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Show Volume II , Issue III Page 17 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS December 1999 Student News Valley Elementary, Ribbon Month Celebration During the month of October schools throughout Utah celebrated Ribbon Month. Valley Elementary was no exception. We had several agendas to meet during this celebration. We wanted to teach our youth to “Say No To Drugs and Violence.” We also wanted them to find the key to happiness, through service to others. Throughout these few weeks people in our community donated over 100 hours of service! In our search for a memorable positive activity, we finally came upon the idea to have a “Hoop Shoot.” Our objective for the “Hoop Shoot” was to impress upon the children the importance of finding acceptable activities that would not include being involved with drugs or violence. We put out the word that we wanted some positive role models from the community, that our students could relate to. The Firemen, Paramedics and Sheriffs Deputies responded to our invitation without a moment’s hesitation. Even after being forewarned that this activity would require two hours of their time in the morning and two more hours in the afternoon on two consecutive Fridays, these great men still volunteered! They hooped it up with all of our 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. We were also privileged to have the Sheriffs’ K-9 Unit come up and present two assemblies for us. The children were in awe of these officers and their dog partners. Sgt. Bob Johnson explained a few of the jobs that they and their dogs are required to do. They got to see first hand how the dogs were taught their particular commands. I think they gained a greater respect and appreciation for the men and their dogs. Mitzi Deeter was our P.T.A. Ribbon Month Coordinator. She had approximately 30 volunteers lined up and ready to go. They did a great job with all of our Anti-Drug and Violence lunchtime activities. Janalee Tidwell coordinated the Anti-Drug and Violence road painting. It is truly one of the best I have seen anywhere! Our students did a great job painting this masterpiece. Hopefully, not too many painted themselves or others! The students themselves were involved in giving service. Students were asked to look for opportunities to give service to others. This could be accomplished by reading to younger brothers and sisters, assisting their families with chores without being asked, helping a neighbor or anyone else in need. The service rendered had to be one that was actually needed and they could not receive compensation for their efforts. Their hours also had to be documented. A whopping 450 hours were documented. Just from talking to the students I know there were even more hours of service given but weren’t turned in. I know our students had a great time throughout the entire celebration and hopefully gained the desire and skills to live a drug and violence free life! Most importantly, through the dedication and enthusiasm exemplified by our volunteers, our students got to experience first hand, the joy to be obtained from giving and receiving service. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people in our community that helped us. As close as I could figure, there were approximately 180 hours donated to this worthy cause. I would especially like to thank South Fork Village for donating 15 gallons of paint and also, All-a-Dollar of NewGate Mall who has been one of our sponsors for the past several years. Thanks also to all of our other donators. A variety of incentive gifts were donated by several families. Thank you for sharing and being great partners in education with us! Listed below are the “Angels Among Us.” I can’t thank them enough for helping us to have a successful Ribbon Month! Chairperson – Mitzi Deeter Advisor – Carol Stoker Carnival – Ronda Wadman, Corlyn Rich, Patti Child, Catherine. Lucy Robins, Dana Knight, Julie Lund, Linda Montgomery, Lynette Oberg, and Becky Lewis. Tobacco is Spooky Activity – Karen Montgomery, Ronda Wadman and Mitzi Deeter Road Painting – Janalee Tidwell, Wendy McKay, Jodi Richardson, Christine Hurst and Beth Clay Art Work – Star Primm Helping Hands Banners – Ann Dickson Various other lunchtime activities – Ellen Baggs, AnaMarie Summers, Cailen Scadden, Roylene Hunter, Barbara Allport, Mary Beth Ward, Lisa Pack and Melanie Eyre. Hoop Shoot – Dare Officer, Nick McIntosh, Sgt. Ryon Hadley, Deputy Corey Hadley, Deputy Craig Tillet, Butch Seamons (No. Ogden Police) Fire Department Personnel, Captain John Coy, Captain Doug Allen, Ryan Andreasen, Chris Qurrtucio, Barry Panter, John Larrison, Chad Cooper, Joe Wadsworth, Eric Bauman, Kent Taylor and Steve Malan (Ogden Fire District Personnel) Utah State Parks Officer, Don Kelly. K-9 Demonstration – Sgt. Bob Johnson, K-9 Officers Corey Hadley and Chad Ferrin Forgive me if I have left out any names. Once again, thanks from the bottom of my heart. Ribbon Month Coordinator Sue Hadley Valley Elementary. The Christmas Tree Express by Taylor and Harrison Spendlove th The 6 grade Valley Bulldogs made two Christmas trees. They were decorated to go with the theme “Birds Of A Feather.” A dollhouse, rag rug, a magnificent puff quilt, centerpiece, and a wreath completed the ensemble. Several students and their mothers helped transport the items down to the Eccles Conference Center where they were sold to make money for children with disabilities. The sixth graders had fun making birdhouses out of different kinds of decorations. The tops were made out of bark and sticks. The sticks were a nice dark red and the bark came off a tree. Students brought dried sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, flowers, pinecones, and other things to decorate with. Mrs. Hicks helped make the rag rug. It was crocheted and hooked together with gold ribbon. The colors are red green and white. It was made into a round flat rug so that the dollhouse would fit on it. The quilt pieces were traced and cut out by many students. Then they pinned pieces together, stuffed them and sewed them. Many parents helped the students sew it all together. Students learned how fun it is to sew. Mrs. Strong donated the centerpiece and wreath to match what the students had already created. She also helped wire all the decorations to the tree so that nothing would fall off when the buyer transported it to its new home. Thank you, all who donated time, money, and materials to make this project such a success. Who would guess that a service project could be so much fun! Auction and Barter Day By Nellie Liston Valley Elementary Auction Day is one of the most fun days we’ve had for the year. The kids could bring things from home to try to auction off, the teachers brought things too. The kids liked it and we could all tell that the teachers liked it too. It seemed pretty exciting for everyone trying to get what they wanted. This was a sixth grade only activity. It was a silent auction. The sixth graders had to earn fake money so they could pay for the things they wanted. If they wanted something for the auction they would write down the price and see if anyone could beat that price. If you are a sixth grader and you didn’t get to buy anything you’re still in luck. The next auction day is coming up in the middle of December. Barter Day was another fun sixth grade activity. Kids brought things to school they didn’t want and they would try to sell it with their fake money. It seemed that everyone got something. There were a lot of things to choose from. This day seemed to cheer everyone up, and was held during P.E. time. All the kids there enjoyed it, even if they ended up with no fake money left. Of course there were those few who ended up with quite a fistful of fake cash to use the next time we get to do something fun like this. |