Senator Square: Celebrating Carson High School's Class of 2021 graduates

Most know the following, slightly modified poem by Robert Frost, 1874-1963, and everyone knows Saturday was graduation for Carson High School's Class of 2021. This note is simple; celebrate them, celebrate with them, and be patient with them too as they have made, and are still making, some of the toughest decisions of their lives.

Two roads diverged in Carson City / And sorry I could not travel both /

And be one traveler, long I stood / And looked down one as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth; / Then took the other, as just as fair, /

And having perhaps the better claim / Because it was grassy and wanted wear, / Though as for that the passing there / Had worn them really about the same, /

And both that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black. / Oh, I kept the first for another day! /

Yet knowing how way leads on to way / I doubted if I should ever come back. / I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.

Go here for the list of CHS graduates and more photos.

CHS LIBRARY NOW A READ AND RIDE CENTER
Carson High @Senators Library is now a read and ride center. Thanks to generous donations from local library advocate Sena Loyd, and retiring CHS Chemistry teacher, David Mital we purchased two desk bikes. Graduating senior Nathan Reynolds built the bikes, which became instant hits. Student Nathan Thornton was the test-rider and stated, "It's cool to just hang out and pedal and read…it's relaxing." We love our new additions to the library and hope to incorporate more movement into our space in the future. Carson High's @Senators Library will be closed for the summer as we update and add some color. We are excited to promote the Summer programs offered at the Carson City Library, and the Summer Learning Challenge Kickoff is June 12 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Information about summer events at Carson City Library may be found at: https://carsoncitylibrary.org/.

NEVADA JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW COMPETITION
Capitol Future Farmers of America had a few members compete in the Nevada Junior Livestock Show May 6 through 9. Kelly Strasser was first place in Senior Showmanship winning the FFA Dairy Handler competition, and the results of this win has qualified her to compete in the National FFA Convention in October. Strasser will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana and compete against other qualifiers. Parker Story also won with the Grand Champion Dairy Cow.

He also competed in Beef Senior Showmanship and Beef Market. Lander Smith showed in Senior Beef Showmanship and Beef Market, and freshman honors student Ella Dooley showed for 4-H and competed in Intermediate Beef Showmanship and Intermediate Sheep Showmanship. Kelly Strasser, Lander Smith, and Parker Story served on the Youth Advisory team as well. They did much more than was required by assisting with activities during the show and made sure the show ran smoothly. It was a great opportunity for them to learn behind the scenes of a livestock show. Capitol FFA is extremely proud of their members — Contributed by CHS Agriculture instructor, Welding instructor, and FFA adviser Rebecca Glocknitzer.

CHEER COACH SHEILA STORY THANKS CARSON CITY BUSINESSES
Personally, I would like to say thank you to all the Cheer Sponsors for the 2020-2021 school year. The Carson High Cheer Team is grateful as well to the following businesses for their support during the 2020-2021 school year. With their kindness, generosity, and support the cheerleaders were able to cheer at the two football games this past spring and virtually attend cheer competitions where they placed first in the School Song Division, second place in the Game Day Show Cheer Division, third place in the Band Dance Division and fifth place in the Sideline and Cheer Division.

Even though it was a crazy year the cheerleaders were successful in performing and cheering. We greatly appreciate the support of the following businesses this past year: Carson Nissan Dealer, River West Resort, Wallis Steel Inc., Rupert Auto Body, Carson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Perfection Connection, Complete Millwork Services Inc., Reno Paint Mart, Benson's Pet Food and Supplies, Pizza Factory, Capital Glass, Carson Home Furnishings, Carson City Orthodontics, Kiggins Dentistry, Battle Born Automotive, Dutch Bros, Centro Market, Click Bond, Grocery Outlet, Postal Annex, The Tint Shop, Bentley Heritage, and Majestic Marble and Tile — Contributed by CHS School Nurse and Cheer Coach Sheila Story.

A FEW YEARBOOKS REMAIN FOR SALE
It is not too late to purchase a yearbook; however, getting one now means stopping by the CHS Finance Office. Stop by the front of the school, park on the yellow line, and check in at the office. Also, for seniors only, a Covid-19 yearbook bundle is still being offered. Missed buying a yearbook last year, the year before last, or the year before the year before last? No worries as all four years of yearbooks may now be purchased for only $200. Seniors simply need to go to the CHS Student Finance office to purchase the bundle. Remember, the price per yearbook is $95, so take advantage of this rare opportunity. For more information, email CHS Journalism teacher and yearbook adviser Cynthia Mills at cmills@carson.k12.nv.us to get a yearbook from years ago, last year, or one from this year: youtube.com/watch?v=TkeN1ImGaGU&feature=youtu.be.

COLLEGE FOR KIDS SUMMER CAMP
Wildcat TEACH presents College for Kids Summer Camp at Western Nevada College on the Carson High School campus August 9 through 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children ages 6-11 with STEM activities, arts and crafts, games and music, and…to top it off…a T-shirt. Early Birds get a discount. Go here to register for $150. After June 14, the cost goes up to $200 and WNC faculty and PK-12 teachers will need to call 775-445-3357 to apply for the discount and register.

SUMMER BASKETBALL AT EAGLE VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Summer basketball open gym begins June 14 at Eagle Valley Middle School for boys and girls. Open gym will occur every Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to Noon in June and August. The gym will be closed for July.  Coaches Perry and Burroughs will run the open gym time.  There is no cost. Bring a water bottle.

CAPITAL CITY HOOPS SUMMER PROGRAMS
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, and we just started our Youth Group Lessons June 1 for all boys and girls third to seventh grade.

CCH is run by Carson High School Varsity Basketball Coach Jordan Glover, with a staff which has well over 10 years of basketball coaching and playing experience at many levels. Group lessons are Tuesday's and Thursday's from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., during June only, at Carson High School; CCH focuses on teaching proper fundamentals of basketball through drills, competitions, and individual trainings at all levels from beginner to intermediate, and even some advanced players.

CCH has travel teams as well for those athletes who want to test their skills in games and tournaments. July 5 through 8, CCH will be hosting a youth basketball camp "Capital City Hoopaholics" at the MAC Facility, 1860 Russell Way, from 9 to Noon. Boys and Girls ages 5-14 may attend CCH basketball camps. There are T-shirts for all participants and numerous daily awards for campers.

This will be CCHs 3rd Annual Hoopaholics Camp, and it has been nothing but fun each year. CCH has a website, Instagram page, and Facebook page and please email Jordan at jglover@carson.k12.nv.us or CCHs Director of Communication andreahoff03@gmail.com to get on their regular email list.

LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT
The 2021 virtual career fair was a great success, and according to Carson City School District Work Based Learning Coordinator Marc Rodina, “I know not everyone was able to attend; we had 36 vendors from business, industry, military branches, and colleges, and of those, 17 of them recorded their Zoom session, so I have edited those recordings and created a virtual library on the work-based learning website for teachers, students, parents, and community members to view at any time.” Please go here to to view the library. “Many of these videos can give you great ideas for curriculum integration” Rodina added. For more information, please contact Carson City School District Work Based Learning Coordinator Marc Rodina at 283-2055 or mrodina@carson.k12.nv.us.

COLLEGE, SCHOLARSHIPS, BRIDGE TO SUCCESS, AND WNC JUMPSTART
Going to college? Joining the workforce? Doing both? Senator Scholarship Scoop is online at carsonhigh.com. Go to ‘Academics’, ‘Counseling Department’, and ‘The Scoop’ on the left. Applied to WNC yet? Call the Guidance Office at 283-1915 as they are still there for three more weeks, or email counselor Nicole Hendee at nhendee@carson.k12.nv.us. Seniors, let CHS counselors know where to send transcripts. Any current CHS junior interested in the Jump Start Career needs to pick up an application in the Guidance Office. Eligible juniors may enter programs such as Auto Tech, Automated Industrial Technology, Construction, or Cybersecurity.

NOT TOO LATE TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE
As CHS and Pioneer High School seniors graduate today, they may choose to look for some free money in the form of scholarships in which to pay for college. The beauty of this, too, is scholarships are available and may be applied for and awarded year-round to soon-to-be and current college students throughout their entire four years in college. There are many scholarships offered every year and end up being awarded to no one because no one applied. There are thousands of national scholarships found at fastweb.com, and scholarships.com.

The CHS Guidance Office is also always available to help students choose and apply for scholarships. Email counselor Bridget Gordon-Johnson at bgordon@carson.k12.nv.us to make an appointment. Essays are also needed when applying. Need essay help? Watch the video here. Also, seniors need to check the due-dates and where to turn in their essays to sponsors.

Also, seniors need to check the title of their essays; it is never a good idea to turn in an essay for a scholarship which is titled for a different scholarship. Head to the CHS Career Center to see Mrs. Roman for help with a resume. CHS Seniors, please make sure to sign-in to a personal CHS Google Account for any of the PDF links to download these scholarships and edit them with the Kami App available via CHS Google.

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
The last issue of Senator Square for the 2020-2021 school year brings forth three CHS Students of the Week: Victor Pajuelo Requena, a sophomore with a 3.65 GPA, junior Reyna Ruiz Castaneda with a GPA of 3.7, and sophomore Itzel Martinez Gutierrez, who maintains a 3.4 GPA. According to their nominating teacher, Gabriela McNamara, “These students have demonstrated, for the last couples of years at Carson High School, the barrier of the language is not an obstacle to be successful; they have embraced such noteworthy values as striving to excel as students while upholding their moral values standards and consistently being respectful to both teachers and peers alike.” Congratulations to all of the CHS Athletes of the Week, Students of the Week, Seniors in the Spotlight, and the 2021 graduates of CHS and PHS.

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