LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Congratulations to our student of the week, Martin Pantoja, who was nominated by teacher Alan Siegel.

“Martin is really showing initiative,” Siegel said. “He is getting graduated and moving on, he has his mind set on a goal and he’s going to achieve it.”

Principal Heather Koehler reported that he was one of two great examples of success pointed out to us by Woodland Community College.

On Nov. 3, Carlé gold level students of the first grade period (students who achieved more credit than a regular pace) were given the pleasure of taking a day off school in order to visit Paradise Skate Roller Rink in Lakeport, chaperoned by teacher Lance Christensen and Principal Heather Koehler.

During this trip to Paradise Skate Rink students skated in the roller rink, played arcade games and in addition to these activities the students were served pizza to eat for lunch.

After this adventure I questioned some students about their experience during the gold level trip.

Gold level student Marissa Doolin responded, “We had a lot of fun. We played skating tag which I thought was particularly fun. Even though everyone fell we all still had a ton of fun. I'm glad we got to go and if the opportunity came to go on another trip I would.”

“We all fell a lot, most of us fell at least 10 time but Lance (the teacher, we speak with the staff using first names) skated like a pro. The arcade games were a lot of fun,” said student Gilbert Lopez.

Finally the aforementioned Lance was asked about how he felt the trip went and he responded, “I had fun skating, the students spent about half the time skating and half the rest of the time eating pizza and playing games. All in all the student seemed to have fun and I only fell once.”

On Nov. 14 the gold level students for the second grading period were given a break from their academics as a reward for achieving above expected standards.

Students visited Scandia Amusement park in Santa Rosa and were chaperoned by teacher Lexi Fredricks and Principal Koehler.

Students were free to play any arcade games they would like, bumper boats, mini golf, and some small rides. I asked some students and staff how they felt.

“We spent a lot of the time on the bumper boats spraying each other. We also had a ton of fun playing mini golf and a bunch of arcade games,” said Taylor Churchill.

Shaina Yaquinto added, “All of us really enjoyed ourselves spraying each other in the bumper boats, the mini golf was also really fun.”

“People seemed to enjoy the arcade most. People spend a majority of the time there, I also enjoyed the arcade,” said Michael Naber.

Finally, teacher Lexi Fredricks added, “The drop zone ride was a blast, and everyone seemed to enjoy the arcade games; then we finished with mini golf which was also a lot of fun.”

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves which is the goal of gold level trips, congratulations to everyone who got to attend the trip.

Nicholas Phipps is a student at Carlé Continuation High School.