Education notebook

ENVIRONMENTAL ESSAY CONTEST OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is sponsoring an essay contest for all high school seniors in Clark County. The winner will receive a new laptop computer.

The essay should address how the students can reduce their carbon footprint by using commission services. The essay minimum is 500 words, double-spaced. Essays must include the student's name and age, a teacher's name and the school.

The entry deadline is March 8. Submissions can be emailed to Judy Myers at the School-Community Partnership Office at jem274@ interact.ccsd.net. For full entry details, visit rtcsnv.com or contact Aileen Pastor at 676-1735 or pastora@rtcsnv.com. The contest is co-sponsored by Coca-Cola Co.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TO CONSERVE WILDLIFE

The National Environmental Education Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to high school students to implement wildlife conservation projects in their schools or communities. The grants are offered by the foundation's Planet Connect program, a youth engagement initiative.

For more information, visit planetconnect.org/2012wcgrants. Applications are due Wednesday.

NV ENERGY TO HOST SCHOLARSHIPS WORKSHOP FOR COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS

The Public Education Foundation has scheduled a free workshop about college scholarships from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at NV Energy, 6226 W. Sahara Ave.

NV Energy's Powerful Partnerships Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships of $1,000 to be used at any college, university or trade school. Applicants must attend school within the Clark County School District and demonstrate leadership in academics and community service. The program has awarded more than 500 scholarships since its inception in 2000 and more than $84,000 last year alone.

For more information, visit thepef.org. To RSVP, call 799-1042, as seating is limited to the first 100.

MAGNET SCHOOL, CAREER AND TECHNICAL ACADEMY REGISTRATION UNDER WAY

The Clark County School District is accepting applications through Monday for its magnet schools and career and technical academies. For more information, visit ccsd.net/magnetcta or call 799-8492.

MARTINEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE COATS

Martinez Elementary School, 350 Judson Ave., was adopted this semester by Vanderburg Elementary School in Henderson.

Vanderburg donated more than 400 coats, a supply of uniforms and new books to Martinez students. Many students at Martinez are homeless, and every student was in the Free and Reduced Lunch program last school year.

For more information or to donate to the school, call 799-3800.

HYDE PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL WINS FUTURE CITY COMPETITION

Hyde Park Middle School, 900 Hinson St., won the 2012 Nevada regional Future City Competition held Jan. 21 at Northwest Career and Technical Academy. Teams from 13 middle school in Clark County built future city models made from recycled materials. This year's theme was "Fuel Your Future: Imagine New Ways to Meet Our Energy Needs and Maintain a Healthy Planet."

The Hyde Park team will compete for the national title Feb. 18-22 in Washington, D.C. More than 33,000 students from 1,000 schools participated nationwide.

For more information, visit futurecity.org.

SURROGATE PARENTS NEEDED FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is recruiting adults for its Educational Surrogate Parent Program to help advocate for foster children with disabilities. An orientation and training meeting is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Boyd School of Law, Room 117, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

The ESP program trains volunteers to serve as student advocates during school meetings or with educational issues. Educational surrogate parents often write letters, make phone calls or visit the school to ensure their students' educational plans are appropriate and being followed by the school. Volunteers can expect a time commitment of about 25 hours per school year, but that will vary by student.

For more information or to register, call 386-1070, ext. 170, or email surrogates@lacsn.org.

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SPONSORS STUDENT ART CONTEST

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada invites students in Clark County to submit artwork celebrating Earth Day that may be displayed on a commission bus for up to a year.

Students in sixth through 12th grades can submit artwork about Earth Day and the commission's sustainability initiative, Quicker, Cleaner, Greener. Students are encouraged to feature images of transit, carpooling, bicycling and walking. The commission will select two winners, who are scheduled to be announced April 19.

Artwork must be unique, colorful and submitted in a horizontal format on 11-inch by 17-inch paper. Markers, colored pencils and paint are acceptable. Black and white, photography and glitter will not be accepted.

All entries should be delivered to the commission's administrative offices, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89106, attention: Aileen Pastor. The entry deadline is March 14.

For more information, call 676-1735 or email Pastor at pastora@rtcsnv.com.

UNITED WAY OFFERS PRESCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE

United Way of Southern Nevada is offering Tuition Assistance Preschool Scholarships for children 3 to 5 years to attend high-quality school readiness preschool programs in Southern Nevada.

United Way is providing copays ranging from $17.25 to $57.50 to low-income, unemployed and foster families who do not receive state assistance. Limited scholarships will be provided with a sliding fee for those experiencing financial hardship from unemployment.

Scholarships are valid at any partner United Way Child Development Center. For more information, call 892-2361.

LOCAL SCHOOLS COMPETE FOR $10,000 BY SHOPPING

Seven Clark County schools are competing for $10,000 in the My School's Cool Reward Program at Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane. Students have been competing since November to accumulate points by shopping at Meadows Mall and submitting receipts to their school. The school with the highest point total will be awarded the grand prize in June, and the other participating schools will receive cash prizes.

Participating schools are Griffith, 324 Essex Drive; Crestwood, 1300 Pauline Way; Carson Empowerment, 1735 N. D St.; Thiriot, 5700 W. Harmon Ave., and Bruner, 4289 Allen Lane, elementary schools; and Bridger, 2505 N. Bruce St., and Cashman, 4622 W. Desert Inn Road, middle schools. Community members can support these schools by submitting receipts on behalf of a particular school.

Meadows Mall customers can write the name of the school on the back of a store receipt and submit it in a special display in the mall. Customers wishing to retain a receipt can request a special form from the mall management office during normal business hours.

For more information, call 878-6607.

STATE TREASURER OFFERS PREPAID TUITION PROGRAM TO HELP SAVE FOR COLLEGE

Parents can start saving for their children's college education needs by enrolling in the Nevada Prepaid Tuition program through Feb. 28. The program enables families to lock in future college per-credit tuition rates at current prices.

Parents can pay a lump sum or make monthly payments. The program is fully transferable to private or public out-of-state colleges and universities and may be transferred to another family member. The program also can be gifted to family members or friends. Kids in ninth grade or younger are eligible, and payment plans start at $36 a month.

For more information, visit nevadatreasurer.gov or call 486-2025.

CLARK COUNTY READS PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CHILDREN

The Public Education Foundation is seeking volunteers to provide one-on-one help for children struggling with reading skills as part of the Clark County READS Reading Partner Program.

Each volunteer will have two children assigned to them. The reading partner and child will read to each other for 30 minutes once a week.

A two-hour orientation is required. Volunteers will be trained in techniques that help build a child's comprehension skills and reading fluency while instilling a love of reading.

The program runs for 12 weeks, from January through April during regular school hours. Volunteers must be able to commit for the duration of the program, which will take place at 20 schools in the Clark County School District.

For more information, call 799-1042 or email info@ccpef.org.

READING PROGRAM NEEDS MENTORS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Spread the Word Nevada's reading mentor program, Books and Buddies, is seeking volunteers to help students in kindergarten through fifth grade improve reading proficiency. Spread the Word Nevada matches adult mentors with elementary students at 26 at-risk schools.

Volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of one hour per week for 12 weeks. Training will be provided, and background checks are required.

For more information, call volunteer coordinator Libbi Erickson at 564-7809 or email libbi@spreadthewordnevada.org.