One of the 8th grade Common Core Language Arts standards is to "Analyze the extent to which a film production of a story stays faithful to or departs from the text. " To fulfill this goal, all 8th grade students at Boring Middle School read the book The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and watched the film that was recently released. Students compared and contrasted the two, and participated in a lively debate and discussion.

During this unit students approached the reading in a variety of settings which included small groups, partner, whole group, and individually. 8th graders completed literary journals, participated in a class debate, searched for figurative language, learned about the 12 steps of a hero's journey, answered chapter questions while learning to support their answers with evidence from the text, wrote riddles, learned to write in runes (Hobbit dialect), and researched the life of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Twenty students chose to work beyond the classroom and finish the reading over winter break; those students are now reading The Fellowship of the Ring and are participating in a book study group.

All students submitted a variety of final projects which are on display in the Boring Middle School lobby.

 Kimberly Avendano and Emily Phillips display their Hobbit projects.

Congratulations to Sandy High

Drama students!

On Thursday, March 7, the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce Career Education Committee is hosting "Thrive at 25," an event designed to teach freshman about planning for their future.

Sandy High counselors have done preliminary work with students on Career Information Systems (CIS) so that students have learned about different career paths and the requirements for each path. Students have also identified goals for future jobs, career, and education.

This event will help prepare students to make realistic choices for a successful future by offering a glimpse into the realities of an occupation, monthly salary, and daily life of a 25 year old. Students will visit stations and make decisions about housing, transportation, childcare, health care and much more.

Thrive at 25 is made possible by a host of community volunteers who will man the stations, and through the support of Sandy High staff.

Graduation rate increases