From the Superintendent #9

Focus: Every decision begins with what’s best for students.

Growth: Every student, every employee, and every school improves every day.

Excellence: We pursue high expectations in everything we do.

Dear WPCSD Families and Staff,

As we welcome November, we are reminded that the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are getting colder! With the time change this past weekend, please be mindful of the darker mornings and evenings, especially as our students travel to and from school and participate in after-school activities. We encourage everyone to be extra cautious on the roads, watch for students and school buses, and help keep our school communities safe.

A special thank you to White Pine High School for hosting the annual Career, College, and Military Fair this week! This event provided incredible opportunities for students from WPHS, Lund, and Steptoe Valley High School to explore their futures, connect with colleges, military representatives, and businesses, and learn about the many pathways available after graduation. We appreciate all the local, state, and out-of-state organizations that participated, especially our WPHS alumni who returned to share their experiences and inspire our students. These opportunities are so important as we prepare our students for success beyond high school.

Congratulations to the Lund High School Volleyball Team! What an outstanding accomplishment to earn your way to the State Tournament this weekend! Your hard work, determination, and teamwork have paid off, and we are so proud of you. Good luck at State! We will be cheering you on!

Let's also cheer on our White Pine High School Football Team as they compete in the semifinal game this Friday at WPHS! What an exciting season for our Bobcats! We encourage our families, staff, and community to come out, show their school spirit, and support our student-athletes as they continue their journey through the playoffs. Go Bobcats!

As we move forward into the second quarter of the school year, our focus remains on intentional teaching, meaningful learning, and academic excellence in every school and classroom. This is an important time to reflect on the progress made during the first quarter, celebrate growth, and identify areas where we can continue to improve. Our goal is to ensure that every student is challenged, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning, set goals, stay engaged, and strive for their personal best.

Our district's commitment to Focus, Growth, and Excellence continues to guide the work we do each day. When our staff, students, families, and community work together with a shared purpose, great things happen!

Thank you to our dedicated staff for the incredible work you do every day and to our families for your continued partnership and support. Let's make this second quarter one of growth, achievement, and success!

Angie Angelopoulos
Superintendent, White Pine County School District
Focus • Growth • Excellence

Teachers and staff have been picked. Awards will be presented in November. New quarter awards for nominations will be in next newsletter.

11/2/26

• WPHS Career Fair
• WPHS Honor Choir heads to Elko
• DEN STEAM Clubs
• MHS- Depression

11/3/26

• Lund: Academic Olympics
• Election Day
• Honor Choir in Elko
• 6:00 WPCSD Board Meeting
• MHS: Your Active Child: ADHD

11/4/26

• 3:45 Districtwide PLC- Elementary with Kristy
• 4:30 Culinary Club Meeting WPHS
• MHS: NEW Facing the Opioid Crisis

11/5/26

• MHS- Grief- The Healing Process

11/6/26

• 8:00 Administrator's PLC at District Office
• Volleyball State @ North
• WP Quarter Finals- Football
• 8:00-12:00 SVHS Friday School

11/7/26

• Cross Country- Reno
• Volleyball State @ North
• WP Football Quarter Finals at WP

11/9/26

• Lund Academic Olympics
• 8:45 Sped PLC at District Office
• 3:30 DEN STEAM Clubs
• MHS: Tools to Support Your Child's Mental Health

11/10/26

• 2:30 McGill Veteran Day Assembly
• 7:00 Choir Benefit Concert at WPHS
• MHS Parenting Through Anxiety and Depression

11/11/26

• VETERANS DAY: NO SCHOOL

11/12/26

• MHS: What Parents Need to Know about Suicide

11/13/26

• Lund: Chili Cook Off
• 9:00 pm Adult Prom at Mr.Gs.
• WP Football Semi Finals

11/14/26

• WP Football Semi Finals

Have an amazing weekend!

We are still in the process of building the school with the architects. Once we complete, then the plans will go to contractors to bid in December. We are very excited as we plan for the new school, but still in the beginning stages. We are hoping to have our new school built and start by August, 2029. This is a much needed building for our students and community.

On Monday, November 2nd, White Pine High School hosted its annual College and Career Fair, welcoming representatives from local, state, and out-of-state businesses, organizations, military, and colleges. Students from White Pine High School, Lund High School, and Steptoe Valley High School had the opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways, educational programs, and opportunities available to them after graduation.

It was especially wonderful to welcome back so many WPHS alumni who returned to share their experiences, career journeys, and advice with our students. What a great example of our graduates giving back to their community and inspiring the next generation of leaders!

A special thank you to all the businesses, colleges, alumni, and organizers who took the time to invest in our students' futures. Events like these help our students see the many possibilities ahead of them and encourage them to begin planning for their goals and dreams.

At WPCSD, our vision is to collaboratively grow leaders who will change the world, and this event was a wonderful example of that vision in action!

If a student has a nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit image or video of themselves that was taken when they were under 18 and they believe it may be shared online, Take It Down can help. This free service from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) helps stop the online sharing of these images. Students can use the service anonymously, and the image or video never leaves their device.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) still has free youth combination hunting and fishing licenses available for Nevada youth ages 12–17 through the Nevada Youth License Fund.

While funding remains available, families can visit ndowlicensing.com, add a youth combination license to their cart, and the cost will automatically be covered at checkout. Licenses are also available anywhere NDOW licenses are sold, including NDOW offices and participating retailers such as Sportsman’s Warehouse and Walmart.

NDOW encourages school administrators to help spread the word by sharing this opportunity with students and families in their communities.

Through our new Connecting Kids to Coverage grant funded by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, The Children's Cabinet's Early Childhood Community Health Workers are now available to support families with new or renewal Medicaid/CHIP applications. This is a great opportunity for families to get direct support from an Early Childhood Community Health Worker in accessing health care! Please see our attached flyer for how to connect with the Early Childhood Community Health Worker team.

The Nevada Teen Peer Support Text Line is a stigma-free, non-crisis peer support text service for adolescents and young adults ages 24 years and younger. Youth can text in at 775-296-8336 from 10 a.m. to midnight 7 days a week and 365 days per year to be connected for a one-on-one text conversation with a young adult Peer Wellness Operator. The Nevada Teen Peer Support Text Line is confidential and staffed by trained young adult peers in recovery who provide support from lived experience to youth impacted by mental illness or life stressors. The teen text line online chat feature is available to all Nevada youth at https://namiwesternnevada.org/. Contact Carissa Parsons for more information at carissa.namiwnv@gmail.com.

Mrs. Kelly Sturgeon is our White Pine High School Principal. This is her 4th year as a principal at the school, where previously she was the Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and an ELA teacher for many years at the high school. She has also been the principal at Steptoe Valley High School. She is an alumni graduating from White Pine High School before going to college to come back to her hometown to be an educator. She is in the role that she loves and is moving the school to high achievement and successful graduation ratings.

Thank you, Kelly, for all the hard work you do at WPHS. You are greatly appreciated.

Mrs. Mele Kingston will tell you that all she wants our kids to have is healthy, delicious meals everyday in all of our schools. She is our Nutrition Director with Chartwells who provides breakfast, lunch and nutrition break foods. She is a dynamic, hard worker who works many hours each week to make sure all the schools are taken care of and have what they need. She loves working with the kids and the staff in White Pine. We are SO lucky to have her.

Thank you for all the hard work you put in everyday. It does not go unnoticed. We appreciate you very much!

Mrs. Liz Speakman is our ELA, Leadership teacher, mentor and coach at White Pine Middle School. She wears a lot of hats in our district and we are so grateful for her experience, dedication, and hard work. She is also an aspiring administrator who is currently dabbing her toe into the waters of administration. During the winter, she is skiing on the slopes and tries to get other middle school students to ski by taking them to the slopes once a year.

Thank you for all that you do at WPMS and in our district!! We greatly appreciate you!

Mrs. Peterson is another social worker/counselor in our district. You can find her at McGill Elementary, Steptoe High School and White Pine High School. She leads social emotional programs at each school and sees students who are in need. Her quiet, caring demeanor calms and supports students. She also volunteers for PTO at DEN Elementary and the Hope Squad. She is a fantastic colleague who steps in whenever help is needed. We greatly appreciate you, Lisa! Thank you for being part of WPCSD!

Students who have health plans were sent a letter at the end of July for notice to be updated with your doctor. These need to be turned in to Heather before school starts.

Immunizations need to be current for your child to attend our schools. Please get the required immunizations done before school starts and provide copies of your shot record to the school.

Thank you for your attention in this matter. We want all of our students to be safe and cared for in our schools.

If your child needs bus transportation, you need to sign them up. Please do it as soon as possible so they can ride on the very 1st day.

This needs to be done each year even if your child rode the bus last year. As the year progresses, please update your address if you move with your administrative secretary at your school or call the district office.

Click the link below to fill out the form or use the QR code.

This year, student breakfasts and lunches are free at every school in White Pine. Use the link to get the monthly menus.

Many parents call us about strong-willed, stubborn, or downright defiant kids. These children can be loud and assertive in their interactions; they're definitely not shy. Occasionally, we hear from parents who are worried because their kids appear shy and withdrawn. They ask how to help them become more outgoing or assertive, assuming the behavior is abnormal and needs correcting. However, there are three major reasons children might appear this way.

Naturally Introverted Children

Kids who are perceived as “shy” may simply be naturally introverted. They are good and responsive children who behave and react differently from extroverts. There are many famous, productive introverts, including J. K. Rowling, Steven Spielberg, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton. The best way to handle these kids is to understand and accept them for who they are.

Kids Seeking Attention
Some children might be shy and withdrawn because this behavior becomes a “hook” they unconsciously use to upset their parents. These kids want an emotional response and may go to great lengths to get it. If a child learns that being shy and withdrawn leads to parental frustration and attention, the behavior may become more pronounced over time.

Other Reasons
Children may appear shy because they've been hurt and have learned not to trust others. Some kids give the appearance of being extremely shy and withdrawn. They simply won't talk to anybody about anything. In this situation, professional help may be needed. A thoughtful and wise therapist might be able to form a trusting relationship with a child and help them express themselves verbally, reducing their need to withdraw.

No matter what the cause is, parents can best handle the situation by accepting the child for who they are. In all these situations, parents are advised to show empathy and encourage their children instead of badgering them about being shy.

Parents can become frustrated with their kids' behavior for many reasons. Whether a child is defiant or appears shy, Love and Logic's principles and techniques can help parents maintain a calm, peaceful home.

Our audio, Keeping Cool When Parenting Heats Up, will give you proven tools for managing emotions during stressful moments, whatever the cause.

If your child is new to our district, you must do an online registration first. Once that is done, then you will need to go to the school's office to give your immunization records, birth certificate, and fill out some forms. In order for your child to start on the 1st day of school, please have this done as soon as possible.

Click below the link for Infinite Campus

The school district policy follows the state of Nevada policies to have every student attend every day in school. Students who miss more than 10% (14 days) in a school year are subject to truancy citations, loss of credits, and or not being promoted to the next grade. If your child is sick or cannot come to school, please make sure you call the school to excuse them.

Do you love kids and love to drive? We have the perfect job for you! Become one of our finest WPCSD Bus Drivers. We need bus drivers for routes and sports travel trips.

We need substitutes at all schools. Apply with the state of Nevada, NDOE, to get a substitute license and come to apply for the school district. Great pay, each day!

We have one paraprofessional positions opened at the WPHS to work with students individually with disabilities.

We have an Enrichment teacher position at DEN and McGill. This position works with our enrichment students by providing accelerated lessons during WIN time in all grades. This position requires to be at both schools.

We are and have been a Leader In Me District for many years. Each newsletter, I want to share what we do at our schools with the program and you as families, can use the same language at home. Together, we hope to build a community of leaders all the way to your child's high school graduation day.

White Pine County School District is a PreK-12th grade rural community school district located in McGill, Ely, Baker, and Lund.

Contact Information:

Superintendent Angie Angelopoulos, M.Ed., M.A.

angie.angelopoulos@wpcnvadmin.com

WPCSD: https://www.whitepine.k12.nv.us/

Office Number: 775-289-4851