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Show Thursday, March 13, 2008 Page 4 AMERICAN FORK CITIZEN notes NEWS AND IDEAS FROM CLASSROOMS AND EDUCATORS Crossing Barbarahristiansen NORTH COUNTY STAFf Life as a school crossing guard has a lot of variety. Just ask Diane Laney, who is a crossing guard at Barratt Elementary El-ementary School. She has served as a listening ear for the students who tell her about their hopes for the day in the morning, then about the results when they go home at night. She has heard about new paint in their bedroom, science projects, school recognition recog-nition and much more. "They will show me their science sci-ence projects, prizes they get at school, incentives they get from their teachers," she said. "They get an owie and want to show me." At the beginning of this week, Laney had one get an injury in-jury while crossing the street. Two students were crossing 300 North on scooters and one hit a small place which had been dug out and refilled, but not repaved. She fell, hitting her head. Laney usually has a cell phone with her, but she didn't when this happened, so she sent the other student to the school's office to have the secretary call the injured student's mother. "A square of asphalt was cut out, they filled it back up with dirt and probably forgot to finish fin-ish it," Laney said. "I called the city to ask for their help." This is the first year she has been a crossing guard and that is the first incident she has seen which called for medical attention, but she has seen kids slip on the ice and fall. "According to the children, it happens often," she said. The weather is a factor in the crossing guard business. When it is rainy or cold and snowy, it is all the more miserable miser-able to have an outdoor job. It Forbes offers first yearbook for students, staff Barbara Christiansen NORTH COUNTY STAFF Forbes Elementary School is offering a yearbook for its students and staff this year. According to organizers, it is the first time the school had undertaken such a project. For this year, it will be relatively rela-tively simple, with probably 30 to 50 pages and a paperback cover. It will be in color. The group is not sure whether the school will choose to do a yearbook in the future, but there is a good chance it will happen. Diane Laney, the PTA volunteer in charge of the yearbook, said if the project continues, next year's version will probably include pictures from plays, assemblies awards and other school activities. For this year, it will include pictures of the students, all the classes and some of the events. Individuals classes have caveman Andy Cottrell This week I am going to write about an interesting experience ex-perience some friends of mine had two weeks ago. They were having a girl's night out and were at one of the girl's house. The doorbell rang and the girls went to go answer it. Rather than having a person standing at the door, there was guard keeps eye on . . r v ' 'V ' !! ' l M r Diane Laney helps students across also means that fewer children walk to school, needing her services. She told about a day when it was raining hard, so she stayed in her van until the kids came to the corner. She parked in a slightly different location from her regular spot. Some of the students looked for her on the corner and couldn't see her, so they told their mom she wasn't there. With a new baby and no car, she couldn't easily walk them to school herself and apparently called to complain com-plain the crossing guard was not there. "The police department called me," Laney said. "I had to come back. I felt bad. I am pretty sure I could tell which two children it was. That was the day 1 felt I had failed. What else could I do except stay out in the pouring rain? There A' i r r I : '-i - v Cx , BARBARA CHRISTIANSENNorth County Daylene Paskett, Maddi Ruchti, Jessica Barnes and Kiana Wong look over photos the student council and others have taken, to select which ones will go into the first yearbook for Forbes Elementary School. been having a competition to make sure everyone is aware of the yearbooks. The class which brings back the left what looked like a gift all wrapped up inside of a box with a note stating that it was for all of the girls there. However, the note left specific instructions to open the box outside. Well they unwrapped the present and opened the box to find a rooster sitting in the box. They all screamed and after af-ter a little bit, went out searching search-ing for the people who had left it on their porch. After they had walked down the street for a bit, three boys jumped out and started running run-ning away. The girls gave chase but were too slow and the boys hopped over the very More Central Utah listings than anybody. - -f J .' l 1 s f . vl 1IJ . 1 1 i v ) 300 North on their way to Barratt Elementary School. were only four children who came that day (to cross the street)." The others apparently got rides, she said. Other times she has felt like she has made a real connection with the students. "They tell me about their rooms being painted," she said. "Some other kids tell me about their safety issues and why they walk the direction they do. Children are very aware of safety issues." "There was a student named Emily who didn't come for a few days and I missed her," she said. "When I saw her, I found out she was coming early to help the librarian." "What makes it worthwhile is the kids," she said. "They are amazing and friendly. They tell me thank you and ask how I am doing." When she first started as a largest percent of responses whether they be affirma- tive, negative or undecided would have a party. tall fence with poise and grace, never to be found. However, the perpetrators seemed to leave one very big piece of evidence, their car. The car owner was identified but was not actually at the scene. I can attest that the driver of the car was actually on a date and had not taken his car that night. Inside were found keys belonging to a young lady who instantly became a suspect in this case, but I also know that she had been in the car previously previ-ously that day and left her keys in the car then. When I was talking to my - ' - Tr I :'r r-.r students V- ;!9t .'- BARBARA CHRISTIANSENNorth County crossing guard, she received training from the police department. depart-ment. "They told us what to do and what not to do," she said. "They don't want us directing traffic." She said that parents and other drivers seem to want her to do that. "Seriously, they want me to direct," she said. "My job is to keep the kids safe. It is not to make their lives easier. I would like to help them out, but I can't." Laney was adamant about giving advice to drivers. "Slow down and be aware there are children there," she said. "I haven't always been aware. I know how easy it is to get caught up in whatever is going on in your life. It is important im-portant to watch out for these kids." Some of the Student Council members have been taking some of the pictures which will be used in the yearbook. "We went around taking pictures of people doing their work and at recess," said Daylene Day-lene Paskett. "I am excited. It is going to be so fun. My favorite picture is of three boys walking in the hall. They made funny faces. I am going go-ing to be so proud and happy to see my pictures when the yearbooks get here." Maddi Ruchti agreed. "It is fun to just get to pick out pictures that everybody will look at for the rest of their lives," she said. "I took a picture of a guy doing a back flip off a wall. That is one of my favorite pictures." Danielle Frost said she would also look forward to the yearbook coming out. "It will be cool to look at it when I am older and see my friends when they were younger," she said. dear friend Andrew Bangerter about the incident, we both agreed that it was quite possible pos-sible one of the funniest pranks that we have ever heard about. Shaylynn Baugh also agreed that whoever pulled the prank was an absolute genius. I personally thought the prank was an absolute stroke of brilliance. I salute each and every one of the persons involved in-volved and congratulate you on a prank well pulled. That's all the room I have for this week so try to stay out of trouble this week, unless it ends up being a prank as awesome awe-some as this one. i,JT VI V.. , 'i American Fork High School Speed reading The last speed reading class of the year will begin Tuesday with Laurel Shelley in room 37. The class will run for three weeks on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 2:20 p.m. Students are encouraged to take the class. Shelley said, "It is especially good for those who are taking the ACT soon and for those who feel their reading speed is slow. Most students will double their reading speed within the eight -class period class." For more information, contact Laurel Shelley at 756-8547 756-8547 ext. 137 or at the school in room 37. Groups take honors School officials have offered congratulations to the high school and junior high Winter Guards and Jazz Bands. Saturday both Winter Guards placed first in their divisions at the Riverton Competition. The next competition com-petition for the winter guard is Saturday at 5 p.m. in the AFHS gym. There will be 21 teams participating. Tickets are available at the door. At the Crescent Jazz Festival Festi-val held last week, both Jazz Bands were selected as first place bands in their divisions. Congratulations to all the students involved and to their advisors. Blood drive The HOSA club is sponsoring their second sec-ond blood drive of the year Monday from 1 to 7 p.m. The community, faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to participate. Appointments may be made by calling the HOSA advisor, Brenda Casper at 756-8547 ext. 1 18 or with a HOSA club member. Walk -ins are also welcome and appreciated. Homework center A homework center is available every Monday from 1:15-3:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 2:154:30 p.m. in the Career Center, room 3. Computers are available for student use. Students in need of tutoring or help with homework are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. op-portunity. Book drive The American Ameri-can Fork Youth City Council is collecting children's books to donate to Greenwood Elementary. El-ementary. These K-12 books should be new or gently used and can be donated to the front office at American Fork High School or the American Fork Library through March 21. AP payments due The payment deadline for AP tests is March 21 at 3 p.m. No AP tests will be ordered after this date. The cost for each test is $84 and needs to be paid at the student finance office. AP testing will begin May 5. Late registration for the April 12 ACT test ends March 21. Juniors are encouraged to take the April ACT test. Senior party Senior party par-ty tickets to Boondocks are on sale at the student finance office for $35. The party will be May 29 from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. All students that plan to attend must ride the bus. American Fork Junior High School Community Council There will be a school community council meeting Friday at 7 a.m. Registration and orientation Registration packets were mailed today to all parents of sixth-grade students who will be attending American Fork Junior High next year. Online registration should be completed com-pleted by Wednesday. A sixth-grade orientation night for all incoming seventh graders will be Wednesday. Students should bring a hard copy of their online class registration to the orienta Period. tion. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. Forbes Elementary School Student plans SEPs conclude for track 2 students today. Parents are reminded that school ends at 2 p.m. for both tracks. SEP appointments appoint-ments are from 2:15-8:30 p.m. Birthday table The PTA sponsored birthday table will be Friday. Parents are invited to come and eat lunch with their student. Students are invited to sit at the birthday table where they will receive a birthday treat. Driving cautions Parents are reminded to be courteous when dropping off or picking up students. Principal Larry Dean suggested that following follow-ing a few simple rules will help to keep all children safe and drivers' tempers down: I Do not double park in the drop off zone on the north side of the school or in the street on 200 East I Do not pick up students in the bus zone I Do not park in or block the bus zone Play presented The week of March 24 - 28 is the school play which is "Cinderella" this year. The public may come Tuesday through Friday at 7 p.m. to watch the play. Tickets Tick-ets are available at the door for $4 for adults or $ 10 for families. No children under 5 will be admitted. Early bird ordering ends today to-day The PTA is offering a 2008 Forbes Patriot yearbook this year. Early bird orders will be accepted through the endof today for $13. The yearbook will be paperback and in color. Order forms were sent home with students. stu-dents. After today, the cost is $17 for non-PTA members and $15 for PTA members. Orders will accepted through April 5. Track requests Track requests will begin March 31 through April 4 from 8-11:30 a.m. and again from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Only track requests will be considered, teacher requests re-quests will not be considered. For more information, call the office at 756-8531. Greenwood Elementary School Band assembly There will be a fifth- and sixth-grade band assembly on Tuesday. Spring pictures Spring pictures will be taken March 20 by Cory Adams. The pictures pic-tures are optional and picture packets may be purchased at the time that pictures are taken. Field trip The first grade classes will go on a field trip March 28. Legacy Elementary School Family skate night The Legacy Elementary family skate night will be Monday. Families are invited to attend. Odyssey Charter School plans boutique Odyssey Charter School will have its spring boutique from 4-8 p.m. on March 14 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 15. The school is located at 7.'W E. Quality Drive (approximately (approxi-mately 650 South), American Fork. There will be more than 50 vendors with jewelry, pottery, swimsuits, baby accessories, ac-cessories, kids' clothing, adult clothing, home decor items, candles, furniture and more. A $1 donation at the door provides two raffle tickets. Extras are available at three for $1. Kids 12 and under are admitted free. There will be a Kids Kraft Korner with make and take craft items for $2 and less. There will be soup in bread bowls, cinnamon rolls and other take-home baked goods sold. heraldextra.comhomechoice 1 2)ailtl?icmU'i |