Senior Spotlight: Mikayla Casey
As graduation approaches, Oasis Academy senior Mikayla Casey reflects on her time at the school and the memories that have made it special.
When asked about her favorite memory at Oasis, she laughed as she recalled a fun science experiment.
“One of my favorite memories from Oasis, and this is going to seem a little silly, was when we made the gummy bears get all big and transparent in Ms. Jackie Bogdanowicz’s class,” she said.
Casey credits the caring and supportive environment at Oasis for making her high school experience so positive.
“My time at Oasis has been one of the best schools I’ve ever been at. The teachers are so kind and understanding of all situations, and they try their hardest to help out to the best of their abilities,” she shared.
"My first year at Oasis was my freshman year, and I felt welcomed. I made friends with kids in the older classes by joining the yearbook, and I’m still friends with most of them,” she said.
She also wanted to take a moment to recognize someone who made a lasting impact during her time at Oasis.
“A mentor I would love to thank is Andy Lenon, Mr. Lenon. During my junior and senior year, he helped me adjust to school while I was going through some things at home. He was very understanding and helpful with my situation, and he helped me with everything. Amazing counselor and vice principal,” Casey said.
She even has fond memories of a class that might surprise some people.
“This might also sound a little silly, but my favorite class was study hall my sophomore year. Our teacher, Melanie Bradley, was the best. She was the most kind and helpful teacher we had, and study hall that year was so much fun. It was that fun, mostly because of Ms. Bradley,” she said.
Casey will be graduating in May with both her associate’s degree from Western Nevada College and a high school diploma.
“My plans after college are striving to be an amazing mother and slowly work towards my bachelor’s degree,” Casey said.
Her advice for future students is simple but heartfelt.
“Stay on top of your work. Make sure not to get behind, and make sure to put your all into it. Ask for help when you need it. One more thing to remember is that the drama gets overwhelming sometimes. People say things, people get mean sometimes, but this is a small part of your life, and you probably won’t remember too much of what happened during freshman year when you’re a senior,” Casey closed.
Students Engineer Apple Structures in Hands-On STEM Activity
Oasis Academy first-grade students recently put their creativity and engineering skills to the test by building structures using cut apples and toothpicks. The hands-on STEM challenge encouraged students to think critically, problem solve, and collaborate with classmates.
Working in pairs, students designed and constructed towers—all using just cut chunks of apples and toothpicks. Along with building their structures, students were tasked with evaluating the process afterward and writing about what worked well and the challenges they faced.
Teachers said the project was a great way to blend science and fun while reinforcing concepts like structure, design, and teamwork.
“This STEM project allowed our students to showcase some of our HERD qualities,” said Brittany Wilbanks, first-grade teacher. “The first graders had to work respectfully with a partner and show determination when the challenge was difficult. They really enjoyed this simple yet effective STEM challenge.”
Students Bring Stories to Life with Pumpkin Creations
Third-grade students showed off their creativity earlier this month by impressively transforming ordinary pumpkins into their favorite book characters. Using paint, paper, fabric, and many other materials, students recreated their favorite literary figures.
The decorated pumpkins were first presented to their classmates. Presentations featured students discussing their character pumpkins and the books that inspired them.
The pumpkins then traveled to the Book Fair in Gordman’s Space and added to the fall theme. They further highlighted the connections students make with characters and stories in books.
Teachers praised the students' effort and creativity, noting the work that goes into each pumpkin and how the display added an extra spark of excitement to the Book Fair.
“Third graders showed that hard work and creativity make learning come alive,” said Sue Ware, third-grade teacher. “Through their pumpkin book reports, they discovered that when you put time, effort, and imagination into a project, your ideas can really grow — just like a pumpkin patch full of stories.”
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