Education notebook

LEGENDARY COACH BOBBY BOWDEN TO SPEAK AT SCHOLARSHIP GALA

Former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden is scheduled to speak at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School's annual Scholarship Endowment Fund Gala Oct. 22 at Red Rock Resort. All proceeds from the event will benefit the school's scholarship fund, which is expected to provide nearly $450,000 in tuition assistance to students in need. For information about tickets and sponsorships, call 804-4474 or visit faithlutheranlv.org

ESSAY CONTEST, $1,000 UP FOR GRABS

The Bill of Rights Institute in Washington, D.C., is hosting a nationwide essay contest for all high school students, with cash prizes of up to $1,000. The Being an American Essay Contest explores the founding principles outlined in the Constitution, specifically, "How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?"

Three students from each of five geographic regions will win first-, second- and third-place prizes. Essays should be 1,000 words or fewer.

For more information, visit billofrightsinstitute.org/contest. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 15.

GROWTH MODEL DATA AVAILABLE ON DISTRICT WEBSITE

Growth model data from the past three years is available on the school district's website, ccsd.net, for individual schools for grades four through eight. The Clark County School District is putting more emphasis beginning this year on annual school growth, as opposed to Adequate Yearly Progress. School growth summaries are based on past criterion-referenced tests.

COMPUTER CLASSES FOR SENIORS TO BEGIN IN NOVEMBER

The Las Vegas SeniorNet Learning Center, 6615 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 104, plans to offer two-hour computer courses once a week for six weeks beginning Nov. 7.

Classes are peer-taught by computer-fluent senior volunteers in subjects such as Computer Fundamentals, Email Basics, Microsoft Windows Basics, Internet, and Scanning and Digital Imaging.

SeniorNet, a nonprofit group started in 1986, is available for adults 50 or older. Membership is $40 for the first year and $30 thereafter. Some classes may require an additional $15 fee.

For more information or to sign up for classes, call Mary Myers at 279-4939.

LIBRARY DISTRICT WEBSITE OFFERS TUTORING FOR STUDENTS

Students can get homework help on the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's website, lvccld.org. Select "Homework Help" under Quick Links on the Kids or Teens pages. A library card is required to access some services.

Information on a variety of subjects is organized by subject and grade level. The Homework Help page also offers HelpNow, an online tutoring site that can connect students with a live tutor to help with English, math, science, social studies and writing. Students also can take practice standardized tests.

CITY OF LAS VEGAS TO OFFER SAFEKEY REGISTRATION, PAYMENT ONLINE

The city of Las Vegas has begun offering registration and payment for the after-school Safekey program.

A pilot program will include 18 elementary school sites, but based on the success of the program, it could be expanded to 68 sites.

Registration and payment are offered at individual sites and community centers, but the online program could save an estimated $185,000 in operating costs. This past year, more than 9,300 children were enrolled in the Safekey program.

During the pilot period, parents will still be able to make credit and debit card, check and money order payments at the pilot school sites.

For more information on the pilot program or to register your child, call the Safekey office at 229-2526 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

WIN YOUR SCHOOL A SHARE OF $20,000 ON FACEBOOK

Nevada State Bank plans to donate $20,000 to three public schools in the state that receive the most votes on the bank's Facebook page.

The Nevada State Bank $20K Giveaway: You Vote, Schools Win campaign is open through Oct. 14. To vote, "like" the Nevada State Bank page and you will be directed to a voting page. Voting is open to anyone with a Facebook profile, and there is a limit of one vote per day.

First prize is $10,000, second is $6,000, and third is $4,000. The winning schools are scheduled to be announced the week of Oct. 24.

WHITNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENS VILLAGE OF HOPE

Whitney Elementary School, 5005 Keenan Ave., opened a new center for after-school family services, youth programs and activities. The Village of Hope Las Vegas was a collaboration between the Children's Cabinet and Whitney principal Sherrie Gahn.

The center will include a food pantry and clothes for students, 85 percent of whom are homeless. The center also will provide emergency financial assistance, parenting classes, English classes, tutoring, mentoring, job training and more.

For more information, visit villageofhopelv.org or call 855-9370.

COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA TO HOST JOB FAIR TODAY

College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., has a career fair scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today inside the student lounge.

More than 40 employers are expected to be present, and job seekers are encouraged to come dressed for interviews with printed resumes.

SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA ADOPTS PITTMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Spread the Word Nevada adopted Pittman Elementary School last month as its 25th school. Pittman students received a book bag and their choice of five books to start home libraries.

Pittman students will have the opportunity to take home a new book of their choosing each subsequent month as part of the Kids to Kids program sponsored by Spread the Word Nevada, a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy in at-risk communities through book donations.

The Pittman adoption is the second funded by Los Angeles-based Windsong Trust, which committed $100,000 to fund three schools. Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 1.7 million books since 2001.

For more information, visit spreadthewordnevada.org.