 

Although the community is supportive of the elementary school, the future of Edgemont is uncertain. With the passing of the $283 tax-neutral million bond earmarked to modernize and upgrade Canyons School District schools in November 2017, voters approved building a White City school, whether it is Edgemont or nearby Bell View or even possibly, combining the two elementary schools — this is yet to be determined. 

“Edgemont had to be the gem of a school in its prime,” Schino said about the school that was built with the support of Kennecott Utah Copper. “It has a such a large campus and the stage is incredible. There are lots of windows that provide natural lighting and the attention to every detail is significant. We have the same doors and cabinetry; it’s high quality that’s stood the test of time. I’ve had grandparents and parents who come in to the school and tell us so many stories. There’s so much pride in Edgemont.”