Senator Square: Letter from athletic director to Carson High School athletes

To the Carson High Boys Track team, who won the State 5A Academic State Championship for boys Track and Field and was recognized at the meet for that accomplishment May 21. Carson High has won over 90 State Academic Championships in Athletics since the award was instituted.

The boys team also had a strong showing in the competition placing ninth out of over 20 5A schools. Several Senators won medals at the State meet including the girls 4 x 200 relay team who placed fifth. This team ran strong all season and consisted of Ava Brehm, Addy Morgan, Annalisa Torres-Morales, and Natalyn Wakeling.

The Girls 4 x 400 relay team also placed fifth and included Wakeling, Brehm, Mckenna Budd, and Morgan. On the boys side, Nick Batien medaled in the 400 meters placing fourth. Nick capped off his track career at Carson with a bronze medal in the 800 meters as well. Kai Miller headlined the Carson team by winning a gold medal in the pole vault at a height of 15 feet. He also won a bronze medal in the 110 high hurdles setting a personal record of 14.93 seconds. Finally, Zane Ferguson won a bronze medal in discuss with a personal record of 144 feet 2 inches.

Congratulations again to all these outstanding athletes and the CHS Track Team. Not to be outdone, congratulations as well to our CHS Swim Team who competed in Las Vegas last week too. The Carson girls team placed sixth out of more than 20 5A schools in Nevada. The Carson boys placed fourth in the state. Medals were won by Nick Melsheimer who placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly. Cole Bennett, Ben Kahue, Austin Shim, and Nick Melsheimer placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, and Alexandra Nerska placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke. CHS had another strong season for both the boys and girls teams.

Great job and great season CHS Swim. We look forward to a new year in Carson Athletics in 2022 - 2023 as teams for next year begin to prepare and conduct off-season programs. Also, CHS has a new boys soccer coach in Pedro Chavez, assisted by Ian Gunn, who are both 2010 CHS graduates. If any students need information on off-season dates and activities this summer, they should come to the athletics office and see Laurie Sheets. Thank you Senators for all the support. — Submitted by Carson High School Athletic Director Blair Roman.

THE STORY OF CARSON HIGH DIGITAL ARCHIVES AVAILABLE
Carson High School Library is celebrating the completion of its digital archives project. With deepest gratitude for funding provided by Rotary Club of Carson City, Rotary Education Grant 2020, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Nevada State Library Archives and Public Record. All yearbook and newspaper files are now uploaded and ready for browsing.

We are seeking solutions for public viewing of the larger files, so check back if your computer is unable to load a particular file. The Carson City Community is welcome to view the Story of Carson High here. A space for alumni stories and photos of donated mementos can also be found on the website.

On behalf of Mrs. Patt Quinn-Davis and Ananda Campbell, thank you to the Carson City community for your donations, support, and interest in this project. — Contributed by Library Media Specialist and Carson City School District Library Coordinator Ananda Campbell.

ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING CLASS RELEASES ANTHOLOGY
The Advanced Creative Writing class, seniors who have studied creative writing for two years, have published an online anthology and are excited to get the work out to peers and community members. Between junior and senior year, these students cover a wide variety of forms and genres, including short stories, poetry, mythology, creative nonfiction, screenplays, and revised fairy tales.

At the beginning of their senior year, each student commits to a capstone project of choice and spends the year experimenting, workshopping and polishing novel chapters, screenplays, podcasts, picture books, graphic novels, short story, and poetry collections.

These capstone projects show off their incredible creative potential and serve as a time capsule which captures the extreme weirdness of the last couple of years. When I asked students to give me a few adjectives to describe the last two years, they said: stressful, sucky, long, eventful and traumatizing. Artist Kiki Smith stated, “Art is a reflection of everything that impacts your life.” From the vantage point of someone who reads thousands of student stories and poems each year, I can attest to the truth in the statement.

This might explain why the number of dystopian stories I have read over the last two years has increased dramatically. Through all the ups and downs, creative writing students at CHS have been turning their mess into art by writing poems, stories and essays to capture this singular time in history, and we would like to share it with friends, family, and the community. You can share in our creative cacophony by checking out the 2022 online anthology Bolt of Blue.

You will find revised fairy tales, inspiring essays, stories full of horror and suspense, and poems which feel like a glimpse into the depths of the soul. Launching May 31, Bolt of Blue, can be found on the senatorsnow.org homepage. Stop by, browse the collection, and get a peek at what I consider to be the funnest grading in all of education. — Submitted by CHS English teacher Brigette Pugh who may be reached by going to bpugh@carson.k12.nv.us.

COACHES DEFEAT STUDENTS IN BIG GYM BASKETBALL GAME
CHS coaches and students went up against one another May 25 at 6 p.m. in the Big Gym Basketball game played to honor this year’s seniors. A raffle at halftime yielded gift cards to US Sub Base, Dutch Bros, t-shirts, and a $50 Visa gift card.

LAST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR IN SENATOR SQUARE
Happy last Friday with students. It is time once again for the last Jazz in Senator Square performance today at 7:10. We will perform movie and TV themes such as Cowboy Bebop, The Sound of Music, The Pink Panther, and Spider-man. This performance is also part of the Jazz Band final. I cannot think of many other ways to have fun while watching students take a final exam. CHS Psychology teacher, Will Houk said, “Sorry for this "reply all" but I just have to say the Jazz band totally crushed it this morning…that was incredible…and thanks for such a great start to the day; we have some truly talented kids at CHS, and you should be proud of your work. — Submitted by Carson High School and Capital City Community Band Director Nick Jacques.

SENIOR SUNSET
The 2022 CHS Senior Class Sunset is set to take place on the front lawn from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a taco truck and a bounce house.

SAFE GRAD AND SIX FLAGS FOR SENIORS
According to Safe Grad President Kyra Hinton, “Just wanted to give the seniors an update: I have had some parent phone calls asking about the Six Flags trip and the senior celebration, and we are still accepting registration forms in the CHS Student Finance office for the trip and for the party, and once all the tickets are gone I will let you know.” SG Night this year will have a beach theme with, possibly, 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.

Interested in supporting the kids by becoming a part of the team? Please email carsonhighsafegrad@gmail.com, or call Safe Grad 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 buses to head to Great America, most of them probably sleeping all the way there.

Additionally, Safe Grad 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. For more information about SG and the 5K, go to carsonhighsafegrad.com/index.html.

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 added, “We are painting the boards this week with white primer, and we will be painting simple designs on them as well; I have attached a picture of the basic paint scheme we are doing.” Belnap has plenty to sell, and the cost is $50. Stop by his room, 164, at CHS, or email him at cbelna@carson.k12.nv.us.

PAST YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE CELEBRATING CLASS REUNIONS
Are you a 1992 graduate celebrating your 30th reunion this year? Are you a 2012 graduate celebrating your 10th reunion? Cynthia Mills, the CHS yearbook advisor, has several 1992 and 2012 yearbooks available for a small contribution. For more information, please email Yearbook and Digital Media Adviser Cynthia Mills at cmills@carson.k12.nv.us.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to Ginger Cullom, a senior, on being nominated CHS Student of the Week. According to her former CHS Honors English teacher, “Unforgettable, is who Ginger Cullom is, and in the grand scheme of a career of high school students, her kind and generous spirit stands out.”

Throughout her years at CHS, her teacher said, “Ginger would stop by to say hello, ask for assistance on assignments, and simply check up on me to see how I was doing; this is a rare personality trait among young and old alike" her former teacher added. Well done, Ginger Cullom. In a society in desperate need for teachers, students like Ginger Cullom are instrumental in helping young people decide teaching is the career for them.

SENIOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The final Senior in the Spotlight of the 2021-2022 school year shines on Jennifer Croley, one of the many outstanding Carson High Seniors. Jennifer has earned an Academic Letter the past two years by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.45. She has chosen Honors and Advanced Placement classes for over 50 percent of her coursework.

As she graduates Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors in June, she will be State Certified in Veterinary Science and will have completed a four-year program in American Sign Language in which she earned 16 college credits. Jennifer has been a member of the Future Farmers of America throughout high school holding the positions of Chapter Secretary, Vice President, President and acting as a committee member for FFA Week, helping promote the program and educating others.

Additionally, with FFA, she has attended regional leadership trainings and conventions all four years and reports learning how to manage time, to balance work, school and home life and how to properly lead people. She is grateful for how the program has built her confidence and connected her with peers throughout the U.S. Jennifer is a football fan who volunteered as Manager of the CHS Football team for one year and assisted with the snack bar as needed for over four years.

She additionally volunteered at Fremont Elementary School with Parent Teacher Association fundraisers until she was hired as a part-time custodian. She feels these experiences have created a pathway to meet her goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education to teach American Sign Language.

Jennifer credits her success to her “backbone”, the support of her mom and sisters who are always there for her no matter what challenge she is facing. Please join CHS Counselors in wishing Jennifer continued success as she studies at Western Nevada College the next two years and then attends the University of Nevada Reno to complete her program. Watch for her return as a future leader in the Carson City School District.

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