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Show AMERICAN FORK Thursday May 22, 2008 notes Page 4 NEWS AND IDEAS After years of planning, mascot bronzed Sherilyn Frost NORTH COUNTY STAFF Students, visitors and staff who come in the south entrance en-trance of American Fork High School near the auditorium are now greeted daily by a life-size bronzed statue of the school's mascot, the Caveman. Created by sculptor Blair Connors, the statue has been in the works for several years. Gifted by the senior classes of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the concept began on paper after principal Carolyn Merrill, assistant assis-tant principal Jeff Schoonover and senior class advisor Kristi Belliston worked with students and Connors to formulate a sample of what they wanted to have created. Initially, Connors created a small clay sculpture for approval by the school. Once the details of the small sculpture were finalized, the project moved to China where the actual life-size sculpture was created and completed. When asked why he would go to China to complete the project Connors said that he could manufacture it cheaper and faster in China. Connors flew to China three times over the course of six months to complete the statue which he did in stages. The limbs, club, head and torso were all completed separately and then welded together. When finished, the statue was packed in a metal box and put on a boat which took one month for transport from China to Salt Lake City. Arriving in early April and weighing nearly 500 pounds, the statue required six men to unload and carry it into the school where it was then attached at-tached to a pulley system prior to mounting. Forbes elem. Barbara Christiansen NORTH COUNTY STAFF He's been full circle. Dr. Larry Dean started his school years as a kindergarten student at Forbes Elementary School in American Fork. That was in 1955. In 2008, he is retiring retir-ing as principal of the same school. He has had many stops along the way. His family moved to Spring-ville Spring-ville when he was in the seventh sev-enth grade. He graduated from high school in that community, and worked at a service station sta-tion part time during those years. After a year at BYU, he went into the Army and was trained as a combat engineer engi-neer and mechanic. When he returned to civilian life, he worked at the Utah State Training School and then sold cars for Marvin Cartwright. "I always had an interest in cars and vehicles," he said. Dean then worked for Dean's 66 service, eventually purchasing purchas-ing the business. With the oil embargo, he couldn't buy enough fuel to stay in business and sold it in 1977. He then became be-came a mechanic at the Alpine School District bus garage. He sold the business, moved to a new home in Highland and started a new job all in the same weekend. Former Alpine School District superintendent Max Welcker knew Dean and his abilities. "He traded with me when I had my business," Dean said. "He was always encouraging me, saying I was good with kids and could make a great teacher. My whole life I had been involved with sports, coaching Little League and helping Scouts. I always loved kids. I thought it would be something I would really be Andy Cottrell Hey Everyone! This is one of the last times I will get to write in the newspaper. With the end of the year drawing ever closer, it simply gets harder and harder to wake up and go. Most of us have our school finals done and now, school is just a place to play games and viking FROM CLASSROOMS AND EDUCATORS - i ' jfy ill1'! 1 Wl - U .. " , ; ( 't i. - -4 I ". if . - K .: .v . ; ru Jt ' The nearly 500 pound Caveman statue is put into place in the hallways outside the auditorium of American Fork High School. The masterminds behind the mounting procedure included AFHS' ag teacher, Jake Anderson, Ander-son, Alpine School District facilities fa-cilities manager, Mike Privett and Doug Barrus who Alpine District employs on a regular basis to complete many of its tiling projects. The entire week of Spring break was spent mounting the statue. The Caveman statue stands on a slab of cement covered with marble tile and can be viewed during school hours or events. Connors has been sculpting for 25 years. He said that he principle retires where he began school i r it mi BARBARA CHRISTIANSENNorth County Dr. Larry Dean, principal at Forbes Elementary School in American Fork. Dean is retiring from his post, which he has had for 1 1 years. He began school as a kindergarten student at Forbes. interested in. It planted a seed in my mind." . "After twisting wrenches seven years at the service station, sta-tion, and nine years at the bus garage, I went back to school," he said. In 15 months he completed com-pleted half his sophomore year, and all of his junior and senior years, graduating in' 1988. "When I finally graduated, I was rehired by the district as a fifth-grade teacher," he said. "I made $8,000 less than what I was making as a mechanic." He began teaching as Aspen Elementary School in Orem. After five years, the principal asked him to be an assistant principal. He applied to a leadership lead-ership program at BYU, and just prior to starting the program pro-gram had his National Guard unit activated in the Desert Storm conflict. He trained in Washington, went to Germany watch movies all day. However, How-ever, the school was one big final hurrah! Cavestock is here! This Friday starting at five, we will have a powder puff football game. This is so funny to watch. Girls yelling and fighting and playing football. I love it. Then of course we have the dunk tank. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate partici-pate in the dunk tank last year and got dunked several times. Thank heavens the water was warm. We are going to have sev had a love for clay from the time he was a little boy. In his late teens, he began working for a bronze foundry where he started getting paid. He now sculpts everything from microscopic size things to monuments with a lot of table top sculptures in between. Table top projects take anywhere any-where from two weeks to a few months to complete while the life size Caveman took six months. Connors undertakes multiple projects at a time in order to get paid on a regular basis. The medium he prefers to use is n -.4 where he served as an engineer. engi-neer. The unit never went to Saudi Arabia. "When I returned, BYU took pity on me and put me back into the program without a lot of red tape," he said. He got his masters in administration, then applied to be a principal several years. "In 1997, 1 was appointed to be principal at Forbes," he said. "I received the call at 11 p.m.. We were so excited. I had always gravitated to Forbes, my old stomping grounds. If I could go anywhere on the planet it would be to Forbes. I was ecstatic. I still am. I love this school with all my heart." Those at the school have similar feelings about Dean. Kara Sherman, who works in the office, expressed her feelings. "Over the years that my eral different eating contests, sponsored by Macey's in Pleasant Pleas-ant Grove. We will be having a pie eating contest, a hot dog eating contest, a donut eating contest, and a chugging contest con-test as well. I lopefully nobody throws up or anything. We will have Capelli's hair school there putting everyone's hair into weird styles and different dif-ferent colors. There will also be face painting there and we even hired a balloon man to walk around and make balloon hats and swords for everyone. Free popcorn and cotton candy will be in abundance American Fork High School sulferless non-drying clay and the theme he sculpts most is the human forum. Other artists he has worked with include painter Thomas Blackshear and James Chris-tensen. Chris-tensen. He added that he has done more work for James Christensen than any other artist. art-ist. In addition, he said, "Sculpting "Sculpt-ing shepherds gazing on baby Jesus has probably been the most personally inspirational thing I have ever created; there was such a reverence factor to it." children have attended school I have been a parent, PTA president, presi-dent, substitute teacher and an office aide at Forbes Elementary," Elemen-tary," she said. "The one thing I have always known and retained in my association with Larry is that he is truly invested invest-ed in the children's learning and welfare. He has worked very hard to keep the level of learning high through having the teachers work in teams even before weekly collaboration collabora-tion was instituted in the district, dis-trict, fighting to continue the extended day program in the school, and working very hard to distribute the Land Trust moneys the school receives throughout different programs that foster the children's math and reading skills. When any child needs individual attention atten-tion he gives it in a caring and compassionate way. I don't think I've ever heard him yell at a child. He always takes in the situation first, thinks about it, then renders his judgement fairly. I have rarely seen a child or a parent go away upset up-set as he is able to calm them down and help each to understand under-stand the situation in a fair and gentle manner." Deciding to retire was not easy. "This has been an emotional decision," Dean said. Through the years he has seen changes at the school and in the district. He oversaw the school's remodeling, re-modeling, which was basically a reconstruction, in 2002-03. "The rebuilding was the highlight of my career," he said. "It was tough to see the old building torn down. I think they did a great job preserving the heritage and the look of the school. It won a state award." Dean is a firm believer in the importance of education. and we are having Gandolfo's come to make sandwiches and Roxberry coming to make smoothies. There will also be Battle of the Bands. ' I don't know why we call it that because it's not like the bands seriously battle, they just perform and everyone except ex-cept for Mrs. Sheen loves it. After all of these things our done, we have the final dance of the year. Well that is all about what is going on this Friday so I hope you have a wonderful week and keep it real. Peace. ALL SCHOOLS No school There will be no school Monday in observance obser-vance of Memorial Day. All hiqh schools Summer school Summer school will held at Lehi High and Mountain View High for any high school student who needs to attend. Two blpcks will be held: June 2-20 and June 25 thru July 18. The cost is $25 which is reimbursable when the class is passed. Attendance At-tendance is mandatory; students stu-dents can not miss any more than two days or they will not get credit. Class sizes are limited lim-ited and are on a first come, first serve basis. American Fork High Yearbook information Yearbook wristbands and statements were distributed Tuesday. Anyone who has purchased a yearbook but owes more than $15 in fines or fees will not receive their wristband until the fines are cleared. Students that have fines or fees $15 or less will have that finefee applied to their $15 book deposit refund. Yearbook distribution will be tonight from 6 to 8. A second sec-ond yearbook distribution will be Friday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Statements were recently sent out to anyone owing more than $15 in fines or fees. Parents Par-ents and students are reminded remind-ed that all fines and fees must be paid before a purchased yearbook can be obtained. Cavestock Cavestock will be Friday from 5-10:30 p.m. Included in the activities is a powder puff football game, battle of the barjds, a dunking machine and free popcorn and cotton candy. Tickets are available at lunch from any student body officer and also at the gate. Soccer tryouts The high school boys soccer coaches will be holding tryouts for a U15 AAA team (Xtreme Soccer Soc-cer Club) Friday at 9 a.m. at the high school soccer field. Any interested boy 15 or younger is invited to attend. For more information, contact Wayne Prestgard, 472-7686. Class schedules Classes will be in session Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:45 a.m. to noon. Student will attend A1-A4 classes on Tuesday and B1-B4 classes on Wednesday. Lunch will be served at noon. Busses will arrive for student pick-up at 12:30 p.m. No formal for-mal classes will be in session on Thursday due to graduation. gradua-tion. Credit deadline Tuesday is the deadline for completing complet-ing deficient credit in order to participate in graduation ceremonies. No credit will be accepted for the graduation ceremony after this date. This also includes credit from any alternative program. All additional addi-tional credit (extra curricular, grade changes, etc.) must be handed in to the Counseling Center no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Graduation information Graduation practice will be Tuesday from 2- 3:30 p.m. at BYU. Seniors will need to provide their own transportation. transporta-tion. Graduation will be May 29 from 12:30-2:15 p.m. All seniors se-niors must be at the Marriott Center by 11:30 a.m. Cap and gown distribution and senior refunds will take place Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. Refunds available Sophomores Sopho-mores and juniors may pick up their refunds May 30 from 9-10:30 a.m. in the commons area. Party tickets Senior party tickets to Boondocks are on sale at the student finance office of-fice 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. Cords available Gold and silver cords are now available to purchase at the student finance fi-nance office for $5. Gold cord eligibility requires a 3.8 to 4.0 cumulative GPA and silver cord eligibility requires a 3.6 to 3.79 cumulative GPA. Soccer camp The AFHS girls soccer coaches will host a girls soccer camp June 2-6 from 8-10:30 a.m. for grades 7-12 and from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for grades K-6. The cost is $35 and the camp will be at the AFHS soccer field. For more information call Coach Murdock at 367-8767 or Coach Dzubak at 592-0407. Donations The Flower Patch will donate $1 to AFHS for any order that the faculty, staff, students or patrons make. To participate, simply indicate AFHS when placing an order. American Fork Junior High School Celebration The eighth-grade eighth-grade completion celebration will be held tonight at 6:30 in the American Fork Tabernacle. Taber-nacle. Parents, friends and families are encouraged and invited to attend to celebrate the success of their students. After the celebration, students are invited to return to the junior ju-nior high for a fun activity. Fines Fines will be reviewed re-viewed Friday in the student's advisory classes. Students are reminded that all fines must be paid prior to receiving a yearbook. Yearbooks There are fewer than 100 yearbooks left. Yearbooks can be purchased at the finance office for $40. Yearbook distribution will be May 29. All fines must be paid prior to receiving a yearbook. Soccer tryouts The high school boys soccer coaches will be holding tryouts for a U15 AAA team (Xtreme Soccer Soc-cer Club) on Saturday, May 24 at 9 a.m. at the high school soccer field. Any interested boy 15 or younger is invited to attend. For more information, contact Wayne Prestgard, 472-7686. Lagoon All qualifying freshmen are invited to go to Lagoon on Wednesday. The cost is $24 paid to Lagoon and $6 paid to AFJH for transportation. trans-portation. The transportation fee and the Lagoon ticket fee must not be combined in the same check. Students should also provide their own lunch. Summer school Summer school will be available for any student needing to make up credit. As a reminder, students stu-dents may make up a maximum maxi-mum of two quarter credits in math, English or science. Summer school will run from June 9-20 with the first session from 8- 9:55 a.m. and the second sec-ond session from 10-11:55 a.m. The cost is $40 for one session ses-sion or $75 for two sessions. The classes fill on a first come, first serve basis. Applications Ap-plications are available in the counseling office. Refunds Refunds will be given to students the last day of school. Students who are not at school may pick up their refund through June 13 at the front office. Any refund not picked up by June 13 will be considered a donation to the school for textbooks and supplies. Web site The school Web site, afjh.alpine.kl2.ut.us, is a resource for students as well as parents. Parents and students are encouraged to browse the school's Web site to get answers to questions or to get information about upcoming activities. Forbes Elementary Talent show The school talent show is today at 10 a.m. for 1st track and 1 p.m. for 2nd track. Parents are invited to attend. Dance festival The dance festival will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. with field day starting at noon. Parents are welcome to stay for lunch with their student. stu-dent. Kindergarten students will dismissed for the day after af-ter the dance festival. Parents are invited to attend. Field day Field day for the Kindergarten students will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. All Kindergarten students will attend at-tend school at 9:15 a.m. Awards assembly The awards assembly will be Tuesday Tues-day at 1 p.m. The last day of school is May 30. Track 1 students attend at-tend school from 8-9:30 a.m. and Track 2 students attend school from 9:15-10:45 a.m. Shelley Elementary Library books All library books are due this week. Students Stu-dents should turn in all library books by the end of school tomorrow. Testing The state core testing window will run Friday. Fri-day. Parents are asked to help their students to avoid absences. On-line science testing for fourth grade students will be Monday and Tuesday. Parents are asked to help their students stu-dents avoid absences. Swim lessons The fifth-grade fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to participate in swim lessons at the Rec Center Cen-ter May 19-21 and May 27-28 during school hours. Dance festival and field day The dance festival dress rehearsal re-hearsal will be next Thursday. The dance festival and field day will be Friday. All students stu-dents in grades 1-6 will attend school on this day from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |