Education notebook

SCHOOLS RECEIVE NEW TEXTBOOKS

The Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce and Another Joy Foundation recently donated 162,000 textbooks worth $6.8 million to the Public Education Foundation. The books cover areas of math, science and language arts at all grade levels and will be distributed to at least 25 local schools.

The Public Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports public schools in Southern Nevada. For more information, visit thepef.org.

SUMMER BUSINESS INSTITUTE WORKSHOPS SET FOR SATURDAY

A workshop to assist students with online applications for the Summer Business Institute is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Walnut Recreation Center, 3075 N. Walnut Road, and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Dr. William U. Pearson Community Center, 625 W. Carey Ave.

The workshops will provide students with access to computers, and Clark County staff members will be on hand to answer questions and provide direction. Students and parents are encouraged to review the requirements for the program online at http://tinyurl.com/7rc7x6y before coming to the workshop. For more information about the Walnut workshop, call 455-8402. For more information about the Pearson workshop, call 455-1220.

The Summer Business Institute provides selected teenagers with employment opportunities in a variety of fields, including law, medicine, architecture, education and communications. The program is a partnership among Clark County, the Clark County School District and more than 80 area businesses.

Clark County is accepting applications for the 2012 institute through 5 p.m. March 9. Applications are available online at clarkcountynv.gov under "County Human Resources Department." For assistance in completing the application, students may contact their local high school job bank office or the Clark County Human Resources Department at 455-4565.

For more information about the program, contact SBI coordinator Kaveida Allen at 455-2426.

BONNER ELEMENTARY TO HOST FUNDRAISER TO MAINTAIN CLASS SIZES

Bonner Elementary School, 765 Crestdale Lane, plans to host a 5K run and 1.5-mile walk at 9 a.m. Saturday to raise money for the school. Registration is set to begin at 8 a.m. and is $25 for participants 12 or older and $15 for those under 12. Money raised will go toward maintaining smaller class sizes.

For more information or to donate, call 799-6050.

STUDENTS AT DISKIN ELEMENTARY FUNDRAISING FOR KIDS IN AFRICA

Students at Diskin Elementary School, 4220 S. Ravenwood Drive, are collecting pennies through February for Kids In Needs of Desks, an organization that provides desks to schoolchildren in Malawi, Africa. Students are hoping to raise $742 from their penny drive, the amount needed to supply a Malawi classroom with desks.

For more information or to donate, call 799-5930.

WEST LAS VEGAS LIBRARY TO HOST FREE EIGHT-WEEK LITERACY CLASS

The West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., has classes scheduled beginning Monday to help locals with literacy, math, technology and employment. Project Education Assistance to Support Employability, or EASE, is scheduled to meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays for eight weeks. The program is free and includes formal classroom instruction and guests speakers. The program is intended for people over 17 with a desire to learn the English language, attain a GED or high school diploma or to improve employment skills.

To register, call 507-3530.

SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEE ALDERMAN TO HOST OPEN FORUM FOR COMMUNITY

Clark County School District Trustee Lorraine Alderman is scheduled to meet with District D residents from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cambridge Recreation Center, 3930 Cambridge St., near Tropicana Avenue and Maryland Parkway. Community members can visit with Alderman to discuss district-related topics in a casual setting without an appointment. Spanish translation services will be available.

District D covers parts of the Paradise, Henderson and Sunrise areas. For more information and district maps, visit ccsd.net/trustees.

Hispanic Voice Town Hall set at UNLV

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, plans to host the 2012 Hispanic Voice Town Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The 2012 Hispanic Voice Town Hall Tour is a non-partisan initiative aimed to help Hispanics in America understand the responsibility of their voice and authentic identity to cultivate sustainable economic prosperity in the United States.

Registration is scheduled for 6 p.m. For more information, visit 2012hispanicvoice.com.

EDUCATION INFORMATION FAIR SET AT DOOLITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER

Clark County School District students in grades eight through 12 and their parents or guardians are invited to a free Higher Education Information Fair and workshops planned from 9 a.m. to noon March 17 at the Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St.

Representatives from regional colleges, universities, military and trade schools will be available to discuss preparing middle and high school students for the future. Participants will be able to take 45-minute workshops on the following topics: testing and admissions, financial aid, academic advising and college life. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. March 17 at the center. For more information, call 229-6374.

MORE THAN $600,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

The Public Education Foundation is accepting scholarship applications from high school seniors expecting to attend an accredited college, university or other post-secondary institution. The nonprofit group expects to award more than 440 scholarships between $500 and $10,000, worth a total of $600,000.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, planned area of study and financial need. Students may apply for more than one scholarship. The PEF, 3360 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 160, has awarded more than 2,800 scholarships to Clark County seniors since 1994, totaling $6.3 million.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday. For applications and instructions, visit thepef.org.

ARIA TO HOST FUNDRAISER FOR CHILD HEALTH CARE IN LOCAL SCHOOLS

Clinics in Schools plans to host a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Gold Nightclub and Lounge inside Aria at CityCenter, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. South, with all proceeds going to provide free medical services for children. Tickets are $125 per person and are available at clinicsinschools.org.

The Yearly Checkup, formerly the Golden Apple Gala, is Clinics in Schools’ third annual fundraiser. The organization was founded in 2009 and operates two free-standing clinics at Martinez and Cunningham elementary schools. Students at those at-risk schools receive free health care year-round.

MEDICAL SKILLS FOR LIFE INSTITUTE GIVING DISCOUNTS ON TUITION

The Medical Skills for Life Institute is offering 10 $5,000 and $500 tuition grants to the first 20 students who enroll and are accepted through June 30 for the medical assistant or phlebotomist program.

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 www.medicalskillsforlife. com.

ENVIRONMENTAL ESSAY CONTEST OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is sponsoring an essay contest for all high school seniors in Clark County. The winner will receive a new laptop computer.

The essay should address how students can reduce their carbon footprint by using commission services. The essay minimum is 500 words, double-spaced. Essays must include the student’s name and age, a teacher’s name and the school.

The entry deadline is March 8. Submissions can be emailed to Judy Myers at the School-Community Partnership Office at jem274@ interact.ccsd.net. For full entry details, visit rtcsnv.com or contact Aileen Pastor at 676-1735 or pastora@rtcsnv.com. The contest is co-sponsored by the Coca-Cola Co.

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SPONSORS STUDENT ART CONTEST

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada invites students in Clark County to submit artwork celebrating Earth Day that may be displayed on a commission bus for up to a year.

Students in sixth through 12th grades can submit artwork about Earth Day and the commission’s sustainability initiative, Quicker, Cleaner, Greener. Students are encouraged to feature images of transit, carpooling, bicycling and walking. The commission will select two winners, who are scheduled to be announced April 19.

Artwork must be unique, colorful and submitted in a horizontal format on 11-inch-by-17-inch paper. Markers, colored pencils and paint are acceptable. Black and white, photography and glitter will not be accepted.

All entries should be delivered to the commission’s administrative offices, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89106, attention: Aileen Pastor. The entry deadline is March 14.

For more information, call 676-1735 or email Pastor at pastora@rtcsnv.com.