Education Notebook, March 12-18

NEVADA STATE COLLEGE HEALTH CENTER RECEIVES $50,000 GRANT

The Dr. Joel and Carol Bower Health Center at Nevada State College received a $50,000 planning grant from the Nevada State Health Division to support expansion plans for the center. Plans are expected to include preparation for an electronic health record system, development of emergency preparedness plans and exploration of mental health services.

The college said the grant will allow the Bower Health Center to participate in the 2013 National School-Based Health Care Convention June 23-26 in Washington, D.C.

SEVENTH-GRADER TO REPRESENT NEVADA
IN NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

Seventh-grader Amna Raza of the Omar Haikal Islamic Academy, 485 E. Eldorado Lane, won the Nevada State Spelling Bee March 2 at the Summerlin Library Theatre. Amna won the bee with the word “efficacy,” meaning effectiveness. She will represent Nevada at the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 28-30 in Washington, D.C.

Tazreean Ahmen, a seventh-grader at Lone Mountain Challenger School, 9900 W. Isaac Newton Way, finished second.

AUTISM CENTER AT UNLV OFFERS GRANT
TO COVER ASSESSMENT OF DISORDERS

The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is offering a free assessment to one local family whose child may have Asperger Syndrome or high-functioning autism but is unable to afford assessment services. Comprehensive testing services for children and adults usually are available to the public on a sliding fee scale.

Families can apply for the Bern and Howard Linker grant to cover the assessment services by April 2. The winner will be drawn by lottery April 3, and the assessment will begin in mid-April.

For more information, call 702-895-5836 or visit asdcenter.org.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
LOOKING FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Neuropsychology Research Program is looking for participants for an ongoing study on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The research team at UNLV hopes to gain an understanding into cognitive and behavioral processes associated with daily function in order to learn about the neural mechanisms associated with severe mental illness and improve treatment interventions. Participants will be asked to do a variety of tests that will take approximately five hours and will be compensated $10 per hour.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with either of these conditions or for more information, call 702-895-3314 or email unlvsocial
research@gmail.com.

This study has been approved by the UNLV Institutional Review Board.

LAS VEGAS ACADEMY ALUMNI CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 29 AND 30

The Las Vegas Academy Alumni Association’s 20th anniversary celebration is scheduled for March 29 and 30. It is set to feature a talent show, a silent auction fundraiser and a picnic.

The association is accepting donations for the silent auction. To make a donation, email Joel Diamond at jsdiamond@interact.ccsd.net.

Details about the events will be updated on the association’s Facebook page, facebook.com/groups/lvaalumni.

HOSPITAL DISPLAYS STUDENT ARTWORK

The St. Rose Dominican Hospitals Siena Campus, 3001 St. Rose Parkway, has a children’s art gallery in the third-floor lobby that features student art from Brown Junior High School, 307 N. Cannes St. The gallery, Impressions at Siena, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is free.

The gallery features 32 pieces of art made by Brown students using charcoal, oil and pastels. They are scheduled to be on display through April 25. The hospital plans to rotate student exhibits among schools.

Henderson art teachers interested in showcasing their students’ work can call Andrea Primo at 702-267-2171.

STUDENTS TO PERFORM APRIL 14
WITH HENDERSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Several Clark County School District students are scheduled to perform with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra in the Young Artists Concert at 2 p.m. April 14 at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway. Admission to the concert is free.

Students from across the valley auditioned for the concert, which is in its 18th year.

DARNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFFERS
FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

Darnell Elementary School, 9480 W. Tropical Parkway, is offering registration through April 30 for its full-day, tuition-based kindergarten for the 2013-14 school year. The full-day program runs from 9 a.m. to 3:21 p.m. The cost is $375 per month, and children must be 5 by Sept. 30.

For more information, call 702-799-6630.

VEGAS PBS LAUNCHES EARTH DAY ART CONTEST FOR STUDENTS

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is accepting submissions through Thursday for its Earth Day Art Contest.

Students in sixth through 12th grade can submit artwork that promotes the transportation commission’s sustainable initiative –– “quicker, cleaner, greener” –– with images of transit, carpooling, biking and walking. The top two entries will be featured on a transportation commission vehicle for up to a year.

Entries should have a message related to Earth Day and sustainable transportation; be in horizontal format on 11-inch-by-17-inch paper; be colorful and drawn with colored pencils, markers or paint; and be original in concept.

Submissions should be sent to the Regional Transportation Commission, attention: Aileen Pastor, at 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89106. Artwork may be rolled up but not folded.

Entry forms and guidelines are available at rtcsnv.com. For more information, call Pastor at 702-676-1735 or email pastora@rtcsnv.com.

KOHL’S ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS
FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Kohl’s Department Stores’ Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program is accepting nominations for children 6 to 18 through Friday at kohlskids.com.

The program plans to award more than $425,000 in scholarships and prizes in 2013 ranging from $50 gift cards to $10,000 scholarships to more than 2,300 young volunteers who have made a positive impact in their communities. The nominators must be 21 or older.

Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and more than 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward post-secondary education. Ten national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education, and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.

Since the program began in 2001, Kohl’s has recognized more than 17,000 kids with more than $3.4 million in scholarships and prizes.