At the start of this month LIA started serving a Wilson Elementary school on a reading program twice a week. Each LIA students has been assigned an elementary school student to work on. They will also cater to the teachers and assist with classroom needs. “I like to help out younger kids and it’s a fun experience,” said Kimberly Rodriguez. Yesenia Casillas helps her child recognize words, colors, and motor skills. “Its way fun and the little kids get attached to you, it’s just way cute,” said Casillas .

On November 11, 2010 PHS faculty, staff, and students had the opportunity to listen to one of our own Payson High School graduates and military man, General Jeff Burton. General Burton spoke about his tours while in the military and how important it is to honor our soldier’s everyday not just on Veteran’s Day.  “The assembly made me reflect on how we should show more support and thankfulness for the soldiers I know and any soldier I see. I really enjoyed it,” said PHS student Audrey Miller.

For H.O.S.A. week, they had vital signs done, dress up days, a spirit day, and also a blood drive. But perhaps the most exciting activity of HOSA week was dissecting cow hearts. HOSA advisor Mr. Blake received cow hearts from Dixon Meats in Payson and the students gathered to cut them apart. “I want to be a doctor and so cutting a heart into the left aorta was my favorite part,” said Aaron Etheridge.

Six juniors from the Nebo School District, including three from PHS, organized a  HOBY community leadership workshop for 54 Freshmen on Saturday, November 13 at BYU. The entire workshop was totally run by six juniors of the district:  Audrey Miller, Jasmin Moyano, and Mercedes John as an assistant from the PHS and Alex Minson, Cason Acor, Lisie Dixon, Matt Russell.

The 2010-2011 Girls Basketball team is ready to start a fresh new season. The team is working hard toward improving and dominating every team in our region. Coaching the team this year is David Hiatt, Tona Graff, Paul Barber, and Lee Ryan. “We will surprise people,” said Junior Mary Allphin. “If we play as a team we will be successful,” said Coach Hiatt. This year’s team goals are “to be united as a team,” said Senior Katelyn Barney.  The team is also working hard toward their goal “to conquer and win the state championship,” said Sophomore Priscilla Hales.

Will Payson be able to take state again for the third year in a row? Yes, winning state will be a lot harder this year but that is the teams overall goal.  There are 40 boys on this year’s wrestling team including 7 returning state placers. We have three state champions: Brady Loveless, Zac Loveless, and Mitch Brown. We also have four state placers: Jed Mellon, Cole Ford, K.K. Loveless, and Austin Riding.

                On November 2-6 the members of the PHS marching band were on band tour and the state competition in California and St. George.  The band took a plane trip at 3:00 a.m.  down to Disneyland for three days of relaxation, rides, performances, recording sessions, and clinics with “Bob from Philadelphia.”

Our debate team competed in the Salem Hills Speech and Debate Tournament November 19 and 20. They debators took part in SPAR, Oratory Debate, and in the speech competitions: Improvmptu, National Extem, Dramatic Interpretation and Humorous Interpretation.

"It was my very first debate tournament. I liked preparing for it and got used to debating. I thik we did well for our first tournament," said Ivan Gallegos, a member of the debate team.

On October 31 ninePayson High students along with Mr. Alexander attended the Close Up program in Washington D.C. In DC students learned how to use the Metro system, to approach a governmental problem, and even met with a representative Chaffetz staff from the great state of Utah.

The participants visited many of memorials and museums, The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Holocaust Museum to name a few. We also got to visit the White House, the Capital Building, and Williamsburg.