Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

This year, counselors at Springville Junior High decided that they would try something new in order to help new students succeed. “Peer Pals” is a program in which students try their hardest to look out for new students and make sure no one feels excluded or left out. Teachers recommended students who are good leaders and able to include others.

“Sometimes students notice things that teachers or the other councilors don’t notice,” Mrs. Monica Distefano, a counselor at Springville Junior High, said. Mrs. Distefano went on to say, “We’re going to try to meet with new students at least once a term to see how they are doing.”

Although there are a few selected students to be peer pals, Mr. Shaun Blakey, another counselor, said, “Students don’t need to be a ‘Peer Pal’ to help other students. We hope all students will look for anyone who needs a friend and invite them to hang out with them.”

Mrs. Monica Distefano, ninth grade counselor at SJHS.

Jose Martinez
SJHS Staff Writer

Throughout their junior high years, some students have personal problems big or small, and there is a group of dedicated people who are always there to help out with problems.  That group of people is the counselors.

Mrs. Monica Distefano is a very well-known and loved counselor at  Springville Junior High. Throughout the past three years she has helped many teenagers who either have personal problems or are just feeling unhappy about life. Whatever the reason, she is always prepared to talk to them.

“I have enjoyed counseling because I get to know a lot of students very well,” said Mrs. Distefano. A lot of people are not familiar with the fact that these were her first three years actually counseling full time, whereas before she was only counseling half time.

“There has not been one thing I have not liked about these kids,” said Mrs. Distefano.  Students are at times shy or aggressive when they have to talk to a counselor, but she has liked all of the students that go in and out of her office, looking for advice or to transfer classes.

“I didn’t really expect a certain thing from any of the students,” said Mrs. Distefano. With every new set of kids a counselor gets, some expect great others expect not so great things, but Mrs. Distefano did not, and that’s why she learned to get along with all the students.  She talked to them and also grew to be loved by all of them.

Sariah Morris
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Monica Distefano, one of the Springville Junior High counselors, is amazing. She does so many things. Mrs. Distefano said, “In the counseling office we do a big variety of things, which is kind of nice because we’re not always doing the same thing.”

Mrs. Distefano has four kids and has been a counselor for five years.  She has spent all five years at SJHS.  Mrs. Distefano said, “I like being a counselor because I like teens a lot, and when I was in junior high felt like there wasn’t really any guidance.”

Some of the things Mrs. Distefano does are grades, student concerns, SEOP’s, goals for the future, presentations for seventh graders, and a friendship group. A friendship group is a group of ten or maybe twelve students, that teachers suggest to the counselors because they think they need help in school, or are having a hard time in their life. “This group really builds them up mentally and socially,” said Mrs. Distefano.

Autumn Hathaway, an eighth grade student, said, “She’s really nice and helps students effectively. She’s really good at helping students understand where to go and what to do.”

Mrs. Distefano is currently counseling eighth grade students, and next year she will be counseling ninth graders. Mrs. Distefano said, “I really like moving up a grade because then you stay with the same students you’ve known for the other years, and you can work with them more closely.”

Mrs. Distefano also said, “I’m definitely excited for summer,  but I am really looking forward for next year because the group of students that I counsel rock!”

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

When most people think of the word ‘school’ they think of homework, grades, and, most importantly, friends. “Friends are the reason I come to school!” Malary Hatch, a student at Springville Junior High explained. “Without friends I wouldn’t bother getting up in the morning.” This probably is true for many of the students here at Springville Junior High.

“Now is the time to choose your friends and decide what kind of a person you want to be,” Mrs. Distefano, a counselor at Springville Junior High, explained. “Friends can be a negative and positive influence on your life.”

Many people may think that friends are something that only kids or students can have, but their so wrong. “I had great friends! Not all of my friends had the same values, but I didn’t feel pressure from them to do things that I didn’t want to do.” Mrs. Distefano explained about her junior high and high school experience.

Everyone needs friends, teachers, parents, and students alike.  “Our friends do influence our lives, especially when we’re younger. That’s why it’s so important to choose your friends wisely now!” Mrs. Maughan, the Counseling Secretary at Springville Junior High, explained.

Everyday at Springville Junior High, students and teachers alike are faced with challenges and choices. The different types of friends we have influence our choices and our decisions. They are a part of who we are and who we can become.

“Friends are great! If you don’t have any, get some!” Eric Mageno, just your average student at Springville Junior High, advised.

As Mrs. Distefano continued to explain, friends change and people change. Hopefully, however, you aren’t too quick to judge and your circle of friends grows and that you ever lose any of your friends.

Friends are so important in our lives, and we need to be sure to be a good friend just as much as we want good friends.

Autumn Hathaway
SJHS Staff Writer

As third term comes to an end, teachers and students at Springville Junior High get prepared and pumped for the final term to begin on March 23rd.

The fourth term is always fun because it is near the end of the year when students and teachers are thinking,  “Finally all of our hard work has come to an end!”   Although some people can see the downs and ups to the final term, Kristi Hatch, a student at SJHS states, “Although there are a bunch of tests, there are a lot of fun things, too, like Lagoon!”

Lagoon is only one of the many fun things planned for the fourth term.  Some other things that are going on are dances, Spring Break, and the Awards Assembly, and of course Lagoon.  Even though there are many fun things planned, there is also a lot of work ahead for the students and teachers.

According to Mrs. Monica Distefano, a counselor at SJHS, the first thing the counselors will be doing is mailing home third term report cards.  So, all of you parents out there get ready to be proud of your kids and their grades for this last term.

Everyone here at Springville Junior High excited for the fourth term to begin!

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

For the next few weeks, students, parents, teachers, and the faculty at Springville Junior High and High School will be busy preparing for registration for the upcoming school year. Students will have the opportunity to meet with their counselor and go through a class in which the counselor explains classes that are available for them next year. Parents are welcome to attend these classes.

Seventh graders at Springville Junior High will have their SEOP’s during their CTE class on February 9th and 10th; their registration forms are to the counseling office on February 12th.
The eighth graders will have their SEOP’s during their history class on February 13th; their registration forms are due to the counseling office on February 18th.

Mrs. Monica Distefano, a counselor at Springville Junior High, gave her advice on choosing classes, “I recommend that you should explore your interests and not just go into the classes that you think all of your friends will be taking. Think of you.”

New seventh graders coming into SJHS next year are required to take English, math, science, history, PE, and CTE. They will also be given 1.5 credits in which they can choose from a selection of electives such as music, art, creative writing, reading for enrichment and physical education classes. They will also be given tours of our school in April to learn their way around.

Seventh graders going into eighth grade are required to take math, history, science, PE, health, and English. They will be given two credits in which they can choose from a selection of different electives including foods, sewing, creative writing, reading for enrichment, journalism, woodshop, and more.

At Springville Junior High there are many different electives. There are music classes, art classes, a Spanish class, and a Seminary class for ninth graders. There is however, a ten dollar fee for a few of the art classes, as well as music.

Mr. Shaun Blakey, another counselor at SJHS, gave seventh graders a few tips. “Don’t be afraid of the different classes or of the eight and ninth graders. Try your best to have fun and engage in school activities.”

Shelby Anderson
SJHS Staff Writer

If there is someone you needed to talk to or just someone to hang out with, Mrs. Joy Maughan will be at her desk waiting for you. Mrs. Maughan is the Springville Junior High counseling secretary. Mrs. Maughan has been at Springville Junior for seven years. “I love my job; it’s a great job to have,” she explained.

Mrs. Maughan is married and has five kids, and lives in Salem. Mrs. Maughan started with her job as a part time in elementary schools and really enjoyed it, so she wanted to work at Springville Junior.

Mrs. Maughan has the responsibilities of enrolling students, withdrawing students, report cards, and scheduling SEOP’s. As you can see, she has a lot of responsibilities. “Mrs. Maughan is the nicest person in the school,” Ms. Miley, an English teacher, said. “Mrs. Maughan is someone you can talk to easily, you can talk to her about anything and not have to worry about being judged,” stated ninth grade counselor Mr. Shaun Blakey.

“Mrs. Maughan is an amazingly kind, helpful, and patient person,” said Mrs. Monica Distefano the eighth grade counselor said. Mrs. Linton, the new seventh grade counselor, said “Since I am new here, Mrs. Maughan has been so helpful and patient with me as she teaches me how to use the computer programs and how everything works at SJHS.”

Whether it’s at home or at work, Mrs. Maughan is always 100% nice. Whether she’s having a bad day or not, she always shows that sense of fun, loving and caring person she is.