October 22, 2012, at Santaquin Elementary. 

      It was the first day of Red Ribbon Week and we were told to wear red clothes and wear running shoes.  Most of the students did.  After the announcements, we all went out to the front of the school, on the grass by the first grade classrooms.

     When the whole school was there, Mr. Argyle yelled. "GO".  Then while following a flag that read "Run Away From Drugs", everyone zoomed around the school.  It was AWESOME.

     After the run, everyone returned to class, very tired but happy.

                                                       Photos and Story by:  Elizabeth Anne Crook, sixth-grade student

These dedicated readers were chosen to participate in our October 'Road to Success' Reading Celebration ... popcorn and a movie with Mr. Argyle!  “The goal of the program is to encourage improvement in literacy which will help develop daily and lifelong reading habits, specifically by READING EVERY DAY at least 20 minutes, to improve vocabulary, proficiency, and communication skills” (Garff, 2012).  Well done Santaquin Readers!

Monday morning, October 22nd, the entire Santaquin Elementary studentbody, faculty and staff had to the opportunity to meet outside to "Run Away From Drugs and Violence" as a kick-off to our Red Ribbon Week!  We all wore RED and our running shoes, and met to run around the perimeter of the school together in our School Fun Run!  Go Santaquin!

Patricia Haroski, a secretary from Illinois, originated National Boss Day in 1958 in honor of her father who helped all of his children with good advice throughout their careers.  In honor of his birthday, October 16th, Patricia registered the day with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Four years later, National Boss Day was officially announced.  The idea quickly gained favor across the country and is now even observed in England, Australia and South Africa.  Today at Santaquin Elementary we honored our very own Mr. Argyle, celebrating with balloons, cards, cookies and a few extra smiles!

On Wednesday, October 10th, the Living Planet Aquarium's Education Program presenters visited the fourth grade students at Santaquin Elementary.  The students were able to participate in several experiments to learn about their science core topic of understanding "the physical characteristics of Utah's wetlands, forests, and deserts and identifying common organisms for each environment."  The wonderful presenters brought live animals indigenous to Utah, i.e., snakes, lizards, toads, etc., and taught the students how to classify them.  The visit  was "very informative and interactive" demonstrating to the students how "experiments work differently and we can learn from each of them."  Thank you, Living Planet!

I won an autographed copy of the book Evertaster from the Author, Adam Glendon Sidwell.  I thought Evertaster was an awesome book.  It had good detail and good description.  It’s the kind of book you do NOT want to set down.

          The book makes you think you taste all the wonderful food.  It isn’t hard to picture what is going on.  It has battles and magic forces in the race to find the “ONE RECIPE”.  It’s a race to the finish line back and forth the whole way!!      

          Don’t judge the book until chapters 8-10, it’s beyond  good at that point.

I donated the book that I won to the Santaquin Elementary School Library, so…… GO GET IT READERS!!  Go before school and after school to look for that book!!  Be the first one to read it  (after me). 

This is one of the best books I have ever read.  You should read it.  

On Friday, October 5th, the second grade students from Santaquin Elementary had the pleasure of visiting Harward Farms for their annual Farm Field Day.  How much do YOU know about Agriculture?  Well, we learned things like:  a plant needs five things to grow - water, air, sunlight, soil, and nutrients; the Z.I.P. you get from eating beef stands for zinc, iron, and protein; and a mother sheep is called a ewe!  Thank you, Harward Farms, for an amazing day of learning!!

The students in Miss Camper's class had a lesson about gravity.  The students went to different groups to test objects to see which would hit the ground first.

At one center,  Mrs. Smith, a second-grade helper, pulled out a paper clip and an orange ping pong ball, and asked which one would hit the floor first when she dropped them.  Almost all of the students in her group said "The paperclip will hit the floor first."  Most of the kids were wrong because the ping pong ball hit the ground first.

At another group some 6th grade students showed the students balls of paper and erasers.  All of the students made the hypothesis that the eraser would hit the ground first.  But, the result was that they hit the ground at the same time.

In another group they tested a feather and a piece of paper.  The paper hit the ground first.

At another group there was a marble and a ping pong ball to drop.  A second-grade student, Kami, said "The marble will hit the ground first."  Another student, Alondra, said "The pencil will hit the floor before the paperclip."  

The students had a fun time learning about gravity.  As you can see, these kids are very smart.

Pictures and story by 6th grade reporters Elizabeth Anne Crook and Joseph McCoy Jacklin.

On Wednesday, September 19th, Officer Irvine took time out of his busy schedule to visit the second grade students at Santaquin Elementary.  He talked about safety and making smart choices.  We are grateful to the important members of our community who help keep us safe.

Jonathan Chapman (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845), also known as Johnny Appleseed, was an American pioneer who introduced apple trees to America.  He became an American legend while he was still alive because of his kind and generous ways, his great leadership and the importance he placed on apples.  On September 26th, our 2nd grade students were treated to a visit from this legendary figure.  Stories were read and tales were told ... "an apple seedling tree in one hand and book in the other."