Cool School News

CCHS 
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the CCSD food service program, Chartwells, brought in Celebrity Chef Jonathan Zaragoza. The chef began his visit with culinary art students at CCHS, sharing insights from his culinary journey. Students eagerly asked questions about his cooking, culture, and career experiences. A clear highlight for the students was Zaragoza’s demonstration of how to make his Pico de Gallo recipe, guiding students in preparing it from start to finish. During lunch, Zaragoza and Chartwells Director of Dining Services, Amber Scholl, prepared and plated dishes for all CCHS students and staff to sample. The tasting menu featured Torta de Jamon, a horchata parfait, and Zaragoza's signature corn and pineapple salsa. After lunch, he visited Lance and Laurianne Lattin’s Spanish classes, discussing how his heritage influenced his culinary creations. This enriching experience celebrated Hispanic culture and fostered a deeper appreciation for global cuisine among students, inspiring them to explore new flavors. 

CCMS
Last week, CCMS hosted grade-level assemblies to highlight the importance of student attendance. As of October 9, 151 students have perfect attendance. All 151 students were recognized, and one lucky student from each grade level was awarded a $25 Amazon gift card. On Friday, October 18, all students who have perfect attendance through October 17 will be invited to a reward time during the last block of the day. They will receive a certificate, a treat, and social time. Schoenfeldt emphasized the importance of positive reinforcement, “Since I started, I constantly hear feedback from students, families, and staff about the need for more positive recognition at the middle school. There seems to be a common consensus that, in the past, difficult students received more attention than those who excelled. Recognizing attendance is just one of the many ways I plan on changing this.”

Numa 
Students in Colleen Tutty’s class had a unique, hands-on learning experience as they stepped into the roles of jurors in a trial of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Attorneys Chelsea Sanford and Lane Mills from the DA’s Office visited the class, where the young jurors were sworn in to hear the case. After listening to evidence presented by both the prosecutor and defense, students collaborated in groups to deliberate Goldilocks’ guilt or innocence. The attorneys guided each group, helping them understand legal terminology and develop their inferencing skills as they discussed the evidence and shared differing viewpoints. This hands-on approach engaged the students in critical thinking and fostered an appreciation for the legal system, making for an unforgettable classroom experience.

E C Best  
Third-grade students in Laura Malkovich’s class had fun exploring multiplication in creative ways. They rolled dice to make multiplication sentences and then built arrays with the numbers. For example, when they rolled a three and a four, they created three rows of four dots to show that 3 x 4 equals 12. This helped them see how multiplication is really just repeated addition. They also practiced skip counting and learned about area. 

Lahontan 
Students in Melissa Davis’ first-grade class dive into a different theme each week of October. Last week, the theme was spiders. They learned facts about these eight-legged creatures, read exciting spider stories, and explored the spider life cycle. To wrap up their week of spider-themed activities, the students enjoyed a creative craft where they made their very own spiders. “Choosing a theme makes lessons more engaging and enjoyable for students, helping them not only learn but also retain the information being taught,” Davis said.

N E L C
Octavia Merritt and Montana Koplin’s students focused on developing their fine motor skills through fun and creative activities. Students decorated bookmarks for October using glitter crayons, markers, and glue while enhancing their hand coordination and muscle strength. They also played with Play-Doh to further strengthen their hand muscles, worked in the kitchen pretending to make meals, and used blocks to build. These activities help develop essential fine motor skills and prepare these young students for the transition to kindergarten by incorporating learning through play, color matching, and shape recognition.