BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Empire Elementary School students react after winning first place in the Senator Olympics at Morse Burley Gym at Carson High School on Friday.
It took only four words and the gym at Carson High School erupted in a cascade of shrills and shrieks from more than 600 fifth-grade students.
"Are we having fun?"
What started as a deafening scream soon changed to boasting chants from the three schools represented: Fremont, Empire and Seeliger elementary schools.
The elementary schools were at CHS for the Future Senator Olympics, which featured a five-event competition and a tour of the school for all fifth-graders in the Carson School District.
The event was organized by the C-Unity and Senator Pride groups and more than 600 fifth-graders participated. Fremont, Seeliger and Empire in the morning and Bordewich-Bray, Fritsch and Mark Twain in the afternoon.
"We want to get them excited about one day being a Senator and to start building their pride in the school," said Sarah Piggott, C-Unity advisor.
Jill Steel, a teacher at Seeliger Elementary, thought the opportunity for the students to see their future high school was a good idea.
"We hope that they take pride in Carson City and want to go to the events the high school has," Steel said.
Steel said it was good for her to be able to see a couple of her former students helping out with the event.
"It's fun because you know they are good kids and are proud of who they are. They want to be leaders, and they have pride in their school and the school they came from," Steel said.
The students took part in a sack relay, a balloon relay, an obstacle course, an egg/spoon relay and a bean bag toss. The best team in each event earned points for their school and helped determine the overall winner.
"It's cool to be here. There's a lot more room here than at our school," said Delaney Cobb, 11, from Fremont Elementary.
After completing the events, the students learned several chants from cheerleaders as well as what the high school students thought were the best parts of CHS. Then came the moment of truth, the announcement of the overall winner for the morning groups.
Although it was close, Empire Elementary won the trophy.
Several of the students were selected to carry the trophy with them back to their school.
"Going to Empire is really fun and we have really good teachers. They are the best," said Emily Hallas, 11.
Kariana Montes, 10, agreed. "I like everything, we just have a lot more fun."