Dear Edgemont Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We hope you have had a great summer and are ready to start back in a couple of weeks. We are excited to have our Edgemont students back and ready to learn. Our teachers are getting everything ready for the arrival of our students. With the Olympics taking place in France, we’ve chosen the theme of “Go For the Gold!” for our school year. Just like our Olympians, this means to strive for the best you can be in academics, behavior, and friendships. We look forward to focusing on this theme throughout the school year.

Back to School SEP’s

This year we will be holding Back to School SEP conferences. These will be short 15 minute conferences where you get a chance to meet your child’s teacher one on one. Our teachers will share classroom expectations and procedures and you and your child will have the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and information. Please watch for an email sign up for a conference slot with your child’s teacher. The SEP conferences will take place during August 13-16 from 1:45 – 4:00 pm each day. We are looking forward to this opportunity for you and your child to get to know your teacher better and your teacher getting to know your child and you. Our hope is these conferences help get the school year off to a great start for everyone.

Class Assignments

You can find your child’s class assignment on PowerSchool.

• Powerschool

If you don’t see a class assignment, it may be because your child is a Kindergartner and those assignments will be created after Kindergarten testing is complete, or you still need to finish registering your child for school.

Please keep in mind that we’ve worked very hard to create balanced classes and will not be making class changes. Class requests took place in April and we have honored those requests. I have great confidence in all of our teachers and I know your child will be successful in any of our classrooms at Edgemont. If your child comes home concerned, we ask that you give it at least a month to give your children time to adjust to their new teachers and school year.

While you are in PowerSchool, please follow the directions in it to update your information. It’s important that the school has updated addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, as well as emergency contacts.

Back to School Night

Back to School Night will take place on Monday, August 12, 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Come with your child to meet their teacher and see the classroom. The PTA will also be there and you can meet the PTA board, join PTA, and sign up to help with our school events. We’d love to have you be part of our PTA.

School Supplies

• Find our school supply list on Instagram

The items on these lists will be used during the regular school day. They may be brought from home on a voluntary basis, otherwise, they will be furnished by the school.

First Day of School

The first day of school for grades K – 6th will be August 13. During the first week of school, August 13-16, there will be early dismissal at 1:30 pm.

Kindergarten

This year the first day of school for Kindergarten will be the same as grades 1-6, August 13. All of our Kindergarten classes are full day from 8:40 am – 3:20 pm each day. If you haven’t already, please sign up for an appointment for Kindergarten testing on August 6 between the hours of 8:00 am – 2:30 pm.

• Sign up for Kindergarten Testing

After the testing is complete, students will be placed into classes and you will be able to find your child’s class assignment in PowerSchool.

School Hours

School hours are:

• Monday through Thursday – 8:40 am – 3:20 pm
• Friday – 8:40-1:30 pm
• During the first week of school, August 13-16, there will be early dismissal at 1:30 pm for Back to School SEP conferences.  

When Adults Visit the School during School Hours

• Bring your driver license when visiting the school during school hours. There is a kiosk in the vestibule where you scan your license to visit or check out your child.

School Office Hours

Our School Office hours are from 8:15am-3:45pm, Monday-Friday. If you need assistance before or after that please call for an appointment. Our office will open for regular hours beginning Aug 1.

Morning Student Drop Off and Afternoon Student Pick up

The drop off/pick up procedures are as follows, also check the map below: Please follow our drop-off and pick-up procedures using the instructions and map below.

1. There are two lanes in the driveway. The right lane is for drop-off and pick-up. The left lane is a pull-through only.
2.  Students are dropped off and picked up along the sidewalk on the right-hand side. They need to exit the right side of the car. If the doors are blocked on that side, the parent needs to get out of the car, open the door, and walk their child to the sidewalk.
3. The pull-through lane is pull-through only, with no parking or drop-off, or pick-up. Cars in the pull-through lane are continuously moving.
4. All students wait on the sidewalk along the school to get picked up. No students will be allowed to wait on the sidewalk across the driveway by the parking lot.
5. Do not drop off your children in the parking lot! Park and walk your child across the parking lot and to the school.
6. Only cars with a handicap sticker or license plates can park in the handicap parking spots.
7. Do not drop off or pick up students on Timpview Drive or in the neighborhood behind the school.
8. Provo City will be ticketing cars double parked along Timpview drive, inappropriately parked in handicap spaces, parking and dropping off students along the street behind the school, or dropping students off in the parking lot.

Before School

• All students arriving at school before 8:35 am go to the back playground to play until the first bell rings at 8:35. Please wait until 8:15 am to drop off your child as there will be no supervision until that time.
•  The first bell rings at 8:35 am, all students line up on the back playground and wait for their teacher. There are designated spots for each class on the playground along the south side. Classroom teachers will let students know on the 1st day of school where that spot is.
• Teachers will come out to pick up students and walk them to their classrooms.
• The tardy bell rings at 8:40 am. All students are expected to be in their classrooms at that time and are counted tardy if not.
• If your child eats breakfast, the main doors will open at 8:15 am for them to come into the building to eat breakfast.

Faculty and Staff for the 2024-2025 School Year

Below are our new faculty members for the 2024-2025 school year. We are lucky to have such amazing teachers at Edgemont this year!

Kindergarten:

Cecilia Amezquita

Hello everyone! I am Ms. Amezquita, and I’m very excited for this school year! I recently graduated from Brigham Young University and this will be my first year teaching. I am from Houston, TX, but I have lived in Utah for 4 years now. In my free time, I enjoy latin dancing, cooking new recipes, and playing volleyball. I have been working with children for many years now, and I truly love it! I am excited to be a caring and supportive kindergarten teacher! Elizabeth Bolanos

Hello! I am Mrs. Bolaños! I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I lived there until I moved to Gainesville for college. I got a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from the University of Florida. After graduating, I taught kindergarten for four years at the school I interned at. I absolutely love teaching Kindergarten and helping foster a love of learning in students. I always strive to make sure every child has a sense of belonging in my classroom from day one. I am so excited to be moving to Utah and to get to teach your children!

1st Grade:

Peggy Bousquet

I’m the mother of three grown-up children and have been a passionate teacher for 25 years. Singing in a gospel choir and hiking in the mountains are real passions, allowing me to share with others, recharge my batteries and connect with nature and myself. I’ve left the French Alps for the mountains of Utah, and Provo, where I’ll be teaching first grade for two years. I look forward to meeting you and sharing my culture and language with your children.  Many thanks to my husband for his unconditional support and for accompanying me on this new adventure and thank you for the warm welcome to your community.

Hannah Gunther

Hi! I’m Hannah, and I’m excited to teach first grade. I just graduated from USU with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish. I call American Fork home and enjoy spending time with my parents and six younger siblings there. Recently, I traveled to Mexico to teach first grade at an international bilingual school, and hope to explore more of the world soon! In addition to traveling, I enjoy outdoor activities such as mountain biking and pickleball. I’m also passionate about music, weightlifting, reading, teaching literacy, and bilingual education. I’ve always considered myself an educator, so I’m excited to finally have a classroom and students of my own!

Laurie Hale

Hi! My name is Laurie Hale, and I am excited to share a contract with Lisa Garner in first grade this year! If I seem familiar, it is because I am not really new. Previously, I taught first grade at Edgemont for 30 years. I was then offered a position as an instructional coach for PCSD, where I mostly trained new teachers at Canyon Crest, Edgemont, and Rock Canyon for the past 6 years. This year I will be going back to my roots, and I am looking forward to working with the little ones again! I have four grown daughters and 7 grandkids. I like walking, playing with grandkids, baking, and eating out as much as I can! I am looking forward to an amazing year working with the families of this community.

5th Grade

Kailyn Padget

I recently moved back to Utah from a couple years in California, where I was born and raised. While in CA, I taught 6th grade science & math. Previously I lived in Vineyard and taught five years of 5th grade in Alpine SD. With her husband, she has four kids under 6. She enjoys running, reading, relaxing at the beach, and watching the Bachelorette while in sweatpants with a bag of PB M&Ms. She is very excited to join the team at Edgemont and work with you and your children. She loves getting to know the students and helping those students have those lightbulb moments.

Brock Berger

I am Brock Berger! I was born and raised on a farm in southern Utah. I am the second oldest of 8 (a yours, mine, and ours situation). Being from southern Utah, I love to be outdoors! Everything from hiking to boating, camping, hunting, and riding four wheelers. I went to school at Utah State University and I am a die hard Aggie fan! I have taught for 2 years in St George and I am very excited to be at Edgemont.

Janessa Castaneda

Hi, my name is Janessa Castañeda, and I am so excited to be a part of the Edgemont community! I recently graduated from BYU with my degree in Elementary Education K-6 with minors in TESOL K-12 and Art History. I am a first year teacher, and I am excited to watch all of my students grow and learn as we start this adventure in 5th grade together. I chose to go into teaching because I love to help everyone feel like they belong while also helping to foster a love for learning. I am from the beautiful state of Oregon where I grew up on a farm with my three younger brothers. I love to go home and visit them often. Some of my favorite things to do are going on hikes with friends or reading a good book!

6th Grade

Clara Pusey (Vosti)

My name is Clara Vosti (Pusey) and I am SO excited to be back to teaching sixth grade this year as I start my journey at Edgemont! This will be my fifth year teaching since graduating from BYU in 2020. I currently have an endorsement for teaching gifted & talented students as well as teaching English as a second language. I love traveling (My goal is to hit 30 countries before I turn 30) and I’m currently training for a marathon. I also got married back in March! I can’t wait for the school year to start!

Brandon Lukens

My name is Mr. Lukens and I am a Utah native. I went to UVU for my Bachelors Degree In Elementary EducatIon. I have 7 kids ages 13, 11, 9, 9, 7, 5, and 1. I enjoy playIng and watching football & basketball, building legos, playing vIdeo games, reading, & collecting shoes. If I could choose any other job I would choose to be a police officer or a chef. My favorite part of being a teacher is connecting with students and making a difference in their lives, no matter how big or small that is.

Special Ed

Julia Beull

My name is Julia Buell and I am the new Resource Room teacher here at Edgemont Elementary. This is my 23rd year as a teacher and I have been blessed to do this job over the years. My family and I moved here to Provo 6 years ago and before that we lived in Idaho Falls, ID where we lived for 22 years. We are the parents of 5 grown children, 4 daughters and 1 son and the Grammy and Gramps to 4 sweet little grandchildren. I love spending time with family, working in my yard, hiking, cross stitching and cheering on my BYU Cougars. I’m am excited to be a part of the Edgemont family!

Joanne Quilter

Hi, I am really looking forward to working with students at Edgemont this next school year. I am a mom of 6 boys and 1 girl and now the grandmother of 20. I worked as a paraeducator for a few years before I decided to finish my degree in Special Education I graduated from BYU in 2006 and taught a self contained mild-moderate classroom for several years. I took a little break when my daughter was born, but then worked in SPED as a Resource teacher in Alpine School District for a total of seven years. I have been working in Provo School District for the past 6 years at Lakeview Elementary and have loved the people I have had the opportunity to work with throughout the district. Over my career I have received endorsements in reading and in math. I have also taken on leadership responsibilities which have taught me a lot. Working on this side of Provo puts me closer to home so I am really happy to be a part of the Edgemont community this year.

Merna Raines

Hello, I’m Merna Raines, the new School Psychologist at Edgemont. My husband and I reside in Provo and have three boys. I pursued my studies in School Psychology at BYU and enjoy traveling with my family. I am thrilled to join Edgemont and look forward to supporting children in achieving success both academically and in life.

Specialties

PE:  David Gregory

I graduated from Utah Valley University in May of 2024 with a BS in Physical Education Teacher Education. In my free time I enjoy fishing, yoga, disc golf, and rock climbing. Basically anything outdoors is fun for me. I spent my summer working at two different youth summer camps. I love seeing kids learn new skills and find success in activities they haven’t tried before. Looking forward to a fun filled year with the students at Edgemont.

Art:  Baylee Hunsaker

I am the new art teacher and I am so excited to create with the students. I recently graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s in Art Education and a minor in Art History. I’m originally from Oregon and I love spending time in nature.

Music:  Jessica Heaton

I have a Master’s in Music Education from BYU and come from a family of 22! I am the oldest of my two sisters and three brothers, who are all married, and I have nine adorable nieces and nephews. I love being the favorite aunt and spend a lot of my free time playing with them and spoiling them. I enjoy singing in choirs, reading books, playing sports, eating delicious food, doing service, and making new friends. Teaching music is very rewarding and feeds my insatiable desire to sing all day. I can’t wait to sing all day with Edgemont!

Social Worker:  Sarah Thompson

Hello! My name is Sara Thompson and I am the school social worker. I am so excited to be at Edgemont and work with your students and families. I have held a variety of roles in the school district such as behavior specialist, lunch worker, crossing guard, aide and now as a social worker. I love my job! I have 5 children and my first one got married this summer. I love to read, bike, hike, ride jet skis and traveling with my husband. Please feel free to reach out to me with any needs or concerns youhave!

Instructional Coach:  Amanda Phillips

I am excited to be the first dedicated to Edgemont Instructional Coach. This is my 16th year in education, I have taught 5th-12th grade. I completed my undergraduate at Texas Tech, Wreck’ em, then my Masters at Texas A&M Commerce. I am originally from Texas, we moved to “My-tah” as my kids called it 8 years ago. My husband is a Captain with the Lehi Fire department and his crew is the current 2024 Utah Firefighter chili cook-off champion. We have five kids that range from 6 years old – 14 years old. They keep us busy with theater, football, rugby, golf, softball and swimming just to name a few. If I have free time, I enjoy gardening, coloring, any game/ puzzle, fantasy football, baseball, golf and cooking.

Social Media

Follow us on our social media and website to keep up with the latest information.

• Facebook: @EdgemontElementary
• Instagram: edgemont_elementary

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on August 12 at Back to School Night! If you haveany questions before then, please call our front office at 801-221-9984.

Harmony Kartchner, Principal