Bonnie Fisher’s husband was reading the July issue of the “South Jordan Journal,” when he read an article titled The case of the missing school song about Welby Elementary’s school song he knew would interest her.

The song, once a staple in Welby Elementary’s early years, had nearly faded into obscurity. Though it was still taught to kindergartners, it hadn’t been performed schoolwide for years—until the current choir teacher decided to bring it back. At the time, no one seemed to know who had originally written the song.

Fisher perked up. The South Jordan resident knew.

“I wrote this song in 1986,” she said. “I was the PTA Reflections contest chair and we wanted to have an assembly. I asked if there was a school song, but people said ‘no.’ I wanted to drum up excitement so kids would enter. I was in my bathtub when the song and the words came to me. I wrote it by hand because back then, I don't know if they even had a (computer) program to write music.”

For the Reflections assembly, Fisher and other volunteers put on a spirited performance. The Welby cat mascot made an appearance, joined by other characters. Fisher herself took the stage dressed as Miss Piggy to energize the crowd.

“I borrowed a snare drum from Mr. Cook, the band teacher at the junior high in Copperton so I could have that beat and got the kids clapping. I approached (former Welby) Principal (Kirk) Denison and told him, ‘I’ve got a part for you to play’ and he played the trumpet, then I’d play the drums. We’d play it through once, so kids got the beat. Then they’d sing and clap the second time. It was like a pep rally,” she said. “The idea was the Welby cat was sad and didn't have any confidence. We built up his confidence by singing the song to him.”

Denison recalls being part of the lively performance.

“It was fun, and the students liked it,” he said. “We sang the song to start every assembly. It brought a lot of school spirit.” 

At the time, Fisher had no idea the song would live on beyond that event.

“I didn’t think anyone would really care beyond the assembly, but then, my own kids kept singing it at school. If I would have known it would be around 40 years later, I would have written it better, but I was trying to keep it to one page for the assembly,” she said.

Though she signed the original handwritten copy, the song has evolved since its debut. Initially, Fisher didn’t know the school’s official colors, so when it was adopted as the school song, the lyrics were updated to reflect them. Later, when students selected new school colors, the lyrics were revised again.

There also have been edits to the wording over time.

“I enjoyed learning all the interpretations of it,” she said. “I know things in society have changed, and this song reflects that, but it remains a song to boost kids’ confidence and doing their best. I'm really happy about that.” 

Welby’s school song, written in 1986, has gone through many edits, but still encourages students to have confidence. (Photo courtesy Bonnie Fisher)