We’re excited to highlight another new board member, the incredible Kellee Belnap! Here’s what Kellee had to say about joining the Ogden School Foundation Board:
"As the Director of Young Caring for Our Young (ThinkCaring.org), a foundation dedicated to empowering children in our community by addressing urgent needs in areas like education, hunger, clothing, and well-being, I chose to join the Ogden School Foundation board because I strongly believe that education is a powerful lever for breaking the cycle of poverty and creating opportunity. Through my work at Young Caring, I’ve seen firsthand how the right resources, school supplies, emotional support, and access to basic needs such as clothing through our KIND Fund, can help students not only survive, but truly thrive. I want to contribute my experience in nonprofit leadership, community partnerships, and child advocacy to help guide decisions that support all students; especially those who may be facing hardship outside the classroom. I’m excited to collaborate with this board to strengthen our schools and ensure every child has a fair shot at a bright future."
Sacks for sacks! As the official sack sponsor for Weber State Football, our friends at Mountain America Credit Union are helping fill the sacks of Ogden School District students experiencing food insecurity. For every WSU defensive sack this season, MACU donated $250 to the Ogden School Foundation to support ongoing food pantry needs at our MarketStar Student Resource Center. This is the third consecutive year MACU has partnered with WSU to support our students in this way and we couldn’t be more grateful. MACU presented a $6,000 check to OSF Executive Director Brynn Murdock at a home game in November, and we are so excited! Thank you, Mountain America, for taking such great care of our kids.
Congratulations to our intern, Ellie, on graduating from Weber State University today! Ellie joined us during our busiest time of year, and we immediately threw her into the deep end. But she never missed a beat! Here are a few snapshots from her past few months with us, working behind the scenes and helping keep everything running smoothly. We’ve loved having her on our team and wish her all the best in whatever comes next!
Our teacher spotlight today? Hunter Moore, Mount Ogden Junior High's winner of the Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award for the 24-25 school year! Here are a few of his nominations:
-Hunter is a 3rd year teacher but teaches like he has been doing it forever. He loves what he does and the students know it. They learn from him in a variety of ways and they show their learning in a variety of ways. He embodies IB.
-Hunter Moore exemplifies the teacher who is always willing to adjust his instruction to meet the needs of all students. He encourages his students to think out of the box and be risk takers. Students enjoy being in his class. He is one of the best!
-He is always being recognized at our school for always going above and beyond. He does amazing things in class and the students love and adore him. His classes are full of rigor, avid strategies, and cooperation.
-Hunter embodies "best practices" in his teaching and helps his students achieve greatness. He is always looking for ways to collaborate and better his approaches. I appreciate how enthusiastic he is and how willing he is to lend a helping hand.
-Hunter is a 3rd year teacher but teaches like he has been doing it forever. He loves what he does and the students know it. They learn from him in a variety of ways and they show their learning in a variety of ways. He embodies IB.
-Hunter Moore exemplifies the teacher who is always willing to adjust his instruction to meet the needs of all students. He encourages his students to think out of the box and be risk takers. Students enjoy being in his class. He is one of the best!
-He is always being recognized at our school for always going above and beyond. He does amazing things in class and the students love and adore him. His classes are full of rigor, avid strategies, and cooperation.
-Hunter embodies "best practices" in his teaching and helps his students achieve greatness. He is always looking for ways to collaborate and better his approaches. I appreciate how enthusiastic he is and how willing he is to lend a helping hand.
We love seeing our Student Support Centers in action! Check out the latest numbers in the Family and Teen Center's December update and scan the QR codes to see each center’s current supply needs. Monetary donations to support these centers are also gratefully accepted on our website. Thank you for caring for the children in our community!
ogdenschoolfoundation.org/supportcenters
ogdenschoolfoundation.org/supportcenters
We're so excited about our 30th Fall Author Event in 2026! Check out the article in today's Standard-Examiner!
https://www.standard.net/news/2025/dec/06/ogden-school-foundation-announces-2026-fall-author-event-keynote-will-celebrate-30-years-in-2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOj6eFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE6Xqzhvt8IKu-CF_7YLsh6hy9WUFlReBr3h3RJYI2s9IsNYPVijVzkXFS9s_aem_2PFqZJlq9YR3tcg9tpjxRA&brid=5Lj8I6s50ovTYIJ1-I7RcQ
https://www.standard.net/news/2025/dec/06/ogden-school-foundation-announces-2026-fall-author-event-keynote-will-celebrate-30-years-in-2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOj6eFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE6Xqzhvt8IKu-CF_7YLsh6hy9WUFlReBr3h3RJYI2s9IsNYPVijVzkXFS9s_aem_2PFqZJlq9YR3tcg9tpjxRA&brid=5Lj8I6s50ovTYIJ1-I7RcQ
We’re so lucky to have such an incredible Board of Directors! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing our newest board members, starting with Tanner Bickley. Here's what Tanner shared about joining the Ogden School Foundation board:
"I am humbled, honored, and delighted to join the board of the Ogden School Foundation. My primary interest in joining stems from a desire to give back to a system and community that has blessed my life. I hope to leverage my experience and professional skills in support of children, students, teachers, and administrators throughout Ogden. This is our town, and our future. I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape it."
"I am humbled, honored, and delighted to join the board of the Ogden School Foundation. My primary interest in joining stems from a desire to give back to a system and community that has blessed my life. I hope to leverage my experience and professional skills in support of children, students, teachers, and administrators throughout Ogden. This is our town, and our future. I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape it."
Happy Thanksgiving from the Ogden School Foundation! We are so grateful to be part of such an amazing community and for your continued support of education in Ogden. Thank you for helping us shape a brighter future for both our students and our community. We’re so thankful to have you as part of our Foundation family.
Good luck to our friends at the Weber School Foundation as they kick off their annual Christmas Tree Jubilee this week! Be sure to stop by the tree room to see all the amazing trees and wreaths for sale, including this one donated by the Ogden School Foundation and decorated by the Ogden School District Special Education Department. Did you know WSF provides up to $10,000 each year from tree and wreath sales to support Special Education students in the Ogden School District? We’re grateful to WSF for continuing to honor the spirit in which this event was originally created years ago. We’re proud to share in the important work of supporting education and all of the students in our community alongside our colleagues in our neighboring school district.
We are so grateful for the incredible community partners who show up for our students! Today, we celebrated the official Ribbon Cutting for the newly named Wasatch Peaks Credit Union Food Pantries, located inside our Student Support Centers. It was so great to come together and recognize the generosity of Wasatch Peaks in providing funding for these pantries. The ceremony was held at the Family Support Center at Odyssey Elementary School, but Wasatch Peaks’ support also extends to our other Student Support Centers at Ben Lomond High School, Ogden High School, and OTECH High School .
This funding will help sustain ongoing pantry needs, ensuring we can continue meeting some of the most essential needs of our students and families. These pantries are being utilized often, but it is only through the support of our community that we are able to provide these resources and remove barriers so students can be successful in the classroom. So thank you, Wasatch Peaks, for not only stepping up, but for setting such a meaningful example of community care.
This funding will help sustain ongoing pantry needs, ensuring we can continue meeting some of the most essential needs of our students and families. These pantries are being utilized often, but it is only through the support of our community that we are able to provide these resources and remove barriers so students can be successful in the classroom. So thank you, Wasatch Peaks, for not only stepping up, but for setting such a meaningful example of community care.
Congratulations to Shasta Moses, Shadow Valley Elementary's winner of the Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award for the 24-25 school year! A few of her nominations include:
-She is such a great teacher. Gets to know her students and helps to get them what they need when starting out on their school journey.
-Shasta is an amazing teacher, she knows the curriculum and standards well and she uses that knowledge to help her students learn and grow. She is a great leader in her team and helps and shares her ideas with others.
-Shasta is an outstanding teacher. She teaches Kindergartners and brings them in, many who have not had any time away from their own home, and teaches them how to start a life long love of learning.
-I have enjoyed working with Shasta and teaching her students. She has gone above and beyond by assisting me with finding new Kindergarten music activities, and I can see how much her students love learning from her.
-She is such a great teacher. Gets to know her students and helps to get them what they need when starting out on their school journey.
-Shasta is an amazing teacher, she knows the curriculum and standards well and she uses that knowledge to help her students learn and grow. She is a great leader in her team and helps and shares her ideas with others.
-Shasta is an outstanding teacher. She teaches Kindergartners and brings them in, many who have not had any time away from their own home, and teaches them how to start a life long love of learning.
-I have enjoyed working with Shasta and teaching her students. She has gone above and beyond by assisting me with finding new Kindergarten music activities, and I can see how much her students love learning from her.
“Watching something happen on a video is exciting and educational. Making something happen in a lab is unforgettable!” That’s how BLHS science teacher Mrs. Williams opened her grant application, explaining that students don’t just want to watch someone else run experiments on a screen, they want to "do science" themselves. Since Mrs. Williams is launching a new AP Biology class at BLHS, she turned to the Classroom Grants Program for help outfitting her lab with a blueGel electrophoresis system, giving her students the chance to genetically engineer bacteria and make them glow in the dark. Through hands-on scenarios, her students are now exploring cutting-edge biotechnology tools such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, and even CRISPR. These experiences show them that they truly can become the next generation of scientists, making discoveries and changing the world through science.
“Saying thank you does not seem like enough,” Mrs. Williams shared. “Your generous donation will help change the education of my students and may lead to a positive change in their lives. Thank you for giving them a real scientific lab experience in our classroom.”
“Saying thank you does not seem like enough,” Mrs. Williams shared. “Your generous donation will help change the education of my students and may lead to a positive change in their lives. Thank you for giving them a real scientific lab experience in our classroom.”
Congratulations to Special Education Preschool teacher Sarah Price, 24-25 winner of the Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award! A few highlights from her nomination include:
- As a Special Education Preschool Teacher, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create an environment where each child can thrive. Her dedication to individualized instruction and her integration of the S.T.A.R. program into the daily schedule has made a profound impact on the lives of her students. By embedding these skills into the classroom routine, she is helping her students build essential skills that are critical for their development.
- Sarah is a true advocate for her students and parents by sharing strategies and insights that empower them to continue supporting their children’s growth at home. Her teamwork and dedication extend beyond the classroom, creating a strong network of support for her students.
- She is a true champion of her students and a role model for educators.
- As a Special Education Preschool Teacher, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create an environment where each child can thrive. Her dedication to individualized instruction and her integration of the S.T.A.R. program into the daily schedule has made a profound impact on the lives of her students. By embedding these skills into the classroom routine, she is helping her students build essential skills that are critical for their development.
- Sarah is a true advocate for her students and parents by sharing strategies and insights that empower them to continue supporting their children’s growth at home. Her teamwork and dedication extend beyond the classroom, creating a strong network of support for her students.
- She is a true champion of her students and a role model for educators.
Ogden School Foundation board members and staff spent the morning volunteering at Odyssey Elementary with Catholic Community Services of Utah as part of their Bridging the Gap program. Bridging the Gap is a mobile food distribution program that visits local elementary schools to provide students with extra food to take home for the weekend. We’re so grateful for CCS and all they do for Ogden School District students and families!
Hope to see you tomorrow night at the Pack + Party at Weber State’s Davis Campus! It’s a great opportunity to get involved and support students in our community. We’re so grateful to our friends at The Policy Project for all they do for Utah’s students and families!
Want to make an even bigger impact? The Policy Project is forming Impact Teams across the state to understand local needs, build connections, and help put policies into action. To join the Weber County Impact Team and make a real difference, contact Jayden Davis at jayden@thepolicyproject.org.
Want to make an even bigger impact? The Policy Project is forming Impact Teams across the state to understand local needs, build connections, and help put policies into action. To join the Weber County Impact Team and make a real difference, contact Jayden Davis at jayden@thepolicyproject.org.
WE SCARE BECAUSE WE CARE! Happy Halloween from our Ogden School Foundation team! Have a fun and safe night, Ogden! (And don't forget to file your paperwork...)
Mrs. Clow, music teacher at Polk Elementary, is passionate about giving her students a deeper understanding of music. But without a piano, a foundational instrument in any music room, it was challenging for students to fully grasp concepts like harmony, solfege, composition, and melodic patterns. Enter the Ogden School Foundation 's Classroom Grants Program! Thanks to this foundation funding, a beautiful new digital piano soon found its way to her classroom, opening the door to countless creative opportunities. Students are now composing, experimenting, and singing with a whole new level of confidence, and are well on their way to becoming pitch perfect!
“I am so grateful to have been gifted this beautiful digital piano!” said Mrs. Clow. "The first week of students walking in and seeing this brand-new beautiful instrument was so special. The excitement on their faces, and the anticipation in their comments was truly joyful to experience. I can’t thank you enough for your role in providing that. This piano is already making such a difference, and I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
“I am so grateful to have been gifted this beautiful digital piano!” said Mrs. Clow. "The first week of students walking in and seeing this brand-new beautiful instrument was so special. The excitement on their faces, and the anticipation in their comments was truly joyful to experience. I can’t thank you enough for your role in providing that. This piano is already making such a difference, and I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
The biggest thank you to Dutch Bros Coffee! Their Buck 4 Kids Day last month raised an incredible $4,304.91 for the Ogden School Foundation, supporting students across the Ogden School District. We’re so grateful to Dutch Bros and their amazing customers for showing up for our schools. We felt the love in every cup poured!
Congratulations to AbiGayle Neil, 2024–25 Telitha Lindquist Greiner Excellence in Teaching Award winner, formerly at Bonneville Elementary and now teaching at Hillcrest! Here are a few of Ms. Neil’s nominations:
-She works hard to support all her students and helps to bridge their gaps in learning.
-Abi Neil continuously utilizes "best practices" to help her students achieve the high standards that she sets. Her students continue to flourish in the safe learning environment that she provides.
-Abi goes above and beyond to ensure her students are successful inside and outside of the classroom. She is always trying to find ways to make the learning fun and relevant to her students.
-Ms. Neil has helped my daughter in many aspects. My daughter loves math and going to school because of Ms. Neil. She teaches with love, compassion and structure. She is creative and dedicated. My daughter comes from school with a smile in her face.
We just received the kindest letter from Sy Montgomery about her visit to Ogden for our Fall Author Event! She was so impressed with our community, and we can’t blame her! We’re so lucky to be surrounded by such dedicated supporters. Read Sy’s full letter (and letters from many of our past authors) at the link below.
https://www.ogdenschoolfoundation.org/o/ogdenschoolfoundation/page/author-letters
https://www.ogdenschoolfoundation.org/o/ogdenschoolfoundation/page/author-letters
