SAVE THE DATE:
Ensign Elementary Gallery Stroll is on March 15^th 5-8 .pm. Join us for an evening of FUNdraising for the whole family, with student art and performances, food, silent auction, and art activities. All proceeds benefit Ensign’s Arts Enrichment Program. Volunteers are needed to help with the event (planning, setup, and night of), put together an opportunity basket, donate artwork or other items for the silent auction, and collect donations. To volunteer, please contact Lauren McBrier: laurenmcbrier@gmail.com

Students at Ensign Elementary School have enjoyed a double dose of dance this month.  The Repertory Dance Theater dancers performed in an assembly for the entire school, matching their dance moves to whatever the announcer requested.  At the end of the performance, students were invited to join in the performance both in the audience and on stage.

Individual K-3 classes have also been invited to learn and move with the RDT pedagogy program.  Lynne Larson, assistant adjunct professor at the University of Utah, and RDT education director, says the program teaches life skills such as:  creative thinking, team work, cooperation, group movement, and how to think outside the box.  It is also part of the state core curriculum.  “It uses their imagination,” said Kristin Adams, a 2^nd grade teacher at Ensign.  “Every time, they really enjoy it.”  Lots of smiles and laughter coming from the students prove her point.

You are invited to our Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 13, 2 p.m.

Please click here to see the flyer Veterans Day 2018

First and second grade students from Ensign Elementary enjoyed a visit to LDS Hospital on Halloween.  The children wore a fun variety of costumes and made the rounds through hospital corridors to trick-or-treat to staff members.  Principal Jacobson accompanied them, although he was easily mistaken for a famous 1950’s rocker.

First grade teacher Katrina Stratford noted that schools benefit from community partnerships in many ways: “Students not only have the opportunity to see educational pursuits lead to careers, but partnerships help support the school’s student achievement plan.” Ensign students learned that health workers support the needs of community members as well as of students. It was a good combination of fun and learning.

The students were equally enthusiastic.  “It was cool!” said Phillip, from Mrs. Sprague’s class. “I’ve never been there except when I was four and something was wrong with my leg.”

“I was actually born there!” said his classmate Tate. “It was really cool.”

Click here for details on the Extended Learning Program

Dear Ensign Elementary Stake Holders,

Hello! My name is Erik Jacobson, and I have been chosen as the next principal at Ensign Elementary. I would like to say what an honor it is to be chosen to lead such a great school. The more I have learned about Ensign, the more impressed I have been by all the work the community and staff have put into making Ensign the best school possible.

One of the things that drew me to Ensign was the school’s belief in educating the whole child. School is about more than just academics. Students need to be able to think critically about the world around them and then be able to clearly articulate their views and opinions. These are the educational values I see when I look at Ensign, and these are the values I was raised with growing up in rural Wisconsin.           

I was lucky enough to grow up in Portage, Wisconsin, a small town just north of Madison. While growing up there, school was the center of our community. I spent every Friday night at football games and the weekends participating in school-based arts activities. This focus on community is something that was extremely important to me when I was growing up and will be essential to my leadership at Ensign.

After graduating from Portage High School, I attended the University of Minnesota, The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (where I earned my bachelor’s degree), and finally, the University of Utah (where I earned my Master’s degree). I taught 6^th grade at Midvale Elementary and at Glendale Middle School before serving as an Assistant Principal at Northwest Middle School for the past three years.

It has always been my goal to be an elementary school principal, and I am proud and humbled to get to work with you and your students. It is my goal to ensure the best possible education for all of the students of Ensign, and I believe that through open and honest communication, we can work together to reach this goal. If you ever have any concerns, comments, or questions, please do not hesitate to come to me. My door will always be open. I look forward to getting to know you all. See you in August!

Sincerely,

Erik Jacobson

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Heard of ‘Rock’ operas? Well Ensign Kindergarten students just performed one based on the tale of Stone Soup. It tells the story of a group of hungry soldiers returning from war and going door to door looking for food. The villagers learned that by sharing what they could contribute, the whole town benefited. The entire grade learned numerous songs, while others performed solos or in small groups. The rest of the students acted as narrators. They performed once for their fellow students and once for a parent audience. Thank you Ensign Kindergarten students for all your hard work and for putting on a wonderful ‘Rock’ opera!