Nevada’s heritage, history celebrated | NevadaAppeal.com
10/30/08 2:11 PM
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Thursday, October 30, 2008
By Teri Vance
Nevada Appeal Staff Writer
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Thursday October 30th
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Nevada’s heritage, history celebrated
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Wearing a pink cowboy hat and denim jacket, 6year-old Hannah Kaiser copied the Chinese symbols
written on the chalkboard.
“I learned that one stick means one,” she said.
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
28
5
12
19
26
2
29
6
13
20
27
3
30
7
14
21
28
4
1
8
15
22
29
5
2
9
16
23
30
6
3
10
17
24
31
7
4
11
18
25
1
8
Paying tribute to Nevada’s culture by wearing
Western-themed clothing, the students spent
Wednesday learning about the state’s history.
Katie Pollock told the students how the Chinese
helped build the railroad in Nevada, often being
tasked with the most dangerous and difficult jobs.
Nevada Facts
ENLARGE
Hannah Kaiser, 6, learns how to write Chinese numbers
during the annual Nevada Day celebration at BordewichBray Elementary School. Katie Pollock taught students
about the “Chinese and the Railroad in Nevada.”
Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Admission to Statehood: Oct. 31, 1864
Nickname: The Silver State
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Reptile: The desert tortoise
State Flower: Sagebrush
State Tree: Single leaf pinon and bristlecone pine
Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Bordewich Bray Elementary School fifthgrader Mack Vitale, 10, pets a Gila
monster during the school's Nevada Day
celebration Wednesday. Chris Gienger,
with the biology department at
University of Nevada, Reno, taught
students about a number of native
Nevada animals.
ENLARGE
State Motto: “All for Our Country”
State Song: “Home Means Nevada”
Tourism slogan: Discover Nevada
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She was among several volunteers that staffed 17
booths set up at Bordewich-Bray Elementary School
as part of the school’s annual Nevada Day
celebration.
more
Positions! H2B Welcome!...
Diamond Peak: Winter Job Fair - Oct 25!...
The first celebration was organized by then-aide
Gene Brown in 1999 as a half-day event with the younger grades. It has since grown to a schoolwide
activity taking up the entire day in honor of Nevada’s admittance to the union Oct. 31, 1864.
“It’s a tradition,” said Principal Valerie Dockery. “The teachers really get involved and the community
gets involved. It’s a nice way to teach kids about the history of Nevada.”
Siblings Clarissa, 15, and Matt Horse, 17, both attended Bordewich-Bray Elementary School and
remember the Nevada Day celebrations.
“It was awesome,” Clarissa remembered.
They returned this year to share the traditional Native American dances they’ve practiced since they
were both small children.
They said performing is a way to keep their heritage alive.
“Otherwise, it’s like we never existed,” Clarissa said.
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20081030/NEWS/810299950/1070&ParentProfile=1058&title=Nevada’s%20heritage,%20history%20celebrated
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Nevada’s heritage, history celebrated | NevadaAppeal.com
10/30/08 2:11 PM
Other stations ranged from campfire songs and horses with carts to animals native to the state and a
Basque representative.
Nahim Gutierrez, 11, said she was excited to see the live animals provided by the University of Nevada,
Reno.
“I haven’t touched a rubber boa because I don’t like snakes,” she said. “It felt so soft.”
Aubrey Alotta, 10, said it was “respectful to Nevada” to learn its history. She wore her cowboy boots and
hat, signed by Reno Rodeo contestants and country singer LeAnn Womack, but it wasn’t just for Nevada
Day.
“I wear these boots a lot,” she said. “I’ve worn them all week. I love horses.”
Fabiola Mata, 11, had a more practical reason for learning Nevada facts.
“If you live in the state, you need to know about it,” she said. “If a tourist comes and asks you, you can
answer their questions.”
• Contact reporter Teri Vance at [email protected] or 881-1272.
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