GALENA HIGH SCHOOL 

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

Reno, Nevada 

Every Child, By Name and Face, To Graduation 

SUPERINTENDENT 

Joe Ernst 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Christine Hull 

Adam Mayberry 

Diane Nicolet, Ph. D. 

Elizabeth Smith 

Colleen Westlake 

Alex Woodley 

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

MISSION STATEMENT 

To create an education system where all students achieve academic success, develop personal and civic responsibility, and achieve career and college readiness for the 21st century. 

GALENA HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION 

Richard “Jay” Salter, Principal, Athletics 

Tami Curley, Assistant Principal, Facilities, Grounds, Special Education, Testing 

Vanessa Nelson, Assistant Principal, Activities, Attendance, Curriculum 

Nathan Tanner, Dean of Students 

Beau Walker, Dean of Students 

Aaron Cook, Athletic Director 

ACCREDITATION 

Galena High School is accredited by the Northwest Association 

of Accredited Schools 

INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS 

Career and Technical Education/Fine Arts/ Military Science– Bradley Damschen 

Counseling – Peyton Taylor 

English – Will Hauser 

Library/Media Center – Sharon Black 

Mathematics – Kirstie Naughton 

PE/Health – Justin Littrell 

Science/STEM – Matthew Cope 

Social Studies/World Languages – Tennile O’Meara 

Special Education/Alternative Education – Salini Panicker 

COUNSELORS 

Devan Bartmus; A-D 

Genell Burroughs; E-K 

Peyton Taylor; L-Ra 

Clara Mitchell; Re-Z 

GALENA HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT 

Galena High School will challenge students to develop academic and career skills for post high school options. 

Beliefs 

We believe that Student learning is the chief priority for the school. 

We believe that Students need to be challenged in order to be problem solvers. 

We believe that Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instructional techniques in a supportive learning environment. 

We believe that Schools educate students to become self-directed and responsible citizens. 

We believe that Staff, students, parents, and the community share the responsibility for the success of the school as a community of learners. 

We believe that Students will graduate career/college ready. 

A change will be made only if the student is shown to be working up to his/her reasonable potential, intervention strategies have been implemented and those at a follow-up meeting agree that a change would be in the best interest of the student. 

A change of teacher often requires a change of schedule.  Students must, therefore, be willing to undergo such a change if necessary.  Another teacher’s class will NOT be increased beyond the established maximum capacity to accommodate a change.  

VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN/TOP 10/CLASS RANK  

Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Top 10, and overall class rank will be determined using weighted cumulative GPAs through seven semesters. The following formula will be used for calculating weighted GPAs: The unweighted overall GPA will be figured using a 4.0 grading scale; minuses dropped. Then for each semester of an honors course that a student passes, .025 will be added to the unweighted overall GPA, and for each semester of an AP/Dual Credit course passed, .050 will be added, producing the weighted overall GPA. Designated honors courses and Advanced Placement/Dual Credit courses recognized for the honors diploma program will be utilized in this weighting formula.  

Any student(s) graduating, who will be earning a WCSD Honors Diploma, and who has earned the highest cumulative GPA, and who has attended Galena High School for not less than two years (to include the senior year), will be selected as the Valedictorian(s). Any student(s) graduating (under the same conditions as above) with the second highest cumulative GPA (calculated in the same manner as above) will be selected as the Salutatorian(s).  

Overall class rank and the “Top 10” students will also be based on the above formula. 

SCHOLARSHIPS 

Every year the Galena Boosters raise funds to provide dozens of Galena seniors with scholarships ranging from $100 to $1000.  The Galena Scholarship Committee is made up of one faculty member from every department in the building as well as two Booster parents (who don't have seniors). 

Galena High School will provide all students with access to a variety of diverse scholarships on an equitable basis; encompassing all disciplines and talents.  All seniors wishing to be considered for a Galena General Scholarship must fill out and complete the Galena General Scholarship application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  The application must be submitted to the scholarship chair by the posted deadline, LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, NO EXCEPTIONS.  Scholarship monies will be awarded to deserving applicants based on their completed application and scoring, not personal feelings. Award considerations are based on financial need, merit, and community service/volunteer work, both inside and outside the building. While the committee promotes a holistic view of applications, the essay, GPA, and overall application will be the main determining factors in the selection process. Not everyone will be awarded a scholarship.   

For more information on the Galena General Scholarship Program Guidelines, please refer to the Galena High School College and Career Center website. 

ACADEMIC LETTER PROGRAM 

The Galena High School Academic Letter Program is designed to award and recognize Galena full-time students who have achieved excellence in academics through the preceding school year.  It is also designed to serve as an incentive to encourage students to do well in school and pursue a rigorous curriculum!  The letters are given out at the beginning of each student’s sophomore, junior, and senior years based on their weighted cumulative G.P.A. The following formula will be used for calculating weighted GPAs: The unweighted overall GPA will be figured using a 4.0 grading scale; minuses dropped.  Then for each semester of an honors course that a student passes, .025 will be added to the unweighted overall GPA, for each semester of an AP/Dual Credit class passed, .050 will be added, producing the weighted overall GPA.  The list of designated honors courses and Advanced Placement courses recognized for honors diploma program will be utilized in this weighting formula.  Eligibility to receive such awards and recognition is indicated below based on high school semesters: 

Sophomore Year (Based on first two semesters) 3.90 GPA or higher  

Junior Year (Based on first four semesters) 3.90 GPA or higher  

Senior Year (Based on first six semesters) 3.90 GPA or higher  

2nd Sem of Senior Year (Based on first seven semesters) 3.90 GPA or higher  

The presentation of awards depends upon the number of times the student has qualified for the Academic Letter Program.  The total possible number of times a student can be recognized in the program is four, and is dependent upon how long the student has attended Galena High School and the weighted, cumulative GPA he/she has accumulated, as indicated below: 

1st Award A 1st Year Pin and a Certificate 

2nd Award A 2nd Year Pin and a Certificate 

3rd Award A 3rd Year Pin and a Certificate 

4th Award A 4th Year Pin and a Certificate 

There will be an awards/presentation ceremony each Fall to honor the qualified students and to distribute the awards.  A letter of notification will be sent to students who qualify to attend each ceremony.  Seniors earning an academic letter by maintaining a 3.90 GPA or higher through seven semesters of course work will receive the award during the Senior Awards Night in the Spring semester. 

CONTACTING TEACHERS 

Teachers are available during preparation periods, before and after school for phone or in-person conferences with parents and/or students.  Teachers are the best source of information about student work in a particular class, teacher’s full name and e-mail addresses can be found on our web page, www.washoeschools.net/galena.  

INFINITE CAMPUS 

For student grades and information about specific classes please visit the Infinite Campus through the parent portal, the link may be found on the Galena High web site www.washoeschools.net/galena. 

CURRICULUM MAPS 

For information about the curriculum taught in specific classes and the timeline for curriculum, please visit the departmental curriculum maps found on the Galena High web site.  www.washoeschools.net/galena.  

GALENA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FEES 

Activity Fee $25 - An Activity Fee is required each year for students to participate in Athletics/Clubs.  Paid Activity fees also offer the privilege of Free entrance to home athletic events & reduced rates to away athletic events. 

Athletic Transportation Fee $50 - An Athletic Transportation Fee is required for students to participate in sports.  Please note that the fee amount is subject to change. 

Athletic Impact (concussion) Assessment Fee $15 - An Athletic Impact Fee is required for students to participate in sports. 

ID Card $5 - An ID Card is required for all students.  Students are required to carry their ID Card with them at all times on the school campus.  Replacement cost is $3. 

Parking Permits $10 - A Parking Permit is required each year for students that drive a vehicle to school and park on school grounds.  Student must have a Nevada Driver’s License, not driving permit. 

Locker Assignment $0 - Locker assignment is optional. 

School to Careers Fee $5 - This fee is required for all 9th graders and new students.  The program is designed to assist your student with class choices, and eventually career choices, based on his or her interests. 

PE Uniform $20 - Required for all physical education classes (uniform: t-shirt & shorts). 

PE Sweat Pants $25 - Optional for all physical education classes. 

Yearbook $75 - Optional, this is the early-bird price. 

This list of Student Fees is meant to list general Student Fees.  Additional class/lab fees for specific classes students are registered for will be collected in August/September after students receive their class schedules. 

SECTION III:  Galena STEM Academy 

OVERVIEW 

The STEM Academy at Galena High School encompasses fields of study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students are enrolled in a 4-year course sequence that follows a nationally-recognized curriculum1, providing them with challenging activity-, project-, problem-based learning with meaningful assessments.