CCSD Cool School News

CCHS
Students in Jaime Sammons' Plant Science program are taking the lead in transforming the campus front entrance into an interactive, welcoming green space that reflects Greenwave pride and Fallon roots. The students are designing and creating a new landscape that will enhance curb appeal while providing a space for students, staff, and visitors to enjoy. The project features Nevada-adapted plants, interactive elements, and thoughtful design that is both functional and visually engaging. It is student-driven and intentionally reflects the school, the community, and the learning happening in classrooms every day. Work began over Winter Break with site preparation and will continue throughout the school year. Last week, Plant Science students met with Aaron Holt’s Game Development class to collaborate on design and planning, combining plant science, creativity, and technology. This partnership highlights strong cross-curricular connections and provides students with experience applying classroom learning to a real-world project. The front entrance transformation demonstrates student leadership, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, offering a lasting impact on the campus and a powerful example of Career and Technical Education in action. 

 Photo below: Plant Science students led by Jaime Sammons stand in front of Churchill County High School, where they are redesigning the campus entrance as part of a student-driven landscaping project.

CCMS

The CCMS Hope Squad recently welcomed members of the CCHS Hope Squad to the Gerka Café for an afternoon of collaboration. High school students mentored younger leaders through real-world scenarios, inspiring growth and connection. The CCHS members were impressed by the CCMS squad’s understanding of their mission and commitment to supporting peers. The program is already making an impact, with students reaching out to members they do not know personally, showing that the Hope Squad is becoming a visible source of support on the CCMS campus.

Photo below: Members of the Churchill County Middle School and Churchill County High School Hope Squads pose for a group photo following a joint collaboration session at Gerka café.

Numa
Last week, Aspen Johnson’s students conducted an exciting experiment exploring chemical reactions. The class tested two unknown substances with vinegar, making careful observations and measurements to determine whether mixing them created a new material. Not only did this experiment meet key science standards, but students were very enthusiastic about the observations they made. “It was cool, and I liked the reactions it made,” student Burrell Wood said. Another student, Raegan Amerine, shared that her favorite part was the sizzling sound and the reaction itself. “Overall, my whole class enjoyed this experiment, and they are all ready to learn more about reactions this upcoming semester,” Johnson said. 

Photo:  Raegan Amerine, Liam Wright, Burrell Wood, Eli Lavy, Lyncoln Ritz, and Kol Muckey observe chemical reactions during a classroom experiment led by Aspen Johnson at Numa Elementary School.

E.C. Best 
Students in Lynnel Campos’ class are exploring 2D shapes, from circles and rectangles to hexagons and diamonds, as part of a hands-on math unit. Children are learning to spot these shapes in everyday surroundings, count sides and corners, and identify angles. The class is also experimenting with combining basic shapes to construct larger figures, bringing geometry to life in practical lessons. 

Lahontan
Julieann Chappell’s students reviewed suffixes last week using the Tribes strategies Milling to Music and Give One, Get One. These interactive activities allowed students to move around, share ideas, and practice together in an engaging way. The lesson combined teamwork with learning, making the review both fun and memorable for the class. 

Photo: Students in Julieann Chappell’s class review suffixes together using the Tribes strategy “Give One, Get One” at Lahontan Elementary School.