It’s game time for students in the Jordan School District as the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) approves Esports as an official activity starting in the 2025-26 school year.

The UHSAA Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Thursday, March 28, to formally recognize Esports as a sanctioned activity, providing a structured platform for students across 156 member high schools to participate in Esports competitions.

“It’s good to see recognition coming their way. We’ve been fighting for this for almost a decade,” said Tabor Redford, a Physics/Chemistry teacher and Esports Assistant Coach at Herriman High School. “It’s good news to have this sanction because it opens up a lot more doors for us.”

Herriman’s Esports team competes in League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch, Valorant, Splatoon 2, and Minecraft.

“Most of the games I’ve played and tried, I’m not very good at them,” Redford said while one of his students shouted “Amen!” in the background.

It has yet to be decided which games will be in the sanctioned Esports arena. Still, the UHSAA hopes this decision will bring students together in new ways.

“By embracing Esports as an official activity, we hope to provide students with opportunities for growth and personal development both on and off the virtual battlefield,” said Rob Cuff, Executive Director of the Utah High School Activities Association.

“It’s awesome and important to include something so widespread, rapidly growing, and competitive,” said student Caleb Griner, the state’s Super Smash Bros champion.

Beginning in Jan. 2025, Utah high school students will represent their schools in Esports competitions, with the inaugural season stretching until April.

In the meantime, Herriman High School streams its Esports games online. You can watch live and recorded games

• Herriman High Esports Twitch Page
• Herriman High Esports YouTube Channel

Jordan School District invites you to an Empowering Parents Conference focused on your child’s mental health and well-being. Join us on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Riverton High School.

This conference, hosted by the Health & Wellness program in Student Services, brings together professionals and education experts to share their knowledge and equip you with the tools to support your child’s well-being. This conference offers free, short, 30-minute classes for parents/guardians of K-12 students, including topics on mental health, autism, internet safety, grief, wellness habits, healthy relationships, happiness, stress reduction, school success and more.

At this conference you can:

• Expect to gain practical strategies to support your child’s well-being beyond school.
• Visit with Various Resource Tables and Community Connections.
• Leave with information and skills to support your student(s) both at home and in school.

This event is designed to empower YOU!

We look forward to partnering with you in supporting your child’s success.

Estimados padres,

El Distrito Escolar de Jordan lo invita a una Conferencia de Empoderamiento de Padres centrada en la salud mental y el bienestar de su hijo. Únase a nosotros el jueves 10 de abril de 2024, de 5:30 a 8 p.m. en Riverton High School.

Esta conferencia, organizada por el programa de Salud y Bienestar de Servicios Estudiantiles, reúne a profesionales y expertos en educación para compartir sus conocimientos y equiparlo con las herramientas para apoyar el bienestar de su hijo. Esta conferencia ofrece clases cortas y gratuitas de 30 minutos para padres/tutores de estudiantes K-12, que incluyen temas sobre salud mental, autismo, seguridad en Internet, dolor, hábitos de bienestar, relaciones saludables, felicidad, reducción del estrés, éxito escolar y más.

En esta conferencia podrás:

• Esperar obtener estrategias prácticas para apoyar el bienestar de su hijo más allá de la escuela.
• Visite varias tablas de recursos y conexiones comunitarias.
• Salga con información y habilidades para apoyar a sus estudiantes tanto en el hogar como en la escuela.

¡Este evento está diseñado para empoderarte!

Esperamos colaborar con usted para apoyar el éxito de su hijo.

A 5^th grade student at Butterfield Canyon Elementary School and one at Oak Leaf Elementary School received the surprise of a lifetime when police showed up to invite them, and all of their  classmates to step outside.

Butterfield Canyon student, Jaeden Allen, and Oak Leaf Elementary student Cage Hales were two of hundreds who entered an art contest sponsored by the Herriman Police Department D.A.R.E. program. The contest challenged elementary school students to come up with a new design, using their art skills, to create the coolest looking D.A.R.E. cars out there. The winning designs were placed on the entire exterior of two separate Herriman Police D.A.R.E. vehicles.

On Wednesday, police brought the D.A.R.E. vehicles with their new looks to Butterfield Canyon and Oak Leaf Elementary Schools. They covered the cars with a parachute, and then invited the winning students and their classmates outside for the big surprise. Everyone was treated to the unveiling of the cool D.A.R.E. cars with the winning student artwork.

After the unveiling, police threw a pizza party for Jaeden and Cage to celebrate the occasion.