A lot has been going on at Helper Middle School this year and the holidays brought out some of the best activities.

“We have been doing some great things this year,” said Robert Bradley, the Principal of Helper Middle School.

The music program recently had their 2018 Holiday Concert. Apart from showcasing some holiday cheer, they also demonstrated the hard work and talent as student musicians with a selection of solos and duets. The concert served to show just how much positivity and effort the students put into the program at the school. As a growing program, the focal point has been to give students an opportunity to enjoy the arts and find their own unique ways to express themselves through music, both vocal and instrumental.

“Mr. Navarro did a great job with the kids as this is his first year,” stated Bradley. “We appreciate a great letter we received from a grandfather who said he really enjoyed the program. It was great to see the support of the community. I think one of the things that was good about it is that the kids had the maturity of being able to laugh off their own mistakes. They had a great attitude about it.”

Also, during the holidays, a new delight was produced for both the students at Helper Middle School and Sally Mauro Elementary. The school prepared in December for their production ofThe Nutcracker Prince. In this adaptation of the original classic, there is very little ballet. Instead the characters speak to tell their story. Pieces of Tchaikovsky’s music are sprinkled throughout with short scenes of dance. Students who performed included Gentrie Hansen and Brooklynn Twedell as Clara, Makai Rogers as the Nutcracker Prince, Bradley Sweeney as Fritz, Gauge Holm as Drosselmeyer, Samuel Dart as the Rat King, Emma Holm as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Hannah Ludington as Clara’s mother, Isaac Nielsen as Clara’s father, BreeannaCruz as Clara’s cat, Shadow, Allena Ison as Mother Ginger, T’Kiah McArthur as Katarina, Jadyn Nef, Sage Vea, Ella Morley, Jean Larsen, Kalei Coplin, and Abigail Anderson as storytellers, Veronica Cartwright, Aiden Williams, Hannah Mastin, and Jaylynn Johnson as mice, Jayden Allred, McKennley Brittain, Bradi Laursen, and Sarah Ludington as soldiers, Dani Hill and Aubrey Gutierrez as snowflakes, Aubrey Gutierrez, Lily Carmichael, Ava Eich, and Abbigale Twitchell  as flowers, Devyn Foster and Kelton Stockdale as stage crew.

Of course no holiday season in Helper is complete without the school being involved in “Christmas Town” events that take place in the city.

“The school participated in the Helper Light Parade and took first place for best school float,” he stated. “Our mascot was there and a lot of fun was had by all those that participated.”

The students and student officers worked for hours to decorate their float using hundreds of red lights. This year’s officers are Gentrie Hansen, President, Carter Richardson, Vice-President, Janyssa Wadley, Secretary, Ella Anderson, Historian and House Representatives Emma Holm, Allena Ison, Mark Kerby, Veronica Cartwright, Sophie Arietta, and Mark Kerby.