Storey County students get back to school

Although Thursday was his first day as a teacher at Virginia City High School, John Eldridge said, it felt like home.

"I am very excited to be here," he told his students. "I grew up in a school just like this - I graduated with 25 kids."

From a farming community in Iowa, Eldridge got his degree from the University of South Dakota and was offered his first teaching job at West Wendover High School in Elko County. After a year there, he taught the next two in Fallon, at Churchill County Junior High, before coming to Virginia City.

"This is my preference," he said. "I like small schools. West Wendover was about as urban as I can get."

Sophomore McKenna Fletcher, 14, agreed. She started out attending schools in her hometown, Dayton, but at the end of eighth grade she transferred to Virginia City, where her father is a lieutenant with the Storey County Sheriff's Department.

"This school is better because it's smaller," she said. "It's easier to get help from teachers. It's more one-on-one."

Although the school has only about 50 students, the first day can still be daunting for incoming freshmen. To ease that transition, the school hosted its first freshman kickoff Wednesday with team-building exercises, along with a tour of the school and handing out class schedules.

Colette Chapman, 14, said it was useful. "You know where your classes were, and you knew where you were going," she said. "It was good."

Principal Patrick Beckwith said his seven-year tenure with the school helped the first day run smoothly. "All these kids know me," he said. "They know what the expectations are. They're off and running."

Todd Hess, principal of the district's three remaining schools - Gallagher and Hillside elementary schools as well as Virginia City Middle School - said things went well as those schools, too.

"We had our assembly this morning and let all the children know we made (adequate yearly progress) this year," he said. "We've made it since the inception of the program, and it's something we intend to do again this year."

There was also a reminder during the assembly about the seriousness of bullying. "The No. 1 thing we can do is provide a safe learning environment for all students in Storey County," Hess said.

Incoming seniors have their own priorities.

"Last year, we almost won state in basketball, and we're excited to try again," said Kurt Lynch, 17. Zack Ladd, 17, set a simpler goal: "I'm excited to get good grades so I can get out of this town."