Summer 2013: Cheyanne Bailey.

Over the summer I and my friend Tiffany had the opportunity to go to the state fair to see Toby Keith in concert. Tiffany had never been and it was a definite memory. We rode rides for half the time. Then the time came and it was time to see Toby Keith. She was so excited. The drive up there she was all jittery didn't know what she was going to encounter, but she was eager. When we walked into the stadium we stood at the top of the stairs and she took in a deep breath and just couldn’t believe she was there. She then started running up to our seats and the anticipation of him coming out took forever. When he came out she couldnt sit still. After the concert was over she didnt have a voice anymore. It was all well worth it.  

My Summer Vacation: Kisha Nelson.

Over the summer, I did a lot of things. But the best thing was going on vacation! We went to Silver Dollar City for 3 days. So Sunday morning we left for our trip, and got to Silver Dollar City. My dad and I rode a lot of rides together! It was good for a family alone time! Dad wanted to ride Outlaw Run, but the line was way too long! I wish we could have rode it tho! I had the best summer in my entire life! I cannot wait to go back again! It was the funniest thing in the world:)

This Summer: Cassandra Moss.

Mostly, I had a very boring summer, but there was one good thing about it that made the rest easy to forget. Oh June 23rd my best friend, my sister, and I all got to go to a Brantlry Gilbert, Tim McGraw, and Love && Theft concert. I mainly went to seeBrantley Gilbert, but the other two were alright. I loved every minute of it. Well, except the heat, and the car ride. The car ride was only supposed to take us about 4 hours, but we got lost. So it actually took us about six. It was all worth it in the end, I got to see my favorite country singer!

Updates from a World Traveler: Kaylee Crawford.

"I love taking japanese photo booth pictures because they're so cute!"

Japan is probably my favorite place in the entire world. I'm awfully spoiled to be able to have gone twice in the last year! I want to live there when I'm older, and I'm confident I have the means to. I probably won't be able to go again for at least 5 years in which I would be
travelling alone--which is awfully nerve-wracking--but I enjoy the times
I've been there so much. I learn new things about the land I want to live
in that make me want to live in it more.
As an aspiring idol, I got to perform in a car to j-pop music. I was surprised at how much the customers liked it, because I didn't think it was
anything special. Maybe it was special to them because I was a foreigner and there's barely any of me over there, haha! I had ladies dancing with me and people singing with me, it was probably one of the best memories of my
life. I also got to visit a lolita shop, and for those of you who don't know,
lolita is a fashion that I absolutely love! I got a brand name dress, which was so expensive but so worth it! I feel like the brand is similar to,
like, Prada here, haha! I also won an alpaca. My sister collects these stuffed animal alpacas, but
I'm starting to steal her collection. So far I just have two big ones,
named Patty and Little Miss Sugar Cakes. Alpacas tie along with bunnies for
my favourite animal. I was sad to go, but happy that I got to learn more, speak a little
japanese myself, and experience things I didn't get to last time. I was
only there for a week, but I know just enough to get me excited to see all
the things for myself I didn't have time to see.
As soon as I finish my senior year, I'll be one step closer to acheiving my
dream! <3

NEW B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Mentors 2013-2014 School year

Please congratulate these students on being selected as Bridges mentors for next year!

Bridges Mentors 2013-2014

Allen Bailey

Biddinger Chantel

Brush Kerry

Campbell Brennan

Carpenter Destiny

Cates Cody

Cavanaugh Morgan

Compton Mckenzie

Crawford Makayla

Dame Madison

Decker Alex

Dickinson Mackenzie

Dismang McKenzie

Finley Alyssia

Fowler Jordan

Fries Frederick

Gallaher Adriana

Gillenwater Reno

Goans Hannah

Haefner Jeanette

Jackson Arnold TJ

Jutras Tesha

Kimbrell Nicole

Landon Hayden

Landon Kassidy

LaVal Bryce

Lawson Mitchell

Luttrell Dustin

Lyman Michaila

Madde Jessica

Mayfield Ashley

McBride Sydney

McCann Darrel Houston

Miller Trevor

Murphy Alyssa

Patel Shivani

Poston Shane

Preston Katryna

Tudor Shannon

Wilson Regan

All About the Big Orange Vegetable by Kelsey DeVasure

"The pumpkin my boyfriend and I carved"

            Most people have a childhood memory of carving a pumpkin. Whether that is with our parents, friends, or in our kindergarten class is unique to each person. It's just something that has always been done, and it is a Halloween tradition in our area. Though the pumpkins may have become more modern, like lighting your face up with colored glow sticks instead of candles, the idea is still the same.

            When the idea was first created it was in Scotland and Ireland, where they carved turnips. In England they carved beets. These early carvers would place their scary faced creations on their doorstep on “All Hallows Eve” to ward off evil spirits. When the tradition was started in America, thye decided to use the much larger and easier to sculpt pumpkin. Since then it has evolved into our Halloween, and now we do it to have fun with kids.

            Everyone starts out in the same way, you have to cut out the hole so you can get down and dirty. What five year old doesn't want to plunge their hands into the cold and gooey mess of pumpkin guts? Rhetorical question, of course. A pumpkin guts fight can often be the funnest part of your carving process. You have to be sure that you get all the guts out or you may be greeted by a rather interesting smell the next day. The hardest part is picking out the face that you want, do you want it to be happy, scary, sad, or not even a face but rather an artistic picture or design. The things that really creative people can do with this vegetable can be amazing, even doing script letters. But, you must be careful, because one wrong slice could leave your pumpkin permanently disfigured. I believe that this part can get rather nerve wracking. Finally you place your light inside and enjoy it in the cool autumn night.

            Most people know this simplistic process, and if you asked people to share their most creative pumpkin I bet you would be very surprised. Pumpkin carving is far more important than warding off evil spirits though, in modern times it is spending time with a small child, friend, family member, or whoever! 

My Summer by Luis Romero

I had a lot of fun over my summer.

To start of my summer I went to Georgia.When we got there it brought back a lot of memories.It was the first time I had been to Georgia in about two years.We went to my aunt's house were we stayed for two nights then brought back my grandma and my little brother and little sister. Before I left I went to go buy Nike Cortez. When we finally got back my sister helped us unload the car.We talked about what happened down in Georgia.We had a very long talk.

A month later it was my sisters graduation. Both of my sisters came down for graduation and i got to see my niece and two nephews. When graduation day came we were all ready we all got dressed up to go.  When the moment came for my sister to get on stage to graduate we weren't ready to yell so when she did pass it was late but we still congratulated her. After that my little sister kept yelling for every person that passed after her. Everyone was staring but she didn't stop. After graduation was over we went back home and celebrated.We stayed up till 5:00A.M. having fun and talking. The next day both of my sisters went back home. 

So I guess you can say I had a pretty epic summer.