03/08/2010,
Just Jean: Broadway coming to Incline High School »»
What fun to catch a Broadway play right here in Incline with our own local talent on display.
For the past few years the Incline High School has presented some of my all-time show favorites on the Incline High School theater stage ?- ?Oliver!,? ?The Wizard of Oz,? ?Cinderella? and ?Lost Horizon? ? and each one has been a great chance to enjoy an evening at the theater Incline style.
This year Incline High School has selected the production ?Grease.? The show opened on Broadway in 1972 and closed after 3,388 shows in 1980 continuing on to become a film as well as a favorite for community, high school and middle school drama groups. The original Broadway version set in 1959 was raunchy, raw, aggressive and even vulgar.
Incline High's much tamer version still features all of the favorite songs and an all star cast of IHS students in the familiar roles. If you have missed an IHS favorite, Jordan Cronin, in other productions, don't miss him this year as it is his last year on stage for Incline High. He will be appearing as Johnny Casino, the rock-star student of Rydell High and the Teen Angel in the song, ?Beauty School Dropout.?
Other students appearing in Grease include: Miles Buergin as Danny Zuko; Erin Canino as Sandy and Matt Davis as Kenickie; Erika Wegener will play Rizzo and Taylor Smith as Frenchy with Justine Nelson and Dani Flores as the well-known Pink Ladies; Chloe Bolton plays Cha-cha, Madison Kwasny is Eugene, Chelsea Hollingsworth is Patty Simcox, Katherine Lange as Miss Lynch and Alec Flores as Vince Fontaine; Kevin Wegener, Laurence Jolley and Annamarie Mariliano round out the cast. Wait until you see the talent in this group.
High school students are also performing in the live band conducted by Terry Pittman and the play is directed by IHS English teacher Tom Canino.
To attend you have several opportunities as ?Grease? runs nightly at 6 p.m. from Wednesday, March 17 through Saturday, March 20. Tickets are only $10 or $6 for students and can be purchased at either The Potlatch or the high school.
Don't miss the opportunity to see ?Grease,? Incline style or hear songs like ?Greased Lightening? and ?Beauty School Dropout? as well as catch the dances choreographed by Mindy Wegener and Kelli Maiocco.
It is sure to be another special IHS production!
Jean Eick is community editor at the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. She can be reached for comment at jeick@tahoebonanza.com.
03/07/2010,
2A All-North Boys BB: Dykstra's 44 leads Incline to state title »»
Incline's 26-3 record this past season was impressive, but its 9-1 mark against teams from larger classifications was perhaps even more significant.
The 2A Highlanders padded that record with wins over some of the lower-rung 4A and 3A teams, but they also beat Hug, a 4A playoff team, and 3A state champion Sparks.
Incline was able to do this because it possessed one of the deepest and most balanced teams in the North, regardless of school size. But there was another key.
"With Josh we lose that title of a 2A school," Highlanders coach Dan Schreiber said of center Josh Dykstra. "We can play with anybody. That's what he brings to the table.
"He raises that bar."
The bar was lifted to its ultimate peak when Incline ended a 20-year title drought with its state championship victory last week. Leading the way was Dykstra, who had 44 points combined in the semifinals and finals.
"Starting in the summer, we decided we wanted to go all the way," said Dykstra, who has been named the RGJ's All-North 2A Player of the Year.
To that end, Dykstra made a conscious effort to take on less of the scoring load this year after watching how balanced Needles was a year ago en route to its state title. Needles beat Incline in the 2009 state semifinals.
"My scoring went down but my assists went up and the wins went up," said Dykstra, who averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this past season. "Having so many shooters helped so much."
So as Schreiber put it, Dykstra was creating problems for the defense without even shooting -- a feat more reserved for point guards, not centers.
"He gives teams lots of problems," Schreiber said."He's the complete package."
Dykstra, born in Costa Rica, certainly appears to fit that description. He's an honors student who's applied to such universities as Stanford, UCLA and USC among others. And often he takes a cerebral approach to basketball.
"I was thinking about it and only four boys teams in Nevada get to win a championship," Dykstra said. "So if there's about 100 teams, that's only 40 guys out of 1,000 who played this year. That puts what we did in perspective."
RGJ All-North 2A team
Guard: Michael Ceragioli, Incline Guard: Sam Witt, Incline
Guard: Michael McDonald, Silver Stage
Forward: Clarence Loftin, ROP Center: Josh Dykstra, Incline*
6th man: Michael Lake, Battle Mountain
03/04/2010,
Incline's ?We the People' class looks for financial help to get to national finals »»
Seventeen Incline ?We the People? students are headed to the nation's capital this spring to represent the State of Nevada at the nation's foremost scholastic constitutional debate competition.
That is, if they can get some financial help from the community first.
The cost of sending the AP government students to the ?We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution? national finals in April in Washington, D.C., is about $1,500 per student, with extra costs built to accommodate coaches and chaperones, said teacher Milton Hyams.
?(Community) donations achieve two goals: It helps the students finance the trip; more importantly, it demonstrates our community support of their effort to become more knowledgeable and involved citizens,? said Hyams.
Hyams has identified the fundraising goal of $30,000, with students able to raise $12,000 as of Thursday.
?The money goes to hotel rooms, meals and transportation coordination,? Hyams said.
Students have advocated the class by visiting community organizations recently such as the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Republican Women and the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, where they perform simulations of the debate competition.
?There is no better investment than in active young citizens,? Hyams said. ?These 17 individuals are some of the most thoughtful, engaged and competent young people who will rightfully represent the Incline Village community in Washington.?
The students airfare is paid for as part of the Education for Democracy Act as a way to reduce any unfairness regarding geographical location. In other words, students from Alaska and Hawaii will not be punished with higher airfare due to their distant proximity from Washington, D.C.
Through the congressional allocations, students are provided a $100 stipend to pay for necessities while in the capital.
Hyams said the trip not only affords the students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of American government and the U.S. Constitution at the prestigious event, but the young persons will take in some of the culturally significant sites to be found in Washington, D.C.
?We'll be in Washington from April 21 to April 27, and we have a full schedule during that time,? Hyams said. ?We plan on meeting with the full Nevada congressional delegation including Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. John Ensign and Rep. Dean Heller. We'll tour the national mall, visit the Smithsonian and the Supreme Court as well as visiting other museums.?
Residents or organizations interested in donating can send a check made out to Incline High School, attention of ?We the People.? If you have questions, please contact teacher Milt Hyams, at mhyams@washoe.k12.nv.us or call the high school at 775.832-4260.
For information regarding all aspects of the ?We the People? program, visit www.civiced.org.
Children ages 14 and older are invited to learn about college majors, careers and college life June 27 through July 1 at UNR.
Participants will stay in dorms, meet professors and do other activities. The registration deadline is May 14. Cost: $200 by April 30 or $220 thereafter. Details: 775-784-6608 or byer@unce.unr.edu.
03/03/2010,
Pair of Incline female ski racers qualify for J2 Nationals »»
As the Winter Olympics were wrapping up, so was the journey to the J2 National Championships ?Junior 2 Olympics? for two standout Alpine ski racers from Incline Village.
What began with Western Region Elite FIS (Federation of International Skiing) qualifying races in January and February concluded with first-year J2 Lila Lapanja of the Diamond Peak Ski Team and veteran J2 Kelsey Higgins, who skis for the Squaw Valley Ski Team, arriving in Sugarloaf, Maine, to compete against some of the best J2 racers in the country, March 3-9.
Only 15 female racers and 21 male racers from the Western Region (comprised of eight Western states) qualified for this showcase event, which is designed to focus development efforts on the top 15- and 16-year-olds from the United States. The Western Region Team will compete against the elite teams from the country's two other divisions ? Eastern and Rocky/Central ? in all four disciplines: downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super-G.
Downhill and super-G qualifying races were held at Mammoth Mountain from January 26-31 and the giant slalom and slalom qualifiers took place at Snow King resort in Wyoming, Feb. 4-7. Two races of each discipline are contested and the best result of the two races are designated ?Old World Cup? points down through the top 15 finishes for all the J2 racers (first place garners 25 points, second earns 20 points, third gets 15 points, etc.). These results are then weighed on a ?board? that includes the racers' USSA (United States Ski Association) overall race-point rankings combined with their race placement points, and the selections are made.
Higgins' best result at Mammoth included a J2 third place (sixth overall) in the first downhill, while Lapanja came through with a second-place finish for the J2s (fourth overall) in the second downhill race.
In the technical events at Snow King, Lapanja got the job done with a J2 fourth (13th overall) in slalom and seventh (17th) in giant slalom. Higgins secured her points with a J2, 10th-place finish (28th overall) in the slalom. Complete, official race results can be seen at www.fwskiing.org; click on ?competition,? ?results,? ?Mid-J2.?
Tahoe-area Far West racers who were named to the J2 National Western Region Team in addition to Kelsey Higgins and Lila Lapanja include the following athletes:
03/03/2010,
13 Ways to Get Your Money's Worth Out of College »»
For some, it costs about as much as a Lexus. Every year. For others, about as much as a Honda Fit. And some will get change from a $5,000 bill. It's college and, whatever way you slice it, it's very expensive (doesn't help that it's been going up at twice the rate of inflation for the last ten years). But cheer up. We've got 13 tips for you about how to get your money's worth out of college. So, even if you're laying out big bucks, at least you'll get big bang for your buck. Here's how:
1. Take the choice courses, not the leftovers. Always register for classes at the earliest possible date so you can select the courses you want, not get stuck with the dregs after every one else has registered. For first-year students, this means getting to the earliest orientation sessions, often held in (gasp) June - that's often the time when new students pick their courses. But even later on, primo courses are available provided you pick off-peak times.
2. Get out of the herd. Unlike the wildebeest, your safety is not in numbers. The best learning does not take place in large lecture courses but in smaller classes, which still can be found, even at mega-universities - if you look carefully enough. Whenever you have a choice, size down. And when there's a choice of a professor or TA - well, wouldn't it be better to pick someone who has thought about the material for many years?
3. Make it to all your classes. Some students think about their classes like fat cats with season's tickets. They'll get to a few big games, miss the snoozers, no worries. But what if you were paying by the class? Say $100 or $200 a throw? Would you be so quick to cut? You do the math. You may be astonished at how much you've prepaid for each lecture - money that goes down the tube when you decide not to show.
4. Use the facilities. No, not those facilities (we know you'll use them). We're thinking about the recreational and academic services you paid for as part of your student fees. Olympic-sized swimming pools, Apple-endowed computer labs - not to mention the free tutoring service, writing center, and math lab. And, if you're not feeling up to par, or college isn't turning out to be quite as happy as you expected, be sure to check out the university health service or counseling center. You've already paid for them, too.
5. Think about flying the coop. At many schools first-year students are required to live in the dorms. But after that, you're on your own. Consider living off-campus in an apartment or a cooperative living arrangement. You can often save bundles on food (at many colleges the food-service is overpriced and is used as a means to subvent other campus programs). And hey, you might enjoy playing Rachael Ray, not to mention doing dishes once a month.
6. Learn a skill for life. Once you know your major, be on the lookout for courses that will give you the skills to get ahead in your chosen career (even if such courses are not required for the major). Learning Chinese or Arabic could be a big selling point for a business major wanting to work for Walmart or Procter & Gamble - or the C.I.A. or Homeland Security. A course in critical reasoning or logic could pay off for a wannabe lawyer- or a course in statistics for someone going into the health care profession.
7. Keep entering the lottery. Many students (and parents) think that the financial aid package you get when you enter college is the end of the matter. But once you're at college, there may be a number of opportunities to compete for and get various hidden scholarships. Many donors give piles of money to specific departments for the support of their majors (at Princeton, for example, there is an overflow of money in ancient Greek language and civilization). Often these scholarships are handed out on the basis of merit, so if you're doing well, take full advantage of them.
8. Hit up your uncle. Uncle Sam, that is. To some degree, the pain of out-of-control tuition increases has been lessened by a slew of recently-introduced tax advantages, including the Hope credit, the lifetime learning credit, the student loan interest deduction, and the tuition and fees deduction. Very good information about all of these (including family-income caps and other requirements) is available at Sallie Mae's Web page www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/pay_tax_benefits.jsp and the IRS' own Tax Breaks for Education: Information Center at www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=213044,00.html . Gluttons for punishment can read the entire 99 page IRS publication at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf.
9. Max out your credit. College is one of the few places where it makes sense to take out as much credit as you can. Federally-guaranteed student loans often have no interest payments while you're a student, so whatever money you have left over after paying for tuition and books (and pizza and beverages) you can invest in a five- year CD earning a tidy return. (Check out www.bestcashcow.com or www.bankrate.com for details.) And even when payoff time for the student loan comes (and you're making that six-figure salary), the interest is tax-deductible.
10. Collaborate with a professor. In many fields, there are real possibilities to work in tandem with a professor -- could involve co-authoring scholarly papers, presenting joint papers (or posters) at conferences, or interning with a professor. Many colleges are now putting big bucks into supporting these activities: You could end up with a stipend for research costs and travel. And, in the very best case, you'll join the professor's network of professional contacts, giving you a big leg up come looking-for-jobs time. Sweet.
11. Travel on their dime. Wanna see the world? Consider the study abroad program. Many colleges have special scholarships or stipends to enable students to do research abroad or to take courses at "sister" universities. This can be a wonderful opportunity to improve your language skills, do research in countries where the materials you're studying actually exist, and take courses at colleges where they specialize in what you're interested in.
4-Star Tip. Make sure you have a valid academic reason for wanting to study abroad. Hoping to find an Estonian bride, or groom, won't cut it at most colleges.
12. Join the workforce. At many colleges, there are special work-study jobs to be had. Some of these - like being a museum guard or the checkout person at the college library - have long periods of down time, when you can do your homework at the college's expense. And you'll make friends with other student-workers, not to mention making goodwill with your parents (who'll be happy that you're bringing in a few bucks).
13. Plan to finish on time. Though the average student now takes five or six years to finish college, it's almost always possible to finish in four. In many cases, it can be financially advantageous to do so. You'll surely save money if your school charges by the semester (rather than by the credit hour). And some schools even offer special discount rates, and promise never to raise the rates, if you sign onto a four-year-to-degree (sometimes called the eight-semester) plan.
5-Star Tip. If you're short one or two courses, "buy" them at summer school , at a nearby community college, or even (in some cases) at an online university. It'll be much cheaper, and you won't have to sign up for a whole new semester.
Attached please find the March-May newsletter from our high school counselor, Faith Nicole. This newsletter is a "must-read" and is chock-full of important information for you and your student.
If you have any questions, please contact Faith Nicole, fnicole@washoe.k12.nv.us or call the high school at 832.4260.
02/28/2010,
Good Luck Erin Canino - SnowFest queen candidate »»
SnowFest Queen Coronation
Come see the Crowning of this year?s Queen in person! Girls go against each other in the following categories: ticket sales, community involvement & interview, extracurricular activities, essay, and GPA! Proceeds to benefit numerous Non-profit organizations which sponsor each candidate.
Squaw Valley Base Area on the Large KT-22 Deck
March 5, 6 p.m.
Roxana Cabrera
North Tahoe High School
Sponsor: ARC
Roxana has been involved in many activities including ARC, varsity track, soccer, the Mariposa Club, where she was vice president, Cops & Coffee, Youth in Action and Creciendo Unidos Creating Alternatives. She also has volunteered for Mexican Independence Day and Truckee River Day.
Erin Canino
Senior, Incline High School
Sponsor: American Red Cross
Erin has been president of the National Honor Society, captain of the varsity soccer team; co-editor of yearbook; 1st trumpet and French horn for Jazz and Concert bands; was co-captain of the Academic Olympic Team and winner of the Rotary Speech contest.
Kelsea Dunn
Senior, North Tahoe High School
Sponsor: Rotary Club of Tahoe City
Kelsea is a member of the Golf team, where she is captain, and participates in Drama Club, Interact, Youth in Action, S.T.O.P., THEO, the Economics and Leadership Camp at UCLA and was Freshman Class President. She has volunteered for the Children?s Hospital Miracle Network, along with aiding in local coat and food drives.
Kea Jolicoeur
Senior, North Tahoe High School
Sponsor: AAUW-North Tahoe
Throughout her high school career, Kea has been involved with soccer, basketball, track, Academic Team, Symphonic Band, Inter Act Club and Youth in Action, among her many activities. She served as captain of the soccer, track and basketball teams. She also received the Gold Award for Flute Trio and was named Best Soloist at the Reno Jazz Festival.
Keely Marple
Senior, North Tahoe High School
Sponsor: North Tahoe Booster Club
She is active in sports, having played on the volleyball, basketball and track teams from 2007 to the present, including serving as captain of the volleyball team. She received the Coach?s Award in 2008 and 2007 and was named Most Valuable Sprinter in 2008 for track. She also is a member of the Hip Hop Dance team for the last four years and has performed with InnerRhythms Dance Theater and Tahoe Dance School.
Sierra Stevens
Senior, North Tahoe High School
Sponsor: Rideout Community Center, TCPUD
Sierra has been a member of the volleyball team since 2007 and participated in a school trip to London during her junior year.
Eagle Valley, Carson City, Yerington, Pauwalu, Carson Valley, Fallon, So. Tahoe, Incline
March 3 @ Pauwalu (DUAL) 3:00pm
March 6 @ Yerington 8:00am
Incline, So. Tahoe, Lovelock, Silver Stage, Pauwalu, Carson Valley, Truckee
March 10 @ STMS (DUAL) 3:00pm
March 13 @ Incline 9:00am
March 17 @ Incline (DUAL) 3:00pm
March 20 @ Carson City 9:00am - Zone Qualifier
So. Tahoe, Pauwalu, Dayton, Carson Valley, Eagle Valley, Incline, Truckee
March 27 @ Fallon 9:00am All Schools TAH-NEVA Championships
The March 20th tournament is a qualifying meet. Only the top 4 wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the zone championships in Fallon on March 27th. All schools that have competed in two previous tournaments are eligible to compete in the championships.
Joan Skelly purposed that we start a book donation at our school for the library. We have come up with a birthday book club. How it would work is we would have a book wish list that is updated quarterly and we would put it on our website. When it is a child s birthday their family could donate a book off of our wish list they can buy it or give us the money to buy it. When we have the book we will take a picture with the child and the book and hang it up on our soon to be Birthday Book Club bulletin board. For the summer birthdays we will have the children donate on their half birthdays.
Here is a list of books our library would love to have on our shelves for our students to enjoy. If it is your birthday or for those of you born in the summer your half birthday, you may donate one of these books. You may purchase the book on your own or make a cash donation and we will buy the book. Once we have the book we will take your picture with it and hang it up on our birthday book club banner in the library. There will also be a donation name plate with your name on it in the book.
Midnight Summers by Stephanie Meyer
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Warriors Eclipse Power of Three # 4 by Erin Hunter
Warriors Long Shadows Power of Three # 5 by Erin Hunter
Warriors Power of Three Sunrise #6 by Erin Hunter
Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle
The Evolution of Calpurnia by Tate Jaqueline Kelly
Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
The Kingdom Keeper by Ridley Pearson
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
Don t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by All Carter
The Ruins Gorlan by John Flanagan
The Invisible Lines by Mary Amato
The Word Eater by Mary Amato
Snarfattack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life the Riot Brothers Tell All by Mary Amato
Drooling & Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return by Mary Amato
Stinky and Successful : The Riot Brothers Never Stop by Mary Amato
Take the Mummy and Run : The Riot Brothers are on a Roll by Mary Amato
It?s that time again! The next IVGID Middle School Dance at the Chateau is scheduled for:
Date: Friday, March 26th
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Place: The Chateau at Incline Village
Price: $8 at the door
This dance is for middle school students only (from Incline Middle School, Sage Ridge and Lake Tahoe School) and students must show ID to enter. Soda will be sold for $1 and appropriate dress is required.
If you have any questions, please contact me:
Katy Washington
AmeriCorps Member
IVGID Parks and Recreation
Youth and Family Programs Assistant
775-832-1326
775-832-1380 (fax)
katy_washington@ivgid.org
After School Volleyball will provide valuable gym time and instruction to help youth develop their skills. Tuesday Sessions will consist of learning skills such as serving, passing, setting, hitting, offensive and defensive strategies with Incline Middle School coach Tony Graeber. Thursday Session will consist of organized match play, where participants will apply what they have learned to the test.
Grades: 6-8th
Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Date: Session I: March 9-April 1, 2010
Session II: April 6-April 29, 2010 (no volleyball 4/13 & 4/15)
Times: 2:30-4:00pm
Location: Incline Village Recreation Center, 980 Incline Way
Fee: $70 per session/$56.00 w/IVGID Pass
Registration deadline: March 5, 2010
For more information, please call us at 775-832-1310
02/12/2010,
Help Fund quot;We the Peoplequot; to DC »»
Dear Incline Village Community,
On February 6th Incline High School won the Nevada State We the People? The Citizen and the Constitution competition at the Nevada State Legislative building in Carson City. Seventeen seniors will compete in the national event in Washington D.C., demonstrating their knowledge of American Government and constitutionalism. There will be 1500 students representing all fifty states, and the District of Columbia, as well as other U.S. territories will also be participating in this prestigious event.
The We the People? the Citizen and the Constitution is a civics curriculum designed to promote civic competence and responsibility among our nation?s students. During the competition in the nation?s capital, the students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles in a simulated congressional hearing, judged by members of government, academic, and legal community from around the nation. The Incline students have skillfully won competitions at the congressional district and state levels and are committed to finish in the Top 10 teams in the nation and receive awards at the national level.
The cost per student exceeds $1,500 and the students need all the financial support we can muster for them in a very quick period of time. Any donation to help them achieve their goal of $30,000 would be appreciated. Please make your check payable to Incline High School ? We the People, and send or bring it to 499 Village Boulevard, Incline Village, NV 89451.
Your donation achieves two goals: it helps the students finance the trip; more importantly, it demonstrates our community support of their effort to become more knowledgeable and involved citizens.
In advance, I thank you for your generous assistance.
Sincerely,
Milton Hyams
Incline High School Government Instuctor. Read more...
02/12/2010,
I'd like to sponsor an IHS Scholarship »»
Are you interested in sponsoring a scholarship to an IHS student? Submit your scholarship information right now online... it's easy and accurate!??
02/08/2010,
Teens do better with parents who set limits »»
Here's some good news for parents of tweens and teens: You rule.
That may be hard to believe sometimes. And it's true kids won't always follow your health and safety rules. But studies show parents who keep setting boundaries make a huge difference. In other words, "parenting works," even for teens, says Alanna Levine, a pediatrician in Tappan, N.Y., and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The latest example: a survey on media use by the Kaiser Family Foundation. It found that typical kids ages 8 to 18 spend an astounding 7 hours and 38 minutes a day consuming entertainment media, drinking deeply from the fire hose of TV, computers, game consoles, cellphones, music players and other devices (while occasionally glancing at books and other non-electronic media). Many experts, including the pediatrics academy, consider that much screen time bad for mental and physical health.
But the study also found that kids whose parents set any time or content limits were plugged in for three hours less each day. "Parents can have a big influence," says Kaiser researcher Vicky Rideout.
Road rules, and bedtime, too
And it doesn't stop with screen time. Other recent studies have found:
?Teens who had a bedtime of 10 p.m. or earlier, set by parents, got more sleep and were less likely to be depressed or consider suicide than those allowed to stay up past midnight. (The study was published in Sleep in January.)
?Teen drivers whose parents set and enforced rules were more likely to wear seat belts and less likely to speed, get in crashes, drink and drive, or use cellphones while driving. (That study was in Pediatrics in September.)
Teens whose parents set rules also smoke less, delay sex and do better in school, research shows.
"The reality is that teenagers care deeply what their parents think," says Kenneth Ginsburg, author of the driving study and a specialist in adolescent medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The challenge for parents is to get across rules and boundaries in a way that doesn't feel controlling."
In the driving study, as in many other studies, the most effective parents were those researchers call "authoritative." They set firm rules but explain and enforce them in a warm, supportive way. Parents who set no rules, fail to enforce them or rule with a "because I said so" iron grip are less effective.
Ideally, "kids understand the rules are about their well-being and safety," Ginsburg says.
Limits are worth the effort
Still, achieving just-right parenting is "challenging," says Margaret Broe-Fitzpatrick, a teacher in Kensington, Md., who has four children, ages 8 to 16. "There are so many different things to keep track of." She and her husband keep their kids busy with sports and other activities, limit screen time and review the music their children download. They talk with their 16-year-old son about the rules he'll face when he gets a driver's license soon. But, she says, they can't police everything the kids encounter on the Internet or in friends' homes.
"We're just doing the best we can," she says.
Some parents do much less. Some firmly believe their children do better with fewer rules. But others "are overwhelmed" or "fear conflict," says Los Angeles pediatrician Linda Reid Chassiakos, another spokeswoman for the pediatrics academy. "Sometimes it's just easier to be permissive."
But making an effort is worthwhile, she says: "Even if young people may protest at first, they do feel more safe and secure when limits are set."
You think you know more about the United States constitution than a senior at Incline High School?
Think again.
For the sixth time in 10 years, the Incline High School AP government class will represent the state of Nevada at the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" national finals in April in Washington, D.C.
To get there, Incline's 17-member We the People class won the Nevada state competition Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City.
The competition featured schools with much-higher enrollment figures, including College of Southern Nevada High School West, Reed High School, Canyon Springs High School and Bishop Gorman High School.
Milton Hyams, who instructs AP government and the We the People program, said his students achieved the necessary balance of passion and reason required to be successful at the competition.
?The founding fathers sought to eliminate passion from the political process, instituting a series of checks and balances to ensure reason and rationality were employed to make crucial decisions,? Hyams said. ?For this reason, I'm always hesitant to say passion is the most important ingredient for success in We the People. It's more important for the students to strike a balance between informed passion and reason.?
Hyams praised his current crop of competitors, saying it did the necessary legwork leading up to state competition to ensure success.
?The students spent hours and hours in preparation,? he said. ?I'm not even prepared to guess the amount of work they put in.?
?The preparation for the questions was really intense,? said IHS senior Lawrence Jolley. ?As we continue on to nationals the questions are going to be more detailed and more specific. It will take a lot of work to get prepared.?
The 17 participants in the senior-only class were split up into six units of three kids. Each unit was assigned a theme, which had three separate but related questions underneath that theme.
Students developed three four-minute testimonies which functioned as an opening statement. Each of the three contestants read from the testimony, as the students decide how to divide the statement to showcase each individual's strengths prior to the competition's start.
?We the People develops a lot of different skills,? said IHS senior Erika Wegener. ?It helps with writing, public speaking, thinking on your feet and you learn a lot about the American government and how to be a good citizen.?
Following the opening statement, students are tasked with a six-minute examination period, wherein they are provided cross examination questions by the judges and are required to spontaneously respond to the queries.
The contestants are not provided with the questions prior to the examination period; however, they know the questions will relate to the theme they've researched in advance of the competition.
?I was calm and collected prior to the examination period,? said senior Annamarie Marziliano. ?Once the judges began asking questions, my hands began to sweat.?
Sean McClelland, a senior, said that the ambiance at the Nevada State Legislature added to his nerves.
?The district competition was held in a college class, but when you're in a huge building with all the microphones lined up in front of you, I have to admit I felt a little bit of pressure,? McClelland said.
All the students interviewed stressed the importance of teamwork in Incline's overall success.
?The whole competition is based on teamwork,? said Erin Canino, a senior. ?If one person doesn't pull their weight, you'll lose.?
Even more, McClelland said teamwork extends beyond the 17 students and Hyams.
?Without coaches, community members, alumni, teachers and parents, none of this would have been possible,? McClelland said.
The 2010 We the People national finals takes place April 24-26 in Washington, D.C.
?I'm really excited to go to D.C.,? Wegener said. ?I've never been there before. I hope to get to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.?
Hyams has taught AP Government at IHS the past 10 years, teaching at Reed High School for three years prior to his stint in Incline. He first became acquainted with We the People as a high school student, participating in the inaugural program in 1987.
When we was hired as a teacher of American government and American studies at Reed in 1997, Hyams began participating in the program as a teacher.
?I really enjoy the program, but I especially like what it does for students," Hyams said. ?Instead of students constantly being asked what they don't know, they are being asked to share what they know. This is empowering for students.?
IHS "We the People" particpants
Below is the 17-member 2010 We the People class, taught by Milton Hyams.
A group of our top J3s headed to Park City to do battle against other stars from the Western Region in the 2010 Topolino Trials. Here?s how it went:
THE BOYS
It didn?t take long for Far West to show up, with five athletes in the top 10 on SL #1, led by Hughston Norton in 2nd, Max Hall 3rd, Nicolo Monforte 4th, Ty Sprock 6th and Charlie Klein 7th, followed by Garrett Driller in 11th, Tyler Wormhoudt 12th and Erik Arvidsson 13th. In SL #2, Norton hammered the win, with Kirkwood?s Brian Francis 3rd, Hall 6th, Monforte 7th, Wormhoudt 10th and Addison Dvorcek 14th. In the final SL, Norton won again to take the overall lead after Day 1, followed by Monforte in 3rd, Sprock 4th, Hall 7th, Wormhoudt 9th, Arvidsson 10th, Klein 11th, Driller 12th and Dvorcek 13th.
In the GS, lots of top results, but not quite enough for Norton, who ended up 2nd overall, a great weekend. In GS #1, it was Wormhoudt moving way up to 5th, followed by Sprock in 7th, Driller 8th, Arvidsson 9th, Klein 10th, Hall 11th, Monforte 12th and Dvorcek 13th. GS #2, Norton led again in 4th, followed by Monforte in 5th, Driller with his best finish in 6th, Sprock and Arvidsson tied for 7th, Hall 9th, Wormhoudt 11th and Dvorcek 14th. In the final GS, Arvidsson ripped for his best result, 2nd, followed by Monforte with his best result in 3rd, Hall 5th, Norton 6th, Wormhoudt 8th, Sprock 9th, Driller 10th, Klein 11th, and Francis 12th.
THE GIRLS
Julia Cashell started things off with a bang, grabbing 2nd in SL #1, followed by Madeline Johnson in 6th, Natalie Demuro in 10th and Julia Bjorkman 17th. SL #2, it was Johnson 7th, Bjorkman 11th, Demuro 12th and Marie Johnson 14th. In the final SL, Cashell led Far West again in 6th, with Demuro right behind in 7th, Madeline Johnson in 11th, Marie Johnson 15th and Bjorkman 16th.
In the opening GS, Demuro scored her best result of the event, 2nd, followed by Cashell in 4th, Madeline Johnson 6th, Bjorkman 8th and Marie Johnson 13th. GS #2, Cashell was 4th, Bjorkman 5th, Madeline Johnson 6th, Demuro 10th and Marie Johnson 15th. In the final race of the weekend, it was Madeline Johnson in 4th, Marie Johnson 6th, Cashell 7th, Bjorkman 8th and Demuro 16th.
Overall, a great effort by the Far West J3 Topolino Team!
03/10/2010,
Nevada pre-kindergarten teachers among nation's best trained »»
Nevada is among the states that require the most education and training for pre-kindergarten teachers, according to a report released today by the Pew Institute.
The report advocates more uniform training to improve early childhood education, raising salaries for pre-K educators and consequently improving teacher retention.
During a telephone conference call, Marci Young, project director of the Pre-K Now, said a child?s success in kindergarten is enhanced by quality pre-K preparation.
?It also means more success in the later grades and a return on the investment we get as a society by having less spending on remedial and special education,? Young said. ?Having educated, prepared teachers is the single most important factor of having pre-K quality.
?Teachers that have special training in early childhood education tend to demonstrate the greatest gains in all areas of development, including social and emotional development and cognitive skills like literacy, math and language skills.?
The minimum requirements are a bachelor?s degree and specialized training, said Young.
Keith Rheault, state superintendent of education, said Nevada developed licensing requirements for pre-kindergarten teachers in 2005.
?We have specific licensure qualifications for Pre-K if offered through public school for teaching students from birth through kindergarten,? Rheault said.
State law requires a bachelor?s degree and early childhood education certificate or endorsement. These standards do not apply to teachers employed in a pre-kindergarten program before July 2002. Assistant teachers need only a high school diploma.
Budget constraints have limited publicly funded pre-K classes. ?We have a federally funded, early childhood education grant ... about $3 million to conduct pre-kindergarten instruction, and then we get some state funding,? Rheault said. ?It was reduced a little bit but it?s about $2 million. It?s not a lot."
He said the funding is aimed at students who have ?some barriers to learning.?
"And that?s really where the (funding mandate) comes from, the most at risk students.? he said. ?There?s a lot more demand than there is funding.?
In Washoe County, pre-K classrooms primarily target Title I neighborhoods with populations that exceed 75 percent of the federal poverty level, said Joanna Everts, director of early childhood education for the school district.
The district has 13 certified pre-K teachers who work with 12 classes at Anderson, Booth, Johnson, Desert Heights, Incline, Glenn Duncan and Veterans elementary schools and Hug, Sparks, Reed and Wooster high schools. Classroom on Wheels has a pre-K class.
?We?re really trying to serve low-income families and children that are learning English as a second language,? Everts said.
The Pew report, ?A Matter of Degrees,? made recommendations to help school districts ensure and maintain a high level of professionalism among pre-K teachers.
Among them are:
Require state-funded pre-K programs to create mentoring programs that bring together experienced and new teachers that support early childhood educators seeking bachelor?s degrees. Provide additional funding for these initiatives.
Establish and fund technical assistance centers to help teachers access ongoing training and subsidies, and to help directors identify programs, trainers and ideas for supporting continuing education and professional development.
Take advantage of funding and technical assistance resources offered through the federal government to support the development of pre-K teachers, such as loan forgiveness in the Higher Education Act.
Rheault said the state does have federal funding for teacher development and that a school district application for pre-K teacher improvement would be approved.
Everts said a federal grant helps the school district provide training to teachers to improve the quality of instruction.
Children ages 3 to 5 and their parents or guardians can take part in science events at 9 a.m. Mondays at the Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center at the University of Nevada, Reno.
A different science topic is addressed each session. The schedule is as follows: Recycling on Monday; fitness and nutrition March 22; the spring season March 29; the South Pole on April 5; coral reefs April 12; sign language April 19; nocturnal animals April 26; reptiles May 3; and lions, tigers and bears May 10.
Cost: $10 to $20 per series or $5 drop-in per child. RSVPs requested.
03/02/2010,
Beyond gross: Reno exhibit teaches all things poop, pee and body-fluid related »»
Beware of the large, burping cow at the Wilbur D. May Museum.
The new "Animal Grossology" exhibit there is not for the faint of heart, nor for those who would back away from an automated cow that burps. The exhibit focuses on all things poop, pee and bodily-fluid related.
Want to know why dogs smell other dogs' rear ends? Want to know why bird poop is white? Want to know why some animals have white blood?
This exhibit could be for you -- adult or child.
"The exhibit is geared for children from ages 3 to 12, and so far, everyone that has come has loved it," said Bill Ware, a recreation specialist with Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space. "I think the parents learn just as much as kids do."
He said some children who recently visited brought along vomit bags in case they became too grossed out.
The exhibit encompasses three rooms of the museum. The burping cow can be found in David's Discovery Room, named after David May, a relative of Wilbur D. May.
Visitors will also find one of the most popular displays, the "Penguin Game," in this room. In the "Penguin Game," participants must match four piles of poop to the animals that excreted them. A cat hairball exhibit in David's Discovery Room shows how hairballs are coughed up.
"The reason animals are gross, basically, is for defense or recognition reasons or because maybe that's how they eat," Ware said. "It could be for any reason."
In the Double Diamond Room, things get really gross. There, visitors will find another popular exhibit, called, "Sense of Scent," which focuses on scent identification. Participants must identify four scents they squeeze out through tubes. Those scents won't be revealed here -- but they will completely gross you out.
In the main room, the exhibits feature the Darwin's Frog, the dung beetle and slimy sea creatures. Also in this room is a large submarine that children can enter once they remove their shoes. Children can look through the portholes, steer the submarine and exit through an eel slide out the back.
The exhibits at "Animal Grossology" are hands-on and interactive. Some, such as the dung beetle game, feature computer technology. Others require the participation of several people in entertaining question-and-answer games.
"My favorite exhibit was probably the submarine," said Eric Maria-Calvo, 11, a fifth-grader who recently visited the museum with Bud Beasley Elementary School classmates from Jason Shipman's class. "It was really fun to slide down the slide."
Saturday might be the best time to visit the museum because no school groups will be there then. Tours also are available, but teachers' and parents' groups must request those in advance.
The Wilbur May Foundation and the Reno News and Review are the main supporters of the exhibit.
"We found out that this exhibit was about to be retired, and we wanted to get it before it went away," Ware said. "Out of all the exhibits that are out there, this is the most educational. There are others that are as educational, but none that are as much fun."
Or as gross.
Heidi Avery, 37, of Reno, recently visited "Animal Grossology" with her mother's home-schooling group and her children Hannah, 7, Robbie, 5, and Isabel, 3.
"This a good opportunity for (the kids) to come in and see all the bugs and see all the disgusting things we tell them not to talk about at home," she said.
And how exactly did she sum up the exhibit?
"It's gross," she said.
If you go
What: "Animal Grossology" exhibit
Where: The Wilbur D. Museum at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The exhibit closes April 18.
Cost: $8 for adults and $7 for children younger than 18 and seniors older than 62. Groups of 15 or more: $5.50
Details: 775-785-5961
Fun facts
The exhibit is based on author Sylvia Branzei's series of "Grossology" books.
Here's a gross fact featured in the exhibit: "Ostriches are the only birds whose poop is separated from their pee. Most birds have a pee and poo combination."
A great opportunity for all Little League players to warm up their arms and bats before baseball tryouts, and to learn from the high school players and coaches.
Incline High School Highlander Baseball presents the 2nd Annual Baseball Clinic
When: Tuesday, March 9
5:00 ? 6:15 kids 5 ? 9 years old
6:30 ? 7:45 kids 10 ? 12 years old
Where: Incline High School gyms
Cost: $25 per child / $5 discount for each additional sibling
Cool Prizes!
All proceeds from the clinic help support the Incline High School baseball program.
For additional information, please call Jeff Clouthier, Incline High School Baseball Coach, at 831-2667
02/25/2010,
Little League/Babe Ruth Baseball sign-ups EXTENDED »»
North Tahoe Little League extended its tryouts, which will be held at Rideout Community Center on March 16-17 from 4-6 p.m., and in the Incline High School gymnasium on Thursday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. North Tahoe Little League players ages 9 through 12 will receive a free clinic by former Philadelphia Phillies former player Todd Coburn and Gamer Baseball on May 16.
Little League is for boys and girls ages 5 to 12 as of 4/30/10. Registration for those age 13 to 15 will be available through Truckee/North Tahoe Babe Ruth. Tryouts for those wanting to play in the Majors or Minors division will be held Thursday, March 11th at 5:30pm at Incline High School.
02/12/2010,
Help Fund quot;We the Peoplequot; to DC »»
Dear Incline Village Community,
On February 6th Incline High School won the Nevada State We the People? The Citizen and the Constitution competition at the Nevada State Legislative building in Carson City. Seventeen seniors will compete in the national event in Washington D.C., demonstrating their knowledge of American Government and constitutionalism. There will be 1500 students representing all fifty states, and the District of Columbia, as well as other U.S. territories will also be participating in this prestigious event.
The We the People? the Citizen and the Constitution is a civics curriculum designed to promote civic competence and responsibility among our nation?s students. During the competition in the nation?s capital, the students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles in a simulated congressional hearing, judged by members of government, academic, and legal community from around the nation. The Incline students have skillfully won competitions at the congressional district and state levels and are committed to finish in the Top 10 teams in the nation and receive awards at the national level.
The cost per student exceeds $1,500 and the students need all the financial support we can muster for them in a very quick period of time. Any donation to help them achieve their goal of $30,000 would be appreciated. Please make your check payable to Incline High School ? We the People, and send or bring it to 499 Village Boulevard, Incline Village, NV 89451.
Your donation achieves two goals: it helps the students finance the trip; more importantly, it demonstrates our community support of their effort to become more knowledgeable and involved citizens.
In advance, I thank you for your generous assistance.
Sincerely,
Milton Hyams
Incline High School Government Instuctor. Read more...
02/12/2010,
I'd like to sponsor an IHS Scholarship »»
Are you interested in sponsoring a scholarship to an IHS student? Submit your scholarship information right now online... it's easy and accurate!??
You think you know more about the United States constitution than a senior at Incline High School?
Think again.
For the sixth time in 10 years, the Incline High School AP government class will represent the state of Nevada at the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" national finals in April in Washington, D.C.
To get there, Incline's 17-member We the People class won the Nevada state competition Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City.
The competition featured schools with much-higher enrollment figures, including College of Southern Nevada High School West, Reed High School, Canyon Springs High School and Bishop Gorman High School.
Milton Hyams, who instructs AP government and the We the People program, said his students achieved the necessary balance of passion and reason required to be successful at the competition.
?The founding fathers sought to eliminate passion from the political process, instituting a series of checks and balances to ensure reason and rationality were employed to make crucial decisions,? Hyams said. ?For this reason, I'm always hesitant to say passion is the most important ingredient for success in We the People. It's more important for the students to strike a balance between informed passion and reason.?
Hyams praised his current crop of competitors, saying it did the necessary legwork leading up to state competition to ensure success.
?The students spent hours and hours in preparation,? he said. ?I'm not even prepared to guess the amount of work they put in.?
?The preparation for the questions was really intense,? said IHS senior Lawrence Jolley. ?As we continue on to nationals the questions are going to be more detailed and more specific. It will take a lot of work to get prepared.?
The 17 participants in the senior-only class were split up into six units of three kids. Each unit was assigned a theme, which had three separate but related questions underneath that theme.
Students developed three four-minute testimonies which functioned as an opening statement. Each of the three contestants read from the testimony, as the students decide how to divide the statement to showcase each individual's strengths prior to the competition's start.
?We the People develops a lot of different skills,? said IHS senior Erika Wegener. ?It helps with writing, public speaking, thinking on your feet and you learn a lot about the American government and how to be a good citizen.?
Following the opening statement, students are tasked with a six-minute examination period, wherein they are provided cross examination questions by the judges and are required to spontaneously respond to the queries.
The contestants are not provided with the questions prior to the examination period; however, they know the questions will relate to the theme they've researched in advance of the competition.
?I was calm and collected prior to the examination period,? said senior Annamarie Marziliano. ?Once the judges began asking questions, my hands began to sweat.?
Sean McClelland, a senior, said that the ambiance at the Nevada State Legislature added to his nerves.
?The district competition was held in a college class, but when you're in a huge building with all the microphones lined up in front of you, I have to admit I felt a little bit of pressure,? McClelland said.
All the students interviewed stressed the importance of teamwork in Incline's overall success.
?The whole competition is based on teamwork,? said Erin Canino, a senior. ?If one person doesn't pull their weight, you'll lose.?
Even more, McClelland said teamwork extends beyond the 17 students and Hyams.
?Without coaches, community members, alumni, teachers and parents, none of this would have been possible,? McClelland said.
The 2010 We the People national finals takes place April 24-26 in Washington, D.C.
?I'm really excited to go to D.C.,? Wegener said. ?I've never been there before. I hope to get to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.?
Hyams has taught AP Government at IHS the past 10 years, teaching at Reed High School for three years prior to his stint in Incline. He first became acquainted with We the People as a high school student, participating in the inaugural program in 1987.
When we was hired as a teacher of American government and American studies at Reed in 1997, Hyams began participating in the program as a teacher.
?I really enjoy the program, but I especially like what it does for students," Hyams said. ?Instead of students constantly being asked what they don't know, they are being asked to share what they know. This is empowering for students.?
IHS "We the People" particpants
Below is the 17-member 2010 We the People class, taught by Milton Hyams.
Entries are being accepted for the Arbor Day Foundation's statewide annual poster contest through March 5 at the state Division of Forestry, 2478 Fairview Drive, Carson City. Fifth-graders are eligible to enter at their schools, and one entry per school will be accepted. State winners compete nationally. Visit www.arborday.org for a list of rules. Details: 775-684-2506.
CREATIVE KIDS CONTEST SCHEDULED:
The Launch of PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest for children in kindergarten through third grades is scheduled through March 22.
Prizes awarded for top finishers include laptop computers, digital cameras and MP3 players.
To sign up for a spot at the kick-off event, e-mail le306@sbcglobal.net or 775-853-7884.
Details: www.knpb.org, 775-682-7801 or 775-682-7830.
COMPETE FOR TOP ANTI-LITTER PSA:
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is holding an anti-litter public service announcement contest for students in six categories through April 9. Categories are as follows: Kindergarten through third grade poster, fourth through sixth grade poster, seventh and eighth grade poster, high school poster, 30-second high school/college video and 30-second radio spot high school/college. Finalists in each category will be selected by a KTMB judging panel and winners will be determined by an online voting contest. Prizes include items from Patagonia and concert/golf packages.
For more information and list of rules, visit www.ktmb.org or call 775-851-5185. Entry form
The fifth annual MathMatters Contest for fourth- and fifth-graders is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at Coral Academy of Science, 1350 E. Ninth St., Reno.
Awards include a Nintendo Wii console for the winner, iPod Touch for the runner-up, iPod Nano for third place and gift certificates for those finishing in the top 20.
A kick-off for the 2010 Launch of PBS Kids Go! writers contest for children in kindergarten through third grade is scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday at Learning Express Toys, 197 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Reno.
The event is to raise awareness about the power of story telling, literacy and creativity in education.
Children will get a spiral notebook, pencil and goody bag and will be encouraged to write and illustrate stories for submission to local participating TV stations between now and March 22.
Prizes awarded for top finishers include laptop computers, digital cameras and MP3 players.
To sign up for a spot at the kick-off event, e-mail le306@sbcglobal.net or 775-853-7884. Details: www.knpb.org, 775-682-7801 or 775-682-7830.
Location: Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences
291 Country Club Drive
Incline Village, NV
(on the Sierra Nevada College campus)
LAKE TAHOE SCHOOL is partnering with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center to host the 5th Annual SCIENCE EXPO on Friday, March 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This year?s EXPO has been designed to foster students? excitement for and academic interest in science. There will be 20 ?hands-on? physical science investigations and experiments that focus specifically on the dynamics of energy and matter.
ADMISSION IS FREE to the public.
The SCIENCE EXPO is FUN for the entire family and a great educational experience for elementary-aged children (and curious adults)!
COME LEARN WITH YOUR CHILD!
For more information, call Lake Tahoe School at (775) 831-5828
03/09/2010,
UNR planetarium needs votes to put star shows on the road »»
Because some Washoe County schools are finding it difficult to afford transportation for field trips, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center is seeking a $50,000 grant from the PepsiCo beverage company to create a mobile exhibit.
Johanna Bell, planetarium exhibits coordinator and business manager, said votes can be cast on the PepsiCo Web site for the science center. The 10 agencies with the most votes will receive the grants.
"There's hundreds of different organizations we're competing with," Bell said. "You can vote once a day until March 31.
"Right now, we're 149th, so we really need to step up."
She said the money would enable the center to buy a portable planetarium dome, projector and new star shows, so pupils don't have to travel to the University of Nevada, Reno campus for field trips.
"And we're the only science outreach K-12 in Northern Nevada," she said. "We have school field trips from all over Washoe County, the surrounding counties in Northern Nevada and from Northern California as well."
It costs $100 a day to rent a school bus in Washoe County, district spokesman Steve Mulvenon said.
"Schools are not given district money for field trips, there's not a line item in their budget for that" Mulvenon said. "So, (schools) do all kind of creative fundraisers. Sometimes, it's done on a school level. Sometimes, it's an individual teacher that wants to schedule a field trip for something."
Bringing the exhibit to school sites "is a good idea" because students wouldn't lose as much instruction time, he said.
The planetarium's mobile exhibit would have an inflatable dome and the same kind of projection and program as at UNR, Bell said.
"So, we can set it up in the cafeteria or gym, or even outdoors, depending on the weather or if they have access to electricity," she said.
How to help
To help the Fleischmann Planetarium get a $50,000 grant, visit www.refresheverything.com, search for "Fleischmann Planetarium" and click on the box that comes up on the site. One vote can be entered each day. March 31 is the deadline.
For more information, call the planetarium at 775-784-4812.
Preston Stadium is on the IVGID agenda for this Wednesday March 10th at the Chateau 6pm.
After months of preparation IVGID is prepared to present at this meeting a variety of proposals for the Board of Directors to evaluate. One of which is an option close to what we are looking for with regards to saving/maintaining properly the current structure. This option is also the most fiscally attractive direction for board to consider and one which engineering speaks most highly of.
We as a group need to attend this meeting because:
Numbers speak volumes at these meetings.
Our intent is to support the work of the IVGID engineering department and General Manager Bill Horn in their effort to determine the best options for Incline.
Most importantly is to encourage the board to move now to make Preston Stadium part of their 2011 budgeted/renovation plans. IVGID management has included a variety of community leaders in this process to ensure 2011 will work for their stadium usage plans, so by working together to encourage the board of directors to approve and move forward with Saving Preston Stadium, we will have a win win effort.
Please attend this meeting to help the board see the community's solidarity regarding Saving Preston Stadium. Call your friends who want to Save Preston Stadium and invite them too. Now is the time to act - please.
Thank you,
Steve Dolan
(775) 843-7244
gracethomas@charter.net
Grace / Thomas Co. Inc.
P.O. Box 155
Crystal Bay, NV 89402
03/04/2010,
District may pursue federal school funds »»
President Barack Obama on Monday offered an incentive of $900 million in grants to school districts that radically change the strategy to improve or shutter their worst performing schools.
In his speech, Obama said states would be asked to identify schools that perform at persistently low levels, with graduation rates of 60 percent or less.
The other requirement is that schools meet the threshold for a Title 1 school, which is 75 percent of a student body meeting poverty criteria.
It appears that none of the district's high schools would qualify under this criteria, but that six or seven schools in the district would be eligible if approved by the government, Superintendent Heath Morrison said.
"The state's list isn't final yet, it's being vetted by the federal government," Morrison said. "But we might be able to get $5 million to $7 million to do some pretty amazing things with six or seven of our schools.
"The other side of that is that there are some pretty strict requirements to get that money," he said.
To qualify, however, for the School Turnaround Grants, he said, the school districts must agree to pursue at least one of four measures: firing the principal and at least half the staff of a troubled school; reopening it as a charter school; or closing the school altogether and transferring students to better schools in the district.
A fourth measure offered under the president's plan fits more closely with some elements of the school district's strategic plan overhaul now under way.
The final alternative to qualify for the money would be to bolster teacher effectiveness, instruction, learning, teacher planning time and operational flexibility.
"Any of those scenarios would require removal of the principal," Morrison said.
The district's principals were briefed on the grant program last week by Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez and grants coordinator Kristen McNeill.
Morrison said that the principals at schools that might be on the list have been notified and that they all have said they would do what was best for their schools.
"They've all said this hurts, that they were doing their best, but if it means not going after that money, that we have to do that for their school," Morrison said. "And that's leadership. to me."
Obama already included in last year's economic stimulus bill $3.5 billion to help low-performing schools.
The administration also is putting $50 million into dropout prevention strategies, including personalized and individual instruction and support to keep students engaged and using data to identify students at risk.
03/04/2010,
Annual SnowFest events include fun jam, parade »»
SnowFest, the celebration of all things winter in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, starts Friday and is scheduled to run through March 14.
While an extensive listing of events is posted at www.tahoesnowfestival.com, here are a few of the larger ones scheduled for this weekend.
Opening night ceremonies: Head to Squaw Valley USA at 6:30 p.m. Friday to see the sky light up with a laser show, torch light parade and fireworks.
The North Tahoe Firefighter's Association pancake breakfast is scheduled from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Tahoe City Fire Station, 300 N. Lake Blvd. People 12 and older are $7, 5 to 12 are $4, and children younger than 5 are free. Proceeds benefit the North Tahoe Firefighter's Association.
Participate in the amateur TransWorld Snowboard TransAm fun jam at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort on Saturday. Registration starts at 8 a.m. A minipark will be loaded with features brought to riders by Oakley, DaKine, Giro and more. Details: www.transam.transworld.net.
Toyota's Sick-n-Twisted Freestyle Tour Rail Jam will be at Sugar Bowl Resort on Saturday. Register between 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Details: www.snowbomb.com.
Tahoe City's Snowfest parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Parking is limited because the main road will be closed, so park on the edge of town. Details: www.visittahoecity.com.
Boreal Mountain Resort's Snowfest is scheduled from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and features the live music of the Truckee Tribe. Raffle prizes include two snowboards.
The Gar Woods annual polar bear swim is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gar Woods, 5000 North Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay. Participants compete in a swimming race in Lake Tahoe. Hundreds gather to watch. The cost is $35 to register the day of the event. Details: 530-546-3366.
The 33rd annual Great Ski Race for cross-country skiers is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Tahoe Cross Country Center in Tahoe City. The cost for adults is $45. The event is a fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team. Details: www.thegreatskirace.com.
Wacky Winter Human Bowling is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Tahoe City Golf Course behind the Bank of America in Tahoe City. People on saucers take out as many blown-up bowling pins as they can. Helmets required. Saucers provided. Registration is at 10 a.m. Details: www.visittahoecity.com or 530-583-3348.
Tahoe City Golf Course's third annual dog pull is scheduled to start at noon on Sunday. Watch a variety of dogs pull on a 75-foot-long snow track. Cost: $20 entry fee. Some proceeds will benefit the Pet Network of Incline Village. Details: tcgc@sbcglobal.net
Try foods from around the world in this free contest scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Mamasake Patio at the Village at Squaw Valley. Details: www.mamasake.com or 530-584-0110.
03/04/2010,
Washoe school district settles discrimination complaint »»
The civil rights office of the U.S. Department of Education has ruled the Washoe County School District discriminated against disabled students by paying their families less for transportation than was paid to non-disabled students who were eligible for mileage costs.
Under a settlement reached last week, the district agreed to pay its standard mileage rate to families of disabled students and reimburse parents for previous shortfalls.
The school board is scheduled to vote March 23 on the policy change.
Steve Mulvenon, district spokesman, said the inequity should have been resolved a long time ago. He speculated that while standard mileage rates had been automatically adjusted upward over the years, district officials neglected to do the same with the rates for disabled students covered by a separate policy.
Advocates for disabled children said the district declined to settle the matter internally, and that's why a federal civil rights complaint was filed.
The rates
Disabled students had been allowed 18 cents a mile for one round-trip a day, an effective rate of 9 cents a mile for parents who dropped off students in the morning and picked up them up in the afternoon, while district employees and families of non-disabled students who were eligible for reimbursement were paid 50 cents per mile for two round trips per day.
The Education Department ruled that the district violated the law because it "failed to provide educational and related services free of cost to the parents of these disabled students" and "failed to provide these students with a free appropriate education."
The complaint was filed by parents of disabled students assisted by the Center for Self Determination, Children's Advocacy Project of Reno.
Reaction
"This complaint goes to the culture of the district in that it treats disabled students in a lesser kind of way than it treats non-disabled students and employees," said Deidre Hammon of the Advocacy Project. "The ruling only affected the 2007-08 school year, but we've had 10 years of this policy in Washoe County."
Hammon said the family who initially complained about the policy was required to transport their child to school because the district wanted to avoid the expense of the handicapped bus service.
"The parents were driving the child to school for the convenience of the district, and then the district paid that family less than it paid others," she said.
6 families affected
She said six families will receive reimbursement, but many more families were affected over the past decade. "It's not a lot of money, but it's a matter of equal treatment," she said.
Families are eligible for mileage when the district is unable or unwilling to provide transportation for students.
03/04/2010,
Susan Dugan, wife of former Washoe schools chief, succumbs to Alzheimer's »»
Susan Dugan, an educator and the wife of former Washoe County schools chief Paul Dugan, died Tuesday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 60.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007. Her husband resigned as Washoe schools superintendent in 2009 to care for her.
Susan Dugan retired three years ago from the Washoe County School District after 22 years as an English as a Second Language instructor, Gifted & Talented coordinator and school counselor. She most recently worked at Veterans Elementary School.
She also was an art teacher at the American School in Norway and four years in Las Vegas.
Susan and Paul Dugan met in 1967 while students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They married after graduation in 1971 and joined the Peace Corps two years later, teaching in Afghanistan.
A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. March 13 at Our Lady of Snows Catholic Church followed by a celebration of life at Lakeridge Tennis Club, Center Court Grill. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations should be made to the Alzeheimer's Association of Northern Nevada, 1301 Cordone Ave., Suite 180, Reno, NV 89502 or by calling 775-786-8061.
03/04/2010,
Washoe school trustees must cut spending by up to $34 million »»
Washoe County school trustees will begin Tuesday deciding how to reduce spending by $32 million to $34 million, after legislators cut money for education during the special session that ended Monday morning.
The 6.9 percent reduction by lawmakers means $16 million to $17 million lost to the district, which also faces shrinking local tax support and enrollments and $7 million in contracted teacher raises.
Superintendent Heath Morrison said he can no longer keep budget cuts out of the classroom and that ?huge chunks? have to be found to close the budget gap.
Ultimately, he said, it will mean fewer people and/or less compensation.
?We?re looking at saving $2 million in cuts to central services,? he said. ?We have to identify which people, which programs and how many people could be retiring. But it?s going to be significant.?
He said that includes school administrations and support staff.
Morrison said adding one student to each class from kindergarten to 12th grade saves $6 million but would trim about 110 teachers.
?Theoretically, let?s say we wanted to deal with part of our budget shortfall by adding two students to each K-12 classroom, then that would be $12 million of the $34 million,? Morrison said. ?But that also means potentially 220 teachers, or 175 teachers and X number of support staff.?
Salary reductions would require negotiations with employee bargaining units, Morrison said.
?If we wanted to entertain anything other than increasing class size, which would mean a reduction in force, then we?d have to go to our employee associations and ask for their contracts to be negotiated,? he said. ?Then maybe we could address how we deal with a $34 million shortfall with some class size increases, some workforce reductions in other areas and some salary concessions.?
Washoe Education Association President Ken Buhrmann said after the special session that it was unlikely there would be new jobs for teachers and that ?we will be very fortunate to avoid layoffs of those teachers on standard contracts.?
On the subject of salary concessions, ?We will be in talks with the district and we will do what needs to be done,? he said. ?I don?t want to say anything at this point of what we are going to do. I need to sit across the table from Dr. Morrison and talk about this.?
Trustees expect to hear more details of the options Tuesday and will offer direction based on the core mission of a strategic plan being developed.
?We?re going to look at the priorities of the strategic plan and that?s how we?re going to align the budget,? school board President Estela Gutierrez said. ?We want to make sure we do our homework. We want to make sure we look at efficiencies and basically look at every aspect.
?What?s really frustrating is how do we project for the next five years?? she said. ?So we pretty much have to be conservative.?
Despite budget constraints, officials are determined to forge ahead with the mission of improving student performance.
?At this point we haven?t ruled anything out,? Trustee Barbara Clark said. ?But as far as our situation, something is just going to have to give.?
If You Go
What: Washoe County School Board meeting
When: 2:30 - 8 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Central Administration Building board room
425 E. Ninth St., Reno
03/02/2010,
Adventure, Risk, Challenge a dynamic program for local children »»
For the past few years, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most dynamic and inspirational young people I have ever met. Year after year, participants in the ARC (Adventure, Risk, Challenge) Program amaze me with their courage, determination and commitment to their future, their family and their community.
ARC is a program for EL (English Language Learner) high school students that combines summer leadership and literacy immersions in the outdoors with year-round mentoring and academic support. Working with students who lack access to enrichment of any kind, ARC has guided 80 percent of its graduates to pursue some form of higher education, a remarkable outcome for this population.
As part of their work, ARC participants prepare video essays on topics of concern to our community. This year's video essays will be presented by the kids at ARC's annual Food for Thought Tamale Dinner on March 13, 2010, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the North Tahoe Boys & Girls Club.
ARC participants' video essays are the result of the students' actively exploring and examining their personal lives, their families and their neighborhoods to identify issues that directly affect them and their community. Over the course of the project, as students have explored critical concerns within our community, they have generated a rich collection of stories and have developed multiple literacy skills using digital media tools to express their voice and content through writing text and incorporating sound, images and graphics.
EL high school students in the Tahoe/Truckee region have a multitude of obstacles to overcome: they have identified literacy gaps, come from families living below the poverty line, and in many ways live in the margins of our community. They lack access to local resources due to language, transportation and economic barriers. Many of their parents lack formal education, are ill-equipped to support their children's learning at home and cannot help their children navigate the public school system. This results in academic failure, making higher education opportunities inaccessible. Students who fail high school lack incentive to further their learning through vocational or academic training, and have little chance for self-sufficiency. Essentially, there is no pathway to living-wage careers that could ultimately break the cycle of poverty for the next generation.
ARC began in 2004 to address these significant barriers with a curriculum that incorporates the study of self, family and community action, gearing participants toward meaningful civic contributions as they transition into adulthood. ARC links wilderness to academics, adventure to leadership, environmental science to literacy and confidence to activism.
Like most programs of its type, ARC is continuously raising funds, both from foundations and from local sources. Events like the tamale dinner help, but they're not sufficient ? if you or someone you know wants to support this worthwhile program, let me know and I'll see they contact you.
The food at this dinner is great ? homemade tamales, rice and beans, as well as soft drinks will be served at the dinner, with all proceeds benefiting the program.
Tamales can be ordered (by the dozen) in advance by visiting the ARC website (www.arcprogram.org) and downloading an order form. ARC participants have requested guests bring two cans of food to support Project MANA, and in return, they will receive a free drink. The students also will be collecting spare change to send to Haiti. Immediately following dinner, they will premiere their video essays. This event is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there.
For more information and to order your tamales, click HERE!
? Ed Gurowitz has a doctorate in psychology and is a management consultant. He has lived in Incline Village since 1995 and is active in the Democratic Party. His columns can be found at www.egurowitz.blogspot.com, and he is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and tahoeticker.com. He can be reached for comment at egurowitz@gurowitz.com.
03/02/2010,
Budget Determined, District Ready to Move Ahead »»
Reno, Nev., (March 1, 2010) - - Today, nearly a week into the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature, Governor Jim Gibbons announced agreement over key issues with legislators and adjourned the session. Ever since the Economic Form announced that the state was heading towards an estimated $900 million dollar shortfall five weeks ago, local business, education, and government leaders have been working hard to determine the impacts of cuts that might have to be made to balance this biennium's budget.
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent Heath Morrison appreciated the Governor's and legislators' work in crafting a plan that gave school districts a clear picture of what the 6.9% cuts to K-12 education would be, as well as the flexibility to implement those cuts. Considering the amount of the budget gap, Morrison thanked and praised all branches of the government for their efforts. "It is important that the Governor and the Legislature were able to resolve differences this week and come together with a workable plan for K-12 public education. They worked to balance the competing needs of education, human services, and public safety, with the current difficulties in finding new revenue from the recession-impacted business sector and I appreciate what they have done, especially since the initial cuts were proposed to be much higher. The Governor, the legislative leadership, and key northern Nevada legislators came together to broker a deal many thought was "not possible". Two Assembly leaders from northern Nevada agreed. "I'm proud of our continuing commitment to education and that we are able to reduce the proposed cuts to K-12 education by $94 million dollars," remarked Assemblywoman Debbie Smith. "Assembly leadership has always had a great working relationship with the district, and during this very difficult process, we had an unprecedented level of collaboration." On the other side of the aisle, Minority Leader Heidi Gansert added, "After six days of hearings and testimony, we came together to responsibly fill a nearly $900 million dollar shortfall, while limiting our cut to K-12 education. Through this process, it was our intent to save as many jobs as possible and to keep class sizes reasonable."
Morrison was also grateful that districts were given the flexibility to use several state funding sources to make some of these cuts in ways they believe will best serve students. Specifically he thought allowing class sizes to be increased by up to two students in grades K through 3 might be very helpful in addressing the district's budget shortfall, but he acknowledged none of these decisions would be easy, and that the cuts would affect all areas of the district, including the classroom. Flexibility was also given to districts to take money normally required to be spent on textbooks and similar materials, and apply that money to the budget shortfall as well.
During his testimony to both Houses of the Legislature, Morrison said he believed in shared sacrifice to resolve the budget shortfall, and was hopeful that funded properly, education would ultimately be the engine that would lead Nevada out of the recession and return the state to more prosperous times-a message that was well received by many as a longer-term call to action.
What does all of this mean for the Washoe County School District? The 6.9% cut equals approximately $15-17 million dollars less for the district's general fund, which supports employee salaries and the day-to-day operations of schools and district departments. This is not a new challenge. Over the last three years, the district has cut $44 million dollars from the general fund. The district's Chief Financial Officer, Gary Kraemer, has been planning for several possible scenarios, including a cut of this magnitude. "Although we already absorbed a $30 million dollar cut as part of this year's budget, conservative budgeting by the Board in previous years has kept the district lean and has allowed us to build up our reserves. We will need those reserves not only for the rest of this year and next, but also to help offset what we believe will be an even more serious problem for the 2011-2013 biennium", Kraemer said, referring to the projected $2.4 billion dollar shortfall facing the state when the Legislature convenes in February 2011.
Kraemer plans to present options to the Superintendent and Board that will continue to judiciously draw down reserves to help offset some of the cuts. However, he cautioned that this will not be easy. "Only one-third of the district's general fund budget comes from the state. Two-thirds comes from local sources. We have unfortunately experienced a decline in local property tax collections, which are a significant portion of the general fund budget." Kraemer also pointed out that these factors, declining enrollment over the last several years, and negotiated agreements with employee groups may add another $16-18 million dollars to the district's deficit, making the total cut in the neighborhood of $31-35 million dollars.
Morrison said many factors contributed to the deal agreed to between the Executive and Legislative branches. The strong, collaborative relationship between the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent and its employee associations was singled out for praise. "We are truly partners in this most critical aspect of the public good-K-12 education", Morrison said. "We work together on the complex and difficult issues that face the district all of the time and it was easy to transfer this cooperative spirit to the halls of the legislature". Morrison praised the continuing dedication of the district's employees. "These last few weeks have been unsettling for our employees. Whether they teach, drive a bus or are working on a temporary contract that will soon expire, I want to thank everyone for their hard work. They are the people that make a difference for our 63,000 children every day; they are the ones responsible for meeting every child's needs; and as our most important resource, we will do everything we can to keep them working now and in the future.
During the special session, Board of Trustee President Estela Gutierrez, other members of the Board of Trustees, and district staff maintained a constant presence in the legislative building. "We owed it to our employees, parents, and our children to meet with legislators and talk to the Governor's staff. We know that they had difficult choices to make, but we also know that our future is our children-we bear grave responsibilities to ensure they have the teachers and resources necessary for an education that prepares them for graduation, the world of work or post-secondary education, and productive lives as members of this community and state." Gutierrez said knowing what the cuts would be was the next step in the district's plan for major reform.
Currently a new comprehensive strategic plan is being developed with parent, business, staff, and community support. It will be the foundation for a wide-ranging reform effort that will focus on improving the district's graduation rate, implementing a performance management system based on measurable goals, and supporting teachers and teaching in new and innovative ways. "We will spend our time and energy on what happens in the classroom and align the rest of the district to directly support what for us is our core business-teaching and learning", she said. In the next few days Gutierrez expects that Morrison will be developing options for implementing the cuts. These options will be made public and both the Board of Trustees and Morrison will be presenting them to the community, parents, students, and staff at public meetings to obtain input before the Board adopts the final budget this May.
About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.
Location: Assembly Rooms 139 & 141, Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nevada (on the campus of Sierra Nevada College)
In the summer of 2007, Chad and Allison (both SNC graduates) began to plot a bicycle route across Eurasia. Armed with ambition, a couple of visas, and two stout bicycles they set off from the coast of China and started riding west. Six months and two days later they rode onto the beaches of the Netherlands with over 7,000 miles of Eurasian trans-cultural experiences.
From the images gathered on their small cameras they have compiled a fair representation of the delicious and disgusting, the ordinary and amazing, the lovely and repugnant, and plenty of stops in between as they lived out on the world road.
They are excited to share preparatory and logistical information as well as other practical tips so that others might feel more prepared to explore a big planet at this nice bicycling pace. They will also discuss their upcoming tour to the Black Sea region and the former Yugoslav republics.
Allison Ansley and Chad Wiles met in Tahoe ten years ago and have been venturing together ever since. Allison came into the world of cycling on the tree lined streets of Salt Lake City before moving to Tahoe in 1998. She earned a B.S. from Sierra Nevada College in 2007, and has since spent her winters exploring the mountains on skis and working with the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association (T.C.C.S.E.A.).
Chad traces his velo roots to East coast single-track but found a home in Tahoe in 2000 and has since taken to the roads. He received a B.F.A from Sierra Nevada College in 2003 and, in between personal trips, currently works with T.C.C.S.E.A as well as Alaska Mountain Guides.
March 13, 2010: Trout in the Classroom and Project Aquatic WILD Workshop
March 16 - 17, 2010: Tahoe Basin Science Conference
March 31, 2010: Tapped, the movie examines the role of the bottled water industry and its' effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil
May 7, 2010: Nominations Due for Goldman Tahoe Scholarship
May 13, 2010: Health of Lake Tahoe, with Phil Caterino
June 21 - 25, 2010: Nevada Math & Science Partnership Teacher Institute
June 17, 2010: The Changing Range of Light: Climate Change in the Sierra with Bob Coats, Geoff Schladow and Elizabeth Carmel
July 10, 2010: Historic Hatchery Education Center Grand Opening and Children's Environmental Science Day, Tahoe City Field Station
August 1 - 4, 2010: Great Lakes of the World (GLOW) Conference VI
September 9, 2010: Antarctic Research, with Alison Murray
03/02/2010,
Students Shine In 87th Annual Scholastic Writing Awards »»
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jill Berryman
Sierra Arts Executive Director
775.329.2787
Steve Mulvenon
775.348.0371
Reno, Nev., (March 2, 2010) - -Six local high school students, including four from the Washoe County School District, were honored last Saturday for their skills at the 87th annual Scholastic Writing Awards competition, which recognizes student achievement in creative writing. The program is jointly sponsored by the Sierra Arts Foundation, the Nevada Alliance for Arts Education and the Smith Center for Performing Arts in Las Vegas.
The ceremony took place at the Sierra Arts Gallery on February 27th. Six students were selected by a panel of regional judges based on their originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice in their writing. Gold Key, Silver Key, and American Voices nominations were awarded at the event. Students receiving Gold Key awards or American Voices nominations will have their work submitted to a panel of esteemed creative professionals in New York City for award consideration at the national level.
The six 2010 Scholastic Writing awardees are:
?Teri Dobbins (Reno High School) -- Gold Key award
?Emily Hamby (Reno High School) -- Gold Key award and American Voices award
?Brendan Kilcourse (Albert M. Lowry High School) -- Silver Key award ?Sean McClelland (Incline High School) -- Gold Key award and American Voices award
?Crystal Powell (Churchill High School) -- Gold Key award and American Voices award
?Montana Routsis (TMCC Magnet High School) -- Gold Key and American Voices award
The Scholastic Writing Awards, in affiliation with The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, is the longest standing writing competition in America, and has been entered by authors such as Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath, and Robert Redford. The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to identify, motivate and validate the next generation of artists and writers.
Works are first reviewed on the regional level by jurors recruited by 96 Regional Affiliates. Jurors on both regional and national levels will look for works that exemplify our core criteria: 1) Originality, 2) Technical Skill and 3) Emergence of a Personal Vision and Voice. The best works in each region earn Gold Keys, the Scholastic Writing Awards symbol of achievement. Gold Key works are then reviewed on the national level by esteemed creative professionals.
More than 10,000 Gold Key works will be reviewed in by judges in New York City to determine the 1,000 most accomplished young artists and writers in the nation. National Awards include Gold Medals, Silver Medals, and American Visions & Voices Medals. Selections of national award-winning work will be included in the National Student Art Exhibition and the National Catalog in June 2010. More than 50 award-winning
manuscripts will be published in The Best Teen Writing of 2010.
On the national level, $10,000 scholarships are given to 15 graduating seniors who earn Gold Medals in the Art, Photography, and General Writing and Nonfiction categories. An additional 400 seniors who earn Portfolio Silver Medals or Portfolio Gold Medals will leverage partial to full-ride scholarships from a network of 60 arts universities and institutes, which annually earmark $3.9 million in financial aid.
About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.
03/03/2010,
IB: Supporters launch website, will form nonprofit »»
Residents in support of International Baccalaureate announced this week the forming of a nonprofit group to gather funds to helps its implementation in Incline's public schools.
According to a Tuesday press release from Incline resident Nancy Dey Porten, International Baccalaureate Incline Village (IBIV) is partnering with Washoe County School District to achieve the goal of ?80 percent of Incline Village school students taking one or more AP or IB classes before graduation.?
?We've had to get our ducks in a row before we starting raising funds in earnest,? said Incline resident and IBIV founding member Tom Bruno. ?When you approach individuals about donating to a cause, you need to demonstrate you have all the different components properly in place to be able to achieve your goals.?
Bruno continued: ?We are serious about affording Incline students an all-around strong educational experience. Programs such as music, foreign language, the arts and athletics may need financial help from time to time, and my hope is that IBIV can provide that.?
Incline resident Nathan Hamilton is another member of IBIV.
?One of the main purposes of our IBIV website ... is to provide accurate and current information about IB in relations to our schools,? Hamilton said in the press release. ?There has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about IB in the community, which we would like to clear up.?
Raising funds
The group is in the process of establishing itself as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Bruno said.
?We aren't in a position to reveal what we have raised to this point because we haven't fully pursued the fundraising portion,? Bruno said. ?Once we've formed the nonprofit, have our website in order we can launch efforts to raise money.?
According to recent reports, WCSD Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez estimates the district will need an additional $150,000 for the upcoming year to cover the cost of two additional teacher allocations and application fees. The second year the district will need $210,000 for teacher allocations and fees associated with curriculum implementation.
Gary Lee announced during the Feb. 4 WCSD community seminar that residents had raised $75,000 at that point.
02/12/2010,
Bonanza editorial: taking the first step to fixing a problem »»
The first step in healing broken relationships ? and the hardest step ? is admitting there is a fixable problem. The Washoe County School District took that first step this week by announcing it would slow down and attack the implementation of International Baccalaureate at Incline's schools the right way ? by starting at the beginning and not, as has become a popular phrase in this community, putting the cart before the horse.
"We admit we originally had it backward,? Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez told us on Tuesday. ?Frankly, the public was right. The district realized it needed to slow down.?
Somewhere between the summer and winter 2009, the school district dropped the ball by:
A. Keeping its staff (the teachers) aware of every step of the implementation process; and
B. Informing parents of changes and challenges to come. Accusations of transfer threats and an inability to listen to teacher concerns certainly did nothing to improve the district's image, or improve the critical relationship between parents and administrators.
Now that the biggest step is out of the way, we expect all sides to be equally accountable for communicating, meaning the district must prioritize communication, and for the parents and faculty to be actively involved in that work. The district already has promised to host many community forums similar to last week's ? a good start indeed ? and we hope this is a pattern to be repeated through every major change within the district.
We still feel IB is a prized catch for our school system, and, given time, will raise what really has become embarrassing graduation rates for Incline's schools ? especially with Latino students. Given Nevada's pathetic standing in national education (yes, we are dead last), the fact we have an opportunity to change locally and become an example for the entire state should be embraced wholeheartedly. But success depends on communication done the right way, which now, after much consternation, is occurring.
02/02/2010,
Give International Baccalaureate a chance »»
Inspired by Janet Usinger's letter last week and by many conversations with parents, students, and teachers in our community, I would like to offer two additional insights about the proposed implementation of the International Baccalaureate in Incline Village.
These are based on 12 years of study and research in the area of transformative learning and change (masters and doctoral levels) and my experiences of guiding my two children through four different school systems (starting in Tokyo).
The first insight is that change is a universal, unavoidable given; all living systems including humans and our social systems are inherently evolving through increasing degrees of order, complexity, creativity and consciousness. This is most evident in the accelerating pace of technology change even as individuals and our social systems struggle to integrate and adapt (as the crises in financial and other sectors have vividly demonstrated).
As a key factor in any nations' ability to evolve gracefully lies in the education of the youth, we have ample evidence that US students are underperforming those in European and Asian countries. I believe Incline Village is very fortunate to have the opportunity to lead the shift to the next evolution of public education that is needed to keep up with the pace of world change. We are truly fortunate to have deep IB experience and support from our new Washoe County Superintendent and Deputy as well as experienced help from the IB program implementers and directors at Wooster High School.
My second insight regards the true intention of education: ?to educate? comes from the word ?to educe?; to elicit, evoke, bring forth from within. Education ideally inspires every student's passion for self-directed learning that continues to thrive throughout their lifetime.
Some parents in Incline are concerned that their children won't be a candidate for the IB diploma and therefore won't benefit from it or may even be hurt by its' implementation. Firstly, with a full implementation from K to 12 as proposed by the County, all children will experience the inherent benefits of the excellent IB curriculum program and not just those who pursue the various subject certificates (similar to Advanced Placement) or two year diploma. Secondly, schools that adopt the IB program find that more children, regardless of heritage, become inspired to learn and want to pursue the higher level courses than was formerly the case.
To achieve this shift toward true education, IB teachers play a more engaged role in individualized student support to nurture their inherent curiosity and inner passion.
While some Incline teachers have concerns about the changes required by the IB program, I hope they will give IB a chance so they can experience the highest joy in the teaching profession: helping to turn on and nurture every student's innate capacity to explore and positively impact their world ? and ours.
Mary Alber is a six-year resident of Incline Village with a fifth and seventh grader at Lake Tahoe School.
02/02/2010,
With International Baccalaureate, let's try to have an informative, civil dialogue »»
Sometimes I don't understand our community at all ? other times I think I get a glimmer or understanding, but mostly it's a mystery to me.
It seems like we are willing to fight about anything based solely on our opinions, the opinions don't need to be informed by any facts and we don't feel very much need to listen to each other. Granted it's hard to listen when the communication is like this one: ?Why don't you post-constitution Progressives go find your own country and quit wrecking ours??
Apparently I'm something called a post-constitution (I assume this means post-Constitution rather than someone with the constitution of a post, but I'm not sure) Progressive. OK. I don't understand post-Constitution ? we're all post-Constitution. That document was adopted in 1789, so anyone who was pre-Constitution would be 221 years old. Progressive? Why do people think I'll be insulted by being called something (along with Liberal, leftist, etc.) that I've said I'm proud to be. And what is the name-caller? Regressive?
Finally, why should I go find my own country, and who said this one was yours? I was born here, my parents immigrated here and I honestly believe that this is my country as much as it is ?yours.? Actually, the Constitution kind of guarantees that, doesn't it?
Or the person who picked up on one small piece of personal disclosure in a column and decided that ?because your Dad lost his business due to ?change' you think workforce housing will solve the economic woes of main street???? which is nothing even related to what I said.
Case in point: the IB program. I have said repeatedly that, while I'm kind of naturally inclined to support it, I have serious questions and think a rational, fact-based dialogue is needed. Writers (mostly anonymous) online have attacked me for favoring IB (what part of ?have serious questions? is not clear to you?). Just for fun, how about trying listening?
The Washoe County School District is on record favoring IB even though they won't fund it. In listening to both sides of the debate, a couple of things have become clear to me. First, very little of the debate is fact-based. Either or both sides may have facts to bolster their argument (note: ?IT'S A U.N. PLOT!!!? is not a fact ? it's an opinion, same for ?IT WILL ATTRACT LOTS OF STUDENTS!!!?), neither brings them to bear in what dialogue there has been. Second, no one is listening to anyone who is not on their side. Third, a genuine dialogue, including people listening to each other, is desperately needed.
As I mentioned in a previous column and as was announced in the paper last week, the Bonanza has proposed to sponsor a forum for that dialogue. The ground rules of the forum will be that all presentations by panelists must be based on citable facts and that audience questions will be screened to ensure that they are requests for information, not arguments for a position. The original date for the forum, Feb. 9, is now in question due to conflicts with the elementary school's science fair, but if we can get the panelists, it will happen sooner rather than later.
I guess the question is what do both sides want? Do they want to defeat the other side or to inform the community? The way it looks now is that we are going to have IB in any case ? the school district has approved it and the money has been raised or is close to being raised. So as a community, do we want this to be one more bone of contention dividing us or do we want to really look at what it could do and what it is that professional educators find so valuable in it?
Of course, we can all decide that we know better than the experts in any case and don't have to listen to them ? after all, we pay them to educate our children ? that means we're smarter than they are, right? After all, isn't the golden rule ?he who has the gold, rules??
Let's try to have an informative, civil dialogue. Whaddaya say?
Ed Gurowitz has a doctorate in psychology and is a management consultant. He has lived in Incline Village since 1995 and is active in the Democratic Party. His columns can be found at www.egurowitz.blogspot.com, and he is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and tahoeticker.com. He can be reached for comment at egurowitz@gurowitz.com.
Thursday, 2/4, from 6 to 8 p.m; Parasol Foundation, 948 Incline Way
Moderating the meeting will be Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez. Also speaking will be Serena Robb, our project coordinator and Daryl DiBitonto, the current IB coordinator at Wooster High School. All three Incline principals will also be present.
Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez, who will lead the meeting said, "We want to continue the discussion we have been having with the Incline Village community about the vital role the IB program can play in strengthening the already solid academic programs at these three schools. We want to have a dialog, answer questions, dispel some myths and discuss the implementation timeline we're following. I look forward to a great turnout."
As part of our desire to facilitate a good flow of information, additional seminars will be scheduled in the near future.
01/20/2010,
District Appoints Project Manager for IB »»
Reno, Nev., (January 29, 2010) - - To ensure the smooth implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in the Incline Village schools, the Washoe County School District announced today that it has appointed Serena Robb as project manager. Robb, a veteran administrator in the WCSD, was the principal at Wooster High School in Reno when that school successfully launched its IB program. ?The district wanted an individual with a deep commitment to the IB program and someone with the ?feet-on-the-ground? experience to see this through to a successful completion,? said Pedro Martinez, Deputy Superintendent. ?I cannot think of anyone better to spearhead this effort, so we coaxed Serena out of retirement to head this important project. She will be our primary representative as we move forward,? Martinez added.
Robb?s career with the WCSD began in 1971. She has served as a speech therapist, counselor, assistant principal and principal at both Wooster High School and Damonte Ranch High School. She retired in 2005 after successfully opening Damonte Ranch. Each summer from 1986 to 1992, she administered a program at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York to acquaint high school students with life on a college campus.
?I know first-hand what it takes to move an IB program from concept to full implementation and I am more than pleased that the district has asked me to undertake this initiative. I?ve seen what the program can do for a school and for students. I?m excited to begin working with teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community to get everyone headed in the same direction,? Robb said. ?I have already begun to talk to the staff at the three schools, and I?ll continue that over the next week or two,? she added.
Robb also noted that following those staff conversations, she?ll plan a series of community seminars later in February.
Martinez said, ?The school district is committed to this effort and to making Incline Village schools one the best K-12 campuses in the nation. IB is one way to that, and I am confident we?ll be successful because already have such great teachers at all three schools and a solid Advanced Placement program at the high school. All of this helps lay the groundwork.?
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About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 64,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready.
01/06/2010,
Wooster IB program helps make tough colleges easier »»
Fifty-one students who completed the International Baccalaureate program at Wooster High School last spring received diplomas Tuesday during the 11th annual award ceremony at the school.
Students in Wooster's 2009 IB class scored an average of 1886 on SATs and an average 29 on ACTs and had a grade-point average of 3.718 on a scale of 4.
The program was started at Wooster in 1997 with eight students and has grown to about 350 this year, said Daryl DiBitonto, Wooster IB diploma coordinator since 2003.
"The IB program is recognized as a world-class college preparatory program," DiBitonto said. "Students are challenged to become independent inquirers through a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes the global nature of learning."
Graduates of Wooster's IB program have been admitted to some of the top universities in the country, including Brown, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, the University of Southern California, U.S. Naval Academy, Vassar and Yale.
For most graduates, the program makes the toughest schools easier.
"(The program) has made college so much easier than what I see my classmates handling," said Jillian Baker, 18, a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno. "I know how to study and take notes, I can write a four-page paper in one night, and it's no big deal."
"And mainly just time management. I can balance academics and a social life."
Ben Degn, 19, an engineering student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz., said the program helped him with study habits.
"It has helped me keep on top of the homework load and classes and how to absorb and understand the new material," he said.
Juniors and seniors are in IB classes, with freshman and sophomores earmarked to take pre-IB courses, DiBitonto said. The older students said those new to the program might find the challenge overwhelming.
"There'll be times when you want to quit, but they should stick with it," Baker said. "You meet some really amazing people in the program, and you form lifelong friendships."
Anna Louie, 18, a student at Brown University in Rhode Island, said that students should expect to work hard but will learn valuable tools and information.
"People help each other, support each other, and I think that's the best thing a high school can be," Louie said.
Wooster is one of only three high schools in Nevada offering the IB diploma program, with Valley High in Las Vegas and Green Valley High in Henderson. There are 1,071 schools in the United States on all grade levels and 2,816 worldwide, according to IBO.org.
An all-grade IB program is the goal at the three Incline Village schools to improve the performance of a large Hispanic student population, especially in languages.
The Incline High School program starts in the fall using $40,000 from the high school's booster fund and $5,000 from the former Washoe County schools superintendent's discretionary funds.
Training for the Incline Village teachers began during the summer and will continue through the year, with other elements of the program to be added through 2012.
Additional Facts
What is the IB program?
The International Baccalaureate program began in 1968 in Switzerland, where the not-for-profit foundation is based, as a way for diplomats to ensure their children had access to standardized education no matter where their parents were stationed.
The IB program's rigorous coursework helps prepare student for success in college. Courses are designed to increase students' critical thinking skills, improve time management and develop writing skills.
How to apply:
Wooster High School allows students from all the Washoe County School District middle and high school students to apply for the International Baccalaureate. The enrollment begins in March. To find out more, call Daryl DiBitonto at 775-321-5025.
For more information or if you have questions on the Incline High School IB program, please contact the school at 832-4260.
On September 28th, Washoe County School District Superintendent, Dr. Heath Morrison, spoke at the Chateau and repeated the District?s commitment to the successful implementation of International Baccalaureate in Incline Village. Dr. Morrison came to WCSD with extensive IB experience in his previous position in Montgomery County, MD, and is making a concerted effort to help the community and administrators transition to IB smoothly.
Fund Raising Continues
To date, $67,080 in cash has been raised, with an additional $69,500 committed towards annual contributions. In October, the community pulled together the over $20,000 needed to send teachers and administrators from all three Incline schools to IB training this fall and winter. When this school year?s training season wraps up in late January, we will have paid for 35 people to be IB trained!
This is quite an accomplishment, but our work is not yet over. We still need to find the funding to train a handful of people from Incline High School next summer and to cover the approximate $12,000 price tag associated with training every single educator at Incline Elementary next August, a welcomed requirement by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Please spread the word that now is the time to donate, large or small. We cannot proceed with the IB-IV dream without the community?s financial support. For those of you who have already contributed, thank you! We would not be this far in the process without your generosity.
Jeni Cross is currently working with District officials on the submittal of our first grant request to take place in January. We will keep you posted on our success or failure to secure any money through this avenue. If you happen to know of any grants for which we might qualify or would like to help look for grants, please contact Jeni Cross at jcross@washoe.k12.nv.us.
District Support
Despite the District?s inability to help us with training and application fees, we are pleased that they have supplied substitute teachers and help with grants, as well as paid for postage and required publications. Additionally, we were delighted to learn that Mr. Rick Harris located grant monies to send key people to the regional IB conference in San Diego. In attendance were Kathleen Watty, K-8 Principal; Sharon Kennedy, IMS Site Administrator; Kevin Taylor, Assistant Principal of Incline High; and Jeni Cross, IHS IB Coordinator Designate. CAWS, the California Association of World Schools, which also advocates and networks for and with the Nevada and Hawaii IB World Schools, hosts one-day conferences biannually. Coordinators, administrators and superintendents from around the region were present, and everyone who attended reported back that the networking they were able to do was highly valuable. Current Status of the School Authorizations
Incline High School submitted Application A, the first of two applications and their $8,500 fee, in October. At the end of January, we will have sent our teachers and Mr. Taylor to 17 workshops! We hope to accomplish the remaining five in summer 2010. However, in order to proceed to Application B, more funding must be acquired to show stability for the first three to five years. We will host the Site Visit next fall, followed by authorization to begin the DP in the fall of 2011. Incline Elementary and Middle Schools are, and will continue to be as teacher training progresses, in a trial Implementation Phase required by IB before filing the applications. By late January of 2010, we will have sent seven teachers and Ms. Watty to training for the Primary Years Programme, while nine teachers and Ms. Kennedy from IMS will have attended the Middle Years Programme conferences. When the compulsory three- to five-year funding is secured (approximately an additional $80,000 to $100,000), Application A at each of the schools will be submitted. Please note that application fees have gone up to $9,500 for schools starting the process in 2010.
December 2 Meeting for Diploma Programme
On Wednesday, December 2nd, Incline High School will host a meeting for parents of seventh through ninth grade students and their prospective IB Diploma Candidate children in the theatre at 5:30-6:30 p.m. During this meeting, school officials will discuss the specifics of the DP program, what it entails for all those involved, what our program may look like, and how to plan and prepare for becoming a candidate. This is an exciting time for both those living in Incline and even those living outside our area. Jeni Cross has been contacted by educators and students interested in our IB plans!
IB-IV in the News
Look for what should be a fantastic article about our three IB programmes in a future issue of Washoe Parent magazine. Jeni Cross is currently wrapping up the interview with the writer and believes that the piece will raise the awareness of Incline being the ONLY IB continuum in the area. We are the ?Education Destination? at the Lake!
Once Again
Please spread the word that IB-IV needs everyone?s help to make our K-12 IB continuum a reality. Please keep us in mind for any 2009 charitable contributions as the year ends. Investments in Incline Village education can be sent to the following address and remember to mark ?IB? in the memo area of your check. Remember that IB?s curriculum and methodology will be a benefit to ALL our students and has already begun to attract new students to Incline schools. In return, it is our hope that more homes will be sold and local businesses patronized. IB?s real benefit is to all of us.
Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation (ISAEF)/IB Program
P.O. Box 4153
Incline Village, NV 89450
We thank you for your interest in contributing towards this first phase of implementing IB in Incline?s schools. All donations will be processed through the Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation (ISAEF), a non-profit 501(c)3, Federal Tax ID# 94-3203434.
Send in a Donation
Just print out the pledge card (attachment below) and mail it to us at:
Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation / IB Program
P.O. Box 4153
Incline Village, NV 89450
Please help keep the implementation schedule on track. Sponsor a teacher?s training! The tax-deductible sponsorship is $1,500 for each teacher. Details...
Attached is a PDF copy of the letter that was recently mailed to Superintendent Morrison. This letter of support was unanimously approved at ISAEF?s meeting of 9/15/09.
09/23/2009,
Important Community IB Meeting Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30pm, the Chateau! »»
Come meet Washoe County's dynamic and energetic new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Heath Morrison. He will discuss why the International Baccalaureate (IB) program makes sense in general and specifically for our community. He intends to include an open Q & A session. This meeting is for anyone interested in the long-term health of Incline Village/Crystal Bay, so please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend as well. Childcare will be provided by ROTC volunteers from the high school.
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100310amp;Kategori=NEWSamp;Lopenr=100319998amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval is in favor of International Baccalaureate and its coming implementation in Incline's public schools.br /Sandoval, current U.S. District Court Judge who recently forfeited his lifetime appointment on the bench for an opportunity to run on the republican ticket for the Nevada governor's office, spoke to a crowded room Tuesday, March 9, at The Chateau during the Incline Village-Crystal Bay Republican Women meeting.br /I am largely in favor of choice education, Sandoval said. I understand Incline schools are considering the International Baccalaureate, and I would love to have the ability to work with school officials in Incline Village to help the process along.br /Sandoval lamented Nevada's current standing in nationwide education rankings.br /It pains me to see Nevada at the top of the list with regard to dropout rate and toward the bottom of the list when it comes to test perform/div/div/div Read more...
03/08/2010,
Final NIAA realignment vote expected Wednesday »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One predictable vote stands between Lake Tahoe high schools becoming part of the same Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association 3A-2A athletic league next fall.br /The NIAA Board of Control will make a final vote Wednesday on sweeping realignment changes. Months of special committee meetings have shaped the NIAA's two-year emergency realignment proposals.br /Nevada school superintendents approved emergency plans for reconfiguring Class 4A, 3A and 2A schools last month as the NIAA has tried to find ways to help its member schools save money during a lingering economic recession and keep student-athletes in classroom more.br /Nothing is for sure until (if and when) the board approves it next week, said Donnie Nelson, the NIAA's assistant director.br /If the NIAA passes the realignment proposal, the South Tahoe, Whittell, Incline, Truckee, North Tahoe and Sparks would become part of a Mount Rose League.br /Both Whittell and South Tahoe administrati/div/div/div Read more...
03/08/2010,
Just Jean: Broadway coming to Incline High School »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100308amp;Kategori=NEWSamp;Lopenr=100309927amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - What fun to catch a Broadway play right here in Incline with our own local talent on display.br /For the past few years the Incline High School has presented some of my all-time show favorites on the Incline High School theater stage -- Oliver!, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Lost Horizon - and each one has been a great chance to enjoy an evening at the theater Incline style.br /This year Incline High School has selected the production Grease. The show opened on Broadway in 1972 and closed after 3,388 shows in 1980 continuing on to become a film as well as a favorite for community, high school and middle school drama groups. The original Broadway version set in 1959 was raunchy, raw, aggressive and even vulgar. br /Incline High's much tamer version still features all of the favorite songs and an all star cast of IHS students in the familiar roles. If you have missed an IHS/div/div/div Read more...
03/07/2010,
International Baccalaureate: Second school district-led forum this week »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - The Washoe County School District has scheduled a community forum for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, at Incline Elementary School.br /The forum will follow a similar format as the Feb. 4 school district-sponsored meeting at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center, a WCSD spokeswoman said.br /The Feb. 4 community seminar, which drew about 100 residents and parents, featured presentations from Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez; Serena Robb, who has been hired by the district to coordinate implementation at Incline schools; and Daryl DiBitonto, current IB coordinator at Wooster High School.br /John Clark, Kathleen Watty and Sharon Kennedy - current administrators at Incline High, Middle and Elementary schools - also attended the meeting.br /The North Lake Tahoe Bonanza will provide live coverage of this week's forum through the Cover It Live program. The emerging technology allows a reporter to transcribe events as they happen, c/div/div/div Read more...
03/04/2010,
Incline's 'We the People' class looks for financial help to get to national finals »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100304amp;Kategori=NEWSamp;Lopenr=100309935amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Seventeen Incline We the People students are headed to the nation's capital this spring to represent the State of Nevada at the nation's foremost scholastic constitutional debate competition.br /That is, if they can get some financial help from the community first.br /The cost of sending the AP government students to the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national finals in April in Washington, D.C., is about $1,500 per student, with extra costs built to accommodate coaches and chaperones, said teacher Milton Hyams.br /(Community) donations achieve two goals: It helps the students finance the trip; more importantly, it demonstrates our community support of their effort to become more knowledgeable and involved citizens, said Hyams.br /Hyams has identified the fundraising goal of $30,000, with students able to raise $12,000 as of Thursday.br /The money goes to hotel rooms, meals and transportat/div/div/div Read more...
03/04/2010,
Incline basketball: Coach reflects on championship season; Witt, Ceragioli voted Players of the Year »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100304amp;Kategori=SPORTSamp;Lopenr=100309937amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'RENO - Incline's goal to start the season was so obvious, it went without saying. So they didn't even say it.br /We never really talk about winning state, Incline coach Schreiber said in early December, back when the Highlanders were 4-0 coming off a 63-55 win at 4A South Tahoe. br /Our goal is, we want to win every game that we play - which is obvious for any team - but our big goal right now is we want to win our last game. If you want to call that a state championship, you can call that a state championship. But that's our goal.br /Call it a state championship. It's official. The Highlanders earned every bit of it, then savored the taste with an extended celebration spread across the court at Lawlor Events Center. Hugs were exchanged and players bounded with joy as they released their pent-up mirth.br /The Highlanders won their last game, 71-64, against Lincoln County, and 25 games before that. They finished 26-3 overall, clobbering many an oppo/div/div/div Read more...
03/04/2010,
Local IHS students to receive awards at Nevada Museum of Art »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'The 2010 Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Nevada Museum of Art and will be open to the public. The Scholastic Art Awards is a prestigious national art competition sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists Writers. Students compete statewide and Gold Key winning art is sent on to compete nationally. The following Incline students wil be honored. Savannah Gossler received a Gold Key award for her art portfolio which will now be sent on to National Competition. And she received two separate individual Gold Key awards for individual art works that will also compete nationally. Sharon Gollery and Jordan Cronin received Silver Key awards for art portfolios. Receiving Silver Key awards for individual art works were Christian Joudon, Gina Tarantino (three individual pieces) and Kelly Young. Gold Key winning works will continue to be exhibited at the Nevada Museum of Art until Sunday, April 4. The Silver Key winning works will be shown d/div/div/div Read more...
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'Every Thursday in March, the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer its Basic Aid Training Course for youth ages 8 to 10 at 3 p.m. at the Incline Village Recreation Center. The first class begins Thursday, March 4. This course teaches basic skills and knowledge necessary for children to identify and prevent harmful situations, be able to treat common injuries and respond in emergency situations. Cost is $20 for all four sessions. The class limit is 15 students and is based upon a first-come first-serve basis, with advance registration required. Call (775) 298-0131 to register.br //div/div/div Read more...
03/03/2010,
International Baccalaureate: Supporters launch website, will form nonprofit »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Residents in support of International Baccalaureate announced this week the forming of a nonprofit group to gather funds to help its implementation in Incline's public schools.br /According to a Tuesday press release from Incline resident Nancy Dey Porten, International Baccalaureate Incline Village (IBIV) - referred to previously as IB in IV - is partnering with Washoe County School District to achieve the goal of 80 percent of Incline Village school students taking one or more AP or IB classes before graduation.br /The group's website, www.ibIncline.org, launched Tuesday.br /We've had to get our ducks in a row before we starting raising funds in earnest, said Incline resident and IBIV founding member Tom Bruno. When you approach individuals about donating to a cause, you need to demonstrate you have all the different components properly in place to be able to achieve your goals.#82/div/div/div Read more...
03/03/2010,
Incline Nordic racing: Swick, Kwasney one-two punch leads girls to state title »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100303amp;Kategori=NEWSamp;Lopenr=100309980amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'TRUCKEE, Calif. - After a long season of enduring tough workouts, stormy days and pushing through tired legs, the Incline High Nordic team - now no stranger to success - finally got its big reward last weekend, as its girls were crowned the open division state champions. br /The young squad of four earned the open division title behind a 1-2 sweep turned in by sophomore Melanie Swick and freshman Maddy Kwasny, respectively, who finished ahead of a number of varsity skiers in the two-day competition. br /The championship, held at Auburn Ski Club on Donner Summit, was run as a pursuit-style format. Racers took to the course on Friday for a 5-kilometer Classic race, which would determine their starting time and order for Saturday's 5-kilometer Freestyle race. Racers were started on Saturday based on their finish and time back from the leader in Friday's race. For example, if a racer placed third in Friday's race and finished 35 seconds behind the leader, th/div/div/div Read more...
03/02/2010,
International Baccalaureate: Incline parent, school district schedule separate info forums »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='story'UPDATED: Noon on Wednesday, March 3br /br /INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - An Incline parent is weary of school district meetings where he said officials repeat the same general buzzwords without discussing the particulars of International Baccalaureate.br /They are not answering the difficult questions, said Incline resident John Eppolito, a father of four students currently enrolled in the district and a former K-12 teacher who has emerged as a leader of the movement to slow implementation of the program at Incline's public schools.br /For this reason, Eppolito organized an IB informational meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, at the Incline Village Library.br /I am concerned with what IB is doing to our community, Eppolito said in a recent e-mail. People on both sides of this issue need to keep something in mind, we are not enemies. We all want what is best for the children of Incline.br /IB has divided communities acros/div/div/div Read more...
03/02/2010,
Old Lake Tahoe elementary school still awaits future »»
div id='bodyContainer'div id='mainBody'div id='picContainer'img src='http://www.tahoebonanza.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=TBamp;Dato=20100302amp;Kategori=NEWSamp;Lopenr=100309991amp;Ref=ARamp;MaxW=314amp;maxh=314' style='border:1px solid #c3c2c2;' /divdiv id='story'INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Sitting vacant, the old K-2 school in Incline Village is still waiting for a future.br /The Washoe County School District gave an informational report about the Southwood Boulevard property to its board of trustees on Jan. 26, but no action was taken.br /Mike Boster, WCSD capital projects planner, said after staff meets with superintendent Heath Morrison, it anticipates making a recommendation to the board in March or April.br /We're just kind of waiting to meet with our superintendent to see what his ideas are for next steps, Boster said.br /After appraisals late last year, the property's value was determined at $3.7 million to $4.6 million if the building is left on the property, and $4.6 million to $5.5 million if the building is demolished. According to previous reports, the building would require $10 million in renovations over the next 10 years and asbestos abatement work if left standing.br /Boster said given the property's val/div/div/div Read more...
RGJ
03/07/2010,
Nonprofit center to hold fundraising workshop »»
A three-part workshop on how to conduct fundraising is scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 17 and 24 at the Donald W. Reynolds Non-Profit Center, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village. Read more...
03/06/2010,
2A All-North Boys Basketball: Dykstra's 44 leads Incline to state title »»
Incline's 26-3 record this past season was impressive, but its 9-1 mark against teams from larger classifications was perhaps even more significant. Read more...
