Senator Square: Inaugural 'Week of Respect' a success at Carson High School

Carson High School celebrated its first Week of Respect Oct. 3-7. Students and staff participated in daily activities promoting positive interactions to support a safe and respectful learning environment. Highlights of the week included interactive game stations where students gathered in Senator Square and engaged in board games and brain teasers.

Each day a Social Emotional Learning standard was the focus of the activity. Throughout the week, hundreds of students signed the online Pledge to Be an Upstander through Carson City School District’s Bully Free Zone website. Also, the Boys and Girls Club, Carson City Library, Carson Tahoe Health, The Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Mason Valley Beekeepers, Nevada Humane Society, Advocates to End Domestic Violence, SARA, and Retro Replay provided education and opportunities to engage in pro-social activities outside of school.

The week’s events concluded with a schoolwide ‘Blue-Out’ where everyone wore blue showing CHS is committed to reducing bullying and promoting respect and kindness. In addition to Week of Respect, CHS students recently participated in raising money and food for Food for Thought, an organization that provides bags of food to homeless students within CCSD.

Through popcorn, cotton candy sales, and miracle minute, students raised $1,006.90 in cash donations and also collected a great deal of food. A big thanks goes out to CHS students and staff for reaching into their hearts and pockets to help those less fortunate.

Additionally, NHS advisor Brian Branch, in referring to the NHS Blood Drive Oct. 6, said “It went great; we had over 180 people show to donate.” CHS students and the Carson City Community were called upon, and they came through with success. Finally, Yogurt Beach gave 30 percent of all proceeds acquired on Sept. 29 to support Health Occupations Students of America. The students of CHS are busy being the best they can be for each other and members of the Carson City community.

Marching Band
Please make sure to congratulate any marching band member as they received five trophies including a Sweepstakes award (best in the entire competition) for music!  This is the first time in 12 years marching band earned a Sweepstakes trophy of any kind. Also, come and hear the award winning Blue Thunder Bands Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. It is free to the public, and the concert will feature the award winning Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble.

Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness
The CHS Floral Shop and Future Farmers of America are fundraising for Carson Tahoe Breast Cancer Center and Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. CHS’ Floral Program will create and sell floral arrangements through Oct. 12. Delivery will occur Oct. 18 – 22. Contact Mr. Mann for more information at 775-283-1690 or cmann@carson.k12.nv.us.

Fine Arts, NJROTC Department Chair
Please come, see, and hear Choir I, Choir II, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Beginning through Advanced Musical Theater sing and dance in the Choral Department Fall Concert Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for students and $1 for students with CHS Activities Stickers.

CHS 2016-2017 Winter Sports Registration
Winter sports signups are Oct. 17 in the CHS Library from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Students may complete their sports packet by creating an account at registermyathlete.com and selecting a winter sport. All registrations are online. Necessary paperwork for CHS students are the NIAA Form B Pre-participation health form and Form D - Physical (even though a physical is on file from freshman and junior year). Students must complete the top portion of the physical form. Questions? Contact the Athletic Department at 775-283-1900.
 
FBLA Meeting

Future Business Leaders of America will have its monthly meeting on Oct. 11 at lunch in Mrs. Golik's, room 249. All officers must dress professionally. Interested students are invited to attend.

Safe Grad 2016-2017 Kick-Off
Safe Grad has been a tradition for CHS since 1988, started by community volunteers, after a series of graduation incidents and deaths related to alcohol. The main goal is to prevent the use of alcohol, drugs, and the consequences, including driving drunk, for graduates or others. So the Safe Grad kickoff meeting, designed to get help and support, is being held Oct. 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the CHS Library. Please lend a hand to Safe Grad. 

Student of the Week
Samantha Miller is the student of the week. She is a transition senior who is an inspiration for all students with a disability. She aspires to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and has taken the opportunity at CHS to help raise funds for HOSA. She is a hard-working, honest, and determined student. CHS thanks Samantha for all she has done and all she is doing to help those in need!

Senior Spotlight
This week's senior spotlight shines on Annji Hodorowicz. Annji earned this honor by consistently challenging herself from year to year with a strong mix of honors and AP classes along with a wide variety of humanities and electives.

As busy as she keeps herself, she attained a GPA of 4.53 and earned academic letters every year for her performance. Annji participates in numerous extracurricular activities. She has played the flute since fifth grade and been a member of Wind Ensemble for 3 years and Marching Band since freshman year.

She auditioned for and was accepted into Honor Band where students get to perform under a guest conductor, and put a performance on for the public. She has done this three times previous and plans trying out for it again this year. In addition to her music, Annji is a member of NHS since sophomore year, Key Club this year and last, and has recently joined the Psychology Club.

In the past, she has also participated in basketball. Outside of school, Annji volunteers at Carson Tahoe Hospital, helping out at the front desk on Sundays. Soon she will begin tutoring and giving homework help once weekly through a local church. For recreation, she enjoys sports, listening to music, and traveling. Next year, Annji plans on attending either UNR or WNC.

She is currently contemplating a major, but would eventually like to earn a bachelor’s degree. She appreciates all the support she has gotten through the years and would especially like to thank her mom for all she has done for her. Please join CHS in congratulating Annji for her accomplishments. They are well deserved.

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