Senator Square: Homecoming week at Carson High School

The leaves are starting to turn colors, there is dew on my car in the morning, and I am forced to put on a little sweater upon leaving my house for the day. These signs of fall can only mean one thing — HOMECOMING is here!The fall tradition of Homecoming is again upon us. While the week is capped off with Friday night football, the week ahead plans to be a spirited one.The theme for the week is “Superheroes.” Each day is a different “dress up” day for the students and staff. Here is the list of exciting activities taking place, starting Monday.Monday: Extreme Blue and White day and Lip Sync, 6 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center.Tuesday: Class Colors Day (’13-Blue, ’14-Red, ’15-Green, ’16-Yellow), Superhero Smashup, 6 p.m. in Senator Square.Wednesday: Everyday Heroes (firemen, teachers, police officers, etc.), Wednesday Night Live, 7 p.m. at the Community Center.Thursday: Invent your own superhero, Homecoming Parade, 6 p.m. in front of the high school, bonfire immediately following.Friday: Classic superheroes “Senatorized,” football against Reed at 7 p.m., half-time crowning of King and Queen.Saturday: Homecoming Dance, 7-10 p.m. in Senator SquareWe invite the community to come out and join us this week as we celebrate our high school!ATM CONTESTGreater Nevada Credit Union is hosting a Design Your Own Debit Card contest, asking students to submit ideas for a new Senator-only debit card.Entry forms are at the GNCU branch inside Carson High School, at the south end of the school (around the corner from the attendance office). Entries are due by Sept. 21. Winners will receive gift cards totaling $150.FOOTBALL GAME ENTRANCESThe south end entrance to football games has been closed for security reasons. Please use the north entrance pay gates.NEW CLASS OFFERINGSOur new schedule at CHS added an extra class period to our daily schedule. Some of the classes created are for remediation, but others are enrichment and new elective classes. Each week, Senator Square will highlight one of these classes.College prep math is a new class offered at CHS that merges the activities students should do to become prepared for college and college math. The math prepares students for entering the university system at the college algebra level. The activities are designed around what students need regarding applying to schools, financial aid, resumes, letters of recommendation, etc. We are very excited to offer this opportunity to our students this year.SENIOR SPOTLIGHTThis week’s Senior Spotlight is on Makayla Ragnone. Makayla has a weighted grade-point average of 4.52. She has been involved with the Carson High School Naval Junior ROTC program for the last three years.She has also been a member of our track and field and tennis teams. Makayla is the captain of the JNROTC Rifle Team. She has been ranked nationally, third in 2011 and 10th in 2012.As a member of the track and field team, Makayla has lettered and participated in regionals the last three years. Her plans are to attend college. Her choices are West Virginia, Military Academy, UNR, and she is also interested in Ivy League colleges.Makayla plans to study biology and chemistry with a minor in political science. Her career goal is to become an anesthesiologist. CHS is proud of the contributions Makayla has made to Carson High School.MEET CHS STAFFMeet Joe Thornburg. Mr. Thornburg has been an English teacher at Carson High School for 15 years. He went to Montana State where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and has a Master’s in education and school administration, both from Grand Canyon University.He received the President's Medal from former UNR president Milton Glick. The award is given to an outstanding teacher from each of the 13 school districts in Nevada.Besides being an amazing teacher, Joe is an athletic machine. He recently competed in the Canadian Iron Man and finished 87th out of 2,576 competitors.We are proud of Joe’s accomplishments in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have such a role model for our students and staff alike.TOILET BOWLFUNDRAISERThe Carson High School Class of 2015 has kicked off their back-to-school fundraiser. The Big Blue Flush is a decorative toilet that could land in your front yard.For a minimum donation of $10, the Big Blue Flush crew will remove the yard art and for an extra $5 donation you can choose who the next Big Blue Flush victim will be. All donations will benefit student activities involving the Class of 2015.Call the Big Blue Flush hotline at 775-434-8167 to flush a friend.• Angila Golik is a government and sociology teacher at CHS and a member of Senator Pride.