PHS

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.”

Pioneer High School staff showed their appreciation for parents with a drive-thru breakfast that was held last month.
John Corbitt, PHS math teacher thought that spirits could be lifted by doing something special for the parents of PHS students.

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.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Putting gratitude into action by helping others is an authentic way to express an attitude of thanksgiving. Students at Pioneer High School (PHS) “lost themselves” in service by assembling Thanksgiving dinner baskets for those in need.

Be a part of bringing hope by voting on contestant art pieces to decide the “Social Media Fave” in the Donor Network West annual art contest. Four Carson High students, Anthony Larry, Connor Lampert, Danielle Van Dusen, and Sarai Jauregui Rivas made the first cut, though all of CHS Graphic Design Instructor Patricia Ababio’s students submitted entries.

Amanda Nichols was nominated by Pioneer High School staff as the PHS Rotary Student of the Month. Her ability to adapt, learn and grow nurtured by a foundation of resilience and hard work has transformed Amanda Nichols world to success today and tomorrow.

From the Famous first line of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, modified to appeal to the generosity of the Carson City community, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a (generous city) in possession of a good fortune must be in want of (helping to support a CHS teacher)."

The teachers of CHS are asking if this is still true? Of course it is. Men, women, and children of Carson City are encouraged to purchase a T-shirt to support both breast cancer awareness and CHS teacher Kelly Gustafson, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

One of her favorite quotes is from French dramatist Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh, who said, “Things are beautiful if you love them,” and Hannah Etchison, Carson High’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Coordinator, loves people, loves Carson City, and said, “I wanted to help in the community that raised me.”

Students and teachers raised the bar for themselves at Pioneer High School. The school introduced two new science classes on campus that were previously only offered online.

Students returned to the Pioneer High School campus Tuesday and found the new CZJ Recording Studio, which was installed over the summer.

The entire project was the dream of PHS student, Zaca U. He shared his idea for Pioneer to have a sound recording studio for students to exercise their creative musical talents.

He is a senior at Carson High School, and his last year is, to say the least, unconventional. Adults have had their say, so how about a chat with this popular young man as he sports a 1980s hairstyle called a mullet in which the hair is short on the sides and long at the front and back.

Pioneer High School is a public high school in the Carson City School District. All 9th-12th grade CCSD students are encouraged to enroll. PHS is accredited through AdvancED and has been recognized by the Nevada Department of Education as a “Highlighted School” for achievement in 2011 and 2018. Students at PHS have been able to earn an Associate’s Degree from WNC along with their high school diploma free of charge.

Artist and poet, Jaeda DeWalt wrote, “When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience.” If there is one word to describe Pioneer High School’s class of 2020, it would be “resilient.”

Members of the community and alumni PHS staff donated a special gift for students at Pioneer High School.

Conny and her son Jason Hernandez, delivered a Red Bud tree and granite rock with a plaque dedication to the Pioneer High School class of 2020.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce six high school seniors (four from Carson High School and two from Pioneer High School) who have shown exceptional academic prowess. The valedictorian and salutatorian honors represent the students who have earned the highest and second highest ranks, respectively, among their graduating class.

This is a year unprecedented for Carson City students. High school seniors, and our local high schools are getting creative with the ways they seek to honor their graduating students.

The COVID 19 Pandemic has put a strain on students’ academic routines and is some cases has put significant hardships on students and their families.

At Pioneer High School, a program called Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates or J4NG is combating these challenges head on.

The Carson City School District will transition all secondary students to a Pass/Fail grading system for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year. The decision comes as principals, instructional leaders, district-level administrators and members of the teachers’ union have discussed the extension of school closures following spring break.

The Carson City School District, on behalf of the Carson City Schools Foundation, is pleased to announce winners of mini-grants from Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. The competitive process garners dozens of applications from district educators each semester. In addition to the mini-grants, the foundation has also awarded $2,000 to $3,000 grants for a Department, School or Grade-level projects.

Ever spend some time watching high school students having fun? They do it so naturally. There is no lack of excitement happening at Carson High School, and one of the more amazing aspects of this high school is everyone is invited to attend every event.

Winterfest is here, and the theme, Carson's Got Game, is more than just a nice motto, it is a series of multiple physical board games, playground games, and video games. According to CHS physical education teacher and Leadership adviser Ann Britt, “the class color teachers will be playing a game of life-size Hungry Hippo during the assembly Jan. 17, and we will be doing a door decorating competition with judging taking place Jan. 21; the top three winners will receive a gift card to Starbucks.”

The Orchestra Program of Carson City School District is holding its Holiday Concert Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. Just the idea of a concert in Carson City is exciting enough, but it gets even better because this musical event will cost audiences absolutely nothing except a little time and effort getting there. Admission is free.

The Carson City School District will hold its next School Board Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

The meeting with begin with the Superintendent’s Report, which includes the Seeliger Choir Holiday Performance, Recognition of Ms. Jennifer Cherpeski for her years of service on the Family Life Committee, and general announcements.

A shining light, a heart for giving and a passion for adventure. This is Charish Creon, November’s Pioneer High School Senior Spotlight student.

The Carson City School District will be holding its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 26 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Sierra Room of the Community Center located at 851 E. William Street.

A discussion and possible action will be on the table for proposed capital projects as supported by the facilities master plan committee, including construction of classrooms at Eagle Valley Middle School intended to alleviate student overcrowding at Carson Middle School, in an estimated amount not to exceed $8.2 million, which will be financed by the sale of the 2019B school bonds.

Late last month, Pioneer High School literally sailed student learning outside of the classroom into the Carson City Community Center pool at their first all-school Challenge Day event with Reno-based Project Discovery.

Carson High and Douglas High teaming up together is right up there with the appearing of Halley’s Comet. Officially designated 1P/Halley, this is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 75–76 year and is the only known short-period comet that is visible to the naked eye from Earth and the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime.

American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Jim Rohn wrote, “My mentor said, ‘Let’s go do it,’ not ‘You go do it.’ How powerful when someone says, ‘Let’s!’” The power of “Let’s” is evident in the partnership between Pioneer High School and Al Seeliger Elementary School in Carson City.

CHS has many opportunities for students to become a part of something bigger than just themselves, not that making a name for oneself is a bad idea or anything, but it is up to the student to step on up, come on in, and check them out. There are so many clubs on campus; there are Interact Club meetings at lunch in CHS teacher Erin Been’s room every Thursday, and Been also advises the Represent Club.