Morgan Bowser
SJHS Staff Writer

Ms. Rachel Neeley is just one of the amazing teachers here at SJHS. Ms. Neeley teaches seventh-grade English, yearbook, and creative writing. This is Ms. Neeley’s sixth year teaching. Ms. Neeley said, “I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was little. I loved reading and writing when I was in school. I was pretty good at it, so I decided to teach English.”

Ms. Neeley loves teaching is because of her students and some of the funny stuff they say.  In creative writing, one of the assignments is a list of 52.  A group of boys is writing “52 Ways to Get Dumped.” Ms. Neeley said, “It was a hilarious list of things boys could do to get dumped.” The students think she is funny to. Ethan Knowlton, a seventh-grade student, said, “she teaches well, but she still knows how to have fun.  She is such a cool and fair teacher; she knows how to talk to us.”

Students agree that her class is really fun. Katy Kendall, a seventh grader, said, “I like the activities.”  Marissa Colson, another seventh grader said, “When something funny comes up we all laugh, it’s one of my favorite classes.” Spencer Duncan, an eighth grader in her yearbook class, said, “Ms. Neeley is so nice and fun to talk to.”

Seventh graders in Ms. Neeley’s English class sharing their poetry.

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

When most students think of English, they think of reading books, writing essays, and doing reports. However, in Ms. Rachel Neeley’s class, poetry is their focus right now.

“I love poetry; it’s like the artistic side to English,” Celeborn Stringham, a seventh grade student in Ms. Neeley’s class, explained.

“I love teaching poetry.” Ms. Neeley explained, “It allows students to be creative, poetry is also lots of fun because it’s a very different type of writing. I hope that students learn how to use figurative language effectively in their writing. I also hope that students gain an appreciation for poetry.”

Students in Ms. Neeley’s class write poetry and then turn it into her for her edit and advice. She explained that reading the poems her students write was her favorite part of the poetry unit. “I’m always so impressed with that my students write,” she explained.

Not everyone is good at the same things. Some students prefer other language arts activities, while others love writing poetry. “Teaching poetry allows some students to shine.” Ms. Neeley said, “It’s fun to try new things, even if you’re not good at them.”

Spencer Duncan
SJHS Staff Writer

The students and teachers at Springville Junior High will recognize the name of Mrs. Brenda Bales, attendance secretary at SJHS.  Mrs. Bales’s job is to keep track of attendance at the junior high.

Mrs. Bales has been working at the junior high for 15 years.  According to Mrs. Bales, one of her favorite parts of her job is that she is always busy.  She also said, “The kids are my favorite.”

Ms. Rachel Neeley, a seventh grade English teacher at SJHS, said, “Mrs. Bales can do a million things at once!”  According to Ms. Neeley, Mrs. Bales is an enjoyable person to talk to.

Kids at SJHS can always be comfortable asking Mrs. Bales questions about things happening at school and much more.

Julie Barbosa
SJHS Staff Writer

Have you ever had that warm feeling? The feeling of pride and joy when you finish reading a book or an essay. Well, this feeling is all too familiar to the Creative Writing class at Springville Junior High.

Creative writing is an elective here at Springville Junior High, where students have the opportunity to write and express their feelings. Ms. Rachel Neeley, seventh grade English teacher, has been teaching creative writing for two years, and said, “I love teaching an elective. It’s fun! I love reading all the amazing things my students write. It is a great class. If you like to write, sign up!”

Rachel Standley, eighth grader, agreed saying, “I took this class so I could be a better writer, there you can express your feelings freely.”  This class is open to all students who share there love for writing. Ninth-grader Sariah Morris said, “We do a different subject every two weeks, whether it’s historical or scary. It’s really cool.”

With the freedom to explore the world of writing, students not only have fun, but learn new and interesting things. So you never know, one of these wonderful writers could end up as a  journalist, publisher, or maybe even an author. The possibilities are endless for these students and many others here at Springville Junior High.

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!

The 2009-2010 yearbook staff.  Front row, left to right:  Sadie Larsen, Jennifer Bate and Kristi Hatch.  Middle row:  Tyler Oman, Spencer Duncan and MacKenzie Pullman.  Back row:  Zach Droubay and Kyle Gashler.

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Spencer Duncan
SJHS Staff Writer

Springville Junior High School has a fun class that designs the yearbook.  The teacher of this class is none other than Ms. Rachel Neeley, who is also a seventh grade English teacher.  Eight students take part in the Yearbook class for a full year.

Ms. Neeley said the rules the staff follows are “Work hard, be respectful, and be responsible.”  Even though the staff has rules to follow, they also have privileges.  These include deciding what the yearbook is like and getting to do their assignments at their own pace.  Jennifer Bate, a yearbook staff member, said she wanted to be in the yearbook staff because “I thought it would be fun and a great way to express my ideas.”

Jennifer also explained that students will like the yearbook because “there are cool page features that will emphasize cool and funny things that will be enjoyable to look at and read!  There are also pictures of all your friends and stuff like that!”

The yearbook staff members use a program called Yearbook Avenue by Jostens to design the yearbook.  The theme for the yearbook is a secret so everyone can have a surprise at the end of the year.

Sariah Morris
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Natasha Shurtz, a Springville Junior High School math teacher, is leaving us. Mrs. Shurtz is moving to Memphis, Tennessee. She is pregnant with a baby boy and will be due in August. She and her husband hope to be settled in by then and will be moving in the end of June.  Mrs. Shurtz is moving so her husband can go to optometry school to be an eye doctor. He will be attending Southern College of Optometry for four years.

Ms. Rachel Neeley, an English teacher, said, “Mrs. Shurtz has a great ability to create a safe and happy environment in her classroom.  Her students were lucky to have a teacher that was so knowledgeable about math and cared about them so much.”

Mrs. Shurtz said, “There are a lot of things I will miss about this school. Most of all, I will miss the people though. This school really has a lot of good students, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to meet them and teach them. I have also really enjoyed working with all of the faculty and staff.”

Mrs. Linton, the seventh grade counselor, said, “Mrs. Shurtz always seems happy to give her time and energy to anyone who needs it. She’s willing to do extra work with students during class or after school to help them catch up or get ahead and feel successful.”

Mrs. Shurtz has decided that after she has her baby she will be a stay at home mom. Mrs. Shurtz said, “I might go back to teaching when my kids are all grow up, or maybe when they’re in high school.”

Ashley Crookston, a student for two years of Mrs. Shurtz, said, “I will be really sad when she leaves. She is a good teacher. One of my favorite things that we do in her class is play Bingo to study for tests, and then get lots of candy.”

When Mrs. Shurtz was asked what she would do once her husband finished schooling, she said, “I’m not really sure, we will move wherever he gets the best job offer, we might even move out of the U.S.”

Mrs. Corrin Gleave, math teacher said, “Mrs. Shurtz has been a huge asset to our school!  She is crazy intelligent, dedicated to her students, and a dear friend!  She is an outstanding teacher who made our school a better place. We will miss her immensely!”

Obviously lots of people at this school love and appreciate Mrs. Shurtz. We will all miss her very much.

Brittany Blackmon
SJHS Staff Writer

It’s that time of the year again when all the memories of the start of the school come rushing back. That’s right, it’s the end of the school year when the students receive their yearbooks and look back on all the days they said they wished school was over. On May 26th, students will receive their yearbooks, but the students with fines will have to wait until, May 29th, the last day of school. Students will be signing yearbooks on May 28th and 29th.

Students will be given their yearbooks and go around and have their friends sign each others books. Thursday the 28th is a regular school schedule, and teachers might also have some activities planned. “It is fun to look through the yearbook and remember the school year,” said Ms. Rachel Neeley, the yearbook advisor at SJHS.  Imagine yourself 10 years from now and looking back through your yearbooks. You’d be amazed at how much has changed since then.

Mrs. Brenda Bales, an attendance secretary at SJHS, said, “I love being able to tell the kids goodbye, and I like the happy relaxed atmosphere.” When the time comes to sign yearbooks, a lot of things change. Friends start to miss each other, everyone starts making plans for summer, and others just look back and say “Remember when we acted like total goofs?” Yearbooks are part of the best memories we share.

Robin Anderson
SJHS Staff Writer

It’s that time again! Students who want to get a yearbook need to get it now. The price for a yearbook is $20.00, and students need to take the money to Mrs. Murdock in the front office. Students should definitely get a yearbook. Looking through a yearbook is a fun way to remember the year.

“Some of us are too lazy to do scrapbooking, or don’t have a camera, but the yearbook has a whole bunch of pictures from the year laid out for you!” said Kreslynn Knouse, a ninth grade student at SJHS.

The yearbook has other uses too. Ms. Rachel Neeley, the yearbook teacher at SJHS, says it is fun to have all your friends write notes to you at the end of the year in your yearbook.

The yearbook staff worked really hard to put together this year’s yearbook. They have tried hard to include as many students as possible in the yearbook. When asked about getting everyone in the yearbook, Aleks Newman, a member of the yearbook staff said, “It’s pretty hard. You have to take tons of pictures. Some people want to be in them, and some people don’t.”

Order your yearbook before we run out! Bring $20 to Mrs. Murdock in the front office as soon as possible!

M. Dayton
SJHS Staff Writer

What started out as a normal Thursday turned into a once in a lifetime Thursday for Jay Biesinger and his 5th period class. Jay was in for a big surprise, one that he’ll remember for the rest of his life. It all started with a knock on the door.

“Mr. Bake walked in the door and said ‘Can I interrupt?’ Then a man walked in wearing an army uniform. The second he walked in, Jay ran over to him saying ‘Dad, dad you’re back!’” recalled Ian Lindsey, a 7th grader in Jay’s English class. Jay’s dad, Lt. Will Biesinger, is serving in Afghanistan with the Utah Army National Guard. Many others in the class remember the moment as heartwarming, touching, and amazing. “It was one of the sweetest things that I have seen since becoming a teacher,” Ms. Rachel Neeley said. It was a memorable moment for anyone who saw it. There were few dry eyes as the father and son walked off down the hallway together for the first time in a long time.

Jay, his three sisters, Emma, Lauren, and Katie and his mom, Julie, were thrilled to have Jay’s dad, Will Biesinger back. He was taking two weeks R&R, but the family didn’t expect him until later on in the week. “My dad is one of the fun parents,” Jay proudly reported. While Lt. Biesinger was in Utah with his family, he put up a basketball hoop and hung out with his family. When he gets home, Jay has plans to play lots of basketball on the new hoop with him.

“Jay’s dad joined the Utah Army National Guard after the events of September 11th. He is a great patriot, and we are so proud of him,” Jay’s mom Julie proudly stated. “He is my hero, for leaving his family to protect them,” Jay Biesinger happily claimed.

While in Afghanistan, Will does a variety of things such as digging wells, working with the Afghanistan National Army to help fight the Taliban, and helping build schools for children. “Will says that the key to Afghanistan becoming a stronger country is education. Most of the women living in Afghanistan are not allowed to go to school, and then they are not educated to teach their own children. 90% of the people in Afghanistan can’t read. Their lives are mostly about basic survival,” Julie Biesinger explained.

The price that the Biesinger family is willing to pay to fight for our country is great. We are indebted to Will and his family for their daily sacrifices for us and our country. Because of honorable, courageous men like Will, we are able to wake up every morning in a free country and enjoy the blessings of liberty day after day. What would the world be like with out our soldiers, our National Guard, our Navy and our Marines and most of all, without the extraordinary people like Will and his family?

by Shayla Tanner
SJHS Staff Writer

Ms. Neeley, a teacher at the Springville Junior, High was asked to be the new yearbook teacher in late March, after last year’s yearbook teacher left. Ms. Neeley said, “I was really excited to teach yearbook, but I was also nervous. I was on yearbook staff when I was in junior high, so I knew it would be really fun, but I was nervous about everything that I would have to organize.”

In yearbook Ms. Neeley teaches the students about taking good pictures, making creative layouts, and organizing the yearbook. The students of yearbook staff are in charge of designing the yearbook, taking and editing pictures, giving surveys, picking the cover design, and deciding on the theme.

Every year there is a new yearbook staff. This year there are seven students. We had the chance to interview three of those students. We interviewed Allison Udall, Alyssa Payne, and Kyle Gashler. Allison Udall said that she likes taking yearbook because there are a lot of good kids in that class. Kyle Gashler said he loves taking yearbook because it gives you a sense of accomplishment. “Yearbook is not an easy class, in the beginning it’s easy, but it gets harder throughout year,” Alyssa Payne explained.