Kaleb Barnum
SJHS Staff Writer

A lot of people in the world list weights almost every day; SJHS has a great teacher who is willing to spend his time and help kids work out. Mr. David Hansen, history teacher and weight lifting coach at SJHS, thought that there was a need to have a weight lifting program so students who have pent up energy can come and let some of it the energy go. Mr. Hansen thinks that lifting weight is a great way for students to physically exert energy in a good, positive way. Mr. Hansen loves to see kids come and do physical activity. It helps them meet their goals and look forward to something.

Mr. Hansen said, “It helps kids get stronger, and it gives them self confidence.” About 15-20 students show up everyday. They work hard and don’t goof off. A student like Kenny Roach, eighth grade student at SJHS, loves to work out. He says, “On bad days, weight lifting helps me get through the tough times.”  Weight lifting takes place after school except Wednesday. So people who don’t have anything to do after school, Mr. Hansen would love for anyone to work out after school with him.

Ms. Jarvis

Morgan Bowser
SJHS Staff Writer

One of the most popular classes among seventh graders at SJHS is Career Technical Education (CTE). Ms. Jarvis teaches the Introduction to Business section of CTE. Ms. Jarvis wanted to teach because in high school she was interested in teaching and the business field. She decided to teach business so she could combine the two.

Ms. Jarvis said, “I love teaching because I get to know the students; they are so funny and have great personalities.” Because she teaches also computers, she teaches information that they will use at school and at home, “It is so fun to see them take those skills and use them at home or in other classes.”

Hannah Thorn, a seventh grader, said, “She is super cute and nice; If you get this class you will love it.”  Olivia James, also a seventh-grade student, said “She is so nice; she lets us talk, but not too loud.”  According to Jehni McNeil, an eighth-grade student, she is always fun and she teaches well.

Besides teaching, Ms. Jarvis also enjoys horseback riding. Her family owns fifteen horses that they raise and train. They raise them to become barrel racing horses. In the summer she travels to two to four rodeos a week.

The ninth-grade girls’ basketball team.  Front row, left to right:  Ashley Crookston (manager), Sarah Patrick(manager),  Courtney Lefevre, Ripley Tew, Maddi Staheli, Mackenzie Morris, Amanda Sly, BreAnna Elzinga (manager),  Ashly Endicott(manager),  and Assistant Coach Murdock.  Back row, left to right: Emily Daybell, Kara Stoddard, Sarah Ripley, Brooke Caswell, Amy Tingey, Cami Sumsion, Mindy Staple, and Coach Kindrick

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

Springville Junior High School got a lot of new additions to their teaching squad this year. One of the many was Mrs. Becky Murdock, who has proven to be a great new addition to the social studies department.

Mrs. Murdock teaches eighth grade U.S. History and ninth grade World History/Geography. She enjoys teaching both.  “I adore teaching. I love to see the light bulb go on inside my student’s heads,” she said.

Mrs. Murdock went to Brigham Young University, where she majored in Social Studies Teaching. “I switched my major four times and tried everything from Geography, Geology, to Archeology and Anthropology; trying to decide which social science to go into,” she stated. Finally she decided to go with social studies teaching, deciding she would get the “best of all worlds.”

Another element Mrs. Murdock brought with her to the junior high, is coaching.  Mrs. Murdock is the assistant coach to Mr. David Kindrick for the girls basketball team. She said, “I love coaching. Period.”

Mrs. Murdock doesn’t just teach and coach, besides that she loves to cook, spend time with her family, and play lacrosse.

Mrs. Bass

Morgan Bowser
SJHS Staff Writer

SJHS has many amazing teachers. One of them is Mrs. Elizabeth Bass. Mrs. Bass teaches eighth grade English. “I have a passion for ideas, knowledge, and feelings. Words when they are strategically expressed, can make me laugh, bring me to tears, help me see the beauty in the world and the people in it, and help me better understand it,” said Mrs. Bass.

Mrs. Bass has been teaching for eight years now and has taught at Landmark High School as well as SJHS. “She is so nice and she explains everything so well; the assignments are really easy and don’t take up to much time,” said Victoria Ireland, an eighth-grade student. Jace Hartman, a ninth-grade student at SJHS, said, “Mrs. Bass is the coolest teacher at SJHS.”

When Mrs. Bass has free time, she enjoys being with her family, reading, traveling, singing, learning new things, making things, and playing sports. She loves teaching because she loves when she can see understanding or new ideas in students eyes. She loves seeing them take something they learned in class and apply it into their own life.

Mr.Rolfe and Mrs. Johnson in the cafeteria at SJHS.

Julie Barbosa
SJHS Staff Writer

With every school there is a principal behind it, one who runs the fundraisers, does the school assemblies, supervises students, and encourages staff members.  The principal behind Springville Junior High is Mr. Darrel Rolfe.

Mr. Darrel Rolfe has been principal of Springville Junior High for three years and continues going strong. Prior to leading SJHS, Mr. Rolfe worked at Spanish Fork High as a teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal.  Mr. Rolfe said, “I am excited to be here. I have enjoyed the transition from high school to the junior high. Both have their advantages, but this has been a good experience for me.”  With all the hectic work, Mr. Rolfe isn’t alone in running this busy school. Mrs. Courtney Johnson and Mr. David Knudsen are vice principals, ready at his side to help. Mrs. Johnson said, “Mr. Rolfe is very intelligent man, who really cares about the kids and teachers. He also has a really great sense of humor.”

There is talk of a new Springville Junior High going to be built, even with a new building the knights will live on. Mr. Rolfe said, “We continue to work on our school sprit each year. Much has been done to display our logo in the school and help students identify with the KNIGHTS. Over the next few years as we move through the process of building a new school, we will look at many changes and improvements.”  Springville Junior High Knights are effective communicators, responsible citizens and respectful learners.

Jose Martinez
SJHS Staff Writer

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.

“My original plan was to teach high school, but after working here I really enjoy this junior high,” said Mr. Hakes.  Skill building is a classroom that is used for kids who either get into a lot of trouble or have a lot of late/absences.

“I will stay here as long as they let me,” said Mr. Hakes.  Springville Junior High School is happy to accept Mr. Hakes as a new helper at the school.

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

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.

“I really like teaching, it is truly the ideal job for me,” said Mr. Mikesell, “I like that each day is varied, and that I get to work directly with people.”  According to Mr. Mikesell, he chose to teach because both of his parents had taught. “It is in my blood,” he said. Originally he wanted to be a music teacher; however after taking a few music classes in college, he decided to change. He chose another of his favorite hobbies: reading.

Mr. Mikesell also helps out with the school’s “Gifted and Talented” program. The program is for a group advanced students in each grade level, which get to go on various activities throughout the year to places like the Utah Capitol, or museums close to home. “Mr. Mikesell has a great sense of creativity which contributes a lot to the program,” said Ethan Trunnell, a ninth-grade student in the program. While Mr. Mikesell is still new to the program and learning his way around what they do, he says, “it’s fun to see the students outside of the classroom and do fun things with them.”

Outside of school, Mr. Mikesell enjoys playing the piano, reading, and going to his parents’ cabin in Island Park, Idaho. While there, he and his family ride four wheelers, go snowmobiling, and canoeing. Something many people don’t know is that Mr. Mikesell likes skiing, although he claims he is not very good at it. Mr. Mikesell stated, “If I had unlimited money, I would want to travel all over the world in my free time.”

Jack Setzer
SJHS Staff Writer

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.

Throughout the semester, students play a variety of sports in boys’ PE. Eighth-grade student Tyler Condie’s favorite sport played in boys’ PE is volleyball. “It’s a fun and easy game that anyone can get,” said Tyler. “And it’s easy rules, so [there are] no mistakes.” Another eighth-grade student, Jay Biesinger, said that his favorite PE sport is pickleball. “It’s like tennis, except with a wooden paddle and a wiffleball,” said Jay.

“[Coach Parker] does a good job of letting us play, and not so much talking!” said Max Schreiner, an eighth-grade boys PE student.

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

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.”

Mrs. Johnson said, “I had just finished my administrative degree, and I’ve wanted to be a principal for twelve or so years. These kids are at my favorite age. They’re funny, honest, and make me laugh.”

Just like anyone else, Mrs. Johnson also has outside interests, besides being a vice principal. She has written one book, and is in the process of writing two others.  Mrs. Johnson also had a dream to be an airline pilot. “I originally wanted to work for the airlines, but I fell in love with the kids when I was student teaching and decided to give up my airline career,” she explained. Mrs. Johnson’s husband, however, is a pilot, and they are able to fly together.

Mrs. Johnson loves working at Springville Junior High because of the overall atmosphere and the excitement that goes on inside the halls. “I hope to stay here for a long time,” she explained.

Hayde Blanco
SJHS Staff Writer

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.

Mrs. Bird may seem too busy, but she doesn’t let work stand in her way of doing things at home. She likes to cook, sew, hike and hang out with her kids. “My kids are my hobbies,” said Mrs. Bird. Mrs. Bird also likes to travel. She has been to places like Arizona, California, Hawaii, Canada and Europe. Her all-time favorite place to go is the Teton Mountains in Wyoming, and she loves the beach!

Students have nothing but good things to say about Mrs. Bird. Brittney Hooley, an eighth-grade student, said, “Mrs. Bird is a really good teacher. She takes time with you so you can understand what you are doing.” Another eighth grader, Laurelin Webb, said, “Mrs. Bird is a fun, easy-going teacher.”

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

A great component to the quality teaching in both schooling and sports at Springville Junior High is thanks in part to Mr. David Kindrick. Mr. Kindrick teaches science at SJHS, coaches the girls’ basketball team, and also helps out with the track team.

Mr. Kindrick has been teaching for nine years, eight of those years at SJHS. The other schools he has taught at include East Hardy Early Middle School and Timpview High School.  Mr. Kindrick is currently teaching and has mostly taught eighth-grade integrated science. He has also taught body conditioning and study skills. “I really like the ecology section [of eighth grade science] because I get to integrate a lot of art,” said Mr. Kindrick.

Mr. Kindrick doesn’t just teach in the classroom; he teaches both on the basketball court and out in the field for track. McKenzie Morris, a member of the ninth-grade girls’ basketball team, said, “He is a good coach. He is very assertive and knows a lot about the game.”

Some of his favorite things to do outside of school are sports, puzzles, and reading. He is a big fan of science fiction books. Like most people, Mr. Kindrick also enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

NCTE Publicity

Mary Rice of Springville Junior High was recently appointed to serve as State Coordinator of the Achievement Awards in Writing Program for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing competition is open to juniors in high school and recognizes writing excellence based on the students’ samples of their own best prose or verse, and on impromptu themes that are written under supervision. The State Coordinator receives entries and directs the work of the state judges. For more information on NCTE’s Achievement Awards in Writing, please visit here.

The National Council of Teachers of English, with 50,000 individual and institutional members worldwide, is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. For more information, please visit here.

Spencer Duncan
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Leslie Walker teaches choir part-time at Springville Junior High.  She teaches for the seventh-grade Apprentice Singers, eighth and ninth-grade Knightingales and Journeymen, and last, but not least, the ninth-grade Master Singers.

Mrs. Walker has worked at Springville Junior for seven years. Besides teaching choir at Springville Junior High, Mrs. Walker sings in the LDS Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  She also leads a local children’s choir called the Hobble Creek Singers.

According to Brooke Lange, a ninth-grade Master Singer in Mrs. Walker’s class, Mrs. Walker teaches well and is funny.  Brooke also said she is very nice.  Max Williams, a seventh-grade Apprentice Singer at SJHS, said, “We have a lot of good songs.”  Michelle Herrera, another Apprentice Singer said, “I enjoy having Mrs. Walker as a teacher because she is fun; she lets us sing a lot of fun songs and you can bet it is never boring in that class!”  Mrs. Walker’s class is enjoyed by so many of her students.

Sarah Jensen
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Monica Linton is one of the eighth-grade counselors at Springville Junior High. Mrs. Linton has been a counselor at Springville Junior High for two years. “I first met the administrators and counselors here and thought it would be a great place to work.  I’m sure that this is the best place to be,” said Mrs. Linton

“As a counselor, I meet with students for all kinds of reasons. From schedule changes to problems with friends or school, to celebrating good grades and hard work,” said Mrs. Linton. Hayde Blanco, an eighth-grade student, said, “I have known Mrs. Linton from the beginning of the school year, she is really nice.” She also meets with teachers, parents and other counselors to see how she can help students be happy and successful.

Mrs. Linton loves children and animals. She has five children, a bearded dragon and two corn snakes! She spends her free time watching high school wrestling tournaments, dance competitions, football games and playing “Sorry” and “Uno.”

Kenia Martinez
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Corrin Gleave is the Geometry and Algebra 1A teacher at Springville Junior High School. She has been teaching at SJHS for three years. “Over the last 25 years, I’ve taught mostly by request, and not as a classroom teacher in other schools,” she said.

She’s also taught math at Le Jordan Academy in Kailua, Hawaii, dance for BYU Children’s Program, at BYU Hawaii as a quest artist and substitute teacher, and for the state of Hawaii as an “Artist in the School”

Mrs. Gleave grew up in American Fork, Utah and always wanted to be a dancer and teacher.  As part of her education, she went to AFHS, UVU  and U of U. She has a Bachelor’s degree from BYU for dance and math major.  And, finally, at SUU, she got a Masters in Education.

“The atmosphere in my class is fun and respectful-but watch out for serious.” Mrs. Gleave explained, “I think learning should be fun, don’t you?”  In Mrs. Gleave’s class, kids do a lot of group work. She said that teaching others is the best way to learn. Most people say that Geometry is easier than Algebra, but Mrs. Gleave thinks that Geometry is just Algebra in action. Algebra II comes next, and then there are a few choices such as college algebra, pre-calculus, and even statistics.  “I love SJHS, and I hope that I can make students love it here, too!” Mrs. Gleave exclaimed.

Jose Martinez is a ninth grade student in Mrs. Gleave’s algebra class. He said that the level of difficulty depends on what she is teaching. Like everyone else, he describes the class and the teacher as fun. “It is fun most of the time,” Jose explained. Usually, in her class, students can have fun and mess around, but if it gets to a point when it’s too much, Mrs. Gleave does take command. She’s not a teacher that will let bad behavior pass.

Jose likes Mrs. Gleave’s teaching style because she makes it easy and he describes the atmosphere in the class as friendly. His favorite part of the class is the being able to chat with friends while he works.