Rowland Hall Stories

An inspiring professor helped shape Joel Long's life as a poet and more than 20 years of teaching at Rowland Hall. Now, as Salt Lake City's first poet laureate, Joel is preparing to share the power of poetry with even more people. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Learn how senior Elayna Hoglund's recent summer internship at the University of Utah solidified her interest in nursing and gave her firsthand insight into what working in the field is really like. Read this story, view photos and links, and check out the full list of summer 2026 internships.

Don't let Utah's landlocked location fool you—the state is filled with evidence of oceans past. First shared during the 2025–2026 school year, this story explores how Rowland Hall's Marine Science course, now in its second year, uses the history of ancient oceans to help upper schoolers understand how marine environments, past and present, shape our world. Read this story, as well as view photos a...

Welcome to a new season of Rowland Hall Stories ! In the first episode of our third season, we're introducing you to Head of Middle School Tamara Schurdak. An experienced educator with a passion for working with adolescents, Tamara shares what draws her to middle school and the relationship-centered approach she brings to her roles. Read this story on our website, view photos and links, and learn...

Learn how Rowland Hall's Beginning School teachers are continually refining mathematics instruction to help young learners build a strong foundation for future mathematical thinking.

Student curiosity sparked the launch of AR Physics, the sixth class in Rowland Hall's Advanced Research program, which gives seniors the chance to tackle big questions through ambitious, self-directed work. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Just three months into 2026, research conducted by two Advanced Research Biology groups during the 2024–2025 school year was published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences . Read this story, explore the research, and view photos and links.

In Digital Gadget Creations, one of the Middle School's newest elective courses, play is part of the learning process, giving students room to explore, experiment, and build a deeper understanding of concepts. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

A familiar tradition for generations of students, the spelling bee is about more than spelling. It's a chance for students to grow, take risks, and support one another. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

This spring, the Beginning School will welcome a new play area designed with input from Rowland Hall kindergartners. Hear how the thoughtfully designed space will support child-led, imaginative, collaborative, and open-ended play. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

For the fourth time in five years, Rowland Hall Debate has been crowned Utah's 3A Speech & Debate champion. Read this story, including a full breakdown of students' top state performances, as well as view photos and links.

Get to know Rowland Hall's new director of safety and security, who's focused on keeping our students and campuses safe, welcoming, and thriving. Read this story to learn more fun facts about Cliff, as well as view photos and links.

Rowland Hall's redesigned website is live, offering a more engaging way to get to know the school. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the redesign, from the strategic thinking that shaped it to the visual storytelling and navigation improvements that bring our Learn. Think. Do. value proposition to life. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

In this episode, we're examining Foundations, a thoughtfully designed program that helps Rowland Hall's sixth graders transition smoothly into middle school. Listen to learn why this experience is so important for new middle schoolers, including the many benefits it builds, from media literacy to strong communication and critical-thinking skills. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Upper School students at Rowland Hall are getting a head start in legal thinking through courses that offer hands-on experience with the legal system, while helping them understand their rights and the real-world impact of the law. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Congratulations to Rowland Hall junior Meg Hoglund, who has committed to play Division I lacrosse at Howard University in Washington, DC. Listen to hear how Meg turned a goal she set at age 12—playing collegiate lacrosse—into a reality. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

It's amazing what you can learn about your classmates just by asking a few simple questions. In this episode, we learn about family sharing, a new activity in Alise Anderson and Melinda Canfield's 3PreK class that's helping students build a strong sense of community, right from the start of their school journey. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

How do we ensure students are engaged, empowered, and confident? Through voice and choice, a learning approach that's woven throughout the Rowland Hall experience—often in unexpected ways. In this episode, we visit one fourth-grade classroom to see the approach in action. Read this story, as well as photos and links.

It's always a great year for Rowland Hall Debate, and 2024–2025 was no exception. Tune in to hear highlights from the most recent debate season and how the team is preparing for another exciting year. Read this story, view photos and links, and see the list of state tournament results.

This week, Mick Gee celebrated his fifth anniversary as head of school. In honor of this milestone, Mick reflected on some of his biggest projects during his first five years at Rowland Hall and what lies in the school's bright future. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

To foster a stronger, more inclusive community, teacher Hannah Ruske and her third-grade class partnered with students at the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning during the 2024–2025 school year. Learn about their experience—and how you, too, can work to make the world more welcoming for every type of learner. Read this story (including the third graders' tips), as well as view photos and...

Since 2009, Middle School aviation classes have been popular among students, offering many fun, hands-on opportunities to learn the scientific and mathematical principles behind flying. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Crates become robots. Toy ducks become cars. Fabric becomes water. When it comes to loose parts play, a child's imagination leads the way. Discover how our 3PreK classes embrace this creativity-fueled play and why it's so important for childhood development. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

The Upper School's Advanced Research program took an exciting leap forward this year with the launch of AR Computational and Mathematical Sciences, the newest opportunity for students eager to engage in self-directed, college-level research—now in the dynamic field of computer science. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.

Launched in spring 2024, Rowland Hall's Center for Community Impact is supporting the school's goal to be an indispensable partner in our region. Learn more about the center's work, including the many ways it provides students with opportunities to connect with local changemakers. Read this story, as well as view photos and links.