The night of the little people
Graduation is what they call it. Not the big exciting high
school graduation, but the smaller, less impressive gradua-
tion ceremonies for the kindergartners and the sixth-graders.
Mountain Pass School, a small elementary school located on
the edge of the Moly-Corp Mine where the I-15 climbs over
Clark Mountain on the way to Las Vegas.
The student body at the small rural school numbers some-
what less than 20. Classes are necessarily small and often two
grades are taught together. Distance traveled by the buses
bringing the children to school ofttimes exceed 50 miles each
way. Winter snows at the over 4,000-foot elevation of the
Mountain Pass School can make winter attendance somewhat
chancy.
Our metropolitan friends may think that such a school
might be a bit primitive and the students less advanced than
their city-taught contemporaries. Such might be the case
..,where a school is merely a structure filled with machines and
high-priced staff. Perhaps some schools are, but not the proud
little school sitting on the edge of Clark Mountain and
overlooking the entire Mojave Desert.
People. People are the difference at the Mountain Pass
School. The students and their families are a rural commu-
nity. Parents work in the mines and on the ranches of the
surrounding desert. Unique to our part of the world, some
parents work the mega-resorts on the California-Nevada state
line. The people of the desert are a working people.
Families have worked the same lands for generations. Men
have worked the mines most of their adult lives. Distances are
great between the homes of the back country, but the dis-
tances seem only to bring the people closer together. Parties
and dances and barbecues are attended by all. The work of
roundups and branding are shared by the ranchers. Men who
tend the monstrous mining machinery that tear at the earth in
the mines offer a helping hand fixing a neighbor's windmill.
to maybe every three students. Personal attention for the
students is sometimes greater than what they might receive at
home. And this personal attention is not provided by some
stranger focused only on payday. The personal attention at
Mountain Pass School is provided by friends and neighbors
and family.
The children are an important part of the high desert
community. The large Moly-Corp Mine is next door to the
In The Thermometer's Shadow
__ by Mike Doughe -I r4
tiny school and the children of the , i ....
sonal corporation provides Christ-
mas gifts for all the students. They provide drinking water.
They have given computers to the school and provide emer-
gency maintenance 24 hours a day. A pretty fine neighbor.
How does the small size and close personal interest in the
school affect the student body? You have to ask? How does
sunshine and rain affect the flowers? How does love and care
affect a puppy? How does a good dinner and a quiet evening
affect a tired man? The children of the Mountain Pass School
positively thrive in the close and supportive environment of
their small school.
We went to the graduation held for the kindergarten class
and the sixth-grade class. The sixth-graders will be entering
junior high and traveling to Baker for their schooling next
year. A sadness to leave their small school behind. The
kindergartnesr are going to be first-graders next year and they
can hardly wait to be growing up into real school students.
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, June 5, 1997 23
best effort from each country kitchen.
Dinner was a friendly sit-down affair at the small sized
library tables. When the plates were stacked, graduation
began. The students, in cap and gown, filed into the room. The
school superintendent said a very few words and diplomas
were handed out to the continual whirring of the proud
parent's camcorders.
The feeling of the occasion is hard to describe. The students
were not bashful. They stood proudly and spoke their little
pieces. They were not among strangers. They were with friends
and family. The room was warm with the love and respect the
audience felt for the small children. Children, not quite. Chil-
dren sound like a group apart, unfinished and not ready.
The students at Mountain Pass, children they may be, but
even more they are little people. The next shift coming on
duty. Very much a part of everything we are,just still learning
the business of being an adult.
Graduation at Mountain Pass. Not necessarily for chil-
dren. Rather, a night to celebrate the growing of the little
people.
Call 24 hours 727-1888 "
00Direct Burial
Includes: llemovt..1 from Piece of Death, PreparaUta of'Death
The people of the back country desert are a close people The small school library was packed with friends and rau=u ,d Pmtt, C,-maU, mtntm, U FuUy ta,=*,d
andtheytakeacloseinterestintheschoolingoftheirchildren, family. The kids were dressed in their finest. The boys were P.o. s,= o0oo,s-,t, ge,7so ,oZ,
There is only one teacher to handle the less than 20 students all shined up with fresh haircuts and starched shirts and the r,h:,p, r
at the small school. There are, however, a cook, a bus driver, lovely young girls wobbled gracefully on their first high
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an aide, and two volunteers. That makes a total of one adult heels. A potluck dinner was served, which as always, was the Name: _ "
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tojoinin you are welcome. There willbeplenty of food and drink City: .... State: __ Zip: __-:-
Around Amargosa with Andrea for those who help out. Phone: 'Free Membenhip
by Andrea Lynn There is a seat open on the town board. Nominations were Ptee rua me aCOtkm foe{
[=]Cremation PgBunal FjSrttedn 8
Thank you to Warren and Ella Cady for transporting books to taken at the last meeting, and ' -
the Crystal Library. Also, goodbye to Michelle Galloway, more will be taken at the June
library aide. She is mo,ing to Las Vegas to continue her 26meeting, whenelectionswill
education. She will be missed, alo take place. The Chamber
Four Girl Scouts from the Amargosa troop received their of Commerce made a dana-
Silver Award May tion to the cem-
28,1997.sis[___jArourtdA1Tlarosa eteryforneededimprovements. Jan MeOonold M D
the highest award with Andrea The library now
they can earn as For More Information: has two comput-
Cadettescouts. SomeoftheGirl Call (702)372-5459 ers for public use Dermatology Clinic Of Nevada, Ud.
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merit, they spent the evening at the MGM Grand Theme Park. thors are available. Stop by the
Congratulations for all their hard work! library to sign up for the sum- at
The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be cleaning up the mer reading program.
cemetery Saturday, June 7, from 8-11 a.m.Afierward, theVFW Congratulations to the Pahrump Medical Center I Summi| Family Heallh Care
will be providing them with hot dogs and soda. If you would like eighth-grade graduates!
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