By Luis and Carter
Have you been down to the lunch room to try out Bear River’s new ping pong tables? If you haven't, it's a great way to make new friends and meet new people. Ricky Cambell, a junior at Bear River High, says “I made one new friend that I knew before, but I've gotten to know [them] better ever since the ping pong tables have been here.” Ricky believes that the ping pong tables are a good place to make friends who like similar things. He also states that “Sometimes me and my brother come super early to school. When this happens, we play on the ping pong tables until the bell rings to go to class” Mr. AJ Gilmore, the principal at Bear River, said the tables were purchased for the entertainment of the students and nothing else. He would be open to suggestions about future activities. “Our janitors told me they would really enjoy a foosball table as well as a pool table, I think that would be really nice.” He explained that the activities need to be put away easily. “Sometimes the tables need to be cleared out because we have a lot of afterschool activities that require the space.” Ricky suggested, ”bean bag toss and a dart board” According to Mr. AJ Gilmore’s requirements, Ricky’s suggestions would fit perfectly as an activity to accompany the ping pong tables. Having activities at the high school would fit right in to what students expect from Box Elder School District because they have experienced fun activities at their elementary schools. Activities at other schools have included foosball, basketball in the gym during lunch, and chess in the library. Bear River High did basketball in the gym in the past but the administration realized that it was too hard to clean up after students before classes started. This year, attempting to try out the ping pong tables is a way of providing entertainment for the students while also trying to keep the schools clean. So far they have provided both of those things and our principal agrees,“The ping pong tables are very easy to put away and we even bought the durable ones to keep them together.” If you’ve got any more suggestions for the Bear River High activities all you have to do is ask Mr. AJ Gilmore and your dream activity might just be implemented into the school. Just remember to always clean up after yourself. Picture by Carter Wilkinson
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Are Seniors Prepared to Graduate?
Our Seniors are expected to be ready to graduate come spring. But how many are really ready? There are a lot of seniors who are struggling to have enough credits to graduate, but on the other hand there are also a lot of seniors who are more than prepared to graduate. Senior Jaden Deccoursey has enough credits that if he wanted to graduate today he would be able to, even though it is only the 2nd trimester. He said that he has no U’s because he went to class and didn’t skip. “School has always been pretty easy for me except for math, but I just showed up every day and applied myself and it became easier.” Some things that Jaden did to stay on track to graduate was turning in all of his assignments on time;this helped him actually understand the material that was being taught. Jaden had a really hard time understanding what was happening in his classes when he was absent, so he knew that coming to class is what really mattered. Senior Deigo Gonzalez had a really hard time coming to class and getting good grades throughout high school. Deigo said “One of the main things I struggled with was going to class, because when I would show up all of the material was so easy for me.”For most students who are close to not graduating, learning isn’t the hard part, it is actually just showing up to class. Deigo said that there were always a lot of resources for him, he just never used any of them. There are a lot of teachers and staff who care and want to help any students who need it, says Diego. They can only help to a certain extent, because ultimately it is the student’s choice whether they want to show up to class and try their hardest. Currently the attendance rate for seniors from this year is 85.88% which is not very high, but it is better than the Junior class which is 84.36%. Students who want to succeed should take advice from Diego and come to school. For some students the motivation can come from their peers. Diego reached out to his friends for help. He said, “I needed someone to hold me accountable, and luckily my friends were able to do that.” Thankfully, Diego has enough time to get all of his grades up and graduate. Senior year looks different for every student at Bear River High School. For some students it can be a year of trying to catch up and pushing to graduate, and for others it can be a really easy year of doing elective classes and having fun. Article by Gavin Fitzgerald Photo by an unknown artist This article addresses a current BRHS Policy and how it creates a safe environment for our students, teachers, and staff.
BRHS Safe School Policy 5005 …Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to the following: 1. Possession, control, actual or threatened use of a real weapon, explosive, or flammable device or material. 2. The actual or threatened use of a look-alike or pretend weapon with intent to intimidate or hurt another person or to disrupt normal school activities... 7. Behavior, or threatened behavior, which poses an immediate and significant threat to the welfare, safety or morals of other students or school personnel or to the operation of the school. Did you know that wearing a hat in class used to be against school policy? That policy, along with many others, has become outdated and no longer applies. A specific policy that protects our school and our students has been changed to better meet the safety needs of our school. Just as the hat policy, the policy (listed above) used to have very specific language to direct student behavior on pocket knives. The outdated policies said that blades larger than 2 inches would be considered a safe schools violation. If any knife of that size were found on a student, it would lead to the district suspending the student in question. The new safe school policy directly reflects policy 76-10-505.5 found on the Utah State Legislature website, which emphasizes deadly intent as a violation.. Sheltin Neilsen is a senior at Bear River High School who expressed discomfort in what he believed, at the time, was the school policy on knives. Sheltin is a person who keeps a pocket knife on him for use throughout the day outside of school and at his job causing him to sometimes forget it in his pocket. Following an outdated policy, Sheltin mistakenly thought bringing knives to school would mean instant suspension and referral to the school district. Sheltin says that most students at Bear River use pocket knives as tools at work and maybe even some classes. He knows that a lot of his peers bring knives to school: “there's too many to count”. He thinks that students are afraid to have a pocket knife, including himself. He doesn’t really know the policy and expressed “most people don't know”. Assistant principal Clay Chournos shares how and why the policy was changed. “When I was a student, I used knives to cut hay bales at work. I would sometimes slip them right back into my pocket. Under the outdated policy, if I went to school with that knife in my pocket, I would be suspended and sent to the district. That's why it's vague on purpose. Now what is and isn’t considered a weapon comes down to intent. If you are using a screwdriver at school and decide to hurt people with it, even though a screwdriver is a tool, it is a safe school violation and needs to be addressed. It's not about specific items but how you use them.” Sheltin was relieved after hearing that the policy at this school had been changed to be more focused on intent instead of physical objects. He also expresses a feeling of trust for his schoolmates “on a scale of 1 to 10, I give a 10 on how safe I feel at school”. As well as trusting his peers, he has no problem putting himself in the safety of our School Resource Officer Andrew. He admits to sometimes feeling intimidated by her which he believes is an incredible deterrent tactic. He doesn't believe anything will happen,“if there's kids running around school with knives and they're not supposed to, how many people have been stabbed?” At the same time, he believes that we can have trust in our security officers. By Luis Granda & Taylor Mccamish Dancing with the stars is a fundraising event for Bear River High School.Entry into the event is $2.00 a person. Once the event was over they counted the money this year's event earned a little more than $3,000. This amount was split between both the winners and the school. The first place winners of the event, Anna and Vincent, got a total of $500 to go towards a club of their choosing, which was the Bear River High School Girls Tennis Team. The remainder of the raised money was put towards the Bear River High School Student Council funds.
There is a lot more that goes into dancing with the stars than most people realize. All of the participants, and staff put in a lot of work to prepare for dancing with the stars. Reggie Hess sophomore 1st vice organized and put together dancing with the stars. Reggie explained that prior to the event they held sign ups for any people looking to participate in dancing with the stars. Reggie said “ We made all the decorations for the event and set them up the day of the competition.” Senior Nixon Weston and his partner Rachel Marble who is also a senior prepared for dancing with the stars for over two months. Nixon said, “We practiced once a week for a few hours at a time, and we just went through the dance a lot.” Many people don’t realize how much time and effort the participants put into practicing for Dancing with the Stars. Junior Vincent Firtig and his partner Anna Hales who is also a junior won first place in the entire event and they started practicing a few months before Nixon and Rachel did. Nixon said “ I wish that we practiced a little bit more” . Nixon believes one of the reasons that they might not have won was because his timing was a little off on some of the moves that he did. The fundraiser was a success for not only Bear River High School but also for the participants. Bear River High School got the funds to be able to help better its students' education and extracurriculars. All while the participants and viewers got to experience hours of fun. If you are interested in showing your skills, look for announcements next year. This event is held every year, and the fund goes towards the sponsoring class for their Junior Prom. Photo from the BESD Transportation website Student’s Input on the Proposed Schedules of the 2023 School Year Due to a few bussing issues, the Box Elder School District is considering 2 options for the 2023 to 2024 school year’s schedule to alleviate this concern.
The bussing issues are a touchy subject. According to the video sent out by Superintendent Carlson, a shortage of bus drivers is causing too many students to be on one bus at a time. By forcing secondary schools and elementary schools to be picked up on the same route. Drivers are not able to make double runs for secondary and elementary schools due to them getting out around the same time. Many students are also on the bus for too long; some students spend 40 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes on one trip. With 60 percent of the district's population (7,432 students) depending on transportation by bus to and from school, the district came up with two possible solutions to solve these issues. According to the video, the change of the start and end times for secondary and elementary schools should make it so that bussing issues are minimal. For instance, with one starting earlier than the other by about an hour to give bus drivers enough time to make double runs; one run for secondary schools and one for elementary schools. This will eliminate the problems of too many students on one bus and long routes, altogether making the bus ride safer for students. Option one is that all secondary schools will begin earlier than all elementary schools. The schedule would be the following. BRHS & BEHS -- 7:30am to 2:13pm BRMS & BEMS -- 7:40am to 2:23pm ACHI & ACYI -- 7:50am to 2:33pm Elementary (K-5th) -- 8:55am to 3:15pm Option 2 would be the opposite. With elementary schools beginning earlier than secondary schools. The schedule would be the following. BRHS & BEHS -- 8:30am to 3:13pm BRMS & BEMS -- 8:40am to 3:23pm ACHI & ACYI -- 8:50am to 3:33pm Elementary (K-5th) -- 7:45am to 2:05pm Each schedule would have its effect on students and their families. Camron Norton, a sophomore at Bear River High, said “7:30am to 2:13pm works better. [then later time] With all the sports I play, if we got out of school at 3:13, we’d be practicing until like midnight! Also with young mens I wouldn’t have time for anything!” He is one of many students involved in school sports and clubs. Adrain Flores, also a sophomore at Bear River, said, “I wouldn’t get home until around 7pm after sports and extracurriculars, then I would have homework and chores. That leaves zero time to spend with my family if I want to get to bed at a decent time.” Option 1 is a better choice for many students with busy schedules after school. However, many students are open to option 2. Alyssa Cristan is a senior at BRHS; even though she won’t be a part of the 2023 school year she still gave her opinion on the situation. “ Option 2 is clearly a good choice, teenagers function and learn better later in the day when they are fully awake. It is scientifically proven.” According to an instagram poll of 129 students, 75 agreed with Alyssa. Although no decision has been made, more information is to come in the near future. A meeting will be held in a few weeks with the school board and school council committee. Where they would discuss the comments and input for the proposed solutions to the bussing issues. The 2023 school year is upcoming and full of great opportunities for students, families, and teachers with the great chance to start off with something new. Article Written by: Janessa Esquivel Jasmine Flint and spending time on social media. Social Media Impact on BRHS Students Many of our students feel like social media is becoming such a negative space, that it is affecting their mental health. “89% of social media users believe it is damaging their mental health”, according to a study by The Cybersmile Foundation.
Jasmine Flint, a sophomore at BRHS, has used social media since she was 8 years old and has been posting on social media since she was 14 years old. She said “I feel judged because of the different types of lives of the people I see on social media.” She also said when she posts a picture that she looks cute in, she feels judged by the people she follows and worries that they think she doesn’t look cute. Jasmine has multiple social medias including Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok and Twitter. She said she spends around 4 hours a day on social media, but “I feel like social media, such as Instagram, have become a very negative space.” However she does say that social media can also be a positive space because she is able to talk to family and friends that don’t live near her. Social media is supposed to be a happy place, but can cause more harm than good. According to the article “Social Media and Mental Health” “...multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm and even suicidal thoughts.” Gracie Jones, a sophomore at BRHS has had social media since she was age 10 and has been posting on social media since she was 11. Gracie explained that “when I post certain things on social media, I worry that some of the people that I follow will judge what I am posting.” Gracie said that she has noticed that social media is becoming more of a negative space. “When I go on tiktok, I see super negative videos, which affects my mental health.” But she does explain that she feels like the influencers she follows on social media have made a positive impact on her mental health. Social media has had negative impacts on people's mental health and has made people feel bad about certain parts of their life. According to the article “Social Media and Mental Health '' it talks about some effects social media has on people's mind such as “ inadequacy about your life or appearance, fear of missing out (FOMO), social media addiction. Isolation, depression and anxiety, cyberbullying and self-absorption.” However some social media, such as the BRHS Red Pages and the BRHS Instagram, can be helpful and fun. But it is important to be careful when using social media. Article Written by: Zoey Carbine Officer Andrews (February 12, 2023) Photo by: Pedro Junyr Solis Students Unsure of Safety At BRHSAccording to the school crime and safety of 2021 there were 93 school shootings including casualties in the public and private schools of the U.S. With the shooting rate being so high, how safe do students feel at school? From a recent Instagram poll, the question was “How safe do you feel at Bear River High?” With 73 responses from parents and students,48% said that there is some improvement that needs to be made in our school safety, 20% said that we need desperate help and 15% of respondents voted that they do not feel safe at school. With that, only about 17% of respondents voted that they feel very safe and secure at BRHS. That indicates that 83% of students do not feel safe at school. In general, parents are voting that work needs to be updated in school security, they will not send their children for a whole 6 hours a day, 5 days a week to a place they feel as though it is a danger to them. Bear River has multiple levels of security. To start off our school does have bulletproof doors that are locked at all times. The District also has installed video cameras to monitor buildings, interior and exterior areas, including, but not limited to parking lots and such perimeters, which are intended to enhance the safety of students, staff and visitors by deterring disruptive, inappropriate, or illegal conduct. Additionally, Bear River has one campus supervisor on staff as well as a School Resource Officer, Officer Andrews, from the Sheriff’s Office to ensure a safe and secure environment. Officer Andrews surveys the school in between class hours, making sure students get to class on time and watching for weird behavior. She also teaches a class about law enforcement. BRHS does have secure security. However compared to other schools in Utah our school could be called weak. “ Layton High has metal detectors that each person must go through before entering their school,” says Hadley Carrigan, a sophomore here at Bear River. Carrigan stated that on a scale from one to ten she voted about five on how safe she feels at Bear River. Although nothing has specifically happened to her, she feels as though our school is fairly easy to access and if an intruder were to get into our school, we wouldn’t have a good chance to fight back. Another sophomore from Bear River, Delaney Mallory, described the security as “ More laid back, definitely easily accessible.” Mallory expressed that she would feel safer if she knew who and what were entering the school. “Someone, even a student, could walk in with a murder weapon and we would never know because we don’t check for those things!” Carrigan and Mallory are just a tiny fragment of how students feel at school. Many don’t feel safe at all. However, Bear River is working to make changes. Last week a teacher safety training was held to inform teachers about procedures and situations to make students feel secure and protected here at BRHS. This and multiple other future improvements allow students to feel more comfortable and safe while at school. Article Written by: Janessa Esquivel David Sayre a 16 year old Junior student here at Bear River High-School who has lived most of his life on different military bases, he has moved multiple time and lived in many states. David gave his comment on his experiences. Putting The Red In Red, White, and Blue The Military does many generous things for students varying from scholarships to covering tuition and setting students up for the bright future ahead. They have an influence on high-school students at Bear River. They even have connections all around the world and you would be surprised by how many students at Bear River have been affected by the military.
David Sayer who lived his entire life on base until the age of 16 stated “The military made me as a person and built who I am and if I was given a chance to change anything I experienced I would do it all over again.” Even after the many struggles David faced varying from depression, social anxiety, loss and grief, and the heart breaking feeling of making new friends and moving never to see them again, he holds to the belief that it was all worth it and he even has plans to join when he graduates high school. Porter Gull, a senior at Bear River High School experimented with his options for a future career and found his place in the National Guard and currently works with heavy artillery and plans to work with artillery for as long as he can. He has plans to continue his journey in the National Guard, working his way up the ranks while managing to turn his homework in on time. His recruiter Staff Sergeant Teven Reed says “Most kids who join after high school have had some experience and strive to continue to apply what they know with what they learn.” There have been many great influences on young adults and students at Bear River. Our school has great examples of students who have had a positive affect by the military. David Sayre, a junior at Bear River, found his passion and is working hard every day to establish a foothold in the future. Faith Thorstead, a sophomore at Bear River made many friends and positive influences that still have an impact on her today and she continues her path towards her dream of protecting her country. Porter Gull, a senior at Bear River experimented with his options for a future career and found his place in the national guard and currently works with heavy artillery and plans to work with artillery for as long as he can. The military continues to influence students at Bear River high school and maintain a bright future for us all. Each of these students have been positively impacted by the military and work hard at Bear River. David, Faith, and Porter are continuing to make their dreams come true and ensure each of their places in the military and we are honored to have them at Bear River. Article written by: Tanner Bluemel Photo by: Pedro Solis Our Special Needs Department handles emergency situations as professionals. In emergency situations, students can become anxious and not understand how to safely exit the building. For students with disabilities or special needs who tend to need extra help, emergency situations become even harder. Even some adults in Bear River High School have a hard time knowing what to do. When it comes down to helping a special needs or disabled student in a potential school emergency, things get a little more complicated. Lena Arias, Adam Williams, and Kati Rhodes who are all in the special needs department at Bear River High school share some extra things to keep in mind when dealing with special needs students in any emergency.
Mrs. Arias says during an emergency, when seeing someone with special needs becoming frustrated, confused, and/or hurt the correct way to assist them is to calmly and directly inform them about what is going to happen next. Let them know that it will be okay. Mr. Williams also states, special needs students often do not have a clear idea on the situations that are occuring around them. Keep in mind that in an emergency anybody will often get scared and flustered. Mrs. Rhodes discusses making sure not to scare them. They all state that being informed and patient with them in an emergency is best. If you find a disabled student in any emergency is struggling or in general looks as if they need help, you need to establish if they do need help. Zoey Carbine, a sophomore with a disability at Bear River High, stated, “It will look like I'm struggling but I'm not.” It is still crucial that you make sure any student you see is okay and aware of the situation at hand, says Zoey. If they are not in need of help, stay by their side ensuring that they are not left alone. This way you both can benefit from each other’s safety. In the article “School Safety Drills for Students with Special Needs” it declares, “After considering the needs of the school as a whole, special education teachers or experts should focus on individual students’ learning needs and how they can teach students to be safe during any school emergency.” All of the staff in the Special Needs Unit agreed that teaching the students how to deal with these types of situations could be beneficial. Learning to deal with situations such as those, can be scary and difficult to maintain. But as a community at Bear River High school, we can ensure that everyone in the building knows how to properly escort themselves and their peers out safely. Article written by : Stephanie Maldonado Photo Credit: Tessa Reisner Pictured: Officer Dean with Oskar Drugs within schools are becoming more common. Substances and drugs have become more accessible for teens especially with new types being created over the years. But that hasn’t stopped our school resource officers from protecting our schools from drug use among students. From investigating on social media, to K9 searches in our parking lots, our school is becoming a safer place from drug use.
The school’s resource officer, Skyler Gailey says the most common drugs used within school is marijuana and dab (THC). “It’s not very hard for students to get.” Gailey says. Distribution of drugs is also a problem within school, social media is the most common way students do it by posting and promoting drugs to be purchased. According to Gailey, consequences of drugs within school can be a Class A misdemeanor, or worse depending on the amount of substance, distribution, or if handled within the school. Most frequent environments students are found with drugs on school property are in cars, or even bathrooms. Officer Dean, another officer Bear River High knows for his K9 demos with Oskar, also has knowledge of drug use in schools. There are occasional searches through parking lots or lockers with K9. Dean also explained that there used to be backpack searches before covid. Dean had some advice for teens that may be considering drugs, “Don’t get involved with drugs in the first place, in most cases it starts out as trying it young to becoming addicted for a lifetime.” He also explained his thoughts on maurijauna being a “gateway” drug, “The mentality that gets someone to try maurjuana, can be the same attitude that gets them to try other drugs. Trying something like marjuana will eventually have you wanting to try something different.” Now drugs are more accessible than ever, especially for teens. Currently drugs are being marketed towards young consumers by advertising colorful packaging and selling enticing flavors. Teens need to be more aware of the consequences of these products that companies won’t tell. Educating teens and parents on the dangers of drugs can benefit knowing there is no right time or place to do drugs, even if it is easy to obtain. Dean says, “A lot of people that get into drugs young end up ruining relationships with their family and friends, drugs can completely destroy the rest of someone's life.” Gailey and Dean both encourage people to never try drugs in the first place. Because as Gailey mentioned before it’s a “gateway” drug, once you start using it will only lead you to more problems. Photo Credit: Kloee Stokes, Jace Vonk, Bailey Barker, Jackson Booth, Marrissa Macfarlane, Brinley Higgs, Jacob Price, Tessa Reisner, Aubree Anderson, Skyla Hodgson. Style is something that can express one’s feelings, personality, and creativity. So many things can influence one’s sense of style, their environment, their emotions, and even the people in their lives. There are many different types of style, being able to find your own individual style not only gives you confidence. It can even influence and inspire those around you. Being unique in your wardrobe choices can be impactful. Look at the way people dress, does the way they present themselves influence your view of them? Fashion isn’t necessarily just to “dress to impress” it can simply just be a way to be happy with the way you see yourself.
Observing the fashion trends of Bear River High, there are so many different styles and certain aesthetics that students hope to achieve. From different types of jeans, to the way individuals style their hair. Based on poll data, it shows that different types of shoes and pants are the most considered aspect when teens choose their attire for the day. Pant trends today vary from skinny jeans, straight leg style, bell bottoms, and other details that can be crucial to that specific style wanting to be achieved. Most students have opinions that shoes can be what makes the outfit perfect. Shoes such as Converse, Jordans, and boots have had a substantial impact on the world of fashion. Especially here at Bear River High, even the most intricate details can be what makes the outfit special to who is wearing it! Brooklyn Larsen, a student of Bear River says “Accessories are so important to an outfit. Anyone can wear a T-shirt and jeans, but it is what you wear with it that can elevate your look.” Hollis Barlow, another student of Bear River explains that style can benefit self-esteem. “Confidence can go a long way especially when you feel confident in the way you present yourself.” Brooklyn Larsen also adds to the “confidence is key” theory saying, “If you’re wearing clothes that don’t flatter you or that you don’t like, you're not going to like the way you look. It is important to wear clothes that make you feel confident!” Having positive associations with your personal style can benefit the way you view yourself and help you better interact with others. Fashion can be more than simply dressing up or down, it can be a gateway to express your character. Dressing for yourself not only inspires you, but those around you. Trends in fashion can be looked back on and admired for being something people found fun and expression in. So wear those funky jeans, wear those shoes you love but think make your feet look too big, wear that glamorous shirt in the back of your closet, because wearing what makes you feel good is worth so much more than you think. Written by: Bre'Kell Lyon This year's Dancing With the Stars dancers let their talent and energy show on stage on the 18th of March. Every year there is a different theme for Dancing With the Stars. Themes in the past were sports, Disney movies, representing clubs, and the 80's. With the theme being “Dancing through the Decades”, audience members got to go back in time to witness each decade starting with the 1920’s to the 2020’s. The couples randomly chose the decade in which they were dancing. Savana Marble and her partner, Landon Miller, help us see a little of the dancer's perspective. Savana said, “We picked the decades out of a bucket, but I was actually so excited that we got the 50’s because I recently did a play that took place in the 50’s, so I learned a lot of 50’s dancing.” All of the dancers did an amazing job at representing the decade they were assigned to starting with Nathaniel Freeze and Madison Bills taking third place with their fun and bright 90’s theme. Charly Campbell and Kalia Thompson coming in second by wowing the crowd with their synced moves and skilled scooter riding from the 2000’s. Last but not least, Olivia Chournous and Nic Summers came in first with the grooviest 70’s outfits and perfect dance moves. The Sophomore Student Council planned the Dancing With the Stars fundraiser which included coming up with a fun theme. Oliva Bailey the sophomore class president said “The sophomore class has been brainstorming the theme since early August and began putting together a google slide of the pros and cons of each idea. We then had a majority vote.” You don’t need dancing experience to sign up. Savana Marble, a participant said, “Neither of us have dancing experience….I’ve done a lot with my dad, and when I was little but not recently. Landon hasn’t ever danced like this.” Dancers don’t just come up with entertaining dances, but they also get sponsors to help with the fundraiser. Marble and Miller got multiple sponsors such as Tanglewood, Chanshare, Tsunami Snow, That Guy’s, and Little Miss Sew and Sew. Dancing With the Stars is a fun opportunity for Bear River High School students to showcase their skills at dancing and have fun. Marble said, “It's mostly just super fun, but a little stressful trying to get it all together.” Dancing with the Bear River Stars is a tradition that has been going on since 2008. It was originally started by a previous drama teacher, Brad Skinner. Today it is used as a fundraiser. It first started as a program that was just something fun to do. Through the years this fundraiser has brought in a lot of money, averaging around $2000 - $3000. The funding primarily goes to Junior Prom, but also other dances and events. An average of 100 - 150 people show up each year to watch the popular event. An average of 10 - 12 couples sign up each year. This year fewer people attended due to the overlapping of spring sport events. Nethertheless, it was just as entertaining and lively as the past Dancing With the Stars events. The Dancers: 20s - Dillion Stewart and Haylee Farnsworth 30s - Caleb Barfuss and Kayla Halat 40s - Briley Winkler and Garret Griffin 50s - Savana Marble and Landon Miller 60s - Gavyn Haws and Kyla Eliason 70s - Olivia Chournos and Nic Summers 80s - Tasian Garza and Abbi Young 90s - Nathaniel Freeze and Madison Bills 2000s - Charly Campbell and Kalia Thompson 2020s - Daxton Sorensen and Kaylee Aslett photo credit: Harley Bennett
Photo Credit: Melissa Ingram
Bear River’s FFA chapter has helped students become the best version of themselves. Each student has a different experience with FFA. Many students have told about their experiences in FFA. Layla Nessen, a sophomore, explains how the different competitions for Ag have helped her boost self confidence and open up. She has competed many times. Each time made her nervous but she slowly calmed down as she realized how much she loved competing. She also said she loved the traveling that came along with it all because it opened opportunities to meet people outside of the BR FFA chapter. Beau Murray also shared some of his experiences: “Trying different competitions has become one of my favorite things in FFA.” One of the most inspiring teachers for agriculture to students at BRHS is Mrs. Melissa Ingram. Mrs. Ingram, explains how she missed FFA when she graduated. When she went to college she wanted to be an animal scientist. As she started to head down that path, she realized how important FFA was to her. It had become a large part of her life. Because of this, she decided to be an Ag teacher. Mrs. Ingram said “the small details are what is most important. The ability to watch and help students find a passion for agriculture is what makes the job amazing.” Her other favorite part of Ag teaching is working with others who taught her when she was in high school. TJ Rhodes and West Burrell were both instrumental to her learning to love Ag Science. She has loved working with them through challenges and Ag activities. The past two weeks have been very busy for the Ag department. The week of Valentine’s was the Bear River Chapter FFA week. The week is filled with lots of exciting activities. One of the days there is a truck contest. There were different categories for the contest. Mr. Wiley was the judge of it all. Two of the awards were best farm truck and best old truck. One of the most important activities is Chapter Sweetheart. FFA advisors are very excited to have brought this competition back. There were many more contestants than expected. There were a total of 14 competitors. Two of the categories the contestants had to participate in was hay stacking and milking a cow. The winner was Saige Murray. On Thursday, February 24, 2022, Northern Utah Invitationals took place for another part of national FFA week. Schools from Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah attended. It was held in the Ag building and at the Box Elder Fairgrounds. There were many different competitions. A few of them were Ag mechanics, prepared public speaking, poultry judging, livestock judging, and Ag sales. Students from Bear River placed in individual and team competitions. The Ag sales team took first place for invationals. This team has won first place many years in a row. The team has continuously won even with different members throughout the years. The team is led by Mrs. Ingram. The members of the team this year are Katie Hewlett, Sydney Wilkensen, Jerry Anderson, and Wyatt Zollengier. For national FFA week Bear River was part of the STEM fair that included Alice C. Harris Intermediate and Bear River Middle School. The outcome of the STEM fair was better than planned. The FFA booth had many students learning new things and asking lots of questions. The booth made them become interested in joining FFA when they become freshmen. Many students were excited to see the activities about agriculture The Agricultural department at Bear River High has been around for almost a century. The Bear River FFA chapter started in 1929, but they had an agriculture club beforehand. The club helped change so many students' lives, creating many opportunities and chances for them. Most students find something they are interested in and thrive. There is also a summer Ag program. The summer program helps new students get a chance to look into the Agriculture department. The benefits of this program are getting to meet new people, learn new things, get new agricultural experiences, and work on any projects related to Ag. The most common summer project is livestock. Summer livestock is usually shown in the fair. Agriculture is always expanding around us. The more youth that can find ways into agriculture, the more opportunities there will be. Agriculture is bigger in society than most people think. Joining FFA is a great way to learn things that you may not have known before. Mrs. Ingram, Mr. Burrell, Mr. Shaffer, and Mr. Rhodes are the FFA advisors here at Bear River High. If any students are interested in Agriculture, talk to one of them to know more. Written By: Alania Parker By: Tessa Reisner (In our last article, we talked about the effects of PTSD and how one may develop PTSD. As a reminder, this article contains sensitive content. A trigger warning is advised to those who are reading.) Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that affects millions of people in the world. To be diagnosed with anorexia, certain symptoms will manifest. These symptoms include a refusal to maintain healthy body weight, an irrational fear of weight gain, disturbance in body weight and shape, and amenorrhea (the loss of the menstrual cycle). In Bear River High School it is estimated that five to six percent of students suffer from some type of eating disorder. Ben Wiley, a counselor at Bear River, says that there is a recognized problem throughout the school. Wiley also said, “Everyone thinks that an eating disorder has to do completely, 100%, with body image. Often times it doesn’t.” He continued by explaining that it has a lot to do with having control over our own lives. Teenagers don’t have a lot of control over their lives. Parents pay the bills, work, and even control where teenagers go. An eating disorder could be seen as a way to control some part of an uncontrollable life. The impact which anorexia has on a person is huge. But it may also affect those around them. Clinical depression is often found side by side with an eating disorder, which can cause rapid mood swings, shyness, and even social withdrawal. Symptoms to look for include: the thinning of bones, brittle hair and nails, jaundice (yellow-pigmented skin), mild anemia, and a drop in internal temperature, to list a few. Along with anorexia, which is a mental disorder, is bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder that affects the chemical balance inside one's brain. Mental Health UK lists the types of bipolar as Bipolar type one, Bipolar type two, Cyclothmania, Mixed bipolar state, and Rapid cycling bipolar. All of these have different criteria in order to be diagnosed. Bipolar takes its toll on an estimated 2.3 million Americans, many of which go unmedicated and undiagnosed. Wiley also mentions that it is crucial for students who think they may be suffering from Bipolar to talk with their parents or guardians. Mental health is a huge issue all over the world, and it’s very important for everyone to receive the help they need. Wiley said, “[Bipolar is] like a rollercoaster…Constant ups and downs.” These “ups” can be a spurt of happiness or even an episode of mania. Mania is an elevated state of mood in which one has rapid thoughts, hyperactivity without sleep, overflowing self-esteem, and even the loss of touch with reality. Many diagnosed individuals describe a manic episode as a feeling of invincibility. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder may include: heavy mood swings, delusion, lack of thoughts or excessive thoughts, and impulsivity, to list a couple. Getting help is always the number one priority with any mental illness. Many of us are feeling unbalanced and unsure. If you or a loved one needs help, please reach out to those around you. Resources: Safe UT- Call 833-372-3388 or download the SafeUt App School Counselors emails- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Bear River Mental Health Crisis Hotline- Call 435-452-8612 Photo courtesy from: Bear River Health Department
Photo Credit: Alaina Parker
Written By: Alaina Parker With a lot of changes and additions to Bear River High School parking lots over the last summer, the high school created a new system for the three parking lots here. The three parking lots were sorted into numbers, and designated as paid parking. If students want a spot, they pay $5 or $10 per trimester for a reserved space. Parking spots are then assigned on a first paid/first served basis. With this year's new parking system, we have seen improvement, less garbage, and fewer accidents. When allowing students to park where they liked, things became chaotic. If a student were to hit someone else, it would become hard to know the full story of what had happened. Along with this, many students would throw their garbage onto the ground that came from their car. Mr. Clay Chournos, a vice principal at Bear River High School, explained some of the details in the new system. Because assigned parking stalls are first come first serve, the sooner you get a spot the shorter the wait is. If you are placed onto a waiting list, it'll most likely be a while until you get a stall. With this, you'll have to park in the free parking spots, which are mostly located on the road north of the high school. The administration is always looking for suggestions to improve this system, because it comes with its own flaws. One of the major flaws is there are often times when people park in someone else’s. When this happens it causes a domino effect. If someone parks in another parking stall multiple times they will get a ticket. The first warning is a verbal warning, then three citations, and then a ticket. Some advice: If someone parks in your spot, don’t go into another stall. Instead, park legally on the street, then get the license plate number so you can talk to the administration to have them take care of it. In order to keep your paid parking spot, you must attend classes. Not attending classes can cause your parking spot to be revoked. If your parking spot is revoked, you must appeal to the administration to have a chance for a parking stall in the future. This new system has created many great opportunities for the school. The money they have gotten from parking stalls has gone to their Positive Behavioral System or PBS for short. In previous years, the lots were often trashed and there were lots of accidents. The administration has created new ideas for the parking lots. They would like to place the money from parking fees into light fixtures and trash bins for the lots. Lights would be a lot more useful when school starts in the winter months and it is still dark out. The light fixtures can help drivers see in the dark for those who struggle to see. If there were to be an accident, the lights would help illuminate the lot and show what happened. The garbage bins we currently have are small and have gotten quite old. Bigger and newer trash bins would be much more useful in our parking lots. They would be in better condition, do better in harsh weather, and hold more garbage. This new system has created many positive outcomes for our school. It has also helped us make it a more positive environment for all. However, the administration believes there are still flaws. They are more than willing to listen to any suggestions for next year's parking stalls. If you would like to give them feedback about the stalls, talk to Jenny Wood in the office. She is more than happy to set an appointment with Mr. Chournos for you. By Elli Hepworth Crazy fact, sweatshirts and Valentine’s day actually have something in common. Our next school dance and first dance of 2022 is The Sweatheart’s dance on February 12 at 8:00 at Bear River High School in the gym. That’s this Saturday! Don’t forget your student ID card, you also need your student ID card and ticket for entry.This dance is a girl's choice dance instead of the typical dance where the boy asks.
Toss out your ties and dresses and trade them for matching sweatshirts for you and your date to wear. All Bear River High School students grades 10-12 are able to attend. You can ask a student from a different high school to go as well, but you will need a guest pass. Go to www.brhs.besd.net and get a guest pass there. School dances take lots of time to plan and set up. It’s a huge commitment for the students who are in charge of the school dances. Our student council first vices are in charge of planning all of the school dances throughout the school year. Jacey Larkin is in first vice and she is in charge this year. Sydney Ostermiller explains dances can be pretty expensive; the cost varies depending on the type of dance. Prom being one of the biggest dances of the year it’s also one of the most expensive. Sweetheart’s is one of the most affordable dances we have. The music for this Valentine’s dance depends on what the DJ decides. But there is a pretty good chance of a few slow dances for all the cute couples and friends out there. Cross your fingers! Hopefully, the DJ will play “Boot Scootin Boogie” to get everyone grooving and moving. This dance is destined to be a great one, thanks to our awesome student council members and administration. Hope everyone and their sweatshirts can make it! And let’s make this year’s Valentine’s dance memorable! By: Peter Ingleby Graduation is coming up on Thursday, June 3 and seniors have to decide if they will walk during the ceremony or not. Some people have the answer of “Yes. I'm going to walk because that is what everyone else does.” Other people say, “No. I'm not going to walk because there is no point.” Students have to buy or rent a cap and gown if they are going to walk and some just don’t see the expense worthwhile.
Some students simply don’t care to walk. Taten Gage, a graduate who is choosing not to walk, said, “Walking is nothing crazy in my opinion. It is ‘Congratulations! You did what all other Americans do and did school.’” Some who are not walking choose this because they have alternative plans such as a family party. Some who would have otherwise walked are choosing not to this year because things are different than the usual ceremony. Even though many COVID restrictions have eased, graduation is still being affected. Seniors have to schedule a time to walk across the stage and not everyone will be gathered at the same time to see students receive their diplomas. Gage considered walking, but isn’t a fan of how they are doing things. Aburee Rowley, on the other hand, is excited to participate in walking at graduation. She is very involved and enjoys attending dance and parties and also plans to do the motorcade. Rowley stated, “My brother walked and now I want to walk to see how it feels...Walking is going to be a nice douse of closure like an end to high school.” Whether seniors choose to walk at graduation or not is a personal decision, but either way, we congratulate all of the 2021 graduating seniors. By: Peter Ingleby It's the end of year so the tests are rolling in. Juniors had the ACT the beginning of March, sophomores had the ASPIRE Test the end of April, and now AP (advanced placement) students have their AP exams. Bear River offers three AP programs and each recently had their exam: AP Calculus Tuesday, May 4; AP Literature & Composition Wednesday, May 5; and AP U.S. History Thursday, May 6.
The AP Calculus course, taught by Mrs. Hawkes, is usually taken by seniors. The test is three hours long and very grueling. Aurelia Castillo, an AP Calculus student, said of the exam, “I think the test was more mentally taxing than hard. It was difficult to recall all that I had learned.” Castillo felt she had learned all she needed, but struggled to recall everything. Another difficult part of the test is that some sections do not allow the use of a calculator and students must really know their math. AP Literature, taught by Mrs. Stapley, is typically taken by juniors and replaces eleventh grade language arts. The exam has two sections: multiple choice questions regarding passages and poems and an essay section. Students write three essays: one on a poem, one on a prose passage, and then one on an entire novel or play. Charlie Campbell, an AP Lit student, said “the essay portion is what I was most worried about because of the prose section.” Passages can be difficult to read and understand and then you have to come up with a way to answer the prompt. AP U.S. History, taught by Coach Rasmussen, is also typically taken by juniors in place of their eleventh grade history. Campbell also took the AP U.S. History exam and stated, “I was less nervous about the AP History test than I was about the AP Literature test, but I was still nervous.” AP U.S. History contains multiple choice questions as well as essays called DBQs or document based questions. AP courses and exams are all very difficult and students work really hard to pass with the hope of gaining college credit. Colleges throughout the country award students varying amounts of college credit depending on scores. Some may be put off by the challenge, but many students enjoy courses that are more rigorous and are grateful for the opportunity to prepare for college By: Oaklee Crowell One whole week of activities to help bond and prevent suicide were held at Bear River on May 3rd-7th. This was all possible with the help of the Hope Squad and Bear River’s student council. There were activities throughout the week at lunch and before school, with an assembly on Friday, with a guest speaker, BRHS’ favorite substitute teacher, Mrs. Cindy Parry.
Hope Week included many activities to help prevent suicide and show the students at Bear River that they’re not alone. Each day had a different activity before and after school to spread awareness. Every morning throughout the week, students could grab a sticky note that contained an encouraging message from the student council. During lunch on Monday, May 3, there was the opportunity to write a letter to a fellow classmate. On Tuesday, the student council provided a coloring station at lunch. Wednesday, there was four-square during lunch and “ashtray day” after school to collect money that was then donated to Bear River Mental Health. Thursday, everyone was encouraged to wear red and the student council played music that could be altered by the student body. And finally, on Friday, students were encouraged to wear white and come get chocolate milk and donuts in the commons before school. This was all followed by the assembly Friday morning. Phillip Gallegos, a member of the Hope Squad, said his favorite part of being a part of the group “is spreading positivity to the school and making another person's day.” The Hope Squad has around 12-24 members in it who are nominated to join the squad and Mr. Ben Wiley, one of school counselors, serves as the advisor. When planning everything for Hope Week, Gallegos said, “the purpose of Hope Week is to recognize and address suicide. Getting the word out to the school or local community, ensuring that everyone knows that they are not alone, and help is always offered.” The Hope Week assembly was held the morning of May 7 (after second hour). Student council and the Hope Squad worked together to run the assembly. Mrs. Parry, the guest speaker, shared her personal connection to suicide. Her nephew died by suicide on her birthday and wanted to share this in hopes of letting people know it’s okay to reach out, and that people are here for you. The student council then took over and played games with the audience: beach ball race, dodgeball, and musical chairs, while also throwing some giveaways in there too. The theme for Hope Week was “Be Someone’s Reason To Stay” which was advertised with colored bracelets. The Hope Squad and student council did an amazing job of planning everything. They want students to know that they’re not alone and can always get help from one of the many sources Bear River High School has to offer. By: Oaklee Crowell As you know, we recently had elections for the higher student council positions. We did this by having an assembly where each person showed videos for what position they were running for and what they were striving to do for the next school year. Everyone throughout the school then voted after the assembly in third hour. By the end of the day, we had winners for each position: Ambassador: Nic Summers, Secretary: Shannon Eppling, 2nd Vice: Erica Payne, 1st Vice: Olivia Chournos, and SBO President: Dillon Stewart.
Stewart has had the goal of being the SBO President since 8th grade. He says every year of being in student council, especially in high school, has been a lot of fun and says his favorite part is the “family unit” and feels he can really be himself around everyone in student council. For Stewart, running for the position might have been the most thrilling part of it all. For a couple weeks before the assembly, everyone who was running for a position got to make and hang up to five different posters around the school to help advertise themselves. Some of the stipulations were filling out a contract, making posters, and of course the video for the assembly. The contestants were asked to create a 2-4 minute video making everyone laugh and explain what they have in store for the upcoming school year. Stewart says the funnest part of running for this position was “making the video and having everyone watch it at the assembly.” He also said he was most nervous about running against Haylee Farnsworth and Franklin Reese because they’re “really fun people!” Stewart is ready to take on the responsibility of being in charge of the student council, representing Bear River High, organizing the assemblies, and putting everything in order to make it a fun school year for everyone. Stewart says going into the school year he is most excited for working with the members of the student council, those who attend Bear River, and of course Kassidy Lake, the student council advisor. Finally, Stewart is planning to help the school by having more activities where kids can get involved and always feel like they have someone to lean on. The school will be his main focus and he will plan more activities and make mental health more of a priority. For the seniors specifically, Stewart is planning to make graduation a night to remember by hosting it on the football field and having everything that comes with it take place on our football field. In order to have a great next school year, Stewart needs the student body to be involved and have help from his fellow student council members: “Without them nothing would work,” says Stewart. With Stewart taking on this new role in the upcoming school year, we can expect to see great things and look forward to another great year at Bear River High School! By: Nathaniel Sidwell Cases are on the rise again due to positive tests from senior ball and lacrosse. We went some time with no cases, but we currently have two, which is a lot for our small population. The only other time we’ve had an issue was during wrestling season when 19 wrestlers tested positive. The wrestling season almost got cancelled and school was almost shut down.
So far, with quarantining and masks, we’ve been able to avoid being shut down, but now we also have vaccinations available to students. Many students have taken advantage of this opportunity. Wyatt Lambert, a sophomore, got his vaccination and said of his experience, “[My arm] was sore the next day, but it was fine the first day.” While the exact number of vaccinated students is unknown, it seems there are many who have gotten it which is a good sign. Despite vaccinations among teachers and many students, we need to continue to wear masks to avoid the spread of COVID. Mr. Gilmore, Bear River High School Principal, encourages students to wear their masks and said, “Thank you for battling this school year and having to battle the masks.” It's important to wear them correctly, because then there is a less chance of getting and spreading the disease. We are all required to wear them, principals, teachers, and students. Principals and teachers also have the obligation to enforce the mask policy. We have been fortunate to stay open this whole year and to have quite a few activities. Our efforts have paid off and we need to continue testing, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated to keep fighting to stay open. This year we have made it through and let’s hope that it is gone when school starts again next year. By: Peter Ingleby Sophomore appreciation day was yesterday, April 27. This day is when Sophomores take the Aspire test and juniors and seniors, who are very appreciative, get out of going to their regular classes. The Aspire test tests English, math, reading, science and writing and is the end-of-level test for 10th grade. This test is also intended to prepare students for the ACT test which they will take as juniors.
Regarding the test, Garret Griffin, a sophomore at Bear River, said “I really don't want to take the test, not because I’m scared, just because I don't want to test for that long.” The four sections range from 45 to 75 minutes in length, so the test pretty much takes the whole school day. Griffin said he was the least nervous about the science test: “Science has always been easy for me and I have always gotten good grades in my science classes” Another sophomore, Hayden Swain-Schmit, said that he was excited to take the test because “It is a new way to try and figure out how well I have learned throughout this year and to see if I have improved.” The Aspire test is scored based on the percentile so you can see how well you did compared to the rest of the students who took the test. Swain-Schmit said, “I think that I will do the best on the math portion because math is just small problems for me to solve.” End-of-level tests are used to help show the school district how well the students have learned; it also shows how well the teachers taught the students. The end of year testing normally starts in third grade with the Sage test and ends in eleventh grade with the ACT. Seniors do not have to take any end of year test. Last year, during quarantine, the sophomores at the time never had to take any end-of-level testing, but with students back in school face-to-face for most of the year, testing has resumed. By: Peter Ingleby The Great Utah Shakeout, a state-wide earthquake drill, is happening on Thursday, April 15 at 10:15 a.m.. Earthquakes are scary natural disasters that can happen at any time most anywhere. As much of Utah follows the Wasatch Fault, we too are at some risk. Along with the rest of the state, Bear River High School will participate in the shakeout.
EMS personnel are among those who have to respond after an earthquake. Jim Hess, who works for the Garland fire department and at ATK as a firefighter said that it is a scary thing to respond to an earthquake because “You don't know what you are going to be walking into.” Many envision earthquakes throwing objects off of walls and across rooms, but what many don’t expect is that “fires can be started from earthquakes from just loose objects and propane and other flammable materials” says Hess. When you get a fire from an earthquake, then you have two natural disasters to deal with and that much more danger. The Great Shakeout originally started in California to spread awareness of widespread earthquakes. Earthquakes are measured using a seismograph that measures seismic waves and rated on a 1-10 scale of magnitude. A category one earthquake, while detected by a seismograph, isn't felt by many people. These small earthquakes happen all the time without much notice. A category ten earthquake, on the other hand, is very severe; wooden structures are destroyed and even train rails could be bent. The most recent and major earthquake to hit Utah was a magnitude 5.7 on March 18, 2020. Many may remember this as it was easily felt and caused minor damage and power outages throughout the state. When the Great Shakeout begins, typically an announcement is made over the intercom. Students and teachers then participate in an earthquake drill where they get under desks or tables to protect the head, neck and spine. After the “shaking” stops, you are directed to leave the building and be prepared for an aftershock. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that come after an earthquake. It is good to be aware of earthquakes and what can happen in one so that you can be prepared. If a real earthquake happens, the hope is that the practice will kick in so you won’t be overcome by fear and can stay safe. By: Nathaniel Sidwell Photo Credit: Bear River Theater Department Every year, Bear River High School does their own version of Dancing with the Stars calling it “Dancing with the BR Stars.” Not only is this production a great show, but it also serves as a sophomore student council fundraiser. Brennan Theurer, the sophomore student council president announcer for the event, said before the event, “Dancing with the Stars is a traditional fundraiser here at Bear River, and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”
In this year’s event, ten couples danced. The dancers are listed below the article for your reference. Just like on the TV show, the dancers make up their own dance and are judged by a panel of judges. This year’s judges were Shamra Nielsen, Todd MIller, and Kadie Summers. As with many other events this school year, student council had to work closely with the administration and get it approved by the district. Masks and social distancing were required. After a fun night of dancing, the results were as follows: First Place Ashton Harrow and Olivia Chournos; Second Place Kinley Richards and Cael Wilcox; 3rd Place Kourtlan Rasmussen and Haylee Diamond. The sophomore student council worked very hard and were pleased with the outcome of this year’s Dancing with the BR Stars. 2021 Dancing Couples Paige P. & Tanner C. Joey G. & Elise R. Tanya B. & Preston H. Zoey S. & Kaeson B. Haylee D. & Kourtlan R. Kollin W. & Sami P. Kylee S. & Franklin R. Cael W. & Kinley R. Ashton H. & Olivia C. Anaiah F. & Easton L. By: Peter Ingleby Bear River High School’s concerts are back! Despite all the past cancellations due to COVID, concerts are back for the band, choir, and orchestra. The administration has given approval for performances to resume in May with some COVID restrictions in place. Performers will have to wear masks when they are not actively singing or playing their instruments. The number of audience members is also limited and performing students will have two tickets for their parents/guardians. Choir will have their concert on May 18, the band and jazz band both have concerts on May 19, and the orchestra has a concert on May 20.
When Landon Miller, a member of the choir and Madrigals, heard concerts were coming back, he said, “I felt elated that we finally get a chance to perform again.” As a part of the Madrigals, Miller sings first tenor and said, “I enjoy singing so it's nice to be able to have a place to do it and girls like a man who can sing.” Even with all the restrictions, Miller doesn't think the concert will feel very different because they can still take their masks off to perform. In addition to their concert on the 19th, the band and jazz band will also be on national television when they go to the Golden Spike Anniversary. Elizabeth Jensen, a trumpet player in jazz band and concert band, said, “I was glad to hear that the concerts are coming back so that we can finally do something.” Jensen enjoys band and performing because “it helps give [her] stress relief and it is just fun all around.” The orchestra has their pop concert May 20 at Box Elder High and will perform with the Box Elder orchestra. Taten Gage, who plays bass in orchestra, is also excited to have concerts again. He’s especially excited for this concert because the “pop concert was the concert we were not allowed to perform last year because of COVID.” Gage enjoys playing bass and said,“I really enjoy playing my instrument and performing for my little siblings.” At first, when COVID hit, everything was cancelled. Little by little things are coming back. Now that the concerts are back, there’s hope for other activities as well. People from the choir, band, and orchestra are so excited to have their concerts back. Students have put in a lot of practice in the last year so it can be assumed these performances will be the best they have ever been. Go watch and listen to your fellow students doing what they love. |