Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 | 10 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
The Northern side of town
Las Vegas Sun sports reporters discuss "GPS Friday", when they headed out to North Las Vegas to get a handle on a few non-Henderson, non-Gorman teams. Who's better: Palo Verde or Arbor View? Is Centennial still a cinch for the playoffs despite a rough start? Listen for a conversation on those topics as well as many more.
Nothing can kick off homecoming weekend like a victory on the gridiron.
Chaparral earned its first shutout victory in six seasons with a 59-0 victory over Western.
With plenty of Chaparral alumni watching, the Cowboys (2-2) racked up 325 yards on the ground in a dominating victory.
The team also got a visit from legendary coach Bobby Johnson and the 1977 state championship team, including a talk from Bank of Nevada President John Guedry.
“I was impressed with (our players’) respect and interest at these events,” Chaparral coach Bill Froman said. “It’s nice to know their history. They know they have a history here at Chaparral, and they want to be a part of it.”
Richard Nelson had a stellar day for the Cowboys. He rushed for 123 yards on 10 carries with two scores. He also caught a 40-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown.
Travis Seiu scored three times on the ground to go with 70 yards.
“It was a good day,” Froman said.
Not so much for Western (0-4).
The Warriors have lost 22 consecutive games, which is coincidentally the number of players on their roster.
Chaparral High School has seen better days.
Once among the top performing schools in the Clark County School District, Chaparral High is undergoing changes to counter dismal test scores and the lowest graduation rate in the district.
The campus located near East Flamingo Road and U.S. 95 is one of five turnaround schools not meeting the expectations outlined in No Child Left Behind.
Chaparral is now looking to clean up its reputation, touching every aspect of the school from restrooms to test scores.
Changes weren’t received well by students who openly protested the cuts to faculty and the new order that banned the use of cell phones and music players during the school day.
Under stricter rules, tardy students are locked out of classrooms, bathroom breaks during class time aren’t allowed and the lunch hour was pushed back to 1:40 p.m.
Superintendent Dwight Jones told students he’s not settling for half successes.
“Right now, 50 percent of the kids in this school don’t graduate high school. Is that acceptable to you? Think about that. Right now, some of the friends that you’re with aren’t going to graduate. Is that OK? That’s unacceptable to me. I think you guys ought to kick all of us out.”
- Year built:
- 1971
- Mascot:
- Cowboys
- Principal (Year Hired):
- David Wilson (2011)
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,250
- School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
A fresh coat of paint and a fresh perspective are among the changes being made around Western High School.
Western is one of five turnaround schools that missed the marks set by No Child Left Behind and now faces the challenge of increasing student achievement.
The school is the third oldest in the district and its campus lies near Decatur Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Highway. The majority of students attending Western are minorities from disadvantaged homes. Western is known for having a rough past, but students are optimistic about the future of their school.
Change is apparent according to students interviewed in September.
“When I was in eighth grade, I was told I was going to get shot or stabbed when I came to Western,” said senior Kole Yanez, 17. “That might have been true 15 years ago, but now, you don’t see that here.”
Rules are tightly enforced on campus. The school keeps a strict dress code policy and cell phone use during class time is not permitted.
Halls are designated by grade level giving students a sense of ownership and community. Pride is clearly visible at pep rallies and sporting events. The newfound pride might just be he medicine needed to alleviate the 8 percent dropout rate, the highest in the district.
“It’s like building a house. You need a strong foundation,” said Neddy Alvarez, principal. “You need those strong relationships. When kids know we care about them, the learning will take place.”
- Year built:
- 1960
- Mascot:
- Warriors
- Principal (Year Hired):
- Neddy Alvarez (2008)
- Mission Statement:
- “The mission of Western High School is to promote scholarship, encourage good citizenship, and embrace our cultural diversity.”
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,400
- Notable alumni:
- Frank Hawkins, former NFL player
Capt. Nicole Malachowski, first female Thunderbird
Ronnie Vannucci, drummer of The Killers
Tom Collins, Clark County commissioner - School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
Paul Delos Santos can be reached at 990-2416 or mail to [email protected]. Follow Paul on Twitter at twitter.com/pauliedelos.
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