Summer ends for Churchill County students

The sign that summer has officially come to an end happens Monday as thousands of Churchill County students return to school.

It has been a busy summer for the school district with its remodeling projects at almost all of the schools.

Dr. Sandra Sheldon, Churchill County School District superintendent, said the work at the schools should mostly be completed by Monday.

“A lot of work has been taking place over the summer on various school buildings,” Sheldon said. “We’ve had some major projects happening. A & K Earth Movers has done a great job on the new parking lot at E. C. Best (elementary) and they’ve made sure it’ll be done by Monday. I can’t thank them enough.”

Sheldon said all of the contractors who have worked on the schools have done a great job.

Furthermore, Sheldon said teachers have already returned to work to set up their classrooms.

“I’ll be holding a welcome back meeting the morning of the 15 (today) for our teachers and different departments in the district,” Sheldon said. “I have high and middle school teachers coming at 8 a.m. and elementary school teachers at 10 a.m. with the transportation department mixed in with both those times for orientation.”

The school year will be great, Sheldon said.

“This school year is all about the students,” Sheldon said. “Everything that we do and that we’ll focus on in the district will be about the students and getting them where they need to be. We’re excited to get the school year going. This is my second year here so I feel much more confident where the staff is and moving forward with student learning. I think it’s going to be a good year. What’s not good when it’s all about the students?”

The number of substitute teachers, though, has remained the same, Sheldon said.

“We’re starting off the school year with roughly the same amount of subs we had last year,” Sheldon said. “We’ve added a few more to the list and we’ve had some recently apply to become a sub. This isn’t an issue isolated within Churchill County; this is an issue that is wide spread across the country. We’ll continue to advertise for sub positions and hopefully we’ll get some more.”

On Monday, school buses leave the transportation department’s parking lot to pick up hundreds of students for their first day of school. The complete bus schedule can be found in the Back to School Guide, which was printed on Aug. 6, or can be found on the school district’s website. Students are to report to their various schools after 8 a.m., while specific times can also be found on the district’s website or by calling the schools.

The county’s charter and private schools also begin this week.

Oasis Academy, a charter school, welcomes 350 students in grades K-8 on Monday, said Principal Melissa Mackedon. She said the school added 180 new students for this school year and with the large addition, the school expanded its walls.

Mackedon said a few openings remain and interested parents can call the school to get information at 775-423-5437.

Logos Christian Academy Principal Jack Beach said school begins Wednesday for students in grades K-8. He said enrollment is down from last year — in the mid 70 — but is still steady.

Beach added that Logos is still accepting applications for enrollment, and interested parents may call him at 775-428-1825.

Fallon Seventh-day Adventist Church School also welcomes 12 students enrolled in K-8 grade on Wednesday, said Principal Kathy Melendy. She said the school received a face-lift with a fresh coat of paint over the summer.

Melendy said the school is still accepting applications for new students, and interested parents may call her at 775-423-4185.