Jonathan Luther and Jordan Robinson, two members of the light and sound crew, are shown here working inside the light booth.

Christopher Taylor
SJHS Staff Writer

Imagine if you went to a concert or play, but you couldn’t see or hear the performers.  The lights and sounds crew’s job at SJHS is to make sure this does not happen.  They are in charge of all the lights and sounds in plays, concerts and assemblies.   The seven students on the crew are directed by Mr. Shawn Hatfield, a biology teacher at SJHS.

Being on the lights and sound crew can present some challenges. According to Jonathan Luther, an eight grader on the crew, it’s really hard to memorize all the knobs, switches, sliders and buttons. You also have to be able to think fast when something goes wrong, since you can’t stop an assembly when a light won’t turn on or a microphone breaks.  Another difficultly of serving on the crew is that there are concerts, plays, and other after school programs.  Students on the crew could have to do something at almost any time of day, from five’ o clock in the morning to ten’ o clock at night.

The kids on the lights and sound crew are given a lot of responsibility, but they get a lot of privileges as well.  They get to get out of class, and sometimes they will miss a whole day of school to do a play or special assembly.  Jordan Robinson, a ninth grader on the crew, said, “I like doing lights and sound because it makes me feel like I am in control, and I get to be with some of my friends.”

According to Jonathan, one of the most enjoyable parts of being on the crew is working with Mr. Hatfield.  He said that Mr. Hatfield is “fun to joke around with.”  According to Jordan, Mr. Hatfield is always willing to help the students on the crew with anything they need.  Mr. Hatfield said, “I enjoy seeing the success of kids in plays. Lights and sound is one of the things that makes a play a success.” He has been helping the lights and sound crew for 10 years.

Darryl Barnes
SJHS Staff writer

There are some teachers at SJHS who have been around for quite awhile. One of those is Mr. Hatfield. He has been teaching here for a long time, and is one of the favorite teachers SJHS.

Mr. Hatfield has been teaching here for 18 years. Almost every student that has had him as a teacher agrees, he is one of the coolest teachers around the school. Mr. Hatfield has taught every grade at one point or another. He has taught over six different classes! These classes include biology, 7th grade science, 8th grade integrated science, 9th grade earth systems, and computer multi-media.

Mr. Hatfield is great. On a 1-10 scale 2 out of 3 students claim Mr. Hatfield is a 10, the other claimed he was an 8. “Mr. Hatfield is a good teacher. But good doesn’t mean normal. He is crazy, but a fun teacher!” Steven Valencia. Others agree with Steven. “He’s funny. A good teacher, but he tends to be weird sometimes.” Michelle Welch explained.

He also can handle rowdy kids well. Some days he treats them nicely, but then other days he might get mad at them and you could get a call. He doesn’t do anything without good reasoning though, if he get’s mad it’s because they have given out an extra dose of rowdiness.

“It’s hard to understand his sarcasm, in the beginning. But, farther in the year you get used to it, and find it funny.” Devynn Shields expressed. As explained, Mr. Hatfield also loves to lay on the heavy sarcasm. It makes him a unique teacher in the way that he expresses the sarcasm, different than any other teacher. He tries to make it unnoticeable by placing it in the middle of a sentence and doesn’t emphasize it.

Mr. Hatfield loves his students and the other kids here. He thinks that teaching here is totally worth his time. He loves teaching here and enjoys most of his time with his students. Everyone has bad days. Even Mr. Hatfield, but if it’s you having a bad day he has the power (and the jokes) to turn it around.

Students that have had him claim he’s a great old-timer teacher. Mr. Hatfield is the definitely one of the best teachers around.

Matthew Fitzgerald
SJHS Staff Writer

“It’s an enrichment program that goes beyond a normal class,” stated Mr. Hatfield, vice chairman of the Gifted and Talented Program. Four to six times a year thirty students from each grade at SJHS go on some sort of field trip dedicated to learning something new and out of the ordinary.

To get in to the Gifted and Talented Program, students had to score well on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in math and reading. Students can also get in from teacher nominations. The goals of the program are to take students that excel and find school maybe a little easy and help them have fun while learning something new. Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Hansen also want to help students becomes leaders to help others along in school. These goals are accomplished through many different activities.

For example, last year the program took a trip last year to Utah’s capital building to take a tour. They also got to meet Gary R. Herbert, the lieutenant governor of Utah! They go on an activity about four to six times a year. The activities usually last all day, so the students have to make up the work, but it’s usually no problem. When asked what his favorite trip was, a member of the gifted and talented at SJHS, Joseph Davies, said, “Probably the capital building in Salt Lake, it was fun, plus the fact that they had a really good cafeteria!”