January 2012
Science Fair Winners
by david.thacker | Fri, 01/20/2012 - 14:53Here are the results from the science fair:
8th Grade
Overall best: Sally Hansen, Elise Wilson, Sara White (team)
1st Place: Hannah Hughes
2nd Place: Janelle Slater
3rd Place: Madison Meuter, McKinley Roundy, Sophie McAllister (team)
9th Grade
Overall best: Dalan Nelson
1st Place: Seth Erickson, Ethan Adams (team)
2nd Place: Andrea Findlay
3rd Place: Katelyn Higginson, Alison Lemon (team)
If you have any of these students, congratulate them for their hard work.
Spanish Fork Jr. High Learns about Plagarism
by david.thacker | Fri, 01/20/2012 - 11:46
All students at Spanish Fork Jr. High have been learning about plagarism the past week. Mrs. Thompson challenged her 2nd period English class to compose some poems and paragraphs about plagarism. Here is a sample of some of their work:
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is snarky
It smells like a humid computer lab, full of procrastinators.
It tastes like bile burning in your throat.
It sounds like click!click!click! Copy and Paste.
It feels like receiving a gold medal for a race you didn't run.
It lives in the conscience of the heart, mind, and soul of all cheaters.
Mrs. Thompson
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is brown
It smells like a prison.
It tastes like bitter words.
It sounds like the moans of the dead.
It feels like the unwelcomeness and evil of the devil.
It lives in the souls of traitors.
Dallin Hancock
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a sickly yellow color.
It smells like sweat, popping up on the face, as you copy.
It tastes like a hamburger when you're on a Weight Watchers Program
(You know you shouldn't, but you do).
It sounds like your shallow breath as you hand in the paper.
It feels like a slick algae covered rock as you try to balance.
It lives in the hearts of cowards.
By Jackson Badger
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is stealing.
It smells like the computer lab.
It tastes like the peel of an orange.
It sounds like click, click.
It feels horrible.
It lives in the people who don't do their homework.
Tyrell Przybecien
Wow! I only thought plagiarism was just copying and pasting someone else's work, but it is way more than that. You can be plagiarizing even if you just get ideas from the internet. If you don't say who the ideas are from, you could be plagiarizing too! A way not to plagiarize is quotation marks. If you use them and say who wrote or said it then that's not using plagiarism. Another way to avoid plagiarism is just saying at the end of your writing which site you got your information from on the internet. It's that easy!
There are many ways to plagiarize and yet there are many ways not to plagiarize. Think about it the next time you find ideas from the internet.
Maddy Park
Wow! I always thought plagiarism was just copying! Today I learned that plagiarism is copying someone else's work. Even if it is just a couple words, if you don't give them credit, you are doing a crime. When you copy and paste something, without giving credit, you can get in big trouble! Keep that in mind when you find a good quote or a funny picture. Don't just copy and paste.
McKenna Griffiths
The Choir Was Busy in December
by david.thacker | Wed, 01/11/2012 - 12:46
The Choir Program at Spanish Fork Junior High had an exciting and busy time in December. On December 14th they performed a fantastic Concert with singing, dancing, and soloists including a guest performer Brent LeBaron from Lehi . With Mrs. Hopkins as the director and Marnae Trotter as the accompanist this performance was a sure winner! The opening song included all the choirs singing Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” in it’s original language: German. Also included were students from the Orchestra class and Mr. David Huff, one of our Vice Principals, on the Clarinet. Concert Choir, an 8-9 grade auditioned choir, performed 4 songs. Eighth grader Maleah Cook accompanied on the piano for one of the songs, and eighth grader Kyla Rogers conducted “There Will Come Soft Rains.” Heather Churchill sang a solo in “Carol of the Bells” and dancing, blushing boys were seen in “Baby It’s cold Outside.”
Chamber Choir is a 9th grade auditioned choir performed 4 songs including a song entitled “Variations on Jingle Bells.” This song featured Caitlyn Nixon singing opera style (including a high C) in a humorous and impressive way. The Choir also entertained us with a fun number called “Santa’s On His Way” where the men slapped their chests and stomped their feet while exclaiming “Ho Ho Ho!”
General Chorus entertained us with “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Joshua, Fit the Battle of Jericho.” Megan Hart, Aiden Perry, and Alexis Messer were also featured in these songs. The final song of the Concert was a medley of Christmas songs from Broadway Musicals. Featured singers, dancers, and soloists were Brady Lewis, Aspen Davis, Reagan Fausett, Conner Campbell, Kellie Noall, Rachel Hicken, Ryker Fisk, Amberlee Copling, Ashlynne Todhunter, Natalie Wilcox, Hannah Lee, Helen Adams, Lexi Johnson, Kaitie Stutz, and Ryen Seitz.
All in all it was an evening enjoyed by all. One parent wrote about this about the concert: This performance was amazing. It was light a Broadway show in your own backyard. Singing, acting, comedy, dance, guest performances, solos and integrated combined shows and all in one hour’s time. I continue to marvel at what the fine arts department is able to accomplish and show case in one semester with our students year after year. Truly incredible. There were well over 100 students involved and all presented well prepared parts.
The following Friday Concert Choir and Chamber Choir loaded the Bus and headed to the University Mall to spread some Christmas Cheer. They sang a half hour of music in the court where many shoppers and onlookers stopped to enjoy the music.
Finally, the choirs, orchestra, and bands performed an assembly for the school to kick off our Christmas Break. They performed a thrilling combined number “Hallelujah Chorus” by Handel- something they had been practicing together for two months during Pack Time. The Choirs then performed one song each and ended with everyone on the stage singing “God Bless Us Everyone” from the Broadway musical “A Christmas Carol” holding candles. As a special surprise, there was even a special visit from Santa Claus!
Way to go Spanish Fork Jr. High Choirs, Band and Orchestra! We love our music and we love to share it. To quote our favorite elf, “The quickest way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
The first Amazing Race—Utah comes to a very successful conclusion!
by david.thacker | Sun, 01/08/2012 - 20:02
7th grade Utah Studies students have been anxiously awaiting the big announcement. Why? Because Mr. Roberts and Mr. Hubbard have finally tallied the results for the very first The Amazing Race—Utah! Between September and December, Utah Studies students were competing to see who would visit 25 amazing places in Utah with their families and friends. And the winners are:
#1 Jantzen Jolly visited an amazing 22 of the 25 Amazing Race places in Utah!
#2 McKenna Hall visited 16 Amazing Race places.
#3 Nick Farley, in a close race, visited 15 places.
For class bragging rights, Mr. Hubbard’s students can hold their heads high. They visited different Amazing Races places 142 times. His 2nd period Honors Utah Studies class won the individual class competition with 63 visits. Congratulations to all students who participated in this awesome competition.
