Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

On January 20th, Springville Junior High’s journalism class gave a presentation to the district PTA board about what goes on in the journalism class and how they write their articles.  “Whenever the district PTA has a meeting, it’s hosted at a different school. The schools are asked to give a presentation for the PTA members, and Mr. Rolfe asked that the journalism class give the presentation at our school,” Ms. Miley, the journalism teacher, explained.

The journalism class worked together to make a video explaining the process they go through everyday and their thoughts about the different steps. Three students wrote up introductions and introduced themselves and the journalism class to the PTA members and school principals in attendance.

“I really appreciate all that the students have done to prepare for this presentation. I think it portrays a very good message about the academic climate at the junior high,” Mr. Rolfe, principal at Springville Junior High, said.

Although the students worked hard on their presentation, Ms. Miley really made the presentation possible. “Ms. Miley has helped this class come alive to the students,” Mr. Rolfe observed.   “I believe it was very obvious to those who saw the presentation that our students are totally involved in the class and learning these wonderful principles of writing,” Mr. Rolfe said.

“I’m glad that the community reads what my journalism students have written throughout the semester. There are so many good things that go on at Springville Junior High, and I’m glad that we get a chance to share them.” Ms. Miley commented.

The journalism class has also been asked to give a follow up on this presentation to the Nebo School Board on February 10th about how they feel and why they enjoy journalism.

SJHS Reflections participants

Andrew Garza
SJHS Staff Writer

The creativity at Springville Junior High is booming as 17 students from SJHS become reflection winners.  According to the PTA Reflections website, Reflections is a program where the PTA challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme. Themes are selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by students to the PTA Reflections Program Theme Search. This year’s theme is “Beauty is …” Reflections started in October.

Entries are submitted to and judged at the local level and the top entries are forwarded to the next level of judging. Each local and state PTA determines how to recognize and award the participants. The entries that make the national level of judging receive Honorable Mention, Award of Merit, Award of Excellence, or Outstanding Interpretation Award.

Crystal Johnson, a student at SJHS, said she does reflections because she enjoys drawing, and she always has her scratch book with her. Alexis Miller, another student at SJHS, said that she did reflections this year because she thought it would be fun. She said, “It’s fun to be able to do art work because it gets your imagination going.” She took a photograph of a rose for reflections because she was taking pictures, and she thought she should enter her picture for reflections.

Kristi Hatch, a ninth-grader at SJHS, said, “I did Reflections because I enjoy expressing myself through things I created.” She also said, “What I like about reflections is that so many students have something in common, yet they are all different and unique.” Kristi did a musical composition because she has been playing music ever since she can remember, “it’s a great outlet,” she said. “Reflections are about students sharing their talent and expressing themselves through art.”

Kade Carter, a student at SJHS, said he likes reflections a lot. He said, “For reflections, I made a hand print to symbolize everyone is different, I also wrote beauty is within.” Kade thinks reflections are about putting creativity on paper.

Reflections go on every year and to learn more about it go to http://www.ptareflections.org/.

Nikki Drake
SJHS Staff Writer

The week of March 16th-20th was teacher appreciation week at SJHS. For that week the teachers were getting spoiled, not the students. And what I mean by spoiled is gifts, appreciation, breakfast and lunch.

Little bits here and there mean a lot when you put them together. So everyday, teachers received little candy bags. They also got a coupon for a free pearl necklace. Lunch and breakfast was served to teachers.

Teacher appreciation week is usually all over the district, so teachers everywhere can be appreciated for all the hard work they do for their students. Mrs. Diana Elison, the PTA parent in charge of teacher appreciation week, said, “This year the theme is ‘You Rock.’  I have gone to many businesses in the area asking for donations to make our appreciation week great.  This year has been a little harder with the economic challenges.  However, we have had support from Wal-Mart, Sonic, Goldsmith Co. Jewelry, Einstein Bagles, Pizza Hut, Magleby’s Fresh, Art City Coffee, Reams and hopefully a few more that I’m waiting on responses.  Their donations help our budget go a little farther with doing breakfast, lunch and fun surprises in their boxes during the week.  It’s fun to be involved with something that says ‘Thanks’ to everyone who make SJHS Rock!” Mrs. Elison is truly trying to give these teachers the appreciation they need. Thanks Mrs. Elison!

Haley Sanders and Taya Spencer, two eighth grade girls at SJHS, chose their favorite teacher: Mr. Jethro Gillespie. Taya explained that “He pushes me to do harder things, and he’s always telling us his exact opinion, so he is sorta like a critic, in a good way.” Haley also chose Mr. Gillespie because, “He works hard, he is good at taking photos, and I like his artwork.” But just because they chose a favorite, doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate other teachers too. Taya said, “They all have their different personalities, and different ways of teaching. So it teaches me different skills.” Haley said, “They all try to help me get my grades up, they work hard, and all of the teachers here are good at teaching.”