Education Notebook, March 19-25, 2015

CSN TO HOST MASTER PLAN OPEN HOUSES IN MARCH

The College of Southern Nevada plans to host open houses to answer questions and collect feedback on the campuses’ proposed physical master plans.

The college is in the process of developing the plans, and once finalized, they will provide college officials with a blueprint to maximize space at each of CSN’s campuses and identify where potential new buildings, parking and student spaces are desired.

The open house is planned from: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 at Paul E. Meacham Student Services Building lobby on the Charleston campus, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25 at the June Whitley Student Center on the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave.; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26 in C Building lobby on the Henderson campus, 700 College Drive.

To ask questions or provide input by email, contact csnmasterplans@csn.edu. For more information, visit csn.edu.

CSN PLANS SPEED NETWORKING EVENT MARCH 20

More than 30 local tech-focused employers are scheduled to attend a Speed-Networking event planned from noon to 2:30 p.m. March 20 in the June Whitley Student Lounge at the College of Southern Nevada’s Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Tech-savvy students majoring in business, computing and information technology, engineering technology, health information technology and media technologies can meet briefly with employers for five minutes or less during the event, which will be modeled after speed dating.

Companies that participate in last year’s event included CenturyLink, NV Energy, Intel, HP and Dell. This year, the Clark County School District, Cox Communications and Northwestern Mutual have been added to the roster.

For more information, visit csn.edu.

EAST CAREER & TECH WINS 125 DECA MEDALS

The Marketing and Hospitality program at East Career & Technical Academy, 6705 Vegas Valley Drive, brought 129 students to the annual Nevada DECA State Career Development Conference Feb. 8-10 at the Flamingo, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South, where students competed in a variety of hospitality, marketing, finance and entrepreneurship events. The school won 125 medals, including 24 first-place medals, and is set to send 25 students to the DECA International Career Development Conference April 24-28 in Orlando, Fla.

The school’s DECA group, led by Drew Burton, was selected as Chapter of the Year, and Burton received his five-year DECA adviser service pin.

STUDENTS USE DISNEYLAND AS CLASSROOM

Student Council members from Sierra Vista High School, 8100 W. Robindale Road, used Disneyland Resort as a classroom Feb. 27, participating in the Disney Youth Education Series Leadership and Teamwork at the park in Anaheim, Calif.

Students from Del Webb Middle School, 2200 Reunion Drive in Henderson, also took part in the series’ Creating a Leadership Legacy program Feb. 20.

The three-hour academic adventure had students learning the Disney way of working and the management skills used to lead a cast of thousands. Students practiced overcoming obstacles by working as a team and thinking creatively to develop solutions. Exercises were designed to reinforce courage, curiosity and constancy and aimed to give the students the confidence to set goals and accomplish their dreams.

For more information on the program, visit disneyyoutheducationseries.com or call 800-603-0552.

UNLV INSTITUTE EARNS $1 MILLION GRANT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS

The Nevada Institute for Children’s Research & Policy at UNLV, in partnership with the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, recently received a $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to advance efforts to promote access to high-quality early childhood education programs in Nevada.

“We believe this partnership offers a strong base to better connect local and state organizations toward improved educational outcomes for Nevada’s children,” Carla D. Thompson, vice president for program strategy at the foundation, said.

The grant enhances existing work by both organizations to educate parents, policymakers and the community about the need for and benefits of early childhood education. Grant funds also will expand current statewide programs and partnerships, including Step Up for Kids and Nevada’s Strong Start for Children Campaign, which emphasize the importance of early childhood education in Nevada and connect parents with available resources and services.

For more information about the institute, visit nic.unlv.edu.

ENGINEERING TEAM SELECTED FOR WORLDWIDE ROBOTICS CHALLENGE

A team of UNLV researchers and students are set to compete in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Challenge Finals, an elite competition of robots and their human supervisors set for June 5 and 6 at Fariplex in Pomona, Calif. UNLV was one of 25 worldwide teams selected as finalists.

In the demonstration event, robots will be tested on capabilities that could enable them to assist first responders during future natural and man-made disasters. UNLV will compete against teams from institutions such as Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Virginia Tech and Lockheed Martin, as well as countries such as China, Italy, Germany and Japan.

UNLV’s team, DRC-HUBO @UNLV, is led by Paul Oh, Lincy professor for unmanned aerial systems at UNLV. The College of Engineering invites the Southern Nevada community to help name the humanoid robot that will compete at the finals in June. The team is looking for names that incorporate the robot’s mission to save human lives, UNLV ties, Southern Nevada roots or Las Vegas history.

To submit a name, visit facebook.com/UNLVEngineering. For more information on the finals, visit theroboticschallenge.org.

NEVADA STATE COLLEGE TO NAME BUILDING FOR JAMES AND BEVERLY ROGERS

The Nevada Board of Regents recently voted to name Nevada State College’s under-construction student center for James E. and Beverly Rogers.

The late Jim Rogers was a lifelong Las Vegas resident who served as the first chairman of the college’s foundation in 2001. He also served as the ninth chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education from 2005-09, after one year as interim chancellor.

The couple contributed to philanthropic and educational endeavors for decades in Southern Nevada and across the U.S. Through The Rogers Foundation, created in 2013 to formalize the continuation of their commitment to the improvement of education in Southern Nevada, two significant gifts were made to the college totaling $8.8 million.

The three-story, 66,000-square-foot student center is scheduled to be completed by July and will serve as the primary hub for campus and community activities.

For more information about Nevada State College, visit nsc.edu. For more information about The Rogers Foundation, visit therogers.foundation.

THE ADVENTUREDOME WELCOMES STUDENTS FOR PHYSICS PROGRAM

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Las Vegas welcomed students from Cashman Middle School, 4622 W. Desert Inn Road, and their teachers for a visit March 6 for the theme park’s physics program. For the benefit of all Clark County School District students, The Adventuredome has worked closely over the last six months to refine an educational curriculum based on the park’s rides and attractions. Students brought their Adventuredome workbooks and put what they had learned in the classroom to the test on the more than 25 rides and attractions to get a firsthand experience on how force, motion and gravity work at the park.

CORAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE STUDENTS RECEIVE MEDALS

Congressman Joe Heck visited fifth-graders at the Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas, 2150 Windmill Parkway, March 10 to congratulate them on officially completing the Great American Challenge, an annual, nationwide program that encourages students to know important moments in American history. Forty-eight students received certificates acknowledging their completion of the challenge.

That same day, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students who participated in the Noetic Math Learning Contest also received their medals. The Noetic Learning Math Contest is a semiannual math problem-solving contest for elementary and middle school students. The goal is to encourage students’ interest in math, develop their problem-solving skills and inspire them to excel in math. Twenty-one Coral students received medals for finishing in the top 10 percent of the nation in their grade level.

For more information about Coral Academy, visit coralacademylv.org.

HARD ROCK CAFE, CIS OF NEVADA TEAM UP FOR INSTRUMENT DRIVE

In honor of Music in our Schools Month, the Hard Rock Cafe is partnering with Communities In Schools of Nevada to host an nstrument drive and fundraiser through March in support of local students and music programs across the valley.

Throughout the month, both Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas locations, 4475 Paradise Road and 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 120, will collect donations of new or gently used instruments. Those who donate will receive 20 percent off their total check that day.

Both locations also will allow guests the option to Round Up for Charity on their bill, with donations going to CIS of Nevada.

For more information, visit hardrock.com/las-vegas. For more information about CIS of Nevada, visit cisnevada.org.

LAS VEGAS STUDENTS WIN REGIONAL NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL COMPETITION

A team of students from Hyde Park Middle School, 900 Hinson St., recently won the regional competition for the 2015 National Science Bowl and will advance to the National Finals set for April 30 to May 4 in Washington, D.C.

During the competition, students participate in a fast-paced question-and-answer format to solve technical problems and answer questions on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics and math. The top 16 high school teams and top eight middle school teams in the National Finals will win $1,000 for their schools’ science departments.

For more information, visit science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb.

NEVADA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY PLANS INFORMATION SESSIONS

Nevada Connections Academy, a virtual public charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, plans to host information sessions regarding enrollment for the 2015-16 school year. Sessions are planned for:

March 24, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Seven Hills Conference Center, 3215 St. Rose Parkway; April 1, 4 to 5 p.m., McDonald’s, 8120 S. Eastern Ave.; April 13, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

For more information, visit connectionsacademy.com.

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.

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.

MINING ASSOCIATION TO HOST WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS

The Nevada Mining Association and the Nevada Division of Minerals plans to host the 26th annual Earth Science Teachers Workshop for Southern Nevada educators March 31 and April 1 at Faith Lutheran High School, 2015 S. Hualapai Way. The free workshop is open to kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers, and attendees will receive one Professional Development Education credit.

Hands-on seminars are planned to enhance teachers’ understanding of earth sciences, the importance of mined materials and the role mining plays in Nevadans’ lives. The goal is to provide educators with creative ways to implement such studies in the classroom. The first day will focus on seminars and methods of teaching earth science to specific grades. The second day will feature guest speakers from the mining and minerals industry. The workshop will wrap up with a tour of various mine locations and Southern Nevada points of interest, including the Lost City Museum and the McCaw School of Mines.

Sessions are set from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, snacks, safety equipment and travel arrangements will be provided by the association and Nevada Division of Minerals. Tour attendees should be prepared for a moderate amount of walking and wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

To register, visit amiando.com/PFKATKA.html.

UNLV LAW STUDENTS TO TEACH FREE INCOME TAX CLASS

UNLV law students are set to teach free income tax education classes during a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. April 16 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. 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. An open question-and-answer session will follow.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/nqkejqm.

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.

UNLV TO HOST FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITIES APRIL 11

The Festival of Communities, a celebration of cultural traditions, is set from noon to 5 p.m. April 11 at the Alumni Walk at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Live music, dancing, readings and performances are planned, along with international food tastings, booths with displays of art and culture, balloon art, face painting and more.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ly7uezr.

REBEL PREVIEW TO OFFER LOOK AT COLLEGE LIFE

Prospective students are invited to learn about life as a UNLV student at Rebel Preview from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11. Students and families can get questions answered and tour the campus at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, along with residence halls and specialty areas. Activities and informational sessions are planned, including discussions of degree programs and qualifying for scholarships and prizes and meeting current UNLV Rebels.

For more information, visit unlv.edu/event/rebel-preview.

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: March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 19 (in Reno) and Aug. 15. Participants will receive a stipend to help with child care and transportation costs.

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

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.

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.