Senator Square: Debate tourney a success at Carson High School

CHS hosted the Northern Nevada Forensic League tournament last weekend. According to CHS teacher and Speech and Debate Adviser Patrick Mobley, “We would like to thank all the judges and coaches who volunteered their time to help this tournament become a success.” Mobley went on to say that “Carson had an excellent showing at its home tournament.” First-time competitor David Mariscal Gonzalez placed seventh in a novice presentation on overpopulation, and Ryan Soulier advanced into the final round for his first time in novice informative speaking on the topic of Video Game evolution; he placed 6th in a field of 30. Ivy Campbell took first place in novice extemporaneous and has moved up into senior division. Emerson Spence and Kate Torres took 4th place in senior duo with their piece entitled “The Sun and Her Stars.” Novice duo teams Rosalind Macy and Lilly Langer-Edwards, Jocelyn Estrada and Mariah Hipp, Heidi Barney and Maddy Dunlap swept first, second, and third place with Sy’Johnica Moore placing fourth in novice dramatic interpretation with her piece “The Hate U Give.” First-time competitor Chris Nagel placed 2nd in novice dramatic interpretation with his piece “368 Friends,” and in senior dramatic interpretation, Kieran Dazzo and Marion Haffey took 3rd and first place performing “Backlash” and “Deenie.” On the debate side, partners Ivy Campbell and Sophia Peterson, as well as Kieran Dazzo and Becca Trejo, advanced to semifinals claiming both third place awards. Becca Trejo took ninth place in speaker points with Sophia Peterson in 2nd. In big question debate, Mary Milburn took third place and second in speaker points. In the Lions Club speaking contest, Ivy Campbell placed first and will move on to the next level of competition, which will be held in Dayton at the end of next month. The team prepares to wrap up league tournaments at Spanish Springs next month and then prepare for State in Las Vegas. Public speaking at any age is no easy endeavor, and the CHS Speech and Debate team continues to perform well in every tournament. Remember, volunteers are always needed, so why not come on out and participate in these exciting events?

WINTERFEST 2019 HAPPENING ALL WEEK LONG

CHS Winterfest began last week at the all-school assembly with the theme “Winterflix,” a play on the popular Netflix streaming service. Tuesday is the first dress-up day along with daytime and nighttime activities all week long. The Tuesday dress up day is from the Netflix show “Stranger Things,” where students dress up in ’80s black and red. The lunch time activity is teachers ’80s trivia, and the nighttime activity is movie night at CHS in Senator Square from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Students are asked to bring chairs and blankets. Wednesday is friends dress up as Twins Day, the lunch activity Kahoot trivia, and the night activity Central Perk at the Fox Brew Pub from 6 to 8 p.m. with coffee and hot chocolate served free. Thursday is “The Office” dress up along with the once per month Dress for Success office wear. The lunch activity is Waste Basket Basketball, and bowling at Carson Lanes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. along with the Crowning of the Royal Court at 6:30 p.m. Friday is Riverdale dress-up and Prep Out, wearing of the letterman’s Jacket and school spirit clothing. The lunch activity is a pep rally, and the night activity is a home basketball game against Damonte Ranch with a Blue Out theme. The junior varsity boys game is at 3:30 p.m., the varsity girls game at 5:15 p.m., and the varsity boys game is at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 9 will be the Winterfest Dance from 7 to 10 p.m. in Senator Square. Do not get too excited, parents, because the dance is for students only.

ROBOTICS TEAM TAKES TOP HONORS

The CHS robotics team, Cyber Mafia, competed in the Northern Nevada First Tech Challenge League Championship Jan. 27. The team took 1st place and the top honor Inspire Award at the competition. Additionally, the team was an Alliance Captain in the robot game tournament and made it to the semi-finals. On Feb. 9, the team will travel to Las Vegas for the Nevada First Tech Challenge Championship. Good luck to the team at the State competition.

BOWLING TEAM UNDEFEATED

CHS Bowling is the only undefeated team going into the finals next week. It was a close match against Wooster last Thursday with two players, Blake Perry and Michael Rhodes, out with injuries. Team captains Connor Bell and Kayleigh McCain led the team to victory. Kayleigh earned her highest game score this season with a 235. Division boys bowler Derrick Johnson has a season high game score of 275 with a 728 series followed by Robbie Munoz with a season high 278 game and season series 723. Division girls are lead by Lily Irvin with a season 266 game and a 639 series followed by Kayleigh McCain with a season high 235 game and season 538 series. In the past 15 years, under the excellent leadership of head coaches Kevin Costa and Dave Lethcoe, CHS has only lost the championship once; it was last year, and they lost by only one point. Hoping to regain that title, all 10 division teams including schools from Washoe, Douglas, and Carson will be at the Gold Dust West bowling center Feb. 9 for the second week of the playoffs. Come on out and support the CHS Senator’s Bowling team.

CARSON CITY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The winners of the Carson City Health & Human Services art contest are in. CCHHS is remodeling their clinic, and the competition, with the theme “Carson City Winter,” awards the top three with prizes, and their work will be displayed in the new clinic. Congratulations to the following winners: third place, winning a $15 Kohls gift card, is Christopher Curtis Nagel; second place, winning a $25 Kohls gift card, is Cadence Elizabeth Clark, and in first place, winning a $50 Kohls gift card, is Kasandra Medina-Torres. The three winning pieces will be framed and eventually hang on the walls of the newly remodeled clinic. Congratulations to all of the winners.

CARSON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENT SURVEY

Parents and guardians of CCSD students, please take a survey in either English or Spanish by going to carsoncityschools.com/parents/survey. Feedback is valuable, and this 10-question survey in English or Spanish may be completed using a computer or mobile device. As part of CCSD’s strategic plan, Goal Three, engage parents and families, is seeking to empower and inspire families to positively impact their child’s education in a welcoming, informative and collaborative school culture. Part of that includes strategy 3.1.1, assess the effectiveness of shared responsibility for student success, using an annual survey. Please take the time to offer input. Feedback will play an important role in supporting student achievement and contributing to a child’s school’s success.

FUTURE OPTIONS NIGHT

Attention, parents and guardians of Honors and Advanced Placement students, there will be a CHS Options Night Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning in Senator Square. The Honors and AP presentation will be held in the CHS Library followed by the Jump Start presentation at 7 p.m.

PRESEASON SWIMMING

Due to the Professional Development day on Feb. 4, we will start preseason on Tuesday.

TALENT SHOW

To all students who have a cool talent that would make them winners of America’s Got Talent, why not try out for the CHS Talent Show? Past winners appeared on American Idol. Auditions are Wednesday. Pick up an audition application from CHS teacher Angila Golik in room 249 or from the attendance office. The first 40 applications will be accepted and that is it.

SAVE THE KIDS ASSEMBLY

Superintendent Richard Stokes has arranged an assembly for CHS ninth graders on Friday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the Big Gym. The assembly is called #SaveTheKids and will focus on internet safety, social media responsibility, anxiety & depression coping skills, and suicide awareness. Additional information may be found at savethekids.us.

SAFE GRAD

CHS’ Safe and Sober 5k Run/Walk is Feb. 9. Interested walkers and runners may find the application at carsonhighsafegrad.com. The Safe Grad Committee is looking for sponsors and raffle prize donations too, so call Social Media Advertising Coordinator Nubia Leon.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

CHS Athletic Department’s Jan. 22-26 Athletes of the Week are Bella Kordonoway for Girls Varsity Basketball and Parsa Hadjighasemi for Boys Varsity Basketball. These athletes, and all students who participate in school functions through leadership, clubs, and sports deserve a high level of recognition and congratulations.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

Christina Van Geel is the CHS Student of the Week. Recently, Christina turned in a wallet she found with $212 in it to the attendance office. Attendance office secretary Patty Bean, who nominated Christina as Student of the Week, said, “We did find the owner of the wallet who was very grateful as it was needed for her band trip.” Christina Van Geel, who takes a full load of classes at CHS, is an amazing young lady who inspires others to hope and care about her fellow students. Honors geometry, biology, choir, French, English, transitions, “Reading a book can open up doors to a million different worlds.”

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

The Senior Spotlight this week is Amberlee Rangel. Amberlee is an outstanding senior at CHS, maintaining excellent grades during her freshman, sophomore, junior and the first semester of her senior year. She has taken both Honors and Advanced Placement classes, while maintaining a 3.97 weighted GPA. She has been involved in the CHS Photography Advanced Study Program and volunteers with Empire Elementary when they have school events. Amberlee plans on attending Western Nevada College in the fall, where she will study psychology and pursue a career teaching psychology at the college level. With all of Amberlee’s skills, there is no doubt she will succeed in achieving her future goals. Congratulations to Amberlee Rangel on earning this week’s Senior in the Spotlight; no easy task amidst the over 500 seniors attending Carson High School.

Phil Brady is an English teacher at CHS.