Senator Square: Recognizing the few and proud Carson High School substitute teachers

As every teacher knows, education is a calling, first, and a career, second. At the high school level, imagine having to interact with 150 to 175 students or more every other day. Well, for the regular classroom teacher this can be challenging, but in the first couple weeks of school a relationship develops, and the names of students are solidified.

However, imagine being a substitute teacher at the high school level. By the time a substitute teacher gets to know the names of the students, the sub is off to another classroom to begin the process again. Substitute teachers are some of the most amazing individuals working within Carson City School District.

According to 79-year-old Tom Duncan, who has given 15 years of substitute teaching to CHS, “My students like me and respect me as I always offer encouragement, and I stress the importance of learning, the importance of an education, and the importance of a college degree; my two sons are my examples.”

Ultimately, in a perfect world, individuals would be clamoring to substitute teach at CHS, but such is not the case. What does it take to become a substitute teacher in the CCSD? Because CCSD is in a type of emergency substitute teaching situation, all an individual must be is a citizen of the United States, or be a lawful permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card, and have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Jose Delfin, said, “The school district tries to keep a pool of 60 dependable substitute teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels, along with needing a few substitute nurses each year.” However, according to Administrative Assistant Grace Greener, “CHS needs around 18 substitute teachers per day, but subs are not always available.”

This results in Greener having to ask regular teachers to give up their preparation periods, a time they use to grade papers and prepare lesson plans, to cover a class for the absent teacher. So what are you waiting for? Join the CCSD and enjoy the benefits of positively impacting young people.

The salary is $14.70 per hour or $110.25 per day. Long term pay begins the twenty-first day of a consecutive assignment and moves to $18.70 per hour or $140.25 per day. About substitute teaching, Duncan said, “The experience as substitute teacher is rewarding, and the students always thank me for being their sub.” Interested in a substitute teacher position? Go here.

“Many times over the years, students have come up to me to say hello; I remember one student who came up to me to tell me he remembered the class he had with me 10 years ago,” Duncan added.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINTER GUARD AND WINTER DRUMLINE
Winter Guard and Winter Drumline on their first place finish at the Winter Review Competition on Friday at Depoali Middle School.

NEVADA HOSA FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COMPETITION RESULTS
CHS HOSA-Future Health Professionals had 21 students attend the State Leadership Conference this week. The conference was held at the Nugget in Sparks March 13-16. The CHS chapter earned a bronze medal for the third largest HOSA membership as well as a silver Health Science Events award for participation in December and January testing.

The CHS HOSA students competed in eight different events and came away with 11 of 21 students quailed to attend the International Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN June 22-25, including two state champions. CHS HOSA State competition results:

Chapter Awards: Bronze medal third largest HOSA membership with 252 chapter members; Silver Health Science Events award for testing participation; Healthcare Issues Exam Qualifiers: Makenzie Fernandez, Arene LeBlanc, Brendin Munoz; Health Science Events: Cultural Diversities and Disparities in Healthcare: Alicia Cortes Solis, first place Medical Reading: Riley Gudmundson, third place Health Profession Events: Clinical Nursing: McKenna Budd, first place Medical Assisting: Alivia Aschenbach, fifth place Leadership Events: Health Career Photography: Makenzie Fernandez Teamwork Events: Public Service Announcement: Zach Guthrie, Tyler Palmer, Makenzie Fernandez, second place. In the first photo’s first row: Alivia Aschenbach, Alicia Cortes Solis, McKenna Budd, Kaylee Luna, Yulisa Rodgriguez, Misty Rasmussen; second row: Sierra Aqui, Ana Marroquin, Sarah Wiggins, Paulina Perez, Dakota Argust, Aden McBride, Donrica Davis-Deloney, Brendin Munoz; third row: Makenzie Fernandez, Riley Gudmundson, Tyler Palmer, Zach Guthrie, Dylan Cooley, Arene LeBlanc, Tarrah Borrowman. In the second photo’s first row: Paulina Perez, Misty Rasmussen, Brendin Munoz, Sarah Wiggins, Mckenna Budd, Kaylee Luna; second row: Riley Gudmundson, Donrica Davis-Deloney, Alivia Aschenbach, Tarrah Borrowman, Ana Marroquin, Sierra Aqui, Dakota Argust, Makenzie Fernandez, Aden McBride, Yulisa Rodriguez, Alicia Cortes Solis; third row: Arene LeBlanc, Dylan Cooley, Tyler Palmer, Zach Guthrie.

YOUTH BOWLING TOURNAMENT HELD AT CARSON LANES
Carson High School bowling club has been preparing for the season by practicing twice-per-week, and practice has certainly paid off. The Carson City youth bowling tournament was held this past weekend at Carson Lanes. CHS bowlers swept the Division 1 Scratch with Derrick Johnson as #1 followed by Alex Perry, Anthony Diaz and Zayden Dunbar. Shane Shook was #1 in Division 2 Scratch with Nolan Pedersen closely following.

Dylan Dyer bowled a personal high score of 216 in Division 3. Multiple wins went to the bowlers mentioned and other Carson High Bowling team members including Deandre Paplia, Mia Pascual, Savanna Blair. Carson High bowling was hoping to defend their championship season, having won 1st place in the Northern Nevada High Desert Interscholastic Bowling Program for the 2019 – 2020 season.

Due to restrictions of the pandemic last season and this has not been able to be held. While the competitive season for the Carson High School bowling team has not come to fruition the team of nearly 20 students continues to grow and improve. On another note, parents and guardians are encouraged to complete the online update in Infinite Campus for the upcoming 2022 - 2023 school year. For more information, contact Carson High School Administrative Assistant Lavon Sollberger at 283-1838.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT CHS
The baseball team will compete against at 3:45 p.m. March 22 at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, and there will be a junior varsity baseball tournament March 23 at BMCHS at 4 p.m. March 24, at 1 p.m., there will be a junior varsity tournament against Damonte Ranch High School and BMCHS at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. Choir Palooza will take place at CHS in the Big Gym from 7 to 8 p.m. March 24.

CARSON CITY COMMUNITY FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE RETURNS TO CHS
Hercules and Megara will be coming to CHS for “A Mystical Evening in Greece” Annual Father-Daughter Ball, a community-wide event for all ages April 22 from 6 to 9:00 p.m. in the Big Gym. Tickets are $40 per father and daughter and an additional $10 for each additional daughter. The event has sold out each year prior to Covid and will definitely sell out this year. Order tickets by going to eventbrite.com and searching for “Father-Daughter Ball – Carson City.”

Online ticket purchase fee applies. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the CHS Big Gym entrance. Only cash or checks will be taken for in-person ticket purchases. Also, actors will be taking professional photos of fathers and their little princesses; light desserts will be served.

This event is a fundraiser for the following CHS Organizations: Future Business Leaders of America, SkillsUSA Web Design, Leadership, and Photography. Tickets do not go on sale until March 1. Professional photos will be available at the event for an additional cost of $15 per sheet with varying sizes from which to choose.

Cash or check will be accepted. Photos must be paid for at the event. They can also be bought in person at Carson High School’s main office only from 2 to 4 p.m. March 15 to 17 or 9 a.m. to Noon at the gym entrance of the school. Cash or checks will be accepted for in-person ticket purchases. Please email CHS teacher Angila Golik at agolik@carson.k12.nv.us for more information.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to CHS Senior Ethne Myler on being nominated Student of the Week. According to CHS Theatre, Musical Theatre, and English Language Arts teacher Andie Wilkerson, “Ethne is a model citizen and a compassionate human being.” Wilkerson added, “She is an exemplary student and a talented performer, and she is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and she makes CHS a better place with her positive attitude and caring spirit.”

Employees within Carson City School District nominate the CHS Student of the Week, and it is often the teachers who do the nominating, though anyone in the district may do so by sending an email to pbrady@carson.k12.nv.us. Congratulations to Ethne Myler in standing out so much so her teacher took time to nominate her CHS Student of the Week.

SENIOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
In Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a character is described as little but fierce. The same is true about Raychel Roylance, this week’s Senior in the Spotlight. When Raychel was born, she weighed just one pound. When she started kindergarten, she was still much smaller than her peers said her mother Alison Roylance. Her mother recalls a day when Raychel came home distraught because her classmates called her a baby, and said she was too small to play on the monkey bars.

“Raychel came home that night and crossed the monkey bars on our backyard play set over and over until her hands were blistered and bloody; she proved those classmates wrong and has persevered through many challenges over the years.” Raychel recognizes one of her greatest strengths is her determination.

"Although shy, she tried out for the CHS Color Guard team her freshman year because, as she says, she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and prove to herself she could do it. This year, she is the team’s captain. “Being a part of Color Guard helped me grow socially and put myself out there.”

As a member of the Jump Start program, she takes most of her classes at Western Nevada College. And while most seniors graduate with 24 credits, she already has earned 32.5 and has a 4.42 GPA. At CHS, she takes web design classes and at her job, she designs social media posts. In her limited free time, she plays the piano, something she has been passionate about since she was five.

Despite her challenging schedule, she recognizes the importance of down time. “If you feel tired or overwhelmed, you will not be able to work successfully and efficiently,” she said and added, “You need to give yourself time to relax.” Next fall, Raychel will be attending Utah State University and is planning to major in computer science or information systems with an emphasis in web development.

She hopes to have a career which allows her to do computer programming and design. “My current job does a great job with helping me understand the consumer side of things, like how things should look on social media and how to get people’s attention.” Raychel’s parents have witnessed their daughter getting people’s attention by excelling in everything she puts her mind to.

“She has persevered through all challenges over the years, so do not ever tell Raychel she cannot do something!’

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