Octavia Merritt and Montana Koplin’s students were P'jammin for Kids with Cancer.
Churchill County High School
Churchill County High School has a J4NG program on campus, which stands for Jobs for Nevada Graduates.
Jenny Rios is the J4NG specialist (teacher), at CCHS. Her goal is to mentor and support the students at CCHS to create a powerful and positive future. This year, students had the opportunity to volunteer at the cantaloupe festival and were awarded a check for their volunteer time. They also took a college tour at UNR Tahoe. It is important to Rios to allow her J4NG seniors many opportunities to go on college tour trips as it allows them to meet the current students, staff and faculties who can be very valuable in answering any questions the students have. It can also help in deciding what college they want to attend.
“I am very proud of what the J4NG students are accomplishing this year and look forward to sharing more of their stories and accomplishments with the community,” Rios said.
Churchill County Middle School
This year, the Purple Star Committee has created a Purple Star Student Committee to help them strengthen the work they already do for their military students and families.
“Last year we had a lot of Purple Star activities and we asked the students for their input, but we felt like it was important to include them in the decision-making process of what we do,” said Purple Star Committee member Kailyn Mann.
CCMS has been a proud Purple Star School since the 2021-2022 school year.
“We have several staff members that have a strong connection to the military who make up our Purple Star Committee from those that have served, are married to a service member, or have a family member in the service,” Vice Principal Dr. Deana Porretta said.
CCMS has worked closely with the NAS Fallon Military Liaison for the past several years ensuring that their military-connected students have a smooth transition when starting at CCMS. The goal of the student committee is to further this work and to create a positive, safe, and welcoming environment for military kids who are new to the school. The student committee is made up of students who are affiliated with the military through their immediate family members who are active duty, Reserves, National Guard, veterans or retirees.
The Purple Star Committee had its first meeting with the Purple Star Student Committee during lunchtime last week. Students were able to meet others who have family in the service. They enjoyed pizza and created friendship bracelets. The group also discussed events that they would like to do to celebrate the Military Child.
Veterans Day breakfast, a field day in April, obstacle course events and celebrating where they have lived around the world were some of the events that the students would like to sponsor.
Numa
Students enjoyed a NED assembly last week where they learned the NED mindset mission message of Never Give Up, Encourage Others and Do Your Best.
“The NEDshows contact us frequently to ask about coming to do an assembly. The last time we had them at Numa was in 2013, and the students really enjoyed the presentation, so I asked the staff again this year and we decided to go ahead and bring them back,” school counselor Noreen Swenson said.
The NED message is Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best.
“We promote that message every day at Numa, but sometimes it helps to have it come from another source especially when they bring in yo-yos and give a fun presentation,” Swenson said.
E.C. Best
Students in Monica Mayfield's and Stacy Stults' classes had "Flashlight Friday" where they got to turn the lights out and read using their flashlights. It also happened to be P'jammin for Kids with Cancer Day.
So students who brought in a donation got to wear their pajamas, which only added to the fun of Flashlight Friday.
Lahontan
Lahontan had their first Family Night of the year. Their Camp Read S'more event was a huge success. They had tents set up where families could read books together, there were firepits with s'more fixings and each family received a flashlight to take home.
Northside Early Learning Center
Octavia Merritt and Montana Koplin’s students were P'jammin for Kids with Cancer on Thursday. Students and staff members brought in a donation to wear their pajamas to school. All money raised will benefit local Northern Nevada Children battling Cancer.
CCHS teacher Tiffany Wright organizes P’jammin for Kids with Cancer every year and coordinates with the schools to help get the word out about this worthy cause.
“During my own daughter’s battle with cancer, we found out about the Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation (NNCCF). They help local families with children battling cancer. Their support and guidance was more than we could have ever imagined,” Wright said.
Not only is P'jammin meant to help raise funds for NNCCF, but it is also meant to honor those who are battling, who will battle, or those who have battled this horrific disease.
“No parent ever wants to hear the words ‘your child has cancer’, but if those words are ever spoken, organizations like NNCCF are there to help in any way they can,” Wright said.