I am continually grateful for the time, energy, and love our families donate to Cottonwood. Whether you volunteer in a classroom, help with a special activity, or find other ways to support our school, you make a difference. We are so lucky to have such an incredible group of parents, and I appreciate each of you more than you know!

Recently, students brought home their report cards, giving families a snapshot of the progress they are making this year. Granite School District’s Proficiency-Based Learning model helps us understand what students know and can do at this point in the year. Every child grows at their own pace, and we are proud of the progress our Condors are making! If you have questions about your child’s report card or would like ideas for supporting their learning at home, please reach out to their teacher. We are always happy to work together to help your child succeed!

As the weather gets colder, please remember to send your child to school dressed for the weather. Coats, hats, mittens or gloves, snow pants, and sturdy footwear help ensure students can enjoy recess comfortably and safely. On especially cold or stormy mornings, when the “Real Feel” temperature drops to 20°F or below, students may come inside beginning at 8:15 a.m. Staff members will be available to help students enter the building safely.

A quick reminder about being on time! Learning begins right at 8:35 a.m., and arriving on time gives students a chance to settle in, get organized, and be ready to learn with their classmates. Even a few minutes can make a difference in starting the day successfully. Thank you for helping your child build this important habit. Every minute of learning matters!

A Reminder About School Safety: All parents and visitors must check in at the main office and obtain a visitor badge before entering the building. Please remember to bring your photo ID, as it is required to be shown at the camera before you can enter the building. Thank you for helping us keep our Cottonwood students and staff safe!

November is also a wonderful time to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for. At Cottonwood, I am grateful for our dedicated teachers and staff, our supportive families, and, most of all, our incredible students who bring so much energy, curiosity, and joy to our school each day. I feel so fortunate to be part of a community where people care about one another and work together to help children succeed.

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, I hope your family finds time to slow down, enjoy the little things, make special memories, and appreciate the people who make life wonderful. Thank you for your continued partnership, your support of our school, and the trust you place in us each day. Being your principal is a true joy, and I am so thankful to be part of the Cottonwood family!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful November and a happy Thanksgiving!

With Love,

Principal Cooper

I also want to extend a huge thank-you to our Cottonwood families for your generous support of our school fundraiser! Your donations make a real difference. If you missed your opportunity to donate during our fundraiser, it’s not too late! You are always welcome to make a donation through our main office by cash or check. We are also happy to provide a receipt for your in-kind donations.

Every dollar helps support the many wonderful programs, experiences, and activities that make Cottonwood such a special place for children. Your generosity helps us provide opportunities that enrich our students’ school experience, and we are incredibly grateful for your support. Together we raised over $12,000 to support our school!

Fall Weather is Here!

As we head into the fall season, please remember to send your children to school dressed appropriately for the weather. Utah weather can change quickly! We can wake up to sunshine and mild temperatures, only to find ourselves facing chilly—and sometimes downright bitter cold—weather just an hour or two later.

As the saying goes: Prepare for the worst and hope for the best! Please consider sending students with layers, jackets, and other weather-appropriate clothing so they are comfortable and ready to learn throughout the day.

Most importantly, I want you to know how much I truly love and appreciate this Cottonwood community. Our students bring energy, laughter, curiosity, and joy into our building every day. Our teachers pour their hearts into their work. Our support staff continually step up to care for and encourage our students. And our parents partner with us, cheer for their children, volunteer, donate, communicate, and support our school in countless ways.

Every single one of you makes Cottonwood what it is.

There is something incredibly special about walking through our doors each morning and knowing that we are surrounded by people who care deeply about children. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to be your principal and to spend my days with the incredible students and adults who make Cottonwood Elementary such a wonderful place to be.

Thank you for sharing your children with us. Thank you for supporting our teachers. Thank you for supporting our school. And thank you for helping make Cottonwood a place where children can learn, grow, belong, and thrive.

Principal Cooper

have been so impressed with them! They have jumped into new routines, worked hard, and brought so much energy and excitement to our school. We have hit the ground running, and I am forecasting great things ahead!

A quick reminder as we settle into our routines: school begins at 8:35—not 8:40. Our new master schedule is designed to maximize learning, which means instruction begins the moment the bell rings.

Please plan for your child to arrive to school no later than 8:30 so they can start the day off on the right foot without a rush. Those extra few minutes in the morning can make a big difference in starting the day calmly and successfully.

Regular attendance matters too! Every day and every minute of learning counts. Please avoid coming late and checking out early.

As we head into a new school year, here are a few reminders I love:

“Children don’t need perfect parents. They need present parents.”

Ask your child about their day, but instead of only asking “How was school?”, try:

• What was the best part of your day?
• What made you laugh today?
• What was something that was tricky?
• Who did you help today?
• What is something new you learned?

And remember, connection before correction. Kids will have hard days, make mistakes, and sometimes come home with a very dramatic version of what happened at school. Sometimes the best first response is simply to listen, hug them, and remind them that tomorrow is a new day.

So let’s make September the month we recommit to the basics: be here, be on time, be ready to learn, and make every day count.

Because at Cottonwood, we don’t just hope for great things for our kids—we show up and help make them happen.

I truly love Cottonwood Elementary. I love our students, our dedicated staff, and this incredible community. It is a privilege to serve as your principal.

Our teachers are simply the best, and I am thrilled to welcome two new teachers to our Cottonwood family. After getting to know them, I know they will be a wonderful addition to our school. Thank you for the trust and support you give us each year. I am grateful to partner with you in helping every child learn, grow, and succeed.

One goal I hope every family will embrace this year is making school a top priority. Preparing the night before by packing backpacks and lunches, laying out clothes, and setting shoes by the door can make mornings less stressful and help students start each day ready to learn.

As we begin the year, please remember that new routines often bring big emotions. Tummy aches, headaches, tears, and nervous feelings are all a normal part of starting school. We promise to take great care of your children while they are with us and help them navigate the big feelings, the little feelings, and everything in between.

Please continue to help us keep students safe by following our drop-off and pick-up procedures. For everyone’s safety, students should only enter or exit vehicles after the first crosswalk, always use the sidewalk side of the car, and drivers must remain in their vehicles. If you need to assist your child, please pull into a parking space. You can watch our quick traffic video here: Traffic Video (Youtube).

Breakfast is served daily from 8:05–8:30 a.m. for $0.90, and lunch is available for $1.50. School menus are available at Lunch Menu (Website).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram @CottonwoodEL and bookmark our website for the latest news and reminders. And please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher with questions, concerns, or kudos..

Thank you for being such an important part of the Cottonwood family. Welcome back, and let’s make this our best year yet!

Love, Mrs. Cooper

With each new year comes change—and that’s not a bad thing. I recently came across a quote that really resonated with me: “In times of change, it’s easy for worry or rumors to grow. But when we lead with kindness, choose optimism, and trust one another, we build a community that supports every child.” Thank you for helping us stay focused on what matters most.

I invite each of you to welcome the changes ahead with a positive outlook. We have some staffing updates for next year that we’re excited to share. I, too, am embracing these changes knowing that great things happen when we work together.

We will have a few staff changes next year. First, I would like to share our goodbyes:

• Miss Kelly Gilchrist, one of our outstanding 4th grade teachers, will be retiring. Thank you for your many years of service—you will always be a part of Cottonwood!
• Ms. Bri Fullmer will be moving to Jordan School District. We are grateful for the time she spent with us and wish her the very best as she moves closer to home.
• Miss Kate Hatch will be getting married this summer and beginning new adventures in her educational career. We wish her all the happiness in this exciting new chapter.

We are also excited to welcome new staff members to Cottonwood:

• Mrs. Barbara Dodson will be joining our 1st grade team. She comes highly recommended, and we are thrilled to have her join our Cottonwood family.
• Mrs. Emily Kordakis will be joining our 4th grade team. She also comes with glowing recommendations, and we are confident she will be a wonderful addition.

We are excited about these changes and the positive impact each of these educators will have on our students. We look forward to the 2026–2027 school year and embracing these changes together—with hope and smiles.

Below is our tentative grade-level teaching assignments for next year:

• Kindergarten: Mrs. Bench & Mrs. Hyland
• 1st Grade: Mrs. Dodson & Mrs. Gleave
• 2nd Grade: Miss Blackham & Mrs. Woolf
• 3rd Grade: Ms. Butler & Mrs. Koloc
• 4th Grade: Miss Holmes & Mrs. Kordakis
• 5th Grade: Mrs. Alamo & Miss Williams

As you begin preparing for next year, please watch your email over the summer for important information. All students—both new and returning—must complete registration through your online Focus account. Teacher placements will be available after registration is completed. The first day of school is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12th.

We also encourage you to review the district calendar on the district website (a copy is enclosed). Our school calendar will be updated throughout the summer as needed.

As we look ahead, we will continue working to improve attendance and reduce tardies. Being at school and on time each day is essential to your child’s academic and social success. Thank you for supporting an “education first” mindset at home.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful final month of school and have a fantastic summer!

Report cards were sent home a few weeks ago. If you haven’t seen your child’s yet, please check backpacks. You can also access grades through your Granite Parent FOCUS account. It’s hard to believe we have already begun the last grading period of the school year! The start of a new quarter is the perfect time to set goals and finish the year strong. The final months of school are always busy and seem to go by quickly.

March Madness attendance was a lot of fun! Thank you for your efforts to get your children to school on time. Our teachers loved being able to start the day right away and keep the learning going without interruption. Now that you’re in the habit, let’s keep it going for the rest of the year! Each month we will continue celebrating the class with the best overall attendance with fresh, warm cookies from Chip. Remember that tardies and early checkouts affect class attendance percentages—so you’ve got to be in it to win it! These final months are important, and we have many fun things planned.

End of year testing for all grade levels will begin shortly after students return from Spring Break. It is very important that students are present and able to test with their class. Experience shows that students tend to perform better when they take the assessment with their classmates rather than during a make-up session. If you need to schedule a medical appointment in the coming weeks, please check with your child’s teacher to see when your grade level will be testing.

Here are a few ways you can help your student during testing:

• Get a good night’s rest • Maintain a positive attitude

• Eat a healthy breakfast • Arrive at school on time

I am confident our students will do well. They have worked incredibly hard this year and have grown so much. They truly are scholars!

With warmer weather, we have seen an increase in dogs on campus and, unfortunately, dog waste left behind. This is frustrating for everyone, especially when students step in it during recess or while walking to school. If you see anyone with an off-leash dog on school grounds at any time, please report it to Unified Police at 801-840-4000. You may also contact Granite School District Police at 801-481-7122.

As always, thank you for being such wonderful partners in education. I truly love and appreciate your students!

Please email Mrs. Kelly Franz at kfranz@graniteschools.org or call the office as soon as possible if your family is moving or your child will not be returning. While we appreciate families sharing this information with teachers, those messages do not always reach the office, so we kindly ask that you notify us directly as well.

This is the time of year when parents start wondering what next year will look like. For the upcoming school year, we are changing things up! We will no longer be offering Learning Environment Forms. Families who have special circumstances or important information they would like considered regarding their child’s placement may sign up for an in-person meeting with Mrs. Cooper and our Dean of Students, April Foyston.

Please note that emails, written letters, or placement requests submitted in writing will not be considered. All discussions regarding student placement needs must take place in person during a scheduled meeting. These conversations are intended for us to learn more about you and your child and to share important information about your child’s academic, social, or emotional needs. We are unable to honor requests for specific teachers, or not to have specific teachers. We have amazing supports at Cottonwood and our goal is to help your child learn, grow, and be successful!

We are fortunate to have AMAZING teachers at Cottonwood, and students benefit greatly from experiencing a variety of teaching and learning styles with a variety of different student dynamics in classrooms. If you feel you need to meet please use this link to sign up: Link to Calendar

I truly love this school, I love your children, and I genuinely love the work I get to do each day. Watching our students learn, grow, and support one another is the best part of my job.

I deeply appreciate the partnerships I am forming with our families. Open communication helps me continue to make Cottonwood a place where every child feels seen, known, and supported. I always welcome conversations with parents, whether you would like to share a concern, ask a question, or celebrate the wonderful things you see happening in our school. Your voice and partnership matter, and together we make Cottonwood an incredible place for children to learn and thrive.

We also appreciate your help with drop off and pick up. Students should arrive no earlier than 8:15AM, and really no later than 8:33AM. They should be picked up within 8 minutes after dismissal, as staff supervision is limited before and after school. If you have unique circumstances, please reach out.

As third term continues, thank you for your ongoing support of our students and teachers. Your commitment to regular attendance, being on-time, and preparedness truly makes a difference. Please remember that Fridays are full academic learning days, and learning begins at the first bell each morning.

Our teachers are looking forward to connecting with families during SEP Conferences. If you haven’t scheduled a time yet, and need help, please contact the office, we are striving for 100% participation! The window to schedule closes on Friday, February 6th.

We will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Thursday, February 12th (no school on Friday, February 13th). All Valentines must be store-bought so every child can participate. If you need assistance with Valentines or boxes, please contact me—I’m happy to help!

Finally, please be sure to read the newsletter in its entirety, check our school website and calendar for the most up-to-date information, and follow us on Instagram to stay connected with all the wonderful things happening at Cottonwood.

I truly love each and every student and family at Cottonwood. Thank you for being such supportive partners in your child’s education. My door is always open (most of the time!), and I love visiting with parents! Please stop by anytime!

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year! When students return on Wednesday, January 7, we will begin Term 3—time truly does fly.

As we plan for the 2026–2027 school year, it’s very important that we have accurate enrollment numbers as soon as possible. If you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2026 and plan to attend kindergarten at Cottonwood next year, please contact Kelly Franz in our office right away (385-646-4798 | kfranz@graniteschools.org). If you know neighbors with a qualifying child, we’d appreciate you passing this along. Our kindergarten program is full day.

We also need to know if your family plans to move and will not be attending Cottonwood next year. If so, please notify the office as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.

Families who live outside our boundaries must complete a USOE Open Enrollment Application to attend Cottonwood. The application is available on our website and must be submitted electronically by Friday, February 6.

With winter officially here, please be sure students are dressed warmly so they can enjoy time outside. We keep students indoors if temperatures (actual or real-feel) drop below 20° or if air quality is poor. If your family needs assistance with winter clothing, please reach out—we are happy to help.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I truly love being the principal of Cottonwood and feel so lucky to spend my days with your children and our incredible staff. We are looking forward to a wonderful second half of the school year.

Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Love, Principal Cooper

We are collecting gift cards to local stores (Walmart, Target, Macey’s, Smiths, etc.) to support 8 families (12 children) this holiday season. Any help is appreciated. Gift cards can be turned into the main office between now and December 12th.

As the weather turns cold, please send students in warm, appropriate clothing. We go outside for recess unless temperatures are unsafe.

Winter break begins at 1:15 PM on Friday, December 19th, and school resumes on Wednesday, January 7th.

I want you to know how deeply grateful I am to be part of this community. I love our students! They bring joy, energy, and purpose to every day. Cottonwood is more than just a school to me – it’s a family. The staff, the parents, and the children make this a truly special place and I am honored to serve as your principal. Thank you for trusting us with your children and contributing to the warmth and strength of this remarkable community!

Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season!

With Love,
Principal Cooper