PHS Choir has been raising money for their trip to Orange County, and they exceeded their goal of selling 500 pies. As reward, the choir council volunteered themselves to be pied in the face along with Mr. Wiser and his student teacher. PHS admin also represented, with Mr. McAffee & Mr. Garrison getting their fare share of pie as well!
Education Support Professionals Day
November 15, 2017 has been designated as Education Support Professionals Day. The Superintendent and District Leadership would like to take this opportunity to join the Governor and Provo City School Board in recognizing our Education Support Professionals for their work with the students of Provo. These employees fill many roles throughout the District. Some of their jobs include Bus Diver and Bus Aides in transportation; Managers and Cooks in child nutrition; Custodians and Student Sweepers in custodial services; Grounds Crew and Maintenance Workers; Secretaries and Instructional Assistants, to name a few. These employees are often behind the scenes and sometimes not recognized for the importance of their work in keeping the District running from day to day. Our schools could not function without them. We appreciate their kindness, hard work and their dedication to helping faculty members in providing a quality education for the students of Provo.
–Provo School District Employee News
Here at PHS, we wholeheartedly agree. We could not do what we do without our wonderful support staff. When you see an ESP, give them a big thank you!
Employees of the Month – October
Camille Williams: (FACS teacher)
Camille Williams grew up in American Fork, Utah and was a proud Caveman. She came to PHS during her student teaching and earned a position here right after she graduated from BYU. Her parents and other family members attended and worked at PHS throughout the years, so she says PHS is in her DNA. Camille has been here for 22 years. This is her first teaching position, and she said it will be here last; she is a lifer. Camille loves the great people who work at PHS and how diverse our student population is here. She has seen many amazing kids accomplish great things. When Camille isn’t at work, she enjoys long walks on the beach, in the canyon, or on the river trail. She loves spending time with family and friends, movies, music, travel, and DIY projects.
Here are a few things colleagues had to say about Camille:
- I have loved working with Camille. Even though we do not teach the exact same class, she is always willing to listen and brainstorm new ideas of how to teach any topic.
- Camille is a great teacher. She is very organized and is a valuable asset to our department.
- Camille is dedicated to her students and enjoys when alumni come back to visit. It is especially fun when children of alumni attend her Baby Bulldog preschool.
- Camille is a dedicated teacher who seeks to be a great example to her students. She puts in many hours beyond her contract time to help her students and other teachers in her department students excel. She has a huge heart and loves her students, colleagues and family, and in return they are very supportive of her.
Eric Nix: (Band Teacher)
Eric Nix grew up in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. He was a judge for the concert band when he applied for and was offered a job here at PHS. This is Eric’s sixth year at PHS. He has done great work with the students in band and has led the marching band to numerous titles throughout the years. Eric loves the family atmosphere here at PHS, but most of all, he loves the students. Eric is a huge sports fan and used to play baseball and basketball. When he isn’t at work, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Here are a few things colleagues had to say about Eric:
- Eric Nix is a pleasure to work with! I admire his diligence in teaching his students with clarity and concern.
- It has been great to collaborate with Eric for student success – especially the students we share in our programs.
- Eric is fantastic at what he does. It shows in his awards the students have earned under his direction.
- In working with students who have been with Mr. Nix from 9th (and often 7th) grade, I have observed their dedication, commitment, and high expectations of themselves and those around them. This shows the profound influence he has on his students. He pushes kids harder than they want to be pushed, but in doing so, he helps them break through their self-imposed limits and discover their incredible capabilities.
Thank you Camille and Eric for your contribution to PHS! We are lucky to have you here!!
DECA Invitational
The following are the PHS Student Results:
Finalists–Isaac Cerrato & Alejandra Garcia–Business Law & Ethics Team Event
Finalists–Yoselin Rivera & Azusena Rivera–Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team Event
Finalist–David Nelson–Quick Serve Restaurant Management
2nd Place–Madeline Longman–Retail Mechandising
1st Place–Danielle Corbett–Retail Mechandising
Careers in Education Guest Speaker
Provo High’s Careers in Education class, taught by the fabulous Kristin Pierce, explores all the various paths and careers within the educational realm. Today, the class had the opportunity to hear from Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland, who shared several delightful anecdotes and words of wisdom based on his experiences in education and life in general.
Holland himself has Provo roots, including being born in Provo, and then later attending Provo High. At the core of his upbringing was the belief that life requires hard work, a significant point he reiterated throughout the class discussion. In addition to hard work, President Holland advised students to let passion guide their life pursuits, not money. “Follow what you love, and it won’t feel like work,” he counseled, adding that this will also help buffer the less positive aspects of a job. He explained that this is true in any field of employment, not just education, though he did discuss at length the wonderful rewards of a career in education. “To shape minds and turn someone on to a subject you’re passionate about… that’s a great life,” he said. He mentioned the long-lasting impression that educators leave on the minds of their students, noting that while he couldn’t tell you the name of his first banker or realtor, he could tell you the names of each and every teacher he has ever had. President Holland elaborated on the influence of educators as being one that not only affects the individual, but society as a whole. “Education is the great unifier… the common thread of our society. Education is key for everybody to pursue their [own] kind of dream, and to live together as a country.”
We are grateful for President Holland taking time to share his insights on education and the importance of hard work in moving towards personal goals, educational or otherwise!