Fall 2019

Logo

CARSON CITY

School District 

Community Quarterly Newsletter | CARSON CITY, NEVADA | Fall, 2019

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION HERE

A NOTE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT

Richard Stokes

Welcome back to school! Like you, I am looking forward to the 2019-2020 school year. How wonderful it is each year to have our buildings come alive with students and staff who bring with them the renewed promise of exciting learning opportunities, making new acquaintances and gaining the essential skills needed to enter into the next stage of their educational career. Our public schools are intended to partner with you! As you will see, our quarterly newsletter is designed to keep you informed regarding the great things that are happening here within the district! 

At Carson City School District, we want your child to be successful. We care about each and every student. We focus on the individual needs of every student and seek to provide the resources necessary for success.

Student safety continues to be the highest priority. We want students to feel comfortable at school and know that our sole purpose is to support them as they become productive citizens. The new school year is a great time to discuss safe practices with your student. Whether your child rides a bus or bike to school, safe practices will help to protect our most valuable resources…our children! 

We look forward to working with you this school year, and we thank you for sharing your child with us! As always, if you have questions or wish to discuss your child or the school happenings, please do not hesitate to contact me or one of the staff members with whom your child works.

Sincerely,
Richard Stokes
Superintendent, Carson City School District

BACK-TO-SCHOOL / OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION

Open House InformationBack-to-School is in full effect, and there are many events happening to help ease you and your child back into the swing of the daily routine of school. If your child is heading to a new school where you and your child are less familiar with the classrooms or multi-class schedules, here is a list of all the upcoming “Meet & Greets” and “Open Houses” scheduled now through September. Please note that Dates and Times are subject to change.  




NEW PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS

New AdministratorsWe are pleased to announce the appointment of seven new principals and district administrators for the 2019-2020 school year. Pictured Left to Right:
• Tasha Fuson as associate superintendent for educational services with the Carson City School District
• Gavin Ward as principal for Carson High School
• Marc Rodina as vice principal for Carson High School
• Jon “Shelby” Tuttle as dean of students for Carson High School
• MaryAnne Weaver as dean of students for Carson High School
• Rodney Butler as vice principal for Al Seeliger Elementary School
• Kevin Sady as vice principal for Mark Twain Elementary School

Click here to read about each of these leaders’ background and professional experience. 

ACADEMIC YEAR 2019-2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR

School CalendarHere is a quick reference to the 2019-2020 Academic School Calendar. This document details the start and end times of each school within the district, as well as minimum day dismissal and early release times for each school site. 

Take some time to plug in all those important school dates to your calendar. These include Early Release Days, Minimum Days, and Holidays. Also take time to note Winter and Spring Break dates as well as Parent Conferences and Non-school Days. Graduation and Middle School Promotion dates can all be found here.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR INFINITE CAMPUS MANDATORY!

All parents or guardians must update their student’s information every school year, which includes annual permission and consent forms: 

Online RegistrationSTEP 1: Go to http://www.carsoncityschools.com/

STEP 2: Click on the bright green “Infinite Campus” box located in the center of the page.

STEP 3: In the pull down menu, select “I AM A PARENT/GUARDIAN.”

STEP 4: Select “Campus Parent” and then enter user name and password.

STEP 5: Click “More” on the left side menu.

STEP 6: Click “Online Registration."

STEP 7: Click on “Begin Registration.”

FINAL STEP: Complete the annual online updates and click the red “SUBMIT” button.

If you do not have an Infinite Campus user name and password, please contact your neighborhood school.

For New Students (not a returning student), parents or guardians will need to log onto WWW.CARSONCITYSCHOOLS.COM and click on the enrolling student’s link, select “Enroll New Student” to complete the enrollment process. New student enrollment requirements include 1) copy of the student’s Birth Certificate, 2) Immunization Record and 3) Proof of Residency.

To confirm the zoned school of attendance, select “School Zone Locator.” For additional information, please contact your neighborhood school.

REMAIN APPRISED OF THE LATEST NEWS

News ArchivesLog on to our website, carsoncityschools.com, regularly to remain updated on all the wonderful events and accomplishments occurring across the district as we transition through the fall months together. This tool will inevitably help you stay informed as we continue through another fun and exciting school year.

And if you don’t already, be sure to “LIKE” us on Facebook, and choose to “See First” so you never miss an important news update. Also find us on Twitter and YouTube.

STANDARD STUDENT ATTIRE (SSA)

Standard Student AttireCarson City School District Regulation No. 519.1, Standard Student Attire, indicates that principals may establish a policy that requires students to wear Standard Student Attire (SSA) for the purpose of increasing student achievement, promoting safety, and enhancing a positive school climate.

As provided in this Regulation, school sites may establish a protocol that requires students to wear SSA. It is expected that the decision to implement SSA reflects the desires of the school community. Each school that chooses to participate will separately determine appropriate student attire and programs of financial assistance for families seeking help to provide required clothing articles for their students.

Click here to review all the parent letters for Bordewich Bray Elementary School, Empire Elementary School, Seeliger Elementary School, Carson Middle School, and Eagle Valley Middle School.

NOTABLE FUTURE DATES

  • Aug. 15 (Thursday),Carson Middle School “Back-to-School Sneak Preview,” 7th & 8th Grade, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 15 (Thursday),Eagle Valley Middle School “Back-to-School Boot Camp,” 6th Grade, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 7th and 8th Grade, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 16 (Friday), Seeliger Elementary School Kindergarten “Meet & Greet,” 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 16 (Friday), Empire Elementary School “Meet & Greet,” 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 16 (Friday), Bordewich Bray Elementary School “Meet & Greet,” 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 16 (Friday), Fremont Elementary School “Sneak Peek Back to School Night,” 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 19 (Monday), First Day of School, K-12
  • Aug. 19 (Monday), Mark Twain Elementary School “Meet & Greet,” 7:30 a.m.
  • Aug. 22 (Thursday), Fritsch Elementary School “Open House,” 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 22 (Thursday), Seeliger Elementary School Kindergarten “Open House,” 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 26 (Monday), First Day of School, Pre-K
  • Aug. 28 (Wednesday), Mark Twain Elementary School “Back to School Night,” 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 27 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Aug. 29 (Thursday), Bordewich Bray Elementary School “Back-to-School,” 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 2 (Monday), Labor Day (School Holiday)
  • Sept. 4 (Wednesday), Early Childhood “Open House,” 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 6 (Friday), Mark Twain Annual Fall Carnival, 5:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 9 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Sept. 9 (Monday), Carson High School “Open House,” 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  • Sept. 10 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Sept. 10 (Tuesday), Empire Elementary School “Open House,” 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Sept. 13 (Friday), Fremont Elementary School “Fall Carnival/Grand Opening,” 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 16 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Sept. 17 (Tuesday), Pioneer High School and Carson Online “Open House,” 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Sept. 19 (Thursday), Carson Middle School “Open House,” 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  • Sept. 23 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Sept. 24 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Sept. 25 (Wednesday), Community PLC Meeting, 6 p.m., Carson High School Library
  • Sept. 30 (Monday), Professional Development (No School for students)
  • Oct. 7 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Oct. 8 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Oct. 11 (Friday), Vaccination Clinic at Seeliger Elementary School
  • Oct. 14 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Oct. 17 (Wednesday), Vaccination Clinics at Carson High School
  • Oct. 18 (Thursday), Vaccination Clinics at Carson High School
  • Oct. 18 (Thursday), Vaccination Clinic at Early Childhood
  • Oct. 21 (Monday), Vaccination Clinic at Empire Elementary School
  • Oct. 21 (Monday), Vaccination Clinic at Fritsch Elementary School
  • Oct. 22 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Oct. 22 (Tuesday), Vaccination Clinic at Mark Twain Elementary School
  • Oct. 23 (Wednesday), Vaccination Clinic at Bordewich Bray Elementary School
  • Oct. 24 (Thursday), Vaccination Clinic at Fremont Elementary School
  • Oct. 24 (Thursday), Vaccination Clinic at Pioneer High School
  • Oct. 25 (Friday), Nevada Day (School Holiday)
  • Oct. 28 (Monday),  Vaccination Clinic at Eagle Valley Middle School
  • Oct. 29 (Tuesday), Vaccination Clinic at Carson Middle School
  • Oct. 30 (Wednesday), Minimum Day Elementary Schools Only – Dismissal at 12:40 p.m.
  • Oct. 31 (Thursday), Minimum Day Elementary Schools Only – Dismissal at 12:40 p.m.
  • Nov. 1 (Friday), Minimum Day Elementary Schools Only – Dismissal at 12:40 p.m.
  • Nov. 4 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Nov. 11 (Monday), Veteran’s Day (School Holiday)
  • Nov. 12 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Nov. 26 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Nov. 27-29 (Wed.-Fri.), Thanksgiving Break (School Holiday)
  • Dec. 2 (Monday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Dec. 10 (Tuesday), School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Community Center, Sierra Room
  • Dec. 19 (Thursday), Early Release Day High Schools Only – Dismissal: CHS 1:00 p.m., PHS 12:50 p.m.
  • Dec. 20 (Friday), Early Release Day (District-wide)
  • Dec. 23-Jan. 3, Christmas Break (School Holiday)

CONSTRUCTION AND CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

PHS Panther HallJust in time for the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the Carson City School District is pleased to announce the completion of construction and campus improvements at three schools including Pioneer High, Fremont and Mark Twain Elementary schools. The new construction added 10,700-square-feet at Pioneer, 12,288-square-feet at Fremont and 13,358-square-feet at Mark Twain respectively. 

In total, 26 portable classrooms were eliminated from the district with only four remaining. Of the four remaining portables, one serves as space for the School Based Health Center and McKinney-Vento – Students in Transition at the Gleason / Professional Development Center, another serves as storage at Seeliger Elementary, one as a drivers’ lounge in Transportation Services and the final portable classroom resides at Bordewich Bray Elementary. Click here to read more.

 

TRANSPORTATION AND BUS ROUTES

School BusThe Carson City School District Transportation Department supports a vital part of every student's education by providing a safe and nurturing transportation experience, utilizing a well maintained and safety-inspected fleet of school buses, continually striving toward the utilization of the most innovative technology available and the fostering of best practices.

The Transportation Department accomplishes this through the collaborative involvement and efforts of School District personnel, local leaders and businesses, other school districts and local, state and national government to ensure the educational success of Nevada's future. For a listing of the current Bus Schedules, please click here.

COMMUNITY PLC MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25

Community PLC MeetingThe Carson City School District is needing local community members to attend the quarterly Community Professional Learning Community, PLC, meeting Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., inside the Carson High School Library.

The purpose of the meeting is to accumulate feedback from community members on how the district’s strategic plan is performing and suggest ideas and systems to meet the goals and objectives of the plan.

“This is really an opportunity to engage with business members, community leaders and parents in helping to improve our schools,” said Mr. Richard Stokes, superintendent. “Our schools are extensions of our community, so participation from the public is vital.”

DOES YOUR FAMILY QUALIFY FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN?

Pre-KPre-K registration is underway for children who will be 4-years-old by September 30, 2019. Families who qualify under the federal household poverty guidelines, may apply for the district's Pre-K program for the 2019-2020 school year. Enrollment is contingent on income verification, school zone and the date the application is submitted. Parents will need to provide proof of qualification by supplying the following documents to Alicia Smith, 775-283-1521, 604 West Musser Street, Carson City, Nevada 89702. Poverty Guidelines

  1. Proof of meeting poverty guidelines by completing and submitting the Income Verification Application (English) or Income Verification Application (Spanish).
  2. New Student Enrollment Form.
  3. Birth certificate.
  4. Immunization records (including Hepatitis A & B, DTAP, MMR, IPV & Varicella). Please contact your physician’s office to ensure compliancy for school.

Proof of residency in Carson City (Utility bill, Mortgage or Rental papers, Voter Registration, etc.).




HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE & REDUCED LUNCH

ApplesHelping your child eat right may be easier than you think. Free and reduced-price school meals like breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided to students whose families meet certain income requirements. Apply today to ensure that your child has a healthy meal at school every day. It helps them perform better and saves you money. How to apply? It’s easy!

  1. Visit www.carsoncityschool.com
  2. Click on Nutrition Services
  3. Click on Online Meal Application
  4. Or pick up an application at your school’s office and return it to the office or cafeteria manager.

The application is risk free. Information collected in the application is confidential and will be used only for evaluating the eligibility of students for free or reduced-priced school breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Not sure of your child’s eligibility? Income eligibility guidelines are available online for each school year to help you determine eligibility based on your household size and income level. There are no restrictions based on immigration status. Visit www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines for details.

Need WIFI or internet access? Families who qualify for free and reduced meals may also qualify for discounts on high-speed internet through AT&T and Charter. Contact your local internet provider for details.

NUTRITION PROGRAM UPDATES SET FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR

NutritionThe Carson City School District’s Nutrition Department worked over the summer to implement a new point-of-service system and online nutrition program portal. Starting this fall, all food related payments will be made through the Titan Family Portal at titank12.com

BananasAll existing balances should have automatically rolled over into Titan beginning July 9, 2019. Applications for free and reduced meal status may also be completed through the Titan Family Portal. Unlike the district’s current system, parents and families will be able to apply online as many times as they need to throughout the year. The Titan Family Portal ensures user-friendliness. Through the new portal, parents and families will be able to set up an account to manage their child’s nutrition account, get low balance notifications and much more.

Did you know most of what students eat when they order hot lunch is cooked from scratch? The school district has partnered with Aramark for many years now. Aramark crafts nutritious menus with many cooked-from-scratch options. For more information regarding the new portal, please contact Elizabeth Snyder, director of Nutrition, 775-283-2150.

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER PROVIDES HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS!

In partnership with Nevada Health Centers, the Carson City School District offers a School-Based Health Center open to Carson City families of school-aged children. The health center located at 618 W. Musser Street (behind the Professional Development Center at 604 W. Musser) in Carson City provides the following services: 

  • School-based Health CenterPreventive health and wellness
  • Well child checks
  • Sick visits
  • Sports physicals
  • Immunizations
  • Health Management

The health center also accepts the following payment sources:

  • Private Insurance
  • Medicaid and Medicare
  • Nevada Check Up
  • Women’s Health Connection
  • Sliding fee for low income uninsured patients

Appointments Call: 800-787-2568. Open: Tuesday & Thursday, 7 am – 5:30 pm (closed for lunch 12-1 pm).

VACCINATION CLINICS

Vaccination Clinics

Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is working with our schools to offer students annual

seasonal flu vaccinations. There will be a team of CCHHS licensed nurses at each school to administer the flu vaccine. The vaccination is safe and a health action that benefits all age groups to protect against influenza illness.Vaccination Clinics

The vaccine will only be available as injectable (commonly known as “a shot”) for all age groups in 2019-2020. Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the nasal mist vaccine will not be available. The shot will protect against four (4) flu viruses. In order for students to receive a flu vaccine, please:

  • COMPLETE and SIGN the yellow consent form that is available on the district’s website here.

  • SEND the completed yellow consent form back to the child’s school/teacher at least ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR SCHOOL’S SCHEDULED CLINIC DATE.

  • READ the Influenza Vaccine Information Statement. It will be given to your child on the day of vaccination or can be obtained from the CCHHS website, where you can also access more information: GetHealthyCarsonCity.org/immunizations.

 

BULLYING AND SAFETY TIP SYSTEM: SAFEVOICE

Safevoice

Carson City School District provides a 24/7/365 (24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-per-year) safety tool. SafeVoice is a live tip reporting system for school safety and student well-being offered in partnership by the Nevada Departments of Education, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and, more locally, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office to all K-12 schools, students, parents and community members in Nevada.

Safevoice

Students, parents and community members can report concerns about their friends or themselves by using the free SafeVoice app, calling 1-833-216-7233 (SAFE) or visiting safevoicenv.org. The reporting tool is easy to use, and when the person who reports an incident logs back in, he or she is able to dialogue with SafeVoice Communications Specialists who will determine if law enforcement is needed immediately to protect life safety. Reports are sent to the schools where administrators and counselors will respond with support, intervention and a safety plan for the child of concern. Similarly, any reports where law enforcement are needed, will be sent directly to dispatchers in Carson City. Reporters may remain anonymous, and by law, all reports are confidential – they are never shared outside of the SafeVoice response system.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS CELEBRATE QRIS RESULTS

QRIS ResultsPre-Kindergarten programs in the Carson City School District celebrated rewarding results from the latest Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) scores. Fremont Elementary earned a 3-star rating; Mark Twain Elementary, Bordewich Bray Elementary and Student Support Services all earned a 4-star rating, and Empire Elementary earned a 5-star rating.

QRIS is a rating and assessment system designed to assess early childhood programs, provide incentives to improve them, and communicate their level of quality. The five components of QRIS are: (1) standards, (2) accountability measures, (3) program and practitioner outreach and support, (4) financing incentives, and (5) parent and consumer education efforts. Read more here.

 

NJROTC RANKS IN TOP 11 IN THE NATION

NJROTC AwardAt the close of the school year, the Carson High School NJROTC program was pleased to announce they earned a Distinguished Unit award with Academic Honors. This was the second year in a row the unit has received the recognition.

The program was also recognized as the No. 1 unit out of 47 units within the region, a first in the program’s history. The region, Area 13, covers the northwestern portion of the United States from Colorado all the way to Hawaii, Guam and Japan. There are a total of eleven areas or regions nationwide. Click here to read the full story in the Nevada Appeal. 

 

DISTRICT RECOGNIZED FOR SAFETY EFFORTS

Safety AwardCarson City School District’s Risk Manager Ann Cyr was recognized during a recent school board meeting for her safety efforts throughout the district. Alan Kalt, chief financial officer from Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool and Public Agency Compensation Trust (POOL/PACT), presented the district a Loss Control Excellence Award with a plaque and a check in the amount of $3,500 for the continued safety effort. See story on News 4 here.


FEULING EARNS CERTIFICATION FOR FISCAL CREDIBILITY

Andrew FeulingEarlier this year, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) announced Andrew Feuling,  director of fiscal services for the Carson City School District, earned the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO). School business professionals who earn the SFO certification have proven that they have the required knowledge, expertise and fiscal credibility to lead their school district and effectively manage the district’s finances. Feuling is the only SFO in the state of Nevada. Read more of the story here

SUBSCRIBE OR REFER A FRIEND TO OUR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

NewsletterThis quarterly newsletter serves as an information tool to communicate Carson City School District news and events to the community.

You can read the latest newsletter or past issues by selecting issues from the left drop-down menu on our website here.

If you do not already receive email notifications for this publication, please subscribe by completing the form at the bottom of the page. If you know someone who would benefit from this news, please share the link so they can sign up.

CONNECT WITH US!

Facebook

 

Be sure to FOLLOW and LIKE CCSD’s Facebook: (facebook.com/carsoncityschooldistirct) and Twitter (twitter.com/carsonschools) pages. Each provide real-time district and school news to the community. The pages are used as a tool to relay information of school closures, emergencies, good news, events, etc. 

The pages aim to engage the community about local, state and national education news/topics, report from live board of education meetings and other district meetings and events and post student and staff pictures and achievements

YouTubeTwitterFacebook

 

SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US!

StoolHave you captured some amazing photos at some of our school sites? Please share your photos with us. Feel free to email our Public Information Officer Dan Davis,[email protected], with any shots you’d like to share publicly through our social media. Or tag us @carsoncityschooldistrict on Facebook or @carsonschools on Twitter.