SJHS Staff Writers

Front row, left to right:  Jack Setzer, Spencer Duncan, Jacob DeRosia and Cody Woolsey.  Second row:  Jacob Simmons, Brooke Seaton, Morgan Bowser, Hayde Blanco and Christopher Taylor.  Third row:  Cheslea Ricks, Kenia Martinez, Julie Barbosa, Katya Wagstaff and Sarah Jensen.  Back row:  Max Schreiner, Andrew Garza, Jose Martinez and Kara Dunn.

Kenia Martinez
SJHS Staff Writer

This week is the last week that journalism will be available this school year. Students have enjoyed writing about different events from around the school. From student and teacher spotlights to school-wide happenings, the journalism students have covered nearly everything.

Ms.Tiffanie Miley has taught journalism this year. Ms. Miley enjoyed teaching the class and described her Journalism students as a group of great writers who are motivated to do good work. “I’ve been really impressed with what my journalism students have written this year–both in quantity and quality,” said Ms. Miley. The journalism students have done so well that Ms. Miley cannot think of a way that the students can improve in their writing.

Andrew Garza is an eighth-grade journalism student this semester. Andrew is sad that these are his last days as a journalism student. He’s had fun writing a wide variety of articles for this class. All the students in the journalism class can agree that their writing has improved since they’ve taken this class. “I think my writing has improved. I can be more descriptive when I write,” said Andrew. Andrew’s favorite article was one he wrote about what students were planning on doing for Christmas.

Sarah Jensen is another eighth-grade student in the journalism class. Her favorite article was one she wrote on Mr. Booth because it was fun to learn about band. “Yes!” Sarah said, explaining that the journalism class has indeed helped her in her writing, “I write tons better!”  Sarah isn’t particularly happy about leaving Journalism this semester because she enjoyed getting published, and she thinks that the class is really fun.

This semester will not be the end of news from SJHS, however. Next semester, a couple of former journalism students may end up writing articles. The scheduling is still being worked out, and Ms. Miley really hopes it happens. There will also be a journalism class next year for eighth and ninth grade students.

Jack Setzer
SJHS Staff Writer

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.”

What do people like about Alpine skiing? “You can go super fast, but slow as well,” said Spencer. Mrs. Sorenson said, “There is no greater feeling in this world than the cold air rushing across your face as you fly down a steep slope covered in fresh powder.”

Spencer Duncan
SJHS Staff Writer

Springville Junior High just finished a food and clothing drive.  Natalie Shaw, Liz White, Taylor Martin, Shawnee Henderson, and Thalia Berriel, members of the service learning class, were in charge of the drive.

The drive went from Monday November 29 through Monday December 7.  The winning class gets a donut party from Reams in Springville.  According to Natalie Shaw, the party is used to encourage students to donate.

Mrs. Bird, service learning teacher, said, “The purpose of the drive is to help people less fortunate than us.”  Tyler Ercanbrack, a first period student in Mrs. Rebecca Murdock’s class, said “It helps other people.”

The food and clothing donations are being sent to the Food and Care Coalition.  Some of the shoes may go to Deseret Industries.

Mr. Kindrick and some of the logos his students created.

Cody Woolsey
SJHS Staff Writer

This week in Mr. David Kindrick’s eighth-grade science class, everyone is looking a little bit greener. Mr. Kindrick is teaching his students about the environment and how important it is to us living on this earth. “We impact the environment,” said Mr. Kindrick, the eighth grade science teacher at Springville Junior High.

A part of this unit is for students to design and create their own logo. Students will then pick the best logo out of all Mr. Kindrick’s classes, and it will be printed on a T-shirt. “Students are very creative,” said Mr. Kindrick, “I expect quality work.” Students then have the option to purchase a T-shirt for three dollars.

By making these T-shirts, Mr. Kindrick hopes that Springville Junior High will help the environment, as well as display the creativity that the SJHS students wield. “It’s good to know that SJHS is doing their part to go green,” said Katya Wagstaff, an eighth grader at Springville Junior High. Who knows, maybe SJHS could change the world by showing off their new go green T-shirts!

Katya Wagstaff
SJHS Staff Writer

When you walk by the SJHS Choir room during sixth to eighth period, you will hear melodies and harmonies. On December 11th, elementary school students will be able to hear these harmonies and melodies without leaving their schools. “All of the elementary schools in Springville will be visited (by the Master Singers and Knightingales),” said Mrs. Leslie Walker, the SJHS choir director. The Master Singers is the ninth grade audition choir; the Knightingales are a mixed chorus of eighth and ninth grade girls.

The Master Singers will be presenting four pieces one with “Choralography—movement on the risers” and another one with a full dance; while the Knightingales will perform three, one with “choralography.” The choralography for the Knightingales was taught by Mrs. Courtney Johnson, an SJHS Vice Principal, who once performed with the BYU International Folkdancers.

For the eighth grade Knightingales, this will be a new experience. According to Krystena Robbins, an eighth grader, she is excited because little kids love songs. Her favorite song they’re performing in “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” She has a younger sister who attends Sage Creek Elementary, whom Krystena will get to see in the afternoon.

Brother Clegg and his seminary class.

Chelsea Ricks
SJHS Staff Writer

During the years of high school, students have the opportunity to take seminary. Seminary is a class where students get to learn about the L.D.S. faith. The Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion section of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ website says that, “Seminary is to help youth and young adults to understand and rely on the teachings and The Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven.”

Brother McLay, seminary teacher at SJHS, said, “I love the spiritual feeling in the building at seminary. I love the countenance increase. It is very rewarding to see someone learn a new principle and decide to live it.” The youth love seminary too.  Kali Condie, a student in seminary, took the class because she loves to be in a place where she can be loved and accepted. She also enjoys learning about the gospel.

The Church’s website also explains that some of the things teachers and students in seminary should do in making seminary a good experience is, “learn and teach by the Spirit. They should cultivate a learning environment of love, respect, and purpose. Explain, share and testify of gospel doctrines and principles.” In seminary the students in the class do the devotional to get the class started. The students read a scripture of their choice, sing a hymn that they like, and they have the opportunity to pray.  The lesson the teacher gives their students for the day could be about principles, doctrines, scriptures, or anything else the teacher feels like the students should learn.

Seminary is a good experience for everybody, the students and the teachers. Brother Clegg, another teacher in seminary, said, “Seminary continues to make an incredible difference in the lives of the youth of the church. We invite all to come and be a part of it, members or nonmembers of the church.”

Hayde Blanco
SJHS Staff Writer

The annual Make-a-Wish Carnival was held at Springville High School on Monday, November 9 from 6 to 8:30. This carnival helped raise money to make Jessenia’s wish come true. Jessenia has ALL Leukemia, and her wish is to go to Disneyworld and meet all of the Disney princesses.

This carnival had games like pie throwing, an ice cream eating contest, miniature golf, face painting, standing long jump, skateboard races and pin the tail on the devil. Springville Junior High’s service learning class had the chance to help out in some of the events. The events that service learning helped out were skateboard races and standing long jump. Participants sat on the skateboard and pushed off with plungers for the skateboard races. Then for the standing long jump people stood on a line and jumped as far as they could. The further participants jumped, the more candy they won.

Springville Junior High is hoping to raise $1,000 for Jessenia.  If they do, Josh Buhler, a member of the Springville High School student council, has volunteered to help motivate people to buying more stars by shaving half of his hair off. Mrs. Diane Bird, service learning and sewing teacher at SJHS, said, “It would really be nice to see Josh Buhler’s head shaven.” Haley Norman, a seventh grader here at Springville Junior High said that her favorite games were miniature golf and the face painting. Haley also said, “This was a really good way to earn money for Jessenia.”

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

With the end of the term quickly approaching, one of the biggest concerns parents and students face is grades.  Nebo District uses S.I.S., an online program, to track student attendance and grades.  Springville Junior High is hosting a training program for parents all throughout Nebo district on October 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Springville Junior High (165 South 700 East). This training program should be an easy walk through with two translators handy to answer questions or concerns.

Bilingual posters have been placed around Springville to inform parents about this meeting. It should be very informative and a lot of help to anyone who is struggling. Springville Junior High is excited to teach and help parents understand how easy this process is to check up on their students.

Badger cheerleaders holding up their banner for the football team to rip through at the beginning of the footbal game.

Hayde Blanco
SJHS Staff Writer

“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.

Some things that cheerleaders do at football games are dances during half time, tumble, and pump up the crowd. A unique thing that Cynthia Esklund and her team, the Badgers, do is make a banner and then hold it up while the football players run through it at the beginning of the game.

Max Schreiner, eight grade student and football player at Springville Junior High, likes having the cheerleaders at the games because they are “cute,” but when they do their dance during half time it is hard to hear his coach. Kaleni Neiufi, seventh grade football player, said, “It gets the crowd and a lot of people cheering for us.” But according to Kaleni, his team mates pay more attention to the cheerleaders than the game.

Your informers from SJHS. Front row, left to right:  Jacob Simmons, Spencer Duncan, Jennifer Galindo, Kara Dunn,  and Jack Setzer.  Second row:  Brooke Seaton, Morgan Bowser, Shyenaia Luna, Jacob DeRosia, and Cody Woolsey.  Third row:  Chelsea Ricks, Katya Wagstaff, Julie Barbosa, Hayde Blanco, and Christopher Taylor.  Back row:  Max Schreiner, Andrew Garza, Kaleb Barnum, Sarah Jensen, Jose Martinez, and Kenia Martinez.

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

With the new school year, Springville Junior High School has a new journalism class to bring you information about the school and its surroundings.

The journalism class is taught by Ms. Tiffanie Miley, who also teaches seventh grade English. “I enjoy teaching journalism because it’s a class with an immediate real-life application,” said Ms. Miley. She continued to say that because of the real-life nature of the class, it motivates her students to do their best work. Surely, many teachers would like that.

Students enjoy the class too, Jack Setzer, a journalism student, said one of his favorite things about the class was going out to interview students and teachers. Kara Dunn, another member of the class, said, “I love this class, and being able to move at our own pace while writing about what we want.”  Max Schreiner, another member, said he enjoyed being able to move at his own pace too.

As a class, the journalism students brainstorm a list of things that are going on at the school, and around the school. They then choose a topic they want to write about, brainstorm about the topic, and gather information through interviews. Following the interviews, the students, draft, edit, and review each others work, and finally e-mail their article to Ms. Miley who submits the best articles to Springville Herald.

“We love the young people who write for the Springville Herald,” said Pat Conover, an editor for the Herald. SJHS finds their articles in the paper rather often, much to the liking of the students, and their mentor, Ms. Miley.

For the first time in several years, this semester’s Journalism class is going to publish and distribute a paper to the students during school.

Emily Regan
SJHS Staff Writer

Throwing up, headache, fever—all are symptoms of the flu. During flu season, anywhere from late November to the end of March, approximately 5% – 20% of Americans are infected with the Influenza virus. An estimated 36,000 die every year from complications of the Influenza virus, and yet, what worries us now, has killed less than two hundred people.

The Swine Flu, originating in Mexico, has traveled across the border to America in several different places. The infection didn’t spread nearly as much as the panic did. The Swine Flu is foreign and scary, but the strain is weak, and not terribly deadly. The real fear is that it may mutate with the Bird Flu or something similar. The strain as it is now is not at epidemic level, but a mutation could very well be.

Needless to say, schools were in an uproar, closing down, sending sick students home, and stirring up the very frail nerves of the parents. Since then, doctors have been insisting that schools remain open and that everyone remain calm about it. School nurses and local doctors have received many calls and e-mails about the Swine Flu, just in case they do come across the infection. Our own Ms. Stacy Duncan, school nurse at Springville Junior High, has been updated daily on what to do about the flu.

“Sick people should stay home when they are sick,” said Ms. Duncan. “Use common sense. If you’re sick, stay home. If you’re really sick, go to the doctor. Wash your hands and stay healthy.”

Aaron Stoddard, a seventh grader at SJHS, said, “The biggest trouble is that people have such different opinions. Either they think it’s just stupid, or they’re freaking out.”

Leading researchers suggest that we all find a happy medium. Citizens should be calm and do what it takes to keep from getting sick, whether it’s the Swine Flu or the ordinary cold. Wash your hands, take vitamins, don’t share drinks with others, and keep clean.

Madie Dockstader
SJHS Staff Writer

To improve mobility for Springville and Mapleton, the Utah Department of Transportation is expanding 400 South in Springville from I-15 to Main Street. Construction began in the summer of 2008 and the major construction activities will be complete, and the roadway will open in the fall of this year. The whole project will be completed in the spring of 2010.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is going to rebuild the existing freeway exit, add a lane along southbound I-15 between the two Springville interchanges, widen 400 South to four lanes from I-15 to Main Street in Springville, and build a new bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad at 1500 West and replace the existing bridge at 400 West.

Mrs. Kathryn Crandall, teacher at SJHS, and her family own a ranch near the construction, and when asked how the road construction affects her family’s ranch she said, “It creates a lot of traffic that makes it difficult getting equipment back and forth to the other side of the freeway.” She also said, “It will be worth it in the long run.”

Mrs. Mary Rice, another teacher at Springville Junior High, said, “As part of my responsibilities as a teacher, I occasionally visit students. The road construction has made it difficult to visit students who live in certain neighborhoods.” She also said, “I hope that the people who live in those neighborhoods will have access to safe, reasonable traffic flow patterns, and I can go back to home visiting with ease when the construction is over.”

Mckell Metcalf was caught at her softball practice said that she is very exited to be playing softball this year too.

Makaiah Williams
SJHS Staff Writer

As summer comes closer and closer, sports are starting up, including one sport which most girls are excited for–softball. Most softball teams have all ready begun practicing, however, games will not start until the first week of June. There are no confirmed dates, but most games will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Kolob Park.

One thing that most girls are excited about is state. State games will either be in Spanish Fork or Salem, on the 6th through the 9th of July. “I’m exited to go to state, kick butt, and beat the Spanish Fork team,” Rylee Vest, an eighth grader at SJHS, said.

The Springville softball league has grown. Last year there were four teams, and now there are five teams. To get these teams ready for the year Spanish Fork is holding a clinic on Saturday May 16th. If you are interested in pitching or catching it will go all day, but otherwise it will be from 8:00 A.M to 11:00 A.M. The cost of admission is fifteen dollars. “I’m looking forward to just playing softball all summer,” said McKenzie Morris, an eighth grader at SJHS, “I’m totally stoked.”

This year Springville girls are playing with girls from Mapleton.”I’m excited to see how the Mapleton teams play,” Mindy Stapel, an eighth grader at SJHS, said, “and to have more teams to play.”

Emily Regan
SJHS Staff Writer

On the 21st of March, from eight in the morning until two in the afternoon, young writers from across Utah flocked to Springville High School for a special treat. Famous and upcoming authors were available to the masses as they taught and lectured the creative minds of the state.

Only a certain number of children, between grades 1-12, and select adults, were able to register for the Writers’ Conference. A total of about 450 people signed up for classes. Lunch and snacks were provided, along with a packet of brochures and a journal, and an entire day conversing with professionals, all for only ten dollars.

Authors from various places, including Brandon Mull (author of Fablehaven), Paul Genesse (author of The Golden Cord), and Emily Wing Smith (author of The Way He Lived), all provided different classes where students were able to ask questions and receive advice concerning their possible futures as writers.

“I liked meeting new people and the amazing authors that were there,” said Dallin Adams, a ninth grade student at SJHS who attended the conference. “I loved learning how to write different styles and create people and places for a book.”

Some of the classes provided were focused on topics such as “Becoming a Writer,” “Finding a Publisher,” and “Illustrating Your Own Book.” All of the classes were full to the brink with students teeming with questions. Each of the authors words were taken directly to heart.
“It was good to hear the thoughts and plans of professionals who know how to give advice we need to hear,” commented Kate Baxter, a ninth grade student at SJHS. “Listening to the author’s opinions really made me think—and I liked that.”

All of the young writers who attended were able to learn from people they respect and admire. The authors seemed to have fun as well while they chatted with members in the audience.

Young Writers Conferences are annually held around Utah. All ages are invited to attend these special opportunities provided to them. Who knows—there might just be the next Newbery Winner present.

Jeremy Schanderl
SJHS Staff Writer

We have new Deseret Duel Champions! But there are still rivalries to be settled so just because the duel is over the games still rumble on with 12 games against the two rivals left. The duel rivalry of Brigham Young University and University of Utah has been rated fourth best in the country by The Wall Street Journal. The trophy is able to switch owners every year. But this year Utah has claim over the Deseret duel trophy.

The Deseret First Duel is to see which school exceeded the other in sports that year. With 12 different sports played each worth points so it represents the overall performance in the schools athletics and sports. University of Utah has already scored the majority of the 65.5 points possible, with the current score Utah 34 and BYU 13. So officially, Utah is this year’s duel champions.

University of Utah gained an early lead with the win against BYU in football on November 22 2008 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, earning them 10 points. Then they had a good winning streak from then on and the Deseret First Duel trophy was awarded at the BYU Utah Women’s basketball game. That win gave the University of Utah the majority of the points to win the duel.