Education Notebook: School news and events for Oct. 15-21, 2015
Gold medalist to speak to students: Communities In Schools of Nevada and Wynn Resorts presented Inspiration Oasis Oct. 5 with speaker Misty Hyman, Olympic gold medalist and former world record-holding swimmer. Hyman spoke to 900 students at two Clark County schools, Rancho High School and Bailey Middle School. In her presentation to the students, Hyman highlighted her own personal struggles on her journey to the top and shared videos and exercises with students and teachers, asking students to set contracts with themselves and believe that they can overcome any and all obstacles. Visit cisnevada.org.
Youth-led science experiment: On Oct. 7, Las Vegas 4-H members led youths at Thiriot Elementary School, 5700 W. Harmon Ave., in the eighth annual 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment. The students joined youths across the country in conducting the same experiment, the Motion Commotion experiment, which combined a speeding car collision and a distracted driving demonstration in a simulated activity that investigated the physical and human factors of motion. 4-H National Youth Science Day is the world's largest, youth-led science experiment. In the two-part experiment, youths used everyday materials — a toy car, modeling clay, a ruler, a calculator and a cellphone — to explore physics in the real world.
SLAM! opens second location: On Oct. 2, SLAM!, the charter school established in Little Havana, Miami, by Armando Christian Perez, aka rapper Pitbull, broke ground on its second location in Las Vegas, set to open for the 2016-17 school year. The site is adjacent to the soccer field at Russell Road Recreation Complex, 5901 E. Russell Road. The college-preparatory middle and high school integrates sports-related themes into a curriculum to engage students in seeking careers in the Sports Leadership and Management industries. It is for grades sixth through ninth. Visit slamfoundation.org.
Dream Big Teacher Challenge: Across America, Farmers Insurance has set the stage for a national competition for 15 Dream Big Teacher Challenge finalists competing for one of six $100,000 educational grants to help bring their proposals to life. Through Oct. 31, America can determine which of these teachers will be among the six winners of the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge, by voting online daily. Additionally, Farmers will announce up to six $100,000 educational grants in December to the two proposals with the highest vote count in its three operating zones in the Western, Central and Eastern United States. Western finalists include Laura Denue of Desert Pines High School with A Pathway from Garden to Table, a proposal to convert a classroom into a state-of-the-art kitchen and restaurant for students to learn food preparation skills and how to successfully operate a restaurant that will be open to all members of the surrounding community. To vote, visit thankamericasteachers.com.
City National Bank accepting grant applications: City National Bank today announced that it is accepting applications for grants to support literacy and financially-based literacy projects at public and private elementary, middle and high schools in five states. Administered through City National's Reading is The way up literacy program, this year's program will award up to $75,000 in both literacy and financial literacy grants. Any full-time teacher, librarian or administrator at schools in the five states where the bank has offices is eligible to apply. Visit readingisthewayup.org.
Tour for local business students: In celebration of National Manufacturing Day, the city of Las Vegas hosted a tour of several downtown businesses for Clark High School Academy of Finance Program students on Oct. 14. The tour began at Ahern/Extreme Cubes Manufacturing, 1415 W. Bonanza Road. From there, it went by Pawn Plaza, where shipping containers are being used at 703 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The final stop was Downtown Container Park, where the students had a chance to speak to Ahern engineer Brandon Mains. The use of shipping containers in developments has become more popular in Las Vegas, and these students saw how these projects are created firsthand.
Diversity summit: Nevada State College held its fourth annual Diversity Summit Oct. 2 at its campus, 1021 E. Paradise Hills. The summit is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education's ongoing initiative to ensure Nevada's educational institutions reflect the state's increasingly diverse population and that they serve and graduate more Nevadans. This year's event included a special pre-summit public debut of College of Southern Nevada's documentary, "No Greater Odds." The summit also featured keynote speaker Dr. Gina Núñez-Mchiri of the University of Texas, El Paso.
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.
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.
Community awards: The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has begun its search for Nevada's top youth volunteers of 2016. The annual national awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honors students in grades 5-12 who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. The top middle and high school volunteer in every state each receive $1,000, a silver medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for several days of national recognition events. State-level runners-up receive bronze medallions or Certificates of Excellence. Through Nov. 3, middle and high school students are invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards at spirit.prudential.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.
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/.
