Thunderings

Friday, Dec. 19, marks the end of the second quarter and the start of Christmas break. The third quarter begins Monday, Jan. 5, and second-quarter grades will be sent home when students return to school. We encourage parents to use the Power School link on our school Web site, dhthunder.org, to stay current with their student's progress in all classes. Parents needing help with their password can call the counseling office for assistance (674-0885). We also encourage our DHHS family to make a final push to help Dixie Care and Share meet the needs of so many in our community who have lost jobs in this weak economy and need assistance. Please send cans of food to school with your student and make a difference. We wish to thank parents, PTSA, and friends of DHHS for your support of our programs, from academics and performance arts to sports and our library book drive. We look forward to the next semester with much anticipation. Meanwhile, we wish all of you a blessed Christmas and New Year.

Thunderings

Thank you to those who supported the DHHS Book Fair at Barnes & Noble on Friday. Our chamber choir performed beautifully, and the portion of sales donated to the school will help to fill our library shelves. To get your holiday spirit jingling, our string orchestra will present a concert Dec. 11, the choir will sing Dec. 16, and the concert band will perform Dec. 17. All performances will begin at 7 p.m. in the DHHS Auditorium. Don’t forget to be a part of “Students CAN Make a Difference” and send nutritious canned food to school to help Dixie Care and Share, especially in need during this holiday season. The DHHS PTSA is staffing the 2009-10 PTSA Board. If interested in serving in any capacity, e-mail Debbie Larson at gordy@infowest.com,subject line: PTSA Board Volunteer. Support our boys' golf and basketball programs by joining in a four-man scramble at Sunriver Golf Course, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Lunch and prizes are included in the $320 cost per team. For details, signups and sponsorship, contact coach Ron Denos at 674-0885. The second quarter ends on Dec. 19.

Thunderings

We invite the community to do some Christmas shopping at Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Red Cliffs Mall on Friday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., as a portion of sales proceeds that day will be donated to our school to purchase much-needed books for our library. Our chamber choir will perform that evening, an exhibit of student art will be on display, and one of our librarians will keep children entertained with storytelling. Take to the links and support our boys' golf and basketball programs by joining in a four-man scramble at Sunriver Golf Course, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Lunch and prizes will be included in the $320 cost per team. For details, signups and sponsorship, contact coaches Ron Denos at 674-0885. Sterling Scholar applications are due today. Contact advisor Karen Lowe for more information. A "winter stomp" dance for students will be held after Friday's basketball game. DHHS is holding a canned food drive to benefit Dixie Care and Share, and we ask for parents to send a few cans of nutritious food to school with their students. We will also have a Christmas tree decorating contest and would appreciate donations of three tall Christmas trees. Call the school at 674-0885 for more information. Students' "wishes" will be granted at during a "wish box" assembly on Dec. 19, our last day before the Christmas break. Dec. 19 also marks the end of the second quarter. For students needing to serve restitution for missing attendance, restitution is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3 p.m. in Room 117. The cost is $5 for a one-hour/one-attendance-point session.

Thunderings

Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the family of Tucker Thayer, who was laid to rest over the weekend. The community is invited to support the Thayer family by purchasing a beautifully bound binder of recipes, available at DHHS for $14.95 through the first two weeks of December. Moving forward, we look to exciting events unfolding at DHHS. This has been PTSA Family week, and we have enjoyed the visits of parents to their students' classrooms yesterday and today. We thank parents for their continuing support and join PTSA in encouraging families to find time to spend together, sitting down for at least one meal together each week. Please join us Dec. 5 at Barnes & Noble bookstore in St. George for our DHHS Book Fair, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A portion of proceeds from sales throughout the day will be donated to our school to help us purchase books for our library. Our chamber choir will perform that evening, an exhibit of student art will be on display, and children can be mesmerized by storytelling by one of our librarians. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, our Jazz Band will perform at 7 p.m. in our auditorium. Help support our boys' golf and basketball programs by joining in a four-man scramble at Sunriver Golf Course, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Lunch and prizes will be included in the $320 cost per team. For details, signups and sponsorship, contact coaches Ron Denos or Steve Melessa at 674-0885. A new Ballroom Dance Club is sweeping students off their feet at DHHS, meeting on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school. As we look to Christmas, we will have a canned food drive during the first two weeks of December, so please send a few cans of food to school with your student. We will also have a Christmas tree decorating contest – we could use a donation of three large trees – and will grant students' "wishes" during a "wish box" assembly on Dec. 19. Our wish this week is for all our students and our DHHS families to have a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.

A Week of Sadness and Appreciation

The hearts and prayers of the Desert Hills High community go out to the family of drama student Tucker Thayer, who was killed in a tragic incident before Saturday's performance of "Oklahoma!" Despite this tragedy, many wonderful experiences were had by students who participated in the play, and we appreciate the direction of drama teacher Mr. Eaton and music directors Mr. Winslow and Mrs. Candland as well as the performances of the entire talented cast and crew. We will miss this young man but will move forward in continuing to provide a positive learning environment for all our students. We're looking ahead now to our Fine Arts Celebration on Dec. 2, featuring our band and jazz band, choirs, orchestra, and the amazing artwork that has been on display throughout the school. Taking place this week is the Junior Miss Pageant, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. We'll also hold our first National Honor Society induction tomorrow, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m., to recognize the academic achievements of these honor students. Second quarter mid-term grades will be sent home with students on Friday. In sports, team selections are being finalized as we prepare for wrestling and girls' and boys' basketball, with opening basketball games on Tuesday, Nov. 25. We look forward to our school's first season in these sports. Our swimmers continue to do well at their meets. Next week is PTSA Family Week, and families are encouraged to share at least one meal together. Parents are also invited to visit their children's classrooms to observe as well as share a personal real-life application of what students are learning. For more information, contact DHHS at 674-0885. Please mark your calendar for Dec. 5 and plan to do some Christmas shopping at Barnes and Noble in St. George, as a portion of proceeds from all sales that day will go to our school to help fill the bookshelves of our media center. DHHS students will perform and read their work from 5 to 9 p.m.