-This program brought to you in part by the Erika Lewis Endowment Fund.

(Maria Silva) Coming up on Student Spotlight: Sparking interest in a Future Career.

Students at East Career and Technical Academy are learning to weld.

Then... Game on!

How adapted physical education makes play possible for everyone.

Plus... CCSD's Honor Choir preps for a big performance.

How this special program brings some of the district's most talented singers together.

-I love it!

-And... Cats in the classroom?

Why these furry friends make a big difference through pet therapy.

Those stories and so much more.

Student Spotlight starts right now.

[swiping sound] ♪♪ Welcome to Student Spotlight.

I'm your host, Maria Silva.

Happy to be here at John & Judy Goolsby Elementary School, Home of the Greyhounds.

Later in the show, we'll introduce you to some of the school's furry friends.

But first, Goolsby was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018, and today it continues to shine as a five-star school under the Nevada School Performance Framework, the highest rating possible.

So what does it take for a school to earn five stars?

Let's head to Darnell Elementary School, where students and staff went from being a one-star school to a five-star school in only two years.

(Jody Stenson) Go pick a spot wherever you want, wherever there's a question.

-Veteran teacher Jody Stenson-- -I think 22 years I've been at this school.

It's a long time.

- --teaches 3rd grade.

-It's called scoot.

It's a scoot activity.

(Luis) There's math equations, and we had-- And every time, like, the music played, we had to scoot over to a different table.

-Ready?

Scoot.

So instead of just doing problems at their seat, it's the kids are engaged, they're up, they're moving, they're laughing, we're listening to music, and we're trying to make it fun.

-And along with the fun-- -I like math a lot.

- --comes big strides, especially when it comes to stars.

(Ella) One star plus four stars equals five stars.

-Darnell Elementary School went from a one-star school to a five-star school in just two years, a huge jump.

(Christie Grandjean) Good job.

Okay, listen.

You're going to change one sound in "sat."

Make the word "bat."

-Powered by improved test scores in areas like English Language Arts.

-I think we all knew that we were never a one-star school to start.

-"Read by 3rd Grade" Literacy Specialist Christie Grandjean.

-Let's stretch it.

Ready?

Go.

[student sounding out a word] -I think our star rating increase started at the top.

It started with our administrators taking a really deep dive into the data that was telling us what we needed to do.

Our kids were telling us the whole time.

-I think we kind of were expecting to see that growth because we've really put the work in.

-4th grade teacher Kimberly Folle also credits teamwork.

(Kimberly Folle) We have really unwrapped the new curriculum that the district adopted.

We've worked really hard.

We are meeting the students where they are, helping them grow to their potential.

(Christopher Cunningham) What I think has changed since then is that the teachers have been given the resources that they need, and then they've been empowered to go solve the problems.

And then downstream of that, we're seeing some of these more positive results in terms of the increased attendance, increased test scores, things like that, that weigh into the star rating.

-Okay.

So you did 7 times what is 21?

-What's happened here is a lesson in improvement.

-All kids are different, and they're going to learn at different rates.

And I, as much as I love teaching and training to do it, I'm not a miracle worker.

But I can help every single child grow.

-And for students like Ella, it all adds up to a school they love.

-We have great principals.

We have lots of good teachers, lots of good kids, and I love the school so much.

It's fun.

-Congratulations to students and staff at Darnell, and keep up the good work.

While the most recent Nevada's report card shows a total of 32 Clark County School District schools earned those five stars, including our next school.

East Career and Technical Academy gives students a chance to earn industry recognized certifications before they even graduate.

One program is forging bright futures with hands-on experience in a high-demand career.

♪♪ (Marco Centeno) The name of the program that we're doing right now is Welding Technology, and I've been here since 2010 in this school.

(Matthew) I joined this program just because I like that hands-on learning.

Welding is something that's always piqued my interest, and it's something that I look to further a career into.

(Kamile) I decided to take welding because I saw it as something different, a new opportunity, and this seemed really exciting to me.

(Cecilia) I love the technicality of it.

I like how hands-on it is and how there's so much you can do with it and all the different applications you can apply it to.

-The first thing they're learning is they're learning all the skills that they need to stay hireable.

They're learning all the basics of the welding field: shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding.

Right now, we're using a pipe beveler so they can start their pipe welding.

They're doing quite a bit.

They're not going to be masters of all of them, but as long as they have a knowledge of it, they won't be so intimidated when they're out there.

-I think Mr.

Centeno, our instructor, puts a lot of shop experience into his curriculum.

Like, he definitely enforces and emphasizes how important it is to have good shop attitude and being in your PPE all the time, all that.

-My favorite part is the freedom you have in your creativity.

You can really create whatever you want by integrating what you learned in this class into a project.

And it's so rewarding at the end because the end product you have is so tangible; it's in your hands.

-I'm learning a lot.

Just being dedicated, disciplined, just trying, trying, trying over and over, finding out what works best, and just kind of problem solving is what I learned best from this.

-Well, we started by learning different weld symbols, how to draft and read it, read different drafts.

There's a lot of components that go into it that you have to keep an eye out for, and you have to be very focused to make sure you are creating quality welds.

-The students can earn a welding certification, because I am a certified welding inspector.

And when they earn that certification, they're able to present it to the job, and they get a better position to interview because of that certification.

-I think it guided me into my future, really, because it helped me find and decide what I wanted to do with my life.

I want to go into welding engineering, and I think-- I think that this program is what helped me decide what I wanted to do.

-I look to have a career in this field, and I think it's a great way to start and have an opportunity to learn first before I get out in the field.

-Freshman year, you're so timid and scared and, like, oh, my gosh, welding!

I'm really scared.

No.

Over time, you get used to it.

And over time you start loving it.

A lot of the students who are in their CTE programs, it helps them decide what industry they want to go into.

So I think that is very helpful.

-Apply to the classes.

See what you could get into.

Anything being outside or being in the shop kind of is great for anybody.

-I don't try to favor anybody.

If you do good, you do good.

If you do bad, I'll tell you about it.

I want you to do good.

I'm here for all my students.

-It's like, our community, no one here is scared to help each other.

No one here is scared to ask questions.

We're all here in this together and willing to learn together.

-That's incredible!

What an amazing opportunity.

Now let's head to Del Webb Middle School for our first "News Break."

♪♪ -Hi.

I'm Amelia from Del Webb Middle School, part of the multimedia Wrangler Rundown team.

-And I'm Audrey.

And we're here with your first "News Break."

-Calling all high school seniors.

Have you filled out your FAFSA yet?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is a tool to help pay for college.

Every senior should fill it out, no matter your family's income.

The whole process is online at fafsa.gov.

(Amber Steffener) Your FAFSA isn't just for loans and grants; it's part of an entire financial aid packet.

Colleges will look at that for grants and loans but also oftentimes scholarships.

-You and a parent, who are now called contributors, need to each create a separate ID on the website.

No sharing.

Parents can link their account directly to the IRS to verify income so there's no paperwork to track down.

Don't wait.

If you have any questions, talk to your school counselor.

-CCSD employees mix fitness with some Halloween fun.

Last month, the school district hosted its fourth annual Monster Dash and Wellness Fair at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson.

There was a 5K run, a 1.5 mile walk, and family friendly activity.

(Pogos Kazanchyan) This event is so unique, and this is the fourth year that we've been doing it.

It's great to see this turnout.

We're one of the only districts that does a 5K run for our staff, and we enhance it by doing a wellness fair.

It's just so great to give the opportunity for our community partners and our vendors to pour into our staff the same way they pour into our students every single day.

-The free event was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, and it's part of CCSD's commitment to making employees feel valued and supported.

-Looks like fun.

-We'll have more information about the Wrangler Rundown later in the show.

-But for now, let's send it back to Maria.

-Thank you, Amelia and Audrey.

Nice job, by the way.

Well, physical education for all, that is the mission of CCSD Adapted PE and its Paralympic Sports Club.

They even have a CCSD Paralympic Competition Team with students competing at national events.

I had the incredible honor of witnessing these athletes in action during Paralympic Sport Family Night.

-Kids will start rolling in, and they're going to do a warmup.

We have hand cycling and cycling; turbojav, which is a form of javelin; and then we have a discus throw.

-Paralympic Sport Family Night held at Rancho High School-- -And once the families show up, the magic just starts.

- --a magical and fun-filled night with some friendly competition.

-So you two can go over to javeline throw.

You can help teach them how it's done.

(Stefania) Not competitive-competitive, but like just a little.

-Here, you will witness some heartwarming moments and huge accomplishments.

-I did it, Mommy!

(Jarrad Clancy) Seeing the smiles light up and kind of connect, like, Hey, I can do sport, you know.

Because we provide adaptive equipment.

We have the skills and the staff here to help them.

-This special family night, part of CCSD's Adapted Physical Education department-- -Yes!

-Inclusion.

Inclusion is huge, yes.

It provides students with physical challenges and visual impairments the opportunity to see sport and get involved in athletics of some sort.

- --the department made up of more than 70 kind and caring Adapted PE teachers-- -Oh, yeah!

- --teachers like Jarred Clancy.

-We service all schools in the district for Adaptive PE, which is inclusion in PE, and then we have our programs such as this one, our Paralympic Sports Club and our Family Nights, that takes a crew.

And without our team, stuff like this, events like this, just don't happen.

-There you go!

-Each of these phenomenal athletes-- -Can I do it?

- --is an inspiration.

-Good job, Monroe!

-Athletes like 6th grader Stefania, who's part of the Las Vegas Paralympic Competition Team-- -I got like four gold medals.

-Cheering Stefania on from the sidelines, her proud mom, Vania Gutierrez.

(Vania Gutierrez) She loves like really, really.

It's like a-- And she says me every time, "When is Paralympic Night?

When is Paralympic Night?"

I'm so, so proud of her that the first time I saw her, like, running, I cried.

Every time that she does something, I cry because she really teach me that nothing is impossible.

-Stefania, who's been a part of this program since she was about five, knows that taking part in sports is also making her stronger every day.

-All of the teachers are very kind, and they help me with my left hand.

-Witnessing these incredible athletes firsthand, you will no doubt leave inspired and with a happy heart.

-Woohoo!

-You will also quickly learn that they are all part of a very special family.

-I just can't say enough.

I love what I do.

-These dedicated and compassionate Adapted PE teachers and these amazing athletes-- -They're doing a good job, too, and I can help.

I can help them, too, and they can help me.

- --are all winners-- -Try and do your best, and don't give up.

- --in my book.

I just can't say this enough: I left inspired and with a very happy heart.

I'm still smiling.

For the latest, make sure you follow them on their social platforms, including Instagram.

Another well-deserved shout-out to our amazing Adapted PE teachers.

Thank you for all that you do for our students.

Okay.

So we've heard of therapy dogs, but have you heard of therapy cats?

Hmm.

Well, students at this very school recently had a visit from a therapy cat named Big Boy, and Big Boy was joined by his friend Charlie the therapy dog.

Check it out.

-That's nice.

Well, our new kid's awesome.

This is Charlie, and that's Big Boy.

Can anybody tell us what a therapy animal is?

What do you think?

(Evangeline) Um, it is somebody who makes-- It is an animal that makes somebody feel happy.

-These happy students inside Ms.

Barrett's kindergarten class at Goolsby Elementary School were pleasantly surprised to not only get to hang out with a therapy dog-- -Who else wants to hold him?

We'll just take turns.

- --but also a therapy cat.

(Fox) I only knew what therapy dogs were.

I never knew that there was therapy cats.

(Jori Spangler) So you guys can pet him if you want.

Just be soft.

See how soft he is?

There are not that many therapy cats that actually pass the Pet Partner's evaluation.

So I had to take online tests, and then we had to go through about a 30-minute thing where he had to be held by people, and just different things to see how they react.

And they have to be calm, as you can see.

-Big Boy and Charlie, just two of the gentle therapy animals from Pet Partners of Las Vegas.

(Sue Grundfest) They don't criticize you.

They don't judge you.

They just receive you.

And when we choose pets for Pet Partners, it's a very strict evaluation, 23 elements.

The handler is tested as well.

We have to know what we're doing, but sometimes we have a pet that just has that extra something.

Big Boy has it.

Charlie has it.

-Following an engaging classroom presentation by a volunteer, Jori Spangler with her Big Boy-- -He is just unique.

- --and Pet Partners of Las Vegas president Sue Grundfest with her sweet Charlie.

-You don't remember anything about Charlie that's a little different?

-Is it, is it deaf?

-Yes, he can't hear.

He's deaf.

-Each student walks away with these cool trading cards, which include some fun facts about Big Boy-- -He's chill, and he's fluffy and soft.

- --and Charlie.

-That he's really nice.

-And when this really nice therapy dog and chill therapy cat visit schools, the hope is that students also walk away with some truly important life lessons.

-And I think it just teaches us that the connection has nothing to do with your language.

And I teach the children.

It's a different kind of communication, and it does teach kindness.

He's just laying there.

Yeah, because he loves his mommy.

-Well, this isn't the only school that gets special visits from Big Boy and Charlie.

They also visit our friends at Helen Marie Smith Elementary School.

They've been doing that for about 10 years now.

All right.

Now let's head back to Del Webb Middle School for our second "News Break."

♪♪ -Hi.

I'm Bennett from Del Webb Middle School.

-And I'm Jack, and we're back with the second "News Break."

-We are both part of the Wrangler Rundown multimedia program.

-We meet after school and work together to produce and deliver our school's daily student news in a professional and engaging manner.

-We get hands-on experience using platforms like WeVideo and Canva and also learn how to utilize graphics, animation, music, voiceovers, text, and transitions.

Transitions are a way to go from one part of the video to another, and we do all of that while filming and editing original content.

-Every week, we get to pick our own topics and develop an original video.

My favorite video I produced was interviewing teachers about why they became a teacher.

-And mine was history's greatest excuses.

We are using real-world skills that will help us in the future.

Plus, it's fun.

-Thank you for visiting us at Del Webb Middle School and learning more about the Wrangler Rundown.

(in unison) Now let's send it back to Maria!

-Thank you, Bennett and Jack and the entire team.

So much talent.

And what a great program!

I'm so impressed.

Well, on this show, we also like to shine the spotlight on the nonprofit organizations helping our CCSD students.

There are so many.

Just a bit ago, we introduced you to Big Boy and Charlie and the nonprofit Pet Partners of Las Vegas.

Well, now it's time to talk about After-School All-Stars Las Vegas and one of its more than, listen to this, 40 enrichment classes.

We stopped by West Prep Elementary School to check out their Lego Coding and Engineering class.

So very cool.

♪♪ -Students at West Prep Elementary School are busy building world famous monuments and landmarks with Legos.

-The Golden Gate Bridge.

-This Lego Coding and Engineering class, one of 40 enrichment classes offered by After-School All-Stars Las Vegas at 16 schools, completely free of charge to students and their families.

(Jodi Manzella) First and foremost, we keep the children safe.

We feed them.

We provide them academic support through the help of licensed teachers.

And then, the dessert of our program, are all of the different activities that you could think of.

-But this class is so much more than just students playing with Legos.

-I love Legos!

-A week before the big Lego build, students like Lenny and his teammate Jayden-- -We built the Washington Memorial.

- --and Justice and her building partner Gael-- -Something in my mind that just told me to make buildings or an Eiffel Tower, so I decided to make an Eiffel Tower because why not?

- --along with their fellow all-stars, had quite a bit of homework-- (Jasmine Gladney) All right.

Go ahead.

Take out your research paper part.

- --from a history lesson about their chosen landmark-- -Do you know where that tower is?

- --to figuring out the measurements needed to construct their masterpieces.

-If this is one, you need to go up eight more.

(Lenny) What I love about After-School All-Stars is an amazing program that, that there's like many classes.

Dr.

Gladney, Lego Engineer Coding--which is one of my favorites, by the way--it's such a good, it's such a great class.

A great teacher, Dr.

Gladney.

-And that great teacher, by the way-- -So he needs to know that it's 10 of these going up in 10.

- --is quite the Lego master herself.

-I collect them, I build them, and then I display them.

There you go, Johnny.

This gives the kids an opportunity to have hands-on, to talk with each other, to just kind of like socialize as they're building, and then it gets them more excited about it.

And then when you show them that, oh, well, you do need this part of the the science lesson in order to do this, it makes them, you know, more encouraged to do it.

-Encouraging students to use their imagination-- -Good job.

- --believe in themselves, and make positive choices-- (Justice) My advice is keep trying, believe in yourself, and just be you.

- --something After-School All-Stars Las Vegas has been building upon for more than 30 years.

-Like teamwork, there's no "I" in team.

-Yes!

-We finished!

[students cheering] -I agree.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Nice job, guys.

So brilliant.

And I have to say that Legos tend to bring out that inner child, so I had to get in on the fun.

Look what I made.

I think it's a robot or something.

I don't know.

I hope I get an A for effort.

I tried.

All right.

Well, we can't thank our friends at After-School All-Stars enough for all that you have been doing for students for 30 years and counting.

You are amazing.

Okay.

So now to a lesson in something else I love, music.

Students from across the district recently auditioned for a spot in Honors Choir.

Making this group is a big deal.

-Hey, y'all, we're looking at Sunday La Vida.

One, two, a one-two go.

(Mike McGrath) So today we are at the CCSD Middle School and High School Honor Choir.

This event we bring in nationally known clinicians to work with our students.

And then at the end of all this rehearsing, we'll accumulate a big concert at the end for the parents and community.

-Say with me, a, e-a, e-a, o.

[repeating] (Jeffrey Benson) I am the director of choirs at San Jose State University in San Jose, California, and I've been conducting choirs for the last 20 to 25 years.

[students singing] (Claudia) I just enjoy choir a lot, and I really like the inclusivity.

There's a bunch of different people from different races, different backgrounds, and it's like it's fun for me to get to know everybody and to get to sing with people that I may not sing with every day.

(Kristyanna) My family, they all love singing and growing up in an Islander background.

I'm Chamorro, so we all really do enjoy our music.

[students singing] -The students are spending two days together, sort of making music together and sort of really fine-tuning and getting to share some beautiful artistry and community together, getting to refine and make sort of art in a way that's maybe a higher level than they're used to making in their home schools.

(Gavin) And we get to learn how he is, who he is, and also learn great music at the same time.

♪♪ (Adrian) It's really an eye-opener because, like, you expect them to be strict or scary, but they're so fun and, like, easy to, like, talk to.

They make it fun, but you can still learn and, like, get the music done.

And it just sounds beautiful in the end, and it's nice to learn from them.

(Jaxson) I feel like the conductor really helps to think about when singing all sorts of things that help me to grow as a singer.

♪♪ (Aiden) This is one of the largest choirs I've ever been in, so there's a big difference between performing in a small choir versus a big choir, and you get a lot bigger scope when you're in a choir such as this one.

-Just one or two altos are rushing it and are not quite nailing it, but most of you have.

-Through this event, these students end up working on what we like to call durable skills, skills that will enable them to do things outside of the-- outside of just regular schooling: working together, problem solving, just the whole going through the whole process, working through nerves, public speaking, public singing, all the things that once they graduate, they'll have to use these skills outside of the classroom.

(Conley) I think it teaches me skills that I will use forever, you know.

It teaches me how to audition, which is kind of like an interview.

It teaches me how to blend with others, how to work with others, because singing and music isn't as much individual as it is working with a group and collaborating together.

(Molly) And I think just being able to be a sponge and suck in all the information that the conductor gives you, because they're giving you so many valuable lessons that you can implement outside of just the choir.

And so I think just learning to absorb all that information and apply it to both the music and to life.

[singing] -Can I hear it?

-If you want to have a career in music, it will really help you to sing in a choir like this.

-It's so uplifting and supporting, and it just makes you feel like you're a part of something.

And it just makes you really happy.

-By tomorrow night's concert, it's, it's really the levels that we leap to in just two days' time are really exciting and exceptional.

♪♪ -I love it!

-Bravo!

So talented.

Now, the district also offers Honors Orchestra and Honors Band for middle and high school students.

What an incredible experience.

I'm so proud of each and every one of you.

And speaking of talented students, we hope you join us next month for a very special holiday episode.

Every December, we invite student musicians from all over this school district into the Vegas PBS studios to perform just for you.

This show is always one of our favorites, and we hope you tune in to enjoy.

All right.

That does it for this episode of Student Spotlight.

A big thank-you to our friends here at Goolsby Elementary School for hosting us.

And don't forget that you can watch this episode and past episodes of Student Spotlight on the Vegas PBS website or YouTube page.

We will see you next month.

♪♪♪