Senator Square: Carson High School teacher kisses a goat in support of FFA

Future Farmers of America provided the venue, Carson High School students voted with their hard earned dollars, and AP Environment and Honors Biology teacher Cort Roseleip was chosen to kiss a goat. Readers must take a look at the photo above to fully comprehend the magnitude of this event.

Mr. Roseleip, in front of numbers of students, puckered up, grabbed the head of that poor little goat, and smooched with it up close and personal like. All week long, the CHS Capitol FFA chapter celebrated National FFA Week with some fun lunch time activities and several opportunities to dress up. Feb. 19 was plaid day, Feb. 20 was animal day, Feb. 21 was blue and gold day, and Feb. 22 was cowboy and cowgirl day. Now all of this was extremely fun of course, but nothing compared to the excitement and anticipation of a teacher kissing a goat. It was happy, it was hilarious, and it was, well, harry.

Students around school were talking about who they wanted to see kiss the goat, and to make sure their vote was heard, they had to drop money off at the Student Store by placing it in a bucket in order to vote for their favorite, or least favorite, teacher. Now, personally, Mr. Roseleip is one of many amazing teachers here at CHS, and this is not said to be politically correct. He is, with all seriousness, an amazing man.

Both of my daughters had him as a teacher, and one appreciated him so much she took both Honors Biology and AP Environmental Science with him and passed the AP exam. Truly, truly, CHS is the best place in the world to work. If others knew what a privilege it is to be a teacher here, everyone would want to do it for a living.

Regarding the kissing of the goat, Roseleip said, “Kissing a goat was a fun way to support Carson FFA, and it was nice; it was not a mean old billy goat, although some of my students were hoping it was.” So take this event for what it is, Mr. Roseleip had to kiss a goat. The biggest question of all though, did the goat return the kiss?

ROBOTICS TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
The CHS robotics team, Cyber Mafia, has become the Nevada State Champions, winning the Inspire Award at the recent Nevada State First Tech Challenge Championship. This is the first time for the team to win the championship and the third time it has received an invitation to the highest level of competition, the First Championship in Houston this April. Additionally, the team won the Finalist Alliance Captain and the Promote Award, 3rd place.

Among individual honors, Nevan McIlwee and Nanami Duncan were named Dean’s List Award semifinalists, with Duncan moving on to the next level as a finalist. Scot Duncan received the Compass Award as the best coach or mentor for an FTC team. The team’s ten members are Alex Ridley, Amber Murray, Amelia Graul, Andrius Stankus, Casanova Segura, Michael Carine, Nanami Duncan, Nevan McIlwee, Sarai Juaregui-Rivas, and Tiffani Hodges, and the coaches are Sherri Kelley, Josh Barham, and Scot Duncan. To raise the necessary money to attend the First Championship, the team has started a GoFundMe page found online at gofundme.com/CyberMafiaFTC5687-WorldFestival2019.

ORIENTEERING TEAM COMPETES IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
The Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Orienteering Team went to the NJROTC National competition this year held at Vazquez Rocks Regional Park in Agua Dulce, CA. Competing against the 29 teams and over 500 cadets, the CHS team took 3rd place overall.  Team awards include: Varsity team taking 3rd place and the JV team taking 5th place overall.
Several notable cadet achievements are Riley Dunn, who took 4th place for varsity males with 102 competitors, Christopher Paluch taking 5th place, and Kyle Navarro taking 13th place overall. Briana Sanchez took 3rd place overall for junior varsity females with 43 competitors, Bryar Fancher took 9th place overall though she came in 1st place on the 2nd day. Though Anika Soulier was not in the competition side, her combined times would have placed her 2nd overall in if she had been.

Chief Daniel Ingram said, “So well done to her [Anika] and next year, she will come up quickly.” Besides the above runners, the majority of the rest placed in the top 25 percent. Team varsity embers include Jared Deselms Riley Dunn, Jared Meyer, and Kyle Navarro; team junior varsity competitors include Bryar Fancher, Kyle Holloway, Garret Nussbaumer, and Briana Sanchez. Junior varsity non-competitors include Trinity Harvey, Hayden Hold, Manuel Hoyos-Velasquez, Darren Montalvo, and Anika Soulier.

Coach Ingram said, “Please let them know what a great job they have done; they often ride the bus for several hours, run a 1-2-hour course, and then get back on the bus; these cadets are seriously dedicated. Questions about this event, please call Chief Daniel Ingram, OSC(SW/AW), USN, Ret., Ed.S Naval Science Instructor at 283-1781.

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES PLAY TABLE TENNIS

FCA members, with CHS Advisor Ty McMillen, chose to play some Table Tennis Feb. 19 in the Big Gym during lunch time. An announcement was made to the school, and competitors showed up ready to learn, win, or lose. However, as may be seen by the smiles on their faces, all had a wonderful time with yet another FCA event. FCA is also making posters of inspiration in order to place them around school to encourage students to think positive thoughts on a continual basis. All students are also invited to “Pizza Tuesdays in Room 214”. CHS Advisor Ty McMillen has been busy this year working to foster unity and support of the students.

STUDENTS VISIT WNC
There was snow on the ground, yet 71 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in Jump Start College & Career courses managed to visit Western Nevada College Feb. 20. Students toured the facilities including the nursing labs, library, and student center. Students learned more about applying for Jump Start College & Career while taking a tour and meeting current WNC students. Applications for Jump Start College and Jump Start Career for next school year are also available in the Guidance Office.

Jump Start College allows students to earn college credit while in high school and get a head start on their Associates’ or Bachelors’ degrees. Jump Start Career is for seniors interested in Auto Tech, Construction, Advanced Manufacturing or Cybersecurity. Applications are due to the Guidance Office by March 8. Interested in learning more about Jump Start, please contact CHS counselor Cindy Reyes at 283-1915 or Sarah Lobsinger at 283-1668. 

SPIRIT WINNERS
CHS juniors are the winners of the inter-class spirit competition, and they were rewarded with an ice-cream day Feb. 20 in the Big Gym at lunch time.

WEST POINT GRADUATE, ARMY VETERAN, AND AUTHOR COMING TO CHS
Capital City Arts Initiative’s next speaker for its Nevada Neighbors series is writer, Army veteran, and United States Military Academy West Point graduate Caleb Cage. Cage, a superior story teller, is doing a public reading for CHS and CCAI Feb. 26. Cage served as a field artillery officer from 2002 to 2007, including time as a platoon leader in Baqubah, Iraq in 2004, and as an information operations battle captain in Baghdad in 2006. He is co-author of The Gods of Diyala: Transfer of Command in Iraq (2008) with Gregory M. Tomlin, and the author of Desert Mementos: Stories of Iraq and Nevada (2017). Cage will read from his new book of fictional short stories, Desert Mementos, about Iraq and Nevada. For more information, please contact Sharon Rosse, CCAI Executive Director, by going to www.arts-initiative.org or calling 721-7424.

TALENT SHOW COMING SOON
The CHS Talent Show, hosted by Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), will be held Feb. 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. Pre-bought tickets are $5 for students, and $8 for adults, but go up to $10 at the door. A 50/50 raffle will also be held at the event, so bring extra cash to buy tickets. Concessions will be sold as well.

New this year is a parental advisory: The CHS Talent Show is aimed at a high school age student audience, and some of the material may not be appropriate for students, 13-years-old and younger; children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and are not allowed to attend the show without parental supervision. Cash prizes are awarded to the top five acts. For more information, contact CHS teacher Angila Golik at agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.
 
'SCREENAGERS' DOCUMENTARY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER
Sponsored by Carson Tahoe Health, the Carson City School District will host two evening showings of Screenagers Feb. 28 at the Carson City Community Center, one at 5:30 p.m. and the other at 7:00 free of charge and open to the public.

“The CCSD has made a concerted effort to educate our students, parents, and families about responsible use of technology to enhance learning” said Dr. LeAnn Morris, Lead Technology Integration Specialist with the CCSD. “This is the second time we have been able to show this documentary to our students and community; In February 2017, our schools funded the cost of the event, but now with growing concerns to promote optimal wellness for all students, many others are stepping up.”

This documentary and the recent #SaveTheKids event and assemblies at CHS have been made possible by generous community partners. The film will introduce Hannah, a 14-year old victim of social media bullying, who struggles trying to hide her social media use from her mom, and Andrew, a young man whose love of video games turns into an addiction taking him from earning straight A’s to flunking out of college. Interwoven into these stories are cutting edge science and insights from thought leaders and leading brain scientists who present evidence on the real changes in the brain when kids are on screens.

CAPITAL CITY HOOPS FREE EVENT
Located at 3308 North Roop Street No. 2 in Carson City and run by CHS Varsity Basketball coach Jordan Glover, Capital City Hoops is a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of Northern Nevada with the best basketball experience available in a safe, friendly, and educational environment. On March 2 at CHS from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., 2nd – 5th graders are being offered a one hour coaching session; then, from 11:00 to Noon, 6th – 8th graders will receive a similar session.

Players are asked to bring their own ball. Group sessions are also being offered at CHS Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. for 3rd – 6th grade, Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for 7th – 9th grade, and Saturdays for all ages from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

For more information, email the coach at jglover@carson.k12.nv.us, go to carsoncapitalcityhoops.com, email Director of Operations Kelli Beaulieu at kellib@carsoncityhoops.com, or call her at 775-530-1653.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
CHS Athletic Department’s Feb. 18 through 22 Athletes of the Week are Robin Steinecke and Quintyn Madsen for Winter Varsity Cheerleading. 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
According to CHS Librarian Ananda Campbell, “Cody Slee is so awesome!” He is a library teaching assistant and helps out on his off period. Campbell said that, “Every day he walks in with a positive attitude and has great work ethic; he is helpful and a self-starter and manages the Chromebooks and prepares the library for presentations and testing.”  Cody has energy and positive outlook on everything. Congratulations to Cody Slee on becoming the CHS Student of the Week.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
This week’s outstanding Senior in the Spotlight is Susan Fliegler. Susan is an exceptional student with a 5.1 GPA, who will have successfully completed eight AP classes and numerous Honors classes when she graduates. Susan has a passion for learning and has focused her high school career toward challenging herself and acquiring as much knowledge as possible.

Although Susan prioritizes her academics, she has also been involved at CHS as a member of the Tennis Team, National Honor Society, and serves as president of the club known as the Gay Straight Alliance. She has volunteered to assist with numerous service projects including blood drives, food drives, and the CHS Annual Craft Fair. She also volunteered at the election polls during the midterm election.

For her Senior Project, Susan decided to explore her creative side, and chose to write poetry. She has compiled a small book of poetry which she later hopes to expand and perhaps publish. Susan plans to attend UNR next year where she will pursue a major in either engineering or computer programming. Susan puts her whole heart into everything she does, and yet to be seen are all the wonderful things she will accomplish in the future. Best of luck, Susan.

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