Education Notebook, Feb. 25-March 3

CITY OF LAS VEGAS TO HOST TWITTER CHAT ON EDUCATION ISSUES

The city of Las Vegas plans to host a Twitter chat on education issues in Southern Nevada from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 27. This chat is scheduled to feature Clark County School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky, Nevada State Board of Education Vice President Allison Serafin, Clark County Education Association Vice President Theo Small and city of Las Vegas Community Resources Manager Brian Knudsen.

Residents and social media enthusiasts are invited to take part by signing into their Twitter accounts and using #lveduchat during the scheduled time. The panelists will respond to as many Tweets and questions on the topic as possible.

Individuals who do not have Twitter accounts can follow the chats by viewing the live Twitter feed on the city’s website, lasvegasnevada.gov.

ENGELSTAD FAMILY FOUNDATION GIVES $1.6M TO LITERACY PROGRAMS

The Engelstad Family Foundation has awarded a three-year grant totaling $1.6 million to The Public Education Foundation to expand its early-childhood learning, language development and parent engagement programs to improve literacy.

The goal of the foundation’s Family Literacy Program, Literacy Liftoff and the Reach Out & Read program is to provide children from low-income and non-English speaking families with access to quality preschool, after-school and out-of-school experiences to close the readiness gap in the early stages of learning.

The grant will enable the Family Literacy Program to be in 10 more schools by the end of three years, serving an additional 13,125 people.

For more information about the foundation, visit thepef.org or call 702-799-1042.

FAITH LUTHERAN MOCK TRIAL TEAM REACHES STATE FINAL

The Mock Trial Team from Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, 2015 S. Hualapai Way, competed recently in the Southern Nevada Regional Mock Trial Competition, with one squad advancing to the state final in March.

Faith Lutheran senior Luke Keckman, who is part of the school’s Mark 10:14 program for special needs students, was the school’s first autistic competitor and a member of the advancing Black squad.

Faith Lutheran teams took second, third and fourth places out of 11 teams.

AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS TAKE PART IN GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY AND CLINIC AT UNLV

More than 200 After-School All-Stars Las Vegas students from Bridger, Fremont and Smith middle schools took part in the National Girls & Women in Sports Day at UNLV on Feb. 15.

The event was for male and female students and featured a series of sports clinics. Students also attended the UNLV-Utah State women’s basketball game.

For more information about After-School All-Stars, visit asaslv.org or call 702-770-7601.

STUDENTS TAKE PART IN SPRING FESTIVAL PARADE

Elementary school cheerleading teams from Mackey, 2726 Englestad St. in North Las Vegas; Carson, 1735 N. D St., and May, 6350 W. Washburn Road, participated in the McDonald’s Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade on Feb. 9.

NEW HEALTH CLINIC OPENS AT MARTINEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The United Way of Southern Nevada’s Women’s Leadership Council celebrated the grand opening of a medical clinic at Martinez Elementary School, 350 E. Judson Ave. in North Las Vegas, on Feb. 11. The clinic will serve approximately 700 students at the school and 2,500 children in the local community.

SONS OF NORWAY TO HAND OUT SCHOLARSHIPS

The Sons of Norway’s Vegas Viking Lodge is seeking applicants for its eighth annual scholarship for post-high school studies.

To be eligible, applicants must be of Norwegian descent, legal residents of Clark County or Alamo or a member of the Vegas Viking Lodge or a child or grandchild of a lodge member and at least a high school senior or ongoing full-time student.

The scholarship is at least $500. Last year the lodge gave away six $500 scholarships. Winners will be chosen based on grades, financial need, extracurricular activities and an essay expressing appreciation for their Norwegian heritage.

Applications must be postmarked by April 19. Applications are available at vegasviking.com/scholarship.html.

Tax-deductible contributions to the scholarship fund, including naming gifts, are welcome. To donate, mail a check payable to Vegas Viking Sons of Norway Scholarship Fund to treasurer Warren Halvorsen, 830 Kingston Springs Way, Las Vegas, NV 89123-3643.

For more information, call Suzan Sibert at 702-645-6666.

STUDENTS TO BUILD MODEL BRIDGES FOR CONTEST

A student Model Bridge Building Contest hosted by UNLV, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 at the Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

Thousands of Clark County elementary, middle and high school students can take part in the project, but each school can send only its top 10 bridges to the event.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/modelbridgecontest.

LEGAL AID CENTER TO HOST ORIENTATION FOR EDUCATIONAL SURROGATE PARENT PROGRAM

The nonprofit Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada plans to host an orientation and training meeting for the Educational Surrogate Parent Program from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at the center’s office, 725 E. Charleston Blvd. The program trains volunteers to serve as parents for children with disabilities in the foster care system.

Interested volunteers are invited to attend. No experience is necessary, only a desire to be an advocate for foster children. Training and support will be provided throughout the life of a volunteer’s assigned case. Employees of the Clark County School District and social workers are prohibited by law from volunteering.

For more information or to sign up for training, email surrogates@lacsn.org or call 702-386-1070, ext. 1446.

COUNTY TO OFFER SUMMER BUSINESS INSTITUTE JOBS FOR TEENS

Current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can apply for the Clark County Summer Business Institute. The partnership between Clark County, the Clark County School District and more than 80 area businesses provides selected teenagers internship opportunities in a variety of fields including law, medicine, architecture, education and communications. Applications can be accessed at clarkcountynv.gov in the Human Resources Department section.

County staff members are to select 120 students who will be paid $8.25 an hour to work eight-hour days Monday through Thursday. Friday the students will learn skills in financial management and civic engagement. Participants may be eligible for college scholarships.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 28. For more information, call 702-455-4565.

NEVADA STATE SPELLING BEE SET FOR MARCH 1

The Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, plans to host the Nevada State Spelling Bee in its theater from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 1. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 702-271-0570.

FREE PROGRAM TO OFFER HEALTHY LIVING TIPS FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND FAMILIES

All 4 Kids, a program of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, is offering a 13-week program for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and their parents. Families will be provided interactive experiences that promote healthful habits regarding physical activity and eating. Free materials will be given to families to continue activities at home.

Classes are taught in English and Spanish. The program is free and is scheduled to be offered at the Pearson Community Center, 1625 Carey Ave. in North Las Vegas, from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 4.

Space for the program is limited. To register, call 702-948-5942 or email all_for_kids@unce.unr.edu.

GET INFORMATION ON NEVADA NATURALIST PROGRAM MARCH 1

The Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road, plans to host an open house on the Nevada Naturalist program from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 1. Visit with current Nevada naturalists, meet instructors, see educational project presentations, participate in activites, learn about volunteer opportunities and tour the Outdoor Education Center.

Nevada Naturalist, a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension program, focuses on giving a broad understanding of nature to participants interesting in learning, volunteering, teaching and participating in conservation projects and issues. The program also gives participants the skills and confidence to make a different for environmental stewardship and conservation in Southern Nevada.

The open house is free, and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Denis Parsons at 702-948-5906 or email parsonsd@unce.unr.edu.

CLARK COUNTY STUDENTS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ENERGY CONSERVATION CONTEST

Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing Services is partnering with the Clark County School District’s Community Partnership Program for the first Yes! Think Green Contest.

Elementary, middle and high school students are encouraged to think about raise awareness of energy conservation by submitting energy-saving ideas in the form of a written essay, drawing or model. Entries will be accepted through March 1, and cash prizes will be awarded in three categories based on school level. Yes! also plans to donate $500 to the school with the most student participation.

Email enteries to yesthinkgreen@boltpr.com.

SPRINGS PRESERVE TO HOST WRITING COMPETITION AND EXHIBIT

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the Springs Preserve have partnered with The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers to host the Southern Nevada Regional Competition and exhibit. Springs Preserve visitors can view award-winning artwork from local students in grades 7-12 in formats including painting, photography, sculpture and digital design.

The exhibit is in the Big Springs Gallery of the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., and is free for Springs Preserve members and included with paid general admission.

The exhibit is set to be displayed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through March 2. For more information about the Springs Preserve, visit springspreserve.org.

CSN PLANS SPRING CAREER FAIR MARCH 5, APRIL 8

The College of Southern Nevada Career Services plans to host Spring 2014 Career Fairs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 5 in the Cheyenne Campus Student Lounge, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8 in the Charleston Campus Building D Lobby, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd.

Events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 702-651-4700.

STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT WORK FOR RTC ART CONTEST

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada invites Clark County students to celebrate Earth Day by taking part in the RTC 2014 Earth Day Art Contest.

Students in sixth through 12th grade can submit artwork to promote the transportation commission’s sustainable initiative “quicker, cleaner, greener” with images of transit, bicycling, walking or carpooling.

The top two winners will have their artwork featured on a transportation commission transit vehicle for up to a year.

Artwork must be original, in color and in a horizontal format on 11-by-17-inch paper. Markers, colored pencils and paint are acceptable media.

Entry forms, which can be found at rtcsnv.com, must be securely affixed to the back of the artwork and the work should be submitted to the transportation commission before 5 p.m. March 10. Address submissions to RTC, Attention: Aileen Pastor, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89106. Artwork may be rolled up but cannot be folded.

For more information, contact Pastor at 702-676-1735 or at pastora@rtcsnv.com.

KOHL’S ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Kohl’s is accepting nominations for the 2014 Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program, which recognizes those ages 6 to 18 who have made a positive impact on their community through volunteerism.

The program expects to award nearly $400,000 in scholarships and prizes this year to more than 2,300 young volunteers. Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and nearly 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward higher education. Also, 10 national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for higher education, and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.

Nominations will be accepted through March 14 at kohlskids.com.

LAS VEGAS PROM CLOSET COLLECTING DRESSES

The Las Vegas Prom Closet is collecting new and gently used prom dresses and accessories for its Operation Glass Slipper program. The dresses will be distributed to local high school students who wish to attend prom but cannot afford the expense.

Dresses are set to be given out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22 at Stitch Factory, 300 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Suite 120. Students will be required to show a valid student ID to pick out a dress.

For more information, call 702-900-7766.

UNLV OFFERS CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES

The UNLV Office of Continuing Education is offering courses this spring and summer for those interested in personal or professional development.

Professional certificate programs include paralegal, legal secretary, medical assistant, design, public relations, nonprofit management, human resources, fashion design, grant writing, personal training and more.

Continuing Education also offers courses in language, cooking, music and recreation.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV offers student-led classes to more than 1,300 retired and semiretired adults.

For full course listings or to register, visit continuingeducation.unlv.edu. For a copy of the course catalog, call 702-895-3394.

SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASES 2014 GRADUATION SCHEDULE

The Clark County School District has released its 2014 high school graduation schedule, which can be found at tinyurl.com/ccsdgrad2014. Graduations are scheduled June 2-14, most of them at The Orleans or the Thomas & Mack Center.