NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Daybreak Named!

New elementary school has been named.   At first glance, I thought they were talking about a Retirement Community.  The name announced was Golden Fields.    Others recalled Sting's song Fields of Gold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVq0IAzh1A  

The Elementary is located in the north part of Daybreak by 10200 S.   Why did they name it Golden Fields?    A very loved principal in the area that strives hard to do what is best for the children wrote a letter of recommendation regarding the name.   Some citizens were bummed.  They were hoping for it to be named Split Rock (after the road its located on) or Creekside or Brookside which represent parts of Daybreak.    What we do know....is it will be awesome. A great principal and staff and great students attending.

Hi Alison:

Thanks you for sharing your concerns. I truly appreciate it.

The name was not chosen because it has sentimental value to me. It was chosen in consultation with Kyle Hansen, the new principal; Brad Sorensen, the Administrator of Schools over the new school; and several other members of the Board of Education. We all had one major concern.

Let's both admit that Daybreak residents are very passionate about their community. It's one of the most defining characteristics of Daybreak. I love it. However, that passion can often be hurtful to those not of your community. We have seen that at Eastlake. Let me share a portion of a few emails that Mr. Hansen and I received (they are a few of many):

"By naming the school "Creekside" after one of four villages that will be attending the school, as silly at it sounds, those that do not live in Creekside village may not feel it's as much of their school as the Creekside residents. My neighborhood witnessed this with Eastlake Elementary. And some friends who live outside of Daybreak and attended Eastlake describe themselves as being made to feel like "guests" of Eastlake community."


"Mr. Hansen,

[Name withheld] recommended that I email you directly about our recommendation that the new elementary school not be named after a village in Daybreak, as the school will include those not just from that village, but other areas as well and even some that don't live in Daybreak at all. Eastlake Elementary is a prime example in which individuals from other areas attended, but felt on the outskirts if they did not live in Eastlake itself. Hopefully, we have enough originality amongst us not to have to use names of neighborhoods in the name of the school that has students who attend the school that don’t live in that neighborhood."


We did not want anyone at the new school to feel that way. This is a real problem. Can I share an example of Daybreak thinking? I received the following email from a Daybreak resident expressing her displeasure with the new name. She stated:

"It just doesn't seem to fit for the area we live in. In fact, it sounds awful when you say all of the surrounding schools: Daybreak, Eastlake, and Golden Fields."

Notice what schools she included in the list of "all of the surrounding schools:" Daybreak and Eastlake. Why did she not include Jordan Hills Elementary? That school is closer to the new school than Daybreak. Why did she not include Copper Canyon Elementary or Welby Elementary? Both of those are surrounding schools. I think its because she and many others view this new school as a Daybreak school. Therefore, the name needs to fit Daybreak. You also called Daybreak and Eastlake "the other elementary schools nearby."

Can you see our concern? Can you see the very real possibility that that kind of thinking will harm those that do not live in Daybreak or even some that do? There will be many children at the new school that do not live in Daybreak. I do not want any child or any parent to feel alienated in their own school. We felt that Daybreak parents can live with a name that does not match their community much more easily than non Daybreak parents can live with feeling alienated. In my opinion, safety trumps community.

Therefore, we chose a name that was not associated with Daybreak or Bingham High School. Not because I have some sentimental connection to the name, but out of concern for those who do not live in Daybreak. With this school sitting on the northern border of Daybreak, future boundary changes might bring in even more students that do not live in Daybreak.

You may not agree with the decision, but I hope at least you can see our reasoning and that we were not thinking of ourselves, but of our students.

As far as communication is concerned, we try our best to get the information out in a timely manner. Mr. Hansen sent out several Skyward messages to all the parents within the new schools boundaries. We have tried to post all pertinent information of the district's web site:

Jordandistrict.org

My name, phone number, address, and email address are all listed there so that people an contact me. I try to respond very quickly.

Board meetings are listed there with each agenda item so that public knows exactly what will be discussed at each meeting.

I hope this helps. My only desire is to do what is best for the students of the Jordan School District.



Bryce Dunford
Jordan School Board, Precinct 5
801-910-1832