Are you fine with your fines?

The end of the year is coming.. and you know what that means? Fines are due. The last day to pay for your fines as a senior is May 23rd and if you are not a senior it is May 29th.
Last week notices were sent out to every student who had a fine that was due to their A1 teacher. If students did not receive a notice and are worried whether or not they have a fine they need to go to the library and ask.
Seniors, if you do not pay your fines you will not receive your cap and gowns and you will not walk with your class. Cap and gowns arrive June 3rd and if all of your fines are not paid you will not be called down to get them.
Students, this applies with every book. Not just library books but also text books with your teachers. You need to check and make sure that your teachers have checked in your text book if you have already turned it in.
The end of the year is coming.. make sure you pay your fines!

\Kellcy Bell

Remember When…

Yearbook distribution is the most important day of the year for the yearbook staff. We start working of the book in July at a two day yearbook camp where we create the cover and the layout. The staff spends the rest of the year making sure we create a book that will please everyone…its not the easiest thing to do. We are human; we make mistakes, however, we try to fix them so the book is the best it can be. Distribution day is when we, the staff, show our peers our hard work.
“It’s going to be crazy!” Sophie Wiliams says. Get your minds ready senators for a flashback attack on Thursday, May 30.

\Alyssa Sanborn

The Grand Finale

Get ready to hit the books, Senators! The great and fearsome wave of Finals is almost upon us! Yes, the frantic, stressed out, long nights of studying are here again. Don’t let these Finals catch you by surprise, know the dates and be prepared!

May 20- May 24: CTE/Fine Arts/Performing Arts/ROTC Application Finals

May 28- May 31: Science Application Finals

May 28- June 7: PE Application Finals

June 3-4: Math application Finals

June 5: A1 Final
A3 Final
AB45 Final

June 6: B2 Final
B4 Final

June 7: A5 Final
B6 Final

\Sophie Williams

Wild Geese!

If we all have as much sense as geese we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as in strong!

Hopeful for the Future of the Ecosystem

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The sun was hot, the water was cool, and the students were learning. On Monday, 4th graders of Empire Elementary went down to the Carson River for “Conserve the Carson River Work Days.” The students rotated through six stations, learning about the water cycle, water quality, beavers, tree wrapping, weed control, watershed, and animals. When the students were learning about the water cycle, they rolled a dice at each point in the water cycle to tell them where they would go next. “We were making a bracelet by rolling a dice in the station to show water. I was stuck in clouds. We are learning about it to know how water moves in the water cycle,” said Tabitha Harshbarger, age 9. Next the students rotated to water quality. At this station, the students tested different aspects of the water including temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrates, and flow rates to determine the health of the water environment. Next, the students learned all the parts (adaptations) of a beaver; some students even dressed up to learn the different functions, and then they wrapped trees. “We are wrapping the trees with chicken wire so the beavers don’t cut the trees down. They did this so animals could live in the trees,” said Koen Seicery, age 10. Next, the students learned about the animals in the watershed. They felt the pelts of many animals including cougar, fox, beaver, and badgers. Edwin Vasquez, age 9, said “I covered a tree … we have to save the trees. We pet cougars, skunks, foxes, beavers, and badgers [pelts].” After learning about the animals in the watershed, the 4th graders learned more about plants, more specifically, the weed Hoary Cress. “We are planting grass and flowers to help around. We try to prevent the weeds; they are bad,” said Claudia Avila, age 9. Margie Evans from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extensive, who sports a hat of invasive plant species, helped the students learn about the invasive plant species, said “I am a biologist … the plants in this area are being taken over by non-native species. The kids are planting native plants to hopefully outcompete the Hoary Cress.” The students used journals to meet science standards set by the state.

Biology students from Carson High School mentored the 4th graders and were their teachers for the day. The high school students really helped the young children grasp the concepts that they were meant to be taught at the river. Each group of teens was given a group of elementary students to mentor. Tristan Martel, 14, said “I am mentoring 4th graders to help them learn about wildlife. I am in biology at the high school; I love to work with the devoted individuals willing to learn.” The journals that the Empire students used were created by Carson High School honors biology students, which reaffirmed their learning of the concept. At the river, the high school students taught the 4th graders about the Carson River and the stations in the surrounding area. The program, called “Carson River Workdays” is run by Linda Conlin of the River Wranglers. “I love working with kids of all ages and their energy. I feel water is our most important resource and we have to use it wisely.” Conlin has been involved in this program since 1994 and works the whole Carson Watershed. Helping Conlin in the program were many volunteers including fourth grade teachers Nielsen, Tucker, Meisler, and Csiga and Koop and Hagar from CHS. Spencer Rubin, who works with AmeriCorps, was also present helping the students with tree wrapping. “It feels amazing and rewarding to give back to a younger generation.” Toby Welborn, who also helped in wrapping trees, said “I like to see how our work is passed down in the circle of generations.” ‘Conserve the Carson River Workdays’ is a program that is hoped to continue for many more years. Conlin concluded “People are losing their connection with nature, so to understand to love nature, people have to experience it.”

/Jenna Wong-Fortunato, Ethan Lopes, Andrew Updegrove (freshman Honors Biology Students)

Swim Your Heart Out

The school’s swim team won against Spanish Springs in a competition April 19.
Every Friday after school and Saturday morning the swimming team meets for their practices.
In the swimming team there are four groups, boys in two group and girls the others.
“The swimmers seem to love the sport and the challenge that it gives them.” said head coach Monica Weaver. While none of the team plans on going pro, they all seem to really enjoy it. According to Weaver, “Everyone on the team is making major improvements.”
“Javiera Aguila has made the most improvement this season. She started off being uncomfortable with her face in the water and through her hard work she is now diving into the pool” said Weaver. The team’s goal for this season is to improve their record from last year.
Junior Aquila said, “When you feel stressed, you feel relaxed after you go in the water.” For an hour after school Mondays through Fridays. Aquila, an exchange student from Ancud, Chile, practices, she said.
Another swimmer in the girls’ swimming team, freshman Ashley Meyer, said that she likes swimming because “you don’t feel you sweat.”
Freshman Jonathan Ventura said, “Swimming is fun and good for you at the same time because you get lots of exercise for your body.”

/ Maritza Andrade, Bridgette McKnight Alyssa Sanborn