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College classes in high school offered as part of WNC’s Jump Start program

Is your high school student ready to start college while still in high school? Determining whether Western Nevada College’s dual-credit Jump Start College is right for your child depends on a variety of factors: academic readiness for college courses, individual maturity, time availability for studying and a willingness to work hard.

Now in its fourth year, the dual-credit Jump Start College serves nearly 500 high school students in seven school districts.

Besides providing high students the opportunity to earn up to an associate degree before they receive their high school diploma, it also allows them to save thousands of dollars and enter a four-year university, in many cases, with a sophomore or junior standing.

Some of WNC’s Jump Start grads have been accepted at University of Nevada, Reno; UNLV; Boise State; BYU; Cal Pol-San Luis Obispo; and Stanford, among others.

There are opportunities to learn more about the program during periodic informational meetings at local high schools or by contacting WNC.

This spring, qualified students will be notified by their high school counselor and invited to take placement testing.
For more information about WNC’s Jump Start College, go here, phone Tricia Wentz at 775-445-3250 or email her at tricia.wentz@wnc.edu.

About Jump Start
Western Nevada College’s 2017 graduating class included a record 79 high school students representing Carson, Churchill County, Dayton, Fernley, Pyramid Lake, Silver Stage and Virginia City high schools, as well as Oasis Academy and Nevada Virtual Academy. Two additional Jump Start students graduated during summer 2017.

While many of these high school juniors and seniors need an adjustment period in their foray into college courses, nearly all of them are stepping up to the challenges. During the 2016 fall semester, there was a 96.3 percent pass rate for students enrolled in Jump Start courses and a 94.3 pass rate in the 2017 spring semester.

The highest governing official in Nevada supports the program and wants it to be available to all high school students in Nevada.

Gov. Brian Sandoval signed Senate Bill 19 into law last May, requiring all Nevada high schools to provide dual-credit opportunities to their students. Looking to educate more Nevadans — at an enhanced pace — to spur economic growth, Sandoval wholeheartedly showed his support for the dual-credit program.

“Here, Western Nevada College has it dialed in and it’s frankly a model for the rest of the state,” Sandoval said. “This is something that we need to franchise out across the state of Nevada to ensure that all students have those opportunities to get those great jobs.

“Western Nevada is ground zero for this New Nevada that we’re all so proud of and that we’re looking forward to. This is one of those days that I’m so proud, so proud that I’m a Nevadan.”

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As part of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday celebration, the Smokey Reading Challenge is underway. Launched this morning at the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records in Carson City, the program is designed to engage children across Nevada in an exciting reading journey to learn about wildfire prevention, forests, and careers in natural resources with Smokey Bear.

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Partnership Carson City has launched “Rediscovering Your Mental Health Series,” a five-week program aimed at promoting mental wellness during Mental Health Awareness Month this May. Each week, participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques to enhance their mental well-being and foster a healthy community.

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At the club’s dinner meeting on Thursday, May 16, Cherie Shipley, a member of the event planning committee, will talk about the annual Jazz and Beyond festival, how it formed, and the impact it has had on the community. Jazz and Beyond is scheduled for August 16 to August 25, 2024.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of May 6-12, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Organized by Carol Park, the Elks held an open to the public, two-day indoor garage sale at the lodge in March as a fundraiser for Holiday with a Hero. Lodge members donated all items sold and assisted at the event which received excellent support from the community.

An 18-year-old Carson City man was arrested at a local diner after allegedly stealing a car from a used car lot two days prior to test drive it.

Friday May 10 at 7:30PM, Valhalla Tahoe kicks off their season with a living history presentation, “The Reno Cure,” at the Boathouse Theater. Reno has long been known as “The Biggest Little City.”

The Carson City Symphony Association will present a concert, "Pleasures of Music," on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church, 3680 N. Hwy. 395, south of Best Buy, Carson City. The concert is a Mark Twain Days event. Admission is free, donations welcome,

Members of the Rotary Club of Carson City will learn how its annual Educational Grant has helped local students at the club’s next meeting. Carson School District K-12 Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator Brittany Witter received the club’s Carson City School District’s Professional Development Center Grant last year with the goal of funding the “Literacy and Love of Reading through Social Studies” project.

Western Nevada College hosted a ceremony to celebrate students succeeding in training to reestablish themselves in the workforce on Thursday.

Perfection in a fur coat is the best way to describe Cher, our cat of the week. Just 7 months old, she is a pretty little short-haired girl with a sweet and social personality.

Carson High School's Senior in the Spotlight this week is Parker Schmid, a remarkable young man whose sparkle radiates in every aspect of his life. From academics to extracurriculars, Parker's journey embodies excellence and compassion, traits that set him apart from his peers.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: Courtesy of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office: On May 3, 2024 at approximately 1430 hours, Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Central Lyon County, Carson City and Storey County Fire personnel to the area of 34 Newman Ln. for a report of motorhome on fire. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the fire had spread and multiple other abandoned vehicles caught fire as well. No one was hurt or injured during the incident. The incident is currently under investigation, which is being conducted by the Nevada State Fire Marshall’s Division.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Firefighters from Storey are also now responding.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Multiple vehicles on the property are engulfed in flame.

***

Around 2:15 p.m. a fire was reported at 34 Newman Lane in Mound House.

Firefighters from Carson City and Lyon County are enroute to the scene.

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: According to Sheriff Ken Furlong, a student reported they saw a weapon. The incident was investigated and there was no weapon found. The lockdown has now been lifted and students are leaving the school.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Update 05-03-24 at 1:15 p.m.
One student has reported an alleged weapon sighting. It has not been corroborated, but school officials and the sheriff’s office are investigating out an abundance of caution.

***

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: The following update was provided by the district:

Carson High School was put on lockdown this afternoon around 12:15 p.m. No person was injured. There is an active situation being investigated in cooperation with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. We will provide more information as it becomes known. The school is secure. Do not go to the school. No entrances will be permitted at time. The district will provide updates every 30 minutes. Expect the next update at 1:15 p.m.

***

Carson High School is currently on a lockdown as of 12:40 p.m. Friday, but there has been no incident reported according to Sheriff Ken Furlong.

Two School Resource Officers are on scene investigating why the alarm went off.

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