Memories: 2002-2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eisenhower students get published
Classmates turn experiences into 72-page book
by Lynn Arave, Deseret News staff writer
Thursday, May 1, 2003

     Your teen doesn't like to write? A solution may be in what was accomplished at Eisenhower Junior High School.
     Sharlene Witt, right, teacher Kelly Huntington and classmate Suzanne Buckmiller read the book they wrote.Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
     At the Taylorsville school, some 28 ninth-grade students have published their school experiences in a 72-page book, "True Confessions and Other Writings of Eisenhower Junior High GT Freshmen." Full-color pictures accompany most stories.
The book is a collection of the funniest, the most embarrassing moments and other interesting happenings in the recent lives of the students who belong to the ninth-grade gifted and talented class ("GT") at the school.
     "I just thought it was funny," Taylor Hoyt, one of the student authors, said. "It has a lot of inside jokes."
     Each student wrote at least two articles and some of the titles are: "Strip Down by the Banks," "Nap Time Pranks," "Christian's Song," "The Best Concert of My Life" and "Dad?"
     Hoyt authored the concert story about her trip to Phoenix to see ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in concert.
     "It didn't sound like what a ninth-grader would write," her mother, Rae Hoyt said. "I'm surprised at how well these kids think and write . . . it looks to be a great journal."
     The students wanted to write the book to remember a memorable school year. Two of their teachers, Clayton Brough and Kelly Huntington, helped organize and oversee the project.
     Production began in December and 100 copies of the book were published by mid-March. Two students, Chantel Roberts and Kendal Gifford, created a unique all-color, montage cover for the book. Every student in the class edited each piece of writing.
     It was originally going to be published out-of-state, but the students found it far cheaper to use the school's special high-capacity all-color printer. Alpha Graphics and Express Solutions, also gave the students considerable discounts in producing the cover and book binding. Total cost was $400 for 100 copies.
     Hoyt said only 18 copies of the $5 book remain and consideration is already being given for a second printing. Copies have been sold to students, families and friends. They made a little money off the book and that will be given to a charity the school helps support.
     "It was really fun and I think our class really pulled together to do this project," Jenny Akagi, another student writer, said. "We worked really hard and did the best we could and went the extra mile."
     "It was fun and I liked writing the stories, but it was really stressful to put it all together," Jorgan Staker, a participant. said.
     Even the class clown, Marchaan Yockey, liked the project.
     "It was a cool way to remember the funny stories and the stupid people who did them."
     Besides getting the class to work together so closely, it will also make a good focal point for future gatherings.
     "We've planned a class reunion as seniors (at Taylorsville High)," Hoyt said.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'These kids know how to give'
by Elyse Hayes, Deseret News staff writer
Wednesday, December 25, 2002

     TAYLORSVILLE — For students at Eisenhower Junior High, it wasn't enough to give their adopted Sub for Santa family the usual gifts of clothes, food and toys this year.
     Students at Eisenhower Junior High pooled their pocket change to buy a single mother a Ford Taurus.
     After finding out the family of six children was headed by a single mother without a car, students sacrificed soda and treats for a couple of days and donated the money they would have spent toward buying the family a 1992 Ford Taurus wagon for Christmas.
     "It left everybody at the school with a tremendously good feeling. I don't think they'll ever top this one," said the school's journalism adviser, Channel 4's Clayton Brough.
When students suggested the idea of buying a car for the family, Brough thought it was a fairly ambitious goal.
     "Your first response, as an adult, is 'What?' " he said. "But the kids aren't going to take those type of negative things to heart. The kids are saying, 'But Mr. Brough, you can find a car out there at a reasonable price, and if we did a lot of the leg work and made the telephone calls, do you think it's possible?' And basically the faculty said go for it."
     School administrators announced on the school intercom that if the 1,300 students went without a drink of pop or a candy bar for two days and donated the 50-cent cost instead, there would be enough money to buy the family a used car.
     Like a lot of her friends, Stefanie Royall, 12, went without soda for a couple of days to help raise the money.
     "It wasn't that big of a sacrifice," she said. "I thought it was good because it was sad she didn't have a car."
     Royall said she never doubted the school would be able to raise the money after seeing the tremendous response after the first day of fund raising.
     "What was incredible is that in that period of four days they raised $1,000 to $1,500 for this," Brough said. "That's an awful lot of money in a short period of time."
The kids got a discount on the used minivan, which is big enough to provide seat belts for the entire family. The students also paid for repairs and new tires and, with some donated labor, arranged for oil and lube service and safety checks.
     Brough said the car was well-received by the mother, who has been riding the bus to work and using public transportation to pick things up for her family.
     "Oh my gosh, the lady was not only very gracious, I mean she was crying. The administration was crying, everybody was crying, I think because we had realized what a tremendous gift these kids had given to this parent," he said. "These kids know how to give."
     Click here to see the entire article in the Deseret News archives.