Eric Perez
Editor-in-Chief Parent teacher conference (PTC) is a chance for teachers, parents, and students to l get together and talk about what the teacher and student do in school. PTC took place on January 22nd, at Bonneville High School. There are not that many teachers at Bonneville High School (BHS), and a little over 1000 students. With all the work the teachers put in, the parent teacher conference gives parents an excellent chance to understand how their student is doing and how the teachers are instructing their child. An interview was conducted with Mr. Smock from the English department, who teaches junior and senior english. Smock was asked how PTC affects him. He responded by saying, “Parent teacher conferences give [him] a chance to actually put kids in a different perspective… It gives students a more [real life] perspective.” Meeting with parents and teachers helps students get a real world perspective and can help their education by seeing what goes on in the background. Smock believes PTC can help students by putting in an easy understanding perspective. Smock was asked what he does to prepare for parent teacher conferences. Towards the beginning of Smock's career he was doing “a lot more preparation.” In preparing for his PTC meetings,Smock would set up slideshows and get the curriculum laid out. However, since BHS’ PTCs are open-house style, Smock just “plays it by ear.” He focuses on “[what] the parent want[s] to talk about, and what the student wants to talk about.” Smock works relentlessly making vocabulary units and content lessons for students everyday in class. Having teachers and parents talk about what is discussed and expected in class helps parents understand what the student is learning. Smock's craziest experience during the parent teacher conference was at the beginning of his teaching career when a parent was wearing an inconvenient shirt. He explained to parents, “I firmly believe, respecting one another. It's easier to give respect and you'll get respect, and I'm not a fan of respect is earned aspect.” Unlucky for Mr. Smock, a parent in the audience that was wearing a shirt that showed, “Respect is earned not given, and he did not agree with my stance on that which created an awkward moment.” Mr. Smock and many other teachers learn a great deal from meeting parents. Knowing what students are learning in class, whether their behavior is excellent or not so excellent, can help parents better understand their child.
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Ash Merritt
Assistant Editor Bonneville High School (BHS) provides three different types of art classes for its students. BHS offers Art, Ceramics, and Photography classes, each having their own unique styles and techniques. Ceramics is taught by Mrs. Schrey, a teacher with a love for ceramics since being in college, Schrey chose to pursue it as a career here at BHS. The ceramics classes she provides include: Ceramics I, Ceramics II, and Ceramics III [fill with proper name of class]. The Ceramics classes advance in order and are level based. Ceramics I is all about the beginning of attaining this art style, learning about basic building techniques, and how to not explode the clay in the kiln. Ceramics II teaches advanced building techniques and surface finishes: underglaze, oil paint, and acrylics. While Ceramics III gives a bit more freedom and lets the students use the skills they learned in their previous classes to create masterpieces of their own. The tools for ceramics are mostly the same for each class. Each student receives an assigned tool bag. Ceramics have classroom tools for students to use instead of their own. Traditional wooden tools and loop tools are the norm; however, sometimes students must be creative and use a piece of a comb for scoring the clay. Loop tools are used for taking controlled amounts of clay out of the ceramic piece. Some of the many uses of traditional wooden tools: which are used for cutting, slicing, smoothing, contouring, and pattern decorating. Mrs. Schrey expresses that she can tell when a student is struggling with their project by looking at their work, time management and craftsmanship to show if they need help or not. She walks around the room to correct anyone who is not understanding or getting their work done in a timely manner. The rules Mrs. Schrey gives her classes are, be responsible for yourself, be respectful to others, and never run with scissors. Taking a Ceramics class is a learning experience and can be a creative outlet. For many students taking a lump of clay and making it into something they enjoy or can use is rewarding. Savana Carter
Staff Writer Welcome to the spotlight: Bonneville's drama. Bonneville High School has a drama and technical theatre department that creates enjoyment for the student, faculty, alumni, and community. The entertainment takes place once at the end of every trimester. The first and second trimester contain a showcase performance, such as the Musical Showcase or fall play, while the third trimester comes to an end with the spring musical. The Drama Department is filled with over a dozen interactive assignments such as singing in musicals, acting out plays, building sets, and many additional projects. While participating in a variety of activities, students learn to express themselves through their roles and performances. As the drama students work on acting, the technical theatre students learn how to use power tools, operate lighting, and much more. Mr. Nichols, the drama and technical theatre teacher, emphasized “the students grasp concepts and skill sets. . . It builds confidence and communication skills, and [it] leaves [them]capable of doing so much more in the real world.” Being in either theatre department will benefit communication skills and expand the knowledge to build and act for the students. When Nichols was asked about the most challenging aspect of the classes and production,he states, “Meeting deadlines. It's important for everyone involved in both the class[es].” Everyone is needed to participate in the activities and help others in the classes. Since everyone has a hand in the process, class is often “[chaotic]. Actors learn how to create performances by first investigating scripts and materials.” There are many tasks in both classes happening all at once; however, the students always seem to have everything completed by the time production comes into play. Being in the theatre classes is not just memorizing scripts, singing, and dancing. Attending drama and theatre teaches academic skills, communication skills, and confidence for everyday life. The student in technical theatre will learn extra knowledge of how to use power tools, basic construction skills, operating lighting and sound. Emory Anderson
Staff Writer Music is said to bless lives; no one knows that better than Bonneville's choir department. Joining any one of the choirs at Bonneville High School (BHS) is a way to meet new people and learn a new musical skill. When auditioning to be in Bel Cantos or Bonnevaires, a song chosen by Dresen must be fully memorized and theorized. Bel Cantos is an advanced women's choir that consists of one ranging from sophomores to seniors and is a step below Bonnavaires. Bonnevaires is the advanced mixed choir that generally consists of juniors and seniors but can have a couple of sophomores. One of the returning Bel Cantos is Aubrey Barnard, a junior this year. Barnard has been extremely active in singing since she was three. She “memorized the entire part of your world song from the little mermaid and [she] would sing it all the time.” This is just one example of how her parents realized that she enjoyed singing. Barnard's parents later put her into her first choir group at the age eight. Now that she is in high school, she is able to perform more for her family. With all the years that Barnard has been singing, she can see herself continuing on that path once she graduates. Not only does Barnard participate in choir, she is also passionate about drama. Barnard looks forward to performing in this year's melodrama which will take place in the spring. She now has the opportunity to travel on tour and perform for a variety of different crowds. Last year for the tour, the choirs went to Arizona. While in Arizona, the choirs stopped at Arizona State University and performed on campus, where their choir director conducted them in a few of the choir songs. In addition to all the performers in the BHS choirs, there is a dedicated director named Steve Dresen. Dresen first started teaching at South Fremont Junior High and High School. He taught choir and general music for grades 7-12. When deciding what to do for his career, choir was not Dresen's first choice. His original plan was to become a pediatric surgeon; however, “it was later, after a series of events that [he] came to pursue [his] passion for teaching the choral art.” With that decision, he has now been teaching at BHS for 25 years and 34 years overall. Joining the BHS choir is a way to meet new people, develop a new skill, and do things outside of school with the skills learned. And always keep in mind that “when words fail, music speaks,”(Hans Christian Andersen) sometimes the only way to get things across is with music. Eric Perez
Editor-in-Chief The practice test most high school students are stressed about, it is the test that could determine someone's future in school. The PSAT or the Practice Scholastic Assessment Test is a chance for Sophomores to prepare for next year's SAT. The SAT could determine what kind of college someone could attend. Due to the possibility of the SAT being important for one’s future, the practice can be very beneficial. It is an important test, therefore having a practice test can help students tremendously. BHS, Bonneville High School has an amazing program run by Bonneville’s counselors Mrs. Thompson and Ms. Hinson. The program is having a big change this year. Instead of being taken on paper, the PSAT and SAT will be taken online on computers. Students in this day and age are so used to using technology; therefore, the online test could be easier for students than writing the test on paper. An interview was conducted with Ms. Hinson, and she had some interesting things to say. She stated, “There's different features on the test that you can grant people options they would not normally attain on a paper test.” The change to an online test can benefit students who might not be as prepared as others. “...everyone can have a split screen, and there's a calculator already on the computer for anyone to use. There's different highlighting options and things similar, that are excellent tools.” Some students that come unprepared without the right tools now have the chance to use the best resources available to them. Bonnevilles college counselor Ms. Hales had some wise words to say about the PSAT. She was asked how the SAT scores differ from someone who takes PSAT and does not take the PSAT. Her response was, “We find that [the] students who take the PSAT and the NMSQT do significantly better on the SAT.” The PSAT is free for all sophomores. If it does not cost anything to gain an advantage, students should use their resources wisely and take advantage of their options. On Monday October 23rd, the Sophomores got the chance to take the PSAT. In April, the juniors will take the SAT. Juniors have a good time frame to study and prepare for the SAT. School testing can be very stressful for countless students. The chance to take the tests online is something new and exciting. The PSAT is a wonderful opportunity for students to obtain a head start on the SAT. Joanna Dickson
Staff Writer On October 19, 2023 at 7 p.m. in Bonneville High School's Little Theatre, the BHS orchestra performed their fall concert. The orchestra worked extremely hard to perfect their pieces for everyone's enjoyment. By endlessly rehearsing and planning, the BHS orchestra always finds many ways to make their concerts amazing after working on their music for weeks and months on end. Dr. Baldwin, the orchestra director at Bonneville and Rocky Mountain, was asked some questions. When asked why he decided to teach the orchestra, he said “I have developed quite a love for the orchestra. Imagine Star Wars without the orchestra music!” Being a huge fan of cinema and music, Baldwin finds inspiration from a variety of movies and soundtracks. Baldwin explained his music-choosing process, which includes meeting a set criterion. According to Baldwin, the music had to be "Halloween themed in some way, and [it] had to be fun." Some Halloween costumes include “Monster Mash,” “Stranger Things," “Ghost of John,” “Zombie Tango” and others following the Halloween criteria. After the concert, Baldwin's appreciation for music is at an all-time high. Baldwin believes music "offers a lot of feelings." Baldwin is driven by "developing those relationships and feelings when teaching his students to grow within music. When asked what words can be used to describe the music you played he said, “The music is spooky and fun. Everything from banging on kitchen utensils to TV show music. All of the students will be dressed up in costumes and the hall will be decorated as well.” The orchestra was dressed up in costumes for their fall performance. They had some Halloween decorations in the halls, and they were dressed in Halloween costumes including a pumpkin, chicken, secret agents, tiger, vampire, etc. The orchestra made the concert entertaining by dressing up and utilizing kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, cups, forks, etc. in their music. They made all the songs played entertaining for everyone in the crowd, including all the orchestra’s use of creativity in their music, working hard on every piece making it sound spectacular. Ash Merritt
Assistant Editor Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC) are a get together for parents and teachers to converse about their students. These conferences include teachers telling the parents how their child is doing and what they can improve on, and the teacher hearing about their students from a parent’s perspective. Parents can find the dates for the conferences via PowerSchool messages as well as on the Bonneville website, calendar, and social media. According to a few upper-level teachers, freshmen teachers have more to prepare for when parent-teacher conferences come around; however, for seniors the teachers have less to prepare. Mrs. Martindale claims that this year's conferences went well, but there is always room for improvement. The most frequent students to come to PTC are students that do well in their classes; however, the students who should come to these meetings are not seen. Having the conferences less important and more of a friendly talk among teachers and parents. “90% of the time the kids who need to be here are not,” exclaims Martindale. Having parent teacher conferences can be a pleasant experience; however, the chit chat and small get together is not always what the conference is for. Bonneville High School has staggered time with Rocky Mountain Middle School so that parents can attend both school meetings. Plus the schools alternate times so that teachers at the high school or middle school must stay late every time the conferences come around. Having PTC at a set time can mess with parents coming in and seeing the teachers; instead some teachers set meetings with parents at a different time and that just eliminates the point of having the set day for parent teacher conferences. Mr. Owens says, “With the availability of information from PowerSchool, School Status, and other platforms, I feel like parents and students should be informed of how kiddos are performing. Teachers and parents have myriad opportunities to communicate about student performance outside of an organized PTC. However, some parents still request the opportunity to visit on a formal PTC night.” In summary, the parent teacher conference nights are well planned for teachers; however, they are not the most effective for parents. These nights could be eliminated by having teachers and parents set up meetings on their own time and more virtual if possible. Cooper Ruesch
Staff Writer Since Bonneville High School opened its doors in 1951, many new employees have joined the staff. Each faculty member has impacted a variety of students who are on their own road to success. Although Bonneville High School has been fortunate to have decades upon decades of effective teachers, there will always be room for new teachers to join the team. Bradley “Brad” Hansen graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello, and he teaches 11th grade U.S. History and 12th grade Government. Before coming to Bonneville, Hansen taught 8th grade history for seven years at Rocky Mountain Middle School. Hansen was ready to move up in the teaching world; Hansen explained “moving across the field to the high school and seeing and teaching so many of my past students again.” Hansen obtained the idea from his previous students, who were seniors at the time, to move to the high school and teach there in order to see what school he preferred: Bonneville or Rocky. When asked what is the best part of working with the Bonneville High School community, his response was “[b]eing a part of the culture and environment of a high school.” Bonneville High School has been known to have enthusiastic sports teams, as well as clubs for everyone to enjoy. Hansen's inspiration for his work comes from “a belief [that the] youth are what push progress.” Hansen “want[s] to do [his] small part in helping the future be brighter by helping students reach their potential.” Having the belief that the upcoming generations are the world's future is a huge motivator for teachers. Many, like Hansen, find themselves helping students identify and unlock their true potential in life. Hansen spends his days teaching over in the trailers and wishes to see all of the other teachers and students. Hansen hardly knows much of the other faculty, however the students he knows quite well. One of the things that Hansen looks forward to is the conversations with his students mainly because “High school students understand the world more than eighth grade students.” Hansen enjoys listening to his students having real laughs and seeing his past students and how much they have grown. Since opening its doors over seven decades ago, Bonneville High School has seen a variety of faces; some old, some new. No matter what year it is, everyone can rest assured that only the best staff resides at BHS. Whether they have been a Bee for three months or thirty years, each faculty member is crucial in the development and growth of all students. Elliot Kidd
Social Media Manager Hear ye, hear ye, the attendance policy has changed… kind of. In 2020, COVID-19 swept the nation, causing schools across the country to temporarily update their schedules and rules. Such as school rules and policies, for Bonneville’s “old” attendance policy inasmuch the same was the “new” one except for a few new add-ons. For both the old and new policy students can only miss each class up to six times. Every six tardies in a class adds up to be one absence. However, with the new add-ons with attendance, after missing a class seven to nine times students have to make up time for that class on a monday afternoon. Then, afterwards the next ten to twelve absences it becomes a pass or fail. While also getting ten to twelve absences students will lose privileges of school clubs and extracurriculars. As well as the verification for drivers ed or license. If a student misses class the only few absences that do not count against a student are school related activities. Even with a doctor's note for why a student is missing school, it is still required for documentation for the front office. When a student is found out to be skipping class they will be marked truant, aka the action of staying away from without a good reason. Which can lead to students and their guardians being trialed in court, after 30 to 100 hundreds hours of missing school unverified, as it is the law for teens and children to be in school. Afterwards a parole officer will be keeping track of the said student. This is not a new add on to the attendance policy this was a rule before COVID 19. During the time of the policy being reinforced calls to the school have increased. As the lovely attendance ladies, that most students pass by in the morning, deal with the said calls. Kail Belnap has so kindly shared that the shortest call she and Amanda Van Orden have dealt with “was about 15 minutes long.” Nevertheless, COVID 19 has caused everyone to freak out over the slightest bit of sickness. Add the stricter rules of the attendance policy before covid and there's a whole new mess. During COVID 19 Bonneville was quite lenient on the attendance. Grisel Gonzalez
Editor Bonneville High School's homecoming week this year was filled with playful dress up days that were enjoyable for the students and staff. Starting the 19th and ending the 22nd, each day had different prompts that the students were allowed to follow. Kicking off the week, Tuesday was pajama day and Wednesday was tourist day. Warm and snug pajamas were seen around the school on Tuesday, and Hawiian shirts and bucket hats were worn on Wednesday. Thursday paid tribute to the famous Adam Sandler; baggy shirts and shorts accompanied with socks and slides are what most people were wearing. Lastly, Friday was the day to celebrate Bonneville High School with the dress up day being school spirit! Colors like black, white, green, and gold are what acknowledged our school and its notable efforts to make homecoming week amusing for everyone. Mrs. Yorgason, student council advisor, expressed her thoughts on how the week went by saying, “ I thought it was really fun seeing how all the teachers got into it and the students.” She also talked about the inspiration behind the ideas for the dress up days, stating, “I think it’s just stuff that the kids wanted to do. There’s a group of people and they plan the dress up days just based on what they thought the student body would enjoy.” The student council took into consideration the opinions of the students at Bonneville by giving everyone options they would most likely enjoy. Schools from other districts did not have the same days as Bonneville, which makes it extra special and different. The students this year really went out and showed their school spirit, and the teachers and staff did as well. The whole week was a great way to celebrate not only homecoming, but Bonneville High School too. Friday ended off the amazing week on a good note by showcasing Bonneville’s signature colors: black, white, green, and gold. This year’s homecoming dress up week was filled with excitement and enthusiasm, which means topping it next year will be a tough one! |
CampusCampus News is where stories relating directly to Bonneville reside. Most are reports on school activities and events. Archives
May 2024
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