Education Notebook: School news and events for April 21-27, 2016
After-School All-Stars Night: The Las Vegas 51s baseball team has partnered with After-School All-Stars for the team’s April 23 game against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. By going to a ticket link and entering the promo code “ASAS,” fans may purchase tickets online for $12 per seat, with $3 per ticket donated to ASAS. A $5 off $25 offer for the Las Vegas 51’s Team Store will be printed on each ticket. Online tickets will be available until 2 p.m. the day of the game. After-School All-Stars students will be featured throughout the game, which is set to start at 6 p.m. The first 2,500 fans through the gate will receive a free 51’s jersey. Visit tinyurl.com/lv51spromo.
Paintings donation: On May 17, Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is set to donate 150 paintings to The Children’s Miracle Network, which will then donate the artwork to St. Rose Hospital Siena in Henderson. The paintings will be used to decorate the pediatrics floor, raise funds for silent auctions and serve as gifts to patients. Created by CASLV sixth- through 12th-grade students, the paintings are 11-inch-by-17-inch acrylic works with the theme of Things Children Like. Visit CASLV.org
The Heart of Education Awards: The invitation-only event is planned 7 p.m. May 7 in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave. The evening is set to honor more than 800 educators in the Clark County School District. Visit thesmithcenter.com/theheartofeducation.
All-Star Soccer Tournament: The event on April 7 included roughly 360 Clark County School District students from nine elementary schools competing in refereed soccer games at the Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex, 7901 W. Washington Ave. Elementary schools included were Squires, Martinez, Hewetson, Tom Williams, Lois Craig, Cortez, Stanford, Culley and Parson.
Students tour aviation facility: Maverick Aviation Group took aviation maintenance students from Rancho High School on a behind-the-scenes tour of its corporate headquarters, 1620 Jet Stream Drive, on April 8. Students received an all-access look at Maverick Airlines’ terminal and Maverick Helicopters on-site maintenance facility, learned the importance of maintenance and flight operations, had an opportunity to go inside an Airbus EC130 ECO-Star helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft and participated in a Q-&-A with pilots and maintenance staff.
College fair: The Western Association for College Admission Counseling is planning its annual Las Vegas College Fair at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts starting with pre-far workshops at 5:15 p.m. and the fair at 7 p.m. April 21 in the gymnasium and cafeteria of the academy at 315 S. Seventh St. All Clark and Nye County high school students and their parents are encouraged to attend to meet with representatives from over 150 colleges and universities. It is open for all students whether in the public school system or private school. Admission is free. Visit wacaccollegefair.com or wacac.org or email Joel S. Diamond at JSDiamond@interact.ccsd.net.
Connections Academy open house: The Nevada Connections Academy plans to host open house and information session for the 2016-17 school year at 6:30 p.m. April 21 at Hampton Inn and Suites Las Vegas Airport, 6575 S. Eastern Ave.; at 7 p.m. April 27 at McDonald’s, 8120 S. Eastern Ave.; at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at Holiday Inn Express, 6220 S. Rainbow Blvd.; at 10 a.m. May 14 at Starbucks, 7541 W. Lake Mead Blvd.; and at 7 p.m. May 26 at McDonald’s, 8120 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival: The fifth annual festival is set to run from 9 a.m. April 29 through 5 p.m. May 7. Various events are planned and include the College of Southern Nevada Science and Technology Expo, the Clark County Wetlands Park Bio Blitz, Science is Everywhere Day, Science in the Community, and the Giant Science & Technology Expo. Visit SciFest.Vegas.
Science and Technology Expo: Sponsored by the CSN Foundation, the expo is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 29 at the College of Southern Nevada, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., and is to include web design demos, apprenticeship exhibits, a chemistry magic show, planetarium shows, and insects and animals. It is part of the Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival, planned April 29-May 7. Call 702-651-4959.
Enrollment information sessions and tours: Explore Knowledge Academy, 5871 Mountain Vista St., plans enrollment information sessions and tours for the current and 2016-17 school years on May 10 and 24. Sessions for sixth through 10th grade are at 8:30 a.m., and sessions for kindergarten through fifth grade are at 9:15 a.m. The tuition-free charter school is for kindergarten through 12th grade. Visit ekacademy.org.
RTC Earth Day Contest: The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is planning its eighth annual contest for students in sixth through 12th grade. The theme is RTC’s Quicker, Cleaner, Greener sustainable initiative with images of transit, bicycling, walking and carpooling. Guidelines include:
— Artwork should have a message related to Earth Day and sustainable transportation
— Candidates must be sixth- through 12th-graders and residents of Clark County
— Artwork must be in a horizontal format on 11-by-17-inch paper
— Artwork must be colorful. No black and white; no photography; no glitter
— Markers, colored pencils and paint are acceptable media
— Artwork must be original in concept and not violate U.S. copyright law
Entry forms must be securely affixed to the back of the artwork and submitted to the RTC before 5 p.m. April 21. Submissions should be delivered to the RTC, Attention: Laura Coronado, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 300, Las Vegas, NV, 89106. Artwork may be rolled up but cannot be folded.
Contact Coronado, RTC public affairs administrator, at 702-676-1743 or at coronadol@rtcsnv.com.
CSN CT scanner: The College of Southern Nevada’s Veterinary Technology program has acquired a Computed Tomography device, also known as a CT scanner. It is one of two in use in Nevada veterinary clinics.
Mariachi program funding: The mariachi program at Rancho High School, helmed by instructor Robert Lopez, is seeking funding for a trip to perform in Washington, D.C. The group has more than 200 students, who mostly come from low-income families and communities. A GoFundMe account has been created at gofundme.com/mariachioro.
UNLV apartments renovations: The Midby Cos. begins a three-phased redevelopment of the University Park Apartments, 4259 S. Maryland Parkway, a 1960s-era, garden-style apartment community at the north end of campus. UNLV purchased the property in 2015 and Midby entered into a 40-year ground lease with UNLV to redevelop and operate the property for student housing, creating the U District as an extension of the UNLV campus. Phase 1 is underway, including demolition of existing structures, and new construction is set to begin in May to deliver a 758-bed building to be known as The Degree, slated for a fall 2017 move-in. Within the next 10 years, the remainder of U District will also be redeveloped in two more phases. The remaining units, making up Phases 2 and 3, are currently being renovated and rebranded as Legacy LV, available to students in the fall.
National Park Service’s 100th anniversary: In celebration of the anniversary, Forever Resorts has partnered with the Lake Mead National Recreation Area to host an art contest for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. The competition encourages students to design an image incorporating Southern Nevada’s park lands and the National Park Service’s Centennial themes of #FindYourPark or #EveryKidInAPark. One grand prize-winning student will have his or her design incorporated into a collectible item or items sold at Lake Mead’s visitor center retail store with proceeds benefiting Lake Mead. The deadline for submitting entries is April 22. Submissions may be mailed or hand-delivered to: CCSD School-Community Partnership Office, 4601 W. Bonanza Road, 2nd Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89107, ATTN: Cheryl Wagner. Call 702-799-6560.
Education survey: The city of Henderson is reaching out to residents to gather thoughts and opinions on a plan to reorganize the Clark County School District into local precincts through an online survey. The 2015 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 394, which would lead to the creation of new local school precincts in Clark County. Feedback from residents will be presented to a technical advisory committee formed to assist in developing a Clark County School District reorganization plan. Visit cityofhenderson.com/education.
Power Hour program: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and Ross Stores are partnering to support the Club’s Power Hour program, an interactive after-school homework assistance program for members, ages 6 to 18. The program offers the opportunity for club staff to support youth in developing a positive attitude about learning while emphasizing the importance of high school graduation. The partnership with Ross Stores will assist in making the program a more effective tool to keep members on top of their academic studies as well as provide the club with staff training and resources.
Investigating History: The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., has launched Investigating History, a comprehensive educational outreach program to be offered to Clark County schools. Funded by the Las Vegas Centennial Commission, the program introduces students to the topics of Las Vegas history, constitutional law and criminal justice through interactive standards-based classroom and auditorium presentations. Designed for fourth- through 12th-grade students, the hands-on program will be presented by museum educators and will support the fulfillment of national and state curriculum standards. Call 702-229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org.
Instrument collection: The Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild, in partnership with Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, have launched an instrument collection program to benefit local school music programs. The initiative is intended to address the need for musical instruments for school music programs, particularly in charter schools in the Las Vegas Valley. The organization is seeking playable instruments in good condition, and because these instruments may need some refurbishing, it is also seeking interested parties for monetary contributions or donations of instrument repair services. For more information, to donate, or get involved, contact Monica Fuller at guildeducation@lvphil.com or 702-580-8528.
Degrees, internships, scholarships, enrollments and contests:
Welcome to Nevada Design Contest: The contest challenges Nevada’s high school artists to create official Welcome to Nevada signs that depict the Nevada brand and create a friendly welcome for travelers. The Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, under the direction of Gov. Brian Sandoval and in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation, is administering the contest slated to run through April 25. The contest will be conducted within Nevada’s high schools and is primarily aimed at students enrolled in the CTE Level 2 or higher graphic arts courses, although each school may determine eligibility. Approximately 50 entry points exist on Nevada’s major interstate freeways, state highways and small roadways bringing people into the state and will be divided into four regions. Designers are asked to convey the most important resources of the selected region while conveying the overarching brand, Nevada: A World Within. A State Apart., in their designs. Each participating school will select up to five finalist designs that will be submitted to a review committee composed of professional graphic artists and representatives from NDOT, and the departments of Education and Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Three finalists from each region will be selected, at which point, the public will be able to choose the winning design via an online voting tool. Once the winning design is selected for each region, the student designer and his or her instructor will work with NDOT to finalize the design and produce the sign. The winning designs will be installed on Nevada’s roadways beginning in the summer. Visit travelnevada.com/pages/2016-sign-contest.
Congressional Art Competition: The nationwide high school arts competition is open to all high school students in Nevada. Winning artwork from each Congressional District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Each participating student from Nevada’s Fourth District will be recognized at a reception set for May 2 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Visit hardy.house.gov/services/art-competition or call Congressman Hardy’s North Las Vegas office at 702-912-1634.
Students with a Cause contest: The seventh annual contest is set to run through May 6. The theme is Just in Case, and currently enrolled Clark County high school students are encouraged to create a submission that illustrates how to avoid dangerous or bad situations or how to be prepared if the unexpected happens. This year’s contest offers additional entry options for students, in the following categories: a 30-second video; a work of art (painting, sculpture, cartoon, etc.); a short story or poem (maximum 2,000 words); or a website. There will be four $1,000 scholarships available, one to be awarded to the student with the best entry in each category. Additionally, $500 will be awarded to the school of each winning student. Submissions may be made in person at the Richard Harris Law Firm by 5 p.m. May 6 or online by 11:59 p.m. May 8. Visit studentswithacause.org.
Stars of Science competition: Cox Las Vegas seeks Clark County high school students who are Stars of Science through its Science Challenge 2016. Students can participate in the challenge by creating a two-minute digital story (video) that shows science at work in one of three categories: Applied Science, Natural Science and Health Science. The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 15. The first-place participant in each story category will receive $1,000, plus $1,000 for his teacher and $1,000 for their school. Second- and third-place winners, their teacher and school will also receive cash awards. Winners will be announced on May 7 during the 2016 Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival at Cashman Center. Visit coxstarsofscience.com.
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree: WGU Nevada is now accepting applications for its newest online master’s degree program, Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The new program offers coursework that aligns with the latest standards from national security organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. The program is designed for experienced information systems professionals or individuals with real-world IT experience who are seeking a master’s degree and planning to become certified in ethical hacking or computer forensic investigation. WGU Nevada’s terms are six months long, and students may enroll on the first of any month, completing as many courses as they are able for a flat-rate tuition of about $3,000 per term. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/cybersecurity.
Leadership Academy enrollment: Leadership Academy of Nevada is enrolling students for the 2016-17 school year. LANV focuses on developing leaders through delivery of a liberal-arts education via cutting-edge technology in grades six through 12 throughout Nevada. Regularly scheduled Enrollment Information Meetings are held online and in Las Vegas so that parents and students can learn more. A list of Enrollment Information Meeting dates, times, and places can be found at lanv.org.
Teaching scholarships: WGU Nevada is partnering with the Nevada Department of Education to offer up to 20 full-ride scholarships to residents who wish to pursue a career in teaching. In 2015, the Nevada Department of Education provided $240,000 to WGU Nevada as part of the Nevada Legislature’s Teach Nevada Scholarship Initiative. Individuals interested in applying are required to complete WGU Nevada’s Alternate Route to Licensure program for elementary and secondary teaching. The ARL program is an accelerated pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree but do not have a teaching license. After successful completion of the accelerated program, students will have completed a series of rigorous courses, in-person observations, and clinical experiences in a public school classroom that prepares them to be highly effective teachers. Winning scholarship recipients will be awarded $3,000 per term, not to exceed a total of $12,000 per student. Scholarships are available to new students who possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a non-education related field from an accredited university. To learn more about the scholarship, email scholarships@wgu.edu. Visit nevada.wgu.edu.
Latin Chamber scholarship: In collaboration with the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, WGU Nevada is encouraging professionals to embark on continuing education by offering more than $30,000 in scholarships to members of the chamber through its Las Vegas Otto Merida Scholarship program. The scholarships, valued at up to $3,200 per student, will be applied at the rate of $800 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships are available to new students looking to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any of WGU Nevada’s more than 50 degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education, or health care. Potential awardees must be a member of the chamber, or belong to a member company, which comprises more than 800 members. The WGU Nevada Otto Merida Scholarship was created in honor of the founder and chief executive officer of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/LVLCC.
Host families sought for exchange students: International Experience USA, a nonprofit high school student exchange organization approved by the U.S. Department of State, is seeking host families in the Las Vegas Valley to provide room and board, help with transportation and provide emotional support to exchange students. The students provide their own insurance and personal spending money. Visit ie-usa.org or contact Carol Myint at 507-301-3615 or c.myint@international-experience.net.
