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Show Page 6 0 R E M TIMES Thursday, September 18, 2008 NEWS AND IDEAS FROM CLASSROOMS AND EDUCATORS Windsor Elem. ESL teacher becomes U.S. citizen RevaJJowen NOPTH COUNTY STAFF A petite, tap-dancing Orem grandmother with an international inter-national background has achieved a long-held dream by earning her United States citizenship. Yara Murdock officially became a U.S. citizen in ceremonies cer-emonies held in Salt Lake City Sept. 10. She was honored the next day at an after-school party par-ty planned by her co-workers at Windsor Elementary School, where she has worked with students for 21 years. Murdock was born in Lima, Peru. Her mother was Canadian, Cana-dian, and her father German, although he later became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Because of her father's career with United Press International as a reporter, bureau chief, and executive director, Murdock Mur-dock grew up in Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Montreal, and spoke five languages as a child. She graduated from high school and went to college in New York. "When people ask me where I'm from, I think, 'What country coun-try do I pick?' I'm a Heinz 57," Murdock laughed. "I'm a product prod-uct of a lot of different cultures and countries. I'm extremely proud to be an American citizen, citi-zen, and I hope I'll be a good one. I love apple pie, and tap dancing. Isn't that as American as you can get?" Murdock first applied for cit izenship last October. She t wolves Nate Howell Very few people can see Aaron Barth and not be awed by his magnificence. In fact, only three such people have J site AS WITH AN APYTHIS HIGH, WE'RE SURPRISED THIS DIDN'T MAKE THE FRONTPAGE. Bank of American Fork BIG CITY BANKING SMALL TOWN SERVICE" SALT LAKE COUNTY: DRAPER MURRAY RIVERTON SANDY UTAH COUNTY: ALPINE AMERICAN FORK HIGHLAND LEHI ORENlPROVO PLEASANT GROVE SPANISH FORK CRAIQ DILGEROaily Herald Yara Murdock front, an ESL teacher ut Windsor Elementary, holds an American flag that she was given at a party in honor of receiving her United States citizenship on Thursday had to pay a $(J75 fee, go through an FBI background check, and pass a test. The test involved having to be ready to answer 9ft different questions on American history. Murdock and her husband. Ken, took a cruise, and brought along her study materials. "While we were on the cruise, we studied hard," Murdock said. "1 was disappointed disap-pointed that I was only asked five questions. I was thinking, 'Please ask me them all, because be-cause I know them all.'" Murdock's friend, Shannon Mertz, said she remembers Murdock's preparations for been reported in history. Barth, the Spanish teacher, soccer coach, and Student Stu-dent Council advisor from Timpanogos High School, truly does emit an aura of excellence ex-cellence that all can see. Now, one may suggest I only say these things because Barth gave Student Council a free day and we all received spectacular donuts of all varieties. vari-eties. This is completely false. t & econaKOKKg r ....... , M jiiimiiuMDiijiiiiii ,,jhji iiiinj J INTRODUCING MyRATE CHECKING (Patent Pending BancVue, Ltd.) Here's how it works: make 12 VISA Check Card purchases each month, enroll and receive electronic statements, set up one direct deposit or automatic payment from your account and you'll earn an astounding 4.07 APY. That's more than a CO account and you won't suffer from having your money tied up! What's more, there's no minimum balance. Say you don't meet those requirements one month? The account still earns 0.25 APY. It's your choice. It's MyRate Checking. For information, call (888)842-3456, or visit us at bankaf.com. A K- r, the test. "She was like the teenagers studying for their driver's licenses... This is a big deal for her, and I'm very proud of her." All four of Murdock's children chil-dren Lisa Newell, Lora Conder, Marc Murdock, and Tahnee Frampton were with her for the citizenship ceremonies. Ken, the owner of A.F. Collision Repair, was not able to attend because he is currently in Canada on one leg of an ambitious, months-long motorcycle trip that is taking him around the circumference of the contiguous United States and across Canada. We all knew before how great this man truly was. "What a great guy. Him and his many talents make me just jump for joy," said Dane Smith. Those talents of which Dane speaks are indeed extraordinary. extraordi-nary. The man does anything, from coaching successful soccer soc-cer teams to teaching even sophomores the wonders of the Spanish language to running run-ning long distances even with "My husband was with me in spirit," Murdock said. "He contacted con-tacted me a couple of times that day, and told me that he is very proud. My family has been my support system helping me study, quizzing me, cheering me on. They're my whole life; they make me so happy." Friend Judy Kowallis, media specialist at Windsor, said of Murdock, "The first thing is, she loves her family deeply. And she loves all of us. We call her the 'treat fairy.' She's always bringing us treats. She cares for her aging mother, and her family. She's very loyal to her friends and is very a peculiar running style. Only one thing remains on the list of things he cannot do making posters. We have tried, but he refuses to touch a poster of any kind. My theory states that the chalk might reveal his true self; we all know he is much too good to be human. He also helps Student Council run like a well-oiled machine. He is our mentor, our guru, our fountain of infinite knowledge. He gives us whatever what-ever we need to accomplish what we want, and he rules The only thing between your I I children and alcohol Is you. I I I " I' I ! o ; I There are ways to keep your' children from using any alcohol. They all start with you. Research shows parental disapproval is the number one reason kids choose not to drink. So set clear rules and expectations on no alcohol use. For more information on underage drinking in Utah and the proven skills to prevent it, visit parentsempowered.org. Sponsored by The Utah tender-hearted." Murdock said she loves being be-ing a grandmother and sharing time and activities with her eight grandchildren. "I say, 'Keep 'em the grandchildren grand-children coming, because it's not me who has to do the work," she said. Dancing is a big part of Murdock's Mur-dock's life, and a passion that she shares with many of her granddaughters. She appears in recitals twice a year with her dance studio, where she is an intermediate and advanced adult tap student, and where she has also taught beginning classes for adults. "I go to the granddaughters' granddaugh-ters' dance recitals, and cheer them on, and they go to mine," Murdock said. "It's very fun. I love being able to go and be in a recital, and have it all quiet, then the grandkids call out, 'Go, Grandma!' Oh, gosh, it's so cool." Murdock has enjoyed her work at Windsor 10 years as a teacher's aide in the Spanish Span-ish immersion program, and as an E.S.L. paraprofessional the past 11 years. "I feel that I'm an advocate for the E.S.L. students and their parents," Murdock said. "I know what it feels like. I was an E.S.L. student." The new citizen is looking forward to voting in the upcoming upcom-ing presidential election, and has another goal. "I want to learn how to clog that's really re-ally 'all-American'," Murdock said. "That's my next goal." when he needs to rule, but usually usu-ally lets us do what we please. "Barth is letting us play soccer soc-cer in the classroom," JaNae Fuller provided as an example, "But he doesn't know yet." Barth himself stated, "The best things in life are the simplest like donuts." And Barth is the best, and he does strongly resemble a donut in that he is breathtaking to behold be-hold on the outside, but his jelly jel-ly filling, his love and wisdom from within, is what makes him truly delightful. PARENTS EMPOWEnEOKuiJ Deportment ot Alcoholic Beverage Control Orem Jr. High School Midterms Midterms are today. Parent-teacher conferences Parent-teacher conferences conferenc-es are scheduled for Sept. 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. Aspen Elementary Doughnut date The Donut Date for sixth grade classes, when a parent or other significant adult in a child's life come to school to share reading and a treat with their student, will be Friday at 9:30 am School pictures School picture day is Tuesday. Bonneville Elementary Testing Iowa Basic Testing for third and fifth grades will continue until Oct. 3. Grandparents' Day The annual Grandparents' Day is Tuesday. Reflections kick-off Monday, Sept. 29, will be the Reflections kick-off for Bonneville. Geneva Elem. Classic skate night Classic Clas-sic skate night will be Monday Mon-day from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Windsor Elementary Safety Week Safety Week at Windsor concludes with special activities today and Friday. Today is "Bike Safety Day", when students' names will be drawn to win four bike helmets. Friday is "Green Day," when the class wearing clothing with the most green (symbolizing (symboliz-ing safety), will earn an ice cream party. Earlier in the week, students stu-dents learned about walking safely to school and using the "buddy" system. Green flags were given to students to tie to their backpack or belt to remind them to practice prac-tice principles of safety. Midterm Midterm is Friday. Vision screenings Vision screenings will be Monday. ond Utah Prevention s |