Education Notebook

CHURCH TO HOST GRANT-WRITING SEMINAR

Desert Spring United Methodist Church, 120 N. Pavilion Center Drive, plans to host a free grant-writing seminar for schools, churches and nonprofit organizations from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 30. The church is across the street from Palo Verde High School.

The program will be led by veteran grant writer Jan McAdams. Topics will include:

What is a grant?

Anatomy of a grant application: a detailed examination of all seven parts of a grant.

Where's the money in 2012 and 2013?

Shortcuts to accessing information on federal, state and private foundation funding.

Getting organized: preparing your organization to submit successful grant applications.

Seating is limited, and a maximum of three attendees per organization is requested. To register, email dsumcfamilyministries@gmail.com. For more information, call Rhonda Reeves at 702-688-2644.

NONPROFIT GROUP SEEKS VOLUNTEER MENTORS FOR STUDENTS

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada is recruiting adult mentors for students needing positive role models. The nonprofit organization has operated in the Las Vegas Valley for 39 years and supports more than 400 mentorships this school year.

For more information or to apply, email dreamr@bbbsn.org or call 702-731-2227.

FREE AFTER-SCHOOL MEALS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS

The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas will provide free after-school meals to students 18 or younger at 13 locations across the Las Vegas Valley as part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The program is federally funded and administered by the Nevada Department of Education. The program provided 900 meals a day to 14 sites last year.

Meals are available Monday through Friday, and no registration is required. For more information, call 702-924-2102.

Participating locations include: West Preparatory Academy, 2050 Saphire Stone Ave.; 100 Academy of Excellence, 2341 Comstock Drive; Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave.; Sherman Garden, 1701 N. J St.; Vera Johnson B, 527 N. Lamb Blvd., Apt. 1; Agassi Boys & Girls Club, 800 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.; Gaughan Boys & Girls Club, 920 Cottage Grove Ave.; Lied Boys & Girls Club, 2850 S. Lindell Road; McCabe Boys & Girls Club, 2801 E. Stewart Ave.; Engelstad Boys & Girls Club, 3540 Cambridge St.; Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St.; James Boys & Girls Club, 2530 E. Carey Ave.; and Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave.

ARBOR VIEW HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM TO HOST FUNDRAISERS

Arbor View High School, 7500 Whispering Sands Drive, has two fundraisers scheduled in November and December to help support its 2013 baseball program.

At 6 p.m. Friday, a spaghetti dinner is scheduled in the school's cafeteria. Tickets are $10 per person, and kids 3 or younger will eat free. Dinner includes a spaghetti entree, salad, bread and a drink. Various desserts will be sold for 50 cents.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 1, the school plans to host its fourth annual holiday baseball camp on the baseball field. Registration is set for 8 a.m. The camp is open to kids 8 to 14 and is $50 per player. Players are asked to bring water and lunch. High school coaches and players will teach the camp.

For more information, call coach Chris Martinez at 702-799-6660, ext. 3604.

FERRON ELEMENTARY TEACHER RECEIVES MYRA GREENSPUN AWARD

Ferron Elementary School fifth-grade writing teacher Manda Kristof received the 2012 Myra Greenspun Teacher Excellence Award for using innovative classroom teaching strategies to improve student achievement. Kristof received $3,000 to use in the classroom or for professional development, $1,000 for herself and 500 points to The Public Education Foundation's Teacher Exchange resource center for school supplies.

The PEF manages the award and selects judges who review the nominations. Greenspun is the wife of Las Vegas Sun publisher Brian Greenspun.

COMMUNITY AMBULANCE DONATES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Fitzgerald Elementary School, 2651 N. Revere St., received a $5,000 donation Oct. 30 from Community Ambulance, a privately owned ambulance company that serves the Henderson area. The donation was made through The Public Education Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that supports public schools.

The donation will help Fitzgerald stock its uniform closet for students unable to afford clothes. The funds will also support the school's reading program with new books.

For more information, visit thepef.org.