Education Notebook: School news and events for Jan. 21-27, 2016

Open House for a Plan to Create Local Public School Precincts: The open house is planned from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Henderson Convention center, 200 Water St. The event is to give parents and residents an opportunity to learn more about and provide feedback on a plan to reorganize the Clark County School District into local precincts. The 2015 Nevada Legislature passed AB 394, a law that will lead to the creation of new local school precincts in Clark County. Feedback from residents will be presented to a technical advisory committee that was formed to develop a Clark County School District reorganization plan. Attendees can share their thoughts and learn more about AB 394, how education is funded in Nevada and financial equity, and the city's role in the process. An online survey will be available through Jan. 24 at cityofhenderson.com/education.

Coral Academy open houses: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is set to host a series of open houses for prospective families for the 2016-17 school year. The schedule is as follows:

Middle school: 10 a.m. Jan. 23 at 1051 Sandy Ridge Ave.

High School: Noon Jan. 23 at 1051 Sandy Ridge Ave.

Grades 3 through 5: 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at 2150 Windmill Parkway

Grades K through 2: 11 a.m. Feb. 6 at 8185 Tamarus St.

Families are encouraged to apply. CASLV selects its students by a random lottery system. Parents are notified via mail of the results within five business days. Applications are due by noon Feb. 28, 2016. Those received after that date will be subject to an additional lottery, if applicable. The lottery is planned Feb. 29. Visit coralacademylv.org/admission/admissionprocess.aspx.

Student Leaders program: Bank of America is offering applications for its Student Leaders program through Jan. 29, and eligible community-minded high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply. In its 11th year, the eight-week program will select five valley students to participate, which includes a paid internship at a local nonprofit and a trip to Washington, D.C., for the annual Student Leadership Summit, set for July 10-15. Visit bankofamerica.com.

Black History Month Essay & Art Contest: The deadline for the 37th contest for grades kindergarten through high school is 5 p.m. Feb. 5. Youths in kindergarten through third grade are encouraged to enter the creative expressions art contest. Older youths are encouraged to enter the essay contest, which is divided into three divisions: Elementary School (150 words); Middle School (250 words); and High School (400 words). The topic is, "How can we eliminate racism in the world?" First-, second- and third-place winners in each division will recite their essays or present their drawings at a banquet event in their honor, set for 6 p.m. Feb. 19. Essays may be turned in at the East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., or emailed to cfranklin@lasvegasnevada.gov. For more information, call 702-229-1515.

Las Vegas My Brother's Keeper Resource Fair: The event is set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St. Students and families from the My Brother's Keeper schools are invited. Tickets are required to receive supplies. Call 702-229-5423.

First Lego League Robotics Southern Nevada State Championship: The event is set to begin at noon Jan. 23 at West Career and Technical Academy, 11945 W. Charleston Blvd. There are 32 teams from southern Nevada that have passed the qualifying events for the Southern Nevada state championship, which includes Cooperative Extension's Boulder City 4-H Club as well as the 5th grade students from Joseph E. Thiriot Elementary School's Team Thiriot 4-H Club. Visit theconnectory.org/opportunity/first-lego-league-southern-nevada-state-championship.

Stupak College Fair: The fair for ages 13 or older, is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Stupak Community Center, 251 Boston Ave. It is free and open to the public. Junior high and high school students and their parents can gather information from college vendors and trade schools to plan for future education. Call 702-229-2488.

Youth Career Empowerment Summit: The event is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave. It is free and open to high school students. Attendees can participate in interactive workshops, raffle prizes, open interviews, job placement and internship opportunities. Breakfast and lunch will be included. Attendees should bring resumes. Professional attire is preferred. Call JAG Specialist Sherrie Smith 702-799-2589, ext. 4004, or Clark County School District School Police Officer Robert Mayer at 702-366-5244.

Digital Innovators Program: Vegas PBS announced the fourth annual PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program for kindergarten through 12th-grade educators who use technology and digital media to support student learning. Through Feb. 8, educators can apply to the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program by completing a profile, answering two essay questions and submitting a 60- to 120-second video showcasing their use of digital technology and tools in their classroom. All educators who meet the requirements and submit their application will be accepted and rewarded with yearlong professional development opportunities. A panel of judges will select 54 educators, one from each U.S. state and territory, as Lead Innovators, to be announced in March. The online application is available at pbslearningmedia.org/digitalinnovators.

Writing for Design: Local business writer Richard R. Becker, president of Copywrite, Ink. and an IABC-accredited business communicator, is set to teach Writing For Design at the College of Southern Nevada as part of the Graphics Communication Program. The class is planned from noon to 3:40 p.m. Tuesdays at the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Students can become familiar with message development, product differentiation, and brand voice while developing a clear understanding of how words and design can converge for better communication. Students can search for the class via its online portal My CSN at tinyurl.com/csnwritingdesign or by calling 702-650-2276. The class is listed at GRC 198B-2002, Special Topics, Class 35048.

Heart of Education Awards: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and The Rogers Foundation are planning the inaugural Heart of Education Awards to highlight deserving teachers in the Clark County School District. The awards focus on educators with at least three years of experience in the district who go above and beyond the classroom. Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 29. Nominations must have a name, contact information, a 500-word statement of commitment and a 200-word letter of recommendation. A celebratory evening with a red carpet, swag bags and entertainment is planned for May 7 at The Smith Center. To nominate a teacher, visit theheartofeducation.org.

Hot food team auction: Le Cordon Bleu's Las Vegas Campus Hot Food Competition Team is set to host an auction in support of its American Culinary Federation Team at 1 p.m. Jan. 16 at the campus, 1451 Center Crossing Road. The ACF Team is representing Nevada in the regional championship Feb. 5-7 in Reno. People can donate to the team's GoFundMe account by searching for Las Vegas Le Cordon Bleu ACF Team. Call chef Cheryl Lewis at 702-365-7690.

Contest for free tuition: The Nevada State Treasurer's Office has announced a Nevada Prepaid Tuition Account Giveaway, set to run through Jan. 31. Anyone who purchases a Nevada Prepaid Tuition Plan before 5 p.m. Jan. 31 will be entered to win a one-year University Plan Account. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible applicants. The drawing will be held in early February, and winners will be notified by Feb. 12. For the official rules of the Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program Giveaway and more information on the college savings programs offered through the Nevada State Treasurer's Office, visit NV529.org.

New veterans' scholarship: WGU Nevada has launched a new scholarship program to help veterans and their spouses go back to school and earn their bachelor's and master's degrees. The WGU Nevada Salute To Veterans Scholarship, valued at up to $2,500 per student, will be applied at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU Nevada's tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs. WGU Nevada will award at least five scholarships to new students throughout the state. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31 at nevada.wgu.edu/veterans. Additional military scholarships are available for active-duty personnel and their families at nevada.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.

Foundation scholarship applications available: The Public Education Foundation has launched the 22nd year of its Scholarship Program and is urging high school seniors to start the application process. The Foundation expects to award nearly $1 million in scholarships this academic year to students who will pursue a post-secondary education. Most scholarship application deadlines are Feb. 16. The scholarships are provided by community leaders, businesses, organizations, individuals and families and range from $500 to $5,000 annually. Some are renewable. Visit thepef.org.

Coral Academy accepting applications: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. The academy selects its students by a random lottery system. Parents are notified via mail of the results within five business days. Applications are due by noon Feb. 28. Those received after that date will be subject to an additional lottery, if applicable. The lottery will be held Feb. 29. Students whose parents have completed an application form electronically via the school website will be eligible to be entered in the lottery. The academy does not base admission on intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, or discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or disability. Visit coralacademylv.org/admission/admissionprocess.aspx.

Latin Chamber scholarship: In collaboration with the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, WGU Nevada is encouraging professionals to embark on continuing education by offering more than $30,000 in scholarships to members of the chamber through its Las Vegas Otto Merida Scholarship program. The scholarships, valued at up to $3,200 per student, will be applied at the rate of $800 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships are available to new students looking to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in any of WGU Nevada's more than 50 degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education, or health care. Potential awardees must be a member of the chamber, or belong to a member company, which comprises more than 800 members. The WGU Nevada Otto Merida Scholarship was created in honor of the founder and chief executive officer of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/LVLCC.

USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program: For the sixth year, USA Sevens Rugby and the Clark County School District are partnering for the annual USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program in an effort to build a curriculum of international education, tolerance and ambassadorship promoted through rugby. Sixteen Clark County School District elementary and middle schools adopt one of the teams participating in the 2016 USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament, set for March 4-6 at Sam Boyd Stadium, to incorporate hands-on lessons and values designed around the school's adopted country. Throughout the 2015-16 school year, each of the schools incorporates key aspects from the adopted country into the classroom curriculum. In addition to the classroom and physical activities, each student is encouraged to learn more about the adopted country through a series of creative contests, including a T-shirt design contest and critical thinking essay competition. USA Sevens will select the top three submissions and create T-shirts for each student in the three schools from the winning design. The essay contest challenges students to connect on a personal level by comparing and contrasting their typical day with the typical day of someone their age in the adopted country. One winner from each school will be selected to represent the adopted nation and class in the 2016 USA Sevens Parade of Nations Ceremony at the Fremont Street Experience, planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 3.

Rogers Foundation scholarship: The Rogers Foundation announced it is offering $100,000 in scholarships on an annual basis to graduating seniors of the Clark County School District. The Rogers Foundation Achiever Scholarship is for students wishing to pursue higher education both within the state of Nevada and nationwide. The scholarships will support students attending any institution of higher education, including vocational or technical schools, community colleges or state universities. Scholarships include at least one $25,000 scholarship, multiple $10,000 scholarships and multiple $5,000 scholarships. For application criteria, application materials and other instructions, visit therogers.foundation/applicants/students.html.

Host families sought for exchange students: International Experience USA, a nonprofit high school student exchange organization approved by the U.S. Department of State, is seeking host families in the Las Vegas Valley to provide room and board, help with transportation and provide emotional support to exchange students. The students provide their own insurance and personal spending money. Visit ie-usa.org or contact Carol Myint at 507-301-3615 or c.myint@international-experience.net.