Thunderings from DHHS

We are sweeping toward the end of the first quarter, on Oct. 14. Parents and students, check for missing assignments and final assignment due dates posted on Power School.
The next PTSA meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 11:15 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP if you will be attending.
Our debate team will compete in their first tournament, Oct. 8-9 at Dixie High. Advisor Mr. Eaton needs adult volunteers to help judge at tournaments – no debate experience is needed. Please contact Mr. Eaton if you can help.
Advanced drama students will perform at the Utah Shakespearean High School Festival in Cedar City, Oct. 8-9. Our dance team, La Ragelles, will also compete.
Mrs. Richardson’s psychology students are identifying their own physical and personality characteristics and analyzing whether the trait is from nature (heredity) or nurture (environment)—or both. Students will display their traits in a collage of pictures for presentation.
Seniors who haven’t taken the ACT should register to take the test this fall. Seniors must have an ACT score to apply for most colleges and for Sterling Scholar. Go to actstudent.org to register. Test preparation materials are available online also.
Sterling Scholar applications are due to advisor Mrs. Lowe by Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Purchase your yearbook now at the advance price of $45. A personalized cover is available for an extra $10. Pay online at myschoolfees.com. Parents of seniors, watch your mail for a letter about submitting a congratulatory ad in the yearbook.

Pictured: DHHS cheerleaders hosted a cheer camp for kids this week. The cheerleaders-in-training will perform during halftime at Friday's home game against Snow Canyon.

Pictured: Megan Williams and Mckay Cummings rehearse for "Hello Dolly!" coming to the DHHS stage, Nov. 18-22.

Thunderings from DHHS

There's a lot to cheer about at Desert Hills. In fact, DHHS will host a cheer clinic Monday through Thursday, Sept. 27-30, 4-5 p.m. Cheer clinic participants will perform at half-time of the football game on Friday, Oct. 1. Registration is $25 and includes a cheer T-shirt. Register Monday, 3:30 p.m. in the DHHS gym. Contact cheer advisor Patty Richardson for more information.
Congratulations to the 13 DHHS seniors of 2010 who earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams: Skyler Almquist, Makenzie Bakker (class of 2011), Nina Bany, Kyle Boice, Megan Buckway, Christian Clayton, Tawni Durrant, Brady Johnson, Erin Kolu, Kristine Merkel, Adam Ott, Casey Spilker and Hilary Wright.
This year's seniors interested in applying for Sterling Scholar need to meet with advisor Mrs. Lowe after school on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
Ms. Kerksiek's art students traveled north to Art Day on Cedar Mountain, a competition in painting, drawing, and 3-D objects. Three cheers to Thita Tunlayadechanont for bringing home second place and Alexis Glauser, third, in the painting category.
Julie Kirk, internationally renowned sidewalk street artist, demonstrated sidewalk painting to DHHS art students on Monday and led students in creating their own street art.
Mrs. Neville's 12th grade English students are completing projects about heroes in literary history, from Beowulf to King Arthur. Projects include photographic essays, songs, poems, paintings, and PowerPoint and Prezi presentations.
Students in Mr. Turley's health classes created hero cards honoring someone who exemplified good character traits. After students presented their personal heroes, their cards became part of a "hero wall" display in the classroom. On Thursday, guest speaker Lisa Osmond talked to students about organ donation.
Our choir performs a concert at the St. George Tabernacle on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
The debate squad will attend their first tournament, Oct. 8-9 at Dixie High. The program is in great need of volunteers to help judge. No formal debate experience is necessary. Contact advisor Michael Eaton and help keep the debate program alive at Desert Hills.
Excitement is building and student actors are rehearsing for "Hello Dolly!" coming to the DHHS stage Nov. 18-22. Advanced drama students are preparing to perform at the Utah Shakespearean High School Festival competition in Cedar City, Oct. 8-9.

Pictured above:
Mr. Turley points to students' personal hero cards posted on the "hero wall" in the classroom.

Senior art student Laura Dalton creates sidewalk art after internationally acclaimed sidewalk artist Julie Kirk presented a lesson to Ms. Kirksiek's class.

Thunderings from DHHS

Interesting things are happening in our classrooms. For example, Marcee Christensen's Child Development students were fascinated by guest speaker Patty Leishmann from IHC. Maybe it was the placenta, amniotic sac and umbilical cord she brought to illustrate her discussion of labor and delivery.
In Creative Writing class, local author and ZNHA executive director Lyman Hafen spoke to students about his experiences in becoming a writer and getting published.
Advanced Drama students are preparing to perform at the Utah Shakespearean High School Festival in Cedar City on Oct. 8-9. Our talented dance team, La Ragelles, will also compete. Congratulations to Heather Hansen and Megan Williams for landing the lead role of Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly!" which comes to the DHHS stage Nov. 18-22. Wyatt Shepherd and Jace Smethurst play the male lead, Horace Vandergelder.
Our choir performs a concert at the St. George Tabernacle on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
Friday marks the first quarter midterm. Parents, progress reports will be sent home with students. Please remember, too, that most teachers have websites with class information. Look for the faculty links on our school website, dhthunder.org. Additionally, please check Power School regularly to see your student's progress and upcoming assignments.


Pictured above:

Desert Hills students vied to be the greatest Thunder Family Team during a Family Feud game created by FCCLA president Sarah McComb to promote club awareness.

Thunderings from DHHS

Last week's Homecoming activities were spirited fun for students and staff. Sincere thanks to the Exec Council and advisor Mrs. Wallace for their hard work in planning and preparing Homecoming week. Thanks also to our Desert Hills community for participating in our annual tailgate party before the Homecoming game, as well as for supporting our athletes in all sports.

Japanese teacher "sensei" Mildenhall's students enjoyed a visit from guest speaker Carlyle Potter, a local consultant who helps businesses set up in Japan. Coming up later, Japanese class students will be learning to make sushi.

Students in Mrs. Richardson's AP Psychology learned about careers in licensed clinical social work from guest speaker Jillynne Hafen, a social worker at Dixie Regional Hospital. The previous week, students learned about careers in wilderness group therapy from psychiatric nurse Emily Douglas.

Our debate team is enthusiastically gearing up for tournament season, with the first tournament at Dixie High on Oct. 8-9, followed by a Las Vegas, Nev., tournament Oct. 22-23. Debate coach Michael Eaton is in great need of adult volunteers to judge at upcoming tournaments. Please contact Mr. Eaton for more information.

On Saturday, Molly Person will direct our choirs in the Heritage Choral Festival, a combined performance of several choir and choral groups. The festival features guest director Dr. Brady R. Allred, who conducts the award-winning University of Utah Singers, the A Cappella Choir, and serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the critically acclaimed Salt Lake Choral Artists, comprised of five choirs with 350 singers. The performance is 7:30 p.m. at the Cox auditorium. Admission is free.

Congratulations to DHHS student Zac Sullivan in winning the Peach Days fiddle contest in Hurricane on Saturday.

Students, don't forget to pick up your school photos in the front office. School photo retakes are Sept. 15.

Please note that school-related fees can be paid online at myschoolfees.com. The site is updated daily and can be accessed with the link on our website.

Juniors and seniors should get an early start on the ACT test to ensure time for retakes to improve test scores. The next test date is Oct. 22; register by Sept. 17. Visit www.actstudent.org for test dates, information, and to register online.

Pictured above are DHHS Homecoming 2010 king Ben Emmett and queen Macey Sonju taking their "victory lap" around the field at halftime. (Photo by Morgan Bailey)

Thunderings from DHHS

This has been Homecoming week at Desert Hills, with daily activities culminating in Friday's JV and varsity games, at 4 and 7 p.m. Join the Thunder family at a tailgate celebration beginning at 4 p.m. in the parking lot by the football field. There will be plenty of food and lots of Thunder gear! The Homecoming dance, a masquerade ball, is Saturday, with pictures from 6:30 to 8:30, when the dance begins.
Our other fall sports teams are in full swing. Catch the excitement! Game dates and locations are on the school calendar posted on dhthunder.org.
Excitement hasn't been just on the fields. In the classroom, Linda Brown's students have been using their computer programming skills to program "Lego Mindstorm" robots to dance, with a robotic dance competition coming up. Local illustrator/animator/designer Jared Beckstrand visited Derek Smith's Advanced Graphic Arts class, inspiring students with his success story, including animation for several Disney movies. We are honored that Beckstrand designed our Thunder logos.
Parents of juniors and seniors, make sure your students take the ACT test. The next test date is Oct. 22; register by Sept. 17. Visit www.actstudent.org for test dates, information, and to register online.
School photo retakes are Sept. 15. A reminder, too, that all school-related fees can be paid online, and accounts are updated daily. Check the link on our website.
Please send your prayers and good thoughts to Lori Whitehead, our counseling secretary, who has been very ill and is in the hospital. We miss her!

Pictured above:

Max Theobald dressed the part for “Nerd Day” as part of Homecoming week festivities.

Students in Mrs. Brown’s computer programming class make final preparations to their “dancing” robot.