Show t chool Wednesday September 29 2004 Hawk homecoming rouses student body meres How schools serve the public interest and promote the common good Editor’s Note: In the next several columns Superintendent Courtney Syme of the North Sanpete School District will share work from the Center for Public Education concerning the role public education plays in American society Staff writer ety as workers and citizens How students are educated today will substantially determine the kind of society we will live in tomorrow the public has an opportunity Accordingly and a right to participate in the direction of the public schools In education that right is unique to public schools A community’s interest is represented in public schools through a variety of means For our society to function The public schools are uniquely positioned to convey these values which include integfairness justice rity individual responsibility grams In addition local media report information about the activities and performance of the public schools Both the public and the media have access to reports and documents not protected by student confidentially or other legal requirements In no other schools is the public interest in education as deliberately and proactively represented as in the public schools No other schools are as open to public scrutiny In this column and the next fouf y(iy$ jn which public schools serve the public interest and promote the common good will be described First in a free society parents play an im ' MT PLEASANT— North Sanpete High School students crowned royalty won their football game danced and reportedly had “a good and fun experience” during their Sept homecoming week celebrating with the Seen theme “You Ain’t Nothin’ Yet!” Hawaiian was Monday Day Students dressed in Hawaiian clothes and listened to Hawaiian music After school students honored an annual tradition of showing school pride by painting the windows of downtown buildings Tuesday was Cowboy Day Students wore Wran- Courtney Syme North Sanpete School District Superintendent portant role in conveying their values through their own teachings and those of the religious and cultural groups of their choice To complement those teachings an array of values advances the larger common good and enables Community members and groups (such as business and civic groups) may serve on advisory councils to share their expertise or to have their values or needs reflected in school pro- patriotism respect for others doing a good job being on time working well with others and being a good citizen Conveying these values involves more than teachers lecturing or students reading about the values It also involves daily classroom practices that help students recognize and exercise these values in everyday life Public education provides the common base of information and expectation among people that allows both glers boots and cowboy hats Some students played the part by talking in southern accents The day was finished with a dividuals and society to function and thrive Second a democratic society requires a people who value and practice certain prininclude ciples These democratic principles equality and freedom for all social mobility and respect equal opportunity Erika Johnson for civil law and civil responsibility As current world events and the history of democratic principles are nations demonstrate not They are learned through intellectual exposure and practice Fortunately to avoid oversight in teaching these principles they are taught through content standards and curriculum materials as well as through such activities as student govern- ment in the public schools In the next column two more ways ’in which pubic Schools serve the public interest and promote the common good will be presented Staff writer PLEASANT— Although North Sanpete High MT School has not experienced of the beeps downloadable many squeals and ring tones that plague so much of the modem world district officials are taking steps to ensure that it never does A policy currently under consideration by the North Sanpete Board of Education would eliminate the use of any or other interfering device during school hours unless specifically authorized by school personnel or necessary for a school activity The board received the policy for examination from the Utah School Boards Association and discussed it at a communication meeting Sept 15 Interfering devices include cameras laser pens and pointers radios portable CD players and other electronic equipment or devices Electronic communication devices include any device allowing a student to record or transmit sound videos text or other information including the cell phone The policy allows students to possess the electronic devices forbidding only the use of the devices during school hours North Sanpete High School has not had much trouble with electronic devices but according to John Ericksen principal of the high school officials want the policy in place just in case the problem arises “We haven’t had a big problem but we don’t want one either” Ericksen said “What we’re trying to do is a little preventive maintenance” Ericksen said “We just need in place so we can something show parents our policy” Ericksen specifically mentioned cell phones and CD play The policy says it is the “duty” of any teacher or administrator finding a student in violation of the policy to confiscate the offending device The student’s parents can then pick up the property at the principal’s office Other schools throughout the state have not been as quiet or safe as North Sanpete when it comes to the intrusions of electronic devices in the educational process according to Ericksen Schools have had problems not only with the noise of electronic devices but also with the photographic capacity of cell phones and personal digital assistants such as palm pilots The policy will go into effect after the school board approves a small revision it made at its meeting MESSENGER PHOTO BRUCE RIET- VAN DER MESSENGER PHOtO North Sanpete High students show off their pajamas as part of Homecoming activities ing them to the girls!” Friday was Spirit Day Students were pumped up and ready for the big game that evening They showed support by wearing red and white hawk apparel A pride assembly was held in the afternoon followed parade trampled by the homecoming North Sanpete at the Tire game 30-dance followed the game and was reported to be a huge success Emery Ephraim Elementary The reflections competition will be held at the school this fall The theme will be “A different kind of hero” Students may submit works of art in the following categories: visual art litera ture photography position multimedia be received by Nov art dance musical and theater Entries com- must 12 Manti Elementary were held last Thursday and Friday The PTA will start the annual fundraiser on Monday Students will be selling Graver cookie dough The raised $450 for the swimming pool budconferences get National testing started Monday third and fifth grades The Utah Education Association (UEA) president came to the school— bringing a special friend the Cat in the Hat — and read the Dr Seuss book The visit was meant to encourage children to follow the governor’s initiative to read 20 minutes each day for the Spring City Elementary The conference was well attended School pictures were taken on Monday The school band is now in full swing and get ready for the first performance doing well on Dec Ephraim Middle conference was held last Thursday and Friday Sixth grade class elections were held last week and the elected students were Ashley Soper (president) Taylor Jones (vice president) and Riley Tripp (secretary) reports will be coming home with students this week freshman from Manti recently received the $3000 funded through a scholarship donation by the Richfield The reflections competition will be held at the school this fall The theme will be “A different kind of hero" Students may submit works of art in the following categories: visual art literaart dance musical comture photography and theater Entries must position multimedia be received by Nov 12 Gunnison Valley Middle bottling plant the goal of the scholarship was giving students a step up on the ladder of success and he said he looked forward to giving another award next year RIET- UlTOBijau!) I in process” EPHRAIM — Megan Copeland a Snow College The college said Copeland had been chosen over 40 applicants in the Richfield service district because of her work ethic spirit of service and financial need Fred Christensen manager of the R ichfield plant presented a plaque recognizing Copeland’s selection He said VAN DER ers with headsets as electronic devices that “disrupt the learning Manti freshman gets scholarship Swire school movie night at the where Napolean Dynamite was shown Wednesday was Camo Day Camo (camouflage) day gave students a chance to show support for the nation’s troops in Iraq The school was full of pride and reverence a little and of course rowdiness as students showed their support how they saw fit Thursday was Pajama Day Students had a schoolwide slumber party wearing favont? PJs That afternoon was the annual powder-puf- f game where junior girls play against the senior girls in a game of flag football The boys were more than happy to volunteer their jerseys for this event Vice Principal King said “I think the boys even washed the jerseys before giv- - BRUCE North Sanpete Hawk team members really gets Into the spirit of homecoming during their parade last Friday In Mt Pleasant drive-i- Electronic device use regulated in North Sanpete schools By 7 By Ben Fox Students and their parents have a primary interest in the nature and quality of education schools provide But the broader public also has an interest in students acquiring the knowledge skills and values needed to contribute to soci- voters elect their fellow citizens to example serve on school boards to make basic policy decisions about the schools’ direction and costs Those decisions must occur in public meetings that give citizens an opportunity to participate A9 Sanpete Messenger Thursday conference was held last and Friday National school lunch week will be from Sept 27 to Oct Gunnison Valley High up to writing" The school is gearing up for homecoming activities which will begin CXt 4 After the successful writing seminar for faculty held on Sept 20 another seminar is being scheduled for January The theme will be “Step Manti High a Fred Christensen manager of the Richfield Swire plant presents plaque to Meagan Copeland Snow College freshman from Manti recognizing her as the winner of the $3000 scholarship Forty Central Utah students competed for the award The FEA competed at SUU in horse evaluations livestock evaluations and range evaluations on Tuesday 5 from ua pm-- conference is Tuesday 5:30 pm-pm The school will be replacing two spots on the community council this year Voting will take conferences Nominations place at w ill be taken until Monday s Oct 4 at noon Oct pm T 4ii 4 i |