The Crossroads Journal

Community Calendar

By LeeAnn Bohman

The Eagle Mountain Spring Street Fair will be held on April 14 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. along Peregrine Road.  This fair is open to all registered businesses in Eagle Mountain City.  There is no charge for this event.

 

The Ranches Golf Club & Hidden Hollow Elementary PTA are hosting the Eagle Mountain City Charity Golf Tournament June 1, 2012. It will be Four-Man Scramble with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Registration is $300 for a four-Man team (includes small breakfast, lunch, prizes, gift bag, tournament golf shirt, green fees and golf cart). To register, please go to the Eagle Mountain City website, www.emcity.org.

 

The City of Saratoga Springs is once again doing its annual spring cleanup. Dumpsters will be placed throughout the city starting on April 28 through May 6, 2012. Included is a list of dumpster placement: Harvest Hills at Berry Patch, Harvest Hills Providence park (south east corner), Saratoga Hills (left side of Grandview), Pelican Bay marina (north side of parking lot by front load can), Eagle Park, Private marina by swimming pool, Sunrise Meadows (east side of park), Loch Lomond (west of pond), Public Works building, Lake Mountain Estates (corner of Mountain Moon and Jamaica by park), Lake Mountain Estates (3664 Lake Mountain Drive by park). If you have questions or concerns please contact the Public Works Department at 801-766-9793.

 

Dumpsters for yard and general waste in Eagle Mountain will be available for the month of April. They will be located by the public works building (2545 N. Pony Express Parkway – about two miles south of City Hall) in front of the wastewater treatment facility. When the dumpsters are full, Ace Disposal will empty them as soon as possible. If the dumpsters are full when you arrive, please do not leave items overflowing on top or next to dumpsters. The following items cannot be put in the dumpsters: appliances, electronics, tires, batteries, chemicals, paint. Contact the North Utah County District Landfill for information on how to dispose of these types of items properly.

 

Burn Permits are now available at the Fire Station. Please note that burning is only allowed during the the month of April. To obtain a permit please visit Saratoga Springs Fire Department at: 995 West 1200 North, Monday-Thursday 4:00-6:00 p.m.  $15 agricultural, $10 general. For more information on burn permits and rules and regulations of the burn permit, visit the city website under the “Fire” tab.

 

On April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Substance Misuse and Abuse Reduction Team (SMART) Coalition, local law enforcement, and other partners will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by removing potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from their home medicine cabinets. Free to the public, this event helps safely dispose of unused medications to prevent misuse and protect the environment. Medications will be collected at locations throughout the county, including Saratoga Springs Smith’s, 1320 Redwood Rd.

 

The Saratoga Springs library is staffed by volunteers. In order to keep up their services, they need more people who are willing to commit to 2-4 hours a week. Contact Sue, 801-766-6513, for more information if you are interested in helping.

 

Westlake High School has a tutoring center and needs volunteers from our community. We want to give the students equal opportunities to succeed in the areas they sometimes fall behind in such as algebra I & II, geometry, calculus, chemistry, physics and language arts (writing structure). We will start before and after school tutoring. For more information on how you can help out at the high school, e-mail or call Shari Davis at 801-214-8446 or sharidavis.whsvolunteer@gmail.

 

Eagle Mountain area seniors will have their lunch bunch the first Thursday of the month. A craft class will be the second Monday at 1:00 at the City Center basement (Joye Roberts 801-789-7544), Bunco will be the second Thursday at 1:00 p.m. (bring a $5 prize; Pat 801-623-2214), and Bingo the fourth Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers. The third Tuesday is book club at 5:00 at the City Council chambers (Diane Shukla 801-789-8663) and the third Thursday is MahJongg at noon at the same place (bring a sack lunch and drink; Pat Graves 801-623-2214). The fourth Thursday at noon is Canasta (bring a sack lunch and drink; Pat 801-6223-2214). April 23 there will be a Senior Madhatter Party at 5:00.  There will be prizes for the best hats.  Please bring a Madhatter pot luck dish. Watch for an upcoming schedule for the senior bus. For general questions, contact Carroll Johnson at 318-1595. Information can also be found on www.emcity.org. All residents ages 55 and over are invited to attend the monthly activities, including those from Saratoga Springs and Cedar Fort.

 

Attention all loving grandparents, senior citizens and anyone interested in helping children learn to read. Hidden Hollow Elementary is in need of volunteers that will listen to children read on a weekly basis. This is an experience that will bring satisfaction into your life and contribute greatly to a child’s ability to read. If you’re interested please call Joy Enland at (80)-709-6618 or Hidden Hollow at (801) 789-7807.

School calendar

 

Eagle Valley Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

 

Harvest Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—5th grade Hope of America

 

Hidden Hollow Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—Hope of America

 

Horizon Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

 

Lakeview Academy

April 6—Spring picture day
Musical Express parent performance 7 p.m.
April 9-13—Spring Break

April 17—5th grade Hope of America

April 20—1st grade Dad’s and Doughnuts

Mountain Trails Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

 

Pony Express Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—STARS reading celebration 6:00 p.m.

April 30-May 4—Teacher Appreciation Week

 

The Ranches Academy

April 9-13—Spring Break

April 20—Earth Day

April 27—Principal and secretary day

 

Riverview Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—Hope of America

 

Sage Hills Elementary

Apr. 6—5th grade wax museum

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—Hope of America

April 19—Spring pictures

 

Saratoga Shores Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 19—Spring pictures

April 20—Kindergarten donut date

Spring carnival 6:00 p.m.

 

Thunder Ridge Elementary

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—Chicks and chocolate 6:30 p.m.

April 20—Crazy hair day

 

Vista Heights Middle School

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 19—Track meet at Lehi High 2:30 p.m.

April 26-28, 30—Spring musical 7:00 p.m.

 

Rockwell Charter High School

Apr. 6—Parent teacher conferences 6:00 p.m.

Spring pictures

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 17—Soccer vs. Freedom Academy 4:30 p.m.

April 18—Golf at Ranches Golf Course

April 20—Cheer try-outs

April 21—Prom

 

Westlake High School

April 5—Softball vs. Hillcrest 3:30 p.m.

Band concert 7:00 p.m.

April 6—Softball at Mtn. View 3:00 p.m.

Boys’ soccer at Murray 3:30 p.m.

Drill team tryouts 4:00 p.m.

Elections stomp 8:00 p.m.

April 9-April 13—Spring Break

April 13—Baseball at Skyline 4:00 p.m.

April 16—Cheer parent meeting 5:00 p.m.

April 17—Baseball vs. Olympus 4:00 p.m.

Boys’ tennis vs. Herriman 3:30 p.m.

Boys’ soccer vs. Skyline 3:30 p.m.

Westlake student looking to compete at Down Under Games

By Emily Fotheringham

 

Noelani Jackson definitely could be considered a natural. Last year she decided to participate in shot put for the first time and by the end of the track and field season year not only had she qualified for state, but she also earned 5th place. Now the Westlake High School junior has been invited to participate in the Down Under Games which will be held in Australia during the first part of the month of July.

 

It isn’t surprising that Jackson has some natural talent when it comes to throwing. Her mother competed in track events as well as some of her aunts and uncles. One of her aunts even gets to work directly with her as the field events coach at Westlake  She has already had a lot of success on the field, not only at state, but also at the Utah Summer Games where she earned a gold medal. She is the current Westlake record holder for shot put. Besides shot put Jackson also competes in discus throwing and has started testing her success at the javelin.

 

Now she is looking to participate in the Down Under Games. Alberta Jackson, Noelani’s mother, states, “She will be on the Western Conference Track and Field Team representing not just our community, our state, but our country.” The Down Under Games is a yearly competition where youth from all over the world compete in numerous events including basketball, football, cheerleading, wrestling, etc. Athletes are invited based on the results of their season, as well as a recommendation from their coaches.

 

The Jackson family has been doing numerous things in an effort to raise funds for Noelani to attend the games. Her mother states, “We are so proud of her and are so excited, but in order for her to achieve this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we still need help with sponsors, donations etc. Since the trip isn’t a free ride, our family has been and are holding fundraisers and trying to raise money so that she can take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

 

Fundraising efforts have included selling lunch plates, and getting local merchants, family and friends to donate money. Next they will host a volleyball tournament on April 14 at Cypress High School. Both men and women’s teams can compete in the tournament with early registration costing $160 and day-of registration costing $180. The family will also be selling bracelets and t-shirts to raise funds. They hope to be able to earn $4,500 by May.

 

Besides putting time in on the field, Jackson also maintains a 3.9 grade point average and help her family, where she is the oldest and only girl of four kids. Her ultimate goal is to be able to earn an athletic scholarship to attend college. She is interested in studying medicine and history.

 

For anyone interested in contributing to help get Jackson to Australia, contact Alberta Jackson 801-656-8243, Cathy 801-699-7755, Rita 801-644-7001 or Silipa 801-243-7709.

New Utah Core Standards

By Emily Fotheringham

 

In 2009 the state’s education board voted to be participants in developing new core curriculum, specifically new curriculum for language arts and mathematics. The new curriculum will affect all of Utah’s students, grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Most states in this country are choosing to adopt similar changes as well.

 

According to a pamphlet endorsed by the Utah State Board of Education and the Utah State Office of Education, “The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative is a voluntary, state-led effort to establish a shared set of clear, educational standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics. They are not national or federally mandated standards!”

 

The statement continues, “The development of the standards was coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce. They were developed using research results and the highest state standards across the country.”

 

The Alpine School District informed parents of the upcoming changes with materials sent home to families with students, as well as area schools hosting meetings to educate about the new curriculum. According to a paper provided by the district concerning the new English/Language Arts core, “The ultimate goal of the change is to ensure that all students are career and college-ready. To accomplish this, the new Utah Core Standards emphasize foundational skills in reading, writing, and communicating Parents should see increased rigor at all levels and a focus on creativity and critical thinking skills.”

 

Alpine School District will start implementing the curriculum this year with focus on training and development for educators. They will begin teaching the new standards during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, as well as begin pilot assessments. During the 2014-2015 year they will participate in state core assessment.

 

Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) will also be included in the new core, with their special education teachers being taught in the regular trainings, as well as receiving additional instruction specifically for helping those students learn that have a disability. IEPs will also now be written with goals that meet the new core standards.

 

Local educators seem to be on board with the changes. Elizabeth Wilson, principal of Saratoga Shores Elementary School, states, “The goal of education has always been to ensure that all students are college or career-ready. The upgrade to the new core will help with that. More emphasis will be placed on functional literacy–using non-fiction or informative text. This goes beyond reading fiction, to really using text to communicate and gain information. More emphasis will also be placed on critical thinking skills.”

 

Wilson continues, “The new core in math will emphasize both understanding of concepts and procedures for solving problems. The new core is the framework of identified skills that students need to be able to do at each grade level. How we teach that and what materials we use are up to each community and each school. We want parents to be a part of this process. This is an exciting time to be in education and we will continue to help prepare students for their future no matter where it takes them.”

 

Fred Openshaw, principal of Westlake High School, agrees stating, “I believe that the new core curriculum will increase the rigor for our students and help them be more prepared for college or career. I also believe that it will provide teachers, parents and students with clear focus on the standards they are to be learning.”

 

Those interested in learning more about the New Utah Core Standards can visit http://schoolsutah.gov/core or http://curriculum.alpineschools.org/?page_id=167.