Willow Springs Elementary students in grades 1 through 5 will walk a red carpet into the building on Monday, Aug. 17, greeted by the school community and Willie the Wildcat as Canyons School District kicks off the 2026-2027 school year.

Kindergartners get two extra days at home. Their first day is Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The school is inviting families to take photos and cheer students on along the red carpet, according to an announcement on the school's website posted Aug. 6. The red carpet welcome is a district-wide tradition; Board President Amber Shill highlighted the practice at the board's Aug. 19, 2025, meeting, and schools across the district's 32,364-student system plan similar celebrations.

New principal Aimee Wagner will lead the Wildcats for the first time this fall. Wagner moved from Silver Mesa Elementary as part of administrative appointments Canyons announced in May. She replaces Anne Hansen, who shifted to Crescent Elementary.

At the Dec. 2, 2025, board meeting, Hansen described the Willow Springs community's habit of showing up for school events. "They show up," Hansen told the board, referring to parents who pack performances, assemblies and learning nights. That support carried the school to strong results: 77 percent of Willow Springs students were reading above benchmark levels as of that presentation.

Families who haven't yet completed online registration should do so before Aug. 17. As we reported July 22, registration opened Aug. 3 through the district's new Skyward system. Kindergarten families need an official birth certificate, immunization record or Utah exemption form, and proof of residency; children must turn five before Sept. 1.

Back to School Night is Friday, Aug. 14, from 3 to 5 p.m., giving families a chance to meet Wagner and tour classrooms before the first bell rings three days later.