Wasatch Junior High
Encyclopedia
Wasatch Junior High is a school in the Granite School District
in Salt Lake County
, Utah
, United States
.
Student Body Officers:
Luke Roberts (President)
Jack Harmon (Vice President)
Katie Garff (Secretary)
Sarah Nicols (Hospitality)
Brigham Jackson (Communications)
Katie Wood (Dance)
Mary Nikols (Assemblies)
? (Historian)
Elly Jenkins (Public Relations)
decided to build a new Wasatch Junior High, but during that time, Wasatch students needed to share a facility with Churchill Junior High. The faculty and staff in Wasatch Junior High had 2 months to prepare for the next school year, building their teaching materials from scratch. The staff have to rearrange classroom assignments, bring in new portable classrooms, change class times, and renew teachers' materials. "It was kind of like a death when you don't get a chance to grieve -- we just had to put everything aside and just get the work done," said Sam McBride, Spanish teacher. "It went amazingly smoothly. There were a lot of things that they had to give up; the rooms and accommodations, and they were very gracious in doing that," Mr. McBride said. A school for 700 students have to accommodate 1,600 students as Wasatch students moved in. A big challenge was sharing playing fields and stages for sports and performances; stages had to be scheduled in different times so both schools would have an equal amount of time practicing for certain plays. The field had to be split into 4 sections, for PE
, during-lunch social time, etc. Although Wasatch and Churchill still have a tense rivalry between each other, they cooperated to cope with the situation. The Wasatch students have moved to their new school for the 2008-09 year.
Ensemble are also offered, and have gotten superior ratings for the past 21 years at all music festivals.
Wasatch is ranked as one of the highest schools in the state in education; According to U-Pass test scores, In 2005 Wasatch tested highest in the state on the Iowa Basic Test for the 8th grade; in addition, Wasatch CRT scores are also above the state average; in 2006, 9th grade students tested 97% in language arts
, 97% in geometry
, and 95% in biology
, while the states averages were 81% for language arts, 70% in geometry, and 66% in biology.
Wasatch has many extra-curricular activities. It has many clubs such as Academic games (which in the 2007 season has made it to the national final), Chess Club, Community of Caring, Cheerleading, Debate Club, Math Counts, Spanish Club, Student Body Officers, and more.
, the first play at the new, rebuilt Wasatch, and in 2010 she directed the school production of The Sound of Music.
Year after year, Dodge's musicals turn out large crowds on three performing nights, with a cast of well over a hundred. The success of these musicals are not without sacrifice, however. Karen Dodge and her loyal stagehands, along with dozens of parent volunteers, have worked strenuous hours throughout the months of February and March in producing a show that usually costs toward $20,000. The production also demands the time and energy of the actors and Stage Crew as well, as after-school practices consistently last three hours or more.
In 2007, the Academic Games team was the champion of the Granite School District, and therefore went on to national play. In the national championship round, the team faced Hanes Middle School of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wasatch's presentation on teen drivers broke a tie going into the fourth and final round, which resulted in a tie. The game went into overtime, where Wasatch Junior lost by 11 points. The final score was 71 to 82.
The Wasatch-Hanes game was the third year in a row a Granite District junior high school has been in the national championship, and the fifth since 2002. Eisenhower, from the Granite School District, is a two-time champion, while Brockbank won in 2006 and took second in 2003. "These kids will be the same ones who walk away with a bazillion scholarships in a few years," principal Doug Bingham said. "That's where they shine."
In 2008, Wasatch won its second straight District Championship by defeating Eisenhower Junior High. In the National Tournament Wasatch defeated Orion Junior High in a landslide victory, but was defeated by Eisenhower in the next round. A student from Wasatch, Kevin Mauer, stated that
In the year 2010, Wasatch lost the district title to Brockbank Junior High, but defeated Brockbank in the Final Four to advance to the national game. Wasatch lost there by three points in double overtime.
In the year 2011, Wasatch Junior High won the district championship and the national championship as well. Wasatch's team defeated Hanes Middle School, whom they faced in 2007. Wasatch won 88-62.
Granite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Faculty
- Chris Rydalch (Principal)
- Dr. Mackintosh (Assistant Principal)
Student Body Officers:
Luke Roberts (President)
Jack Harmon (Vice President)
Katie Garff (Secretary)
Sarah Nicols (Hospitality)
Brigham Jackson (Communications)
Katie Wood (Dance)
Mary Nikols (Assemblies)
? (Historian)
Elly Jenkins (Public Relations)
Wasatch Fire
On July 11, 2005, a six-alarm fire destroyed the Wasatch Junior High building. At 12:30 pm the fire alarm went off and the principal, Doug Bingham, discovered that the source of the fire was an old computer server in the media center. More than 100 firefighters fought the fire with six to eight fire trucks. The fire quickly spread to the attic, making what was a three-alarm fire, a six-alarm. The fire what so powerful and forceful that firefighters had to fight it from the outside. Doug Bingham said, "It's just a building, but a building is a place where people are invested in each other's lives, and this one is toast." The Granite District has accepted a 15.9 million dollar settlement to rebuild Wasatch. The proposed time for the full reconstruction of the building was fall of 2008.Wasatch and Churchill Junior High
After the 6-alarm fire, the Granite School DistrictGranite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
decided to build a new Wasatch Junior High, but during that time, Wasatch students needed to share a facility with Churchill Junior High. The faculty and staff in Wasatch Junior High had 2 months to prepare for the next school year, building their teaching materials from scratch. The staff have to rearrange classroom assignments, bring in new portable classrooms, change class times, and renew teachers' materials. "It was kind of like a death when you don't get a chance to grieve -- we just had to put everything aside and just get the work done," said Sam McBride, Spanish teacher. "It went amazingly smoothly. There were a lot of things that they had to give up; the rooms and accommodations, and they were very gracious in doing that," Mr. McBride said. A school for 700 students have to accommodate 1,600 students as Wasatch students moved in. A big challenge was sharing playing fields and stages for sports and performances; stages had to be scheduled in different times so both schools would have an equal amount of time practicing for certain plays. The field had to be split into 4 sections, for PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, during-lunch social time, etc. Although Wasatch and Churchill still have a tense rivalry between each other, they cooperated to cope with the situation. The Wasatch students have moved to their new school for the 2008-09 year.
School Choice
Wasatch has many advanced classes; Mr. Bingham, previous principal of Wasatch Jr. High School, said "Most students come because of the academics. Wasatch offers the Gifted and Talented program for Science, English, and Social Studies classes. The school is very welcoming and it just has a good feeling." In addition Drama for beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes are offered; Concert Band, Concert Orchestra and JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
Ensemble are also offered, and have gotten superior ratings for the past 21 years at all music festivals.
Wasatch is ranked as one of the highest schools in the state in education; According to U-Pass test scores, In 2005 Wasatch tested highest in the state on the Iowa Basic Test for the 8th grade; in addition, Wasatch CRT scores are also above the state average; in 2006, 9th grade students tested 97% in language arts
Language arts
Traditionally, the primary divisions in the language arts are Literature and Language, where language in this case refers to both linguistics, and specific languages....
, 97% in geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, and 95% in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, while the states averages were 81% for language arts, 70% in geometry, and 66% in biology.
Wasatch has many extra-curricular activities. It has many clubs such as Academic games (which in the 2007 season has made it to the national final), Chess Club, Community of Caring, Cheerleading, Debate Club, Math Counts, Spanish Club, Student Body Officers, and more.
Drama program
Since the 1997-1998 school year, Wasatch has provided students with theatrical opportunities under the leadership of Karen Dodge. In addition to teaching several courses on acting and the theater world, she also has directed a full-scale school musical each spring since her first year teaching at Wasatch Junior High. The ninth of these, performed in March 2006, was written by Dodge. Entitled "Pieces of Eight," which was a review of the first eight musicals that Dodge had directed during her tenure at Wasatch. Since then she has directed three other musicals, Brigadoon in 2007, Bye Bye Birdie in 2008 and in 2009, Peter PanPeter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, the first play at the new, rebuilt Wasatch, and in 2010 she directed the school production of The Sound of Music.
Year after year, Dodge's musicals turn out large crowds on three performing nights, with a cast of well over a hundred. The success of these musicals are not without sacrifice, however. Karen Dodge and her loyal stagehands, along with dozens of parent volunteers, have worked strenuous hours throughout the months of February and March in producing a show that usually costs toward $20,000. The production also demands the time and energy of the actors and Stage Crew as well, as after-school practices consistently last three hours or more.
Academics
Wasatch Junior High has a variety of different extra-curricular academic activities after school, such as the Academic Games, Math Counts, Mesa, and Wasatch Leadership Team (WLT). A former student of Wasatch Jr. High named Kevin Mauer stated, "I loved the opportunities offered to me at Wasatch Jr. High. Year after year there are new projects and great leadership that made Jr. High a fun place to be. I will always miss it".Academic Games
Academic Games is a team event based on answering trivia and math questions and a round of oral presentation. In the academic rounds, there are individual, team, and speed question rounds. The third round consists of persuasive presentations on an issue that is given to the creative team a few days before a game. The National Academic League sets up numerous brain teasers and questions for schools across the country.In 2007, the Academic Games team was the champion of the Granite School District, and therefore went on to national play. In the national championship round, the team faced Hanes Middle School of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wasatch's presentation on teen drivers broke a tie going into the fourth and final round, which resulted in a tie. The game went into overtime, where Wasatch Junior lost by 11 points. The final score was 71 to 82.
The Wasatch-Hanes game was the third year in a row a Granite District junior high school has been in the national championship, and the fifth since 2002. Eisenhower, from the Granite School District, is a two-time champion, while Brockbank won in 2006 and took second in 2003. "These kids will be the same ones who walk away with a bazillion scholarships in a few years," principal Doug Bingham said. "That's where they shine."
In 2008, Wasatch won its second straight District Championship by defeating Eisenhower Junior High. In the National Tournament Wasatch defeated Orion Junior High in a landslide victory, but was defeated by Eisenhower in the next round. A student from Wasatch, Kevin Mauer, stated that
In the year 2010, Wasatch lost the district title to Brockbank Junior High, but defeated Brockbank in the Final Four to advance to the national game. Wasatch lost there by three points in double overtime.
In the year 2011, Wasatch Junior High won the district championship and the national championship as well. Wasatch's team defeated Hanes Middle School, whom they faced in 2007. Wasatch won 88-62.