During the week of February 20th through the 24th Bear River High School had a spirit week for the FFA. The BRHS FFA chapter does this every year as do most schools across the country As part of the FFA week everyday they would have a dress up and some sort of activity before and after school.
Students were told to wear blue and gold: national FFA colors (national colors for the FFA are corduroy blue and corn gold). After school the chapter had a FFA sweethearts competition for the girls At the competition they were required to throw a hay bale over a bar, hammer a nail into a board, carry water buckets a certain distance, milk a cow, and take a test. After the competition was over points were contributed to the pageant itself., which would take place that Friday. Wednesday the dress up was Western Wednesday. Students wore button up shirts, cowboy hats, vests, and other items classified as western wear. That day was also drive your tractor to school day. Only three students drove their tractors, Carter Wilkinson, Aiden Hansen, Stetson Westmoreland were the students. This year, Not many students did because it was raining that day and not all tractors are closed cabs. “I got soaking wet,” said Carter, who drove a zero turn lawn mower. After school the chapter did a dance. At the dance they had cornhole in the commons, dancing in the mechanic shop, and roping in the welding shop. With the competition on Thursday going on, multiple other FFA chapters were in town and invited to come to the dance. The dress up for Thursday asked students to wear their FFA apparel which could be their hoodies, shirts, and other stuff. During this they also had the NUI, which stands for the Northern Utah Invitational. This is a competition hosted at the Box Elder fairgrounds and USU Tremonton where FFA chapters from around the state come to compete. Bear River had a few teams compete and two teams placed first. One of the teams was milk quality. Leland Ivers, a Junior at Bear River, said, “I was surprised we won. We normally place really well but overall we came in first.” The milk quality team beat second place by 93 points which is a much bigger win gap compared to the 20 points between second and third place. Leland came first on his team and third overall. Friday students wore FFA jackets to school. Before school the advisors made breakfast burritos and fed them to anyone who came. After school they had the sweethearts pageant where the competing girls would have a guy escort them. They’d say something about themselves and then sit down. After all the girls walked, they showed a video of the officers interviewing each competitor asking them questions about the competition. At the end of the competition they had rewards for a lot of girls, but the overall winner was Kori Garn. Oakley Ward, who competed, said, “ I had so much fun during the competition and pageant! I really enjoyed the opportunity to compete against the girls my own age and to watch those girls do their best. They all did so good and looked so good with their escorts.” We want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s FFA Spirit week! Here’s to another amazing year of FFA!
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Throughout history, different types of art have been created by new societies. These arts, such as painting, dancing, and music, have brought people together through emotion and collaboration. This year, a number of students in Bear River High School’s Theatre Department have worked for many hours to create their fabulous version of Oliver! by Lionel Bart.
Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist. Dickens wrote this book partially after his own life. When he was 12, his father went to a debtors’ prison, forcing the rest of his family to go and work in the workhouses for the poor. The story of Oliver Twist is about an orphan boy in England around the 1840s. Similar to Dickens, the story follows Oliver as he goes from a child labor workhouse to coffin making, to a thief in London. Each situation he finds himself in is quite terrible, however, Oliver is able to find the good side to each new situation. One student, Andi Farnsworth (a senior), expressed what she has learned from working on this show. “Situations, when it's abusive it's not good … but happiness is a mindset, not necessarily your situation, it can impact it a lot but being able to find the things that you're happy about and that you're grateful for is super important.” Farnsworth plays a character called The Artful Dodger. Dodger is the boy that finds Oliver when he reaches London. He takes Oliver under his wing and shows this new world to Oliver. Shortly after, Oliver meets many other characters, including Nancy. Nancy is played by Olyvia Richards (senior). She was raised in a similar situation to Oliver and Dodger. She often comes to visit because the group of thieves is the closest thing she has ever had to a family. Richards said that Nancy is unlike the many other roles she has done. “The other characters I've played there are mostly like silly goofy characters. This time, Nancy is serious,” she said. Richards also has done lots of prep work for her role. “I have done so much research on the time period…” she said, “Liljenquist [the director] also gave us a history lesson the first day too.” Allison Liljenquist, the director, has also done endless work to get this show to where it is. Liljenquist explained how when she chooses shows, she picks ones that will get people to come and watch, and ones that allow an opportunity for cast, crew and audience to learn something. For Oliver! specifically, she said, “I’ve done a lot of research… It’s been really, not humbling…humbling but in a bad way, how humans were treated, especially children… we’re not going to be executing kids the way that they did in the 1840s, but there are still very, very real ways that we dehumanize other people around us because of differences.” These students have put hours upon hours of work to get this show to where it is. The show opens on February 29th and runs to March 4th. Come support these incredibly hard working students and learn about hard, complicated topics in a live, onstage performance of Oliver! Photo Caption: Andi Farnsworth and Olyvia Richards rehearsing I’d Do Anything for Oliver! at their first dress rehearsal. Taken by Rebecca Hayden By Rebecca Hayden Some people struggle with getting noticed by a guy or a girl. It can be super awkward. So how does this work right here at BRHS? Five guys at Bear River High shared how they notice a girl and how they think they get noticed. Wyatt Stocking, a sophomore, said he notices girls when they are nice, if they come up to talk to him. Looks could also play a part in it, but generally comes down to personality, he said. Ricky Campbell, a Junior, said that it comes down to style and athletics. “If they’re super smart, then I can look to them for questions and stuff.” When it comes to looks for Ricky, he likes ripped jeans, cool Nike shoes, and dirty blonde hair. Nathan Hughes, a junior, says that when it comes to a girl noticing the guys, it’s all about good hygiene and when they wear cologne. Girls are more interested in the type of guys that have a positive attitude and are respectful towards them. Girls also find it attractive when guys treat their families with respect, especially when it comes to their mom. The last two guys, Jason Madsen and Denver Rhodes, both sophomores, talked about looks. “When it comes to noticing girls, they need to have a good smile, and have confidence.” Denver loves when a girl’s hair is pulled up and curled, whereas Jason just likes it when his food isn’t stolen by the ladies. Four girls at Bear River were also asked their opinions. Sophomores Ainsley Mackley and Chloe Hoffmeister both agreed that they get noticed by talking a lot, and just being loud and crazy. For Chloe she likes it when a guy is tall but she said “6’2” is the limit” Brylee Nelson, Junior, said she notices guys “if they are funny and confident but not cocky.” She also said she thinks girls get noticed if they are confident. Ainsley, Chloe, and Brylee all agreed that hair plays a big part in them noticing a guy. Destiny Thompson, Junior, said she gets noticed because “My innocence is just real cute.” She also said she notices cute clothes on a guy. The guys and girls' answers were similar in some ways. Confidence, smile, style, looks, being funny, talking a lot, not being obnoxious are all big things that most of these people agreed on. In the article “ Why don’t guys approach me? 8 steps to get noticed” the top two answers are when people smile and their style which connects to what students said. Students at Bear River have different perspectives and opinions that give advice on how to get noticed.There are a lot of the answers that connect so what would you do to get noticed? Credits: Photo taken by: Brooklyn Hadley Written by: Carli Miller and Brooklyn Hadley Featured: Brylee Nelson, Chloe Hoffmeister, Ainsley Mackley, Destiny Thompson, Ricky Campbell, Denver Rhodes and Nathan Hughes Not pictured: Wyatt Stocking and Jason Madsen https://michellejacoby.com/how-to-find-love/why-dont-guys-approach-me/ Western swing dancing originated in the early 1930s and peaked in the 1940s, but due to a tax on any clubs that advertised dancing, it declined shortly after World War 2. Rebecca Curtis, a senior at Bear River High School has been swing dancing for over 2 years. “I love dips, lifts, and the really fun, cute basics. I don’t necessarily have a specific favorite move, but I love the lifts best of all.” Swing dancing spans a wide level of skill. The moves range from basic turns to complex stunts.
Although Rebecca’s passion now lies in the more extreme stunts she didn’t always feel so comfortable in her dancing shoes. “I wanted to dance for a while, but I felt like I couldn’t because I didn’t know how. There were a few years where I wouldn’t really go to dances or join in because I felt like you had to know how to dance to dance.” Many people feel that dancing is a “natural talent” that some people are gifted with while others are not. Rebecca didn’t let this common conception stop her. “One year I had a friend who got me into dancing and taught me some new stuff. I learned a few things and that made me more confident and I learned that dancing is a learn-as-you-go kind of thing, and that it’s ok to not know exactly what you need to do.” Rebecca worked hard, learning new moves, attending the USU swing nights, and even teaching her friends. She has been dancing with Ben Hone for about a year and a half. “He isn’t necessarily my best friend, but we just are able to dance the same. We understand each other's cues the best.” Learning to stunt with a partner can be scary, especially when they are flipping their partner, spinning them upside down, or throwing them up in the air. “There definitely is a level of trust there, in which I trust him to do bigger lifts with me because I know his abilities. Because the trust was built over time, he’s the one I’m the most comfortable doing moves with.” While Rebecca has enjoyed the complex side of swing dancing, she remembers how overwhelming it was to her at the beginning. Her advice to a beginner is “Try it out. Don’t be scared because that's what held me back for several years. Don’t let your fears control you. I don't believe in making everyone dance, but I do believe it’s important for those who want to do it and have a passion for it. [They ] should do it and not hold back because of their fears.” Dancing has become less common in society today, and many, fearing failure, don’t learn. Rebecca has found joy not only in her dancing, but also in the reward of facing her fears. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear” and that is exactly what Rebecca has done. Article by Felicity Michaelis Photo by Rachel Epling According to Dawn Richards, a math teacher at Bear River High School, almost no students in her sophomore math classes have ever failed. Which must have something to do with how hard she fights for her students' success. Mrs. Richards offers after school tutoring each day for one hour. During that hour she sees what students are struggling with, which she can’t do as easily in class, and either goes through problems with them or allows them to take a test. In “The Benefits of One on One Math Tutoring,” it says, “In one-on-one math tutoring, the tutor can use a customized learning strategy depending on the student's learning preferences, areas of strength, and areas of weakness.” On average around 5 to 7 students show up for after school tutoring daily, and Mrs. Richards has seen much improvement in the grades of students who do take the time to come, “they want [their grades] to improve.”
Samantha Pearson is one of the many students that Mrs. Richards has helped. Samantha (Sam) had Mrs. Richards class during the first and second trimesters of her sophomore year. She had a C and was not sure how to get it up. “I was afraid to ask for help,” Sam explained when talking about her struggles with math. When Sam did get the chance to go to Mrs. Richards' tutor session after school, she said that, “they took me step by step through the problems.” Sam also said that Mrs. Richards tries to help the students during class as well. Sam says that Mrs. Richards gives time in class to work, answers all questions, and often sits down with students to explain problems in depth. “I would get help again, it has helped me so much in future units and on other tests.” While it may be hard for some students to get in after school, like it was for Sam, “my school schedule was busy and I just couldn’t find a day to go in,” it seems to pay off for those who try. The effort put in by Mrs. Richards helped Sam’s grade move up from a C to an A after just one tutoring session. Her experience shows how helpful and important this after school time can be. Mrs. Richards believes that having open communication is extremely important in teaching, and it has helped hundreds of students from failing. Other teachers also do after school one-on-one tutoring. According to Mrs. Richards, most teachers will stay after school if a student requests it. There are always options if a student is struggling in a class, whether that is talking to a teacher or spending some extra time on homework. No matter how hard it seems there is always a way to keep students from failing. Article by Savannah Thompson and Alyssa Hamilton Prom is coming up, and there may be many questions on what to do to prepare for Prom. Hunter Christensen, a junior, and Taylor Manscill, a junior, are preparing for prom, seeing as they are going together. Some of the things they are doing to prepare are asking and answering, planning the day date, and getting the dress and the suit.
Hunter knew he wanted to ask Taylor because she was the first person who popped into his head because they are good friends. After getting asked and creating the posters, the second step is getting the dress. Taylor said, “I haven’t gotten my dress yet, but I probably will towards the middle of February.” Taylor talked about what dress she is planning on getting and if it was similar to her dream dress. She responded, “I think our group is doing pastels, and I’m getting a light purple dress. My dream dress is a light yellow dress, it’s similar to the one that Andie Anderson wears in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Taylor went shopping, and ended up buying an orange dress that she loves. Where this dance is a boy's choice, the boys in the group have the responsibility of planning the day-date, who’s driving, paying for the dance, splitting it evenly, and figuring out what food they’re eating. They don’t have everything planned quite yet but as far as the day-date goes, Hunter said “We might go to Rush or Boondocks” These places are very similar and provide lots of fun activities for the couples to do. As far as getting ready for Prom, they both have lots to do starting now and leading up to the dance day. Taylor answered Hunter after she had a chance to consider her dress and what makeup she’d wear. She went out and bought a poster, decorated it, and took it to him. Taylor says she is having her mom do her hair and makeup, and it should take around an hour for her to get ready; however, on a typical day, it only takes her around 15 minutes. As a girl, this shows it takes a long time to get ready for Prom. For Hunter, he is preparing by getting a haircut and getting his suit. Preparing for and planning for one of the biggest events of the school year is a lot of work, but in the end, they both agree that it will be so much fun and definitely worth it. There are so many fun memories created and lots of experiences to look back on when you’re older. Prom is on Saturday, March 2, at the Castle Manor. Photograph taken by: Brooklyn Hadley Written By: Carli Miller and Brooklyn Hadley Music is one of the most common obsessions in our day, especially for teens. The average person spent roughly 20.7 hours a week listening to music in 2023, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, but many more hours are spent by musicians learning, perfecting and performing music for our entertainment.
Keegun Jensen, a senior at Bear River High School, has entangled himself in music ever since he decided to join band during his sixth grade orientation. Over the years, he has seen how taking this class has helped him in very simple ways. “For the longest time,” he said, “...the reason I was going to school in general, was to go to [my] sixth hour band. It was nice it was a sixth hour band because I had to go through the whole day before I got to go to band. It definitely helps me through just keeping me motivated.” Jensen plays the trumpet in the jazz band, the marching band, and the concert band; he sings bass in the Madrigals choir; and he plays acoustic, electric and bass guitar in his free time. He also “dabbles” in trombone, clarinet, and percussion. He said that music has built the world around him. “This is very stereotypical of me, but it really did give me a purpose, it really gave me a life… [Music] really gave me a perspective into my potential and how I can grow and become a person, not only musically…but also my personality and better ways of being a person,” Jensen said. Belle Christensen is a junior at Bear River High School and she has played instruments since the age of 5. She was heavily encouraged to play by her parents. “They would always say that if we didn’t play an instrument we would have to pay rent,” she said. She has yet to find out if this is true. Christensen is a very outgoing student. She is a fabulous violinist and a very upbeat person. Christensen said she learns much better when music is present. “ I’ve always been able to learn things a lot better when it’s put to a song,” she said. She also believes music has helped her in other ways too. “I think that practicing an instrument and learning instruments has made it easier to practice and learn things otherwise, and it’s also kind of helped me to schedule things and stick with them. I think that’s very valuable.” Beck Burrell is a senior at Bear River High School; he has been surrounded by music for his entire life. His family, especially his father, has participated in music and some in instruments. In the ups and downs of life, Burrell has turned to music to help. “If there is ever a hard time in school, or just anytime really, Music is where to go… Music is always there.” he said. Burrell has had music in his life for as long as he can remember, but it has impacted him greatly. “Music can be more powerful than just talking…” he said. “It just helps get different messages across and I can feel it rather than just understanding what the words are saying. It deepens the meaning.” These students have all worked hard to get where they are now. As they continue to sharpen their skills and pursue their passions, they are positioned for success, not only in their musical endeavors, but also in their chosen career paths. Although none of them intend to pursue music as a career, music has helped them become stronger people. Their commitment and determination indicate that they have bright futures ahead for each of them. Written by Rebecca Hayden Edited by Skylynn Thompsen, Brooklyn Hadley, Carli Miller Mrs. Joelle Beard is not just a high school language arts teacher but a record breaking, extraordinary swimmer. Mrs. Beard grew her deep love for swimming in the ninth grade but has been competitively swimming since she was just 7 years old. Mrs. Beard was raised in a swimming family; her mother and each of her siblings also swam in high school. Over the years Mrs. Beard has done 8 total marathon swims and still continues to do a marathon swim each summer. The first swim Mrs. Beard ever did was one that most swimmers finish their career with. She swam the English Channel at age 24. Through the frigid waters between the South coast of England and the North coast of France, she swam 26 miles without stopping even after she had been stung by jellyfish. Mrs. Beard shared how her motivation for this was simply to prove she could accomplish her goals. She said, “ For me it was honestly just to prove everyone wrong.” Mrs. Beard felt that many people thought the furthest you could go in a swimming career was a high school scoreboard. She wanted to show that you can go beyond these expectations people have set for swimmers. Being a swimmer, especially a competitive one, takes a lot of mental power. On the website, Swimming World, it states, “The key to Unlocking your speed: A Positive Mindset.” One of the reasons Mrs. Beard swims is because it is her way of de-stressing and enjoying life. Adelaide Aquatic Centre shows that it is important for swimmers to be able to enjoy what they are doing to succeed. Mrs. Beard uses her experiences to inspire many young athletes while she coaches the swim teams here at Bear River, as well as in the private lessons she gives. One swim she has participated in is the Bear Lake crossing swim. Her completion of this particular swim inspired one of her students so much he wanted to try it himself. He reached out to Mrs. Beard after he had graduated and she was very pleased to know she had made such an important impact on his life. Mrs. Beard has overcome many obstacles in her swimming career, like being stung by a jellyfish and swimming in shark infested waters. Her longest swim was 20 hours non stop and the swim she is the most proud of accomplishing is the Triple Crown, which got her into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She likes to remind her students of one important factor that has helped her succeed in life, she says, “Don’t let other people tell you your dreams are too big.” By, Autumn Henry My Image Information: Images are of Mrs. Beard swimming in (the image of her in the water with the sailboat) the English Channel on September 3rd 2012. The next image of her sitting on the boat is her after swimming for 20 hours straight between Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii on August 18th, 2021. Students everywhere have been a part of a long lasting debate. Though high school has been around for many years, students ask almost daily if high school is really preparing them for life. Two seniors, Aleksia Nielsen and Trayton Lund, have conflicting views on this topic.
Aleksia’s dream has always been to attend college and study art or marketing, and she believes that high school is extremely important. Aleksia said, “High school is so amazing! Look at all the opportunities.” She later said that teachers are a huge part of the opportunities. Whatever career path it is, there are classes and teachers to help achieve it. There are so many clubs available at our school for students, including FBLA, FFA, FCCLA, and many more. Aleksia also said, “I think any situation you can be in can be valuable if you make it valuable.” According to the Butts County School System, ”FBLA-PBL inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders.” Upon coming to the high school, Aleksia soon realized that it was teaching her how to communicate, manage her time, and work with others. All of these are extremely important life skills that everybody needs to be taught, according to Aleksia. Trayton (Tray) at the moment is not sure what he wants to do, and would like to change multiple things about the high school curriculum. He believes that, “school should teach more about taxes and how to make a resume, then unimportant stuff like math and english.” While there may be multiple people who have the same belief, the International Mathematical Union has some points that say differently, “mathematical knowledge plays a crucial role in understanding the contents of other school subjects such as science, social studies, and even music and art.” For people like Aleksia who want to go into art, math is going to be incredibly important. He also has a point when thinking about what high school is really trying to teach students, “School is more towards remembering sequences than preparing you.” As stated in Education Week, “there is significant pressure put on students by teachers, parents, and students to achieve.” Tray mentioned, “Most classes people take for easy A’s,” when students choose classes for the next year, their first thought is what class will be the easiest and get them the best grade, not what class will be the best for them to take. With these varying views, some may find it hard to determine if high school is important or not. Aleksia says that high school is full of valuable opportunities that should be taken advantage of, but Tray believes that the importance of high school has changed over the years. That it’s going from learning interesting topics to getting good grades. While both of these are crucial views on how and if high school is preparing students, it is important to remember that high school was originally meant to be a place to grow and learn different career paths, according to Acceleration Academies. By Alyssa Hamilton and Savannah Thompson We love our Bears at Bear River High School! BRHS Students Have Access to Mental Help Supports Seasonal depression is something many people across the world suffer from. With the sun being around less, cold and gloomy temperatures are prevalent, and it can be hard to even get up. A lot of high school students in particular are affected by this, especially here in Northern Utah. Mental health is something that should be talked about year round, but since winter is “bearing” its fangs so aggressively this year, it’s appropriate to discuss what to do when you or someone you love is feeling down. Taking the first step to getting help can be the hardest when the help is hard to find.
What a lot of BRHS students don’t know is that many resources for mental health already exist. A junior at Bear River High who has struggled with mental health said that she had a difficult time finding the help that worked for her. “When I wasn’t sure what else to do, I contacted the counselors office, and they helped me more than I ever imagined they would. I was finally able to talk about the things that bothered me, without the fear of being judged.” Another junior mentioned that the SafeUT app helped him. “I was at a really tough spot in my life, and I decided to try SafeUT. I wasn’t expecting positive results, but the help I got from this app is something I’ll be forever thankful for. ” Sometimes the easiest solution is the one right in front of us. The counselors number at Bear River High School is (435) 515-5800, and a social worker who provides more in depth therapy can be reached through them. An app called SafeUT is available on all devices as well. If you think that these resources could be something that works for you, there’s no shame in trying them. However, for some people, it's just not that simple. A senior at BRHS said, “I tried SafeUT and I tried the counselors, but what worked best for me was connecting with the people around me. Hearing from the people I love has been my saving grace all through high school.” Reaching out to those around you can make a big difference. People who struggle with mental health often have a hard time opening up, but if someone reaches out to them, it makes it easier to talk. So, check on your friends, check on anyone you think might be struggling. Make this school a better place by connecting everyone. Be someone's reason to stay, even if this someone is a person you don’t know very well. Reaching out can save lives. Article written by: Hannah Potter The theater department at work on their upcoming school play. Bear River High School offers many clubs for students to be involved in. One of these clubs is the high school's theater department. With the endless variety of shows the school has put on, there’s always going to be something that you don’t want to miss! However, what people don’t know about the school plays are the kids who put their life on pause for the show. Kalia Thompson, who portrays the bully in the upcoming play, A Monster Calls, admits that being in shows is draining and that a lot of time is sacrificed. Thompson says, “I’ve spent so many hours in the auditorium I could basically live there! But that's not always a bad thing because all the time I've spent there has made sure that the shows we create are good pieces of art.” The passion and dedication Thompson and the others have are evident in the end result of a play. Jessah Watkins, a member of the ensemble, says “Working turns into a second priority, so I only work weekends when I'm in a show.” The actors at the Bear River Theater Department all sacrifice their time, but the work they put into the show is exhibited when they perform, so it’s worth it to them. With all this devotion to making art on stage, they sacrifice other things, especially right after school. Most theater kids get behind on school work with all the time they put into the shows. However, not many of them complain about it. Theater is something that these kids find passion in, and they’re willing to have a couple late assignments in order to create an entertaining show for the audience. “It’s really hard to do school work sometimes,” Thompson says, “But I try my best to stay up to date on deadlines and make sure that I have all my work finished as close as possible to the due dates.” The most important thing to these kids is their passion for showmanship, and creating a piece of art to influence their audience. For all who want to see the passion of drama students, the school is putting on a play called A Monster Calls, on February 16th, 17th, 18th, and 20th at 6pm. There is a 1:00 pm matinee on the 18th. The crew of this show has put so much time into this play, so if you can, come and support! Written by : Hannah Potter
Pictured Laken Warr As the school year comes to an end, there are many seniors that will continue to go to school, and many that may take a break, or even some will go straight into their careers. Deciding what to do after high school is a big decision. Many high schoolers don't know what they want to do after they graduate, and are stuck between many decisions.
Graduating high school is a big deal and something most teenagers have been looking forward to ever since they were little. According to the Utah System of Higher Education, “There are about sixty percent of females and only forty-four percent of males that will continue their schooling [after high school].” As a senior at Bear River High School, Laken Warr is planning to carry on with school in Texas. While going to school Warr plans to continue participating in rodeos as she has done in the past. This is a big journey and very exciting for Warr. She said, “ I am going to school to get a degree in agriculture business.” Agriculture plays a big role in Warr and her family's lives. She will attend school for two years and if she enjoys it, she will continue schooling for another two to get a higher degree. Warr said, “I am definitely scared of going so far away from home but it will be a good experience.” Some students plan to take a break before diving into higher education. It gives them time to think and figure out what they want to do. Aubree Anderson has decided to take a break for the first little bit and continue to work. She started going to Bridgerland for dental assisting and decided that wasn't what she wanted to do, so she changed her career path and started going in another direction. Others may take a break by serving a mission, like Nic Summers. There are also many students who will just get right into their careers and start working to make a living. For example there are a few boys who have graduated early and started lineman school (electrical training) or some have gone and started working at Nucor. Whatever students decide to do after graduation holds a big adventure ahead of them. Make sure to wish the graduating students the best of luck in their new chapter of life. Being a foreign exchange student is depicted as being a magical experience and always having a great time, but that’s not always the reality. Jamie Luque, a foreign exchange student at Bear River High School, said “I do miss Spain and I’m excited to go back.” But he made it very clear that he is happy that he got the chance to come to America and meet all of the people here . He mentioned how scared he was of having to go to a new school and meet all new people. Luque said, “ It's different here because in Spain we still had to wear masks.” Back in Spain they are still extremely strict about covid. Schooling after covid in Spain changed so much as Luque said, “We have to stay in the same class and the teachers come to us.” The students there don't get to change classes and have to stay in the same class for the whole day. They also have to go to lunch at different times and can't interact with other students outside of their class. Covid had a big impact on the foreign exchange students and their program. Most of the programs were shut down Spring 2020 until Fall of 2021. Due to covid some programs were obligated to shut down permanently. Luque was lucky enough to come and see what schooling is like in a different country. As Luque said, “I have met some friends and will be sad to leave them.” As Luque has lived here and went to school he has met so many new people and made lots of friends. While he has lived here he played football and loved it! Luque says, “ If I didn't play football I probably wouldn't know half the people I do.” Even with the obstacles that the foreign exchange students have to go through after covid they still made it work and got to make the best out of it. Photo credit: Avery Folkman Being a high school student can always be challenging. You have school, responsibilities at home, your social life, and not to mention having a part time job on top of all of that. Most teenagers have jobs that they don’t even enjoy. In our school there are several students who have broken away from the norm and instead of working for someone else, they work for themselves and do what they are passionate about.
Avery Folkman, who runs an online clothing boutique called Shop4U, said, “I loved the idea of never having to work for anyone else. I never have and I never want to. This really pushed me to start my own business. I wanted to be my own boss.” Another one of these many young entrepreneurs is Kadynce Olsen. She runs a small online business that sells handmade gemstone rings called Jaded Gemz. “I was bored and wanted to try something new…and I loved it!” Olsen said. Creating a small business is a great way to get money, but also to truly find something you love to do. A small start that can create a long term business that you can build up over time and become very successful. Olsen even shared her future plans for both her and her business. “I hope to start a ring workshop someday where I can teach others how to build their own ring!” Folkman also shared some future plans. “Currently we run my company out of an extra room in my house. Eventually we want to renovate our back shed into a place for me to be able to do everything.” They both have loyal local customers, but are also managing to bring in customers from all over Utah! Starting a business can be very rewarding, Olsen said “My favorite part of creating my own business is not only making my own ideas, but others [ideas] as well come to life.” Folkman has her favorite parts also, “ There are so many things I have loved about creating my business so far. I personally pick out every single thing I sell in the shop. One of my favorite things is getting all my products delivered and unboxing it all!” But with every triumph comes challenges. “The hardest part has probably been learning what works and what doesn’t, such as different techniques and tools. It has taken a lot of time and money to perfect some things!” Olsen said. Making products isn't an easy task. Investing in yourself to create that perfect item takes time and money to ensure that your customers are happy with what they have received. It takes experimenting to build both your business and your products. Our Bear River Bears are so talented and creative. When they set their mind to something they can accomplish anything. If you want to bring out your creativity and create that small business you have been interested in for a while then what's stopping you? Folkman and Olsen totally agree with that statement. Olsen said, “The advice I would give is don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!” Folkman said, “START NOW!! If you have a good idea, pursue it. Don’t worry about what others might think. You never know how it might turn out!” So start that small business that you have been hesitant about and show the world what you can offer! High school graduation is always a major stepping point for seniors: it represents moving into the world as an adult, and how they will do and who they will be. Anxiety and stress often come with the idea of graduation. The transition from being a kid to being an adult can be hard for everyone. What does it look like for our seniors this year? Along with “what do you plan to be when you grow up?”, seniors also consider the daily changes and stress that comes with graduating high school. In a survey conducted at Bear River High, seniors were both excited and worried about graduation: “yes I’m ready”, “Yes I’m 100% ready to graduate”, “I’m nervous”, “Graduating is scary”. It seems that the anxiety is high for some, but overall seniors are happy to be moving on with their life. Many seniors are planning to go to college, but a few aren’t. One student said; “No, because I already have a job with my future career.”All others said that they planned to go right after graduation or at some point in the future.
Even with the excitement of graduation, the stress of making it to graduation can sometimes make it harder to appreciate. A lot of students are pressured in high school to choose right now: “What are you going to be?” There comes a lot of pressure being a senior, knowing that at the end of the year, that’s it: unless you’re going to college you’re being thrown into the real world. The final classes in the last trimesters can be the worst for some students; they can be the difficult classes, the last ones that the student needs to graduate. The uncertainty of a passing grade can add to the anxiety. The family pressure is also a major thing for many students, their families wanting them to succeed and being told “consequences” if they don’t. A lot of pressure comes with graduation. The stress and anxiety of graduating hasn’t changed much over the years. Several local parents shared their ideas of graduation. Mike Maxfield, owner of MM Woodwork and Design with a child in elementary school said about doing things differently before graduating: “I probably would’ve taken more college classes, but other than that nothing has changed.” Austin Maxfield, Mike’s spouse, said nothing much changed: she was done and wanted to get out as soon as she could, out of school and her parent’s house. They both said they were wanting to graduate and move on. So it would seem that the desire to graduate is not restricted to one single generation. Graduation can be stressful, but it is also exciting. Some people want to graduate and head to college and some want to just move on. Although things have become more and more complicated with conflicts in the US and outside the US, the want to move on and continue with their life and/or education has never ceased. Mike said that he is worried about this generation due to a lot of them not having high work ethic, though he knows that some will likely be able to make a job out of technology. We all have high hopes for this generation, that they will do well and succeed. Not everyone gets the experience to be an foreign exchange student but Zoe Prado did. Being a foreign exchange student gives students the opportunity to travel, live and go to school in a different country. Zoe Prado is originally from Spain but is attending school at Bear River as a foreign exchange student.
Schools are different around the world. Zoe talked about some of the differences she has noticed, “The biggest difference between school here and Spain is I went to a private school and had to wear uniforms. We never changed classes and stayed in the same class all day.” Bear River High School does have a dress code but not set matching uniforms. BRHS students also get the chance to have six different classes throughout the day, so students never are in the same class for more than one hour. “I like it a lot better here and school is much funner,” said Zoe. As we all know the teachers here at Bear River are very involved and are always willing to help the students succeed. “The teachers here try to help you and in Spain they don't even care if you fail.” Zoe said that the teachers did not help the students at all and weren't very involved. The school in Spain was a closed campus, “But there were people that could go out for lunch with the permission of their parents.” Most of the students in Spain just stayed at school for their lunch. It is very nice to have an open campus school so students get the chance to leave and get a break throughout the school day, Zoe said. Another big difference between school here and in Spain is the sports. Zoe plays volleyball and is playing on Bear River’s team this year. “Here you have different sports depending on the season and in Spain you play the same sport the entire year.” Bear River is big into school spirit and getting everyone involved. “In Spain we don't spend a lot of time at school, and we don't have school spirit, so we just go to class and leave.” In the past Bear River has had many foreign exchange students, As of right now Bear River has three attending. Being a foreign exchange student is a big opportunity. “You don't get to pick who you live with and just get sent here and assigned a family,” said Zoe. For many teenagers this would be a super stressful and scary thing. Moving away from your family all by yourself, coming to a new country and living with someone you have never met before. Zoe explained, “You can pick where you want to go but you have to pay ten thousand dollars extra.” Most people can't afford to choose where they want to go, so they have to settle for what is available. Foreign exchange students only spend nine months where they are assigned to. They get the experience of living in another country and then will return back home. “I came during the summer and will leave the week after school is over,” said Zoe. Knowing more about the differences between these two schools, shows that we should be thankful for the schooling we have here. Written by: Sydnee Kent By: Kayte Crook Picture taken from google photos The American College Test (ACT) is a stressful and difficult test, so Bryan Hamson decided to take it twice. Once his sophomore year, and then again Junior year. Hamson explained, “I took it my sophomore year because I wanted to try it before the real test so it would be easier.” He ended up getting a high score of 33 and is ready to take it again this year. The highest score possible is a 36.
Hamson claims that the easiest part about the ACT is “finishing sections early because it is less stressful and gives you chances to review questions.” He said sometimes it's going to be hard to review those sections because you just want to be done with it. The scariest part of his first test was the math section when he only had a few minutes left and still had ten questions to answer. He had to rush, but was able to finish in the end. The best advice he can give to people who are taking the test is to study more when you have time. It is hard to find time to do the practice tests and to study, but do it. Even going to Mrs. Jensen's for English ACT on Wednesday during Claw Time like he does or Mrs. Sanders’ on Monday for Math ACT can prepare you. Hamson tries not to focus on questions he doesn't know during the test and moves on so he doesn't run out of time for the rest of the questions. Bear River High School’s librarian Margo Tackett also has some advice for students taking or retaking the ACT this year. “Take a deep breath and just remember to breathe,” as this will help you relax and destress. She also suggests using practice tests before the ACT because it helps you learn your timing and how long or short it will feel. Using the “Shmoop” website ACT prep course is a good way to take those practice tests. Some other helpful tips to remember are getting a good night's sleep the night before as well as eating a healthy breakfast that's full of proteins. Before going into the ACT here are some things you should know: Don't bring anything to the ACT besides a number two pencil. Leave anything that connects to the internet at home. The ACT will start at 8:00 a.m. so students should be in their testing session by 7:40 a.m. You will not be able to take the test that day if you come in late. There is a 15 minute break for a second breakfast, halfway through the test. The whole test is three and half hours long and ends around noon. Go talk to Margo Tackett in the library if you have any questions about the ACT. By: Dane Black Outer Fiction album cover. Pictured Logan Allen, Landon Dean, Jaxson Egli, Makane Huggins, Holden Saunders There are many talented kids at Bear River High School, Some of who create their own bands. One of the best bands we have is Outer Fiction. Outer Fiction is a band made up of students who have attended BRHS. Although the band members keep changing at the moment it's Logan Allen as lead guitarist and singer, Landon Dean on the keyboard and other assorted instruments, Makane Huggins on drums, Dylan Bailey as backup guitar and singer, and Holden Saunders on bass.
Dean said he has been in the band for just over a year and he loves it. “We practice once or twice a month and often practices are just times to make songs up on the spot, record them and keep the best ones.” At the moment they have two albums, the newest one being “Live, Laugh, Love!” “Makane’s mom had a Live, Laugh, Love sticker on her car and we thought it was funny,” Dean said. The band has been making music for about five years now. Allen said “Me and Makane made the band in eighth grade getting ready for a talent show” and now they are making albums and are on nearly every music streaming platform. Allen and Dean write most of Outer Fiction's songs. Dean’s favorite is “10 in the morning.”“That’s the time we decided to meet and we made the whole song at that time.” They made a song in a single morning that takes skill and dedication. Allen’s favorite is “Without You.” “Me and my friend Holden were unsure about it, but it turned out really well.” For the most part they have been making music in the classic rock genre. That could change with Dean and Allen who said that in the future they would like to make a rap album that’s just the two of them. Seeing how well they are doing, there is no doubt that this will turn out. There are no plans of them stopping, their only plan is to hopefully get more popular and more recognized. You can find Outer Fiction on most music platforms: Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, SoundCloud. Outer Fiction is a band with big plans starting from a middle school in a small town. They have more songs well on their way with maybe a rap album in a few years. There seems to be no stopping them. Written By: Bre’Kell Lyon Photo Credit: Bre’Kell Lyon
Everyone has dealt with anxiety at one point in their life. Especially as teenagers. An average of 31.9% of adolescents have an anxiety disorder: 8.3% have a severe impairment. MaKayla Baum knows a lot about anxiety, since she has both Social and Generalized Anxiety. Because of the extent of her anxiety, she has her service dog Angel that goes with her everywhere to keep her calm. Anxiety looks different for everyone, and people deal with it differently. “I start shaking, my heart will beat really fast, [I] hear ringing in [my] ears…..Basically it feels like [I’m] going to pass out.” MaKayla doesn’t just go through this once, but almost all the time. How severe the symptoms are depends on what is going on. Because of this she often refuses to go to school or out in public. “I would prefer not to talk to anyone. It’s like if I can avoid anything I will.” Anxiety often prevents people from doing things that others can do easily. Most people don’t even think twice about grabbing a tissue or asking a question in class, but for MaKayla it's terrifying. “It’s kinda like you’re worried about everyone watching you. So if you grab a tissue, it's like ‘oh my gosh everyone is staring at me.’ In that way it’s very limiting. You really have to force yourself to do something.” Most people who experience extreme anxiety often start to see it at a young age, as did MaKayla. “Ever since I've started school [I’ve had anxiety]. I would purposely make myself throw up, so I could stay home. Because you know, being sick means I can stay home. Making me go to school has always been a fight for my parents. Fifth grade was when social anxiety kicked in a lot worse….I have always had my general anxiety from a young age.” Luckly, MaKayla has a best friend of hers that can help her and is always by her side. Her white, mini husky, service dog, who has the most appropriate name, Angel. MaKayla was able to train Angel herself to become a psychiatric service dog. She has been training her for a year and a half and she just barely got Angel trained enough to bring to school with her. Angel is still training and learning how to help her owner with her anxiety. “...right now a task we are working on is that when I start shaking, she will jump into my lap, just her front paws. It’s called Depressure. It's what people use for anxiety…also when I don't want people around me, she will circle around me.” Although MaKayla knows many people can overcome anxiety, she's not sure if she will ever be able to overcome it herself, but is sure she will get better through time. Service dogs or pets are a great way to cope with anxiety. If you experience anxiety, please know that you are not alone and ask for help from those around you. By Zoey Kralovetz Mr. Hyde in his element. Photo Credit: Kayte Crook Teachers come and go, but not Coach Matthew Hyde who has worked at BRHS for 32 years. After graduating high school, Mr. Hyde studied graphic design and was a commercial artist at USU for two years. He decided that he didn’t really like doing other people's art and wanted to do his own art, so he followed in his fathers footsteps. Growing up, his dad taught as an art teacher at USU for 35 years. Matthew Hyde went back to college for three more years to become a teacher. He got a job as an art teacher at BRHS and it has been his passion since.
Being a teacher for this long comes with a lot of challenges. Students aren’t always respectful, and they don’t always do their work. This can bring frustration, but Mr. Hyde has learned great ways to deal with those things stating “To be forgiving, if you have a student that has done something they shouldn't have done, the next day is a new day.” Mr. Hyde uses this with every issue that comes up. When a student makes a mistake, he may be upset initially but he forgives them and treats them as he normally would. Being a teacher is hard work. Change happens all the time and problems are constantly encountered. Mr. Hyde has noticed that “Data drives our education now, and obviously, so does technology”. Students can get distracted by technology, but they can also use it to help them improve. Mr. Hyde has learned that it is better to embrace it rather than fighting against it. Students in his class can now look at reference photos so much easier. Rather than going to the library every time they need one they can find them on their phones. Mr. Hyde has impacted many students in this school. He is a respectful and helpful teacher who tries his best every day and it does not go unnoticed by his students. Ellie Carter, a student in Mr. Hyde's 3rd hour said “I think he’s awesome. He's one of my favorite teachers. He helps me with all of these weird little projects and teaches me how to make them happen and he cares about his students and how they are doing.” Kassidi added that “He’s chill. He’s understanding, and he tells us what we need to work on to help our grade.” Mr. Hyde says that not only is teaching art his passion, but it has its rewards, as past students have contacted him to tell him what a difference he has made in their lives and how his art class has helped them. Mr. Hyde has learned and adapted to become a better teacher over the years. He has accepted students for who they are and embraced change in the education system. Overall Mr. Hyde connects well with students and it is appreciated that he is a part of our staff here at BRHS. By: Brooke Peterson With the school year coming to an end, so are most high school sports. For the seniors, this will be that last season of their high school sports teams. Sports are a huge part of a lot of students' lives. They meet so many great people and form a family within their teams. From soccer, football, baseball, softball, swim, track, cheerleading, high-steppers, and many more to list students get so involved and they form a lifestyle around their team. Some students will continue their sports dream into college, but many won’t. That last game and senior night is therefore quite emotional for many seniors.
Senior, Libbee Bennett, has been a cheerleader ever since she was old enough to participate in the activity. Cheer is something she values very deeply and she said it has made high school that much more memorable. Bennett loved performing at football games the most and said, “The crowd is so much fun to interact with while cheering.” Bennett's favorite performance was when Box Elder High School and Bear River had a choreographed routine together. She explained it was so much fun to meet new people and see friends from Brigham City. Bennett started cheering for the high school her sophomore year and it has been nothing but awesome memories all the way through to now. Bennett absolutely has loved traveling games to perform because of the thrill of going against another school and showing off Bear River’s amazing teams! Bennett stated, “Home games will always hold a special place in my heart. Being surrounded by people who supported the team was great.” Bennett was so sad, yet excited to start senior year because she did not want to see cheering come to an end, but she is also ready to move on with life and start her career. Bennett’s coaches made sure to have the seniors feel loved and appreciated all throughout the season. On senior night for the cheer team, Bennett felt so distraught that her last year had come and gone so quickly; she was not ready to leave the family the team and created with each other. Senior years are always hard because you are leaving everything you have known for the past 12 years. Some athletes start as young as four years old and go all into high school. Moving on from such great experiences and everything you have known is hard, but exciting. By: Gracie Marsh Now as we are nearing the end of our third trimester, many seniors are thinking about graduation. This column will highlight one senior each issue and his or her thoughts regarding graduation. This week Elizabeth (Annie) Harrah is being highlighted.
Harrah is on the Bear River Spirit Squad, specifically the Dance Company Team. Harrah is working at Everything Your Heart Desires and constantly hanging out with her friends. Harrah’s favorite classes have been art classes. She loves drawing, ceramics and painting. She also really loves the history of art. During school Harrah had many favorite teachers. A few honorable mentions are her art teachers: Mr. Hyde and Mrs. Fyffe. She likes them because they taught her so much and really helped her enjoy art. Harrah's favorite thing about graduating is “moving on and starting a new chapter in [her] life and all the new people [she is] going to meet.” Harrah’s least favorite thing about graduating is that she is not excited to leave her friends; she is also nervous to pick a career and choose the right path. After Harrah graduates high school, she plans to take a gap year so she can just have fun and live. During her gap year, she plans to get ready to serve her mission, go on a trip to Europe, and go to as many concerts as she possibly can. Harrah’s plans for a job is to be in the fashion industry either as a designer, brand owner, or a personal stylist. Harrah has a lot of advice for future seniors: “Future seniors, here are some things I wish I knew before I was a senior: I wish I knew how amazing people can truly be. Don’t waste your time and find your people. Next, senior year is amazing, but it does come to an end, so don’t hesitate on anything! Tell that person how great they are. I would try and compliment at least one person a day, take time to discover yourself, apply for that dream college, and spend as much time with your friends. If you don’t get asked to a dance, still go and make the best of it! You could go with a group of friends or even by yourself. You can have so much fun in any situation as long as you have a positive attitude. Next, apply for any and every scholarship! I wish I had because the worst that’s going to happen is that they say no. Next, don’t be afraid to be yourself and do things for yourself! Step out of your boundaries and try new things. You can do this through fashion, wear things that represent you, tell your story. Wear that weird jacket you found in your grandma’s basement, or that skirt, yes, even if you’re a boy, just be sure to wear shorts. Clothing has no gender and no rules. Wear whatever you want because they come off at the end of the day anyways. Plus, it will give the teachers something to talk about during lunch. Some people might call you weird for the things you do but others will love it. Stick to those who love you for you. Work hard, stay true to yourself, and treat people with kindness. All the love, Elizabeth.” By: August Jensen Outer Fiction is a student made band here at Bear River High School. There are five members total, and each member plays a role in making the band special. The five members of Outer Fiction include Logan Allen, singer, MaKane Huggins, drums, Holden Saunders, bass and the harmonica, Jackson Egli, drums, and Landon Dean, the newest member of the band, keyboard. Outer Fiction was created by Allen and Huggins during the 8th grade for the talent show. After that, they decided to keep the band going and added more members.
The name of the band wasn’t always Outer Fiction, though. There were many names for the band before they decided on one that perfectly suited the band. Allen said, “I like space and when I went into the library I looked and saw the next word that I could and found ‘fiction.’ I put ‘outer’ and ‘fiction’ together and it clashed really well.” Outer Fiction currently has six songs out on Spotify, and they also have Instagram to keep their fans updated when new songs will be released. A new album of theirs called “Live, Laugh, Love” will be out to listen to by July of this year. Their first song was inspired by an organ bought at the DI by Allen and Saunders. They burned it in their backyard, and it inspired the first song they ever made together as a band. The members of Outer Fiction want to keep their band going beyond high school saying that “we would like to keep the band together and keep producing music, but if that doesn’t happen that's okay too.” Every member of the band has different goals they want to accomplish after high school. Allen just wants to be successful and be happy after he graduates. Saunders also wants this dream for himself. Huggins wants to pursue his djing career and become an influencer. Dean wants to move to Hawaii or Florida and also become an influencer after high school. These wonderful students have been able to make a super well developed band together, and they deserve a lot of recognition. Go listen to their songs on Spotify, and support them! By: Dustin Smith Photo Credit: BRHS Yearbook Staff Sterling Scholars are a group of 14 students that each specialize in a certain academic category. The categories include dance, mathematics, visual arts, business and marketing, family and consumer science, social sciences, world languages, instrumental music, vocal performance, English, skilled & technical sciences, science, computer technology, and speech/theatre arts/forensics. Sterling Scholars create portfolios that include work or samples of their accomplishments in their specified areas. On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the school board took the time to recognize and congratulate the Sterling Scholars. Mark Johnson, a member of the school board, said, “We like to take the time to congratulate the students for all of their hard work during the school year, and to finish strong to the end!” All of the students received a letter from Box Elder School District saying, “Dear student, good job on being your school’s sterling scholar. Keep up the good work.” Heidi Jensen, the English Department Head, is the school’s sterling scholar coordinator and has held this position for the last five years. Mrs. Jensen began to get involved with Sterling Scholars when she wanted to better help the English Sterling Scholar. Of this, Mrs. Jensen said, “Years ago I was trying to help my English Sterling Scholar create a portfolio that would make it to state finals. But I didn't know much about the program, so I wasn't very much help. As I did research to learn more about Sterling Scholars, I realized the program offered scholarship opportunities and opened doors for my students who were college-bound anyway. When I talked to the coordinator, he expressed the idea that he was running out of time to really give the program his full attention and was hoping someone could help or take over, so Mrs. Hewlett and I talked and decided to take on the program.” The Sterling Scholar program is unique to Utah and reaching the state level is a great accomplishment. As this is the highest level, Mrs. Jensen strives to prepare students and takes great pride in her students: “I have had a total of eight [students go to state] since I took over the program. This year we had three, last year two, and one the year before and two the year before that. It has been wonderful to have my kids reach state.” Mrs. Jensen enjoys seeing students excel and be creative. One of her favorite experiences was when “one year...the Sterling Scholar for family and consumer sciences...used her skills the most when she taught little kids how to water ski. The judges just soaked that up and loved it.” Mrs. Jensen wants to encourage students to consider the program and said, “Becoming a Sterling Scholar is hard work, but the recognition and scholarships that come with Sterling Scholar are worth every minute.” The Bear River High School Sterling Scholars for 2020-2021
Dance: Noelle Meeds (Regional Runner Up) Mathematics: Nathan Kay Visual Arts: Cierra Macfarlane Business & Marketing: Jenna Haws (State Runner Up, top 10) Family & Consumer Sciences: Dustin Smith World Languages: Bailey Bjorn Instrumental Music: Madyson Mickelsen Vocal Performance: Carisa Epling English: Skyy Schuffenhauer (State Runner Up, top 10) Science: Jefferson Kowallis Computer Technology: John Coker (Regional Runner Up) Speech/Theatre Arts/Forensics: Kolten Cutler (State Runner Up, top 10) |
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February 2024
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