Education Notebook

Cox channel 96 is scheduled to broadcast most of the high school graduation ceremonies from June 13-29 at The Orleans Arena and the Thomas & Mack Center. Most of the ceremonies will be broadcast live, and some will be tape- delayed. The broadcasts also will be available via streaming video at cox96.net. The scheduled dates and times of broadcasts for the following Spring Valley-area high schools are: Bonanza, noon June 14; College of Southern Nevada West, 3 p.m. June 16; Spring Valley, noon June 20; and Clark, 5 p.m. June 22.

Nevada PTA honors Principal
of the Year from Bonner Elementary

Bonner Elementary School principal Paul Catania was named the Nevada PTA Lynel Cunningham Site Administrator of the Year, known as the unofficial Principal of the Year Award.

Catania has been with the school district 10 years and is a first-year principal. He was a special education teacher at Booker Elementary School and assistant principal at Dondero Elementary School before becoming principal at Bonner, 765 Crestdale Lane, last fall. Catania created a "yellow brick road" student drop-off zone to decrease traffic congestion and increase student safety before and after school. He also created a "Star Wars"-themed campaign to encourage student achievement during schoolwide testing days and visited classrooms in costume.

Cimarron-Memorial robotics team places at international competition

Cimarron-Memorial High School, 2301 N. Tenaya Way, finished third in an international robotics competition this month in St. Louis.

The school's robotics team, the High Rollers 987, competed in the FIRST World Championship, where teams competed by building and programming robots to perform various tasks. More than 80 teams from 18 countries competed. Team leader Cody Wall was one of 10 students to win the Dean's List Award, the highest honor provided to a FIRST World Championship participant. Wall received a $30,000 scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and other prizes.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology was founded in 1989 to inspire kids' interest in robotics and science through the development of competitive programs.

Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School
to host cheer camp

Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School plans to host a cheer camp from 9 a.m. to noon June 13-16 at the school's gym, 2015 S. Hualapai Way. The camp is $85 for girls entering second through sixth grades. Girls will be taught in their own age groups. The camp will be taught by varsity cheerleaders and chaperoned by cheer coaches. Water and a snack will be provided, and T-shirts will be give on the last day of camp. For more information, call Tony Harris at 308-7727 or email flhscheer@gmail.com.

Nevada Virtual Academy
enrolling for fall

Nevada Virtual Academy, an online public charter school, is enrolling students for 2011-12 school year.

NVVA offers curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. English, math, science, history, music and art courses are at the elementary and middle school levels. The high school program offers more than 200 core, elective and Advanced Placement courses, including foreign language.

For more information, visit k12.com/nvva.

school district's Board of Trustees Approves final budget

The Clark County School District Board of Trustees approved the 2011-12 final budget, totaling $1.8 billion, on May 18. The budget includes cuts of $407 million, the loss of about 1,800 positions and increased class sizes by three students at the elementary level and two students in grades six through 12.

The proposed budget still includes a shortfall of nearly $70 million in additional cuts to be determined. The budget may be revised following the conclusion of the Nevada Legislature's session Monday.

Public Education Foundation plans charity golf tournament

The Public Education Foundation's 11th annual Tee Up for Kids Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Spanish Trail Country Club, 5050 Spanish Trail Lane.

Playing spots are available for $300 and foursomes for $1,200, with proceeds going to Nevada public schools through the foundation's various programs.

Tournament activities will include hole-in-one and closest-to-the-pin contests, tee prizes, trophies and an awards luncheon.

For more information, visit thepef.org or call 799-1042.

INSTITUTE TO GIVE GRANTS
TO PROSPECTIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

The Medical Skills for Life Institute is offering 10 $2,000 scholarships and 10 $500 tuition grants to the first 20 students who are enrolled and accepted to the institute through Sept. 1. These scholarships are for people looking to become medical assistants or phlebotomists.

For more information, call 645-7900 and ask for the admissions department from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit medicalskillsforlife.com.

Nevada Homeschool Expo
coming June 11

The third annual Nevada Homeschool Expo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 at the Lied Memorial Boys & Girls Club, 2850 Lindell Road.

The expo will include information on curriculum, workshops, guest speakers, exhibits and live demonstrations.

Registration is $15 to $20 and is open to the public. For more information, visit nevadahomeschoolexpo.com.

Teachers can seek funding online
for class projects

Local school teachers can apply for donations for classroom projects through donorschoose.org.

The nonprofit website, founded in 2000, allows public school teachers to describe specific educational projects for students, and donors choose the projects they want to support. More than 160,000 teachers have secured more than $71 million worth of books, art supplies and technology resources.

Locally, more than 150 teachers have used the website to secure more than $119,000 in funding. Teacher Leanna Kromer from O'Callaghan Middle School, 1450 Radwick Drive, has funded eight classroom projects totaling more than $2,000 since January.

World Heritage Student Exchange
seeks host families

The World Heritage Student Exchange program is seeking host families in the Las Vegas Valley for high school boys and girls.

Couples, single parents and families with or without children are welcome to apply. Students can be hosted for a semester or for a school year.

For more information, call 800-888-9040 or email info@world-heritage.org.

Post reunion information
on school district's website

Clark County School District alumni who are planning a high school reunion may post information on the Clark County School District's website, ccsd.net/schools/reunions.

Email any important reunion information to dsheehan@interact.ccsd.net, and it will be posted.