Teacher Appreciation at BVE Brings Hippos and High-Speed Races

TROPIC, Utah (May 10, 2023) — Teacher Appreciation Week at Bryce Valley Elementary is really something special. From retirement parties to competitive games, it takes the cake for one of the most interesting teacher appreciation events ever.

C. Pete Peterson, principal of BVE, said he was “looking for something to do that was just a little bit different” for teacher appreciation this week. And he found it: a competition. He said the “friendly-fun competition” has been a great team-building exercise for the school, lasting all week and ending with prizes.

Retirement Party

The week started off strong with a fancy retirement party for Mrs. Gayle Moore. The faculty and staff were all invited to dinner and a show at Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill on Monday.

Mrs. Moore will be retiring at the end of this year after having taught at Bryce Valley for 34 years. She will be greatly missed, and it was great to start the week off celebrating her service. The rest of the week’s activities were not quite so fancy, Principal Peterson told me. 

But that was where the competition began.

Hippos, High-Speed Races, and ‘Name that Tune’

All of BVE’s faculty and staff were involved in the competition this year. Each of their names was posted on a list in the office, which was where they would gain points.

One of the best ways to gain points was to spin a wheel and take a challenge from Principal Peterson. Challenges included taking pictures posing as a hippo, decorating the office, doing something nice for other faculty, singing over the intercom, and even getting the newspaper to write an article (12 points for that one)!

Another way to gain points was to “Name that Tune.” Teachers were given the first few notes of a well-known song, which they then had to guess before anyone else did to gain points. “Name that Tune” created some real competition, including desperate high-speed races down the hallways.

Teacher Appreciation at Bryce Valley Elementary

I would tell you the competition is something special this year, but Laura Pollock, Bryce Valley’s secretary, told me last year’s games were just as tough, even involving Antimony Elementary School in a thrilling upper grades versus lower grades competition.

So I think it’s safe to say they have fun over in Bryce Valley. Rowdy Miller, 1st grade teacher, even described the school as the “best place to work, ever.”

BVE staff and faculty would like to thank all of the people and businesses who donated prizes, gifts and treats to show appreciation for the teachers. They really do so much for the community.

Clearly, the elementary school has figured out how to put the fun in teacher appreciation!

– by Abbie Call

Feature image caption: The cute Teacher Appreciation Week poster at BVE.

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Read some Bryce Valley Elementary School news from an actual elementary schooler here.