West Jordan City Journal | June 2026

Celebrating Candy Bomber’s sweet legacy

By Jet Burnham | j.burnhma@mycityjournals.com

Chocolate bar contest brings together students from Berlin and West Jordan through a common link.

Chocolate bars brought together students from West Jordan, Utah and Berlin, Germany to commemorate Utah-native Col. Gail S. Halverson, a.k.a the Candy Bomber, who dropped candy from his supply plane for children stuck behind the Berlin Blockade after the end of World War II.

“Today we come together from America and Germany,” one of the Berlin students said. “We celebrate Gail Halverson. He showed us that chocolate is sweet. Chocolate is a gift. Chocolate is tasty. Chocolate is friendship.”

The students from Gail S. Halverson Schule in Berlin and West Hills Middle School in West Jordan, designed a chocolate bar honoring Halverson’s legacy, choosing the flavor as well as designing its wrapper. The student bodies voted for their favorites and the top four winners from each school gathered on May 12, the 77th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Blockade, for a celebration and candy drop simulation.

West Hills Middle School teacher Mark Sanderson organized the contest, building on a chocolate contest he’d done with his stu-

dents when they read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.

“After doing that for a few years, we wanted to do something bigger and more ambitious, so I suggested a Candy Bomber-themed project,” Sanderson said.

Once he involved The Candy Bomber Foundation, the project took off as they facilitated the inclusion of the Gail S. Halverson Schule. “To me, the collaborations are what made this project special; everyone who joined the project quickly caught the vision and made it bigger and better,” Sanderson said.

Taste Artisan Chocolate, located in Provo, manufactured the bars of the winner from each country, which were unveiled at the candy drop. Due to undisclosed circumstances, the helicopter which flew over the school did not drop the chocolates, but as it circled the field, the bars, attached to parachutes, were handed out to students and community members at the event. Many students threw their parachutes into the air to catch them for a more authentic experience.

Berlin’s winning chocolate, created by 13-year-old Hana Pohl, was a dark chocolate bar with crisps named Taste Berlin. Her wrapper design showed a plane dropping

Continued on page 6

COMMON GROUND

Play Nice in the Sandbox

Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together.

There once was a giant sandbox where everyone could play together. It had dump trucks, shovels, sandcastle molds and one corner filled with cigarette butts from the high school teens.

Big Brother (BB) controlled the sandbox. He carried a clipboard and whistle, and discouraged others from playing. Although it belonged to the entire community, BB would chase people away, saying, “That’s just the rules,” which he had made himself, of course.

But Little Brother (LB) wanted to play. He tried to convince BB to give him just a small part of the sandbox to build sculptures with his friends. “What about this spot?” he asked.

BB clutched his clipboard to his chest and gasped. “That’s a very important place. That’s my transportation corridor. You can’t have it.”

Every spot LB suggested, BB drew a new line in the sand and explained why it just wasn’t feasible. That spot was BB’s economic area, and another spot was an important waterway. Soon, all that was left was the ashtray corner, but BB wanted control over that, too.

LB went to find Mom (who represents voters, the judiciary and common sense). She explained to BB that the sandbox belonged to everyone and LB could have his share.

BB was furious and started throwing sand at Mom, calling her a bully. “You’re destroying the integrity of the sandbox!”

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Peri Kinder Common Ground

he screamed. Then he spent the rest of the summer planning to steal back LB’s share.

Instead of a sandbox, we’re dealing with voting maps. Gerrymandering has shaped Utah’s leadership for decades, especially in creating congressional districts that look more like a sliced pizza than an equally divided constituency.

We can’t bury our heads in the sand and expect the majority leadership in our state to treat us fairly. In 2018, Utah voters tried to redraw the sandbox lines, approving a ballot initiative that would create an independent redistricting committee to create voting maps to avoid gerrymandering.

But Gov. Cox signed a different map into law that split Salt Lake County into four districts that could easily be controlled by Republicans. The new map ignored the committee’s recommendations, which would give Democrats a possibility of winning a Congressional seat.

Utah’s League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit, claiming the new map was a bunch of baloney. They won that case in 2024 when the Utah Supreme Court ruled that legislators could not override the voice of the people. But the majority leadership has been fighting for its maps

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and sand toys ever since, trying to overturn the Court’s decision.

Common Ground: Gerrymandering should be illegal in every state because it skews voters’ rights and stacks the deck for whoever the majority party may be. Maybe instead of lawmakers crafting the voting maps, independent commissions can be tasked with creating fair districts for all states.

We’re told that every vote counts, but that’s not the case in gerrymandered states, on both sides of the aisle. Voters feel frustrated and unheard. I think we can agree our system is broken. Majority leaders in states, both Red and Blue, draw the voting maps, create the rules and decide which demographics get representation.

Could Utah take the high road and fix the system? Could we become a beacon of guidance and inspiration for the country in a time that feels heavy and dark? It’s a nice idea, we just need brave leaders willing to adopt meaningful change.

A diverse range of opinions creates effective solutions. Instead of one group deciding the laws, it strengthens our democracy to include voices from differing beliefs and experiences.

Gerrymandering eliminates divergent voices, creating a system of inbred and insipid decisions. That doesn’t sound like fair representation; that sounds like a power grab, no matter the party.

May Follow Up From Readers

In May, John J. Walker’s Common Ground article, “I can’t afford YOUR tax bill,” sparked a flurry of replies, including one from reader Christine. “I would agree that paying for infrastructure is important and it’s tough when your paycheck doesn’t go very far for all your hard-worked hours. I would disagree, however, about the derogatory generalization of Democrats being the brainless, doom-scrolling, rage-bating, vulgarity-writing party.”

Some commenters said they want their tax dollars spent on things like zoos, parks, and museums, and felt Mr. Walker’s column was “negative and angry.” Others felt people earning over $1 million should pay more into the system.

Readers expressed appreciation for the Common Ground concept, with the focus of bringing the community together, even when we disagree. However, reader Laura felt the tone of Mr. Walker’s op-ed didn’t fit that description. “I don’t see how the rudeness expressed in this article could achieve that goal,” she wrote.

A reader named Tyler summed up a prevailing sentiment when he wrote, “I think the [Common Ground] approach and voice is exactly what our community needs. I firmly believe that informing on political issues is a much-needed thing. I hope that the continued success of the column helps bring our community closer together!”

— City Journals Columnist Peri Kinder

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boxes of candy. Utah’s winner was West Hill Middle eighth-grader Ryan Jazayerli, who designed his chocolate bar to represent Halverson’s legacy.

“I was excited to make something that felt comforting, memorable and meaningful-that’s how I came up with the Halverson bar,” he said. “The bar is made with milk chocolate, caramel and honey. I chose milk chocolate because it’s sweet and comforting. The caramel adds warmth and sweetness, and the honey represents kindness and generosity. I wanted the flavors to feel uplifting the same way Gail Halverson uplifted others through small acts of care.”

Sanderson called the event “a manifestation of Gail Halverson’s belief that out of small things, great things come.”

“Gail Halverson did more than just provide sugary treats to the children of Berlin,” he said. “He provided hope at a challenging time, which melted the hearts of former enemies.”

Spreading kindness was the theme of the program which preceded the candy drop. WHMS choirs, symphony orchestra and ballroom dance students performed and several speakers spoke about Halverson’s example of kindness.

Halvorsen’s daughter, Denise H. Williams, told students that small and kind choices have more power than they realize.

“You can be a Candy Bomber in your own way, not by dropping candy from the sky, but by dropping kindness, by dropping gratitude and by dropping hope,” Williams said. “A kind word, a real ‘thank you,’ including someone who feels left out, can make the world different for somebody.”

Tamra Adamson, who met Halverson when she wrote a musical about him for American Heritage School in 2014, took her daughters out of school to attend the event. She said Halverson’s example sends a powerful message of the importance of freedom,

hope and kindness.

“I think it’s an amazing message to share with kids, especially those who are going through formative years and needing to figure out who they are and what they stand for,” Adamson said.

Ryan Jazayerli, Levi Peterson, Ava Bowers were the finalists from West Jordan Middle.

Hana Pohl, Aydan Abiyev, Bayan Preis, and Lara Kolak were the finalists from Gail S. Halverson Schule, earning them a trip to America. In addition to the candy drop anniversary event, their visit included a visit to Halverson’s grave, a tour of Copper Hills High School, the Utah State Capitol, Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper Mine and stops at a few National Parks before they spent two days in New York.

Florian Dieter, one of two teachers accompanying the students, said when it opened in 2013, the Gail S. Halverson Schule was the only school in Germany to have ever been named after a living person. Halverson, who passed in 2022 at the age of 101, was 92 at the time.

“He came to our school several times, every two years, and we saw him, and that was very special as well,” Dieter said. “He’s kind of a hero for us.”

That’s what made coming to Utah so special for the winners.

“It is absolutely cool to see this and now to be at the right place, where he comes from, his family comes from, and where all

this connection has started,” Dieter said. Thirteen-year-old Bayan Preis said attending a school named after Halverson is special. “I’m very honored that it’s named after such a great person,” she said. “He’s an historic person. He did so many good things to Germany, Berlin, and it’s just an honor to

still have him as an historic part.” Bayan’s chocolate bar was milk chocolate with dried strawberries. As an artist, she especially enjoyed designing the candy wrapper, which had elements of the German TV tower and Berlin Wall and included a rhyme. l

Tumbleweeds Film Festival features movies by children, for children

Kids could learn all about filmmaking at the event, held every year at the Viridian Center in April.

By Linda Steele l.steele@mcityjournals.com

TheTumbleweeds Film Festival celebrated their 15th year in April. Its inception came from one of their former executive directors, Patrick Hubley, who had the idea where films are only made by and about kids. The films are about children and sometimes the main character is a teddy bear.

“The films are for children and they have expanded it to be as much of a family friendly, affordable and multi-generational as possible in the last few years,” said Julie Gale, festival director for the Tumbleweeds Film Festival.

This year’s theme was “Passion in Action,” celebrating the power of kids following what excites them.

You don’t need to be a child to attend the festival where attendance on average is about 1,500-2,000 annually. They offer field trips to area public schools for its “public festival” day. where they do screenings and activities to support media arts in schools.

been conducting the festival at the Viridian Event Center attached to the West Jordan Library that attendance continues to grow year over year,” Gale said. “We are very excited that we can provide this, and we are very grateful to the partnership with the County Library because that gives us the ability to keep the films free.”

Gale said families, with some having made this an annual tradition, can attend the festival for an entire day and do film making activities. Participants can watch several movies and spend zero dollars.

Gale said the festival is engaging, creative and family friendly. She added one thing they have seen in the past few years is more multi-generational attendance with families.

“Every year as the festival director, I like to sneak into events that I have already planned just to see what the energy is like, what is the vibe like inside,” Gale said.

that powers the Tumbleweeds Film Festival For Kids and the Utah Film Center. Not every school has a media arts specialist to teach the art of film making nor how to watch films. The film center supplements that with work

helping with the public school field trips. The public festival is funded through the Tumbleweeds Film Festival organization.

The festival, hosted by the Viridian Event Center, is now embedded with the West Jordan area, and they have a strong partnership with the County Library. “We have seen in the last four years that we’ve

All the activities are educational. Children play in front of green screens and are taught how they are used in movies, broadcasting and television. They also have elementary children’s film competitions tied to the festival that are submitted and featured at the festival.

“What is unique to the Tumbleweeds Film Festival is that you’re not going to watch ho-hum movies,” Gale said. l

Each year the Jordan Education Foundation selects their outstanding educators of the year from the Jordan School District.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Teachers, administrators, students and par-

ents nominated outstanding teachers and members of the Jordan Education Foundation selected one winner from each Jordan District School and then further honored the top 15 winners, who received additional swag and an awards banquet.

The top 15 featured five teachers from West Jordan including Suzanne Thompson, Cynthia Alvarado and Jennifer Heckman

Suzanne Thompson, Jordan Hills Elementary fourth grade teacher

At the end of each school year, Suzanne Thompson’s outgoing students write letters to next year’s incoming fourth grade students, giving them advice and letting them know what to expect during their fourth grade year. It’s one of those multifaceted assignments you’d expect from an outstanding teacher who comes from a family full of teachers. Of course it is a fun project which provides writing practice for students. It also helps the graduating students feel wise and the new students feel special and excited. But most of all, Thompson likes that her students take a moment to really consider and recognize how much they’ve learned throughout the year, because her teaching philosophy focuses on growth.

“We can all learn new things, and sometimes it’s hard, and letting them know that it’s okay to struggle, it’s okay to not know what you’re doing and to take a little longer to learn something, as long as you’re trying — that’s my expectation,” Thompson said.

Thompson was selected as a top educator for her ability to help students recognize the connection to their hard work and their growth. “At the end of the week, I’m like, ‘Remember Monday when we were all confused? Well, how are we doing today? It’s easy now but only because you have put in

Outstanding teachers of the year

work for the whole week. On Monday, this was not easy. You learned it.’” she said.

Two of Kiersten Downey’s children have had Thompson as their teacher, and she said they left her class prepared in both skills and confidence. “She has made a huge impact on my kids and our family and I am so grateful to her,” Downey said. “I know that teaching can be really hard sometimes and feel really heavy, but I am so glad she chose it because she’s making such a difference in our community!”

Fellow fourth grade teacher Heather Forsgren said the difference Thompson makes in other’s lives is because she cares deeply.

“Suzanne is the kind of teacher who cares about each of her students and makes sure that they know it,” Forsgren said. “Having had my own child be taught by her, I can share from experience that she is a teacher whose teaching sticks in kids’ brains for years to come, but more than that, the feeling of being valued and ‘seen’ by a teacher like Ms. Thompson is a gift that keeps giving forever.”

Thompson also helps and cares for the teachers she works with, finding solutions and readily sharing knowledge and resources. Thompson said she learned this from being on the receiving end of a supportive teaching team. “I try to be available to people who have questions — that’s what got me through my first couple years,” Thompson said. “I try to check in on them, see how they’re doing emotionally as well as the teaching side of it.”

She said it is a vital part of the culture of teaching. “If I didn’t have such supportive teachers and administrators to work with, I could not do my job,” Thompson said.

Thompson believes in having a collaborative learning environment. “I think on top of specific skills, like how to spell a word or how to do long division, I think it’s really important that we’re teaching kids thinking skills and how to work together and how to communicate with each other,” Thompson said. She gives students opportunities to learn together, even mentoring each other. Her classroom is known for being busy and loud, especially when students are encouraging each other.

Thompson is always up for a good Dadjoke and uses humor to keep student stress levels down. She is not afraid to laugh at herself.

“Suzanne makes teaching fun on the good days, and bearable on the not so good days,” Forsgren said. “We have taught together for more than 20 years, but I don’t think that I am the only one who could say that this job would be much more difficult without her here. She is truly part of the heart of Jordan Hills!”

Cynthia Alvarado, Columbia Elementary fifth grade teacher

Being a teacher has been Cynthia Alvarado’s dream since kindergarten, and now it is a part of her identity and life’s purpose.

“Sometimes I’m sitting in my classroom and I look at my kids, and it’s kind of like an out of body experience,” she said. “I’ve

Sunset Ridge Middle and CHHS, and as a member of the School Community Council, Heckman has always advocated for teachers and students, and encouraged a collaborative work environment.

An insatiable problem-solver, she generated the data to save a tutoring program and did all the footwork to get an ACT prep class approved (and then became certified to teach it).

She said students are always the reason for everything she does, and she will always do what’s best for them even if it is uncomfortable for her. This level of care for students is one of the reasons her fellow educators nominated her for the Outstanding Educator of the Year.

been wanting to do this my whole life, and I’m here doing it, I’m living my dream.”

She wants her students to dream big, too, and encourages them to work toward them through effort and perseverance.

“I think my favorite part is just seeing students’ growth academically and them realizing it too, and having those ‘a-ha’ moments are the best parts,” Alvarado said. “I was actually reading with a student yesterday, and I got emotional because she’s grown so much, and it’s so cool to see her putting in the effort and us working together as a team to help her get where she needs to be.”

Fellow fifth grade teacher Kate Rugg said Alvarado is an outstanding teacher because she meets students where they are.

“She has an exceptional ability to explain complex concepts in ways that are engaging, accessible and relevant to her students’ lives,” Rugg said.

The key, Alvarado said, is developing relationships with her students.

“I’ve learned you have to try to motivate them, and I think that comes with part of having a relationship with them,” she said. “If they have a good relationship with their teacher, and they can trust them, then they’ll want to put in the effort to learn, and be engaged during lessons, and want to please their teachers and not disappoint them.”

Rugg said it is also obvious Alvarado loves her students.

“One of Cynthia’s many, many strengths is that she cares fiercely,” she said. “She cares about her job, her students, her fellow teachers and the school community as a whole.”

Jennifer Heckman, Copper Hills High School ACT prep and math teacher

Jennifer Heckman is tireless in her support of students, staff and community members.

“She is known for going the extra mile,” a colleague said. “Whether answering latenight emails from struggling students or advocating for faculty needs on the Community Council, always ensuring everyone in her orbit is informed, supported and heard.”

In her many leadership positions at both

“[Her] impact on students is most visible in the way in which she bridges the gap between rigorous academic expectations and deep, radical empathy,” a colleague said. “She notices and fills the often unseen needs in her students’ lives.”

After 17 years in the classroom, Heckman is transitioning to an administrative intern position at Bingham High School this fall, where she hopes to make a broader impact — especially on school culture and the ways stakeholders work together.

“I’ve seen a shift in the last 10 years in the culture at schools between students, teachers, parents and principal,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem like it is clicking together as much as it should be. I just felt like it was time for me to make that next step, to see if I can make a bigger impact for the school and students.”

While she’s excited to make a broader impact in the role, she is not abandoning her CHHS family. Heckman said her math instruction videos will remain on her YouTube channel and she’s invited CHHS teachers and students to contact her if they need anything. She made the same offer when she left her teaching position in Washington to move to Utah and actually followed through.

“I had parents calling me to tutor their kids over the phone, even though I was no longer there,” she said.

Heckman said she wouldn’t turn away anyone who asked her for help.

“If I have that time, why not?” she said. “I want people to succeed. So if I can help that, I’m here for that.” l

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Jaguars celebrate 11 athletes sign with colleges

West Jordan’s signing day saw 11 student-athletes in eight sports sign letters of intent.

By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com

The Jaguars are taking their talents to the next level.

West Jordan High School saw 11 athletes from eight different sports sign letters of intent in early May to play in college next year.

Only one athlete, Lole Faatili, will stay in Utah as the wrestler signed with Utah Tech University. The other 10 will travel as close as Arizona and as far as Virginia to continue in their respective sports.

The signing day comes on the heels of a particularly successful two-year sports run for Jaguar athletics. The 24-25 school year saw West Jordan capture seven region titles, capped off with two state championships in softball and the 4x100 relay.

This school year saw boys cross country, girls volleyball, boys volleyball all earn outright region championships while baseball earned a share of its region title. At press time, boys track and field had just won the 5A state title. A story on that journey will come next month. l

Athlete Sport School

Erilyn Lokeni Girls Volleyball Eastern Arizona Community College

Eva Penman Girls Basketball Southwestern Oregon Community College

Kekoa Wakley Baseball Treasure Valley Community College

Lole Faatili Girls Wrestling Utah Tech University

Porter Creasy Boys Track and Field Virginia Military Institute

Atyana Crosby Girls Volleyball Umpqua Community College

Jayden Giles Track and Field University of Redlands

Jardine Faasipa Girls Volleyball College of Southern Nevada

Rylie Coleman Softball Highline College

Tate Bronson Boys Tennis King University

Ian McIntyre

Boys Basketball Big Bend Community College

The Cottages at Pearce Farm

As many Americans prioritize housing that supports independence, social connection and long-term financial stability, demand continues to grow. THE COTTAGES AT PEARCE FARM in West Valley City stand out as a unique offering. This active-adult, gated, maintenance-free community provides not only a simplified way of living but a rare level of flexibility.

Buyers can choose from three floor plans and place any of them on any of the 65 available homesites. Buyers can select their own interior finishes and color palettes, rather than being limited to pre-set packages, allowing for a personalized fit that reflects their style and preferences.

With decades of combined experience in the real estate industry, Gina Eborn, Pam Phillips, and Karen Curtis are dedicated to helping clients turn their vision into reality. Their focus is on active adult communities, working closely with 55+ buyers who are seeking more than just a home; they’re looking for a lifestyle shift that offers simplicity, connection and ease.

“We are selling homes in our new gated subdivision, where we’ve been intentional about creating a neighborhood that fits how people want to live in this next chapter,” Gina said. “Real estate lets us be part of someone’s life transition. It’s not just a transaction; it’s emotional, it’s personal and it matters.”

The Cottages at Pearce Farm are thoughtfully designed with convenience, safety, and connection in mind. Within its secure, private setting, homeowners can enjoy the freedom to focus on what matters most, whether that’s traveling, socializing, or embracing a more relaxed lifestyle.

A future clubhouse will further enhance the community experience, featuring a gathering area, kitchen, exercise room, and a pickleball court

for recreation and connection. Ideally located, The Cottages at Pearce Farm offers easy access to shopping, dining, medical facilities, and an abundance of walking trails.

The result is a cohesive neighborhood where details are tailored to the people who will live there. It’s about building a place where life feels easier, connected and perfectly suited for what comes next. The agents love being part of the process to help clients design a lifestyle that gives them more freedom.

“For many 55+ clients, we help with the emotional side of letting go of a long-time home,” Pam said. “We reduce stress and uncertainty by providing a clear and workable plan, coordinating timelines, or helping someone figure out how to transition from a large home into something smaller. We take those moving pieces and make them more manageable.”

Gina, Pam and Karen work closely with the buyer, designer and builder throughout the construction process, from lot selection, options, walkthroughs and closing. They guide clients through what can feel overwhelming by making it smoother and more enjoyable.

The team helps the buyer stay informed and confident every step of the way, offering a long-term perspective and helping clients make decisions to benefit them years down the road, while protecting the value of their home.

“We work hard to ensure a great experience and we communicate clearly, we follow through, and always put their best interest first,” Karen said. “Over time, that builds real trust, and many of our clients come back or refer friends and family.”

By educating clients, they avoid making decisions based on fearbased emotions. The agents slow things down to see the bigger picture and guide them to make choices not just for today, but for the future.

“We truly care about the people we work with, and when I say ‘we’ that includes everyone from our team, the developer, builder, and the designer,” Gina said. “This isn’t just a transaction for us; it’s about helping buyers make the right move for their life. That’s something we have all built our careers and reputations on.”

To learn more, stop by the daily open houses at The Cottages at Pearce Farm at 6755 W. 3500 South, or visit pearcefarm.com.

“People can come experience the homes and the lifestyle firsthand,” Pam said. “It’s a great way to explore what makes this community unique in a relaxed, no-pressure setting.”

Parkinson’s Disease

WBeyond the Tremor: Unveiling the Invisible Struggle of Parkinson’s Disease

HEN YOU THINK OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE, a visible tremor might come to mind. However, the true experience often lies hidden beneath the surface – an “invisible struggle” impacting millions. This article highlights the complexities of Parkinson’s and advancements in care.

A common misconception is that all Parkinson’s patients experience tremors. This isn’t true; up to 20% do not. Additionally, Parkinson’s isn’t just an elderly condition. Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) affects individuals under 50, with celebrity Michael J. Fox, diagnosed at 29, significantly raising awareness and funding for research.

As Dr. Sunil Rathore, a neurologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake, emphasizes, “Many people believe Parkinson’s is solely a motor condition, defined by tremors and rigidity. However, that’s just one piece of a much larger and more complex puzzle. The non-motor symptoms – from sleep disturbances and anxiety to cognitive changes and chronic pain – can often be the most challenging aspects for our patients.”

The Hidden Realities: Non-Motor Symptoms and Daily Impact

The “invisible struggle” of Parkinson’s includes a wide array of non-motor symptoms impacting daily life, often appearing years before motor symptoms. These can include loss of smell (anosmia), REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, anxiety, cognitive changes, and debilitating fatigue. These realities profoundly affect well-being, turning simple tasks like dressing or driving into immense challenges and leading to social isolation.

Hope on the Horizon: Advancements in Treatment and Research

While there’s no cure, significant advancements are improving symptom management and quality of life. Levodopa remains a cornerstone medication, with ongoing developments to optimize its effectiveness. Advanced therapies like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and focused ultrasound offer new hope by precisely targeting brain areas responsible for motor symptoms. Emerging research explores disease-modifying drugs, gene therapy, and biomarker discovery. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised over

Nurture what’s next.

$2.5 billion for research, accelerating the search for a cure.

Dr. Rebecca H. Reiser, a neurologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley, states, “The landscape of treatment and support is constantly evolving. We’re seeing incredible progress in understanding the disease at a molecular level, leading to more targeted therapies and a renewed sense of hope for better symptom control and ultimately, a cure. Our goal is to empower patients to live full and meaningful lives.”

Local Expertise and Support Available

Living with Parkinson’s is a journey best not taken alone. Our community offers local support groups, specialized exercise classes, and educational events for patients and caregivers. If you or a loved one are experiencing any concerning symptoms, please consult a provider. Early diagnosis and proactive management are key. For more information, visit: mountain.commonspirit.org.

For more information or to find a provider visit mountain.commonspirit.org

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

Women go through many changes in their lives. And we believe every milestone matters. Our health care experts can help you face your next phase with confidence – because each chapter deserves to be celebrated.

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Two music teachers tune the right key, named outstanding educators

West Jordan Middle and Majestic Elementary teachers were surprised by district and foundation officials at school.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Twoof the Jordan School District’s outstanding educators of the year were from West Jordan schools specializing in music.

West Jordan Middle School music teacher Bridgett Johnson

As a middle school music teacher, Bridgett Johnson is a master at making connections with students.

“Bridgett’s magic as a teacher comes from her combined love of music and creating relationships with students,” WJMS teacher Gwen Wood said. “She knows each of her students individually and can tell you exactly what level they are playing at, as well as a fun fact about them. She gives her everything to her music program.”

Her fun personality and dedication has resulted in the growth of WJMS’s music department, climbing from 160 when she began teaching at WJMS to the current 275 students.

“In three short years at West Jordan Middle School, she hasn’t just improved the music department--she has transformed it,” a colleague said. “Her classroom is full because students want to be there.”

One of the changes Johnson has brought to the music program is giving students more opportunities to perform. The jazz band occasionally plays in the mornings to welcome students to school. Student music groups also go on multiple field trips throughout the year to perform at assisted living centers.

“I think that every kid has the ability and should have the opportunity to be able to express themselves, and I think that music is a really good way to do that,” Johnson said. “I think it teaches them hard work. It teaches them to trust one another and work together. I just want to use music to teach them and like to be good people and be good citizens in their community. I want them to use music to find a way, like find their voice and empower them to do the things that they want to or that they care about.”

Johnson uses fun to build relationships with her students. She begins the year by cooking a pancake breakfast for her classes and ends the year with a popsicles in the park social with the elementary and high school band students. And sometimes she slips into her inflatable dinosaur costume and conducts the music with short arms. Students respond in their own unique way, some by writing a rap about their teacher and others by creating a bingo sheet based on her common phrases and mannerisms.

“To me, that shows that not only is Bridgett consistent — which, in middle school, students definitely need from their teacher — but she also is fun and has a great rapport with her students,” WJMS teacher Kaitlin Thompson said.

Johnson’s colleagues also enjoy working with her and are supportive of her ideas. She especially felt their support when many volunteered their heads for the orchestra’s Christmas performance. “We played a bunch of Christmas tunes, and [students] played the boom whackers on the heads of teachers. We gave all the teachers helmets, like bike helmets and stuff, so the kids got to hit their teachers on the heads,” she said.

Acknowledging their support, Johnson said, “My colleagues constantly challenge and encourage me to be a better teacher and reframe the things I think about. I would not be the educator I am without all the support.”

Olivia Murphy, Majestic Elementary Arts Academy K-3 Music Teacher

Olivia Murphy still can’t believe she gets paid to sing and play music all day. That’s why she was even more shocked to be chosen as one of this year’s top Outstanding Educators. Her colleagues weren’t surprised at all.

“Olivia leaves an imprint on every student,” first grade teacher Deb Cole said.

As a music teacher working at an arts-integrated school, Murphy has a unique job, which she fulfills in many unexpected ways. First of all, she makes up stuff all the time. Specifically, she writes catchy songs to reinforce academic skills.

“There is a lot of collaborating with the teachers when I write those songs to make sure that I’m getting all of the content in the song correct, and everything they want the kids to actually learn about,” Murphy said.

One memorable song was written at the request of first grade teachers whose students were getting confused that penguins and polar bears don’t live in the same part of the

world. Incorporating vocabulary and facts provided by the first grade teachers, Murphy wrote a song about it.

“I wrote this cute song about how polar bears and penguins should be best friends, in theory, because they have so many things in common, but they’re actually not best friends, because they’ve never met each other,” Murphy said. “That was a really fun song, and it’s really stuck with those kids. We can identify what kids sang that song because they’re the kids in the school that know those facts.”

Other songs she uses in her classroom provide practice with rhyming, spelling, coin values, counting and multiplication facts. Her songs are incorporated into teachers’ literacy instruction.

“I believe some first-grade success is due to her focus on ‘eyes on text’ and embedding tricky sounds in lessons,” STEAM teacher Meredith Llewellyn said.

One parent said Murphy has taught her kids even more than music and academics.

“Because of her dedication, students develop not only musical skills, but also confidence, cooperation and a love of learning,” the parent said. “She teaches with patience, creativity and heart—celebrating effort, encouraging growth and modeling positivity and respect.”

Murphy is constantly improvising, structuring her lessons so that every kid is engaged and can be successful.

“I really believe that all my kids can be successful, and it’s my job to make them successful,” she said. “If a kid isn’t having success in music, then I need to change my teaching to better support them.” This includes adapting lessons for nonverbal students and keeping the classroom free of judgement.

Principal Marianne Johansen is impressed with Murphy’s approach.

“She makes every child feel seen, valued and capable — no matter their age or ability level,” Johansen said.

Even after she read all the nominations from her colleagues, students and parents for JEF’s Outstanding Educator award, Murphy was still humble about the recognition.

“There are so many well deserving teachers at my school, it just didn’t occur to me that I could be one of them,” she said.

That was also her response when she was nominated for a Grammy in the Music Education Songwriters category. Other achievements include the Utah Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of 2025. She is also a frequent presenter at teaching conventions and a member of BYU’s Arts Partnership BTS Arts Learning Program PD planning team. l

‘Alice in Wonderland’ gets a comedic makeover by En Pointe School of Ballet

Performances run June 8-11 at Mountain Ridge High school.

By Linda Steele l.steele@mycityjornals.com

Pointe School of Ballet is bringing a touch of whimsy and a lot of laughter to the stage with their latest production, “Alice in Wonderland.” This marks the school’s first brand-new ballet in five years, following their previous original staging of “The Nutcracker.”

A Creative Labor of Love

Planning for this ambitious production began two years ago. Under the guidance of Artistic Owner and Director Rachael Ellis, the team has been meticulously crafting every detail, from hand-designed headpieces to elaborate sets. Natasha Ellis, serving as assistant artistic director, choreographed nearly the entire performance, translating the classic tale into a vibrant ballet.

While the story remains faithful to the traditional narrative—echoing the charm of the Disney version—the school faced

the unique challenge of making sense of Lewis Carroll’s famously nonsensical world. Their goal is to ensure the audience sees every “nonsensical” element connect into a cohesive, beautiful story.

Comedy and Costumes

What sets this production apart is its comedic flair. Audiences can expect “funny aspects” and humorous costumes that bring a lighthearted energy to the stage. Highlights include:

The 40-Foot Caterpillar: A major inspiration for the show, this costume features 40 feet of fabric in a style described as “Chinese dragon meets Arabian.” It utilizes Arabian music and requires a male and female dancer at the head, with eleven pairs of legs trailing behind.

The Color-Changing Cheshire Cat: Costume Director Nikki Allen and assistant Maggi Floyd sourced a special fabric that changes from hot pink to purple under the stage lights—a detail even applied to the dancer’s pointe shoes.

The Dandelion’s Evolution: In a unique sequence, a male dancer interacts with garden flowers as a dandelion, exiting and returning to the stage to showcase

different phases of the flower’s life with varying headpieces.

A Community Effort

The production is a massive undertaking involving all 300 students at En Pointe. While younger dancers are split into four casts, the older dancers perform across all four casts to maintain the show’s complexity.

The creation of the ballet has been a true family and community affair. Rachael Ellis works alongside her daughters, including Mariah Shaw, who travels from St. George to assist with sets. Even students, like Asher Pattison, have stepped up to help build props while preparing for their own roles on stage.

The score for the ballet was uniquely curated by the directors, who spent months selecting the perfect songs from hundreds of Tchaikovsky pieces to fit the mood of each scene. Performances will take place June 8-11 at the Mountain Ridge High School theater (14100 S. Sentinel Ridge Blvd.).

For more information and tickets to En Pointe School of Ballet’s 21st production, visit www.enpointewestjordanutah.com. l

Jaguar lax enjoys stellar season

Photos by Travis Barton

Bathrooms

Hoy and the Jags

Senior Lily Henderson was a points machine for the West Jordan girls lacrosse team racking up 142 points with 85 goals and 57 assists on the year. She was also a defensive force, leading the team in caused turnovers with 57. The Jags offense averaged over 15 goals per game with six players totaling double figures in goals.

costs and terms. Expires 6/30/2026.

The West Jordan girls lacrosse team surrounds the Olympus player to recover the ball. The West Jordan players from left to right are Sadie Kevan, Betty Smith (21), Jordyn Hughes and Kassidy Wooley. The Jaguars enjoyed one of the best seasons in the program’s history as they went 16-3 on the year, earning the No. 6 seed in the 5A playoffs and reaching the quarterfinals where they fell to perennial power Olympus in a tight 12-9 game. In 19 games, their three losses came against Olympus, 5A No. 1 seed Park City and the 6A No. 2 seed Riverton.

CHHS jazzes-up school band concert

Students’ musical creativity and high-energy performances made the spring concert feel like a rock concert.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Copper Hills High School’s jazz band spring concert featured backup singers, break dancers, lightsaber duels and an electric confetti finale. With no formal director, the student musicians watched and listened to each other. Occasionally soloists took front stage or the rhythm section took the beat out into the audience, which responded to the music with dancing, beat-clapping and lighting up their phones.

“We’re trying to make jazz more accessible to our community,” CHHS Director of Bands Chris Kuhlemeier said. “Rather than it being a formal dress-up, sitin-the-back type event, we’ve had a mosh pit. It’s a good time.”

The annual spring concert is the culmination of everything jazz band students have learned to be able to arrange music for the 19-member band to perform.

“Our students are not only learning the music and engaging with that fun stuff, they’re getting insight into what it’s like to compose, what it’s like to arrange this stuff, learning all the music theory and the technical skills needed in utilizing notation software to come up with that, allowing them to take ownership in the performance,” Kuhlemeier said.

For the past three years, students have had the opportunity to arrange and perform music written by professional musicians. This year, students listened to music by jazz-pop band Sammy Rae & The Friends, which has a vocalist, trumpet and saxophone. Without access to the written score, students created an arrangement of one of the group’s songs-- by ear-- with individual parts for a piano, electric guitar and bass, five saxophones,

five trombones, four trumpets, four singers, and, in some cases, a string quintet.

Trumpet player Alex Rich said it was an eye-opening experience.

“It definitely helped me understand more about writing and composing harmonies and music, and a better understanding of what they are and how they can help contribute to the overall ensemble,” Rich said. For his arrangement, he added extra rhythms into the trumpet and saxophone parts.

Jazz band pianist Ben Rollins said he has learned something new each of the three years he has written an arrangement for the spring concert.

“We’ve learned how to now specifically set aside the melody for Asia [lead singer] and then add in new harmonies, rhythms, etc., to figure out how to make the song more full in texture apart from the original track itself, but now to the jazz band,” Rollins said.

Kuhlemeier said one of the best benefits students glean from this experience is more awareness of the band as a group, which he said was a factor in earning a superior rating at the state jazz band competition.

“I’d like to credit a lot of that due to this project,” Kuhlemeier said. “We are diving into the intricacies of each instrument. In their role writing for them, and researching what each instrument provides in the grand scheme, we can better write for those skills and abilities. It, in turn, just raises that awareness and global mindedness of our students to better perform at the end of the day.”

Rather than individuals focusing on their own parts, the students learn to be aware of what is happening in other sections so they become a more unified band, able to react to each other, which is a critical aspect of performing jazz.

The spring concert has become bigger, more unorthodox and more anticipated each year-- there were two shows this year-which has helped the band gain recognition and status from the student body. In fact, the jazz band’s annual fundraiser swing dance

has become so popular that it became an official school-sanctioned dance, replacing the less popular MORP. Nearly 1,000 students, 10 times the number that used to attend, showed up to dance to the live music played by their peers.

Everything Kuhlemeier does prepares students for real world experiences.

“It’s really cool for our performers to experience it from a more popular standpoint and a more practical standpoint by today’s standards, giving them that experience of doing all the things on the back end of managing, arranging and rehearsing all of these pieces,” Kuhlemeier said.

For the spring concert, students also took leadership and management responsibilities and learned to work with a professional audio engineer who was hired for the specialized needs of the performance.

“Our speakers in the auditorium can’t handle the size of our band right now,” Kuhlemeier said. “The recording equipment and mixers cannot support the 50 plus inputs that we need for a band this size.”

The audio engineer also mixed the audio for the concert music video, which was filmed and edited by students in CHHS’s video production and recording technology classes. Kuhlemeier also created a documen-

tary of the entire process.

Between the experience of arranging music for a professional touring band, performing a high-energy concert and reliving it through a music video and documentary, the students felt like real rock stars.

These types of real world experiences Kuhlemeier provides help prepare students for future careers in the music industry, in which several students have expressed interest. Rollins, the jazz band pianist, has dreams of becoming a professional composer, and Sean Breyer hopes to write music for concert bands and movie soundtracks.

Breyer already has a headstart. After arranging a piece for last year’s spring concert, he immersed himself in learning more about music composition, poring over the music department’s sheet music collection and practicing his composing.

“I just kept writing and writing and got better at it, starting with arranging pieces, like the jazz pieces,” he said. “I tried to arrange a piece last year that wasn’t as good, but I kept working towards it to a point I’m comfortable writing my own melodies and writing bigger, harder pieces.” All the hard work has paid off: earlier this year, Breyer composed music for the school’s wind symphony and wind orchestras to perform.l

CHHS class of 2021 alum draws attention for her animation skills

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Copper Hills High School 2021 graduate Abby Kemp recently won an Emmy Award.

She and a group of 30 other graduates of BYU’s animation program were awarded the 2025 College Television Award for Best Animation Series. Within animation circles, the award is known as a Collegiate or Student Emmy because it is organized by the Television Academy Foundation, which also awards the Primetime Emmys.

But winning a Collegiate Emmy from among hundreds of competing schools is no less exciting than winning a ‘real’ Emmy. Kemp still got to walk the red carpet at the Sivan Media Center in Los Angeles, hold the golden trophy and pose with the 18-foot Emmy statue in the Hall of Fame Garden.

“Happy would be my overall reaction, if I could say one emotion, I felt just overwhelmingly happy,” Kemp said.

The award was for the short film “Love and Gold,” which Kemp and her peers made for their senior capstone project last year. Project films are typically five or six minutes long but the students put in extra time to fully tell the tale of danger, adventure and romance.

Seth Holladay, professor of animation at the Center for Animation at BYU, said the students’ extra time and persistence to animate an additional three minutes resulted in “beautiful execution,” a clear storyline and well-done characters, environment and effects.

Holladay said Kemp was dedicated to the film’s success. “She was always cheerful and determined to figure things out, even if they got a little trickier or frustrating or the solutions weren’t always clear, she would stick with it to find solutions to make her stuff work on each of the shots that she was assigned to work on,” he said.

All the computer programming, physics and animation classes Kemp had been taking to earn her degree — computer science with an emphasis in animation — came together

And the Emmy goes to…

tion Film and Outstanding 3D Short in other film competitions in addition to the College Emmy, which was BYU’s Center for Animation’s 22nd Emmy in 23 years. Because of BYU’s reputation of excellence within the industry, it is not uncommon for studio representatives to visit the campus.

“It definitely seems like a lot of studios are really eager to talk to BYU, to interview students,” Kemp said. “Towards the end of our film, we were visited by Sky Dance — that’s the new studio that John Lasseter is over.”

Holladay estimates the placement success rate for animation grads is 60-70% most years, with students going straight into jobs with big studios such as Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks and Sony. He said those students who really make the most of their capstone project experience, which is set up to mimic a real-world environment, are the most prepared to step into an animation job.

morning began with “dailies” in which the group discussed each other’s work in detail. “Everyone just says everything they don’t like about it, or everything wrong, and it’s not meant to be mean — it’s just a critique,” Kemp said. “They’re only trying to make the movie better.”

Due to Kemp’s experience as a ballet dancer and a rock band guitarist, she is accustomed to critiques. So even if it meant she had to redo something or start over, she didn’t take the feedback personally but just accepted it as a learning experience.

Even before the awards began rolling in and the big names in the industry took notice, Kemp was proud of her work on the film and reflected on what she had accomplished since graduating high school with no animation experience. She hopes to someday land her dream job — creating visual effects for Star Wars films.

for the capstone project film.

“She was able to use both the computer science knowledge that she had, along with her artistic knowledge, to put the two together to create some fairly intricate visuals, which was fun to watch,” Holladay said.

Kemp worked in the visual effects department on physics-based simulations for what she described as “anything that moves that isn’t a character, like magic, lava, explosions, rocks, snow.” Her artistic renderings had to replicate the natural movement, physics, weight and velocity of the elements.

One of her favorite scenes she animated involved exploding ice. “I really love breaking things, generally speaking,” she said. “And there’s this one shot when a big dragon bursts through an ice waterfall and the ice chunks go everywhere. That was really fun.”

Kemp’s animations took 18 months of working 40-60 hours a week.

“Each shot is like two to three seconds, but just for the effects on my end it could take 20 to 40 hours for each of those shots,” Kemp said. “So it’s a lot of work, and to see it on a film and be recognized, it feels like both an honor and also rewarding, like all those sleepless nights finally paid off.”

“Love and Gold” also won Best Anima-

“Not every school has exactly that collaborative environment where you’re encouraged to work together across departments to create a big film,” Kemp said. “That industry simulation is exactly what helps.”

The teamworking skills Kemp gained from her capstone project was her biggest takeaway.

“There’s lighting, there’s effects, there’s characters, there’s the environment, modeling, story — we’re all in these separate groups but we have to make one cohesive film, and no one really gets more say than someone else,” she said.

Just like a real animation studio, each

Despite the doomsday predictions that AI will take over film-making, Kemp isn’t worried about her future in animation. “AI can’t even draw a hand with five fingers consistently,” she said.

Holladay confirmed AI is not impacting students’ ability to secure animation jobs in the film and video game industries.

“They’re working to make AI a tool for artists, because artists’ vision isn’t AI’s vision, and that artists’ vision is a key element,” he said. “AI will help speed things up right now, but it certainly isn’t able to approach the complexity of storytelling or make shots link together. There’s a long way to go.” l

NAMI Utah hosts the annual mental health walk on Saturday, May 16

Photos by Cassie Goff

Hundreds of Utah families have walked in NAMIWalk events to honor their loved ones and celebrate mental health recovery.

Representatives from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute participated as a Gold Sponsor for the NAMIWAlk 2026 events.

All funds raised from the Utah NAMIWalk 2026 went to support evidence-based mental health resources for Utah residents and families.

Attendees of

Offering alternative forms of meditative care, a sound bath meditation workshop was led for participants of

Child abuse prevention starts with strong families

Whatif the most effective way to protect children isn’t just responding after harm occurs—but preventing that harm in the first place?

That question has guided much of my work over the past three and a half years, after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox asked me to help create Utah’s Office of Families. The mission was simple, but deeply important: strengthen families to improve outcomes for children.

At the beginning, I spent time listening to experts, advocates and families across our state. I wanted to understand what the data showed about strong families and how we could replicate those conditions more consistently.

I also had to acknowledge something personal. I grew up in a stable home with two loving parents. I didn’t experience abuse, food insecurity or instability. As a child, I assumed that was normal and that most homes looked like mine. As an adult, I learned that isn’t the case.

Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shows a clear pattern—the

more trauma a child experiences, the more challenges they face later in life. Health outcomes, education and employment each can be affected. The data doesn’t just tell a story; it points to a path forward. If we want better outcomes, we must reduce trauma early.

That realization led me to one of the most promising, evidence-based solutions I’ve seen: home visiting programs.

Parenting is hard. For many families— especially those facing economic stress, isolation or past trauma—it can feel overwhelming. Home visiting programs meet parents where they are, literally and figuratively. Trained professionals work directly with families, helping them build emotional

regulation skills, develop healthy coping strategies, and strengthen relationships with their children.

Organizations like Salt Lake County Health Department and Prevent Child Abuse Utah are leading this work in our state. They serve hundreds of families each year, helping parents become the parents they want to be. And the results matter— these programs are proven to reduce child abuse and neglect.

The need is real. In 2025, Utah saw more than 51,000 reports of child abuse or neglect. One in seven children will experience sexual abuse before turning 18. And in the vast majority of cases, the harm comes from someone the child knows and trusts— often a parent or relative.

Those numbers are difficult to hear. But they also reinforce why prevention matters.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to serve on the board of Prevent Child Abuse Utah, where I saw another powerful prevention tool in action: school-based education. Through age-appropriate lessons, elementary students are taught how to recognize,

resist and report abuse. These simple but powerful principles give children something invaluable—a voice. And sometimes, that voice is what keeps them safe.

Thanks to changes in state law and the generosity of donors, these programs are reaching more children than ever before. But access is still not universal. Too many children are missing out on the education that could help protect them.

Prevention doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when communities decide to invest in it.

Strong families are not just a private matter—they are a public priority. When we support parents, teach children and invest in early intervention, we change the trajectory of lives. We reduce suffering before it starts.

Each of us has a role to play. Whether it’s giving, volunteering or simply sharing this work with others, small actions add up to meaningful change.

Because every child deserves to understand their worth, their boundaries and their voice. Every child deserves the chance to grow up safe from harm.

Asteachers pop the champagne and schedule full-body massages, mothers are slowly descending into madness. Summer break stretches ahead like a sunburned, melted-fudgesicle 10K, with lots of family time. So much family time.

As a young mother in the 20th century, summer vacation was a blur of wet towels, lost flip-flops, and popsicle sticks stuck to couch cushions. My daughters spent the days selling Kool-Aid to neighbors, watching hours of PBS’s “Arthur,” and fighting nonstop.

I tried to keep a schedule, but it flew out the window the first day, along with my common sense and sanity. Although we went to parks, pools, hiking trails, libraries, zoos and museums, my daughters were always “sooo bored!” It was like trying to fill a bottomless, thankless pit.

Looking back, I was so lucky. Not because I could spend so much “quality time” with my kids, but because I wasn’t working out of the home. It was absolutely exhausting, but I didn’t have to worry about what my kids would do during the summer.

The school calendar was not created for single mothers, full-time working parents or children who need snacks every five minutes. It was designed for farmers who churn their own butter and rise at dawn to feed chickens.

Today, moms are scrambling to find camps, sitters, daycare and programs to keep

Popsicles and pressure

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

kids occupied during the summer break because many mothers have full-time jobs and can’t take the summer off.

People rarely ask fathers, “What will your kids do all summer? How will you balance your job and family?” Nope. Everything usually falls to moms, most of whom can’t afford camps or additional daycare costs.

I researched “Summer strategies for working moms” and was given ideas like 1) hire a summer nanny, 2) enroll in pricey camps early, or 3) rent children to an influencer.

Who do they think these mothers are? Kardashians? I added a fourth option: quit your job and live in a van by the river.

When my daughters were little, there were several working moms in the neighborhood and their kids would hang out with us all summer. They were part of the noisy, sticky clan, constantly bickering about who got grass in the blow-up pool.

Now, mothers are anxiously waiting for their lottery numbers to hit or a magical Mary

Poppins character to show up and take control of their unruly children. Barring that, there aren’t a lot of viable options, especially in this economy.

Grandparents and other family members alleviate some of the summer schedule strain, but with about 10 weeks of out-of-school time, mothers often resort to late-night spiraling and stress eating.

It’s not all hopeless. Companies are finally realizing they’ll have happier, healthier, more productive female employees if they offer flexibility.

Progressive CEOs provide summer childcare stipends or offer discounts to local camps. Work-from-home options, summer PTO bonuses, flexible start/end times and early-out Fridays would make a mother’s summer a gajillion times easier, as well as fathers who need

scheduling help for the school break.

Maybe that’s the answer! Instead of asking companies to make things easier for moms, let’s say the dads need help. Businesses will immediately build on-site splash pads, create kid-friendly office spaces and partner with local teams to host summer-long sports camps.

Somewhere along the way, summer break turned into a summer breakdown. Parents aren’t asking for luxury vacations, just a bit of time to sit by the pool, yell at kids to stop yelling and maybe even pop some champagne. We should be able to make that work.

Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.

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