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Show Volume II , Issue II Page 15 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS November 1999 Student News Red Ribbon Week By Will McKay, Valley Elementary Wow! What a fun filled week, learning how to stay drug and violence free. Valley Elementary students, teachers, and parent volunteers were involved in a week long activity that taught students why they should be drug free. Sue Hadley, and Carol Stoker the two teachers who were involved in this activity did a lot of the planning. Sue Hadley drew ribbon numbers for kids to get prizes every day. Mitzi Deeter from the PTA helped also, doing decorations and arranging for lunch time activities every day. The kids wore a different color every day; on Monday they had the Kick off assembly, on Tuesday they wore red, on Wednesday they wore purple, on Thursday they wore yellow, and on Friday they wore black and white to show pride in their school. On each of the days students had an activity about drugs or just a fun thing to do. They had games in the multi-purpose room and games outside. With the help of Janalee Tidwell they painted a sign on the street in front of the school that showed they are drug free. On yellow day they started service hours. At the end of the month students will turn in their hours and the class with the most will get a party. On Friday they had firemen and policemen come to the school, and they had a basketball shootout. Students also learned why kids do and don’t smoke. Everybody smokes for a reason. Most kids that smoke, do it because their parents or friends do it. They also may be very gullible and believe that cigarettes make you cool. Cigarettes can do some bad things to you. Recently I watched a movie all about smoking and what it can do to you. On the movie a lung was taken from a smoker and a non-smoker (they were both dead) and compared them. The smoker’s lung had holes in it and it was very dirty, but the non-smoker’s lung was clean and didn’t have a hole in it. Smoking can also make you look much older and wrinkled. Tobacco is also a drug that can ruin your life. Some people lose part of their tongue because it gets a disease that looks like hair is on it. If you chew you could lose some of your tongue, or maybe your jaw. If you like to chew, you better quit soon before you lose your tongue. Smoking can change your life, but not in a good way. Most smokers get emphysema and can hardly stand on their own two feet, and it is hard to breathe. The people that are victims to this disease are wishing they had quit smoking and left it alone. For these reasons some of the people who smoke are trying hard to quit. They might have a very hard time doing that, but they will be grateful if they do it. I think that anyone who smokes, needs to visit a doctor and find out how to quit the easiest way. My opinion is that if this world were free of smokers it would be a better place. These are the reasons for ribbon week, to help kids make the right choice in the future. Remember that drugs and violence are something to say no to, no matter what! Note: The article “Pioneers Spotted in Huntsville Town” in the October issue was also written by Will McKay. Brian Carlson, A Real-life Hero Note: On October 20, Brian Carlson generously accepted an invitation by the Valley Elementary sixth grade to come and share his experience as, still another, victim of a drunk driver. By Jacob Guyon, Randi Burton, Whitney Green, Nellie Liston, and Morgan Hall On May 16, 1999, Brian Carlson and two of his friends were hit by a careless drunk driver. He and five friends were working out for a bike race that was coming up on Memorial Day. They had ridden 40 of their fortyfive miles when they were hit from behind by a truck. Brian flew about 150 feet, landing right on his head. He is very lucky to be alive right now. Although his helmet saved his life, it was smashed up with bits of rocks and glass stuck in it. “That would have been in my head if I hadn’t worn my helmet,” he said as he showed us the helmet. A part of the bike stabbed into his leg, shattering a large vein. By the time his wife got to him (only 15 seconds later) he was laying in a pool of blood. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital by helicopter. Blood transfusions were immediately given to him. He received 280 units in all and it took him over a month to wake up from a coma. When he woke up his left leg felt a little funny and he asked his wife to lift up the blanket and see what was wrong. When she pulled it up, she had to sadly tell him that they had to amputate his leg because of all the blood he lost. He is now recovering and will soon have a prosthetic leg. For now he is using crutches and a wheelchair. One of the kids asked him, “What happened to the drunk driver?” “I don’t want to think about that anymore, the driver is now in jail, and now he has to pay the consequences. And because he made that choice I have to suffer.” No matter what happened to him he always was confident that everything would be okay, and that he could do it, Brian is a hero to all of us. The kids in 6th grade all agree that Mr. Carlson’s attitude throughout this crisis has been rather admirable. Pumpkin Fun By Taylor Spendlove, Valley Elementary Every one should have been there. You’re asking where? Yes, at South Fork Garden Center on October 16. The kids were carving and painting spooky pumpkins in a contest held by the Spainhowers. There were big, small, fat, and skinny pumpkins for everyone to choose from. Everyone that entered carved in cool and windy weather, but even the weather couldn’t stop the painting and carving of pumpkins. Hailey Spainhower was selling caramel apples and nachos. All grades from Valley Elementary were involved. Harrison Spendlove said that it was so fun, that everyone should have done it. The contest went from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Everyone that entered had a great time. On October 18, Mrs. Spainhower called the winners to the office at Valley to get their prizes. Hopefully there will be another contest next year for all those who missed this one. The winners were as follows: Cleanne Peterson-gift certificate;Nina Steinbe, Nisha Peart and Sara Summers-cash prizes; Marshall McGonegal, Jenny Welsch, Kathy McGonegal and Harrison Spendlove-videos and books. Everyone else received a prize as well. Annual Valley Elementary Blood Drive a Success By Amanda Campbell and Sharlie Layton We would like to thank all the people who gave blood this year. It was a very fun evening. We asked someone to tell us what they thought of it before they gave blood. Annette Piccolo said, “ I think it is convenient. I enjoyed donating because the kids entertain us as we give blood. I like this school, and it’s for a good cause.” After Mrs. Evans finished donating she said, “I’m glad I did it. I hope that it will save someone’s life. That makes me feel good.” This is an annual blood drive. So thank you again if you came and see you next year! Mr. Dalton giving blood and being entertained. Mrs. Carolyn Hogge donating blood. Snowcrest PTA News Do you enjoy math or science? Do you have skills in woodworking or home economics? Or do you have an interest in the Internet? Consider sharing your time and talents with teachers and students at Snowcrest— whether or not you have a child enrolled. Please call Kathy Venable at 745-2421 or Michele Anglesey at 7452533 and make a difference today. “How Should We Honor America’s Veterans?” Snowcrest’s 7th and 8th graders can pen their thoughts by entering a Patriotic Essay Writing Competition. Students can obtain entry forms at the Snowcrest office and must be submitted by December 15, 1999. Scholarship Reminder: To be eligible for PTA scholarships, students must be members for four years and keep a record of community involvement and service hours. To enroll, contact Kathy Welling at 7452391. Weber County School District Offering High School Completion Classes Weber County Adult Education is offering a program that can help adults receive their high school diploma. It is called Adult High School Completion, and is being offered through the Weber School District. Utah is one of only seven states that offers an adult high school diploma. Classes are for adults of all ages. In 1998 an eighty-four year old man graduated! The program also offers GED prep classes. Classes are being offered at the following places and times: Ogden/Weber ATC Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Canyon View Elementary Mon. - Thurs. 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Bonneville High School Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Roy High School Mondays 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The program is open-entry/exit, so registration is on-going. If we can answer any other questions for you, please call Sue Myers at 627-8378, Kathy Gillihan at 627-8447, or Gayle Jones at 626-2545. Maurine Stevens giving blood. |