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

-Coming up on Student Spotlight... Meet members of Mariachi Los Pumas de K.O.

Knudson.

This middle school mariachi was named Best in the Nation.

Then... What does it take to perform at Carnegie Hall?

A Clark High School flutist knows.

We have her incredible story, plus... All aboard!

Tag along on a field trip to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and... meet the artists behind this year's Nevada Reading Week logo.

These stories and so much more on Student Spotlight.

[swiping sound] ♪♪♪ Thanks so much for joining us for this edition of Student Spotlight.

I'm your host, Maria Silva.

We are here at K.O.

Knudson Academy of the Arts, one of the Clark County School District's amazing middle schools.

And we are inside of their theater where students just wrapped up a production of "Beetlejuice."

Don't say that three times.

More on that, but first, March is Music In Our Schools Month as well as Youth Art Month.

And throughout the show, we'll shine the spotlight on some incredible student musicians, artists, and programs.

We began with National Champions Mariachi Los Pumas de K.O.

Knudson.

(male voice) [in Spanish]...middle school el Mariachi Los Pumas-- (Carla Beltran) A lot of us were shocked.

We didn't know if we should go up stage or like-- we were still processing.

Like me, when I heard that we got first place, I was like, I stayed frozen for like a good five seconds.

[cheers and applause] -It was a surreal moment for the talented students who make up Mariachi Los Pumas de K.O.

Knudson.

[cheers and applause] (Aileen Estrella) I was so shocked.

Like, if you saw the video they recorded, I was saying, No way.

I was like, No way.

Is this true?

-Oh, it's true.

And this incredible honor, well deserved and long overdue.

(Johnny Gonzalez) We competed at the 30th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza in San Antonio, Texas, which is the largest national mariachi competition for school groups, middle school and high school.

♪♪♪ We've been competing at this event every year that I've been here, so for the past 13 years.

And this is the first time that we've won.

-The first national title trophy will soon be joining the many trophies Mariachi Los Pumas has won since the program started 20 years ago.

-We always go out and do events in the community.

Parents love it, you know, the mariachi, and it just does a good job of bringing the community in.

And we've become like this tight knit group, and it helps the students to become more involved in school.

-Everybody in the group, we all put our effort, and I see that, all of us, we work hard because we all have the same objective.

We all want to make sure this group is strong.

-This group is also strong thanks in part to their dedicated mariachi instructors.

-I'm one of two directors.

Our other amazing director who's in charge of our violins and our voices is Yasmin Duenas.

[singing] We're fortunate here that we have a harp instructor, Hector Aguilar.

I'll give him a little shout-out.

-Well, like everyone here is super talented.

And like, working together with him is like, I'm honored.

-This honor and national title, also a win for their school, the community, and their families.

-Like we, as the teachers, we teach the kids and they go perform.

But none of what we do with mariachis Los Pumas would be possible without the parents' support.

So I think for them, I was most happy for them and their sacrifice because, like I mentioned, 13 years-- this was 13 years in the making.

I had family members and parents and alumni, former students going all the way back to the beginning that were congratulating us, and they felt like this was their victory as well.

-One, two... ♪ Los Pumas!

♪♪ -Bravo!

Que Orgullo, so very proud.

We are also proud of Mariachi Los Gavilanes de Monaco Middle School.

These talented musicians placed 3rd in this important competition, so two CCSD schools in the top three.

That is pretty impressive.

Congratulations.

And now to Clark High School, where a freshman flutist was recently chosen for the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.

That's right, she traveled to New York City to perform on one of the world's most famous stages with some of the world's best young musicians.

It is a Thursday morning at Clark High School.

-One, two, and out.

-The class, Intermediate Band.

(Francesca Srinarayana) This is what I wanted to play.

Um, so when I picked it up first, I was like, wow.

-And Freshman Francesca Srinarayana is back in Las Vegas after a life-changing trip to New York City.

-I wanted to go because, like I said, I really love my instrument, and I really like to get to know people that also, like, are interested in the same things that I am.

(Cynthia Ferris) It's a lifetime experience.

It's something nobody can take away.

-Private flute instructor, Cynthia Ferris.

-It's called Honors Performance Series.

It started in 2010 as an opportunity for high school students to perform at Carnegie Hall.

-Francesca auditioned for the opportunity via video.

And then came the email.

-It said, Congratulations, you were accepted.

And I was in the symphonic orchestra, and that's the highest one that there is, so I was really happy.

-Not long after, Francesca and her mom were on a plane to New York City.

(Gina Srinarayana) I just feel like music is an international language that everybody understands and can appreciate, and so I want her to be able to experience it and share it.

-First came rehearsals... -There was a couple kids from outside of the U.S.

They were all, like, high school students like me.

They were amazing.

Like, they were really good players.

They were the best.

-...before the big performance at Carnegie Hall.

-It was like my jaw was on the floor.

It was so big.

-It was wonderful to have my daughter on the Carnegie Music Hall stage playing an instrument that she loves.

-The Honors Performance Series was an incredible learning experience... (Julio Vargas-Guerra) Any kind of honor group, especially something like that where it's at the national level, it helps kids get inspired, but also it introduces them to much more challenging music, which is always good for their growth.

-I think it's helped me, not just in music, but in other places, like my work ethic and everything.

-...and celebration of talent... -Francesca is a natural with the flute.

We learned several years ago that the wand picks the wizard, and the flute picked Francesca.

It was just a natural fit for her.

-...that has inspired Francesca in so many ways.

-I'm going back into the spring for spring break, and I want to go back to Carnegie Hall so I can watch, like, a "professional" professional orchestra play.

-Congratulations, Francesca.

So proud of you.

And we should mention that more than 10,000 students were nominated for the Honors Performance Series between all of the ensembles.

What an incredible honor to be selected.

Now let's toss it over to Alazar at Cashman Middle School for our first "News Break."

-Hi.

My name is Alazar from James Cashman Middle School, and I'm here with your first "News Break."

Did you know the Clark County School District offers free pre-kindergarten for about 12,000 students?

Pre-K enrollment is now open for the 2025-2026 school year.

To be considered a student, you must be three years old before August 1, 2025, you cannot be eligible for kindergarten enrollment, and a parent or guardian must transport the student to and from school.

Most programs are half-day.

You can learn more and find the pre-K interest form on the Clark County School District's website, ccsd.net.

And a big congratulations to the winners of the Black History Challenge.

Faith Lutheran High School took home the trophy after competing in the final round against Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

The Black History Challenge is an academic quiz show.

Schools from all over the valley compete.

You can watch the finals on the Vegas PBS website, vegaspbs.org.

Later in the show, I'm excited to share how my podcast, "Voices for Change," was featured by a PBS station as part of the Youth Media Challenge.

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

-Thank you, Alazar.

I cannot wait to hear more about your wonderful podcast.

Alazar mentioned the Black History Challenge.

There's another quiz program featuring local students that also tapes at Vegas PBS.

We went behind the scenes of Varsity Quiz.

(Mark Argento) I'm from Advanced Technologies Academy, also known as A-Tech, and I'm participating in the Silver League Semifinals for the 2024-2025 Varsity Quiz season.

-How do you feel?

-I'm excited.

I'm a little nervous.

(Kevin Lee) Oh, I'm from Palo Verde, and today I will be competing on Varsity Quiz with my teammates.

(Sheila Parise) Varsity Quiz is actually in its 56th year.

So it's one of the more seasoned, I guess activities, at CCSD.

It's run in like three rounds, kind of like Jeopardy.

There's-- but we do have, like, because we have four students compete on a team on television, we have a bonus round, which is the second round, so the teams can confer.

That's a little bit different than Jeopardy.

(Nathan Tannenbaum) Coming up next, it's Palo Verde... [cheers and applause] ...taking on A-Tech!

[cheers and applause] This is Varsity Quiz!

[crashing sound] ♪♪♪ -I got involved because I really like learning new stuff, and I also like sports.

And I feel like Varsity Quiz really combines those two in a fun and interesting manner.

It also helps our critical thinking skills, because we need to think on the moment and really just come up with answers that nobody really thinks that we can.

- Varsity Quiz is about inclusivity of a huge amount of information.

And so what ends up happening is you have people who are relatively good at certain topics, and so I think that the specialization of each of the team members that we have is going to end up carrying the day.

[buzzer] -That's A-Tech, Mark: Ovid -Well, for the students, they just have a lot of fun.

It is a lot of fun, and you get to do-- we get to do, like, competitions every week.

They get to look forward to it, they get to practice, you know, and they look really smart on TV when they-- and they are.

They're super smart.

And that's what I think is good for the community is a lot of times we, you know, cheer on athletes and those, you know, with physical abilities.

But these guys are academically gifted, and these are the kids going to MIT and, Harvard and just doing some amazing things.

And I think, you know, our-- to showcase the things that are happening in our public schools when there's a lot of bad news going around about public schools, I think this is absolutely wonderful, the community to see these kids.

And people watch it.

[crashing sound] -Final score: Palo Verde 60, A-Tech 140.

Thank you to both teams, an incredible match.

[applause] -Scholarship awards are given to the top two ranking teams and the Howard Naylor Outstanding Player.

So congratulations to all these talented students.

And you can catch Varsity Quiz on Vegas PBS Mondays at 7:30 or anytime at vegaspbs.org or on the PBS app.

All right, listen up.

Here's a Varsity Quiz-style question just for you: Which local nonprofit organization partners with CCSD schools to take students on educational field trips?

Any guesses?

-Get Outdoors Nevada!

-Yay!

If you all guessed Get Outdoors Nevada, you are right.

And we were lucky enough to tag along on one of those awesome field trips.

Check it out.

♪♪♪ -Fourth graders at McCaw STEAM Academy boarded a bus and headed off on a fun adventure.

(Iris) Who's ready for a field trip today?

(students) Me!

-But before arriving at their first field trip destination, a few Nevada history lessons.

-All right, guys.

So what was the name of Hoover Dam before it was called Hoover Dam?

(a student) Boulder Dam.

-Boulder Dam, that's right.

And Boulder City gets its name from Boulder Dam.

And Boulder Dam gets its name from Boulder Canyon.

-From the bus to the trains.

-Choo choo!

All aboard!

[train whistle] (tour guide) Welcome to the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

We are one of the seven state museums here.

(Joe Kennedy) We have trains that were actually involved in the construction of the Hoover Dam, which is something that they're learning about in their classroom right now in their Nevada State History lessons.

So coming out and actually seeing them, being able to experience them, walk through them, it brings what they're learning in their classroom, it really brings it to life.

-You look to your left, what do you think that is?

It's a caboose.

-This exciting... (Valentina) My favorite part was going in the, in the big ones and looking all over and, like, experience it how like it is in real life.

-...and educational field trip... (Xavier Salom) Discovering about trains, how it powers it; travel, what it was like back in the day.

-...one of 20 CCSD field trips organized by Get Outdoors Nevada this school year alone.

As a nonprofit, Get Outdoors Nevada relies on community support, and that includes support from former CCSD educators.

-Alison Kasner was one of the family members that's here with us, and Alison actually started these trips because she was a CCSD educator and a CCSD principal.

She was a CCSD special education teacher for many years, and so she has a deep passion for the learning experiences for students that can happen outside of the classroom.

-Organizers hope these great field trips spark curiosity.

-Question?

-Where was the toilet in there?

[laughter] -The students walk away with lifelong memories and a new found appreciation for Nevada history and the outdoors.

-I love getting outdoors because I get to, like, experience the world.

I love how they just teach us so much new things, and they teach us all the history of Nevada.

And we can share it to all our family members and our friends.

-Thank you!

-You're welcome.

I hope you guys have learned so much today.

-We have.

-And may have spiked some interest in learning some more about something.

-Yes, learning how they were able to get their bathroom time in privacy.

[laughter] -Getting on those trains was pretty cool.

So much history, and watching the kids' reaction was also pretty awesome.

Special thank-you to the wonderful teachers and staff at McCaw STEAM Academy and our friends at Get Outdoors Nevada for letting us come along for the ride.

Head to getoutdoorsnevada.org for more information on upcoming events for the entire family.

You can also sign up to become a volunteer.

And listen up, teachers and educators.

On the website you can also find information on education programs and resources.

All right.

Now let's head back to Cashman Middle School for our second "News Break," where Alazar talks about a very special PBS project that he was part of.

-Hi.

I'm Alazar from James Cashman Middle School, here with your second "News Break."

For this break, I'll share my own experience participating in the Youth Media Challenge.

The KQED Youth Media Challenge invites middle and high school students to explore how they see themselves, their world, and their future by creating original audio, video, and images and publishing them on the challenge showcase.

The focus of my project is specifically racial equality and justice.

I believe, personally, that justice needs to be served, and that's when racial equality comes into play.

We still have some discrimination here in the United States, and my goal for the future is for that "some" to become "none."

Yes, I have received recognition for my project.

Along with others, my project was shown on the Black Voices playlist.

You can see it for yourself and along with other projects on the Youth Media Challenge's website, youthmedia.kqed.com.

That's it for "News Break" from James Cashman Middle School.

Now back to Maria.

-I can't wait to listen to your podcast.

Thank you so much, Alazar, and great work.

Well, as its name indicates K.O.

Knudson is an academy of the arts.

The amazing mariachi program, just one of ten programs here at the school.

And joining me now is Magnate Coordinator Mrs. Cardy.

I have the biggest smile on my face.

I've been learning how to dance from your Ballet Folklorico.

Let's talk about some of those ten programs, including this one.

Very unique.

(Chantay Cardy) So this program is extra special because we are the only middle school in all of Clark County School District that offers a three-year program in Ballet Folklorico in middle school.

-And these talented students, many of them, we featured them in the mariachi segment as well.

-A lot of our students, well, all of our students actually here at K.O., have the ability to take two electives at the same time.

So kids might come in and be like, I really love mariachi, I also love folklorico.

And here at K.O., they can do both.

-Okay.

Let's talk about other programs.

We're here, your beautiful theater.

We just got done with "Beetlejuice."

Again, don't say it three times.

-It was an amazing production, "Beetlejuice Junior."

So MTI does a thing where they shorten programs for students to perform at lower levels.

And so our kids worked since October, putting this together.

We had a beautiful art exhibit.

So our visual arts students created the art, and a lot of the art that you see on stage and out in the audience, you'll see it as well and in the lobby.

So all the kids participated, and then our Tech Theater worked on it, and then our Musical Theater students, which our Choir and Theater students come together.

So it was a really big production.

We're so proud of them.

It was amazing.

-And I'm so proud.

I've had fun dancing with the students.

Thank you for what you do for all these great students.

And one of our oldest schools here in Southern Nevada, around since 1960, right?

-1961 we opened our doors.

-All right, guys, I'm going to keep dancing.

Thank you, and you know too, right?

-I do.

I don't have a skirt.

-Speaking of musical theater, students from six CCSD elementary schools will soon take the stage at Reynolds Hall at the Smith Center to perform numbers from Disney Kids musicals, including The Jungle Book, Aladdin, The Aristocats, and Frozen-- Let it go.

I had the incredible honor of sitting in on one of those dress rehearsals.

(Corey Williams) My favorite line, it has to be... "I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs."

-Like getting a warm hug is exactly how it felt watching these talented students take the stage for their dress rehearsal.

(Janiyah Maxey) We had to learn a bunch of dances to the songs and a bunch of blocking, like a lot.

-Janiyah and Corey, two of the 34 students at Dean Petersen RISE Academy, introduced to the magical world of musical theater... [singing "Let it Go"] -...thanks to the Disney Musicals in Schools program and the Smith Center.

(Candy Schneider) For these kids to be introduced to musical theater in this way, we hope that they develop a love and interest in doing so.

It helps with literacy.

They have to learn their lines, they have to read their scripts, they have to rehearse.

There are so many life skills that are involved with it.

-I love you, Elsa.

-An act of true love will thaw a frozen heart.

(Cody Stover) They've grown just so much, comparing September when we first started to now.

Just the singing is-- there are just moments in there that are, they just light up, right?

It's everybody stands up and they sing.

♪ For the first time in forever ♪♪ -Maybe there was a solo right beforehand.

♪ The snow glows white on the moutain tonight, not a footprint to be seen ♪♪ -I think the best singing in this show is their ensemble singing when everybody just comes together as one team and they just sing out.

And it's incredible what they, what they can do with just their voices.

♪ Dont' let them in Don't let them see ♪♪ -Those beautiful voices will be heard by not only their fellow students, parents, and teachers, but by hundreds when they take the stage at the world renowned Smith Center alongside students from five other CCSD schools.

-There's an opening number that they all join in.

It's choreographed.

It's absolutely wonderful.

-I see excitement, nervousment, and a lot of other emotions that I can't really name.

-I can name several, pride included.

♪ Do you want to build a snowman?

♪♪ -I am certain that every student in this cast is gonna walk away from that experience and just feel lit up and feel like rock stars that they are and that they deserve this opportunity.

♪ ...and surrounded by a family... ♪♪ -It's Broadway or bust for some of these young stars.

-'Cause I love expressing myself, and I love to act because, like my mom says, I'm so dramatic and all that.

So like, yeah.

-As for Olaf... -Did Elsa build you?

-Yeah, why?

-...I mean Corey, his bright eyes are set on Hollywood.

-And be a big movie star.

-Bravo!

All of these students are superstars in my eyes, so much talent.

I am beaming with pride.

And by the way, since beginning its affiliation with Disney Musicals in Schools, the Smith Center, listen to this, has helped more than 50, you heard right, 50 CCSD schools establish their theater programs.

That too deserves a Bravo.

Thank you for all you do to help our students.

Well, Nevada Reading Week just concluded in this year's theme, Color Our World With Books.

You probably saw this super cool logo on T-shirts, flyers, and just about everything.

But did you know that this logo was designed by a Nevada student?

In fact, more than 750 students from across the state took part in the Nevada Reading Week Art Contest to create this year's official logo, and the grand prize winner is from Eldorado High School.

-My name is Kaelynne Kindred, and I am a junior here at Eldorado High School.

What I like about drawing is that you can just basically create anything.

(Mandy Leytham) So Nevada Reading Week is a statewide celebration of the love and joy of reading.

So every year we have a new logo that matches the theme.

So this year is Color Our World With Books.

In the spring we do a big announcement, and then that leads into the student art contest.

(Jenny Buckley) Our librarian forwarded me information about the Nevada Reading Week contest, and I opened it up to National Art Honor Societies.

-I tried to make it as simple, because I didn't want too much, so it didn't look like the prompt.

But yeah, that's basically it.

I tried making it simple.

So I just made like literal books coloring the world like as little characters.

-We felt like her theme was just a very unique take as to having the books actually coloring the world.

And we thought that this theme would appeal not only to high school students, but to students in elementary school as well.

-And hers was kind of straight to the point, and it just showed something kid friendly as well.

I thought it was a perfect design.

-I was very surprised, because I was walking home and I didn't expect anything at all because I was doing it for fun.

And honestly, it was pretty worth it, because I got to see my art up in a website and all around Nevada, and people are supporting it.

-I think sometimes we focus on the importance of reading.

We forget that there's also a lot of joy that happens in reading, and I think that's what the art contest is truly about.

It's about the joy of reading and expressing that joy through many different ways.

-It's like, oh, my gosh, that's amazing for Eldorado.

We have a lot of talent here, and I just feel like they should be recognized more for that.

-She was really proud of me, and I'm proud of myself, yeah.

-You should be proud of yourself.

-I am very proud.

It's pretty fun seeing your own artworks.

-Kaelynn, I'm proud of you, too.

Nice job.

Well, the Nevada Department of Education coordinates Nevada Reading Week and the art contest.

You can check out the honorable mention logo winners at nevadareadingweek.org.

Congratulations to all of the talented winners.

And speaking of Nevada Reading Week, I was one of the many guest readers who visited CCSD schools throughout Nevada Reading Week.

I stopped by Rogers Elementary School and McCaw STEAM Academy, and I can tell you had so much fun reading to these wonderful and very smart students.

And by the way, I was lucky enough to borrow these books.

I checked out this book from our Vegas PBS Special Needs Resource Library, and this one I borrowed from our friends at Vegas PBS Ready To Learn.

Well, that does it for this episode of Student Spotlight.

Gracias to the amazing students and staff here at K.O Knudson Academy of the Arts for hosting us.

I had so much fun.

And a quick reminder that you can find this episode and past episodes of Student Spotlight on the Vegas PBS website and YouTube page.

Thanks so much for watching, and we will see you next month.

Hasta luego.

♪♪♪