Carson High welcomes students for new year

Carson High School student leadership teams and administrators welcomed Senators for the 2024-25 school year Tuesday in an orientation with kickoff activities.

Student body vice president for 2024-25 Leah Vazquez on Tuesday enjoyed the opportunity to keep the movement going from the school’s lobby through the library and maintain the positive energy for the new year.

“I feel like (the new students) are really excited to move schools,” she said. “New things are always a good thing. They’re a little nervous.”

With librarian Ananda Campbell’s help, the lines were well organized and kept a steady flow on Monday for upperclassmen and Tuesday for freshmen. The school welcomed more than 565 incoming freshmen for the class of 2028 along with 585 sophomores, 570 juniors and 536 juniors.

Students came to pick up class schedules, parking permits and physical education clothing and to purchase lockers and receive their Yondr cell phone pouches.

Principal Dan Carstens, who begins his second year, said he is eager to have students back in the building.

“That’s what we’re all about,” he said.

The cell phone pouches, among the biggest changes for students and families, have received mixed reaction, but student leaders are helping to ease with the transition, he said.

“That’s why they’re leaders,” he said. “They adapt and they’re able to roll with the changes. It’s a very positive discourse that we can engage in to explain their point of view and they can explain their points of view. It’s a great discussion.”

Official enrollment numbers won’t be released until the fall, but Carstens said he expects numbers to hold the school at about 2,250 with some movement as the year begins. Also, Pioneer Academy’s high school campus has transitioned under Carson as an alternative site this year in a restructuring, and officials are well prepared, he said.

“We’re learning about them and they’re learning about us, but we’re committed to working together when changes occur and we’re trying to figure out how to move through them with voices from both campuses,” he said.

Julie Sistek, mother of incoming freshman Connor McGee, called the orientation easy to navigate and looked forward to him taking welding, Spanish and art.

“(I look forward to him) adjusting to high school and having good grades, which he already has, but continuing to get good grades and enjoying school,” she said. “He’s a very good kid.”