Education notebook

COLLEGE FAIR FOR PERFORMING ARTS SET AT LAS VEGAS ACADEMY

The Las Vegas Performing and Visual Arts College Fair is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St. An informational workshop about the admissions process is scheduled for 6 p.m.

College-bound high school students interested in music, dance, theater, graphic design and others are encouraged to attend. The fair is sponsored by the National Assocation for College Admission Counseling.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit nacacnet.org/pva.

JOHNSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES 800 NEW BOOKS

The library at Johnson Junior High School, 7701 Ducharme Ave., received more than 800 new nonfiction books as part of the Public Education Foundation’s Clark County READS program. The books were funded by Wells Fargo and the PEF. More than $1.4 million worth of new books has been placed in 100 school libraries since Clark County READS was established in 2001.

SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA ADOPTS LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Spread the Word Nevada adopted Lake Elementary School, 2904 Meteoro St., this month as its 26th school. Students received a book bag and a choice of five books to start home libraries.

Students will get 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 Lake adoption is the third funded by Los Angeles-based Windsong Trust, which committed $100,000 to fund three elementary schools. Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 1.7 million books since 2001.

For more information, visit spreadthewordnevada.org.

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 Saturday at Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.

All proceeds 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.

TREE-DECORATING CONTEST COMING TO VALLEY AUTOMALL

Valley Automall, 300 Auto Mall Drive in Henderson, is accepting entries for its 14th annual tree-decorating contest. Entries are due Nov. 11 and will be accepted in the order they are received. The event is scheduled for Dec. 1, and one team per school will be selected at random if there is more than one entry.

Teams of students will be given money to purchase decorations of their choice and asked to decorate trees at participating dealerships. Winning trees, as voted on by judges, will receive $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.

For more information, call 568-1487 or email manager@valleyautomall.com.

PHOTO CONTEST OPEN TO ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

The Clark County School District is accepting submissions through Nov. 11 for the Middle School Electronic Photo Contest.

Entries must be original photos taken by a middle school student in JPEG format no smaller than 200 DPI. The student’s name, photo title, school, grade and a teacher’s name should be emailed to mnelson2@interact.ccsd.net.

Categories include Show Off Your School, It’s a Small World, Favorite Places, Pets and Computer Madness. There is a limit of one entry per category, per student, and each entry requires a separate email.

Prizes include a framed photo, a gift card and acknowledgement at a December Clark County School Board of Trustees meeting. For more information, visit ccsd.net.

LITERACY TOUR TO COLLECT BOOKS FOR READING PROGRAM

Winder Farms and Mac King’s Magical Literacy Tour are hosting the Delivering Magic Book Drive through Saturday.

The drive benefits local public elementary schools as part of the Public Education Foundation’s program Clark County READS.

Those interested in donating can do so at the Gardens Park Farmers Market, 10401 Garden Park Drive in Summerlin, today or at the Henderson Pavilion Farmers Market, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway, Friday. Winder Farms customers can place their donations in the retailer’s designated coolers on their front porches.

Those who donate at least three gently used books will receive two tickets to the "Mac King Comedy Magic Show" at Harrah’s Las Vegas and an entry for the grand prize, which includes free Winder Farms groceries for a year and $2,000 donated to the winner’s choice public elementary school.

For more information about the book drive, visit winderfarms.com.

ESSAY CONTEST, $1,000 UP FOR GRABS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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 or fewer words.

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

COMPUTER CLASSES FOR SENIORS SET 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.