Bighorn Bulletin

As she prepares to cross the graduation stage this spring, Oasis Academy senior Allura Knight-Zumwalt reflects fondly on her time at Oasis Academy—a place she now considers home. 

“I started at Oasis as a freshman in high school,” she shared. “It was a very different environment, but everyone quickly welcomed me and made me feel at home. Now as a senior I feel like Oasis is my home and my peers are my family.”

Graduating with both her high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree from Western Nevada College, she is already looking ahead to the next chapter. 

“My plans after graduation consist of attending the University of Nevada, Reno to complete my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education,” she said. “I hope to possibly travel abroad for a semester to experience the world as I work towards my degree.”

Throughout her years at Oasis, she built memories that will stay with her long after graduation. One of her favorites was a school event that highlighted her fun and creative side. 

“One of my favorite memories from my time at Oasis has to be when my friends and I dressed up as detectives for murder mystery night. It’s one of my favorites because we were the only ones who dressed up and everyone enjoyed it,” she said.

Knight-Zumwalt’s time in the classroom also brought joy and inspiration, particularly in her dual-enrollment courses. 

“My favorite class was my WNC chemistry class,” she said. “I enjoyed this class a lot as the teachers made it interesting to learn and I was surrounded by other peers with a passion for science.”

Beyond academics, her dedication to service and leadership has been a defining part of her high school experience. She has been a champion for volunteering and serving the community. She is currently president of the Oasis Chapter of National Honor Society.

“Even though I didn’t play any sports in high school, I did student council for a year then decided to dedicate my time to giving back to the community,” she explained. “I joined the National Honor Society and have given a large portion of my time to many projects around our community. Including and excluding National Honor Society, I have completed over 300 hours of community service.” 

She also explored her creative side through writing, co-authoring a novel with a peer, and participating in the “We The People” competition her freshman year, where she had the unique experience of speaking in front of Nevada Supreme Court Justices.

She credits much of her success to the support she received along the way. 

“I would like to thank Vice Principal Andy Lenon for helping me get through tough obstacles, not just with school but with life,” she said. “Mr. Lenon has been immensely important to me and has helped me navigate this hard world—I literally could not have done it without him.”

As she prepares to move on, she has heartfelt advice for those still walking the halls of Oasis Academy. 

“Get involved in school activities—it’s the small things like spirit week and pajama day that you will look back on and remember fondly,” she advised. “You matter. Through the midst of academic rigor, you might get lost and forget how important you are. Remember to take care of yourself and remind yourself that you matter and belong at Oasis! Lastly, be yourself. The world is a beautiful place because you’re in it—don’t be anything you’re not.”

Oasis Academy Fifth Graders Explore Earth’s Rotation Through Shadow Science

Fifth grade students in Ms. Amber Revels’ class took their learning outdoors as part of a hands-on science project studying the Earth’s rotation. Using the Amplify Science Curriculum, students explored how the movement of the Earth affects the position and length of their shadows throughout the day.

To investigate, students marked their shadows at different times and compared how the direction and size changed as the sun appeared to move across the sky. Through this engaging experiment, they were able to see firsthand how Earth’s rotation causes these changes.

“It's so important that students are able to get outside and get hands-on experience by acting as true scientists,” Revels said. “Students are able to apply the concepts they learned and see how they are relevant in real-life.”

Some of the goals for Oasis Academy’s science curriculum are inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to think like scientists by asking questions, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. Projects like this one help foster curiosity and deepen understanding of key scientific concepts.

By the end of the lesson, students not only gained a better grasp of Earth’s rotation but also developed valuable observation and critical thinking skills.

Oasis Academy Second Graders Learn Chemistry by Making Their Own Glue

Second-grade students at Oasis Academy got hands-on with science this week as they explored the world of properties and materials. Administration had tasked the students with the job of making glue for the school and they took the challenge seriously.

The students started with four common materials, flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. They began by observing the four different dry substances and noting their properties. They then used those observations to help them as they began creating their own recipes for their own glue. 

The students added water and began mixing to observe how the matter/ingredients changed. The school administration then performed a test, gluing a bean to a piece of paper to see which recipe worked the best. 

“This lesson emphasized observation skills, teamwork, and curiosity — key elements of hands-on science learning,” teacher Ali Montgomery said. “By the end of the experiment, students proudly made some observations that would help them with their final product. For example, one of these ingredients turned into a solid when mixed with water.”