Education Notebook, Dec. 4-10, 2014

DISCUSSION ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PLANNED DEC. 5

UNLV Community Health Sciences researchers plan to host a discussion about the health impact of full-day kindergarten in Nevada from 8:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 5 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 Fourth St. Researchers plan to launch a health impact assessment, which will study how quality early education programs improve a child’s long-term health.

The event is set to feature a background on health impact assessments and their use, presentations on the intersection of education and health, the status of Nevada’s kids, current full-day kindergarten in Nevada and the details of the UNLV project.

WEST CHARLESTON LIBRARY TO HOST COLLEGE KICK START PROGRAM

The West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., plans to host a free Nevada College Kick Start Program from 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 5. Learn how to establish a college savings account with an initial deposit of $50 for all public school kindergarten students in Nevada.

For more information, call 702-507-3964 or visit lvccld.org.

FREE CODING CLASS PLANNED FOR DECEMBER

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, TechBrainiacs plans to offer a free Hour of Code Workshop for children ages 5 to 18 at various Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branches. Parents should plan to attend with their child. Walk-ins will be welcome, although RSVP is recommended as space is limited.

Workshops are scheduled for: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane; and Dec. 11 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive; and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive.

At the event, children can explore the binary number system and how it relates to computing. All attendees will participate in a fun, hands-on unplugged activity to help reinforce their understanding. Raffle prizes and other surprises from sponsors, as well as refreshments and discounts on registration to full-length classes, are planned.

For more information, visit techbrainiacs.com.

CSN BEGINS OPEN ENROLLMENT

Open enrollment for all admitted students is underway at the College of Southern Nevada. In addition to popular core classes such as biology, math and communications, CSN is also offering courses on smartphone application development, IRS-certified tax preparation and the cultural origin of and fascination with zombies.

Classes for the spring 2015 semester are set to begin Jan. 20. Students are reminded that CSN no longer allows late registration except in unusual circumstances. All registration must be complete before midnight Jan. 19.

For more information, visit csn.edu.

STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER LEIF ERIKSON DRAWING CONTEST

Children in grades one through five are invited to enter the Leif Erikson drawing competition sponsored by the Vegas Viking Lodge of the Sons of Norway. Drawings should depict the Viking Leif Erikson and his men traveling to America. The four key traits of Erikson and his men should be incorporated: imagination, vision, collaboration and fearlessness.

Drawings must be submitted on 11-inch by 8½-inch or 11-inch by 17-inch paper using any medium. The winning students in each grade will receive Target gift cards valued at $100, $50 and $25 for first, second and third place, respectively.

Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 15 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.

LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas has announced locations for the 2014 Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federally funded program administered by Nevada’s Department of Agriculture to youths living in low-income areas. The academy, 710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., is providing the free and nutritious after-school meals to children 18 or younger Monday through Friday.

The academy prepares about 500 meals a day for 14 sites. The following six sites are open to any child, with no registration required: Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St.; Fresh Wind Ministries, 3660 N. Rancho Drive; Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave.; Richard Steele Boxing Club, 2475 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 110; The Salvation Army Citadel Corps, 2900 Palomino Lane; and Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave.

For more information, email zshah@theculinaryacademy.org or call 702-924-2102.

AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING AVAILABLE AT CIMARRON ROSE COMMUNITY CENTER

The Cimarron Rose Community Center, 5591 N. Cimarron Road, offers after-school tutoring in mathematics, science and reading to students in grades one through six. Weekly 30-minute sessions may be scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

The cost is $45 per month during the school year (prorated for holidays). A licensed Clark County School District substitute teacher is the tutor. To register, visit the center or call 702-229-1607.

DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AND SPREAD THE WORD PLAN BOOK DRIVE

The Discovery Children’s Museum, 360 Promenade Place, has partnered with nonprofit Spread the Word Nevada to host a book drive through Jan. 4.

The museum will collect new or gently used books targeting a pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade reading level, to be distributed to children in Southern Nevada. Anyone donating a book will receive $2 off museum admission.

The book drive is being held in conjunction with the literacy-based traveling exhibit “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites,” which features seven beloved children’s books. It will be at the museum through Jan. 4.

For more information, visit discoverykidslv.org. For more information on Spread the Word Nevada, visit spreadthewordnevada.org.