CCSD Cool School News

District
Churchill County School District staff gathered for a full day of professional development at Churchill County High School for a “Greenwave PD Day.” The day kicked off in the auditorium with a motivational presentation by adventurer and author John Beede, whose extraordinary experiences include climbing Mount Everest, swimming with sharks, surviving a lightning strike, and navigating dangerous jungles. Beede shared lessons on peak performance and leadership from his adventures, inspiring staff to set goals, persevere, and push beyond their limits.

Following the keynote, staff participated in conference-style sessions led by their fellow educators, covering a variety of topics designed to strengthen teaching skills and collaboration across the district. Sessions included topics such as goal-setting strategies, integrating technology in the classroom, social-emotional learning techniques, and hands-on STEM activities. Between sessions, participants enjoyed snacks and lunch from the CCHS culinary students’ Wave on Wheels food truck. The day concluded in the gym with a closing statement from Superintendent Derild Parsons and a raffle, leaving staff energized, inspired, and feeling connected. “This conference-style professional development day has been something I have wanted to do for years. Gathering our entire ChurchillCSD staff on one campus was the perfect way to celebrate the staff members who make a lasting impact on our students every day. Witnessing our educators share their knowledge and support one another has been a true highlight of my career. It is a powerful memory that I will carry with me into retirement,” Parsons said. 

CCHS
Culinary art students in Alisha White’s class led the Wave on Wheels food truck last Friday, serving Churchill County School District staff during their professional development day. Students prepared and served a full day of delicious offerings, starting with French toast sticks for the morning snack, followed by mac and cheese bites and fried green beans in the afternoon. Lunch featured Philly cheesesteaks, and the day ended with funnel cake fries and churro sticks as a sweet treat. The food truck was a huge hit with ChurchillCSD staff. 

CCMS
Servant leadership was recently on display at Churchill County Middle School as Principal Dr. Deana Porretta was seen helping clean the school grounds. Instructional aide Daniel Ananata shared that he was inspired to see Dr. Porretta personally pitching in, noting that it reflects a leadership style rooted in service and example. By stepping in and supporting the daily needs of the campus, Dr. Porretta demonstrates a commitment to putting students, staff, and the school community first. This moment serves as a meaningful reminder that strong leadership is not just about direction, but about action and presence.

Numa
Students in Alissa Bailey’s class have been fully engaged in life science, making meaningful connections through hands-on learning. Bailey’s students have been observing and caring for mealworms as they track each stage of the life cycle, with growing excitement to see the final transformation. Students also explored the external structures of baby chicks and recently planted seeds to study plant parts. Their learning will continue as they compare and contrast the external and internal structures of both plants and animals.

E.C. Best 
Students in Ashley Youles’ class are wrapping up the third quarter by developing their opinion writing skills. Youles’ students practiced the full writing process by brainstorming, drafting, peer editing, and publishing opinion papers on a fun, engaging topic: “the best candy.” Through this process, students strengthened their ability to express their ideas clearly while supporting their opinions with thoughtful reasoning.

Lahontan
Last week, students in Kirby Goetsch’s kindergarten class celebrated the 100th day of school with a full day of engaging learning activities centered around the number 100. The day began with students searching for 100 glow sticks hidden around the classroom, then throughout the day, students counted, created, and explored through a variety of activities, including making necklaces with 100 Cheerios, building snacks with 100 pieces, completing a 100 chart, writing 100 words, and participating in a 100-game race. This memorable 100th-day-of-school experience reinforced counting skills while also celebrating the day.