CCSD Cool School News

CCHS

The Greenwave Games program is hosting two upcoming family‑friendly events and invites students and community members of all ages and skill levels to participate. The Greenwave Games Release Party will be held May 15 in the CCHS Vocational Building (V‑11) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to play newly released games created by the high school game development classes. The event is open to the public and encourages community members to experience student‑designed interactive projects firsthand.

Registration is also open for the Alfalfa Arena Esports Tournament, scheduled for May 23. Check‑in begins at 8 a.m., followed by competition at 9 a.m. The tournament will feature games including Mario Kart, Marvel Rivals, and more, using PlayVS tournament formats. A 100 percent payout prize pool will be awarded to the top three finishers. The event will also include food available through the CCHS Wave on Wheels culinary food truck, as well as a speed‑run fundraiser. Registration must be completed by May 22, and the entry fee is $10 per team, due on the day of the tournament. Only team captains are required to complete the registration form. Additional information and registration are available at bit.ly/AlfalfaArenaRegister.

CCMS

Students in Torri Conley’s class are reading several novels to end the school year. One featured book, “Zach’s Lie,” is set in Elko and gives students a chance to connect literature to their home state while following a suspenseful and meaningful story. Another is “The Wednesday Wars,” one of Conley’s favorite novels. Set in 1967 during the Vietnam War era, the story follows a seventh‑grade student as he navigates middle school challenges, Shakespeare lessons, family expectations, and a changing world. These novels are helping students strengthen reading skills while exploring history, character development, and connections to their own lives.

Numa

Students in Kristina McFadden’s class recently participated in a “mining for coal” activity that combined science and social studies learning. As part of a unit on nonrenewable resources, students explored how energy sources can eventually run out and gained a deeper understanding of resource consumption and environmental impact. The activity also helped students make connections to Nevada’s mining history and the role mining continues to play in the state’s economy. Photo by: Students in Kristina McFadden’s class participate in a “mining for coal” activity while learning about nonrenewable resources and Nevada’s mining history.

E.C. Best

Christina Fruzza and Melissa Humphrey’s second‑grade students are incubating 12 chicken eggs as part of a unit on life cycles. Students have been tracking daily changes and creating timelines to document the developing embryos. On day nine, students participated in a candling activity to observe early development, where they were able to see visible veins and movement from the growing embryos. The chicks are expected to hatch on May 19.

Photo below:  Melissa Humphrey demonstrates the candling process so students can observe early embryo development firsthand in her second‑grade classroom at E.C. Best.

Lahontan

First‑grade students have been working with literacy specialist Katy Loop to strengthen their reading skills as the school year comes to a close. Students encountered unfamiliar words and identified phonics patterns before tapping out sounds to support decoding and fluency. This instructional approach helped build foundational literacy skills and student confidence. “It is important that students continue to practice their reading over the summer so that they continue to strengthen their reading skills as they move into the next grade level,” Loop said.