February 2010

Ronald McDonald visited the students of Sage Creek Elementary on Friday to remind them that part of being a friend is to stop bullying. Ronald sang songs and interacted with the kids to help them connect with important friendship concepts. He gave them tips on what to do when they see a bully and how to help one another stop bullying from happening. Ronald created a poster with the reminders to Be A Friend, Cooperate, Get Out and Play and DON'T BULLY! Many students commented that this was the most fun assembly they have ever been to. Thanks Ronald!!!

At Sage Creek Elementary, classes are taught weekly the following Character Education skills: how to show appreciation, accept responsibility, and make good choices. These students have been chosen to be the Determined Dragons for the month of February because they have made our school a better place by using their Character Education skills. They are: Traeton Hillstead, Lehi Rios, Brayden DeMarco, Cade Roberts, Megan Robinson, Porter Gibb, Chloe Burns, Anton Moss, Hailey Rollins, Braxton Gross, Amber Christensen, Rafael Gonzelez, Simon Taylor, Trace Molen, Cannon Jeffers, Luke Barrowes, Tayler Evans, Tristen Tranchell, Tyler Glazier, Cameron Green, Anton Moss, Karlee Clark, Rebecca Gee, Hayden Mendivil, Seth Mortensen, Sally Wells, Rebecca Gee, Jotham Draper, Dylan Golding, Haley Green, Kole Sleight, Savannah Walker, and Wesley White.

Sage Creek Elementary School is proud to announce that thirteen of it’s students were chosen to represent the district at the region science fair to be held at BYU on March 24th and 25th. These students are: Abby Jackman, Savannah Walker and Tessa Barrus, Ireland Thomas, Dylan Gross and Simon Taylor, Lisa Calhoun, Bo Barker, Alex Osborn and Daniel Salazar, Devin Chamberlain and Adam Warren. Kendra Molen received the Best of Fair Award at the district competition and will also be representing Nebo and Sage Creek at the regional competition. Congratulations students!!!

Yehaw! As part of the Utah State third grade core curriculum in social studies, and under the direction of teachers, Mrs. Foote, Mrs. Reber, Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Egbert and Miss Le, the Sage Creek third grade put on their pioneer costumes and held school as a "prairie day". Students went back in time and recited their multiplication tables by rote, did their math on slates with chalk,and had a hoedown. They also "went to town" and had picked up their lunches to eat in the prairie classroom. They got a drink at the "creek" and used the "outhouse" when necessary. They had a spelling bee and read a pioneer story, "Three Names" by Patricia MacLachlan. At recess they played marbles, jacks, and hopscotch. They ended the day by writing in their diaries about the experience. The teachers were strict and never smiled. For some it was the "worst" day of their lives, but most thought it was good to see how school was back in 1872!

Janeen Scott, a fifth grade teacher at Sage Creek Elementary and long time member of the Tabernacle Bell Choir, has worked tirelessly throughout the year to start a chime choir at the school. After writing grant proposals to One Hundred Percent For Kids, The Nebo Foundation, and the Springville Arts Commission she was awarded $2,100 in grant monies, to help fund her project. In combination with these grants and two private donations, Sage Creek Elementary now has four octaves of hand chimes and amazing sheet music for chimes. Ms. Scott is excited to get the chime choir started as well as training the faculty to use the chimes in their own classrooms. Thanks to Ms. Scott for her perseverance and dedication in bringing this musical contribution to the students of Sage Creek School that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Under the direction of student council advisors Janeen Scott and Becky Davis, the Sage Creek Student Council declared a penny war to benefit those in our area who are suffering from blood cancers. Shortly after the fund raiser began, the devestaing earthquake in Hati occured and Sage Creek students immediently wanted to help. The student body elected to have half of the money generated from the penny war to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Foundation and half of what was raised to the organization Healing Hands for Hati. Over a three week period the students at Sage Creek raised over $1800, and on Wednesday checks for $940 each were presented to each charity. Ms. Katie Walthers from Healing Hands for Hati was there in person to accept the check, to describe the conditions of Hati and how the money would be used for the people there. Congratulations and many thanks to the students at Sage Creek who have shown by example how building a worldwide community begins.

On Thursday, February 4th, the second grade students at Sage Creek Elementary were treated to a visit from Red Rock Orthodontics for Dental Heath month. We learned about taking care of our teeth and how important it is to brush twice a day! They told us that age 7 is a good time for your first orthodontic visit.

Danny the Dinosaur taught us how it is important to brush your teeth in tiny circles and always eat food that will help your teeth grow strong. We learned most of our teeth are hidden and there are different kinds of teeth for eating different kinds of food. Teeth can last for millions of years and you can tell what people eat by looking at their teeth!

At the close of their presentation, all of the second graders were ‘treated’ to a goody bag full of fun and useful things to help keep our teeth healthy and clean. Thank you, Red Rock Orthodontics, for an awesome visit!

Science Rocks at Sage Creek!

Nearly three hundred Sage Creek students in grades four through six participated in the school level science fair in preparation to go forward to the district and region competitions.

The science fair gives students an opportunity to synthesize several learning skills into one project. Using reading and writing skills to research a topic all students are encouraged to participate by asking a question, developing a hypothesis, conducting an experiment and coming up with a conclusion. They use math skills to take measurements, calculate averages and create graphs. They then write about and display this process through pictures and narratives on a science board to be viewed by fellow students and judged by independent judges. They use communication skills to talk to judges, teachers and fellow students about what they have learned. Students also develop critical thinking skills as they create experiments that are scientifically sound and synthesize what they’ve leaned.

While waiting to be judged students were also able to participate in a variety of science activities put together by the PTA. These activities included; fingerprint classification, baking soda/vinegar interaction, science word games, and after imaging- just to name a few. Eight winners from fifth and twelve from sixth grade will compete in the Nebo District Science Fair. Winners from this level will continue on to the Central Utah Science and Engineering Fair held at BYU, with opportunities to advance even further.

Volunteers are desperately needed to help organize the fair for future years. People are needed to ore supplies, publicize the fair and recruit other volunteers. If you would like to help organize, judge, or have other skills that would help with the Science Fair, please Contact Sonia Bartholomew (soniabartholomew [at] hotmail.com, 491-7449), or Sheila Robbins (sheila.robbins [at] nebo.edu, 489-2860)

A huge thanks to the contagious enthusiasm and many long hours and sleepless nights of PTA volunteer, Mrs. Bartholomew, and fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Robbins. They along with the hard work of many volunteers, teachers, parents and students, the 2010 Sage Creek Science Fair was a huge success

The followng fifth and sixth graders were winners at the Sage Creek Science Fair that took place February 2-4. They are: Lisa Calhoun, Josh Anderson, Beau Barker, Daniel Salazar & Alex Osborn, Devin Chamberlain & Adam Warren, Jotham Draper, Jonathan Houtz & Kimball Hooper, Joshual Davies, Sydney Hickman, Bailey Witney Christian Jensen, Katelyn Bingham, Rebecca Houtz, Abigal Jackman, Savannah Walker & Tessa Burns, Allison Ells, Ireland Thomas, Spencer Taylor, Kendra Molen, and Dallin Jones. These students will continue on to district level Science Fair at Diamond Fork Jr. High in Spanish Fork on February 24th. Congratulations Sage Creek Scientists!

At Sage Creek Elementary, classes are taught weekly the following Character Education skills: how to show appreciation, accept responsibility, and make good choices. These students have been chosen to be the Determined Dragons for the month of January because they have made our school a better place by using their Character Education skills. They are:
Jeslyn Betts, Jessica Brooks, Chloe Burns, Karlee Clark, Brenda Espino, Robert Espino, Swazie Evans, Chandler Graves, Kallie Graves, Ashley Hansen, Ana Hoopes, Jaymon Jordan, Presley Kennard, Johby Meyer, Trace Molen, Montserrat Morales, Brayan Oliva, Cassandra Orozco, Jocelyn Salazar, Emma Scott, Kayla Squire, Alyssa Thomas