Veritas Preparatory School

In a spirited celebration of Nevada Day, third through sixth-grade students embarked on a multi-week exploration of their state’s history and culture, diving into Nevada’s unique features.

A special highlight of the celebration was “Author’s Corner,” where students met two local authors who presented their books to the classes. The event provided an exciting connection to Nevada’s literary and artistic scene. 

Students also enjoyed a hands-on presentation on the importance of modern-day mining to Nevada’s economy and daily life. The “Eureka!” demonstration gave students an up-close look at the mining process, showing just how “miners get it done” today.

“One of our guest speakers was Mrs. Ileigh Simons…an English teacher at Fernley High School. She’s also a local author of the book ‘101 Facts about Nevada.’ What I found amazing is that Mrs. Simons told us that she wrote, edited, and made the cover of the book all in one week to challenge herself to see if she could finish it. I thought it was a magnificent book and was fun to read, especially reading the facts she put in her book, like about the seven-thousand-year-old Bristlecone Pine tree in Nevada.”  - Madison Evans (Fifth Grade) 

“Mrs. Rasmussen’s book, “The State That Made Our Nation Great,” was really interesting. I appreciated Mrs. Rasmussen coming in and reading it to us. I liked learning about Snowshoe Thompson. I also learned about how they discovered silver in Virginia City. I really enjoyed learning about Nevada, and I am proud to be a Nevadan.”  - Maverik Martinez (Fifth Grade)

“Our first speaker was Mr. Joel Dunkin, a miner at Cor Rochester, [he] taught us about mines and what dangerous things there are in abandoned mines, such as four-hundred-foot drops, the roof collapsing, and old bombs that might go off. He helped us to understand with candy the process of mining.”  - Sophie Mikulak (Fifth Grade)

With Nevada Day activities both educational and engaging, students left with a deeper appreciation for their home state’s vibrant history and significant industries.