teachers

Greetings, future Nevada educators. There is no better time like the present to become a teacher. If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it's that education is such a vital necessity to our livelihood. And now is the time to rethink education.

As a result of the impending snowstorm, all schools in the Carson City School District will be closed for the entire day Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. The National Weather Service is predicting one of the most impactful winter storms in recent years to hit our area. Periods of heavy snow and strong winds are expected tonight. The storm threatens to be disruptive to travel throughout the region.

Students from all four classes recently nominated Carson High School Winterfest candidates for 2021 Winterfest week, Feb. 1-5, where both a King and Queen will be crowned. The theme, Destination Unknown, was decided upon; since students are not allowed to experience the vacations they love, they are bringing their vacation destinations to CHS.

The next Carson City School District board of trustees meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26 beginning at 6 p.m. in the Robert “Bob” Crowell Board Room at the Carson City Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

Items to be discussed include policy changes, ACT test scores, teacher recognitions, and more.

Featured speaker at Monday's Democratic tele-luncheon will be Carson High School librarian Ananda Campbell, who will describe how she and other district librarians, in collaboration with city and state library staffs, transitioned Carson City's students to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Don’t miss the upcoming spring semester at Western Nevada College. The college has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a class “just for fun” or looking to spark an interest to pursue something new.

David Kimball, a JumpStart senior from Pioneer High School attending Western Nevada College in Carson City, described the experience of taking his welding certification exam as the greatest obstacle for him to overcome.

According to Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen Publishing, “Sharing stories is a powerful way to connect with other people. By sharing your own story, you can connect with other teens who are dealing with similar experiences. Your words can provide hope and comfort, or empower them to face their own challenges.”

Jacqueline Milagros Acosta-Bruno was born Nov. 17, 2002 at Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nev., to Claudia Bruno and Hector Acosta. She has four younger brothers and sisters, all attending Carson City Schools, as well as a sibling just 18-months-old.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19, all third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade students may begin attending their zoned school for in-person, on-campus instruction, four days a week, Tuesdays through Fridays.

As CHS teachers and students return to school, from, hopefully, a relaxing winter break, would it not be great to know one of their teachers recently published a short story? CHS Language Arts Department teacher Brigette Pugh is excited to share her latest published piece of writing.

Whether she is advising first-generation college students to better their lives through higher education or serving as a trustee for K-12 students in the Carson City School District, there are two common denominators in Lupe Ramirez’s education roles: The Western Nevada College Latino Leadership Academy founder and adviser will definitely make a difference and, without a doubt, she will stand out.

CHS Senior Abby Golik, after being told Senior Projects, a Carson High School graduation requirement, were temporarily cancelled, decided she wanted to do a Senior Project anyway.

This week's Senator Square features guest writers Ananda Campbell and Bridget Gordon-Johnson who explain Monday homeroom academic strategies. Campbell is a CHS Library Media Specialist and Carson City School District Library Coordinator. Gordon is a CHS counselor. This is their report:

During a special session last night, the Carson City School District School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to offer in-person, on-campus instruction for third to sixth graders, four days a week, Tuesdays through Fridays. The first official day of this more traditional education model will begin Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The district previously announced a return to 4-days-per-week, in-person learning for Pre-K to second grade students Oct. 20, 2020.

The Carson City School District is celebrating two new National Board Certified Teachers from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. The teachers to be recognized earning certification are Patricia Ababio, Graphic Arts teacher in the Career and Technical Education program at Carson High School, and Rhonda Holloway, English teacher at Carson Middle School.

Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is underway within the state of Nevada, including our local communities in the north. Those who are first up to receive the vaccine include health care personnel and long term care facilities as a part of the first phase of Tier 1 distribution.

The first batch of initial COVID-19 vaccines has reached Carson City, and was received by Carson Tahoe Health Tuesday morning.

The Carson City School District will hold a special school board meeting Thursday, Dec. 17 in order to discuss reopening schools for third through fifth grade students at the elementary school level, as well as sixth grade students at the middle school level.

Senior Shania West decided early that she wanted to graduate as a Pioneer Panther, and chose to attend Pioneer High School for all four years. She thought that it would be a good fit for her and she has no regrets. And, now with those years nearly behind her, Shania is looking forward to achieving her goal of going to college.

Editor’s Note: Margarita Portillo-Hernandez is a school social worker and safe school professional at Eagle Valley Middle School in Carson City. The following is her report:

This year has been extremely challenging and with the impact of Covid; many of our families are struggling to ensure they can celebrate Christmas. However, generous community members have come together determined to help these families have a Christmas celebration not even Covid can stop.

The Carson City School District, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Carson City, is pleased to announce Carson High School’s Librarian Ananda Campbell as the winner of a $5,000 grant to fund a historical documentation project titled The Story of Carson High School. Nearly a half dozen applications from teachers and teams of teachers were received for this competitive grant.

Many in Carson City do everything they can to help the less fortunate, and those opportunities never cease being opportunities. With this in mind, the holidays are here, the semester at Carson High School is almost over, Christmas vacation, also known as winter break, begins Dec. 19, and there is another opportunity to be generous for those who have plenty.

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. The annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights holiday celebration goes virtual on Friday. Santa Claus will arrive virtually at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada and in-person at Battle Born Harley Davidson on Saturday for pictures with families and kids of all ages. Combined with live music and dinner specials at Living the Good Life, the state capital has events lined up for the holidays! Read on for more information.

Tonight was supposed to be the time to bundle up, put handwarmers in your gloves and gather family and friends to venture downtown to enjoy one of Carson City’s most beloved traditions and the official kick-off to the holiday season.

The school districts of Nevada have long-faced critically thin budgets, but the impact of the pandemic has further increased those stresses. Locally, three school districts received extra funds today to help ease that stress, courtesy of Carson City Toyota.

Fifth graders from all six Carson City public elementary schools as well as Carson Montessori and Saint Teresa’s will perform virtually as a unified holiday choir for the annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights this Friday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m.

Partnership Carson City, founded to develop a healthy community, is showing appreciation for Carson City’s teachers and senior citizens with a school supply and decorations giveaway. JOANN Fabrics and Crafts generously donated several boxes of seasonal holiday decorations and PCC is including an assortment of school supplies available for use.

Pastor Tim Plummer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Missionary Area Director, has once again brought Christmas trees to Carson City to support FCA. Christmas is fast approaching, and most agree it is the best time of the year. The holidays can be a difficult time for many, but it does not have to be this way.

CASA of Carson City received an early holiday gift from Casey Neilon, an accounting firm with offices in Reno and Carson City, in the form of a sizeable donation.

CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, provides quality court-appointed advocacy for abused and neglected children in child welfare cases, through a network of community volunteers who work with children to ensure their voices are heard during court proceedings.

Carson High School's NJROTC Drill and Color Guard team competed in their first ever ‘virtual’ drill competition hosted by University of North Carolina ROTC program. The various teams’ performances were captured on video and sent to the University for judging.