Churchill County School District highlights

CCHS 

The CCHS Mentor Program is finishing up its second year and is on a roll. The mentors just finished their Peer Mentoring and Mental Health First Aid certifications. These students spent nearly every Tuesday morning at CCMS helping students and teachers and working on their certifications Thursday in class. These programs would not have been possible without the gracious teaching from the mental health experts Brittany Frew and Macie Anderson from the local community mental health program and service, New Frontier. Students in the CCHS mentor program are now more prepared and knowledgeable to help those around them socially and in times of mental health crises. “I am so very proud of the work and effort these students have put forth to better help those around them as well as themselves. This group's work has paved the way for many more opportunities for positive and everlasting peer connections at the high school and middle school levels for now and for the future,” said CCHS Mentor Program advisor Heather Benjamin.

CCMS 

With the help of Lynn Strasdin and Kiren Kault, Daire Ochs' club participated in the 1000 Hearts project. 100 Hearts started with one person hand stitching thousands of pocket hearts and has now turned into people around the world volunteering to help out and join the project to spread a little love, courage, hope, and comfort. Students in Ochs’ class hand-stitched pocket hearts that will be given away in random acts of kindness. A few of the places suggested are schools, mental health centers, cancer infusion centers, senior centers, convalescent homes, and many many more. Students were also told they could take them home to a loved one if they wanted to do that instead. “1000 Hearts is a kindness project that started in 2016 with the goal to spread some love and compassion - which is why we really wanted to bring this project into the schools to do with the students,” said Strasdin.

Numa 

Travis Ryness’s students attended the Churchill County Junior Livestock Show & Sale at Rafter 3C. This event provides an opportunity for the National FFA Organization, 4-H, youth Grange, and independent youth members to exhibit their livestock projects before the public, promoting and providing the incentive for achieving excellence in livestock production, skills, and practices. “I really felt strongly about taking my class to this event because it is important for young students to see and learn about agriculture and understand how important it is not only to Churchill County but the entire world,” said Ryness. The students thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the classroom to learn from community members and even fellow students who were there showing animals as a part of 4-H.

Courtesy

Students in Travis Ryness' class at the Junior Livestock Show & Sale

E.C. Best 

Principal Keith Boone and Physical Education teacher Christine Mori organized field trips to the county's indoor swimming pool this week for all of the third-grade students. This field trip goes hand in hand with the health and wellness units they're doing in PE. The classes are getting some instruction on water safety and then they have the opportunity to swim with their classmates in the water. Aimee Bell’s class went on Monday and had a blast. “For some of our kids, it was the first time they've been to the pool. It was a huge success and the kids loved it,” said Bell.

Lahontan 

The American Red Cross visited Lahontan last week and taught all the students about fire safety. LES principal Kimi Melendy is adamant about bringing the Red Cross in every year to teach their young students about fire safety. A home fire is a devastating event and one that people never count on happening and children are most at risk when this disaster occurs. “The Red Cross comes in and teaches our students how to best prepare to escape from a fire if it were to occur and send them home with reading materials for their parents on how they can take sensible precautions in their homes,” said Melendy.

Northside Early Learning Center 

NELC had a Family Engagement Event last week. While the 3-year-old students and their siblings played on the playground, parents got to learn from Dr. Scott Harrington, Laura Lee Christensen, and Kassidy Henderson about building communication skills, and self-help skills, and they were provided with some strategies for their parenting toolboxes. They also got to have a taco bar dinner. It was a great night and another incredible opportunity for parents and staff to connect and strategize on ways to support the students and the goal of making them lifelong learners.