Education Notebook, Aug. 21-27, 2014

NEVADA TITLE CO. PLANS BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE

Nevada Title Co. and its affiliate Nevada Construction Services are hosting a back-to-school supply drive to benefit the Clark County School District Focus School Project through Aug. 29. Needed supplies include backpacks, paper, pencils, crayons, washable markers, scissors, erasers, glue sticks, small tissues, colored pencils, pocket folders, rulers and binders. Travel-size toiletries also are needed.

Nevada Title Company is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Collection boxes are at 2500 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 150; 10000 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 180; and 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 115.

For more information, contact Lisa Brown at 702-251-5252.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PLANS RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AUG. 22

The Leadership Academy of Nevada, 7495 W. Azure Drive, plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 22. Science experiments and a Celebration Wall signing also are planned, along with visits from administration and board members and more.

For more information, visit lanv.org.

TREASURE ISLAND HOSTS BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

Employees of Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, are helping students at Heard Elementary School, 42 Baer Drive on Nellis Air Force Base, prepare for the upcoming school year by holding a school supply drive through Aug. 27. The majority of the student population at the school has at least one parent enlisted in the military.

Employees are encouraged to donate backpacks, binders, pencils, crayons, disinfecting wipes, dry erase markers, glue sticks, large pink erasers, pencils, notebook paper, pocket folders, paper towels, spiral notebooks and resealable plastic bags.

SUGAR FACTORY TO COLLECT BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Sugar Factory American Brasserie at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 145, plans to collect back-to-school supplies through Aug. 21 for Communities In Schools of Nevada’s Fill the Bus supply drive.

Supplies requested include backpacks, folders, pencils and notebooks, and Sugar Factory will match donations with its own line of pens, notebooks and other signature school supplies.

For Sugar Factory hours, visit sugarfactory.com. For more information about Communities In Schools of Nevada, visit cisnevada.org.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR SET FOR AUG. 21

A Ward 1 Back-to-School Community Fair is planned from 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 21 at West Charleston Lions/Essex Park, 600 Essex Drive. “Frozen” is set to be shown at dusk. For more information, call 702-229-6405.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU PLANS SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

The Better Business Bureau serving Southern Nevada is hosting a school supply donation drive through Aug. 22. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, donations can be dropped off at the BBB at 6040 S. Jones Blvd. Suggested donations include backpacks, binders, colored pencils, composition notebooks, crayons, erasers, paper, pencils, pocket calculators, pocket folders, rulers and spiral notebooks.

For more information, contact Darrellyn Bonstell at 702-320-4500, ext. 253, or dbonstell@sn.bbb.org.

COX BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR PLANNED AUG. 23

Free Cox Back-To-School Fairs, sponsored by Amerigroup Community Care, are set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 23 at The Galleria at Sunset, 1300 W. Sunset Road.

The fair will feature community agencies and organizations hosting informational booths. Scheduled participants include several divisions of the Clark County School District, including: human resources; substitute services; support staff; facilities/zoning; food service; transportation, and school police. The Helping Kids Clinic will provide immunizations for school-aged children for a minimal fee. Parents must bring their child’s shot record for immunizations.

For more information, visit coxknowledgecollege.com.

OLLI AT UNLV TO HOST OPEN HOUSE AUG. 23

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV plans to host a fall open house from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 23 in the auditorium of Room 133 at the UNLV Paradise Campus, 851 E. Tropicana Ave. Learn more about OLLI programs and the upcoming term. Coordinators are scheduled to be on hand, and registration for the new term will be available.

For more information, call 702-774-6554 or visit olli.unlv.edu.

FILL THE BUS SUPPLY DRIVE PLANNED THROUGH AUG. 23

Communities In Schools of Nevada, My News 3 and 97.1 The Point are asked residents to help local students during the second annual Fill the Bus school supply drive Aug. 22 and 23. The Nevada affiliate of the nation’s leading dropout prevention program is collecting school supplies and uniforms for 44,000 students in need for the coming school year.

Businesses and community partners are encouraged to bring donations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 22 to Sam’s Club at Arroyo Crossing, 7100 Arroyo Crossing Parkway, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 23 to Sam’s Club in Centennial Hills, 8080 W. Tropical Parkway, and stay for Family Fun Day. Children can enjoy interactive science projects from Mad Science, the mobile video games theater from Games 2 U, face painting and balloon artists. Parents can receive information and resources from the Clark County School District Transportation Department, Positively Kids and Eye Care 4 Kids.

Donations made equal to or above $10 will be entered to win a Hawaiian vacation package from Allegiant Air.

Those wishing to donate but unable to join Fill the Bus are encouraged to bring contributions to participating Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations Aug. 17-22: 3615 S. Rainbow Blvd., 8060 W. Tropical Parkway, 6005 Eastern Ave., 2310 E. Serene Ave., 7100 Arroyo Crossing Parkway, 4505 W. Charleston Blvd., 5200 S. Fort Apache Road, 1807 W. Craig Road, 5198 Boulder Highway, 6464 N. Decatur Blvd., 201 N. Nellis Blvd. and 540 Marks St.

CIS Nevada also is looking for traditional school supplies as well as uniform clothing items. For more information, visit cisnevada.org.

NEVADA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY TO HOST ENROLLMENT INFORMATION SESSION AUG. 26

Nevada Connections Academy, a virtual public charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, plans to host an information session regarding enrollment for the 2014-15 school year from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at Hampton Inn Las Vegas/North Speedway, 2852 E. Craig Road.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ldqeh87.

HOMEAID ASSEMBLES 400 BACKPACKS FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS

HomeAid Southern Nevada recently assembled 400 backpacks for students in need during its inaugural Back to School for Success Backpack Assembly. It raised nearly $26,000 for the project. Backpacks are to be distributed through Project 150, the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and West Preparatory Academy.

CITY MISSION COLLECTING JEANS FOR TEENS IN NEED

City Mission of Las Vegas is collecting jeans for teens in need through its new program, The Kid’s Closet, at 2214 N. Pecos Road. The closet is open from 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday through the start of school on Aug. 25 and 7 to 11 a.m. Fridays after school starts. It needs donations of new or gently used clothing, underwear, socks and shoes for teens, hygiene products, snacks, backpacks and school supplies and food gift cards (any fast food).

For more information, call 702-384-1930.

THE DELTA ACADEMY TO HOST OPEN HOUSE AUG. 28

The Delta Academy, 818 W. Brooks Ave., plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28 for its remodeled 32,000-square-foot campus.

For more information, call 702-396-2252 or visit deltaacademylv.com.

ATRIA SEVILLE COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR STREET TEENS

Atria Seville Senior Living Community, 2000 N. Rampart Blvd., is hosting a school supplies drive for Street Teens through Aug. 28. Items needed include backpacks, paper, notebooks, markers, pens, pencils, tissues, pocket folders, binders and cash for bus passes.

Items can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, visit atriaseville.com or call 702-804-6800.

BANK OF AMERICA COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES THROUGH AUG. 28

Bank of America is collecting school supplies through Aug. 28 to benefit Miller Elementary School, 5100 W. Sahara Ave., and Monaco Middle School, 1870 N. Lamont St.

Collection receptacles will be stationed at each of the 50-plus Bank of America banking centers throughout Southern Nevada. Items requested include paper, backpacks, pens and pencils, physical education equipment and school uniform garments.

For locations, visit bankofamerica.com.

INSERT COIN(S) TO DONATE TO SCHOOL DISTRICT MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Insert Coin(s), 512 Fremont St., plans to donate a percentage of its bar sales through August to benefit the music department of the Clark County School District.

For more information, visit insertcoinslv.com.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE PLANS OPERATION SCHOOL BELL FOR SEPT. 8

The Assistance League of Las Vegas plans to launch its annual Operation School Bell program Sept. 8. It provides more than 8,300 at-risk students with a back-to-school shopping experience from September through April each year. Children in grades kindergarten through eighth also receive age-specific hygiene kits.

School counselors refer students to the program beginning in August. Each child shops with the assistance of a volunteer to select two complete outfits.

For more information, visit lasvegas.assistanceleague.org.

YMCA OFFERS PRESCHOOL

The YMCA of Southern Nevada’s Y Preschool is accepting registrations. It offers two-, three- and five-day day schedules.

Y Preschool is state-licensed and follows state standards for kindergarten readiness. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

For more information, visit lasvegasymca.org.

JUNIOR LEAGUE TO AWARD GRANTS FOR CLASSROOM INITIATIVES

The Junior League of Las Vegas plans to award education grants to Clark County teachers for use during the upcoming 2014-15 school year. Educators from public and private primary and secondary schools are encouraged to apply. Aided by a $7,500 contribution from NV Energy, the education grants for up to $1,000 each are applicable to any creative curriculum, in any subject area, that strives to enhance student learning.

Applications can be downloaded from jllv.org and must be submitted by Sept. 12. Recipients will be announced by Oct. 1.

AYUSA INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING FOR FAMILIES FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Nonprofit Ayusa International is searching for families to host international students for the 2014-15 school year.

Host families provide three meals a day and a bedroom (either private or shared). Each exchange student is supported by a professionally trained local representative from Ayusa who works closely with the family, student and local school throughout the program.

Exchange students are 15 to 18 years old and come from more than 60 countries. All students are fully insured, bring their own spending money and are proficient in English.

For more information, visit ayusa.org or call 888-552-9872.

STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM SEEKS HOST FAMILIES

The World Heritage Student Exchange Program is seeking local host families for high school exchange students from more than 30 countries, including Germany, Spain, Thailand, Denmark and France.

Couples, single parents and families with and without children are encouraged to apply to host a student for a semester or the entire school year. Each exchange student is fully insured, has personal spending money and expects to contribute to household responsibilities.

For more information, call 800-888-9040, email info@world-heritage.org or visit whhosts.com.

WET’N’WILD LAS VEGAS OFFERS FREE ADMISSION FOR GOOD SCHOOLWORK

As a summer treat to show appreciation for local residents and pass holders, Wet‘n’Wild Las Vegas, 7055 S. Fort Apache Road, is offering several free admission opportunities to enjoy the park.

Wet‘n’Wild is rewarding Clark County students for their good work during school. Students who received straight A’s on their year-end report card can present it at any ticket window to receive a free general admission ticket. This offer is good for K-12 students one time during the 2014 season.

For more information, visit wetnwildlasvegas.com.

NEVADA STATE COLLEGE SEEKS STORIES FOR STUDENT-RUN LITERARY JOURNAL

Nevada State College and its Humanities Department are looking for stories to be printed in its student-run literary journal, 300 Days of Sun. It is a print journal featuring poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and visual art.

It is seeking submissions for its second issue through Sept. 30. The book is slated to be printed in December. Copies of the journal will be available for purchase online and through the Nevada State College Bookstore.

Faculty adviser Dr. Gregory Robinson, chairman of the Humanities Department, said the department is looking for original, unpublished work in English with the theme of Las Vegas. All submissions should involve the theme in some way.

Authors should consider this theme liberally, writing about the desert, Southern Nevada and culture outside the Strip.

For more information or to submit, visit https://300daysofsun.submittable.com/submit.

STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER POETRY COMPETITION

Clark County high school students are invited to submit original poems for the Vegas Valley Book Festival Spark! 2014 Poetry Writing & Recitation Competition, scheduled for Sept. 2. Modeled after the national Poetry Out Loud competition and the Scholastic Writing competition, the contest will give students the opportunity to recite their poetry during the Vegas Valley Book Festival on Oct. 18. First-place prize is $300, second place is $200 and third is $100.

Students will be asked to submit three original poems to be judged by a panel of poets, authors, educators and other community members. The top six will advance to the recitation round. The top three highest-scoring students in that round will determine first, second and third place.

For competition details, guidelines and a registration form, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org/spark-poetry-writing-recitation-competition.