Senator Square: Carson High School prepares for 2016 graduation

Graduation for the class of 2016 is Saturday, June 4, and the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on the Carson High School football field in Carson City.

One last photo opportunity will happen the morning of graduation. This is the photo of everyone together wearing caps and gowns. The 2016 senior class photo will be taken in the gym, so all seniors must arrive at the school, and meet in the gym by 8:45 a.m.

Family, friends, and guests should be aware that parking and seating is limited, so arrive early. Handicap seating and parking is also available, the best in the house.

The following story was written by the freshman honors biology students in Mrs. Julie Koop’s biology class at Carson High School. It was written by Jane Flieger, Jaelyn Young, Fox Ventura and Zack Vestal:

This year at Carson High School, Honors Biology teacher Julie Koop has implemented a new program for her early morning classes, creating a bird and pollinator garden. Inspired by Las Angeles Natural History Museum and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the students are taking part in a national program that has improved the environment and collects bird data. The students researched and brainstormed new ways to draw more birds to the school. They have studied the changes they have made including the new addition of bird feeders, bird houses, and are currently planting bushes and flowers.

The bird count at the school has increased as well as the scenic beauty of the school. Their main goal as a class is to attract a broader assortment of birds over an extended period of time through experimental design. In order to show the increase of the local birds, the classes are counting the number of birds sighted in a given area at specific times over the seasons.

The data has been sent to the Cornell Lab. At the beginning of the semester, when they first began this project, bird watching was a troublesome task. Today, as the sun beats down on a class of enthusiastic freshmen and sophomores, birds can be heard chirping through the newly-leaved trees. The air is hardly quiet but is instead replaced by the harmonious melody of birds who have found a new place to call home.

As a student, this experiment is a refreshing take on the science of habitats. It is nice to take a break from the textbooks, and learn something new about animals, about the environment, and especially about the region in which students live. The hands-on and engaging activities benefit both their morale and their school. They now agree they will definitely be paying more attention to nature’s feathered fauna because of the influence this project has yielded.

They would like to thank Home Depot for providing supplies and teaching them how to make bird houses. The project still needs more financial and product support, so if people would like to donate everything from binoculars, bird baths, bird houses and feeders, and other helpful ornithological items, please contact Mrs. Julie Koop at Carson High School at jkoop@carson.k12.nv.us.

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CHS TRANSCRIPTS 
Seniors, please stop by the CHS Guidance Office, and let them know where, and to what colleges, eighth semester transcripts should be sent.

Senator Scholarship Scoop
The Senator Scholarship Scoop is online at www.carsonhigh.com every Monday morning with the latest news about scholarships, testing, college visits, and grants. Go to “Academics” then “Counseling Department”, then “The Scoop”, or pick one up in the Guidance Office. And check this out: some scholarships are not awarded because no one even applied! Graduation is just around the corner, so do not be left wondering what to do next.

Safe Grad for Seniors
All right, so this is the last announcement for Safe Grad, and volunteers are still needed. If interested, please email Julie Slocum, the 2016 Safe Grad Coordinator, at jslocum@gncu.net with name, phone number and shift preference. The event will be held June 4-5 at the Carson City Community Center. 90 volunteers are needed to help with bag check, food, games and activities, door monitors, raffles, set-up, and clean-up. The shifts are as follows: 8:00-12:00 p.m. June 4, 10:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. June 4-5, 12:00-3:00 a.m. June 5, and 3:00-6:00 a.m. June 5. Thanks so much to those willing to volunteer.

Student of the Week
Ellen Cherpeski is the CHS student of the week! She is an honor student who spends some of her free time after school giving back by tutoring students every day. She is a very kind person who is also empathetic. Ellen is very dedicated to her pursuits, and is sought out for tutoring in multiple subjects. She is a hard worker which results in her diligence and persistence in helping those she is around and with whom she interacts. Ellen is a wonderful addition to Carson High School. Thanks for that motivating personality that positively affects other students around CHS on a daily basis.

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