Welcome Back!

We hope you had a wonderful summer. Ours certainly flew by, and we are ending it with such exciting news - we invested almost $1 million dollars in funding for over 60 programs touching nearly every child this past school year!

And, we are starting the year off with more exciting news. We have just awarded over $300,000 in district grants for the 2014 - 2015 school year, the most in our 28-year history! That, along with the $165,000 we awarded for School Site Grants, means we have already committed almost half a million dollars for 2014 - 2015! It's a great way to start the year, with more to come.

This incredible investment into our children's education would not be possible without YOUR support. Every dollar you give at  school registration, to Beat the Call, when buying a Gala ticket or auction item, when Running with Ed, or simply giving, is your chance to improve the education of every child in our district. THANK YOU!

On September 20th, you're invited to paint the town red at The Red Apple Gala, generously hosted by Montage Deer Valley and presented by  Zion's Bank. It's a night of dining, dancing, and debonair, with amazing silent and live auctions. It's Park City's favorite fall party, and best of all, the proceeds benefit PCEF's grant programs!

Tickets are on sale now, but the price goes up on August 29th. Don't wait! The Gala always sells out. Thanks to our generous sponsors and auction donors for making this THE party we all love!

Can't attend? You can still take part by purchasing an opportunity drawing ticket for a red cruiser bike courtesy of Cole Sport, with a basket full of fun extras, like Red Bicycle Bread and Olive and Cocoa flowers.

All high school students have been reading her memoir, 'The Distance Between Us'. Reyna writes about her life before and after illegally emigrating from Mexico to the United States. A National Book Circle Critics Award finalist, 'The Distance Between Us' is an inspirational coming-of-age story about the pursuit of a better life.

Every PCHS/Learning Center student will hear Grande's perspective on writing and the immigrant experience in America in their English classes on the 17th and 18th.

In addition, we invite the entire Park City community to a FREE event on the evening of the 17th, where Grande will speak. Be sure to mark your calendars for 7:00pm in the PCHS Large Lecture Hall.

We are able to offer this college level experience to every high school student thanks to your contributions! 

Like many of us, PCHS Math teacher Eric Janes came to Utah to ski. "I'm from southern California, and I had just come back from playing tennis on the Satellite Tour in France. I realized I just wasn't quite good enough to play professionally. I loved to ski, so I thought I'd try teaching skiing, and I heard Utah was the best. While teaching at Deer Valley, I started tutoring the Park City Ski Team kids in math. They would come back after being gone for two weeks, and I would work with them, getting them caught up. And, I realized I loved teaching!"

"Bob Marsh, who was head of the ski team encouraged me, and I went to the U and got my degree in Math Teaching. Then, when he and Cathy Calhoun started the Winter School, they hired me to be the math teacher. I worked there for 17 years."

Eric still taught skiing at Deer Valley in the winter, but as his two children got older, he wanted to be home on their vacations, especially in the summer. "So, I was able to get a job teaching math at the high school. This will be my 4th year."

When asked about teaching in Park City, Eric replies, "The teachers in this district care so much. I've seen it with my two kids (Dakota, entering the U this fall, and Kasey, a Junior.) If there is an issue, or they're struggling, they do everything in their power to make it work for them. Considering the size of this district, especially compared to smaller schools, that's amazing."

"The best thing about teaching is being with the kids, absolutely. All the rest is secondary. I love it when a student in my class asks a question, and, before I can answer, another student, maybe one who was struggling, says, 'I know how to do that! I can explain it.' That is the best feeling. And, when a kid you taught years ago comes back and tells me he or she majored in math. That's great!"