NIBLEY — On Friday, Sept. 4, Nibley Elementary School became the third of seven elementary schools across the state to host a pilot program of “Opening Ceremonies” celebrating Utah 2034 Champion Schools.
Students marched into the auditorium wearing different colors and carrying class flags.
Amy Garff, chair of the Utah 2034 Education Committee, came to the podium carrying an Olympic torch for the students to see.
“You don’t have to be an athlete to be a champion,” she told the students. “Being a champion is about showing up, working hard, respecting others, persevering through challenges, and believing in what you’re capable of.”
When the program concluded, students marched outside to the grounds on the west side of the building, where they formed the Olympic rings. Each class wore a different color to represent one of the colors of the Olympic rings.
Each student received a fist bump and a book from Chris Lillis, a prominent Olympic freestyle skier who won two Olympic gold medals in the mixed team aerials event.
Matthew Brewer, a Paralympic athlete who specializes in alpine skiing, also joined the students and helped hand out books. Brewer began his journey in alpine ski racing just two years before qualifying for the 2022 Winter Paralympics. He is a bilateral above-the-knee amputee as a result of compartment syndrome.
This fall, 72 elementary schools across seven school districts will have the opportunity to bring the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements to Utah students.
The initiative, powered by Ken Garff for Good, rolls out this fall in 72 elementary schools across seven school districts. The program aims to bring the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements to students throughout Utah.
The program promotes the idea that everyone can be a champion. The platform is an extension of the Ken Garff for Good Literacy Initiative and features lesson plans for teachers, book recommendations and motivational videos featuring Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The literacy initiative encourages classes to track reading minutes for the opportunity to win prizes. Schools can also establish themselves as Champion Schools based on their students’ commitment to reading.
The Ken Garff for Good Literacy Initiative aims to improve the literacy skills and scores of K-6 students through daily reading tracking.
The initiative is dedicated to helping students improve academically and rewarding their educational accomplishments in partnership with their schools. Students who develop independent reading habits at an early age are more likely to achieve their future academic and career goals.
The Champion Schools 34 pilot represents the first phase of a broader education strategy being developed through Utah 2034’s Education Committee.
The 16-member committee brings together leaders from education, business, nonprofit organizations and sports to guide statewide initiatives connecting students and educators to opportunities created along the road to the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic games.