Episode 150: Welcome to the Brand-New Oak Leaf Elementary School in Herriman

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Excitement is building for students, teachers, and staff as the brand new Oak Leaf Elementary School in Herriman prepares to open for the 2022-23 school year. On this episode of the Supercast, we take you inside for a sneak peek of the new school. That's where we find principal Ronna Hoffman, hard at work, getting ready to welcome students and preparing her rockstar staff for a first year filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

We're here at Oak Leaf Elementary to talk with Ronna and Thyme about opening a new school. This is our newest school in Jordan School District. And that's one of the exciting things about being in Jordan, is that we have lots of growth, and with growth we have lots of opportunities as well. So Ronna, thanks for taking a moment to talk with us.

Ronna Hoffman:
Oh, excited to be here.

Anthony Godfrey:
And Thyme, you're the new Administrative Intern here full time. It's exciting. You get to be part of building a school from the ground up.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
Yes. Very exciting. I'm glad to be here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, we're very glad to have you. Let's just take a bit of a look around in a minute, but first, how does it feel to finally be at this moment? You have not been working in a school for a little while because we needed your help with our literacy program, and so you've been helping lots of schools. How does it feel to get to come back and now get to own a school and to connect to a community?

Ronna Hoffman:
Yeah, I have missed being in a school. I'm so excited. It feels like home and this is going to be home.

Anthony Godfrey:
It is, and I always love coming to see things underway, and this school has shot up. We're working with some great partners who are making it happen very quickly. As I walked up, I noticed that the entryway is similar to our other new elementary schools. It looks just like a Jawa sandcrawler for any of those Star Wars fans out there. You know, the big moving fortress that the Jawa are in. Drive by, you'll know what I'm talking about. But the school looks fantastic. It looks great. So let's just kind of take a walk around now. We've added recently this huge display case. What plans do you have for this display case once everything's done?

Ronna Hoffman:
We want to kind of pay tribute to the history of Oak Leaf. It used to be a dairy farm. This is where a dairy farm was. So we kind of want to just give a history of the spot, the location, the name, and kind of have a display of pictures, start to finish of what the construction was like. Just like a tribute to Oak Leaf.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, I seem to recall in one of the Board meetings, when we were talking about names that a Board member had an old calendar that had Oak Leaf Dairy featured. Do you have that calendar?

Ronna Hoffman:
Oh, we do have that. We got that from Marilyn Richards. She's helped us with the history behind it. And we do have that and we will be displaying that.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now you met me over here at the new school, but really you have been working out of the Auxiliary Services Building, where we keep our new principles away from their building. They keep driving over and looking. I'm sure it's a different feel where you're looking at a new building coming up out of the ground. I remember being a new principal driving by Midvale Middle School, looking at it. It seemed vast, right? It seemed like a city, all its own. Very overwhelming. How does it feel to drive up and see the progress that's been made here?

Ronna Hoffman:
Exciting, really exciting. Though, I have to say, since we've been in the building, my steps, my daily steps have like tripled. So it is a little city.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, it is a little city and it's very different from being in an office. So let's walk around, let's take a tour. You were previously in an older building. How does it feel to be in a new building like this?

Ronna Hoffman:
Totally different, totally different feel. We get a stage here. That's exciting. We didn't have a stage before. The walls, the lights, the space, windows in all of the rooms. It's really exciting.

Anthony Godfrey:
Windows in all of the rooms. Yes, that is a key factor. And when you drive up, I know that there's not really much around you right now, but there's so much growth out here. I like to drive in, visit, and then on my way out count how many new homes have gone up since I arrived.

Ronna Hoffman:
Well, we are getting new students regularly.

Anthony Godfrey:
And how many students do you anticipate having?

Ronna Hoffman:
Around 500 to start.

Anthony Godfrey:
And all these little pieces of blue tape and green tape that I'm seeing on the walls as I walk through, that's kind of the punch list, right? Spots that need to be fixed. And the punch list, violent though it may sound, is just what we accumulate for those who built the building over the course of the year. So they make adjustments and fix things over the year just to make sure it's just right.

Ronna Hoffman:
Yeah. They've been really easy to work with. Really great to work with.

Anthony Godfrey:
And it's Hughes Construction, right?

Ronna Hoffman:
It is Hughes Construction.

Anthony Godfrey:
They've really done an amazing job of keeping this on time and moving things forward. And although you're always watching the calendar and making sure that we hit those marks, I really have not been worried about this school because I know that they've been doing a great job out here.

Well, this is about as calm as the media center's going to get. But we do have some power tools going in here as all of our technology is being put in place. Now we have a pencil at the middle of the media center and that's been true for most of our new elementaries over the years. In the past it said number two on the pencil, but everybody wanted to be number one. So is this a number one pencil?

Ronna Hoffman:
It is absolutely a number one pencil.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. All right. What are some of the features that stand out in this school?

Ronna Hoffman:
Boy, there are so many actually. Windows, like I said, there are a lot of windows. Even in the media center where we are. There are so many shelves. The carpet has colors that match the wings of the school, which is really fun. Our cafeteria has a new floor in it that is different than any other cafeteria in our district.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's remarkable as we were talking about how quickly the school went up and it looks great. As we walk through, what is still remaining to be done? What still needs to get finished before students come?

Ronna Hoffman:
Well, as you can see, looking around, it's hard to believe that we're going to open in less than three weeks. There's a lot of cleanup, last minute touches. We have someone here touching up walls. We have the cafeteria and gym floor that still needs to be in place. We've got a lot of supplies to put away. A lot of furniture to put away. Just details, the baseboards, that kind of thing.

Anthony Godfrey:
But it's looking really close. And like you said, as things get closer, you always kinda wonder how quickly all this can happen, but it's quite miraculous how quickly everyone's able to put things together.

Ronna Hoffman:
We come daily and see amazing progress every day that surprises us.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, I'm standing with you here in the cafeteria and the stage area. You said that the floor is going to be different than in any other elementary. What's that gonna look like?

Ronna Hoffman:
It's going to look the same as the wet areas that are in the classrooms. It will be a little bit textured and a little colorful.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, very nice. Kids will like that. Walking out the back of the school, you just see fields. Can you imagine this filled with homes of your students over the years?

Ronna Hoffman:
I think we're going to see that, yes. It doesn't matter what window you look out, or what doors you go out, I think we've got a beautiful view all the way around the school.

Anthony Godfrey:
You really do. It's gorgeous looking back at the Oquirrh mountains, but let's walk just around the corner. And I think you have a pretty stunning view of the Wasatch front. I remember coming out here at the groundbreaking and you have a gorgeous view of the Wasatch front from here.

Ronna Hoffman:
Yeah, we really do.

Anthony Godfrey:
I see lots of dirt where there will be grass. Do you know how that's going to look by the time students get here?

Ronna Hoffman:
Well, we will hopefully have the grass in by the time students come, but we will have to stay off of it for about a month.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, well that will be a unique challenge. Having kids stand at the edge of the green grass and just look at it longingly.

Ronna Hoffman:
We have a lot of other fun things to do on the blacktop.

Anthony Godfrey:
You do. Let's look at the you know, this is, this is not the playground that I was accustomed to. The metal slides that would burn the back of your legs if you slid down them at just the wrong time. This is a very sophisticated playground situation. This looks great. This is like city park level stuff. You could really play the floor is lava very well with this playground set.

Ronna Hoffman:
And I'm sure kids will.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, did you get any say in picking the colors because we've got yellow and turquoise?

Ronna Hoffman:
I did not get a say in it, but we like it.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think you could probably see this playground from space. And it is next to Kennecott Mine, which you can see from space. So you could probably just look over just a little ways and see that playground.

Ronna Hoffman:
You know, Starlink has come by a few times over the last few days. I'm sure they've got a picture of it somewhere.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure they have pictures of all of us.

Stay with us. When we come back more on what it takes to open a new school and what the new school colors and mascot might be. We'll talk about that next.

Break:
Are you looking for a job right now? Looking to work in a fun and supportive environment with great pay and a rewarding career? Jordan School District is hiring. We're currently filling full and part-time positions. You can work and make a difference in young lives and education as a classroom assistant or a substitute teacher. Apply to work in one of our school cafeterias where our lunch staff serves up big smiles with great food every day. We're also looking to hire custodians and bus drivers. In Jordan School District we like to say people come for the job and enjoy the adventure. Apply today at workatjordan.org.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me, what are your hopes for the first school year at Oak Leaf?

Ronna Hoffman:
Our goal for the first year is to build community and to just become a family and work together, partner with our parents. Just be a very cohesive community that works together for the good of our kids.

Anthony Godfrey:
I have no doubt that that's how it'll feel here. I just know the type of principal you are and that's how it's gonna go. Now, the name Oak Leaf came through a process that we've used for every other school, where we get community feedback on ideas for what the name ought to be. And then we survey and based on those results, then the Board makes a final decision. Have you chosen colors and a mascot yet?

Ronna Hoffman:
No, we're going to let our students do that. So in September, August-September, we will be choosing a mascot and school colors.

Anthony Godfrey:
And that's normally how we do that, which is great because then that means the students who are coming get to be a part of that process. The other thing that's been nice is that the boundaries have been established for longer for Oak Leaf than usual. We did that. We went through that process along with some other boundary changes that needed to happen. And so people have known for a while that they're coming to Oak Leaf and that's probably making it a little easier to build that community initially.

Ronna Hoffman:
Well, we do plan to have everyone feel like family because we're one big family. They have known for a while, but they still miss their old schools. So we're going to have to work hard to become their favorite.

Anthony Godfrey:
And we know that that's part of the equation when we work so hard to make every school a great place to be, then it's always hard to leave. But I know it's gonna be a great place to be. Now Thyme, you are a new administrator in a new building. How does that feel?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
Exciting to say to the least. It's just amazing. Like you said, I come by and drive near this school and just exciting to be here on the ground and just, can't wait to see students in the building.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think it's a great place for you to start as an intern. Not only because you get to work with Ronna, but also because everyone's going to be on a bit of a level playing field. Everybody's new, everybody's figuring it out together and I think that'll really bring you together as a group. People will get a chance to rely on you, right outta the shoot. Instead of you getting to know something that's established, you get to be a part of something right from the ground level.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
Yep. We're all in it together. I love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, where did you come from before Thyme?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
I was at Elk Meadows Elementary before this. I was a fourth grade teacher and I've also taught second grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
What's available to parents when school starts?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
So on August 17th parents and students and their families can come in and teachers will be ready to meet them. They can walk through the school and get to see where they're gonna be sitting for the next school year. So we're excited to have that Back to School night option the day before school starts.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure there's a lot of anticipation, people wanting to get inside the new school.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
Yes, yes. And I don't blame them. It's exciting.

Anthony Godfrey:
It is. I remember going to a new school in fifth grade and it was a brand new school and we were all very excited to be a part of that. How many teachers have you hired so far? And are you all staffed up?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
We are, as of this week, all staffed up. We have three teachers in every grade except for one, we have two teachers.

Anthony Godfrey:
And which grade do you have two teachers?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
We have two teachers in fifth grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Actually three in almost every grade is a great start. That's pretty big actually for a brand new school. And all of your support staff are in place?

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
No, we're still looking for some people. So we are in dire need of copy and recess aids. We know that we utilize those a lot. So we're looking for those, as well as some nutrition workers and a couple of Walk to Read assistants. We're looking for those too.

Anthony Godfrey:
All positions where you get to know great people and get to interact with kids. And it's a great time.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
Yes. Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:
Anyone who wants to come and work with Thyme and Ronna in a brand new school, come on over and check it out.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
We'd love to have you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, thank you very much for the tour and the time here at Oak Leaf. It's great to get to chat with you both on the cusp of a fresh new year, straight out of the package.

Ronna Hoffman:
Thank you, Anthony. It was fun to have you here.

Thyme Meleisea-Vea:
It was exciting to walk through the school with you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember ,education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.