Senator Square: Carson High gears up for final exams before break

The end of the semester is nearing, and students and teachers are getting ready for finals. Where did the semester go? How is it already the end of 2011?

The first half of the school year has flown by with wonderful school events and projects. Before it does end, there are still many activities to take part.

PACHECO VIDEO TOP 10 NATIONALLY

Congratulations! Austin Pacheco's 64-yard field goal video has been selected as a top-10 finalist in the State Farm Friday Night Feats online video contest!

Our school now has the chance to win the first place prize of $15,000! There is also a second place prize of $10,000 and a third place prize of $5,000. Fans will have the final word on choosing the first, second and third place prize winners by voting for their favorite through Dec. 16.

Please keep in mind that votes are set back to zero, so be sure to get out there and encourage your students, faculty and community members to visit FridayNightFeats.com and vote for our school's video. The three winning schools will be announced Dec. 19.

LINK CREW CRAM SESSIONS

Cookies and Cram event is Dec. 12-15. It is open for all freshmen to study for their finals and they are given cookies and milk during the event. It is from 2-3:30 p.m. in the library from Monday through Friday.

Each day is a different subject and link crew leaders will be tutoring the freshman students. If you would like more information about this event, please contact Rachel Robison at rrobison@carson.k12.nv.us.

MILITARY OPTIONS DAY

Carson High School will have recruiters from most branches of the military here 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Senator Square.

Students will be able to ask questions regarding the endless opportunities the military can offer. Contact the guidance office at CHS at 283-1915 for more information regarding this event.

GREENHOUSE OPENING

The greenhouse is set to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for 2:20 p.m. Friday at the greenhouse behind CHS.

The public is invited to attend this celebration. For more information, contact Michelle Lewis at mlewis@carson.k12.nv.us.

HISTORY STUDENTS FUNDRAISING

Nineteen history students have signed up to attend the 57th Inauguration of the President in January 2013. To help defray the costs of this trip, students will be holding various fundraisers in the next few months.

Between now and Jan. 27, students will be selling $1 raffle tickets for prize baskets filled with goodies, some homemade, other store-made.

Other items being raffled are restaurant gift cards, tire discounts, carpet cleaning services, clothing, etc.

To purchase a ticket, please contact Angila Golik at agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.

FIFTH ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME

Calling all CHS Alumni. Mark your calendars now for the fifth annual Alumni Game where we will honor all past CHS graduates in attendance at the boys and girls basketball games versus Douglas High.

It's sure to be a fun night with alumni raffles, special seating for alumni, and recognition of alumni. Please plan to attend the rivalry game on Jan. 27 and wear your blue and white to show your continued support and loyalty to CHS against the Douglas Tigers.

Game times are 6 p.m. for girls and 7:30 p.m. for boys.

REQUEST FOR OLD CALENDARS

Instead of throwing away your old calendars this January, please consider donating them to the art department at CHS.

The calendars will be used to create an image library for students to pull from.

Any classroom-appropriate calendar photos will be helpful including: landscapes, animals, architecture, etc.

Calendar pictures will be laminated and then added to an image library. Contact Terry Breeden at tbreeden@carson.k12.nv.us or drop off your calendars at the main office of the high school.

CULINARY ART NEWS

CHS has culinary education classes that are second to none in Nevada. The Culinary Arts Program is taught and run by Penny Reynolds.

Culinary started this school year with Edible Pedal, which was the Reno Tahoe Edible Magazine Bike Run. Culinary students created three-inch biker bar nutritional bars and served them to the 500 riders at the first and last stops of the bike run.

Kudos to the 31 CHS students that are now nationally board certified, passing the Serve Safe National Certification two weeks ago! This is part of the National Restaurant Association Certification.

The culinary classes stay busy doing many catering jobs throughout the school year. Catering jobs are one of the many fundraisers they partake to sustain the program. All of the proceeds stay in the program to provide materials necessary for the students to learn.

This year, CHS culinary classes have catered for the following events: Green House Garden Center Christmas Open House, Ormsby County Education Association Executive Board meetings, Johnson and Wales University Parent Information Night, Carson City Garden Club Luncheon, Soroptimist International Luncheon, CCSD Solar Panel Ribbon Cutting, CCHS Veterans Day Salute, Western Regional Leadership Conference and the CHS Craft Fair.

Students in the Culinary II classes conduct "Restaurant Days." Students each develop a menu and do all the planning and running of the restaurant. There are 54 restaurant days this year and they are open to the public. The restaurant is located upstairs in the high school and is open from 11:15 a.m. to noon on selected days. The days and menus are posted on the CHS website under the Culinary Arts link in Activities. Reservations are needed one week prior to the day. The cost for the three-course meal is $6 per person.

Culinary III students provide a Soup and Salad Bar buffet every Friday to the staff at CHS, although the public is also welcome to attend. The cost is $6 per person and the doors open at 11:15 a.m. and close at noon. Reservations are not needed. Also, Culinary III students are required to complete a paid internship program, whereby they work in the Carson City area at various restaurants.

Finally, CHS is in its 10th year of membership with the National Restaurant Association Pro Start Program. Students that complete the program qualify for a $2,500 scholarship to help them continue their education. As of the end of last school year 267 CHS students have completed the program!

To schedule a catering job or attend a restaurant day, please contact Penny Reynolds at preynolds@carson.k12.nv.us.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

CHS is proud to spotlight senior Brienna Colston.

Brienna plans on going to college. Among her top choices are Stanford, St. Mary's College and UC Davis. She plans on getting her MBA. Within the Carson High community she is the vice president of National Honor Society, the chairperson of the Judicial Board, and she is a member of Link Crew.

Outside of school she enjoys playing fetch with her dog Saphira, sewing, and playing her drums. Thank you, Brienna, for your contributions to Carson High School.

STAFF FACT

Answer to last week's fact is Jennifer Gray-Minifie. Minifie graduated from CHS in 1990 and went on to play basketball at the University of Kentucky.

New Fact: This staff member has successfully completed 10 marathons, including the Boston Marathon and California International Marathon.

• Angila Golik is a government and sociology teacher at CHS and is a member of Senator Pride.