Education Notebook

WEST CAREER AND TECH IS STARTING POINT FOR FUNDRAISER CYCLING EVENT

West Career and Technical Academy, 11945 W. Charleston Blvd., on Saturday will serve as the starting point for the third annual Pedal to the Medal, a cycling event that raises money for Special Olympics Nevada.

Riders on the 50-mile route are scheduled to start at 7 a.m. and the 25-mile route at 8 a.m.

For more information or to register, visit sonv.org.

AURELIO'S PIZZA HOSTS FOURTH-GRADE ESSAY CONTEST

Aurelio's Pizza is accepting submissions from fourth-graders for its inaugural Family Traditions Essay Contest. Teachers must register their fourth-grade classrooms by Sunday at aureliostraditions.com.

Essays should share important personal family traditions and be about 300 words. Teachers will be asked to narrow submissions and submit them by Sept. 30. Essays will be judged on length, originality of ideas, focus and writing. Prizes include a pizza party, family dinners, gift cards, pizza and school supplies gift cards.

Aurelio's Pizza has locations at 10960 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 107 in Henderson and 445 W. Craig Road in North Las Vegas.

PARENTS CAN TRACK KIDS' GRADES WITH MOBILE APP

The Clark County School District and ParentLink have launched a new mobile application this school year for Android and iPhone. The app provides parents with access to their child's attendance, grades, school information, cafeteria balance, messages and more. Parents can also access ParentLink online at ccsd.net/parents/parentlink.

The app is available from the App Store on iTunes and Google Play.

SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA TO HOST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AT THE VENETIAN

Spread the Word Nevada, a nonprofit organization that supports children's literacy, has its 11th annual Storybook Gala fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 15 at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. with drinks and a silent auction. Dinner, entertainment and a live auction are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Tickets are $250 per person. To purchase tickets, email events@ spreadthewordnevada.org. For more information, call Christina Bailey at 715-5699.

RANCHO HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST EVENT FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES

Rancho High School, 1900 Searles Ave., plans to host the Paralympic Sport Activity Night for students with disabilities from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are welcome to attend the free program, which will allow them an opportunity to compete in sports.

The Clark County School District plans to host monthly events throughout the school year. For more information, call 229-4796.

DONALD W. REYNOLDS CLUBHOUSE TO HOST BACK-TO-SCHOOL FITNESS EVENT

The Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club, 2980 Robindale Road, plans to host the Vegas PBS Keeping Kids Fit program's Back To School and Back In Shape event at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. It will feature activities for students, such as a relay race, a long jump and dance routines.

For more information, call Jessica Carroll at 799-1010.

HIKES PLANNED FOR HOME-SCHOOLERS

The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department plans to host a series of educational hikes for home-schooled students this fall. The hikes are open to children 5 to 10 accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The first in the series will cover trail bicycling and hiking etiquette and is scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at Equestrian Park South, 1200 Equestrian Drive. Participants are asked to bring a bike or scooter and a helmet.

Registration is required at cityofhenderson.com/parks or at any Henderson recreation center.

Other hikes are scheduled for Oct. 18 and Nov. 8.

PASEO VERDE LIBRARY SEEKS STUDENTS FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, is seeking student members for its Middle School Advisory Council. An informational meeting for interested students is scheduled at 5 p.m. Sept. 12. The MSAC helps the library design children's programs and suggests authors or series for the library to purchase.

For more information, call 492-6581, ext. 4.

COMPUTERS FOR KIDS PLANS EQUIPMENT DRIVE

The nonprofit organization Computers for Kids Inc. plans to collect no longer used or non-working computer equipment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 5180 S. Cameron St.

The organization has donated more than 25,000 repaired and refurbished computers to date. Computer systems that are not able to be refurbished are stripped of working parts for use in other systems or recycled through an R2 recycler.

BUCA DI BEPPO OFFERS KIDS' MEALS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Buca di Beppo locations across the Las Vegas Valley are offering free kids' meals in exchange for school supplies through Friday.

Children can receive a free kids' meal with the donation of new supplies, big and small, which will be distributed to students by the United Way of Southern Nevada.

The number of kids' meals given out will be at the discretion of the restaurant manager.

Participating locations are 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South (inside the Excalibur), 7690 W. Lake Mead Blvd. and 412 E. Flamingo Road.

TRADE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS

Krispy Kreme and The Salvation Army are collecting school supplies through Sunday for their Stuff the Bus program.

Suggested items include notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, scissors and paper. Items can be donated at Krispy Kreme locations at 7015 W. Spring Mountain Road, 9791 S. Eastern Ave. and 1331 W. Craig Road. Supplies will be distributed by The Salvation Army.

Those who donate will receive a free glazed doughnut or a dozen glazed doughnuts with the donation of a new backpack.

MGM ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR TEACHER RECOGNITION PROGRAM

MGM Resorts International is accepting nominations for its Teacher of the Game Recognition Program. All licensed Clark County School District teachers are eligible for nomination, and 17 will be selected to attend a University of Nevada, Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels men's basketball home game this season. Other prizes will also be awarded, including $500 each for their classrooms.

Teachers nominated should demonstrate excellence in the classroom, motivation, creativity and dedication. Nominations are due Oct. 1.

For more information, visit ccsd.net/district/game.

SPARK! POETRY CONTEST OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Clark County high school students are invited to enter the Spark! poetry contest sponsored by the Vegas Valley Book Festival. Guidelines are available at vegasvalleybookfestival.org or at the Nevada Arts Council office at 2755 E. Desert Inn Road, Suite 155. The deadline for submission is at 5 p.m. Oct. 5.

Winners will receive cash prizes of $100, $200 and $300. Students will be judged on their original poems and their recitation at the festival on Nov. 3.

For more information, call Maryjane Dorofachuk at 486-3738.