Some good news from Wood River Middle School

Here are some highlights from the February and March 1999 newsletters at Wood River Middle School in Hailey:

"Write on Idaho!" winners

There were many well-written letters in this year’s "Write on Idaho!" contest. The winners will have their essays displayed at the State Capitol.

Overall winner from the Gold Team was Jessica Neiwert. Runner-up finishers were Ashley Mardian, Carolyn Ellis, Eddie Shaffer and Britt VanPaepeghem.

From the Silver Team, the winner was Lindsay Mollineaux. Other winning essays came from Mayson Sheppard, Scarlet Caldwell and Jamie Williams.

The winner from the Blue Team was Natalie Green. Finalists included Chase Cleveland, Amanda Smith, Chad Archibald, Christina Arpp and Sam Moore.

Honorable mention from the Blue Team went to Amy Black, Amber Brocklebank, Josiah Drewien, Riley Neff, Carrie Ragsdale, Natalie Safran, Brandy Fitzwater, Lindsay Niedrich, Dylan McIlhenny and Collin Collins.

Purple Team winner was Sean Hathaway.

The writing prompt this year was writing a letter to someone in Idaho, telling about a memorable experience that occurred in the state of Idaho.

Outstanding students

The Purple Team recognized its outstanding "Students of the Month."

January—Steve Durkin, Kellen Kinghorn, Brandon Silvia, Jessica Jaskowski, Gabriela Patlan, Kathleen Connor, Jessica King, Emily Reed, Whit Harbaugh and Carlos Anguiano.

February—Chase Ealey, Amanda Greer, David Vanderpool, Koree Hawkes, Amy Sloper, Michael Barbee, Camey Anderson, Daniel Lopez and Macie Heath.

Green Team "Students of the Month" for February were Matt Alban, George Linev, Jennifer Macy, Kristen Oliver, Ryne Reynoso, Robert Slough, Ashley Vore and Ariana Ward.

Mike Smith of the Green Team earned second place in the National Geography Bee held at the middle school. The school championship was won by Lindsay Mollineaux.

The Red Team’s National Geography Bee champs were William Wahlgren, Jared Thomas, Matt DeCarufel and Jessie Woodyard.

"Artists of the Month" for December were Christian Blackman, Kasey Monteith and Michael Wise. For January it was Ashley Lakey, Max Kuross and Josiah Drewien.

The "Jurassic Park" mapmakers in the Red Team’s science and language arts classes during January were:

Abby Dubois, Eva Bach, Zac Brown, Joni Chatterton, David Hormel, Chad Hayward, Tami Harrison, Gordon Johnston, Kevin Pierson, Noah Loyd, Amanda Parks, Alison Kelsey, Kelly Haisley, Derrick Woodall and Mikey Sinnott;

Also, Pia Shivdasani, Kasey Monteith, Monique Lloyd, Paige Askew, Christian Blackman, Shawn Byron, Patricia Ocampo, Jessica McCallum, Cory Peavey, Cammie Collette, Erica Freestone, Alli Badell, James Cimino, Alex Jackson, Chelsea Dressell, Jessie Woodyard, Cherise Wetzl, Kelsea Ballantyne, Rianna Freeborn and Dan Moore.

Student Council news

The eighth-grade student council had a very successful coat drive in December, during the second trimester. On Feb. 19, the council sponsored "Hat Day," and had a lot of fun.

This month, the eighth-grade council is doing a joint recycling project with the sixth- and seventh-grade student councils.

Hopefully, eighth-graders will start a "Random Acts of Kindness," project.

Eighth-grade council members are Monique Lloyd, Robin Kearns, Hannes Thum, Josh Sonneland, Kasey Monteith, Erica Wheeler, Erin Northrop, Ryne Reynoso and Devin Sheffield.

The seventh-grade council still offers delectable baked goods each Thursday morning before school, with profits going to the year-end party. Aluminum cans are being collected from each wing for the recycling project.

Ryne Reynoso’s tap dancing Hawaiian was the grand prize winner during the Hawaiian Day. Prizes were provided by the Parents’ Association.

The sixth-grade council decided to stage a carnival for its "End of Trimester Fun Day." Of course, they’re still going to Blaine Manor to visit the elderly people, Michele Lowry and Kelsey Cordingley reported.

Upcoming dates, events

Remember, Parent Teacher Conferences are today, Wednesday and there is no school.

There will also be no classes on Friday, March 19 for "Teacher Professional Development In-Service Day."

The solo and ensemble band and choir competition is Saturday, March 20.

"The Bong Show," a highly-acclaimed, award-winning adult educational program on alcohol and other drug information, is planned for Tuesday, March 23 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the middle school gym. It is sponsored by the Ketchum Police Department. It is designed for adults only. Babysitting will be available.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival’s "Macbeth" performance for seventh- and eighth-grade students is Wednesday, March 24 at 9:30 a.m.

And, of course, the final sixth-grade ski program day is Thursday, March 11.