(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Aja Borja takes photos of her son, Tatum, on his first day of school on the red carpet at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Real Salt Lake mascot Leo the Lion gives high-fives to students as they walk the red carpet on the first day of school at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Conlan Pugh, 6 gets a hug from Real Salt Lake mascot Leo the Lion on the first day of school at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Parents line up to take photos of their children as they walk the red carpet on the first day of school at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Real Salt Lake players and mascot Leo the Lion high-five students as they walk the red carpet on the first day of school at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Real Salt Lake mascot Leo the Lion gives high-fives to students as they walk the red carpet on the first day of school at Copperview Elementary School in Midvale, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Washington Elementary school principal John Kelly, gets a high five from Ella Mortensen following their first day back at school on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Washington Elementary school principal John Kelly, gets a hug from Chertris Fulcher after hearing her day went well following first day back at school on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Washington Elementary school principal John Kelly, gets a high five from siblings Marisol and Victor Perez following their first day back at school on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
Students across the state went back to school on Monday — and a few walked a red carpet for the occasion.
At Copperview Elementary in Midvale, staffers got to the school at 7 a.m. to start preparations. Principal Jeri Rigby grabbed a roll of tape and a bundle of red fabric and covered the sidewalk leading to the front doors.
“The kids are like celebrities,” she said. "It’s awesome.”
Parents lined up along the sides, snapping pictures and cheering on the students as they went inside to start a new year of learning. All elementary and middle schools in Canyons District have similar red carpet events on the first day. Salt Lake City and Granite school districts on the Wasatch Front also started Monday, along with most schools in Utah.
Jordan School District will kick off the year on Tuesday.
For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.
You can help power this work.