Education Notebook, Feb. 26-March 4, 2015

UNLV LAW STUDENTS TO TEACH FREE INCOME TAX CLASSES

UNLV law students are set to teach free income tax education classes during a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Learning Village-Downtown, 715 Fremont St. Under the supervision of a Boyd School of Law professor and a Nevada Legal Services attorney, UNLV law students will discuss filing status, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, premium tax credit and penalties for not having health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Each presentation will be followed by an open question-and-answer session.

Other Low Income Taxpayer Clinics are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. March 13 at Hermandad Mexicana, 2915 W. Charleston Blvd., No. 4, and from 2 to 4 p.m. April 16 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/nqkejqm.

THE MEADOWS SCHOOL TO HOST SUMMER CAMP EXPO

The Meadows School plans to host its free 12th annual Summer Camp Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 7 in the Richardson-Beckley Gymnasium at the school, 8601 Scholar Lane. Attendees will learn about local and national summer camps featuring concentrations including fine arts, science and athletics. Families can visit informational booths and speak with representatives from more than 30 summer camp programs, including Mad Science Camp, the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre and Catalina Sea Camp/Astrocamp.

For more information, visit themeadowsschool.org.

RUGBY TEAM VISITS WOLFF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Members of the Fiji national rugby sevens team visited with students at Wolff Elementary School, 1001 Seven Hills Drive, during a special pep assembly to celebrate the students’ participation in the annual Adopt-A-Country program coordinated by USA Sevens Rugby and the Clark County School District. The event included a touch rugby match between the Fiji players and students and teachers. Students also showcased Fiji cultures they learned about during the Adopt-A-Country program with a gift to the team.

CASHMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DESIGN SYMBOLIC QUILTS

Students at Cashman Middle School, 4622 W. Desert Inn Road, are embarking on a hands-on education project to learn about legacy, physical artifacts and their own environmental footprint by designing symbolic quilts using AutoCAD and other computer software programs.

The designs will be transferred to muslin fabric squares, where students will use their geometry skills to organize and arrange the designs. The individual quilts will be sewn together and displayed in the school. The program was funded through the McDonald’s Make Activities Count Grants program.

LITERACY PROGRAM DONATES BOOKS TO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

City National Bank, through its Reading is The way up literacy program, and Barnes & Noble are donating $40,000 in new books and cash to the following elementary schools: Watson, 5845 N. Commerce St.; Jydstrup, 5150 Duneville St.; Paradise, 900 Cottage Grove Ave.; and Dailey, 2001 E. Reno Ave. The donations were part of the seventh annual Holiday Book Drive program.

UNLV STUDENTS TO GET DISCOUNT ON THE HIGH ROLLER

The High Roller at The Linq, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is offering UNLV faculty, staff members and students with a valid UNLV ID $10 off a High Roller ticket.

For more information, visit the linq.com.

NEVADA POETRY OUT LOUD FINALS SET FOR MARCH 14

More than 3,100 high school-aged students are set to represent their counties at the 10th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals, scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. March 14 at the Siena Hotel in Reno.

Poetry Out Loud begins at the local level as students learn about, memorize and present poetry out loud to an audience. Participants advance from school to district competitions and then to the state finals, where they compete for $1,000, plus another $1,000 for the winner’s school to support literary programs and a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national title and a chance to share $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends.

Students placing second and third at the state finals receive $500 each and $500 for their schools.

Semifinals were held in Clark County Feb. 5 at the West Charleston Library. Organizations across Nevada are hosting events and workshops to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary, such as the Spoken Views Youth Poetry Slam in Reno and Humanity Thru Art and Pop Up Poetry in Las Vegas.

The program is sponsored by the Nevada Arts Council and co-sponsored by the Nevada Department of Education and Sierra Arts and is made possible through funding and leadership from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The 2015 program also received support from the NV Energy Foundation.

For more information, visit facebook.com/nevadapoetryoutloud or nac.nevadaculture.org or call 702-486-3738 or 775-687-6680.

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LAS VEGAS PLANS FASHION FORWARD EVENT MARCH 14

The Junior League of Las Vegas plans to present the event Fashion Forward: Passport to Fashion at 2 p.m. March 14 at the Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Sixty would-be fashion designers from Clark County high schools will present and model their final designs, inspired by the theme Passport to Fashion, in competition for the grand prize.

Tickets are $40 for general admission; $60 for VIP, which includes premium seating and a swag bag; and $100 for Couture Level Seating, which includes a VIP pre-event soiree with a silent auction, front-row seating and a swag bag. Proceeds will support the Junior League of Las Vegas and its mission to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

For tickets, visit jllv.org.

I HAVE A DREAM FOUNDATION PROJECT HELPS HOMELESS VETERANS

Underprivileged students in the I Have A Dream Foundation program took part in a community service project Feb. 13 to help homeless veterans. Seventy-five middle school students, known as the Dreamers, gathered at West Preparatory Academy, 2050 Saphire Stone Ave., to assemble 150 support packages, including toiletries, towels, a shower caddy, candy and a handmade card. The packages were to be delivered to veterans living at Veteran’s Village, 1150 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The students conducted the project on their day off from school.

MCWILLIAMS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WORK WITH ARTIST TO CREATE MURAL

Students at McWilliams Elementary School, 1315 Hiawatha Road, along with teachers, parents and volunteers, gathered Feb. 19 to paint a mural as part of the city of Las Vegas’ Keep Las Vegas Beautiful initiative, supported by the Las Vegas Downtown Achieves initiative. Local artist Tom Umholtz outlined the mural and assisted the students in painting it. The mural supports the Clark County School District’s Safe Routes to school program with a message of pedestrian, bike and driver safety.

For more information on Keep Las Vegas Beautiful, contact Lisa Campbell at 702-229-5406 or lcampbell@lasvegasnevada.gov.

For more information on Las Vegas Downtown Achieves, call Michelle Layton at 702-229-3402.

STEM NIGHT HELD AT SOMERSET ACADEMY

Somerset Academy, 385 W. Centennial Parkway, hosted a Family STEM Night Feb. 11 for parents to attend with their children and participate in activities based around science, technology, engineering and math.

For more information about Somerset Academy North Las Vegas, visit somersetnlv.org.

SUMMER BUSINESS INSTITUTE TAKING APPLICATIONS

The Summer Business Institute is accepting online applications from high school sophomores, juniors and seniors through Feb. 27. The program is a collaborative effort between the Clark County Human Resources Department, the Clark County School District, UNLV and the local business community. The focus of the program is to give youths opportunities to experience a corporate environment. Internships are eight weeks and include business mentoring, life skills training, financial management and a civic engagement project.

A high school transcript, high school statement and two letters of recommendation are required to apply. Qualifying students are scheduled to be interviewed over spring break in March.

To apply, visit tinyurl.com/7ukno22.

COX LAS VEGAS ANNOUNCES DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Clark County high school seniors are encouraged to apply for one of 10 $3,500 diversity scholarships available through Cox Communications Las Vegas. Applicants must graduate with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average, provide demonstrated leadership and community service, and submit an essay focused on a significant leader from their respective diverse communities.

Applications are available through The Public Education Foundation at ccpef.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28.

For more information, visit coxknowledgecollege.com and click on “Diversity Scholarships.”

HENDERSON LIBRARIES SPONSORS TEEN WRITING CONTEST

Henderson Libraries is accepting entries for its sixth annual Teen Writing Contest through Feb. 28. Students in grades six through 12 are invited to compete. One work per student will be accepted (no school assignments). The entry can be in one of the following categories: poetry; one-act play; short story; or essay (up to 2,000 words). All work must be original and unpublished.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of Henderson District Public Libraries librarians and collected and published as a digital literary magazine, which will become part of the library district’s Digital Collections. Winners will be notified by the end of March if their work has been selected for publication.

A reception and unveiling of the magazine are planned for April.

For more information or to enter, visit tinyurl.com/oxqy4js.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING SET FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Partners in Policymaking plans to offer leadership training for people with developmental disabilities, parents and family members. The training is designed to teach the power of advocacy and change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. The program will provide information about issues and policies related to disability and develop participant competencies to become more effective in influencing policy development at all levels.

Parents of children with developmental disabilities and adults with developmental disabilities are encouraged to apply. Classes are planned from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. once a month through August at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. Participants are expected to commit to all classes or complete make-up assignments. Remaining dates are: Feb. 28, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 19 (in Reno) and Aug. 15. Participants will receive a stipend to help with childcare and transportation costs.

For more information or to apply, visit nced.info/pip.

MINI-INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MARCH

The Clark County Medical Society is offering a spring break mini-internship program March 9-26 for high school students.

For more information, visit 702-739-9989.

KOHL’S OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS

Kohl’s plans to award nearly $400,000 in Kohl’s Cares scholarships this year to students 6 to 18. To nominate a student, visit kohlskids.com through March 13. The program recognizes young volunteers who have made a positive impact in their communities.

Ten national winners will each be awarded a $10,000 scholarship for higher education, and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit on each national winner’s behalf. Nearly 200 students will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward higher education, and more than 2,000 local students will receive a $50 Kohl’s gift card.

The scholarship program is part of Kohl’s Cares, a philanthropic program focused on improving the lives of children.

BONNER ELEMENTARY PLANS RUNNING FUNDRAISER FOR MARCH 14

Bonner Elementary School, 765 Crestdale Lane, plans to host its fourth annual Bonner Run for Education from 8 to 11 a.m. March 14. All proceeds from the 5K run/1.5-mile walk will go toward maintaining low class sizes.

Along with monetary donations, organizers are seeking donated items to be used for a raffle/silent auction, such as gift certificates, gift cards and actual items and services that can be raffled individually or in gift baskets. Business sponsor opportunities also are available. For more information, call Paul Catania at 702-799-6050.

Registration to participate in the event is $15 in advance and $20 the day of for participants 11 or younger and $25 in advance or $30 the day of for those 12 or older

For more information, call Kristi O’Donnell at 702-561-4872.

PBS KIDS WRITERS CONTEST UNDERWAY THROUGH MARCH 27

Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are encouraged to submit original stories for Vegas PBS’ annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest. First-place winners in kindergarten through third grade will be forwarded for judging in the national competition.

Submissions will be judged for creativity and originality of plot and/or themes, story structure and use of literary devices, and relevance, quality and originality of illustration.

Entries can be mailed or delivered to Vegas PBS Ready To Learn, 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121 and must be received by 5 p.m. March 27. Local winners are set to be selected in the spring, and prizes for first-place winners include free tuition for contest partner Southern Nevada Writing Project’s annual summer writing camp.

For more information, visit vegaspbs.org/writers-contest.

SONS OF NORWAY OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP

Norwegian-American students who are at least high school seniors living in Clark County can apply for a scholarship from the Vegas Viking Lodge of the Sons of Norway.

Applications must be postmarked by April 10 and are available at vegasviking.com. The scholarships are worth at least $500 each and must be used for full-time, post-high school studies. Winners are chosen based on grades, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities, and the content and quality of their essays, including how they express appreciation for their Norwegian heritage.

Tax-deductible contributions to the scholarship fund, including naming gifts, are welcome. If preferred, a donor’s name may be kept confidential. To donate, a check payable to the Vegas Viking Sons of Norway Scholarship Fund should be mailed to treasurer Warren Halvorsen, 830 Kingston Springs Way, Las Vegas, NV 89123-3643.

For more information, call Suzan Sibert, co-chairwoman of the scholarship committee, at 702-645-6666.

STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER EARTH DAY ART CONTEST

The city of Las Vegas’ Keep Las Vegas Beautiful program, in partnership with the Clark County School District School-Community Partnership Program and Republic Services of Southern Nevada, plans to host its fifth annual Earth Day Every Day Art Contest for Clark County students in elementary, middle and high schools.

The contest will culminate at an award ceremony for the finalists and their teachers during the Earth Day event planned for April 18 at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Cash prizes, sponsored by Republic Services of Southern Nevada, will be awarded to the top three winning students of each age group and their teachers. Artwork submitted by both winners and runners-up will also be part of a Youth Earth Day art display at the Town Square event and later displayed at Las Vegas City Hall, 495 S. Main St.

For submission guidelines, visit tinyurl.com/ndb26p6.

Contest entries must be received by 4 p.m. March 27 and can be sent to The School-Community Partnership Program No. 145, Western High School, Attention: Cheryl Wagner, 4601 W. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV 89107.

COASTER OFFERS DEAL FOR STRAIGHT-A STUDENTS

The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to offer two-for-one ride passes to Clark County School District students who bring in their most recent report cards showing straight A’s. The offer is valid for one-time use through August. Guests must be at least 54 inches tall to ride.

For more information, visit nynyhotelcasino.com.

SPLASHDOWN FOR KIDS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS

Communities In Schools of Nevada and After-School All-Stars Las Vegas announce that tickets for the second annual Splashdown For Kids are on sale. The event is planned for April 25 and 26 at Wet‘n’Wild water park and offers a preview to summer with proceeds benefiting both local nonprofits.

Tickets are $25 and include entry to Wet‘n’Wild. For tickets, visit shop.omniticket.com/WWL/index.cfm and use the promo code “CISASASDAY.” Select general admission tickets, enter the code, and ticket options will become available.

For more information about Communities In Schools, visit cisnevada.org.

For more information about After-School All-Stars, visit asaslv.org.