In most classes at SJHS you will hear talking, laughing, and so on. If you pass by Ms. Tiffanie Miley’s room during seventh period, it will be very quiet, which is just the way the Reading for Enjoyment students like it. Inside, are students reading whatever books they want. They join this class simply, as Sara Torsak, a seventh grader put it, because “reading is so fun!”
At Springville Junior High School there is the new skill building instructor, Mr. Josh Hakes. While he isn’t teaching any classes, he is helping out with skill building upstairs. He is only here half days, but he is still of great help and greatly admired by students and teachers.
“I am new to this school this year. I am majoring in math and getting a minor in science. I want to become a teacher,” said Mr. Hakes. Mr. Hakes is new to Springville Junior High School and has so far been enjoying his job, and as he said enjoys helping the youth. He is still in college and plans to be a teacher.
Many may not know it, but Mrs. Leslie Walker, the SJHS Choral Director, also is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. For the recent Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, The Wondrous Gift of Christmas, there was a children’s choir consisting of many childrens’ choirs from Utah. One of those choirs, Hobble Creek Singers, is from Springville and is directed by Mrs. Walker. Five of the ten children participating in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert are students at Springville Junior High.
A few weeks ago, the citizens of Springville woke up to a pristine ivory blanket of snow on the ground. Many people probably greeted it with a cry of joy, but others might have been thinking of scraping cars, shoveling sidewalks, and driving and walking on icy, wet roads. Some of the students at SJHS share this opinion, while others are more optimistic about the recent precipitation.
Celeborn Stringham, a seventh grader at SJHS, loves the snow. According to him, the snow is fun because you can go sledding, build forts, and have snowball fights (outside of school of course). There are a lot of other fun activities that you can do in the snow like ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and making snowmen.
A new tradition has sprung at SJHS in Mrs. Corrin Gleave’s most advanced math classes. A unit she started just last year is her Christmas caroling unit, which she has decided to revive again this year.
Last year Mrs. Gleave had her students take a little bit of time from math, and had them rewrite words to the tunes of familiar Christmas carols. The words the students wrote all had to relate to math formulas and theorems from their book. This year the students are required to do the same thing.
Once the masterpieces have been written by the students, the whole class learns each others songs. They then go around to different teachers throughout the school to sing their formulas and theorems.
Springville Junior High School is very pleased with their English department. One of the men that helps make the department so successful is Mr. Trent Mikesell, seventh-grade English teacher.
Mr. Mikesell is working on his fourth year as a teacher. He has taught at three schools: Payson Middle School, Pocatello High School, and of course, Springville Junior High. He has taught grades seventh through ninth, as well as eleventh. “I like seventh best of all, especially in a junior high. They are so new and really enjoy coming to school,” he said.
It’s on the Utah License plates- “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” Mrs. Kaycie Sorenson, SJHS math teacher, agrees with that statement. “Utah ski resorts rock!” said Mrs. Sorenson. In the winter, many Utahns, and others from across the world, go up into the Utah Rockies and ski up at any of the several resorts.
“Hills are split,” said Spencer Duncan, an eighth grade SJHS student. “From hardest to easiest: Double Black Diamond, Black Diamond, Green Square, and Blue Circle.”
Some would say that Springville Junior High has been a very lucky school for 10 years straight. They would be referring to the fact that the boys' PE coach, Michael Parker, has been instructing students for 10 years at Springville Junior High. “I hate grading, so PE seems the spot for me!” said Coach Parker. According to Coach Parker, he received a minor in PE which let him teach, even though his Bachelor's degree is in Geology.
Springville Junior High school is undergoing a few changes this year in appearance and staff. Mrs. Courtney Johnson has been added to the staff at Springville Junior High as the new vice principal. “I love how well-rounded the school is. Mr. Rolfe and Mr. Knudsen really understand the kids here, and you can tell they really care,” Mrs. Johnson explained.
Mr. Dave Knudsen, another vice principal at SJHS, shared his thoughts on working with Mrs. Johnson when he said, “I enjoy working with Mrs. Johnson; she’s really funny and a hard worker. She’s also very energetic about her work.”
SJHS has a lot of hard working teachers. One of them is Mrs. Diane Bird, who teaches three classes: service learning, CTE, and sewing. She has been teaching here for one year and has loved it. Even though she is busy with school work she still has time for her family, pets and her big yard at home.
This year is Mrs. Bird’s fifth year teaching. Before coming to SJHS, she taught sewing, service learning, CTE, foods, child development and Interior Design at Provo High School. Before teaching, she helped with her husband’s business and has been busy raising four children.
