Senator Square: The 2021 Carson High School Virtual Talent Show winners are in

Sponsored by Carson High School Future Business Leaders of America, and in conjunction with Winterfest, students, teachers, and staff took time Feb. 3 to watch the premier of the 2021 Virtual Talent Show on YouTube. Want to have some fun?

Want to see it even if not a student at CHS? Go to youtu.be/rfQGs0zpVJE.

According to FBLA adviser Angila Golik, “We usually have a panel of teachers and community members as the judges, but this year, due to COVID-19, we opened up voting to all students, faculty, and staff as well.” Voting took place by electronic ballot, so the results could be seen instantaneously by everyone involved.

The $400 in cash prizes for the winners were sponsored by the Adams Hub from Carson City, and FBLA senior members Abby Golik and Serena Dantzler were the emcees of the video show. Winning the overall grand prize for the talent show was sophomore Jacob Xie with his saxophone performance of “Watermelon Man”. Winning 1st place in the singing category was Ethne Myler singing “Hallelujah”, and the 2nd place singing honors went to Aiden Cole singing and playing the piano with her rendition of “Someone Like You”.

In the non-singing category was senior Bita Jazani with her violin performance of “Toxic” by Britney Spears, and 2nd place in non-singing went to senior Amara Tedford with her dance performance.

The talent show, normally FBLA’s main fundraiser of the year, is an annual event; however, due to COVID-19, no money was raised, so FBLA is very thankful to the Adams Hub for sponsoring the cash prizes so that the club was still able to put together the event for students. All entries in the talent show received a CHS T-shirt for entering. This April, FBLA students will be participating in the State Business Leadership Conference. Registration to participate in this event is $115 per student. If anyone in the community wishes to sponsor a student’s registration fee, please contact the CHS Advisor, Angila Golik, agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.

WHAT THE CANDIDATES DID TO PREPARE FOR WINTERFEST
Have some fun, and revisit the wonders and awkwardness of growing up during the high school years. Enjoy the memories which come to mind, both good and bad.

Reminders are necessary if human beings are ever going to get it right the second, or third, or fourth time, right? According to CHS Librarian and Media Specialist Ananda Campbell, “The Virtual Winterfest pep rally was viewed 387 times, and that is awesome.” Keep in mind, however, 387 was just the beginning. In fact, everyone interested, even the Carson City Community and beyond, may now view it too.

Enjoy the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior candidates preparing for the Winterfest competition COVID style. Please go to the following here to see the seniors strutting their stuff.

WINNERS OF THE WINTERFEST DOOR DECORATING CONTEST
Not only do the students compete to win prizes, the teachers do too. This year’s Maryanne Weaver, CHS Dean of Students said, “First, thank you to all of our participants, the doors looked great and added so much to Winterfest Week.” Weaver added, “Second, thank you at all who voted; it was a pleasant surprise to see the number of staff members who took the time to vote.

Now, with no further delay, the winners of the Winterfest Door Decorating contest are as follows: 1st Place, with nearly a third of all the votes is the administration office, CHS Vice Principal Sue Molden; 2nd Place, there was a tie between CHS Biology teacher Jennifer Alexander's classroom door and CHS Drawing, Painting, and Art Foundations teacher Karen McCraw's classroom door; and since it was so close behind the tie for second, 3rd Place goes to CHS AP Honors Computer Science Principles and Web Design teacher Sherri Kelley's classroom.

AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE
The American College Test is coming soon, and it will be administered, free of charge, to all CHS Juniors. In fact, taking the ACT is a CHS graduation requirement. Additionally, interested CHS Seniors, those willing to retake the ACT for the possibility of receiving a higher score, may obtain a fee waiver to cover registration in order to complete the full ACT with writing or no writing, or a section retesting up to three subjects. Approximately 18,000 students in grade 11 are eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver. During the 2019-2020 school year, 2,199 waivers were requested and only 1,348 were used. Eligible students may request up to four waivers, and the waiver covers one report to a student’s high school and up to six college choices at the time of registration. After registration, the student may request unlimited regular score reports for free. Also included is full access to ACT Online Prep, ACT Rapid Review, and ACT Academy.

Refer to the attachment for information on which students are eligible: www.act.org/the-act/resources. A note from the parent of a recent graduate says, “Do not forget about the Governor Guinn Millenium Scholarship; there are many students who, like my son, did not have a 3.25 high school GPA, which would have given him an automatic Millenium Scholarship; however, students receive a 21 on the ACT then they are eligible for the scholarship as well.” The parent went on to say, “My son attended the ACT prep “bootcamp” his junior year, and I believe that because of it, he was able to get an ACT score of 22, so, last summer, we received the Millenium Scholarship offer in the mail, and, though my son did not go to college, he opted for the US Navy, the scholarship has been accepted and is waiting for him when he is done with the military.” So, please tell students this is a great opportunity for them to get a great scholarship even if they do not have the best grades in the world.

CARSON CITY BUSINESS OWNERS MAY ADVERTISE IN THE CHS YEARBOOK
Carson City business owners may purchase an advertisement section in the yearbook, multiple sizes available, to help immortalize the name of their business, the name of a student, and to also support the CHS program. It is super easy; business owners simply need to go to yearbookforever.com, search for Carson High School, select shop, and select business ad. They may then upload a predesigned ad, or they may design their own ad online. They may purchase a full page, 1/2-page, or 1/4-page section. Please, businesses of Carson City, use this type of advertising to support the physical publication of the CHS Senators’ yearbook. Also, parents, students, and others may also purchase a section of the yearbook as well and use photos to capture and immortalize an unforgettable memory of time spent in the Carson City School District and beyond. Have a look at the possibilities by going to senatorsnow.org/. All purchases need to be made by Feb. 26. For more information about the CHS yearbook, email CHS teacher and yearbook adviser Cynthia Mills at cmills@carson.k12.nv.us.

NOW HIRING STUDENT CUSTODIAL WORKERS AT CHS
Good money, normal hours, and a truly safe and familiar place to work, the Carson City School District, and CHS in particular, needs students to become stewards of the facility. Wages begin at $10 per hour, along with 15 or more hours per week, Monday through Friday. Students must be 16 or older, and they get to choose which school site within the district they would prefer to work.

This could be the beginning of a new career. Three letters of recommendation from teachers, administrators, former employers, etc. are needed, and students must be passing all their classes and have good attendance. If absent from school, then students would be unable to work that day. Those hired will work with a Lead Custodian to clean, mop, scrub, and vacuum floors, dust furniture and equipment, and clean windows, along with other custodial duties.

To apply, please go to drive.google.com/file/d/16dS971zNlfBwQRG5R3SZW3i9aRoHMyml/view.

TOOLS FOR SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
The Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center developed a COVID-19 website with resources for state and local programs serving children with disabilities and their families at ectacenter.org/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=. One of its newest interactive infographics includes COVID-19 Family Resources to help families navigate the ECTA website for COVID-19 tools and information to support their children's learning and development. This resource was developed by ECTA and the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems with extensive contributions from parent training and resource centers across the country. Contact Alberto Quintero at albertoquintero@doe.nv.gov for more information.

SUPPORTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AT HOME
The Regional Educational Laboratory West has developed a set of nine activities in English and Spanish with simple, fun ideas for how parents, grandparents, and caregivers may help children develop their language skills at home based on activities developed by the What Works Clearinghouse. Go to ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/west/Resources/CaregiverActivities. These activities are designed to strengthen language development in either the home language or in English. The Educators’ Guide provides tips and strategies for teachers to help families and caregivers with the activities can be found here. Contact Alberto Quintero at albertoquintero@doe.nv.gov for more information.

ATHLETE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The CHS Athlete in the Spotlight is Izayah Pando, a senior. “My dad always encouraged me to participate in sports, even at a younger age” Izayah said “so my dad is my inspiration.” The sports he favored in high school have been both wrestling and football, which he competed in his freshman and senior years. Currently, Izayah maintains a 4.0 GPA. After graduation from CHS, Izayah said, “I plan on attending WNC for two years and then finishing my degree at UNR.” Authored by King Solomon, Izayah’s motivational quote comes from the Bible’s Book of Proverbs 3:5-6 where Solomon says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” In speaking with younger athletes, Izayah said, “In my weights class, with 10th and 11th graders, I push them to be the best they could be.” Congratulations to Izayah Pando on being nominated CHS Athlete in the Spotlight.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK
CHS Student of the Week is Kasandra Medina-Torres, a senior, nominated by Scott Vickrey, her Honors Human Anatomy and Biology teacher, who also serves as the CHS Science Department Chair. Vickrey said “I have never seen a student work as hard and strive for excellence on every assignment given; she is as polite as she is hard working and helps those around her.”

As if one nomination was not enough, Kasandra was also nominated by the Career and Technical Education Coordinator, Candi Ruf, who said, “She is the US Presidential Scholar CTE Nominee for CHS; Kasandra earned her CTE Certificate of Skill Attainment in Web Design and Development.” Ruf also said, “Kasandra's project as a Web Design and Development Advanced Studies student is to redesign the CHS website.”

Kasandra was also the SkillsUSA President for 2020 and past vice president for 2019, La Mariposa President, a member of Blue Crew, National Honor Society, and National Technical Honors Society. “She has been an active volunteer at the CHS Craft Fair and Empty Bowls, Kasandra earned two awards from the National Center for Women in Technology: Aspirations in Computing, 2019, and Rising Star, 2020, and Kasandra works as an Intern in the Digitorium at the Carson City Library, and her goal is to attend university next year” Ruf added.

SENIOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This week’s Senior in the Spotlight is Amelia Graul. Amelia is an outstanding senior at CHS, maintaining excellent grades during her freshman, sophomore, junior, and the first semester of her senior year. She has taken both Honors and Advanced Placement classes while maintaining a 4.35 weighted GPA. Amelia is working with Peace Corps at the Green House at CHS and has been active in the Robotics Club.

She is currently taking classes at UNR and planning to major in Mechanical Engineering; there is no doubt Amelia will succeed in achieving her future goals. Congratulations to Amelia Graul. — Contributed by CHS Counselor Fawn Lewis.

— Senator Square columnist Phil Brady is an English teacher at Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada.