Calvin Connors, left, with his wife Ali, joins the Oasis team for this fall.
From left are Evan Frossard, Eneyde Rios, Gabriel Schumann and Eric Grimes.
“We are so excited to have Calvin on board,” said Oasis CEO Melissa Mackedon. “The kind of energy a young, excited teacher can bring to school cannot be overestimated. To have someone on board who understands how influential a teacher can be in a young person’s life is huge. One amazing teacher can change the trajectory of a student’s life and I have no doubt Calvin will play that part for many Bighorns.”
In his free time, he enjoys archery, exercising, and watching sports or Survivor with his wife Ali and their dog.
We the People students delve into the Constitution
Designed for students to learn the inner workings of both the U.S. Constitution and our government, We the People immerses students into our country's founding document.
In his fourth year of advising the elective class, Eric Grimes knows the value of the class for the Oasis Academy College Prep students.
“When asked, alumni of the We the People program do not regret being part of this dynamic program.” He said. “The benefits of this program are more than just learning and understanding our nation’s founding principles enumerated in the constitution. Students develop better public speaking skills, the ability to advocate for themselves or a cause and just as importantly, the proper way to make purposeful change.”
While the U.S. Constitution and government are part of the focus, students must also study and know supreme court decisions, other important documents like the Federalist Papers, and have knowledge of current events.
At the culmination of the semester, the group of 12 to 18 students compete in the district competition. There judges have conversations with the students covering the vast information they have learned. Along with a guided questionnaire, judges also ask impromptu questions requiring students to rely on studied information and think on their feet. Responses are then given points by each judge.
The annual competition is held in December with the top three teams from the district qualifying for the state competition. Students also receive certificates from the U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei.
“I’m looking forward to helping prepare our students for this year’s competition,” Grimes added. “We have a great number of amazing and driven students who I know will excel in this program.”
To learn more about We the People, contact Grimes at egrimes@oanv.org.
Download the Bighorn App
With the start of school Aug. 22, stay involved in all things with Oasis Academy through the Bighorn App.
The app features a calendar of events (including athletics games, upcoming dress-up days, fundraisers, and more), school news, staff directory, links for school documents, and school notifications.
“We are trying to meet our parents where they are – on their phones and make their lives easier,” said Oasis CEO Melissa Mackedon. “The app was designed by a company that specializes in schools. They understand what parents want and the easiest way for parents to get it. The app is so easy to use! We heard from so many parents who are no longer on social media — with the app they don’t have to be. They can still see all the pictures and videos we share of school happenings. It’s a one stop shop for all things Bighorn.”
To download the app, visit the Apple Store or Google Play Store and search Oasis Academy