Summer 2020

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CARSON CITY

School District 

Community Quarterly Newsletter | CARSON CITY, NEVADA | Summer, 2020

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION HERE

A NOTE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT

Richard StokesThe following is from an electronic communication to all the teachers within the Carson City School District. Mr. Stokes was expressing his gratitude for all educators during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8.

“Dear Friends,

There is no doubt that the 2020 school year will be a memorable time of our lives. For most, the conditions and experiences of the last two months have changed our personal and professional lives dramatically. We have gone from our comfortable and familiar school and personal routines to a world of change, confusion, and fear. All around us, the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed has evolved at every turn. These changes have been especially notable in our professional venues and methods. Today our students stay home to attend school. Our instructional practices require interaction with our students from a remote stage. Conditions demand that we modify our techniques in order to maintain our most fundamental objective of teaching, supporting, and nurturing our students.  

I initially believed that these extraordinary times would be a brief inconvenience and life as we once knew it would return quickly. Now I find myself asking, “is this the new normal?” While many unanswered questions remain, important constants regarding the indomitable quality of the human spirit remain and give me hope. I recognize these importance qualities in each of you, our educators. Your creativity, your tenacity, your patience, and your care for others are qualities that exist in great abundance in our teachers, nurses, support staff, and administrators. How grateful I am to have you as colleagues. Thank you for your service, for your care, and for your encouragement to the students and families of our community.

As we look to the future, I have great confidence we will not only prevail against the virus threat, but we will thrive. The qualities that have carried us through difficult times in the past will continue to bless our lives as we face the present. I encourage you to continue to provide messages of encouragement and hope to our students and families. Our work is the most important of any other being done today. Thank you for being a positive influence in the lives of your students. With your skill and determination, what could be more appealing than creating a better world and a happier future. 

Thanks for all you do. You are truly appreciated!”

Richard Stokes, superintendent, Carson City School District

STAYING SAFE DURING A PANDEMIC

SafeVoiceWe know this is a challenging time for students and an unprecedented time for teachers and staff. SafeVoice, the live tip reporting system for school safety and student well-being (offered in partnership with the Nevada Departments of Education, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and, more locally, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office), offers some helpful reminders in a letter for students.

  • School teams (counselors, social workers and administrators) continue to respond to all tips during regular school hours. If a student experiences or knows of life-safety issues, SafeVoice will work with them to keep them or their classmate safe.
  • SafeVoiceSafeVoice communication specialists at the Department of Public Safety will respond to all tips after-hours and ensure that students and families get the help they need.
  • SafeVoice is available for all concerned students, parents and teachers, whether their native language is English or Spanish.
  • Because school buildings are closed, school counselors, social workers and administrators may respond to your tips by telephone or through email.
  • If a student or friend needs help for anxiety or depression, they can get support or mental health referrals from school teams during school hours. Additionally, SafeVoice teams are ready to respond to all tips, night and day.
  • Remember: SafeVoice is an anonymous platform. Students may choose to include their name in their tip so school teams may respond directly to them. Even then, your information will remain and confidential.

The platform is available 24/7/365 to help cope with the challenges we all share. You can access SafeVoice any time through the app, by computer or by telephone. Please be safe students, and do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you love needs help.

CARSON HIGH ANNOUNCES DRIVE-THROUGH GRADUATION

Graduation RouteCarson High School will hold a drive-through graduation ceremony Saturday, June 6, with assigned times varying between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The plan details all graduating seniors and their families will stay in their single vehicle until it's time for the graduate to exit their car, have their name announced on the loudspeaker as they walk across the stage erected on the northwest lawn (near the blue and white concrete ‘CHS’ sign), collect their diploma, have their picture taken, return to their vehicle and then proceed to the exit. Teachers may also be seated or standing (six feet apart) along the vehicles’ procession path to greet students as they drive through the parking lots.

This unique opportunity allows us to develop a plan that not only recognizes each and every graduate, but also allows parents and families to get an up close and personal experience. In addition to a personal graduation, Carson High is creating a “Virtual Graduation” video.  This video will include a speech from the principal, Chloe Walt (Senior Class President), Kai Chen (Carson High Valedictorian), Maryn Myler (Jump Start Valedictorian), a rendition of the National Anthem by our CHS Honor Choir, a slide submitted by each student, a farewell message from teachers and administrators, and the Senior Song.  This video will be posted on the school website on or before June 5.  This is something that the Class of 2020 will be able to cherish for years to come. 

More details will be made available as gradation nears. Seniors will also be able to drop off Chromebooks and cords, library books, text books and other class materials as early as Monday, June 1. Seniors will also pick up a yearbook (if purchased), Senior Awards, cap and gown, prom gift, cords, PE locker materials, hall locker materials, and varsity letters that same day.

Carson Middle School will host a pre-recorded virtual promotion celebration with student speakers, commencement address, musical performances and greetings from staff members to outgoing eighth grade students. The video will be released Wednesday, June 3, for students and will be available on cmnewz.org

Eagle Valley Middle School will host a drive-by eighth grade promotion recognition ceremony Thursday, June 4, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Promotion certificates will be mailed with report cards. 

Mark Twain Elementary School will host a fifth grade promotion ceremony in August prior to the start of school. Details will be distributed to fifth grade families as the date of the event approaches. All other fifth grade, kindergarten and Pre-K promotions have been canceled districtwide.


PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL TO FEATURE 5-PART GRADUATION PLAN

PHS"After much consideration of options for our graduation ceremony this year, it was decided that the safest and most responsible format for PHS students would be a five-part graduation including a virtual presentation accessible online,” said Pioneer High School Principal Jason Zona in a letter to seniors and families.

The first of the five parts will be senior photo billboard displays, which will be shown at the Carson Community Center and Bodines Casino June 1 and 2. Drive by to see!

Part 2 is a Zoom session for staff and students, and the date and time will be released directly to graduating student emails.

Part 3 is the Graduation Item Distribution, including a PHS Senior t-shirt which is available online at the PHS Facebook page here and the senior gift, a senior graduation yard sign/photo, which is gifted by the staff of Pioneer.

Part 4 will be the Graduation Presentation Online. The online graduation presentation will be released through email, school websites, facebook, and to local media. Graduation Presentation Outline:

  • National Anthem: Sung by PHS Student, Kaya Burdett-Wannamaker
  • Masters of Ceremony: Daniel Echebarria and Cary Jordan
  • PHS Student Speeches: Sydney Miller (Valedictorian), Jazmin Estes, Tara Mahoney, and Charish Creon
  • Guest Speakers: Jacky Rosen, Nevada Senator & Richard Stokes, CCSD Superintendent
  • Student Recognition & Certification of Graduation: Jason Zona, PHS Principal
  • Senior Slide Show and Music: (Online Link TBA) Rebecca Allen, Teacher

The fifth and final part is the 2020 Dedication Ceremony. A special gift from local members of the community and PHS Alumni to the Pioneer Class of 2020 will be presented and released in the media.

PHS Expansion

“Once we are able to have gatherings, we will hold this gift dedication ceremony on campus in person for graduating seniors and their families at a later date,” Zona said. “The Covid-19 pandemic has been an immense challenge, but we know that we can still honor our class of 2020 in a safe, dignified, and professional manner.  Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to a time where we can gather together in person to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. Please join us in the celebrations and recognition for PHS graduating seniors. We are so proud of the PHS Class of 2020!”

Is Pioneer High School Right for Your Student?
PHS offers students a personalized learning experience that features smaller class sizes, a smaller campus environment, a flexible classroom and an online hybrid schedule. The Carson City School District has prepared an informational video with more details about the school and many of its programs. This may be a great option for you or your student. Click here to watch the video.

VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTATORIANS NAMED AT HIGH SCHOOLS

ValedictoriansThe Carson City School District is pleased to announce six high school seniors (four from Carson High School and two from Pioneer High School) who have shown exceptional academic prowess. The valedictorian and salutatorian honors represent the students who have earned the highest and second highest ranks, respectively, among their graduating class.

The Carson City School District wants to thank all the educators, employees and peers who have helped each of these students during their time at Carson and Pioneer High Schools. The district also wants to thank the families of each student for their support and guidance during the entirety of their educational careers. Congratulations to all the graduates in the Class of 2020. READ MORE…to learn about each graduate.

  • Carson High School Valedictorian: Kai Chen
  • Carson High School Salutatorian: Ava Covington
  • Carson High School JumpStart Valedictorian: Maryn Myler
  • Carson High School JumpStart Salutatorian: Sailor Mueller
  • Pioneer High School Valedictorian: Sydney Miller
  • Pioneer High School Salutatorian: Lucia Shindell

ONLINE REGISTRATION, ANNUAL UPDATES & ELECTIVE CLASSES

Infinite CampusOnline registration, annual updates and elective class selections are now underway in the Carson City School District. The annual update is an online process that allows families to verify and submit yearly-required information such as current home address, contact information and emergency contacts are necessary in the event district administrators or teachers need to contact parents or families regarding their child.

This online process eliminates forms and paperwork that used to be required for annual registration. With the Infinite Campus online tool, parents and families can view class schedules, attendance records, teacher communications and other information regarding the school and their student.

The district also needs this information updated each year to allow students to attend field trips, have their photo taken, update medical records, use district technologies, etc. Students will not receive a Chromebook unless the online updates have been completed. Additionally, students that do not have updates submitted prior to the first day of school cannot be guaranteed their choice of classes including electives. Please follow the below directions or steps to effectively enroll your student and update their personal information. In the event you cannot remember your Username or Password, contact your child’s school to have them reset.

  1. Green ButtonPlease go online to carsoncityschools.com.
  2. Locate and click the bright green Infinite Campus button.
  3. For Returning Students: use the blue “Returning Students Online Registration” button.
  1. To register New Students online: use the orange “New Student Online Registration” button or contact your school or district's tech staff to receive the proper url to enter your username and password. Note: If you have a NEW student(s) to register, but have existing students in the district, please use the blue "Returning Students" button to update and register all students.
  2. To register your student for sports, click on the “Athletic Registration” link.
  3. To sign up fifth grade students for Sixth Grade Elective Class Selection, follow the link at the left drop-down menu from the Infinite Campus page.

For more information about Infinite Campus, including training, how to navigate the campus portal, installing the app on your phone and more, please click here.

SIXTH GRADE ELECTIVE CLASS SELECTION FOR PROMOTING FIFTH GRADERS

Sixth GradeStudents selecting elective classes for sixth grade at Carson Middle School should select their elective classes through Infinite Campus. For more information, please view the Welcome Video from Carson Middle School as well as the "How to pick classes in IC for 6th Graders" video.

Students selecting elective classes for sixth grade at Eagle Valley Middle School should complete the Google Document Form to indicate their elective class choices. For more information, please view the Welcome Video from Eagle Valley Middle School.

BUS DRIVERS TO CELEBRATE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

BusesIn recognition of the last day of school Wednesday, June 3, the Transportation Department with the Carson City School District will have several school buses parade and display banners to provide recognition for all the student efforts in completing Remote Learning school work and assignments.

The buses will travel to all the schools after completing lunch deliveries. Families and students are invited to celebrate sitting or standing (six feet apart) along the buses’ procession path and wave and cheer to say good bye to the close of an unforgettable school year.

Estimated times of arrival at each school include the following:
12:00 noon Roll Out of Bus Yard
12:01 p.m. Carson High School
12:08 p.m. Empire Elementary School
12:13 p.m. Eagle Valley Middle School
12:20 p.m. Seeliger Elementary School
12:23 p.m. Fremont Elementary School
12:30 p.m. Bordewich Bray Elementary School (Fifth Street, right on Thompson, left on King)
12:32 p.m. Carson Middle School (through bus lane, left on King Street, left on Mountain)
12:36 p.m. Fritsch Elementary School
12:40 p.m. Pioneer High School
12:45 p.m. Mark Twain Elementary School
12:47 p.m. Boys & Girls Club of Northern Nevada
12:55 p.m. Carson High School
1:00 p.m. Roll In to Bus Yard

DISTRICT HONORS EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Teacher of the YearThe Carson City School District is pleased to announce individuals who have excelled in their positions as educators and employees and have been recognized for their works of merit by their peers and coworkers.

Traditionally, the school district selects one Educator and one Education Support Professional (ESP) Employee from all of the school sites to represent the entire district in each respective role. Due to the restraints of school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the school district elected to forgo the awards ceremony dedicated to recognizing these individuals. As such, no single overall winner was selected as Educator of the Year and ESP Employee of the Year.

The Educators of the Year and ESP Employees of the Year winners recognized and honored (by their site alphabetically) include:

  • Shanell Cavener, algebra and geometry teacher at Carson High School
  • Robin Bleuss, account clerk II at Carson High School
  • Whitney Tynes, counselor at Carson Middle School
  • Jenny Ayala, para professional ESL at Carson Middle School
  • Lois Linehan, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) at Eagle Valley Middle School
  • Denise DiMarzo, administrative secretary at Eagle Valley Middle School
  • Tara Hornemann, physical education teacher at Al Seeliger Elementary School
  • Karen Shaffer, office specialist at Al Seeliger Elementary School
  • Jessica Dunbar, second grade teacher at Bordewich Bray Elementary School
  • Cathleen Childs, para professional II at Bordewich Bray Elementary School
  • Theresa Marler, first grade teacher at Empire Elementary School
  • Carolina Higuera, office specialist at Empire Elementary School
  • Carol “Susie” Owens, second grade teacher at Fremont Elementary School
  • Mayelen Garijo, para professional ESL at Fremont Elementary School
  • Christine Donaldson, kindergarten teacher at Fritsch Elementary School
  • Dawn Bateman, para professional IV (1:1) at Fritsch Elementary School
  • Tearra Bobula, computer teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School
  • Casandra Blankenship, office specialist at Mark Twain Elementary School
  • John Corbit, math teacher at Pioneer High School
  • Karen Wayne, cook/baker at Pioneer High School
  • Kari Pryor, TOSA Implementation Specialist Cognitive Coach for Student Support Services
  • Sandra Guzzetta, para professional IV for Student Support Services
  • Michael Luke, bus driver trainer for Transportation
  • Gary Jones, skilled building maintenance for Operations
  • Gina Heinz, administrative secretary II for the District Office

The Carson City School District also recognizes Deanne Foley, RN, school nurse at Carson Middle School, as Health Professional of the Year, and Paula Zona, principal at Seeliger Elementary School, as Administrator of the Year.

BOURNE AND CHANDLER: NEVADA STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Christina BourneIn addition to being recognized as previous Educators of the Year from the Carson City School District, Ms. Christina Bourne and Ms. Jennifer Chandler have both been nominated and will have the opportunity to compete for “Nevada State Teacher of the Year.” The two were nominated because both have earned accreditations as National Board Certified Teachers. The winner and finalists of the state recognition will be announced later this summer in August. 

The prestigious program focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. To be eligible, Bourne and Chandler needed to be nominated by colleagues. Once nominated, they were eligible and invited to submit an application. This application required three letters of recommendation: one from the site administrator, one from a parent or student and one from a colleague. The state selection committee also required copies of each teachers’ previous evaluations. The application involves a number of essay style answers to questions about the applicant's teaching and views on issues facing education. 

Jennifer ChandlerAfter all of the applications were received, the state selection committee narrowed the field. Those who moved forward had phone interviews followed by face to face (ZOOM) interviews and later a 5 to 7-minute keynote address about “How teacher leadership can be leveraged to retain high quality educators in Nevada.” Both Bourne and Chandler have advanced to the final stage of the process. And now we wait until the announcement in August!

The mission of the Nevada Teacher of the Year program is to celebrate excellence and strengthen the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a school, district, state, and national level. Being named Nevada Teacher of the Year is not only an award, but also an honor – one that comes with an enormous responsibility: that of representing the entire profession in Nevada.

The 2021 Nevada Teacher of the Year will make connections with schools, colleges, universities, organizations related to education, the legislature and stakeholders around the state to elevate teachers, classrooms and the teaching profession. They are an educational leader, a mentor and an ambassador. As a spokesperson for Nevada’s roughly 27,000 educators, the Teacher of the Year is a resource on the state of education in Nevada.

2020-2021 ACADEMIC CALENDAR POSTED

The 2020-2021 Academic Year School Calendar has been posted to the district Website. Click here to view all the upcoming and important school holidays, minimum days, early release dates and more. Please note, given the current pandemic environment and with only limited businesses and organizations reopening, this calendar remains subject to change. 

2020-2021 Academic Calendar


PASS/FAIL GRADING HELPS STUDENTS WITHOUT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES

Pass Fail GradingIn April, as concerns steepened from school closures from COVID-19, the Carson City School District transitioned all secondary students to a Pass/Fail grading system for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year. The decision came as principals, instructional leaders, district-level administrators and members of the teachers’ union discussed the extension of school closures following spring break.

“In our discussions to address the needs of our families and students at the close of this extraordinary school year, we have used as a guiding principle the idea to ‘do no harm’ to students,” said Richard Stokes, superintendent for the Carson City School District. “This statement will mean different things to different students given the many circumstances of individual families. As such, within the Pass/Fail grading system at the secondary level, we have implemented a process where a student or his/her family may appeal or petition the school principal to post the student's letter grades in lieu of the Pass/Fail grade to the final transcript.”

Moving to Pass/Fail grading will benefit the staff and students without negative consequences for students with collegiate aspirations, he continued. Universities across the country have made it clear that students will not be penalized for missing traditional standardized tests or for posting credit or no credit transcripts for this semester. READ MORE…

NOTABLE FUTURE DATES (Dates & Times are Subject to Change)

Please refer to the School District’s Academic School Calendar for additional information regarding school holidays and other important releases. Below are some notable and important future dates. 

  • May 25 (Monday) Memorial Day (School Holiday)
  • May 26 (Tuesday) School Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • June 2 (Tuesday) Pioneer High School Virtual Graduation
  • June 3 (Wednesday) Carson Middle School 8th Grade Virtual Promotion,cmnewz2.org
  • June 4 (Thursday) Eagle Valley Middle School 8th Grade Drive-Thru Promotion, 12 -1 p.m.
  • June 6 (Saturday) Carson High School Drive-Through Graduation,varying times
  • June 9 (Tuesday) School Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • June 23 (Tuesday) School Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room


NEW VICE PRINCIPAL AT EMPIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Nathan BrighamWe are pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Brigham as the vice principal for Empire Elementary School for the 2020-2021 school year.

In his position, Mr. Brigham will be part of an educational system focused on developing the skill and talents for all students through rigorous learning experiences, supportive relationships and relevant real-life applications. He will be a visible instructional leader throughout the district and propel student achievement in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, accountability and staff supervision. Click here to READ MORE…

CARSON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS EARN MORE THAN $1M IN SCHOLARSHIPS

Class of 2020Nearly 70 Carson High School (CHS) Seniors were recognized for collectively earning more than $1 million in scholarships (a number that will continue to rise). Their accomplishments were celebrated in a virtual awards ceremony, Thursday, May 14, which highlighted the academic success of the Class of 2020. 

"Even though the conclusion of this unforgettable COVID-19 school year has not lived up to traditional expectations, these students have proved they are well prepared when they leave Carson High School,” CHS Principal Gavin Ward said. "These scholarship awards are a testament to that. We have students going on to military, technical schools, community colleges and major universities.”

We applaud all the local organizations and community support who’ve made a lot of these scholarships possible, he continued. The Class of 2020 has really embraced the opportunities available to them, and I couldn't be more proud. I am excited about their futures and what they will do after high school.

Ward also noted the total amount of scholarships will continue to rise as graduation draws closer. Many applications have been extended due to schools being physically closed. So the overall total in scholarships may be significantly higher than what is represented as of May 14, 2020. READ MORE…for a complete alphabetized list (by last name followed by their first name) of all the Carson High School Class of 2020 Scholars.


CHS STATE HOSA AWARD WINNERS

HOSACarson High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) HOSA (Future Health Professionals) students competed in the 2020 Virtual Nevada State Leadership Conference hosted April 15 through May 8. More than 1,000 students from across the state of Nevada competed in more than 40 medical competition events.

Students were only able to compete in one event (some events were individual, and some were team events) as well as take the Healthcare Issues Exam and be recognized for their service. All The Carson High School students listed below qualified for the 2020 Virtual International Leadership Conference set for June 22-27. They will compete against members from all over the nation and from countries such as Italy and Germany.

Additionally, more than 81 percent of the students who ranked in the top 25 percent in the Healthcare Issues Exam were from Carson High School. A total of 35 CHS HOSA students earned the recognition, which also qualified them to compete at nationals. There were only 43 HOSA students to qualify across the state of Nevada. READ MORE…for additional information including details of the Individual Event Winners, Team Event Winners and all Healthcare Issues Exam winners (listed alphabetically by last name).

CARSON HIGH FBLA STUDENTS WIN STATE AWARDS

FBLA StudentsNearly two dozen Carson High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students claimed more than 40 top-ten awards including five state championships at the Nevada State Business Leadership Conference. The conference was previously scheduled to be held in Reno, but due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the event was held digitally.

Click here to view a list of all the student winners from the 2020 State Business Leadership Conference.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IN CARSON CITY

Teacher AppreciationIf there ever were a silver lining amid a pandemic, many parents, forced into homeschooling their student(s) via Remote Learning, may have discovered a new found appreciation for teachers. For National Teacher Appreciation Week in Carson City, principals, office managers and administrators alike also found novel ways to recognize and celebrate educators.

Where schools typically provide a close proximity for teachers to celebrate together, social distancing proved to be a challenge to recognize the endless hours and emotional attention educators devote continuously to their students.

Administrative staff throughout the Carson City School District, particularly from Fritsch and Seeliger Elementary Schools, went to ‘great lengths’ to show appreciation for their teachers. Many drove several miles and delivered appreciation care packages, signs and other bags and goodies to each individual teacher’s home. ‘Thank You’ signs and other banners were also staked out on lawns or waved as proclamations to recognize all their hard work.

Since the teacher population covers a large geographical area (many teachers live outside of Carson City in areas north, south, east and west including Reno, Sparks, Dayton, Minden, Gardnerville, South Lake Tahoe, etc.), administrative teams racked up the miles to recognize each.

Additionally, online video messages from students, newsletters and drive-thru donut and fruit events were planned or have been published for teachers. Read more here

Fritsch BulldogsSeeliger PiratesSeeliger Pirates

CARSON MIDDLE SCHOOL RECOGNIZED AS DISTINGUISHED STEM SCHOOL

CMS STEMCarson Middle School was recently recognized as a Distinguished School for performing an exemplary Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program. Only 176 schools across the country received the top honors for their commitment to student engagement and access.

Those schools and districts earning the recognition nationally have empowered students to thrive in an evolving world and have achieved exemplary results from their PLTW programs.

PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for PreK-12-grade students and teachers through pathways in computer science, engineering and biomedical science.

CMS STEMCarson Middle School uses gateway PLTW classes to bridge students into the Carson High School CTE program. They strive to align with the high schools in terms of Career and College Readiness standards. They also have programs at the middle school level that feed into High School Programs, such as Robotics club, Health Sciences, Information and Media Technologies and Skilled and Technical Sciences.
Carson Middle and Eagle Valley Middle School are numbered among the more than 11,500 schools across the U.S. in offering PLTW programs to students. To view the list of 2019-20 PLTW Distinguished Schools and Districts, click here, or read more about this recognition here. 


STEAM PROGRAM VIRTUAL YEAR-END EVENT TO SHOWCASE STUDENT WORK

Project ReChargeEnvirolution will host a virtual year-end event Thursday, May 28, to showcase student and teacher work on Project ReCharge, an interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) energy curriculum and training program funded by Tesla’s Nevada K-12 Education Investment, NV Energy Foundation, and the Howmet Aerospace Foundation. The yearlong program engages students, teachers and community members in identifying and solving real world energy problems in a hands-on and project based approach.

Over the past year, in the classroom and virtually, students have been challenged with completing energy and sustainability audits aimed at creating solutions for an energy problem at their school or home. Next Thursday, students will present to community members and their peers projects and PSA’s with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. More than 25 teachers and 2,000 students from across 17 schools within Washoe County, Lyon County, Carson County and Tahoe-Truckee Unified, participated in this year’s program. READ MORE…for additional information and details on how to login to the Virtual Zoom Event.


TWO CHS SENIORS WIN 'I VOTED' STICKER DESIGN COMPETITION

I Voted WinnersThe Carson City Department of Arts & Culture in partnership with the Carson City Clerk-Recorder’s Office announced the winners from the ‘I Voted’ sticker design competition. The competition was open to students grades 9-12 enrolled in any high school in Carson City, Nev. Students were encouraged to submit creative designs that excite and encourage voting participation.

Despite school closures due to the Coronavirus, one teacher, Carson High’s Graphic Design Teacher Patricia Ababio, still managed to guide her students in submitting a total of 212 designs to the competition. Panelists selected two images for a Top Prize award of $100: Victor Clavel (12th grade) Graphic Design Advanced Studies and Alondra Mata Izquierdo (12th grade) Graphic Design Advanced Studies. To read more and see a list of other students winning Honorable Mentions, click here.

$25,000 GRANT AWARDED TO EXPAND CARSON HIGH'S GREENHOUSE

GreenhouseThe Carson City School District wishes to thank the William N. Pennington Foundation for their $25,000 grant to be used on a much-needed outdoor classroom and office expansion at The Greenhouse Project’s (TGP) main location at Carson High School.

The Carson City School District has partnered with TGP since 2011 in providing work-based learning opportunities for local students and other community youth. In addition, TGP has provided a variety of learning opportunities for individuals in greenhouse and garden settings that promote public wellness, education and career opportunities.

GreenhouseOver the past year, the Carson City School District has worked with TGP’s Board of Directors, local business partners, students and supporters to design and plan for a construction project at Carson High School. In fact, students from Carson High’s Civil Engineering and Architecture classes worked alongside TGP staff to design the outdoor classroom structure. The classroom and expanded office space was deemed a crucial next step due to the growing number of students and volunteers taking advantage of the facilities. Click here to READ MORE…

OTHER GREAT STORIES FOUND HERE:

There is so much great news about Carson City School District. Below are links to some of the recent and popular stories from events and activities throughout the district.

Shout Out to AthletesCoaches Give Virtual Shout Out to Spring Athletes
Posted on 04/22/2020
The Carson High School Athletic Department and Spring sports coaches give a special message to senior athletes virtually in a video "shout out." The video was produced by Sherri Kelley, web design teacher at CHS. Go here to watch the video. READ MORE...




Be The LightCHS Awash With Light in Honor of Class of 2020
Posted on 04/18/2020
On April 17, CHS turned the lights on the football, soccer, track and baseball fields for 20 minutes from 8:20-8:40 p.m. (20:20 to 20:40) in support of their 2020 Graduating Class, Athletes, Coaches, Staff and those on the front lines fighting COVID-19.  READ MORE...

Virtual PromVirtual Nod for Prom and Prom Candidates
Posted on 04/02/2020
Carson High School helped seniors participate in what they called a virtual nod for prom and prom candidates. Prom has been, for what many considered, a rite-of-passage for high school seniors and a quintessential American tradition that, along with graduation, often symbolizes the end of one chapter in life and the beginning of a new one. With the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans among many others were canceled. READ MORE... 

GeoBeeNational Geographic GeoBee Semifinalist
Posted on 03/11/2020
The Carson City School District, was pleased to announce Mori Kurland, eighth-grader at CMS, as one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee State Competition. This was the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, which is now in its 32 year.  READ MORE... 

FoundationFoundation Awards Various Grants
Posted on 03/09/2020
The Carson City School District, on behalf of the Carson City Schools Foundation, was pleased to announce winners of mini-grants from Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. The competitive process garnered dozens of applications from district educators. In addition to the mini-grants, the foundation also awarded $2,000 - $3,000 grants for a Department, School or Grade-level projects. READ MORE... 

Digital Learning DaysStudents Celebrate Digital Learning Day Coding Robots
Posted on 02/27/2020
In celebration of National Digital Learning Day, Feb. 27, students throughout the Carson City School District spent some time to learn online coding programs (equivalent to Javascript) and other coding programs that enabled them to command a robot to move and perform based on the code the students developed. READ MORE... 

Reading WeekStudents Celebrate Digital Learning Day Coding Robots
Posted on 02/27/2020
In celebration of National Digital Learning Day, Feb. 27, students throughout the Carson City School District spent some time to learn online coding programs (equivalent to Javascript) and other coding programs that enabled them to command a robot to move and perform based on the code the students developed. READ MORE... 

PHS VideoIs Pioneer High School Right for You or Your Student?
Posted on 02/20/2020
PHS in Carson City offers students a personalized learning experience that features smaller class sizes, a smaller campus environment, a flexible classroom and an online hybrid schedule. Here is an informational video with more details about the school. This may be a great option for you or your student. READ MORE... 

Carson Middle School$712,250 for STEM, Sustainability Education
Posted on 02/10/2020
As part of Tesla’s K-12 Investment Fund, the Carson City School District was pleased to announce it was the most recent recipient of nearly a million dollars in grant funding. The money will help fund a district-wide sustainability initiative for the next three years. READ MORE... 

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District OfficeLog on to our website,carsoncityschools.com, regularly to remain updated on all the wonderful events and accomplishments occurring across the district as we wind down the year together. This tool will inevitably help you stay informed throughout the summer months as we begin preparing for another fun and exciting school year. And if you don’t already, be sure to“LIKE” us on Facebook, and choose to “See First” so you never miss an important news update. Also find us on Twitter and YouTube.

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Be sure to FOLLOW and LIKE CCSD’s Facebook: (facebook.com/carsoncityschooldistirct) and Twitter (twitter.com/carsonschools) pages. Each provide real-time district and school news to the community. The pages are used as a tool to relay information of school closures, emergencies, good news, events, etc. 

The pages aim to engage the community about local, state and national education news/topics, report from live board of education meetings and other district meetings and events and post student and staff pictures and achievements

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Teacher MessageHave you captured some amazing photos at some of our school sites? Please share your photos with us. Feel free to email our Public Information Officer Dan Davis,[email protected], with any shots you’d like to share publicly through our social media. Or tag us @carsoncityschooldistrict on Facebook or @carsonschools on Twitter.









SUBSCRIBE OR REFER A FRIEND TO OUR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

NewsletterThis quarterly newsletter serves as an information tool to communicate Carson City School District news and events to the community.

You can read the latest newsletter or past issues by selecting issues from the left drop-down menu on our website here.

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