Chris Crowe, author of Mississippi Trial 1955

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

In Mrs. Bass’s ninth grade English classes, they have been reading “Mississippi Trial 1955,” by Chris Crowe. As part of their learning experience, Mrs. Bass’s classes invited Dr. Crowe, an English Education professor from BYU, to come and speak to them about his book and the history behind it.

The book is about the famous Mississippi Trial and a boy who lived during that time. Dr. Crowe spoke about the cause of the trial, the results, and how different society was back then from how it is today.

“I’m glad to meet new people who are reading my books,” Crowe said. Springville Junior High was grateful for the opportunity to hear from such a famous author and were able to connect the words on the page to the story that was told.

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.

Mrs. Bass and her class discuss “Romeo and Juliet.”

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Elizabeth Bass’s ninth-grade English class is taking a step back in time to the late fifteen hundreds, to the time when Shakespeare was the writer of the century.

“We’re starting a unit on the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet.’” Mrs. Bass explained, “Typically all ninth-grade English teachers explore this play; I think it’s fun to study because there are lots of things that students can relate to.”

“It’s fun to learn about this kind of stuff, and about Shakespeare’s life,” Madeline Alishbah, a ninth grade student said.

The class is not only studying the play “Romeo and Juliet” but they are also learning about the time period of Shakespeare. “We’re learning about how they used to speak and are insulting people in that language,” Madeline explained.

“Shakespeare is one of my favorite authors,” Mrs. Bass explained. “I’m really passionate about teaching anything Shakespeare.”

Mrs. Bass’s enthusiasm must be contagious, because her stduents are enjoying the play as well.  “I like learning about Shakespeare,” Madeline explained. “It’s fun to learn about a different culture and how different it used to be.”

Mr. Mikesell is one of the English teachers who supervises the after school writing lab at Springville Junior High.

Cody Woolsey
SJHS Staff Writer

Most students at Springville Junior High have not yet heard of the important news – there is an after school writing lab for students. Students can use this writing lab to finish assignments on computers or get help on their writing assignments.

“The writing lab is everyday after school from 2:40-3:30 except Wednesday,” explained Mr. Mikesell, an English teacher at Springville Junior High, “We have English teachers there everyday. They can help you with any writing assignment, and can help you learn how to use computers.” The supervisors are Ms. Neeley, Mrs. Bass, Mr. Mikesell, and Mrs. Rice, all English teachers at Springville Junior High. They are there the whole time to help students with anything they need.

According to Mr. Mikesell, the environment in the writing lab is a very calm, peaceful, laid back environment where students can get their work done with very little interruption. It’s a place where, teachers hope students can feel calm and know that they can get help if they need it.

In the past, very few students have shown up to the writing lab. This is its second year being used and the supervisors hope that this year more students will show up.

“The writing lab is in room 22 – a computer lab; there are plenty of available computers for students to use, if needed,” explained Ms. Bass. If you need to finish your writing assignments or need help understanding how to use computers for school, the writing lab is the place for you!

In Mrs. Elizabeth Bass’s English class, students are doing a project called “Summer Camp.” It is a project where students need to create a summer camp name, draw a map of the camp, create a schedule, and write a song.

When asked why she decided to do this project, Mrs. Bass, one of the eighth grade English teachers, replied, “I like having my eighth-grade students create summer camps at the end of the year because it involves creativity and student collaboration. It’s a fun way to apply what students know about summer camps into original camps of their own using multi-genre writing tasks. Most students have expressed that this kind of project doesn’t even feel like work.”

Alyssa Nance, a student currently working on the summer camp project in Mrs. Bass’s class, said, “The menus and schedules that you create for your camp are hard, but I think this project is really fun!”

“Each camp will be putting together a display which will be shared with the class,” Mrs. Bass said, “students will then determine what camp they would like to ‘attend’.”

This project is due Friday, May 22 when the students present their projects.

At Springville Junior High School, students are achieving excellence by being effective communicators, responsible citizens, and successful learners. These qualities are in SJHS’s motto. SJHS teachers give out slips of paper called “Chivalry in Action” awards. They award students with these papers when the students achieve something academically or things that you don’t normally learn in school.

Teachers give Chivalry in Action awards out to students when they are doing something without being asked. “When someone cleans up or helps someone else on an assignment without being asked, this can be a motivation for some students to be more helpful or chivalrous,” explained Elizabeth Bass, an English teacher at Springville Junior.

SJHS has Chivalry in Action awards to award students for good behavior. It helps students feel good when they do something right, so they will want to do it again. Mr. David Knudsen, a vice principal at SJHS, explained that the Chivalry in Action awards have been around for five years. “The Chivalry in Action notes were thought up by a coalition of teachers and Brigham Young University professors that were studying the positive impact of teaching social skills in school,” he continued.

The students like the positive effects of the Chivalry in Action awards as well. “It helps you to be motivated and you can have something to look forward to if you do something good,” said Carolyn Brown, an eighth grader at SJHS. Millie Brady, a ninth grader, explained that it’s a good way to enforce rules because kids get awarded for their positive actions.

All in all, the Chivalry in Action awards have improved SJHS a lot throughout the years. It helps motivate students to do good actions and have academic progress. The students at SJHS are moving forward and making the future of America bright.

Springville Citizens always celebrate Thanksgiving traditions because they love them. On Thanksgiving, they eat turkey, say what they’re grateful for, participate in a soup kitchen and many other traditions as well.

Family traditions are very common and important among families in Springville. “When we eat, we talk about what’s going on in our lives and some of the things we are grateful for,” says SJHS teacher, Elizabeth Bass. “Thanksgiving and spending time with those you love is really important, and you should always treat every day like Thanksgiving and think about what you’re thankful for. It makes you in a better attitude and have a happier life,” says Nicole James, a SJHS student.

Many people and families also enjoy going to soup kitchens, and other acts of service. “One of my traditions is sending a box of food to the soup kitchen and feeling thankfulness in the air,” says SJHS faculty member, Joye Wimmer.

Some of the common traditions are having a feast with turkey, and watching football on TV, and so is telling everyone what you are grateful for. “My wife hangs up a ‘what-we’re-grateful-for’ poster, and everyone that passes by can write on it the things for which they are thankful,” said Assistant Principal Mark Bake.

“On Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on all the blessings that I have in my life. For example, that we have food to eat and a warm home to live in, a healthy family and being close to them,” said Toneta Holmes, faculty member at SJHS. “It’s great to be able to celebrate with friends and family,” said Maddy Fry, SJHS student. Whatever your traditions are, make sure that you spend time with those you love and remember what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving!