While from the purpling east departs 
The star that led the dawn,
Blithe Flora from her couch upstarts,
For May is on the lawn…
-William Wordsworth

It’s May!

The lovely month of May! We celebrated MayDay (May 1st) with our Founder’s Day celebration, which included a lively presentation of the May Pole dance. Students from early childhood through upper elementary jauntily danced about a decorative pole, creatively lacing their colorful streamers, weaving a beautiful pattern as they moved in and out of each other and circled around the pole. What could be finer than a beautiful day in May as children dance merrily around the MayPole!

My, how the school year has flown. As birdlings leave their nests, students prepare to fly off for summer vacations, advancements, and even graduations. But before we take flight, there are a few fun things ahead…

Come see the Secondary Spring Showcase on Thursday, May 15th, starting at 5:30 PM. Students will showcase school projects, performances, and an art gallery. Then they will top the evening off with their annual Film Festival! 

The following week will be the last week of school with an event scheduled nearly every day that week. Melou Stewart-Cline’s students will present the “Share-sical” on Tuesday, May 20th at 4:00 PM. 

Then, the next day, Wednesday, May 21st, we will have our High School Graduation ceremony from 1:00-2:00 PM in the black box at the Primary campus. This will include an Advancement recognition for our 8th grade students.

The following evening, Thursday, May 22nd, you won’t want to miss our annual Hello Summer Fair from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Primary School! The last day of school will be Friday, May 23rd, when we will honor our 6th grade students with their Bridging to Middle School ceremony at 10:00 AM and the Kindergarten students with their own Bridging ceremony at 1:30 PM.

Cheers!  

Gail S Williamsen

May Events

🎉 Say Hello to Summer at Our Annual Fair! 🌞

School’s almost out, and that means it’s time to celebrate! Come join us for the Hello Summer Fair—a day packed with fun, friends, and memory-making.

🎈 Bounce houses, games, and activities galore!
🎟️ Only students who want to join in the fun need tickets—parents get in free!
🍔 Skip the wait and grab your Meal Deal early at the school store!

This awesome event is the EAPO’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’ve got a silent auction full of surprises you won’t want to miss.

Let’s send off the school year with a bang—see you at the fair!

Primary School

Celebrating Our Amazing Community!

As we close out another wonderful school year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible members of our school community—parents, guardians, and volunteers—who have gone above and beyond all year long.

From lending a hand at community events and making Pizza Wednesday a monthly highlight, to organizing classroom celebrations and bringing our school to life with beautiful decorations before Staff Appreciation Week—you have shown up with enthusiasm, generosity, and spirit. Your presence at school-wide functions and behind-the-scenes support has made a real difference in creating a warm, connected, and thriving environment for our students and staff.

Thank you for your time, your energy, and your unwavering commitment. It takes a village, and we are so lucky you are ours.

Experiential Learning: 

There are so many valuable learning experiences that happen outside of our school walls, as well as through the experts we invite in. Throughout the year, students have engaged in numerous experiential learning opportunities that have enriched their education beyond the classroom. Some highlights from our year include visits to Red Butte Gardens, Jordan River Nature Center, Tracey Aviary, Riverton Library, Wheeler Farm, Wasatch Community Gardens, participating in a trout raising and release program, exploring the life cycle of chickens through hatching, and enjoying a performance by BYU dancers.

Sincerely,
Nate Abbott and Jessica Grabe
Principal and Vice Principal

Secondary School

Dear Elizabeth Academy Secondary Community,

It is with a full heart that I write to you in my final newsletter as Secondary Principal. Over the past few months, we have been steadily focused—testing, completing projects, preparing for transitions. But now, with celebrations approaching, there is finally a moment to pause, look around, and reflect.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every student, parent, and caregiver who chose to journey with us. Being part of your story—your growth, your triumphs, your transformations—has been a profound privilege. Though the end of this chapter carries the weight of the high school program’s closure, I invite you to be present with us in these final weeks. Let’s celebrate all we’ve accomplished together.

We have several meaningful events ahead, and we would love for you to join us:

• Spring Showcase – Thursday, May 15, 5:30–8:00 PM at EA Secondary School
  (Please RSVP so we can plan for food and seating.)
  
• Lagoon Day – Tuesday, May 20, 10:00 AM–3:20 PM
  (Be sure to purchase your tickets and RSVP.)
  
• Graduation & Middle School Promotion – Wednesday, May 21, 1:00–2:00 PM at EA Primary (Black Box Theater)
  (RSVP required for planning and safety.)
  
• Hello Summer Fair – Thursday, May 23, 4:00–6:00 PM
  (Featuring the full puppet show performance for the Primary community.)
  
• Talent Show – Friday, May 24, 8:45–10:00 AM
  (Exact timing will be shared once we know how many are performing.)

As we close the year, I find myself returning to the Hero’s Journey—the arc we’ve explored together through literature, art, and experience. In every great story, there’s a moment of parting—a threshold between what was and what’s to come. And while this moment may feel like a farewell, it is more of a turning point than an ending.

As poet Pablo Neruda once wrote, “You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.” This is not goodbye—it is simply the next stage of the journey.

The past four years at Elizabeth Academy Secondary have changed me. I’ve grown alongside this community, challenged myself in leadership, and stood in awe of our students’ courage, creativity, and kindness. Though I have often worked quietly behind the scenes, please know how deeply invested I have been—and will always be—in your stories.Don’t forget me, as I surely won’t forget you. I can’t wait to see the amazing things you go on to do.
With gratitude, humility, and hope—

Sofia Rigolon
Secondary Principal

SPED NOTES

Dear Parents,

Maria Montessori said that “Play is the work of the child.” I love to learn and teach about play because there are so many skills that are embedded in play. Additionally, I believe that as adults, we don’t play enough. As summer begins, I hope you find time to relax and enjoy your children. Along with rest and play, summer is also a great opportunity to continue building important social and emotional skills at home. One simple focus is sharing—a concept that may need to be explicitly taught, modeled, and reinforced, especially for our students with disabilities.

Children benefit from learning that sharing isn’t just one thing—it can take many forms. You can support this learning by labeling and practicing different types of sharing at home:

• Using toys together (e.g., a jump rope or ball)
• Dividing items (e.g., splitting up playdough)
• Taking turns (e.g., one shovel in the sandbox)
• Trading (e.g., swapping a toy with a friend)

I am including a visual poster to help reinforce these ideas. Consider placing it somewhere visible, like the fridge or near your kitchen table, so it serves as a daily reminder.

Here are a few simple ways to support your child:

• Observe your child during play and comment on the sharing strategy they’re using (e.g., “I noticed you and your sister were taking turns with the shovel—that’s great sharing!”).
• If a conflict arises, help your child identify whether it’s a “Mousey” (small) or “Elephant” (big) problem, then refer back to the sharing strategies to guide a solution.
• Use consistent vocabulary. If we use “take turns” at school and you use “share” at home, it may be confusing—especially for students with language support needs. Consistency helps reinforce learning across environments.
  

These everyday moments help strengthen the cooperation and empathy we nurture in the classroom all year long. We’re incredibly proud of the progress our students have made and look forward to building on that growth next year.

Warmly,

Lindsay Baird and Brittany Donaldson
SPED Director and SPED Assistant

EAPO Corner

Campus Conversations

Primary School- Thursday, May 15th, 8:50 AM – 9:50 AM in the Black Box

Campus Conversations are monthly meetings hosted by the Elizabeth Academy Parent Organization (EAPO). Lasting approximately one hour, Campus Conversations are the best way to stay informed about what is happening both on the Primary and Secondary Campuses, and to be in the loop about upcoming events and activities. Light refreshments are served.

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Pizza Wednesday

DATE

Our next pizza day is on Wednesday, May 21st for the Primary Campus. To purchase the pizza meal, go to the school store in the app.