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Mountain Star
Science duo Mr.Hepworth and Mr. Baker dress up as Monks and besties in the science lab. "Having good friends increases endorphins which makes you happy. Thus creating a better quality of life. Friends make you laugh, even when things are hard. They listen to you and let you know that you aren't crazy. They are great sounding boards for your thoughts and give you an honest opinion about things that they aren't a part of. They love you for who you are and their love is reciprocated by you toward them. They are also willing to dress up like a munk for a picture." said Hepworth, Baker added, "Good friends give me someone that I feel I can look to if I need help with something. Good friends also allow me to feel comfortable being who I am."
Life is Better With Friends
"Always ask for help if you need it and turn in assignments on time," said Paxton Beebe who shows his support for freshmen by hoisting Kingston McNaughton in weights class.
Senior Advice to Freshmen
Sisters freshman Brinley Merritt and junior Rylynne Merritt with their little brother on their family vacation over the break. They went on a Disney cruise. “My favorite thing was definitely having weather in the high 80’s in the middle of December,” said Rylynne.
What Did SVHS Students Do Over Winter Break?
Drivers Have Trouble Staying in between Parking Lines
Drivers Have Trouble Staying in between Parking Lines
Ben Kinder's truck shows the consequences impatient driving in the snow. It is better to take your time on the road and get to school safely rather than hurry and worry about your tardy. "Me and my sister were in a rush, and because the roads were so slippery, we crashed. If we had more time we could've drove [sic] slower," said Kinder.
Should Teachers Excuse Tardies Caused by Winter Road Conditions?
Activities Director Robert Erickson stands with his award for Wyoming Theater Administrator of the Year. Drama coach and musical director Tami Nielsen nominated Erickson for the honor. "I was honored to receive the award. I hope that all kids and coaches in all programs feel like I am interested in their success and feel supported in their efforts," said Erickson.
Erickson Named Wyoming Theater Administrator of Year
Oboist Allen Goodman(left) and basoonist Tayson Merritt(right) play the song "Christmas Lullaby." The orchestra and choir only rehearsed together twice before the performance but had been separately rehearsing on Sundays for over month. After the concert double-basoonist Gabriel Matthews said, "It was a lot of fun playing Christmas music with the choir and was just an overall good experience."
SVHS Musicians Assist with Community Christmas Concert at Afton’s Ford Theater
PHONE HOME: Wall caddies like this one are becoming a common sight in rooms throughout the school. Many teachers require, or ask, their students to place their phones in them when they walk into class.
Phone Policy Seeing Stricter Enforcement
This beautiful nativity scene appears in the 2024 Afton Parade of Lights. The creator Sam Allred did a wonderful job creating a Holy Night. "I liked how it was one of the only nativity scenes," said Mr. Dane Hepworth.
Parade of Lights Kicks off Holiday Tradition
The cross country team gathers to serve during Braves in Action. The team showed up at Afton Elementary and Etna Elementary to help the kids run in their annual Turkey Trot and cheer them on while running.
Braves In Action Returns
First Impressions as an Exchange Student from South Korea
First Impressions as an Exchange Student from South Korea
The Brave Cadettes pose for a picture before going out to perform for the whole community. They take a picture like this before every performance. After the picture they do cheers to calm their nerves like shaking at their arms and legs. Senior Jacy England said, "This is one of my favorite things to do before performing. It's crazy to see how much you grow throughout your four years of high school."
Brave Cadettes Practice Hours for Every Minute Performed
The deepest snow in Star Valley is in Alpine with base depths that rival the best ski resorts in the country.
Local Snow Amongst Best in Country
These three types of schools side by side illustrate—private, public, and home—aren't so different. Each tpe of school helps students learn and grow and get ready to go prepared into the real world. Sophomore Caleb Crowther says, "I like the after school activities that I can do [at SVHS]."
How Do Public School Like SVHS Stake up Against Private, Home Schools?
Presley Frome finds some new ocean friends on a Christmas family trip. She and her family went to the Bahamas. She said, "My favorite part of the entire trip was swimming with the dolphins."
Student Christmas Gifts Differ Widely in Price, Variety
COVERED: Sophomore Travis Thompson smothers a Mustang. Mountain Crest was the JV Braves first home opponent of the season. "We came out of the weekend with many different goals and are ready for this weekend," said sophomore CJ Neuenschwander.
Braves Basketball Growing Against Big Schools
Braves b-baller Cooper Lancaster stands ready to D up a Mountain Crest player. The game came to a head with the Braves falling just short with Braves 37 Braves Mountain Crest 47. Coach Shumway said, "Cooper is a great all around basketball player and person. He is skilled on the perimeter as well as around the basket, which makes him difficult for opponents to defend."
Lancaster Back from Injury, Ready to Go
Semiors Makell Haderlie, Austyn Bagley, Torrie White, Kambree Johnson, and Emily Dana all pose for their senior picture. These girls have been playing together since middle school, are still best friends, and hope to make a state tournament run. "It's been super fun playing, with them this year it's different knowing it's our last year playing together but we always make the best of it" said Dana.
Girls Basketball Heads to Flaming Gorge
Student Athletes Must Balance School, Sports
Student Athletes Must Balance School, Sports
The Lady Braves gather together for a prayer before taking on their competition. Prayer is one of their biggest traditions before starting a tournament. Alexis Angell said "Our team is very supportive of each other, like you'll see at least five girls on the side of the mat from our team cheering and yelling if one of us is wrestling".
Wrestling Teams Score at Another Braves Brawl
Stray Kids' "HOP" Album Gives Listeners Fun Variety of Sounds
Stray Kids’ “HOP” Album Gives Listeners Fun Variety of Sounds
SUFFLIN': An iPod shuffle with headphones, presumably with Christmas music on it. These iPods where originally released in January 11, 2005 and were for sale until July 27, 2017. Everyone loves Christmas music, but Mason Fuller is lukewarm on the genre. "I think Christmas music is just okay."
Christmas Music Covers Bring New Life to Old Favorites
Hip Hop is one of, if not the most, popular genre of music. With all the albums released from popular artists, fans are more than happy for the way Hip-Hop is going. This year has been one of the best years for music and has raised the bar high for next year.
Hip-Hop Albums of 2024 Set High Bar
"Lateralus" is the 4th studio album by the Los Angeles based band "Tool." The band uses recurring mathematical patterns found in nature in to make their music more appealing.
Tool Uses Math to Make Lateralus Sound Good
Anticipation of Annual Music Wrapped Fills Halls
Anticipation of Annual Music Wrapped Fills Halls
Afton's main street is divided by plowed snow. This burm can reach over four feet in height on heavy snow days. Snowy conditions can lead to dangerous and slow commutes to school each day.
SVHS Should Consider Having Snow Days
PODLESS: Owen Lancaster and Rhen England show what they are missing while working in class. School policy restricts the use of phones and earphones from bell to bell. "No AirPods makes me hate school even more now," said Lancaster. "No phones is understandable, and honestly I don't care about it that much, but the no AirPods rule seems kind of stupid," added England.
Students Should Be Allowed to Wear AirPods While Working
The SV burns on Homecoming eve right after the powder puff game. Everyone gathers around this annual tradition to watch it light up and bring good luck to the Homecoming game. “I think extracurriculars boost school spirit because it brings kids together through something that they enjoy!” said Nathen Haderlie.
Extracurriculars Help Boost Braves Spirit
OFF SCHEDULE: The daily schedule at SVHS is full of long classes and a short lunch. "We need a longer lunch to be successful," said Kaelyn Green, Sophomore.
Should Students Get A Longer Lunch?
Sitdown With Staff: Lady Braves Bball Coaches
Sitdown With Staff: Kelly Fullmer
Sitdown With Staff: McKay Young
Song Word Association Game
Song Word Association Game
Ranking Weird Items Found on Shein
Ranking Weird Items Found on Shein
Convo with 1 Teacher, 3 Students
Convo with 1 Teacher, 3 Students
Walking, Talking with Gage
Walking, Talking with Gage
Cowboys, Girls Reveal Rodeo Icks
The student news site of Star Valley High School

Mountain Star
The student news site of Star Valley High School

Mountain Star
All content by Koral Arnold and Samantha Maffat
Science duo Mr.Hepworth and Mr. Baker dress up as Monks and besties in the science lab. "Having good friends increases endorphins which makes you happy. Thus creating a better quality of life. Friends make you laugh, even when things are hard. They listen to you and let you know that you aren't crazy. They are great sounding boards for your thoughts and give you an honest opinion about things that they aren't a part of. They love you for who you are and their love is reciprocated by you toward them. They are also willing to dress up like a munk for a picture." said Hepworth, Baker added, "Good friends give me someone that I feel I can look to if I need help with something. Good friends also allow me to feel comfortable being who I am."

Life is Better With Friends

Koral Arnold and Samantha Maffat, Staff Writer
January 10, 2025
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