Carson City elementary ‘reflects’ on how COVID has changed lives

The Carson City School District and Fritsch Elementary School recognized several grade-school students (a winner from each grade) who competed in the “2021 Reflections Contest” to celebrate the schools’ 100th day of school as well as how students continue to triumph and endure through changes imposed by COVID-19.

With the third to fifth graders coming back to school full-time Jan. 19, Principal Dan Brown and Vice Principal Gina Hoppe decided the contest would be a fun, reflective way to welcome back all students to school.

The contest was designed for students to express their feelings and experiences about COVID through projects. The contest was open to all students kindergarten to fifth grade in school and remote. The students could do paintings, drawings, models, timelines, poems, stories, research, slides, etc.

Students were required to think about the changes they have endured this school year and ponder what safety precautions they had to take at school and at home. They were also asked to consider how they keep themselves healthy, how the school has changed and what changes they made at home.

“With all that has gone on between last year and this year, it was fun to see what the students brought back and how they were able to describe their personal experiences,” Hoppe said.

Reflection winners, announced Friday include the following:

Kindergarten 

First place – Clara Papez, 6

Second place – Charlotte Wilson-Gonzales, 5

First grade 

First place – Romeo Torres, 6

Second place – Mark Lobsinger, 6

Second grade 

First place – Michell Mendez, 8

Second and third place (tie) – Sofia Pinto Garcia, 8, and Myah Brewster, 8

Third grade 

First place – Kiki Sulezich, 8

Second, third and fourth place (tie) – Kiley McDaniel, 9, Tatum Manley, 9, and Mackenzie Gelbaum, 8

Fourth grade 

First place – Carmen Mills, 9

Second and third Place (tie) – Lucy Bauerle, 10, and Zach Ponzoch, 10

Fifth grade 

First place – Chloe Herman, 10

Second place – Emery Cooper, 11

Third place (combined effort) – Logan Lobsinger, 10, Amelia Papez, 11, Izzy Eisenmesser, 10, and Natalia Armstrong, 11