Senator Square: Linking freshman students to a fulfilling Carson High School career

At Carson High School, they are appropriately named Link Crew, also known as the Boomerang Project, and they are one of the most underappreciated yet profoundly beneficial programs at CHS.

The idea behind it is simple: Students coming from middle school to high school work with Link Leaders, upperclassmen from junior and senior classes who join together to mentor and support the new CHS freshman.

The goal is to make sure these new students are successful and to help them find where they fit in. One event that Link Crew recently put on is the Freshman Luau, a dance Link Leaders put together every year for freshman as a fun activity to connect with their Link Leader in order to get their high school experience off to a good start.

Directed by Link Crew Coordinator and CHS math teacher Shanell Cavener, Link Crew also trains its leaders to support freshman in academics, character development, and connecting socially outside the classroom in order to facilitate a productive and worthwhile school atmosphere. CHS, challenging all students to achieve their greatest potential for future success.

National Honor Society
NHS will be having its 2016 Induction Ceremony on Monday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the CHS big gym. There will be 200 members (new & returning) with a cumulative GPA of 3.45 or higher and outstanding character. All members and their families are invited to attend. NHS will also be putting on a Blood Drive Oct. 6 at 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the CHS Small Gym. Sign-up sheets and donor forms are available in room #221. Individuals must be 16 years or older to donate. Snacks and water for the day are greatly needed. Save a life; give blood.

Greater Nevada Credit Union
GNCU is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Education Branch located inside CHS during the month of September! All Carson High School students are eligible to enter a drawing for a chance to win one of ten $25 gift cards; plus, all CHS students may also take advantage of a free $10 "Gift of Membership" to open a new account! Contest rules and entry forms are available at the GNCU Education Branch, so stop by any time during the month.

High School Picks
The Capital City Arts Initiative announces its exhibition, High School Pic[ks]1, at the Community Development Building, also known as the BRIC, 108 E Proctor Street in Carson City now through Nov. 29. Artists from Carson City, Dayton and Douglas high schools display their work in the exhibit.

CCAI will host a reception for the artists on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BRIC. The exhibition and reception are free, and the public is cordially invited. The CHS student artists include Charley Andrews, Maeve Hoerth, and Jessica Mathiesen. Sharon Rosse, CCAI Executive Director, said “We are delighted to present this exhibition to showcase the artists’ work and to thank the teachers for nurturing young artists’ skills and imaginations.” For more information, call 775-283-7421 or visit arts-initiative.org.

FBLA Meeting
Future Business Leaders of America is having its first club meeting on Sept. 13 at lunch in Mrs. Golik's room #249. Interested in seeing what the club is about, then stop by for information, a sweet treat and new friends. All current members need to dress professionally.

Creative Writing Club
CWC is having a meeting September 14 from 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 115. Please come to improve writing comics, short stories, poems, prose, and much more!

Lip Sync Auditions
Hey CHS, got a group of friends who want the fame of a Hollywood singer without actually having to sing? Then come on out to the Lip Sync auditions in the upstairs cafeteria at 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, September 12. Bring a routine and a phone to play a chosen tune. Sign-up sheets are in front of the CHS Student Store. Homecoming week is quickly approaching, so be sure to take part in the festivities! Lip Sync will be Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Boldrick Theater inside the Carson City Community Center. Tickets are regularly $7, but only $5 with a Student Body Card if purchased early. Tickets are available Sept. 19 in the finance office.

Student of the Week
Emilio Vasquez is a junior at CHS. He is someone who cares very much about music, which shows in his musical appreciation. Emilio is someone who understands the importance of music in the human experience. He is also very positive and motivates fellow students to engage with the material for this class. Emilio, thanks for giving so much to others here at CHS.

Senior Spotlight
CHS is pleased to recognize Nicholas Rosen as this week’s senior in the spotlight. Nick has a weighted GPA of 4.9 and continues his academic pursuits with a full load of classes, five of which are Advanced Placement. Nick, a CHS National Honor Society for three years, is also currently serving as its Historian. On the varsity tennis team for three years, and when not in the classroom or on the tennis court, students may find Nick embattled in a chess match as part of the CHS Chess Club.

In addition to his outstanding academic work, Nick is also passionate about music. He plays the viola in the CHS Orchestra as well as the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is a member of Strazz, a youth string ensemble in Carson City. Nick not only performs music, but he also composes his own. To date, he has created close to thirty original works which he hopes to see performed in the future. Another passion of Nick’s is birdwatching, or ornithology.

He and his family devote hours to searching for birds throughout the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Although Nick will not pursue this as part of a career, he hopes birdwatching will continue as a life-long hobby. Nick is pursuing further education to prepare him for something in the field of chemistry. He will apply to several colleges including Carleton, Reed, Oberlin, Wooster and Grinell. CHS is proud of Nick’s contributions to his school and community and looks forward to future accomplishments of this talented student.

— Senator Square columnist Phil Brady is an English teacher at Carson High School.