Meadow Brook Elementary

Mrs. Halls class read the story “Our Class Is A Family” and talked about how they can be good classmates. They celebrated with friendship keychains!

This week in Music Class the students have been remembering our number one rule in class: TO HAVE FUN! I believe that music should be fun, enjoyable and relatable to everyone! The old pros knew exactly how to behave and we had fun seeing how many students I ran into over the summer at various places around the valley. They also loved seeing how many names I could remember--I think I did pretty good! The new friends were able to introduce themselves to me and I could work on learning their names. Everyone loved playing the beat to "Golden" and belting out the lyrics that they knew. We also played with rubber bands to understand sound waves.

First grade is working on building strong math procedures and routines. Mrs. Oman’s class completed an activity and showcased their work to each other in a museum-style walk. Great job, first graders!

🤠 Howdy, Lil' Preschool Buckaroos!
We’re so excited to kick off the school year with you! 🎉

🌟 Preschool Open House
📅 August 26th
🕐 1:00–3:00 PM

Come meet your teachers, explore the classroom, and get ready for an amazing year!

🎒 First Day of Preschool: August 27th
Let the adventure begin!

We cannot believe that the first day of school is TOMORROW!!! We are so excited to see our fabulous Mustangs tomorrow morning walk the red carpet in style! If you have any questions about the first day, please refer to the message Ms. Balli sent out today. See you tomorrow! 💚🐎💙

Fourth grade had a blast this summer!! Swipe to see what they did!

Our second grade teachers made the most of their summer by traveling, visiting with friends and family and soaking up the sun!

Our new computer teacher is DaNielle Brough (pronounced "Bruff")! Mrs. Brough grew up in Orem and has lived in Utah County her entire life. She has been married to her husband for 17 years (next week) and they have two boys, ages 9 and 5, as well as a dog named Maple. She loves camping, hiking, and doing anything Lego-related with her family. She also enjoys reading in the backyard while sipping a Dr. Pepper. Mrs. Brough says "I have always loved to spend time in the school/classroom with the students as a parent and am so excited to spend my time with and get to know every student in the school. I believe in making every child feel safe, recognized and celebrated for who they are. l can't wait to see what we can accomplish together." It's going to be a great year with Mrs. Brough!!

Our preschool teachers have had some big life changes this summer! We love seeing our teachers grow!

Meet Janaina Sousa! She will be joining our team as an ESL technician! She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and moved to the United States after getting married. She and her husband have been married for 30 years and have four children, all of whom are now adults. They are excited to become grandparents in March!

Mrs. Sousa has a deep love for individuals and families. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University–Idaho and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Utah State University. As a non-native English speaker, she understands how challenging it can be to communicate in a second language.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking new recipes, listening to ’90s music, organizing and decorating, and indulging in good pasta and chocolate desserts. A quote that Mrs. Sousa loves says "Education is more than the information we accumulate in our heads. It's the habits we develop as we keep revising our drafts and the skills we build to keep learning." -Adam Grant

Let's check in with our first grade teachers about their summers!

Meet Abigail Davis! She is so excited to join Meadow Brook as a Speech-Language Pathologist this year. Her goal is to support students in becoming confident, successful communicators and to work closely with families and teachers as they reach each milestone together. Whether the focus is on speech sounds, language, or social skills, she wants every student to know that their voice matters and is valued.

Outside of speech therapy, Abigail enjoys reading, riding her bike, and hiking in the beautiful mountains. Originally from South Alabama, she still finds the views here breathtaking every day.

Mican McClellan is one of our newest members on our second grade team this year! Ms. McClellan is originally from Texas, she moved to Utah to attend BYU, where she studied Elementary Education and Spanish. She loves spending time with her family, being creative, and traveling. She says "My goal this year is to make my classroom a place where students feel loved, capable, safe, and challenged to reach their potential." Welcome to the Mustang Team Ms. McClellan!

Our third grade teachers were living their best lives this summer! ☀️

Get to know Ammon Russell, one of our new special education teachers! He grew up playing sports and staying active, which taught him the value of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. He has always loved fishing—it’s one of his favorite ways to relax and connect with nature. He’s also a huge fan of superheroes, drawn to their courage, resilience, and drive to help others. That same passion fuels his desire to support and uplift those around him. Mr. Russell says "In my classroom, I strive to create a space that is safe, welcoming, and focused on both learning and personal growth. I want every student to know that all feelings are valid, and together, we can build the tools to navigate them and reach our goals." We are so excited he's a part of our Mustang team!

Our fifth grade teachers had a busy and FUN summer with their friends and family!

We are equally excited and amazed that the 2025–2026 school year is just around the corner! We have so many incredible hopes and plans for this year. Please refer to the second picture for two VERY important dates and times. See you soon, Mustangs! 💚💙

We have another fantastic new staff member for you to meet! This is one of our new special education teachers, Alma Powell! She and her husband love going on adventures with their son. She enjoys anything outdoors, including sunflowers, sunsets, going to the beach, paddle boarding, camping, and hiking. Mrs. Powell says "I hope my classroom can be a place that students love to be—a space where they feel safe, excited, and successful. I am so excited to be a Mustang this year!"

Let's find out what our kindergarten teachers have been up to this summer!