CLASS OF 2018

My first class to graduate was in 1988.

5th grade . . . 1980-1981

Now, these are my graduates . . . 30 years after my first class!

2010-2011.

I now only have 2 classes left in high school!!!

My last class ever will graduate in 2020.

40 years after I began teaching at Alpine Elementary!!!

Isabel Isaacson

Isabel's grandfather came and taught our class.  He was the
President of the Utah Senate.  He recently returned from
serving as the Italy Rome mission president.

Lone Peak  High School

Graduated early, and is serving a performing

mission at Nauvoo for 4 months.
Heading to Portugal Lisbon Mission

Cedric Ator

Red Mountain High School
Mesa, Arizona
Taught 1 brother and 4 sisters

Mariah Young

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Taught 2 brothers and 4 sisters


Utah Valley University
Mariah went to a special program at UVU.
She received her Associates Degree from UVU
before she received her high school diploma!
Heading to BYU.

Paul Evans

Orem High School
Basketball
With dad, Bob Evans, Fox 13 news anchor
Taught 1 sister and 1 brother

Callie Hammond

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Taught sister, Jessica (with Callie)
Heading to Dixie State University

TATE MULLINER

Lone Peak High School
Taught 1 brother

Alexis Wallace

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Softball
Heading to Ohio State

Taught with mother, Maureen


Gentry Bastian



St. George Academy
Washington, Utah


Jacob Neves

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Taught 3 sisters
Drum Major
John Phillip Sousa Band Award
Heading to Peru Iquitos Mission

Sydney Stout

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Her mother, Jennifer, was my aide
Heading to Dixie State University!

Callie Hammond & Syd Stout

Best friends in 5th grade
Both heading to Dixie State University!
Best college around!

Blake Lusk

Long Beach High School
Long Beach, California
Heading to Brazil Teresina Mission

Brynna & Bryant Higbee

Brynna . . .2nd from left
Bryant . . . right

Lone Peak High School
2 GOLD CORDS

Tyson Tautu

Lone Peak High School
(by way of West Lake High School)
Football
Taught 1 sister and 1 aunt
Taught with grandma (Gaga), Cathy Tibbitts
Heading to Fiji Suva Mission

Syd Conlee

Lone Peak High School
(with sister, Brittany)

Josh Bearsss

Left

Lone Peak High School
GOLD CORDS
Tennis
6-A State Champions
Josh and Niles Cochran (next to him) are the
6-A state high school doubles champions!
Heading to Adriatic South Mission (specifically Macedonia)
  
Students With No Contact
These are the rest of my students that I taught in 2010-2011.
Several are not on social media.
Some that are not on, their parents did not post.
For some, I found their most recent photo online.
I'm pretty sure Maren Burgess and Seth Murdock
graduated with GOLD CORDS!
Preston Price, I think, moved to Draper after 5th grade.

Camden Cooper

 Lone Peak High School
football

Seth Murdock

Lone Peak High School

Bailey Bennett

Lone Peak High School
 I taught her father, Darrin.

Aaron Miller

Lone Peak High School
I taught his mother, Marylynn, and 1 brother


John Livingston

Maren Burgess

Lone Peak High School
I taught 1 brother
State Competition Winner 2 years in a row at the
State History Fair

Preston Price

Garrett

Zane

And, non-students:
Thomas Triplets
Addie, Bryson, and Caitlin

Their mom was in my 3rd class, and also taught
2nd grade at Alpine Elementary for 2 years.
After these 3, there are twins . . . 1 boy and 1 girl, and then a single girl.

Lone Peak High School
2 GOLD CORDS
 SILVER CORDS

Colton Van Tassel

Fremont High School

GOLD CORDS

Colton's mom, Katie Wilkinson, grew up at

my house.  She and her mom had horses that

they kept there.  

Weber State University
Associates Degree before high school diploma

Kennedy Goch

Bingham High School
Aunt Pat & Uncle Darwin's granddaughter

Cy & Sayer Dunkley

American Fork High School
SILVER CORDS
Cy & Sayer were in my ward.
I saw them every month when I visit taught their mom

Lone Peak is an AMAZING high school!
One of the very top in the state!
It has only existed for the last 20 years.
Before that, my students went to the same hight school
that I went to . . . American Fork High School.
aka . . . "Dear Ol' AF High!"

Here are some of the accomplishments of
the senior class.
I'm only listing those that affected my kiddos.
(The insert of the accomplishments was 2 pages, teeny tiny print!!!)

Scholarships  
The senior class was offered a total of
$10,034,089
in scholarships!

Testing  
ACT 
 Highest average composite (everything) scores in the district.
AP Exams
 Highest participation rate and the highest pass
rate in the district . . . 80.5% compared to 73.4% in 
Alpine School District, 67% in Utah, and 57.5% in nation.

Gold Rush
Students raised over $28,000 to help the
Candlelight School in Africa dig water wells.
This is Alpine Elementary's sister school, too.

UVU Associate Degree Graduates
Mariah Young

Ballroom Dance Team
2nd in state for Youth Latin Medley
1st in state for Youth Novelty Showcase

Bands
Jazz Band
Superior at State
Wind Symphony
Superior at State
All State Band/Orchestra
Jacob Neves

Choirs
All choirs received 
Superior at State
Individual
Avry Spencer
Superior at State
(Junior)

Foreign Language Fair
Spanish - Sweepstakes

Pathway Completion Recognition
Abigail Christensen - Nursing

Performing Dance Company
State Champions

SkillsUSA
State Champions

Teachers of Excellence
Accent on Excellence Teacher of the Year - Ryan Ruchti, Former Neighbor

Utah High School Activities Association Awards
UHSAA TOP 6A FINISHES

Girls Tennis
State Champions

Boys Golf
State Champions

Girls Volleyball
State Champions

Girls Swim
2nd Place State

Boys Swim
State Champions

Girls Golf
State Champions

Boys Tennis
State Champions

Girls Track & Field
State Champions

Boys Basketball
State Champions

Individual State Champions
Over 50

Tennis - State Champions Doubles
Josh Bearss & Niles Cochran

Region IV Championships
Girls Tennis
Boys Golf
Girls Cross Country
Girls Volleyball
Boys Swim
Boys Tennis
Girls Golf
Girls Track
Boys Basketball

Senior Academic All State
Alexis Wallace - Wrestling

Miscellaneous Sports Recognition
Girls Tennis 
Team of the Year by the Utah Tennis Association
Boy's Basketball
Most Outstanding Boys Team of the Year

NAILED THE NAILS

Looks like Oakley 

nailed the nails!

I got this cute text from Heidi.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This year's graduation announcements:

McKell Bezzant

American Fork High School

McKell is the great niece of my best friend.

They are also next door neighbors.

I gave her a gift card to a restaurant.

Alexis Wallace

Lone Peak High School

Alexis was my student.

She is fabulous!!!

She will be attending Ohio State.

I gave her a gift card to a restaurant.

Kallin Bagley

American Fork High School

I have known Kallin since he was born!

His dad was my bishop.

I was Primary Secretary when his mom

was Primary President.

I helped a lot with the family.

Kallin will be serving his mission in

Ukraine, the same mission his brother

Corley served in!

Kallin received a Jazz game from me for graduation.

This is his date.

They went December 30 to see LeBron James

and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Next year, this post will include my

oldest great niece, Courtney!

PULLING A FAST ONE

When I was going to retire 5 years ago, I had a plan.

 I had missed the retirement deadline.

The district let me retire because I had over 

30 consecutive years (33) with them, and a doctor's letter.

At my April AEA meeting, the president told me

not to sign anything when I went in later that month

to meet with the district.  He said to bring the

paperwork to the May meeting, and he and the

executive board would look over it.

On Friday, April 12, the 5th grade in the district had

a math class all day.  It was hard to get ready for a sub!

I sat by my team, and also Kindra Reid.

Kindra and I met the summer before at the

Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.

We both had foot problems.

Anyway, her foot was in a boot . . . again.

We were twinners!

Then, I heard a "pop" and Kindra said,

"Oh, nooooo!!!"  She took her boot off, and the

staples in her foot had popped open!

I leaned over to her and whispered,

"I'm done!  Don't tell anyone!!!"

Also, I looked at my calendar.

A science class the day after school got out,

the next week was district training for

Common Core math, the next Monday was

Ropes Course recertification, then 5 collaboration days

with the team (the summer before, one teammate

wanted to work 10 half days!)

I was D-O-N-E!!!

I would never heal!!!

I met with the district on April 15.

That morning, when Lori dropped her twins

off at jr high, I told her I was going to retire.

 Nancy came to my room so I could tell her.

Nancy had been my bff at Alpine since she

came in 1983-1984.  We even went to Hawaii together!

Heidi took me to the meeting, since she lived close

to the district office.  My mom was waiting there.

The meeting went great!

All my questions were answered.

They gave me the paperwork for the principal to sign.

I had decided to not turn anything in until the

absolute last day of school!

I knew if word got out, I would be pressured to

turn in the paperwork, so the school could hire the

best candidate available.

Well . . . this time, it was all about ME!

My last foot dr appointment in May was the

Friday before Memorial Day.

Dr. Ridge said I had been in the "destructive phase" (March 20),

and was still in the "healing phase."  

He definitely said to retire!

Even if everything went well in surgery with

the best case scenario, standing on the carpet with

pretty much no padding, being outside, P.E., Clear Creek, etc.

it would never heal!

That's all I needed to hear!!!

The next day, I told Don Beckstrand.

Others that knew were:  Paul Finlayson (I was his matchmaker),

Lisa Hoover (secretary . . . she had to help me with my

Foundation money), Dean Turner (custodian),

Maureen Wallace (tutor partner), Heidi Park (she drove

me to my district meetings, and 2 AEA meetings at

Mountain View High School)  

I also told Jeanie Vance, an aide.  Her father in law

was my favorite teaching partner.  (RIP, now gone 18 years.)

I had some cubbies his dad built, a teacher manual organizer,

and paper organizer.  Jeanie had to ask her brother in law,

Blair, who taught 3rd grade out near Vernal, if he wanted them.

I definitely did not tell my team!

They would have gone to Cami, the principal,

and get her to demand I turn the work in so they could

get a good teacher.

But, mainly, the reason I did not tell Condita was she

was going to miss most of May to go home to 

South Dakota to donate a kidney to her mom.

I didn't want to add stress.

I didn't tell Matt, cuz he'd tell Condita.

I believe Heavenly Father was watching over

everything with the teachers!

Matt transferred to Fox Hollow, where he met his wife!

The new teachers, Jon Horan and Allyson Jones were perfect additions!

I had decided to write a blogpost, and publish

it at midnight after school was out!

The blogpost explained everything.

http://missmitchellsfabulousfifthgrade.blogspot.com/2013/05/i-was-born-to-teach-my-retirement-story.html

I really didn't even see most of these comments when

people found out.  I was exhausted.

It never ever came up on my Facebook memories

(On This Day), until today!

It was fun reading them.  

I wanted to save them.

Former student in Class #5.  

Taught 3 of her children.

 

Former teacher at Alpine, parent of a

student in class #5.

Parent of 2 students.

Taught her sister-in-law.

Former Ward Member

Former teacher at Alpine in the 1980's.

Former teacher at Alpine.

Caroldean, Victor, and Glynis Neves.

Taught 8 children from 2 Neves families.

(comments also from other family members)

Former teacher at Alpine.

One of my dearest friends.

Her and Brad were on a mission

(actually a mish.cation ---a cross between

a mission and a vacation.)

Prince Edward Island, Canada

aka Anne of Green Gables home.

Back to the Neves families.

July Jolley was an aide at Alpine.

Taught her daughter.

So, yes, my retirement was pulling a fast one!
I got to have my retirement celebration the next
year with Don & Diane.

Today would have been my last day (age 59 1/2)
but, Heavenly Father knew best!
I had lots of foot problems, and a few health issues.
My mom had 2 surgeries, with TONS of doctor appointments!!!
I could not have done all that, and teach and do sub plans!!!
(Sub plans was the #1 thing I disliked about teaching)

When you hear the term,
"pulling a fast one", this was the best of them all!!!

ME??? REALLY???

I love the funny Facebook things that you can

do, that are supposed to tell you about yourself.

It also adds your profile picture.

I did these when my profile was with Katie.

These are pretty good for a laugh!

Or, is it more truth???

DEAR PARENT . . .

FIVE YEARS IN THE BOOK

May 30, 2013 - May 30, 2018

Five years of retirement in the books!!!

Retirement is the BEST!!!

When my foot doctor said that I needed to retire,

if I could afford it, I started the process.

I was diagnosed March 20, 2013 with charcot foot.

A dozen broken bones in the foot.

When I met with the district on April 15, I had

already made my decision to retire.

Very few at Alpine Elementary knew.

The AEA president told me before I met with

the district to not sign anything.

Just bring the paper work and let the AEA board review it.

I guess that's a privilege for having been the

school rep for 1/4 of a century!!!

The board looked it over, and said,

"Happy Retirement!"

(2018 would have been my last year)
I did not tell my principal or have her sign
the paperwork until the day after Memorial Day.
Needless to say, she was SHOCKED!
I had a foot dr appointment the Friday before.
I wanted to leave the door open . . . just in case.

When my great nephew, Preston, was going

to sing the national anthem at preschool graduation

that year (he'll be in 5th grade next year),

I was determined to never miss family fun stuff again!

I missed all of my 6 nieces and nephews activities!

I only got to 2 science fairs, because they were at night!
I went to only 3 full high school graduations.
(You couldn't attend during a school day without
a full dock.  Besides, the superintendent wouldn't
grant it, because they were not my children.)
I made it to one graduation when they were
starting to read the names.  
Another one, I met everyone after at the
Brick Oven.  They had ordered for me,
and as soon as I sat down, my order came.
That was fabulous, but I still missed her in her cap and gown!
(I did get to dance recitals and games that were on
Saturdays, night, of summer)

So, what have I been up to in 5 years???
I've added 3 great nieces and 2 great nephews (from 11 to 16)

Youngest niece, Katie, married C.J.

2 baptisms (2 more coming soon)

Stake Relief Society Presidency . . . 4 years
(Besides everything that included, I spoke in 10 wards in
Sacrament Meeting, including the Spanish Ward, where I
didn't have a copy of my talk for the interpreter . . . bleh)

President for Utah of Alpha Delta Kappa . . . teacher sorority

for outstanding women educators

In charge of 1 state conference and 1 state convention for ADK

Attended ADK International convention in New Orleans

(going to Anchorage in 2 months for regional conference)

Appointments at 8:00 a.m. instead of 4:30 p.m.

Mid morning swimming

1 high school class reunion
Not getting up at 4:30 a.m.  aka . . . sleeping in

Temple attendance and temple road trips during the day

9 dance festivals (one school covered 5 kids, another 3)

2 World Fairs

3 6th grade graduations

5 preschool graduations

1 kindergarten graduation

12 Christmas Sings
Interviewed over 300 high school juniors to attend
the Leadership Academy at Valley Forge
4 luncheons for the high school junior scholarship winners

Visiting all great nieces and nephews classes in

preschool and elementary and making a donation to their teacher

2 "Utah" programs

Watching CJ playing in the NBA

Science Fair Judging:  2 elementary, 1 jr high, 1 district
4 Tulip Festivals
4 Museum of Natural Curiosity
1 Museum of Ancient Life

4 trips to St. George

1 trip to Cedar City
58 Alpine Elementary Retired Teachers' Lunches

And, of course, attending basketball games, football games,

soccer games, clogging, choir concerts, piano recital,

dance recitals during evenings, summer or Saturdays.

I always thought that when I retired, I would visit

at Alpine Elementary a lot.

I went to 2 3rd grade Christmas programs, the

50 year anniversary of the school being at the current location

(my classmates were in 2nd grade during the move)

Judged 2 Science Fairs, took up retirement announcements,
and did my Christmas shopping at the 
"Buy One Get One Free" book fair.
And, that's it.

(I've also dealt with a partially torn achilles tendon,

2 ulcers on foot, cutting thumb and getting stitches, broken toe

and of course, the charcot foot.)

I have loved, loved, loved my 33 years of teaching at
Alpine Elementary, and all the fabulous students, parents 
and faculty that have come in my life!
It truly is the best place to teach!!!

I am really enjoying my time as a 
Stay At Home Aunt!

All 6 nieces and nephews and their spouses with my mom.

All 16 great nieces and nephews, 11 girls and 5 boys,
ages 17 1/2 - 2
(Plus Heidi holding Jacob)