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.

Thunderings from DHHS

Congratulations to our tennis and golf teams on their State championships and to baseball on their third-place finish at State. Girls softball concluded an exciting season by making it to State competition. Track made a good showing at State, with Porter Harris (long jump) and Tyler Ott (high jump) bringing home championships. CRT make-up testing is Wednesday through Friday. Criterion-Referenced assessment (CRT) scores can be accessed on Power School. Check with the counseling office if you need more information. Please go to www.myschoolfees.com and pay outstanding fees online. Academic Awards Night is Tuesday, May 25, in the DHHS auditorium, and graduation will be Wednesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at DSC’s Burns Arena. The last day of school for students is May 26. Two sessions of driver education will be offered this summer; register with Mrs. Whitehead in the counseling office. Help support Thunder Football at the Sand Hollow Golf Course, May 22, 2 p.m. There will be prizes, a drawing for a trip to Oahu, and a hole-in-one contest for a trip to the 2011 Masters. $300 per foursome/$75 per person – get your teams together! For more information, contact Scott Gibson, 619-8080 or LanNette Brinker, 632-9670.

Pictured: Merrick Reynolds takes the ball downfield during a soccer match.

Photo by Alyssa Owens

Thunderings from DHHS

End of year and Advanced Placement testing continues this week. Your student’s Criterion-Referenced assessment (CRT) scores can be accessed on Power School. Check with the counseling office if you need more information. With just two weeks of classes remaining, please be checking Power School for your student’s progress in his or her classes and contact teachers with concerns. May 12, the Concert Band performs a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. If interested in purchasing a piano, attend a piano sale hosted at DHHS on May 13-15. Contact the office for more information. Friday, May 14, is the last day to clear all fines and fees before graduation. Please go to www.myschoolfees.com and pay outstanding fees. The last day to attend Restitution is Friday, May. 14. Two sessions of driver education will be offered this summer; register with Mrs. Whitehead in the counseling office. Help support Thunder Football at the Sand Hollow Golf Course, May 22, 2 p.m. There will be prizes, a drawing for a trip to Oahu, and a hole-in-one contest for a trip to the 2011 Masters. $300 per foursome/$75 per person – get your teams together! For more information, contact Scott Gibson, 619-8080 or LanNette Brinker, 632-9670.

Pictured: Christian "Paco" Clayton helps bring the soccer team another win.

Photo by Alyssa Owens

Thunderings from DHHS

DHHS is humming this week, with State Core Curriculum-based testing in science and math, Advanced Placement testing, arts performances, tryouts, and the start of spring sports finals. Congratulations to Students of the Month for May: sophomore Kenneth Stocks, junior Kelsee Broadhead and senior Gentry Rynearson. This week features performances by our Jazz Band, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and Orchestra, Thursday at 6 p.m. Looking for a Mother’s Day gift? Get her car washed on Saturday, May 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at DHHS and help support our cheerleaders. Show your school spirit and purchase a DHHS vinyl window decal, available in several styles at the finance office. Two sessions of driver education will be offered during the summer; register with Mrs. Whitehead in the counseling office. Don’t be late –go to www.myschoolfees.com and pay outstanding fees. Friday, May 14, is the last day to clear all fines and fees before graduation. The last day to attend Restitution is Friday, May. 14. Mark the date and come help support Thunder Football at the Sand Hollow Golf Course, May 22, 2 p.m. There will be prizes, a drawing for a trip to Oahu, and a hole-in-one contest for a trip to the 2011 Masters. $300 per foursome/$75 per person – get your teams together! For more information, contact Scott Gibson, 619-8080 or LanNette Brinker, 632-9670.