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Upcoming Events
December 19
District Orchestra Concert 6-7 pm

December 2012

December 19
District Music Christmas Concert 7-8 PM

December 21January 1
Winter Break

on the Inside

Kershaw Intermediate AfterSchool Program Students gather for veterans Day Assembly JV Lady Diggers Lose a Close Game in Overtime to Cardinals

Students celebrate Red Ribbon Week with fun and Games

BY Molly Smock
tudents gathered in the Kershaw Intermediate School gym on Monday, Nov. 12, for an assembly to celebrate Red Ribbon Week for the Sugar-Salem School District. The events of the week focused on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and violence. Typically, Red Ribbon Week is celebrated Nov. 5-9, but the school had to have the assembly on Nov. 12 due to a scheduling conflict. Many students wore red shirts, while others were handed red streamers and crate paper to use as flags. Classes had prepared different chants about being drug free. Each class stood up, and the teachers went around and directed chants they had learned in class. They had a contest to see who could cheer the loudest. Some of the chants included, Drug Free is the Way to Be and 100 percent Me, Drug Free. The school took popular songs like Call Me Maybe and replaced the lyrics with words about being drug free. To get the students pumped up, the school organized Minute To Win It games. In one of the games, the students attached a tissue box filled with golf balls to their hip with a string. The students chosen to participate had to be the first to rid their box of the golf balls in order to win. In another game, they had cups that needed to be stacked as fast as they could into a pyramid.

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In the last game, the students had different colored balloons, and had to try to keep the balloon in the air as long as they could by hitting it. There were four players on each team and the teams were responsible for five balloons. The students had to work together to keep all of the balloons from hitting the ground. Sometimes, the kids would lose track of the balloons. There was a moral to this game. The idea behind the game was that if you dont keep track of others, they might get lost in addictions. If we all put in a little extra effort, we can help everyone stay drug-free. The school also conducted a competition for the students to design a new logo for the school. On Election Day, students voted for their favorite design, and the top picks were announced during the

December 2012

assembly. The winning and runner-up students received t-shirts with their designed logos on the front. At the end of the assembly, the school announced the winners of the schools logo competition. It was a lot of fun. It was a really great time, said Lisa Jenson, PTO President. When we tied it into being drug free, I thought the kids really responded well. Students left the assembly feeling renewed and more aware of the dangers of that drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence present in the world. Hopefully, these students will remember their chants and remain drug free.

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December 2012

Kershaw Intermediate After-School Program

BY Elizabeth Dodds and Ryan Cummins

n Tuesday, Nov. 6, students in the after-school science group at Kershaw Intermediate School experimented with balloons. Karl Gehmlich, the program director, demonstrated how pressure works by placing one balloon over a small candle flame. The students anxiously watched until suddenly, it popped. Gehmlich put water in another balloon and asked the kids what they thought would happen. The kids shouted out, Itll pop! and Itll shrink! Everyone was on the edge of their seats as Gehmlich cautiously placed the balloon over the flame, and nothing happened. He then explained to the kids how the water in the balloon absorbed most of the heat from the flame so it didnt burst. Gehmlich has been involved with the youth for many years. He coached basketball for two years, was a substitute teacher in the winter and served as a local scout leader. The after-school program began in Oct. 2012, with Gehmlich trying to help the students become academically, physically and socially well-rounded. With these three areas in mind, Gehmlich hopes to create a program where kids become more active and engaged with each other. They have the opportunity to receive help. Socially, the students have positive role models, such as staff, volunteers and students. And physically, as long as the weather is good outside, we let them play.

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The program goes from 2:50 to 5:15 Monday through Friday. It includes third through sixth graders at Kershaw intermediate and seventh through eighth graders at the Jr. High. This is not school, said, Gehmlich, meaning that this program is designed to be a new and exciting experience for the students. The program is funded through a federal grant and is open to all students within the age group. Schoolteachers are compensated for the extra time they put forth in the after-school program. They also employ students from BYU-Idaho and they accept volunteers. Its giving them a place they all want to be and it keeps them busy in a good way, said, Teresa Codling, a fourth grade teacher. The program offers free activities that families would usually have to pay for such as table tennis, football, soccer and Lego robotics. They also offer science, art and a book club. Teachers are involved in the after-school program, answering any questions the kids may have and supervising them as they complete their homework. Jarin Draney, a fourth grade teacher at Kershaw Intermediate, said that the kids can get more help with homework from this program. He said that the after-school program benefits all students, especially

December 2012

those without parents at home when school ends. After a half an hour of doing homework, the rest of the time is devoted to the various activities that students signed up for at registration. Students may choose from over 10 activities to participate in. The students rotate through three different stations during the remainder of the program. Gehmilch said, You choose to come here, you can choose what you do. When asked how he liked the program, William, a fifth grader said, It keeps me off the computer and gives me more time for homework. Gabe, a sixth grader shared, The program helps people that need exercise, otherwise most would go home and sit around. Gabe and William were found among many other students outside in a friendly competition of soccer. Other students were found in the art class. Kennedy, 10, said, I like to spend a little extra time with friends. Her friend, Lynsi, 9, agreed, I love how we have snacks afterwards. I like having fun.

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Students gather for veterans Day Assembly

December 2012

BY Kyle Rose
n Nov. 12 the Veterans Day Assembly at SugarSalem Jr. High commenced with the colors of the Idaho and U.S.A. flags being presented. Jaren Taylor, a seventh grader, was dressed in a tan scouting uniform along with four of his friends. Taylor shouted out commands, having the audience arise and bring attention to those carrying the flags. They skillfully and respectfully posted the colors while the school, with hands over their hearts, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Taylor has had the opportunity to present the colors on many other occasions. When asked what he has learned about Veterans Day, he responded, I learned that we should respect them and do more to thank them. Then, members of the Student Council, Claire Redd, Aubrie Lee, Kennedy Blaser, Hayley Stoddard and Samantha Weber, took turns sharing a brief history of how Veterans Day came about. Each one of them expressed that they are related to someone that served in the military or is currently doing so. Theyre very important to our country, Claire stated. Nathan Barber, the main speaker, is a teacher at Sugar Salem Jr. High and has been deployed several times to the Middle East for military service. To begin, he presented a question, What is a Veteran? After the students responded, Barber said, You dont have to shoot anyone or fight in a battle to be a veteran. He concluded by explaining that you only need to serve as a military personnel to be considered a veteran.

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During his service, Barber had been through experiences that he wished he hadnt but was grateful for the chance to share them. He has been in several battles and has seen things hard to describe. Mr. Barber shared that one of the most difficult things he had to do was report back to families that their loved ones had been killed. Barber explained some of the duties that come with being a veteran is to help support families. He invited the students to think of what they can do to help families that may be suffering with the loss of a loved one or is found alone because military service has called them away.

December 2012

The hardest part about being a veteran is being alone and having your loved ones alone, he concluded. Another duty given to veterans is the ability to stand up and say, No. Barber told the students that he has the right to say no whenever he sees something he disagrees with. So students, likewise, should say no if they see bullying going on. The insights that Barber shared, left the students at the assembly feeling inspired about the services of our nations military. Veterans teach us valuable principles such as sacrifice, supporting others in need and standing up for what we believe to be right.

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December 2012

JV Lady Diggers Lose a Close Game in Overtime to Cardinals

By Bobby Macey

ugar Salems Junior Varsity Lady Diggers basketball team looked to avenge a previous 12 point loss to the Cardinals from Soda Springs when they faced-off again on Nov. 14 at home. The Cardinals, however, stunned the Lady Diggers in a heart-breaking overtime loss. Sugar Salem got off to a quick start with Ambree Bean scoring twice to put them up 4-0 in the initial minutes of the game, but the Cardinals fought back scoring eight unanswered points to finish off the quarter.

The Lady Diggers had a lot of chances to score but struggled to put the ball in the basket. The first quarter came to an end with Sugar Salem missing a three-point shot at the buzzer. The second quarter fared much better for the Lady Diggers as Bean made several free-throws and Taylin Schmitt offered help off the bench, scoring five points of her own, including a three pointer halfway through the quarter. Sugar Salem scored a field goal in the final seconds of the half and out-scored Soda Springs

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12-8 in the period going into halftime; the teams were tied with 16 points each. Both teams came out in the second half ready to play hard. Neither team scored for the first several minutes because of tough defense on both ends. Girls from each team dove to the ground for loose balls, resulting in several jump-balls. The Lady Diggers finally relented and the Cardinals again took a big lead going on a 9-0 run. Not willing to give up, however, Sugar Salem again fought back in the final minutes of the period scoring five straight points of their own, before Soda Springs scored one more time in the last seconds of the third leaving the Lady Diggers down 27-21 going into the fourth. Sugar Salems girls pounced on the Cardinals to open the fourth, scoring four straight field goals to put the Lady Diggers on top for the first time since the first few minutes of the game. After both teams traded a couple of field goals, the Lady Diggers point guard, Mckell Hatch, scored a clutch three-point shot giving them a five-point lead with just 1:13 left to play, but shortly after had to leave the game with a shoulder injury. Just as it seemed Sugar Salem would pull off the win, the Cardinals scored two free-throws making

December 2012

it 34-31. In final desperation and as the home crowd held their breath, the Cardinals missed a three-point attempt with just five seconds left on the clock. The crowd, however, seemed to release their breath a moment too soon, as Callie Gronning from Soda Springs rebounded the ball, stepped back and released one more three-point shot before the buzzer. The ball swished through the net as the buzzer sounded, sending the two teams into overtime. The entire gymnasium seemed on edge as overtime began. Both teams scored lay-ups leaving it still at 36-36. Soda Springs then scored four more points while Sugar Salem could only manage to get one free-throw. With just 1.7 seconds remaining on the clock Sugar Salem was down and Hanna Larson desperately launched a full-court shot that just missed as it hit off the front of the rim, sealing the loss 40-37. After the devastating loss, Sugar Salems coach, Steve Young, said, Its a tough loss. We felt we out-played them, we just let our guard down at the wrong times.