Assistant Principal Dave Knudsen, Principal Darrel Rolfe, journalism students Christopher Taylor, Andrew Garza, Spencer Duncan, Katya Wagstaff, Kristi Hatch, Cody Woolsey, Kara Dunn, Julie Barbosa, and journalism teacher Tiffanie Miley.

Kristi Hatch
SJHS Staff Writer

On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the journalism class of SJHS made a presentation to the Nebo District School Board.  Using the same presentation as when they presented to the Nebo PTA, the journalism class impressed the School Board.

Mr. Rolfe, the principal of SJHS, introduced the class and the teacher, Ms. Miley.  Then three students of the class, Kara Dunn, Katya Wagstaff, and Christopher Taylor presented a brief summary about what the duties and opportunities of the journalism class, after which there was a video presentation that Ms. Miley put together.

The video covered certain areas of journalism, and throughout the presentation, students were talking about what the certain things meant to them and how they do it well. A few the areas discussed were brainstorming, interviewing, drafting, editing, and peer review.  Students also expressed their satisfaction with being published in the Springville Herald and how their writing improved throughout the semester.

“Those who visited with me after the presentation indicated they were very impressed with the journalism program,” said Mr. Darrel Rolfe.  Ms. Miley also said, “I think the school board liked our presentation. They seemed interested in our video and were reading our newspaper.”

There’s no doubt that this year’s journalism class has been very successful. Mr. Rolfe said, “The fact that we had published so many articles and 100% of our students had been involved stood out to [the school board] as very untypical.  Certainly this is not only a tribute to our students, but to Ms. Miley as well.”

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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.

Mr.Rolfe and Mrs. Johnson in the cafeteria at SJHS.

Julie Barbosa
SJHS Staff Writer

With every school there is a principal behind it, one who runs the fundraisers, does the school assemblies, supervises students, and encourages staff members.  The principal behind Springville Junior High is Mr. Darrel Rolfe.

Mr. Darrel Rolfe has been principal of Springville Junior High for three years and continues going strong. Prior to leading SJHS, Mr. Rolfe worked at Spanish Fork High as a teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal.  Mr. Rolfe said, “I am excited to be here. I have enjoyed the transition from high school to the junior high. Both have their advantages, but this has been a good experience for me.”  With all the hectic work, Mr. Rolfe isn’t alone in running this busy school. Mrs. Courtney Johnson and Mr. David Knudsen are vice principals, ready at his side to help. Mrs. Johnson said, “Mr. Rolfe is very intelligent man, who really cares about the kids and teachers. He also has a really great sense of humor.”

There is talk of a new Springville Junior High going to be built, even with a new building the knights will live on. Mr. Rolfe said, “We continue to work on our school sprit each year. Much has been done to display our logo in the school and help students identify with the KNIGHTS. Over the next few years as we move through the process of building a new school, we will look at many changes and improvements.”  Springville Junior High Knights are effective communicators, responsible citizens and respectful learners.

Springville Junior High School students Megan Miller, Cynthia Esklund, Katelynn Marshall and Hannah Reinhardt look forward to a new junior high building.

Katya Wagstaff
SJHS Staff Writer

On June 23 of this year, the 160 million dollar Nebo Bond and Leeway was passed.  This bond gave the Nebo School District much needed funds to build new schools and repair older ones.  Part of that money is planned to be used to build a new Springville Junior High School.  According to Mr. Darrel Rolfe, principal of SJHS, the new school and architectural plans for it are still in the “going to happen stage.”

Students at SJHS are mostly excited about getting a new building because the present SJHS was dedicated in 1957.  Though SJHS is on the older side, there are qualities of this school that students like.  According to Katie Bair, a ninth grader, the knight stickers that are on the walls (like the one in the lunch room that says “The Great Hall” and the one in the ninth grade hall that says “Home of the Kinghts”) are pretty cool.  Brandon Chambers, an eighth grader, said, “I really like the band and orchestra rooms because they’re big.”  Hannah Reinhardt, another eighth grader, really likes the floor plan of this school.

Students want to have input on what gets changed in the new school building that the present one doesn’t have.  Megan Miller, an eighth grader, said she wants more classrooms upstairs so that we won’t need portables.  Katie wants bigger classrooms, and Brandon wants bigger hallways.

Students who went to a different school last year want some of the characteristics of their old school in the new SJHS.  Katelynn Marshall, an eighth grader, went to Timberline Middle School in Alpine last year.  Timberline had restaurant booths in the lunch room, and a much larger library.  She would like those things in the new school building.

The new building may not be being built right yet, and the architectural plan may not be ready, but SJHS can’t help but cheer at the thought of a new school!

Halley Rencher
SJHS Staff Writer

With the school year ending and summer opening up with opportunities, you know some things are bound to change. That is exactly what is happening at the SJHS. Our wonderful art teacher, Mr. Jethro Gillespie, is leaving to go to the new Maple Mountain High School.

“I don’t look forward to leaving the junior high,” he said, “But I always wanted to teach in a high school.”  Mr. Gillespie has taught at the junior high for two years and students found him a spectacular teacher.  The same can be said for him: he will miss the wonderful students he knows and he won’t know most of the students at Maple Mountain.

Leaving does have it advantages though, such as the newer equipment he will get and he will no longer have the poles. The poles are a big problem; they are two large, black poles in the middle of his classroom that are always getting in the way. Students would have to have x-ray vision to see though them to the white board. A line that is often said in art class is: “Can I move? I can’t see with the poles in the way.”  “I will be glad to get rid of the poles, really glad,” Mr. Gillespie said.

Mr. Darrel Rolfe, principal at SJHS, had this to say about Mr. Gillespie leaving: ”We are sorry to see him leave.  His classes are always full of energy and creative ideas. Our students have been the beneficiaries of his enthusiasm.”  Everyone loves Mr. Gillespie and will be sad to see him go, but are not too sad to say: Good luck Mr. Gillespie!

Sariah Morris
SJHS Staff Writer

Students, get prepared because the end of year level testing is coming up! The end of year tests are taken in math, language arts, and science. They are designed to measure students’ mastery of the state core curriculum. These tests will be taken on the computer. They are not timed, so students will be able to go at their own pace. It is necessary that all students take these tests.

According to Mr. Darrel Rolfe, Springville Junior High’s principal, schools give these test to measure students’ success in specific areas. Student scores not only tell the student how successful they were, but help teachers determine areas they need to emphasize as they teach. Basically these test measure student learning and provide a picture for the teacher of areas of concern as classes are taught each year. From year to year tests show teaching trends that may occur in their classroom.

The science test will be taken April 6th through May 15th. The Language Arts test and math test will be taken April 20th through May 22th.

All tests will be taken on the computer, so no pencil is necessary. They will also be graded by the computer. So students study and be prepared to take these tests.

Whitney Norman
SJHS Staff Writer

How would you describe the Springville Junior High School? Just an old school or… is it a building filled with history and facts? Springville Junior High school is definitely worth something. It has history, and great stories from the past, and more for the future. SJHS was built in 1957, and its first principal was L. Lynn Hanks. Principal Darrel Rolfe is the tenth principal at Springville Junior.

Springville Junior High School has also had some ‘fame’ in its halls. Back in the early 1980’s, Clayton Brough, (a meteorologist ABC 4 News) used to teach science at SJHS. “He did some crazy things!” Mrs. Anderson said. Mrs. Anderson is a girls P.E. teacher at Springville Junior High, and she has been working here for 25 years. She has had a lot of great memories about SJHS and her teaching years.

“I have enjoyed wrestling some of the kids,” Mr. Hansen, another teacher at Springville Junior High, shared some of his prized memories. “I loved just messing around with the students, and when they think they can beat me, they don’t,” Mr. Hansen explained. The SJHS building has a lot of history inside of it. Some students may think that we have to tear down this school and get a new one. But others do not think so.

“I love the building. I know it’s old, but I think it has a lot of character!” Mrs. Anderson said. “Some parts remodeled, yes! This is a great building. I just think it needs to be updated.” Mrs. Anderson also stated something very inspirational. “I also think we could have two junior highs in Springville. This could be a smaller one, and it should have a smaller and limited enrollment.”

“The important thing is not the school itself, but the people. It’s the memories that keep the school,” Mr. Hansen stated his wise opinion.

So, what do you say? An old school that has been here since 1957, or a school filled with history and adventure?

Ethan Trunnell
SJHS Staff Writer

Last year Mr. Darrel Rolfe, the principal at SJHS, asked Mr. Jehtro Gillespie, the art teacher, about replacing the meadow mural with something more SJHS-centered. Mr. Gillespie liked the idea of the students painting it. The next day he asked for volunteers, and over the course of a month six to eight kids replaced the former mural with a picture of our school mascot, the SJHS knight.

Our school goal is to become like knights and to be effective communicators, responsible citizens and successful learners. If we see the representation of these goals every day, big as life, it will help inspire us to become what our teachers and administration are teaching us to grow up to become.

This mural is painted with house paint. Yes you read right, house paint! Mr. Gillespie went to Lowes and bought mismatched clearance paint. It is fairly cheap, very durable, and super long lasting. These characteristics ideally suited the artists’ needs.

A grid system was the solution to the dilemma of making a small picture nearly ten times the size it started out as. First Mr. Gillespie copied a picture of the school mascot (the knight) and applied a grid to the picture. Then the students drew a giant grid over the older mural and carefully worked on each box. Then they drew what was on the small picture onto the wall and moved on to the next box eventually the whole picture was completed.

It took them a month, and the final product was a great new picture of our symbol and mascot. The new mural represents what the teachers and students of Springville Junior are striving to and accomplish.

The Esther Foundation donated $2000 to be used to upgrade technology in the Springville Junior High auditorium. This donation matched with the $2000 donated by the SJHS PTA, which allowed the school to purchase a 16′ motorized projection screen and a 3500 lumen projector. The projector will be mounted to project across the large screen, enabling students sitting in the back part of the auditorium to still see detail in any presentation made. “We appreciate the generous contributions and are excited because these donations have the potential to impact 100% of SJHS students,” Mr. Darrel Rolfe, SJHS principal, explained.

McKenna Gleave
SJHS Staff Writer

For as long as any of us can remember, SJHS has had a strict no costume policy when it comes to dressing up for Halloween. This year, however, the students were determined to change that.

Knights of the Round Table is weekly meeting with students, one representative from each homeroom class, where they discuss the issues of the school and make and brainstorm plans for the student body. Lately their main focus has been directed to changing the school’s policy of no costumes in school on Halloween.

Students wrote persuasive essays to the administration in an attempt to convince them to bend on the old rule. It seems to have been delightfully effective. Not only did it reach out and help activate the students of SJHS and show great school spirit and involvement, but it also achieved its goal. Students will now be permitted to dress up on Halloween and show off all their unique costumes at school.

Principal Darrel Rolfe encourages the idea of inviting a little fun amidst the regular school schedule. He believes that when everyday rolls by same as the one before that you need a little break to switch it up. However, structure must be maintained. There will be several rules along with this great privilege. “No face paint, no masks, no fake blood, and students must follow the dress code for modesty and decency.”

The students of SHJS are all looking forward to sharing their personalities through festive costumes on this upcoming fantastical Halloween holiday!