Education Notebook: School news and events for March 3-9, 2016

Employer-driven STEM training: The city of Henderson has been awarded a grant from the Governor's Office of Science, Innovation and Technology to develop new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce training. The city has partnered with McKinsey and Transmosis to create an employer-driven IT boot camp, externship and job placement program. It is modeled after similar programs in other cities that have graduated and employed more than 1,200 students. The program will be located in the historic Water Street District in downtown Henderson and will target students who are unemployed, underemployed or otherwise determined to be high risk.

Scholarship support: Due to support by Southwest Medical Associates, the nonprofit Academic Achievement Accessible Scholarship Foundation was able to support 100 kindergarten- through 12th-grade scholarships to low-income Clark County children attending schools during the 2015-16 school year, the group reported.

Elementary school STEM training: Nate Mack Elementary School's third-grade class and tech club are set to receive STEM training, which is funded by a McDonald's MAC Grant. Casey Juliano's third-grade students and tech club can use an educational robotics lab that will allow them to participate in guided challenges, which encourage the students to use electronic building materials to grasp the functionality of different electronic devices. Juliano was a recent recipient of a McDonald's Make Activities Count Grant. With her grant money, she purchased LittleBits Electronics building materials to use in the robotics lab.

Reading grants announced: City National Bank announced that it has awarded 112 Reading is The way up literacy grants totaling more than $103,000 to support literacy-based projects as well as financial literacy to elementary, middle and high schools in Nevada, California, New York and Georgia. This year's teacher literacy grant program also received the most grant applications ever submitted since the grant program began in 2005. For a list of all grant recipients visit readingisthewayup.org/literacy.php.

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 kindergartern 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.