October 2009

Last week at SJHS, the students showed their commitment to not getting involved with drugs. The Service Learning class gave out the dress up days and themes for the week.  Monday was spirit day, “Show your spirit by not doing drugs.” Students dressed up in their school colors to show their school spirit. Tuesday was hero day, “Be someone else's hero, and don’t do drugs.” Wednesday was sports day, “Be athletic, not pathetic, and don’t do drugs.” Thursday was swap day, “Dress as your favorite teacher and your teachers will dress as you, swap drugs for education.” Friday was crazy day, “Go crazy on candy not drugs.”

During the week of October 5th – October 9th, students at Springville Junior High celebrated being drug free with Red Ribbon Week. The Service Learning class picked a different theme for each day of the week so students and teachers could dress up and show their school spirit. On Tuesday, October 6th, Springville Junior High teachers and students dressed up as their favorite hero.
 
From Superman to their parents, students and teachers could be seen roaming the halls dressed as something they’re not, but looking up to someone else because they were living a drug free life.   

Last week was Red Ribbon Week here at Springville Junior High, and school spirit is busting at the seams. On Thursday, October 7, 2009 the students of SJHS dressed up in their favorite sports uniforms to show they are, and will stay, drug free.

For the past week the students and teachers are dressing up to “swap drugs for education” these dress up days are meant to celebrate school spirit, but according to some students, it’s just an excuse to dress up for school.

Thursday was crazy at SJHS! Students dressed like teachers, and teachers like students! What’s going on? Why, it’s Swap Day, part of Red Ribbon Week. Swap Day represents “Swapping Drugs for Education.” On this day, students were SUPPOSED to wear what the teachers wear, and vice versa. The Red Ribbon effort was organized by the Service Learning class.

Many kids want to have a position in or participate in the government someday. The Government and Law class teaches them how to do this.  Government and Law is an exciting class at Springville Junior High, where kids learn about how the government works and how they can apply its principles to their own lives. It is taught by Mr. David Hansen, and both ninth and eight graders may take the class during eight period. The class is one semester long.
   

When you were younger did you ever enjoy going to school dances? Well, Springville Junior High is having dances this year! They have five dances a year. There is the Welcome Back Dance, Halloween Dance, Christmas Dance, Valentine’s Days Dance, and the End of Year Dance. Dances start at 7:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm. 

There are four slow dances out of the whole thing. Students don't have to dance; they can sit on the bleachers during the slow dances. But when the slow dance is over they go back down and dance. The DJ, Audio Visions, has a request sheet so students can go choose the song. The DJ has a wide variety of songs.  There will be supervisors at the dances, like teachers and PTA volunteers.

“G-O Lets Go! Springville, G-O Lets Go!!!!!” These words are very familiar to the Springville Junior High football players. Here at Springville Junior High we have cheerleaders supporting and gathering the crowd for the football players.

According to Cynthia Esklund, Springville Junior High cheerleader, cheerleaders help the football players. Cheering gets them “pumped up.” Alyssa Nance, another Springville Junior High cheerleader, said “Heck Yes!” cheerleading is a sport.

Mr. Ryan Chambers is the health teacher at Springville Junior High. He teaches eighth and ninth graders. Shyenaia Luna, an eighth grader, said “Mr. Chambers explains the things we’re learning clearly and thoroughly.”

Mr. Chambers said, “I love teaching health! I feel it is the most important class you will ever take.”  Eric Harrison, another eighth grader, said, “So far I have been able to handle the topics well. Mr. Chambers has been a good teacher.” Mr. Chambers lives in Spanish Fork and has to come to Springville to teach. “To be honest, it would not really matter where I was teaching. I love helping students make healthy choices.” said Mr. Chambers.

Everyday hundreds of students walk through the doors of Springville Junior High. To many, this school is a home away from home, where students advance academically and prepare themselves for the future. But what about the past? We’re going to step back and relive the birth of this school.

Springville Junior High was born in 1957, when guest speaker Governor Clyde opened these doors and welcomed the first junior high knights. Around 602 seventh, eighth and ninth-grade students came. It was a good start with 26 teachers ready to share their knowledge.  

Each month in eighth grade science, SJHS teacher Mr. David Kindrick selects a “Scientist of the Month.”  Jacque Kass received the honor in October because, according to Mr. Kindrick, not only is Jaque a great student, but she is also “very friendly and has a positive attitude about everything.” 

Jacque Kass was born June 7th and has lived in Springville her whole life.  She has one “awesome brother name Mitch and two chill parents that I love to death, and I have a pet fish that is a beta.”