Thunderings from DHHS

Club Rush week gave students a look at the array of clubs at Desert Hills, and rosters filled with enthusiastic new members ready to have fun, learn and serve others.

Service to the community is a school theme this year, and instructor Paul Webb’s Sports Medicine students are earning extra credit for performing random acts of kindness. Watch for more club and class projects to come.

We’re looking forward to Homecoming, our first home football game, on Sept. 3 against North Sanpete. JV plays at 4 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. Be sure to catch the excitement and support your school at our annual tailgate party, starting at 4 p.m. Food, fun and a lineup of “Thunderwear” and other Thunder gear will be available for purchase.

Our Speech and Debate program is back in session, and students will be conducting fundraisers to help defray the cost of tournament trips. Purchase a lightning bolt or Thunder hammer (“It’s Hammertime!”) for $5.

Mr. Eaton’s film class students are exploring their talents in writing their own film scripts.

Yearbooks are now on sale for $45 and an additional $10 for a personalized line of text on the cover. Pay at the school finance office.

Pictured: Principals Justin Keate (left) and Rusty Taylor (right)join the band and lead students in singing the school song at the Club Rush assembly on Aug. 18.

Thunderings from DHHS

Our sophomore-only orientation on the first day of school was a success, and DHHS students are off and running in sports, music, drama, art, academics and in a swarm of other activities. This week was club rush, with a “Welcome Back” assembly on Wednesday during which all the school’s clubs introduced themselves and urged students to get involved.
Thank you from faculty and administration to parents and students who attended Back to School Night on Thursday. We enjoyed meeting parents and welcome you as important members of our learning community.
Be sure to catch the exciting matchups in our fall sports lineup. Go to dhthunder.org for times and locations of games and meets. Homecoming will present our first home football game, on Sept. 3 against North Sanpete, with JV playing at 4 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. Come be a part of the Thunder family tradition! A “Masquerade Ball” Homecoming dance follows on Saturday.
Our band performed to a sold-out crowd at the Washington County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 14, and in November, Thunder Productions will present the Broadway show “Hello Dolly!”
For a student perspective on our school community, look for “Thunderstruck,” the DHHS newspaper, on our website beginning Aug. 31.



Pictured:

Desert Hills Exec Council members met to ratify a constitution for the school Aug. 17. Council members are (back row, L to R) Alexis Clark, Mikenzie Thompson, Charity Suttner, Maggie Glendenning, (front row, L to R) Alex Graff, Taylor Fox and Samantha Richeson.

Thunderings from DHHS

It’s good to be back with our students and starting the third year at Desert Hills. The 2011 seniors are the first class to complete all of their high school years at DHHS – another milestone in Thunder history. We started this week with a sophomore-only orientation, easing some of the usual new-school jitters and confusion before heading to classes. Next week is Club Rush, with a back-to-school assembly on Wednesday. Our fall sports teams – boys golf, girls tennis, soccer and volleyball, cross country and football – are battling their first contests. For game times, see the school calendar on our website, dhthunder.org. Friday, Aug. 13, is “Meet the Team” night for Thunder football, 7 - 8 p.m. in the auditorium. The DHHS band will perform at the Washington County Fair, Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 - 11 a.m. Coming up in November, Thunder Productions will present the Broadway show “Hello Dolly!” a delightful musical about a matchmaker’s race for love in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Auditions will be held Aug. 17 – 20 after school. Get involved in your PTSA and attend the meeting at DHHS on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Pictured: Exec Council members Maggie Glendending (left) and Charity Suttner (right) give a "thumbs-up" to the start of their senior year at DHHS.

Pictured: Sophomores attended an orientation before heading to classes on the first day of school.

Thunderings from DHHS

We are eager to start our third year at DHHS and look forward to welcoming our new and returning students. We are beginning the school year with three new principals at the helm: Rusty Taylor, principal; Justin Keate, vice principal; and Kim Monkres, vice principal/AD. Also joining us are six new teachers: Matt Barber, English; Linda Brown, IT/computers; Marcee Christensen, FACS; Elisha Jones, ASL; Robbie Potter, business; and Lauren Starrs, biology. This year will be about blending new beginnings with Thunder traditions, and we will start the first day, Wednesday, Aug. 11, with something new, a sophomore-only orientation, 8:15-noon, followed by all eight periods, shortened. Regular classes begin Thursday with A day. This year’s student exec council has plenty of new ideas for the year, including a DHHS homecoming parade on Sept. 3, with our traditional homecoming tailgate party following. Please check our new school website, dhthunder.org, for all things DHHS, including a calendar of sports and other events and links to faculty Web pages. Parents, please note that many teachers are “going digital” and will have downloadable assignments, information and calendars linked to their Web pages. A reminder to students and parents: Despite the heat outside, students need to come to school in dress code-appropriate clothing.

Photo 1: New principals at DHHS, Justin Keate (left) and Rusty Taylor (right) make final preparations for the start of school on Aug. 11. Taylor takes over as principal from Ray Brooks, who retired at the end of the 2009-10 term.

Photo 2: Senior Cody Thompson works out his class schedule with counseling secretary Lori Whitehead on Aug. 3.

Photo 3: DHHS custodians spent the summer getting our campus ready for the new school year and are seen here making final preparations in the commons area.