Senator Square: CHS economics students win national award; plus yearbook photographer, editor shares experience

Congratulations to Carson High School World History, Human Geography, and Economics teacher Nicole Fagundes' Economics students who found a way to turn 8.5 percent inflation into a positive situation. Fagundes’ students researched the factors which determine inflation and the Consumer Price Index and predicted the March CPI of 8.5 percent.

The CPI for the 12-month period ending March 2022 was announced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CHS Economics students were among six classes throughout the nation who accurately predicted this for a contest sponsored by Next Gen Personal Finance. Students are required to provide research, evidence, and reasoning to support their prediction. In addition to bragging rights, winners receive a $100 gift card.

This month's teachers whose class submitted a correct prediction: Jamie Israel, Personal Finance, Maysville R1 School, Maysville, MO, Nicole Fagundes, Economics, Carson HS, Carson City, NV, Stephanie Rossman, Personal Finance, Penn Cambria HS, Cresson, PA, Ward Wise, Computer I, Farson/Eden, Farson, WY, Jordan Reinertson, Personal Finance, Kearney HS, Kearney, NE, James Redelsheimer, Economics, Robbinsdale Armstrong HS, Plymouth, MN. Details are here.  Each winning class from the random selection in the video will be receiving a $100 Amazon gift card for their efforts. For transparency's sake, here shows the random selection process and this month's winners.

CHS STUDENT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN
Editor’s Note: Guest writer Megan McGibbon is a senior at Carson High School; she is a photographer, a writer and an editor of the 2021-2022 yearbook. This is her report.
This year I chose to be in the CHS publications class in order to help with yearbook, thinking it would be a fun way to learn about things I really enjoy. What I did not expect is how much work goes into creating a yearbook. My assignment was to design two theme pages which celebrate Carson High’s 150 years. I began this expedition by looking into CHS’s rich history at the Carson City Historical Society.

I started looking for good pictures of the faces of Carson High School’s many buildings. Jed Block, who graduated from CHS in 1987, helped me a great deal by sending me all the photos he had of CHS’s past buildings. Around this time, I began to discover how many teachers who work at this school also graduated from CHS. It was quite obvious I needed to recognize the community of teachers who graduated from here.

The second thing going on was the reunion of CHS’s class of 1961. Unfortunately, I missed the date for the reunion, so I called Dan Miles, who put the reunion together. Dan Miles, who graduated from CHS, gave me the names and contact information of the Class of 1961 graduates he thought might actually want to talk with me. With the list in hand, I began calling and was able to talk with two of them.

It was such a riveting conversation for me to hear about a lifetime on Earth which sounded magical, fantastic, and just plain unrealistic compared to the life I have lived so far. They both had stories about the kindness and community of their time. It was a place where everyone cared about each other and was there for each other, even the people they did not get along with.

So I saved my notes, hoping to weave this into the theme pages, but I simply did not have the room on the pages to do something with all this information about CHS’s class of 61, so I plan to make a film to release on YouTube. After this minor setback, I hunted down all the information about the CHS buildings and teachers. I had to run around the school, talking to some of the teachers, to learn about the building and which teachers graduated from CHS. Kim Arnold, the Executive Secretary at CHS, helped me with a huge portion of this project. She helped me with the history of the building and finding out which teachers went to CHS.

She was my Google for every question I had. I also received help from Library Clerk, Melisa Kunter, and Carson City School District Library Coordinator and Media Specialist Ananda Campbell who had copies of all the yearbooks, newspaper articles, and multiple pieces of information and resources. I was also able to meet Patt Quinn-Davis, the retired yearbook teacher at CHS, who helped with organizing the yearbooks and newspapers to get them all in digital form.

The yearbooks and newspapers are found on CHS’s digital library, on the “Story of CHS” slideshow. It really helped to look through the yearbooks and newspapers to learn about CHS. I had to take a picture of most of the physical yearbooks to get good pictures of the teachers' senior photos, and I had a fun time designing the page about CHS’s current and past buildings. A large group of people contributed to composing the yearbook to be a unique experience for Senators. To purchase a yearbook, go to yearbookforever.com, search for Carson High School, select shop, and then select buy a yearbook.

STUDENT CREATED CORNHOLE GAMES FOR SALE AT CHS
Intro to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, and Project Lead the Way CHS teacher Collin Belnap said, “My first-year engineering classes are building cornhole board games which I sell for the cost of materials and then use the proceeds to buy materials for next year's classes.” Belnap then said, “If you are interested, you can come to room 164 and look over what they have done so far; remember, most of these kids have never used power tools, saws, tape measures etc. before, so some of the boards are a little rough, but they may be painted, or you can also buy them unpainted.” Belnap has approximately 20 to sell, and the cost is $50. Stop by his room at CHS, or email him at cbelna@carson.k12.nv.us.

UNDERSTANDING TEEN VAPING COURSE BEING OFFERED
A Course, “Understanding Teen Vaping: What Parents Need to Know” will take place at Carson Middle School May 10 at 6 p.m. This is a free Teen Vaping Course designed to help parents understand the risks involved in vaping. With the increase of teen use of vapes, whether introduced by their peers, family, or independently, this course offers parents vital information to help educate them on what vapes are, the side effects of use, and ways to educate and protect their child from addiction. There will be information provided from Carson Middle School Registered Nurse Vanessa White and Carson City Sheriff Resource Officers. They will also be available to answer questions. For more information, please contact CMS Nurse Vanessa White at 775-283-2815. This course is available for all parents of students attending high school and middle school. It is also a great opportunity for parents of children advancing into higher level grades.

PARENTS SPORTS AND PHYSICALS NIGHT OFFERED
Parents, there will be a high school athletes’ sport’s night meeting for the 22-23 school year May 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the CHS Big Gym. Parents and athletes will have the opportunity to hear from the new CHS Athletic Director as well as meet CHS coaches. Fall sports coaches for football, volleyball, soccer, girls golf, cross country, and tennis will be holding brief meetings after. CHS will also be holding a sports’ physical night June 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the CHS big gym. Sports’ physicals will be available for only $10! Have a current 8th grade athlete, and choose to get their physical at their regular doctor? Please make sure to wait until after June 3 to have the physical done. If the physical is done before June 3, it will be invalid to use at the high school.

SAFE GRAD ALMOST FULL
According to SG President Kyra Hinton, there is “A bit of good news as we have about 90 seats left and will not be able to add any more students; the deadline is May 20 for the Six Flags Trip.” Hinton added, “For students wanting to attend just the party which is free, we would like applications by May 20, so we can figure out the food, and students may still turn in forms at the senior assembly and at the door should they decide to come.” Additional forms may be found at the CHS Student Finance office, or they may be printed from carsonhighsafegrad.com.

SAFE GRAD AND SIX FLAGS
To all those who like to volunteer, Safe Grad and the 2021-2022 senior class are grateful. SG, coming June 4 through 5, still needs volunteers. Who is organizing Safe Grad? SG is a booster organization of parents and volunteers, many of whom have children who attended, are attending, or will attend CHS.

A tradition in Carson City since 1988, SG provides CHS seniors a safe, fun, and sober celebration on graduation night and throughout the following day. The CHS SG Committee, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, and local businesses and residents help sponsor the event, and the members of SG are Wendy Yang, Kyra Hinton, Gina Winder, Jordan Crittenden, Cinthia Luevano, Jeanette Glauner and Matt Smith. Hinton will be stepping down as President after this year, but she will remain a committee member.

SG is still working on putting together a golf tournament and car wash, as well as a bingo night, before summer. Additionally, SG is in need of a new President, Vice President, Volunteer Coordinator, and Social Media Coordinator for next year as individuals in these positions will be retiring. SG Night this year will have a beach theme and the following entertainment: Green Screen Photo, Virtual Oculus, Gaming Bus, Rockwall, Dog Tag maker, Character Artist, Comedian Act, Magic Show with We Are Theater, Tattoo Artist, Massage Therapist, and more.

They are also looking for a bounce house. Interested in supporting the kids by becoming a part of the organizing team? Please email carsonhighsafegrad@gmail.com, or call SG volunteer coordinator Kyra Hinton at 434-760-0635. The doors of the Carson City Community Center open at 8:30 p.m., and the next morning at 5 a.m. graduates enter some amazingly comfortable busses to head to Great America, most of them probably sleeping all the way there. For more information about SG go here.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
CHS Athletic Department's Athletes of the Week are Dillon Damico for Varsity Baseball and Corine Doran for Varsity Softball. These athletes, and all students who participate in school functions through leadership, clubs, and sports, deserve a high level of recognition and congratulations.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to Jora Kurland, a sophomore, on being nominated CHS Student of the Week. Jora is in four honors classes as well as HOSA Future Health Professionals and National Honors Society. According to her nominating CHS Honors English I teacher, Rebecca Rodina, “Jora volunteers at the library on a regular basis and is completing her application to be a Western Nevada College Jump Start student next school year.” Rodina also said, “She has a positive attitude about pretty much everything, has almost perfect attendance, and is willing to help anyone with anything; she truly loves learning.” Congratulations to Jora Kurland on becoming CHS Student of the Week.

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