Education Notebook: School news and events for March 10-16, 2016

Every 15 Minutes: Basic High School seniors and juniors will get a realistic taste of the emotional and lasting consequences of drinking and driving through the Every 15 Minutes program, planned for March 10 and 11. On March 10, the “grim reaper” will visit classrooms and remove a pre-selected student every 15 minutes, which represents the frequency someone is killed in a car crash. Immediately after, a staff member will enter the classroom and read that student’s obituary, explaining the circumstances of their classmate’s “death.” These removed students become the “living dead” and are not allowed to interact with other students for the rest of the day. At 10 a.m., a fatal traffic collision will be simulated for the students. Law enforcement and emergency medical services will respond to the “crash scene” where one student will “die,” another will be airlifted to a hospital with major injuries, while another will be transported by ambulance. Police officers will give the teenage driver a field sobriety test and arrest the driver for DUI. The driver of the vehicle will be transported to the Henderson Detention Center, where they will go through the booking process, and then appear before a Henderson Municipal Court Judge for their sentencing. The group of “living dead” students will serve as a backdrop for the accident scene, then go on to participate in other activities that mirror what occurs following a fatal crash, such as a death notification, identification of a body and criminal prosecution for DUI. The students will also participate in an overnight retreat. On March 11, high school seniors and juniors will gather for an assembly to talk about the previous day’s experience and hear from those involved in the simulation, as well as others that have been impacted by drinking and driving. Every 15 Minutes is a national program created to prevent impaired driving tragedies and provide teenagers with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to make mature decisions when they get behind the wheel.

Educations Savings Accounts forum: Educate Nevada Now, powered by The Rogers Foundation, is hosting a forum in conjunction with ACLU of Nevada and other community partners about Educations Savings Accounts, set to start at 5:30 p.m. March 14 at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Presentations are planned by Sylvia Lazos, policy director for Educate Nevada Now and Tod Story, executive director for ACLU of Nevada. An audience question-and-answer session is planned with an Education & Advocacy Panel. Seating is limited. RSVP at thecenterlv.org/esa.

Music Educator Awards: The fourth annual Music Educator Award nominations are open through March 15 at GrammyMusicTeacher.com. The award presented by The Recording Academy and The Grammy Foundation was established to recognize exceptional music educators throughout the country who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. Nominated teachers will be notified and invited to fill out an application. The deadline for applications is March 31. The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves.

Book, cash donation: City National Bank, through its Reading is The way up literacy program, and Barnes & Noble, are set to donate more than $25,000 in new books and cash to the Assistance League Las Vegas and its Operation School Bell program as part of their eighth annual Holiday Book Drive program. Representatives from City National and Barnes & Noble will be presenting Assistance League officials with these donations at 10:45 a.m. March 10 at Assistance League Las Vegas, 6446 W. Charleston Blvd.

New academy director: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas, an award-winning Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics school, announced Noah Stevens as site director for the new Las Vegas campus scheduled to open for the 2016-17 school year in Centennial Hills.

STEM Expo: The third annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Expo is planned from 10 a.m. to noon March 12 at Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas, 1051 Sandy Ridge Ave. Created by students for students, the event is set to see more than 300 students and parents and is to feature nearly 130 interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. It is free and open to the public. Children of all ages are invited. Visit CASLV.org

Fresh produce to students: Three Square food bank is teaming with up with local charity Create A Change Now to bring fresh produce to children in the community who struggle obtaining nutritional options. Since last August, the pair has provided more than 1,000 students with a 5-pound bag of assorted fresh produce. Visit createachangenow.org or threesquare.org.

Welcome to Nevada Design Contest: The contest challenges Nevada’s high school artists to create official Welcome to Nevada signs that depict the Nevada brand and create a friendly welcome for travelers. The Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, under the direction of Gov. Brian Sandoval and in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation, is administering the contest slated to run through April 25. The contest will be conducted within Nevada’s high schools and is primarily aimed at students enrolled in the CTE Level 2 or higher graphic arts courses, although each school may determine eligibility. Approximately 50 entry points exist on Nevada’s major interstate freeways, state highways and small roadways bringing people into the state and will be divided into four regions. Designers are asked to convey the most important resources of the selected region while conveying the overarching brand, Nevada: A World Within. A State Apart., in their designs. Each participating school will select up to five finalist designs that will be submitted to a review committee composed of professional graphic artists and representatives from NDOT, and the departments of Education and Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Three finalists from each region will be selected, at which point, the public will be able to choose the winning design via an online voting tool. Once the winning design is selected for each region, the student designer and his or her instructor will work with NDOT to finalize the design and produce the sign. The winning designs will be installed on Nevada’s roadways beginning in the summer. Visit travelnevada.com/pages/2016-sign-contest.

Congressional Art Competition: The nationwide high school arts competition is open to all high school students in Nevada. Winning artwork from each Congressional District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Each participating student from Nevada’s Fourth District will be recognized at a reception set for May 2 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Visit hardy.house.gov/services/art-competition or call Congressman Hardy’s North Las Vegas office at 702-912-1634.

Young Minds Matter: The Public Education Foundation is launching its 2016 fundraising campaign Young Minds Matter to support its initiatives and programs. The foundation works to bring about transformational change in teaching, learning and education leadership. To donate, visit thepef.org.

Instrument collection: The Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild, in partnership with Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, have launched an instrument collection program to benefit local school music programs. The initiative is intended to address the need for musical instruments for school music programs, particularly in charter schools in the Las Vegas Valley. The organization is seeking playable instruments in good condition, and because these instruments may need some refurbishing, it is also seeking interested parties for monetary contributions or donations of instrument repair services. For more information, to donate, or get involved, contact Monica Fuller at guildeducation@lvphil.com or 702-580-8528.

Investigating History: The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., is launching Investigating History, a comprehensive educational outreach program to be offered to Clark County schools. Funded by the Las Vegas Centennial Commission, the program will introduce students to the topics of Las Vegas history, constitutional law and criminal justice through interactive standards-based classroom and auditorium presentations. Designed for fourth- through 12th-grade students, the hands-on program will be presented by museum educators and will support the fulfillment of national and state curriculum standards. In spring 2016, fourth-graders will learn the Experiencing Las Vegas history curriculum to complement Nevada’s fourth-grade state and local history curriculum. Lesson plans will include Las Vegas history: An Overview through Objects; Las Vegas in 1905: Building a Community in the Desert; and Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. Students in grades 7-12 will experience a curriculum titled Investigating History, which will include a wide cross-section of courses related to U.S. history, government, criminal justice and more. Lesson plans for these grades will include Temperance: The Nineteenth Century, the Progressive Era and Early Reform; Prohibition and American Society; and Prohibition and the Constitution. Pilot presentations will be available for classrooms in the spring. Investigating History presentations will be available to all fourth- through 12th-graders in the fall, with dates available throughout the 2016-17 school year. Call 702-229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org.

Academy job fairs: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is set to host job fairs to fill nearly 75 positions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 9 at 1051 Sandy Ridge Ave. The kindergarten through 12th-grade public charter school is seeking teachers, administrators and support staff members. The academy recently announced it will be opening new campuses in the Centennial Hills area and Nellis Air Force Base for the 2016-17 school year. Applicants are asked to bring resumes, transcripts, credentials and any other supporting documents. Visit caslv.org.

Day school awards presentation: Solomon Schechter Day School is planning its annual gala and awards presentation March 13 at Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive. Jewish philanthropists and Temple Beth Sholom members Bobbi and Peter Feinstein are to be presented with the Founders Award; Schechter Judaic teachers Sara Gruber, Ronit Didio and Iris Ozer are to receive the Commitment to Jewish Education Award; and The Honorable Abbi Silver will be given the Excellence in Leadership Award. The Evening at the Casbah-themed event raises funds for the Sidney Chaplin Memorial Scholarship Fund, with proceeds benefiting families in need. Silent and live auctions are planned with spa packages, jewelry, fine art, vacations, VIP lunch dates, summer camp experiences, and more. Contact Denise Hahamy at 702-804-1333, ext. 158, or denise@ssds-lv.org.

Degrees, internships, scholarships, enrollments and contests:

PBS Kids Writers Contest: Vegas PBS announces the annual PBS Kids Writers Contest, which is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, interactive learning. Submissions will be judged for originality, creative expression, storytelling technique, illustrations and overall impression. Vegas PBS will honor the top three winners in each grade level at an award ceremony in which the awardees will learn their placements. Prizes include trophies, framed enlargements of their work and additional reading and writing resources. First-place winners will also receive free tuition to attend the Southern Nevada Writing Project’s summer writing camp. Stories are due at 5 p.m. March 18. All entries must include a signed entry form and be mailed or delivered to Vegas PBS Ready To Learn, 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89121. Visit VegasPBS.org/writers-contest.

Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree: WGU Nevada is now accepting applications for its newest online master’s degree program, Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The new program offers coursework that aligns with the latest standards from national security organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. The program is designed for experienced information systems professionals or individuals with real-world IT experience who are seeking a master’s degree and planning to become certified in ethical hacking or computer forensic investigation. WGU Nevada’s terms are six months long, and students may enroll on the first of any month, completing as many courses as they are able for a flat-rate tuition of about $3,000 per term. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/cybersecurity.

Leadership Academy enrollment: Leadership Academy of Nevada is enrolling students for the 2016-17 school year. LANV focuses on developing leaders through delivery of a Liberal-Arts education via cutting-edge technology in grades six through 12 throughout Nevada. Regularly scheduled Enrollment Information Meetings are held online and in Las Vegas so that parents and students can learn more. A list of Enrollment Information Meeting dates, times, and places can be found at lanv.org.

Teaching scholarships: WGU Nevada is partnering with the Nevada Department of Education to offer up to 20 full-ride scholarships to residents who wish to pursue a career in teaching. In 2015, the Nevada Department of Education provided $240,000 to WGU Nevada as part of the Nevada Legislature’s Teach Nevada Scholarship Initiative. Individuals interested in applying are required to complete WGU Nevada’s Alternate Route to Licensure program for elementary and secondary teaching. The ARL program is an accelerated pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree but do not have a teaching license. After successful completion of the accelerated program, students will have completed a series of rigorous courses, in-person observations, and clinical experiences in a public school classroom that prepares them to be highly effective teachers. Winning scholarship recipients will be awarded $3,000 per term, not to exceed a total of $12,000 per student. Scholarships are available to new students who possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a non-education related field from an accredited university. To learn more about the scholarship, email scholarships@wgu.edu. Visit nevada.wgu.edu.

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.

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.