Education Notebook: School news and events for Oct. 8-14, 2015

Finance park opening: Capital One and Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada are set to open a Finance Park Oct. 12 to teach students about real-life financial lessons. With 16 Clark County schools and more than 4,000 students participating, the park is planned to be open from Oct. 12 through Dec. 18. Primarily geared toward eighth-graders, the all-day, interactive learning annex teaches students the importance of financial literacy and includes hands-on, in-school activities taught in a 12-lesson program within the classroom, with the 13th lesson culminating in the visit to the Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park. The students have one follow-up lesson in their classroom after their visit. Visit jalasvegas.org.

Student breakfast: First Lady Kathleen Sandoval and Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen joined students from Hinman Elementary School for breakfast Sept. 29 at the school, 450 E. Merlayne Drive. The officials are part of the Great Breakfast Challenge to promote the importance of eating a healthy breakfast every day. Signed into law on June 12, Senate Bill 503 mandates that all schools with a free and reduced lunch eligibility of 70 percent or greater serve breakfast after the start of the school day. The Great Breakfast Challenge is held in cooperation with Weight Watchers, Three Square food bank and the Clark County School District in honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and Hunger Action Month.

Bank donation: City National recently donated $1,500 to the Business Management Program at West Career & Technical Academy, 11945 W. Charleston Blvd. The partnership between the academy and City National has been in operation for six years.

Cox Technology Center opening: On Sept. 29, Cox Las Vegas conducted a ribbon cutting for its fifth Boys & Girls Clubs Cox Technology Center at 401 Drake St. at the John C. Kish unit. A $25,000 grant from the Atlanta-based James M. Cox Foundation made the center possible. Cox is the national technology partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Construction career day planned: A College of Engineering Construction Career Day is planned from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Science and Engineering Building at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. High school students will have the opportunity to learn about the construction industry as well as its related fields, such as engineering, architecture and marketing. The event is free and open to the public. Contact the UNLV Office of Media Relations at 702-895-3102 or ormediarelations@unlv.edu, or visit unlv.edu/calendar.

Business strategy classes offered: The city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency is partnering with SUMNU Marketing to sponsor a series of business strategy classes this fall at the Urban Chamber of Commerce Business Development Center, 1951 Stella Lake St. Classes are planned from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. The topic for Oct. 14 is Project Pitches & Certification. Class size is limited. To sign up, contact Darren Harris at 702-229-6862 or dmharris@lasvegasnevada.gov

50th Western reunion set for Oct. 16-17: Western High School's class of 1965 plans to host its 50th reunion Oct. 16 and 17 at the Elks Lodge, 4100 W. Charleston Blvd. Call Kathy Keller at 702-736-3155 or e-mail westernclassof65@gmail.com.

Drawing competition to honor Leif Erikson: Las Vegas-area children in first through fifth grades are eligible to win $875 in gift cards for submitting winning drawings that depict Viking explorer Leif Erikson's legacy. The winning drawings must be submitted on 11-by-8½-inch or 11-by-17-inch paper using any medium. The winning students in each grade will win Walmart gift cards valued at $100, $50 and $25 for first, second and third place, respectively. Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 14 and mailed to the attention of Christian Schoyen, Leif Erikson drawing competition, 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-211, Las Vegas, NV 89134. All entries must include the child's name, address, grade, home phone number and school. The fourth annual contest, sponsored by the Vegas Viking Lodge of the Sons of Norway and Schoyen, should depict the Viking Leif Erikson and his men traveling to America. The four key traits of Erikson and his men should be incorporated into the drawings: imagination, vision, collaboration, and fearlessness. Visit leiferiksonday.com or email organizers at drawingcompetition@leiferiksonday.com.

Think Green & Clean Contest accepting entries: Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing is partnering with the Clark County School District to encourage students to participate in its third annual Think Green & Clean Contest. Eligible participants, who must be legal U.S. citizens and enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade in the school district, are invited to submit ideas on how to conserve water, energy or both in their community. Entries are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 16. Minor entrants are required to submit with a parental consent form. Winning entries will be awarded cash prizes. Written essays, drawings or models will be accepted. Projects must be submitted to the participant's teacher, by email to yesthinkclean@boltpr.com, or via mail to 501 Elm St., Suite 450, Dallas, Texas, 75202. For details, visit yesairconditioningandheating.com or call 949-701-3443.

Recycled art contest planned: The Nevada Recycles program has partnered with The Venetian and the Palazzo to support a statewide recycled art contest to increase Nevadans' awareness and interest in recycling. Entrants must be Nevada residents, and projects must be composed of used recyclable materials. Submission of an entry form and photos of artwork are due by Oct. 25. In addition to a $200 prize to the first-place class project, The Venetian and the Palazzo will provide first, second and third ($250, $100, and $50, respectively) prizes in four categories: kindergarten through grade 5, grades 6 through 8, grades 9 through 12, and adult. Materials that can be used include, but are not limited to: tires, electronics, appliances, plastic bags, bottles, batteries and aluminum cans. Fastening materials may include tape, glue and/or string. Winners are to be announced prior to America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. Visit nevadarecycles.nv.gov.

Scholarship applications sought: The Meadows School offers a private grant scholarship for five students entering kindergarten who are from underprivileged households, with all-expenses-paid tuition from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, amounting to nearly $260,000 per child by the time each one graduates. The scholarship deadline is Nov. 2. Call 702-254-1610..

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.

4-H membership drive: The 4-H youth development program plans its annual membership drive during October. The program, offered throughout the Las Vegas Valley, focuses primarily on positive youth development and is open to all youths 5 to 19. Visit http://www.unce.unr.edu/4H/.