Education notebook

Adelson Education Campus
to host open house

The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus has scheduled an open house for prospective students and parents from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17. Events are set to be held at the Summerlin campus, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road, and the Henderson campus, 1940 Paseo Verde Parkway.

The Adelson Educational Campus offers secular Jewish education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Financial aid is available for the 2012-13 school year.

For more information, call 255-4500 or visit adelsoncampus.org.

STATE TREASURER OFFERS PREPAID TUITION PROGRAM TO HELP SAVE FOR COLLEGE

Parents can start saving for their children's college education needs by enrolling in the Nevada Prepaid Tuition program through Feb. 28. The program enables families to lock in future college per-credit tuition rates at current prices.

Parents can pay a lump sum or make monthly payments.

The program is fully transferable to private or public out-of-state colleges and universities and may be transferred to another family member. The program also can be gifted to family members or friends.

Kids in ninth grade or younger are eligible, and payment plans start at $36 a month.

For more information, visit nevadatreasurer.gov or call 486-2025.

SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS OPEN ENROLLMENT

The Clark County School District is accepting applications through Friday for its Open Enrollment program, which allows students to attend a school outside their zone. Families can apply at ccsd.net and find a list of schools with space available.

Students selected for Open Enrollment will attend their new schools beginning in the 2012-13 school year. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the school. This is the district's second year offering the program.

CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL WINS
NATIONAL ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE

Chaparral High School, 3850 Annie Oakley Drive, won the Get Schooled Fall Attendance Challenge in the west region. The school's attendance improved by 5.8 percent in October and November.

Students were given a private screening of "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" last month for besting 73 high schools in 17 states. The Greater Las Vegas McDonald's Operator Association also will award four $1,500 scholarships to graduating seniors in April in recognition of the school's accomplishment.

Get Schooled is a nonprofit organization sponsored by Viacom and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Get Schooled launched another national challenge this month to encourage students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form. For more information, visit getschooled.com.

SEWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINS AWARD FOR MATH IMPROVEMENT

Sewell Elementary School, 700 E. Lake Mead Parkway, was named the Rising Star of the Year by MIND Research Institute at its 2011 awards gala. Mind Research Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to develop math instructional software for students.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS
TO CONSERVE WILDLIFE

The National Environmental Education Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to high school students to implement wildlife conservation projects in their schools or communities. The grants are offered by the foundation's Planet Connect program, a youth engagement initiative.

For more information, visit planetconnect.org/2012wcgrants. Applications are due Feb. 1.

CLARK COUNTY READS PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CHILDREN

The Public Education Foundation is seeking volunteers to provide one-on-one help for children struggling with reading skills as part of the Clark County READS Reading Partner Program.

Each volunteer will have two children assigned to them. The reading partner and child will read to each other for 30 minutes once a week.

A two-hour orientation is required. Volunteers will be trained in techniques that help build a child's comprehension skills and reading fluency while instilling a love of reading.

The program runs for 12 weeks, from January through April during regular school hours. Volunteers must be able to commit for the duration of the program, which will take place at 20 schools in the Clark County School District.

For more information, call 799-1042 or email info@ccpef.org.

FREE BOWLING OFFERED FOR GOOD GRADES

Students with A's and B's on their report cards can receive free games of bowling at the bowling centers at the Gold Coast, Sam's Town and the Suncoast. Boyd Gaming's Making the Grade program will award two free games for every A and one free game for every B.

The program is open to all elementary, middle and high school students. A report card and registration in Kidz Klub, a free bowling rewards program, is required.

Free games can be used from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, based on availability. There is a limit of one free game daily. Additional games are $1 each, and shoe rental is $1. A parent or guardian is required for children 12 or younger.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO ITALIAN STUDENTS

The Sons of Italy Las Vegas Lodge 2158 is accepting scholarship applications from high school seniors of Italian descent. The lodge will award $500 scholarships to students pursuing a college education. Awards will be based on grades, school activities, community service and an essay. Applications are available at sonsofitalylasvegas.com and are due April 1. For more information, call 896-1987.

Other scholarships for students of Italian descent are being offered by the Grand Lodge of California at sonsofitalyca.org. Applications are due March 1.

The Sons of Italy Foundation offers 10 to 12 merit-based scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 as part of a nationwide competition. For more information, visit osia.org/students/scholarships. Applications are due Feb. 28.

READING PROGRAM NEEDS MENTORS
FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Spread the Word Nevada's reading mentor program, Books and Buddies, is seeking volunteers to help students in kindergarten through fifth grade improve reading proficiency. Spread the Word Nevada matches adult mentors with elementary students at 26 at-risk schools.

Volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of one hour per week for 12 weeks. Training will be provided, and background checks are required.

For more information, call volunteer coordinator Libbi Erickson at 564-7809 or email libbi@spreadthewordnevada.org.