Navigator News
Honoring Our Veterans the NPA Way
As Veterans Day approaches, we have an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary men and women who have served our nation. Their dedication, sacrifice, and willingness to serve remind us that the freedoms we enjoy should never be taken for granted. Veterans Day is a time to pause, reflect, and express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have worn the uniform of our country's Armed Forces.
At Navigator Pointe Academy, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to welcome veterans from our NPA families and community to our upcoming Veterans Day assemblies. Their experiences offer valuable lessons that connect directly to the NPA way...Respect, Responsibility, Courage, Honesty, Self-Discipline, and Excellence. These are more than words displayed in our classrooms. They are qualities we strive to develop in our students every day, and our veterans provide real-life examples of what these values look like when put into action.
As our students listen to the experiences of our honored guests, we hope they recognize that the character traits we teach at school extend far beyond the classroom. To all of our veterans and military families, thank you for your service, your sacrifices, and the example you set for future generations. We are honored to celebrate you and grateful for the lessons your lives and experiences offer our students.
Thank You to Our Pizza Day Volunteers!
Our Wednesday Pizza Days wouldn't be possible without the wonderful parent volunteers who generously give their time to help serve our students! Each week, these volunteers help set up, organize, and distribute pizza and drinks, making sure everything runs smoothly and our students receive their lunches. We truly appreciate their willingness to lend a hand and support our school community.
A special thank you to Mrs. Kirstyn Lofshult and Mrs. Rachelle Dawson for their time and dedication in making sure the pizza is always here on time! We would also like to recognize Mrs. Lisa Dotson, who works behind the scenes to manage pizza orders, organize student lists, and coordinate the details that help make Pizza Day a success. Thank you all for helping make Wednesdays a little more special for our students!
School Donations and Community Support
Several parents have recently asked whether we are still accepting donations of supplies and other needed items. The answer is YES! We are so grateful for your generosity! We continue to need additional bookshelves to help organize and expand our classroom and library book collections. We are also in need of Clorox or Lysol disinfecting wipes to help keep our classrooms clean and healthy, especially as we head into cold and flu season.
We sincerely appreciate the families who have already donated books, shelving, and supplies. Every contribution, large or small, makes a difference. Whether you donate supplies, volunteer your time, or lend a helping hand, your involvement has a positive impact on our school. We are fortunate to have such a supportive school community. The time and generosity our families share help us provide more opportunities and a better learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Michelle Petrulsky
NPA Executive Director
NPA's Veteran's Day Tradition...Thanking Those Who Have Served
For more than 20 years, NPA has proudly carried on a tradition of recognizing, thanking, and honoring the brave men and women who have served our country. As mentioned by Mrs.
Petrulsky, each year, our students and staff come together to honor our nation’s veterans while teaching students the importance of gratitude, respect, and sacrifice.
Our students and staff are preparing a special celebration featuring patriotic art, music, and displays honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. NPA families should have received last week a letter inviting all veterans in their family to join us as our special guests, along with someone to escort them.
Helping Students Understand Veterans Day
All K through 8th grade students have been learning about American veterans in their history classes. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home by sharing stories about relatives, friends, or neighbors who have served or are currently serving in the military. We want students to be able to answer the question, “Who do you know that is a veteran?”
If you have not completed the Veteran Information Card it is not too late. We will be accepting them until Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Students may also bring a copy of a veteran's
photograph for our Wall of Honor. Please write the veteran's name and the student's name on the back. We have photos on file from previous years, so check with us if you think we may already have a copy. If you do not have a photo, simply complete the information card, and the veteran's name will be added to our Wall of Honor.
NPA has been proud to teach students the importance of honoring those who have served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Thank you to our families for helping keep this tradition alive by sharing your stories and honoring the veterans in your lives.
We look forward to welcoming our veterans and their families on Wednesday, November 11th, as we continue this meaningful NPA tradition!
Celebrating New Chapters at NPA
Since joining NPA during the 2007–2008 school year, Mrs. Wendy Pulley has played an important role in supporting students, families, and staff. For nearly 20 years, her work has been guided by a simple belief: "Every child deserves the opportunity to receive an education that meets their individual needs and helps them succeed."
Throughout her time at NPA, Mrs. Pulley has dedicated herself to making that belief a reality. She has worked with families and staff to ensure students receive the support they need while guiding the school through state and federal special education requirements and laws. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the NPA community and the lives of hundreds of students.
Now, she is taking on a new challenge at NPA. Mrs. Pulley will be working to create additional opportunities and support for our accelerated students. Developing a more comprehensive program is no small task, but her understanding of the NPA curriculum, student needs, and commitment to helping every child reach their potential, will provide a strong foundation. We look forward to seeing how her efforts will shape this new opportunity for NPA students.
Thank you, Mrs. Pulley, for nearly two decades of dedication to our students and for continuing to bring your knowledge and passion to NPA in this exciting new chapter.
A Familiar Face, A New Role…Welcoming Kellie Blackham
As Mrs. Pulley begins her new role, NPA is excited to welcome Mrs. Kellie Blackham as our new special education director. Mrs. Blackham is no stranger to NPA, having previously worked here as a speech language technician. Now, she returns with 20 years of experience in special education and a commitment for helping students succeed. As she puts it, special education is where her heart is, and we are excited to have her knowledge and dedication back at NPA.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Blackham has worked with students of all ages and abilities. Her experience includes early intervention with children ages 18 months to 3 years, speech-language services for students in kindergarten through 9th grade, special education resource services for students in grades K–6, and special education preschool for children ages 3 to 5.
She is passionate about creating supportive, inclusive learning environments where every student can learn and grow. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with her family.
We are grateful Mrs. Blackham has chosen to return to NPA and look forward to having her work alongside Mrs. Pulley, our faculty and administration, once again. Please join us in welcoming her back!
Staff Spotlight...Meet Mrs. Thomas, 1st Grade Teacher
Every great story has a beginning, and Mrs. Thomas's began in the small town of Nephi, Utah,
before bringing her to West Jordan. Along the way, she gained valuable experience at Challenger School, West Hills, Copper Hills, and Western Governors University. As a young student, she loved visiting the school library, where she developed a passion for history, especially the American Revolution.
Teaching was always part of her story. With both her mother and grandmother as teachers, education runs in the family. Her calling started early! One of her first spoken phrases was, "1, 2, 3, eyes on me!" Her brother was her very first student, completing the homework pages she created for him.
Over time, Mrs. Thomas discovered one of the greatest keys to learning: phonics. She loves helping young students connect letters and sounds, opening the door to reading and a lifelong love of books.
Her journey has included both joyful chapters and difficult ones. After losing her beloved husband, she discovered a strength and resilience she never knew she had. In her free time, she loves fishing, birdwatching, traveling, spending time with her two dogs and cat, and embracing her favorite color, pink!
As one of NPA's 1st grade teachers, Mrs. Thomas brings her passion for reading and learning into the classroom every day. She believes learning should be an adventure and hopes her students leave her classroom with confidence, curiosity, and a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.
Heading West! 7th Graders Turn Pioneer History into a Board Game Adventure
This year, NPA students are diving into Utah Studies. Over the past few weeks, their focus has been on westward migration and the pioneers who traveled across the country in search of new opportunities, religious freedom, and a place to call home.
To bring their learning to life, 7th graders were challenged to design and create their own board games based on the historic Mormon and Oregon Trails. Students chose which trail their game would follow, then developed a journey that challenged players to experience some of the obstacles pioneers faced as they traveled west.
Game requirements included incorporating difficulties such as harsh weather, sickness, encounters with Native Americans, and dangerous wild animals. Each game gave players a glimpse into the unpredictable journey west, where one unexpected obstacle could have major consequences. Through creativity, problem-solving, and a little friendly competition, students turned this Utah history unit into a fun hands on learning experience. Along the way, they gained a better understanding of the challenges and decisions that shaped westward migration.
Kindergarten Continues to Explore The Seasons Through Art
Kindergarten students have been learning about the seasons and weather in science. To bring their fall lessons to life, students in Mrs. Amber Walker's class collected leaves in different colors and used them to create their own Leaf Man!
The students enjoyed looking at the different colors and shapes of the leaves and turning them into fun, creative characters. This was a great way to learn about the changes that come with fall while adding a little art to the science unit.
We want to thank everyone who has contributed to our NPA November Food Drive. Because of your generosity, our donation bin has been filling up with items that will directly support local families in need. So far, we have received almost 100 items. While we are off to a fantastic start, the need remains high, and our drive runs until Friday, November 20th. We encourage you to keep the momentum going! Every extra can of soup, box of macaroni and cheese, or jar of peanut butter, makes a difference.
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