School Notes (8/14)

SMCC events

South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St., is offering several events for students:

• A Bilingual Nursing Fellows Program information session will start at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, in the Student Union. The program is a joint effort of South Mountain Community College and Phoenix College, in cooperation with Banner Health System. For more information, call (602) 243-8269 or go online to http://nursing.southmountaincc.edu/.

• An open house for students interesting in learning more about investing and money management classes will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Classroom BE-151. Seven courses are offered, and instructors will be on hand to discuss the courses and answer questions. For information, call Bruce McHenry at (602) 305-5810 or e-mail bruce.mchenry@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

• SMCC’s annual fall welcome session for new students, “Passport to the Mountain,” will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Student Union. The event, open to all new students, includes presentations from faculty and staff, an information expo, refreshments and giveaways and tours of the college. There will also be a drawing for student scholarships and book vouchers, and all students attending will receive a copy of the 2009-10 SMCC student handbook. For more information, visit www.southmountaincc.edu, call Ruben Saenz at (602) 305-5677 or e-mail ruben.saenz@smcmail.maricopa.edu. 

DBG develops free Web-based curriculum tool for teachers

On Aug. 24, the Desert Botanical Garden will launch DBG Digital Learning, a free Web-based curriculum that provides Arizona teachers and students with multiple resources for science-based material and encourages outdoor exploration.

Teachers are invited to attend the Garden’s eighth annual Teacher’s Open House on Saturday, Sept. 12. The open house is designed to inform educators about the Garden’s Sonoran Desert Adventure Field Trip Program, as well as featuring three training sessions for the new DBG Digital Learning curriculum.

The DBG Digital Learning will be available for download for free on Aug. 24 at www.dbg.org/digitallearning.

‘Back-to-School’ essay contest winners get Netbook computers

Nova Mesa Computer Systems, Inc., a Phoenix-based manufacturer and retailer of custom desktop, laptop, home theater and specialized gaming computers for the home, home office and business markets, will give away three Netbook computer bundles as part of its first “Back to School” essay contest. The contest is under way and runs through Sept. 6. Winners will be announced by Sept. 21.

The contest requires the submission of a 150- to 200-word essay and is open to Arizona students in grades one to 12.

For complete details, visit www.novamesa.com.

Tuition-free charter school offers eLearning model

Mosaica Education has launched an innovative and engaging school designed in-step with the latest eLearning technology tools available to 21st century learners. The school, Mercury Online Academy, will offer four days of online instruction, while also allowing students to interact in a traditional classroom setting one day per week in a highly engaging college-prep humanities program with visual and performing arts. 

Students grades kindergarten through eighth will participate in class online from the comfort of home four days a week, and will attend class in-person one day a week at the Ahwatukee Foothills Prep campus. 

The school is now accepting applications for fall; visit http://az.moaschools.net/ to learn more.

Host a foreign exchange student

The Center for Cultural Interchange, a national organization headquartered in Chicago, is seeking families across the country to host a foreign exchange student from one of 65 countries for the upcoming school year.

The deadline is Aug. 28 to place students in homes.

For more information, call 1-800-634-4771, e-mail ayp@cc-exhange.com or visit www.cci-exchange.com/host.htm.

ASU named one of nation’s “greenest” universities

Arizona State University has been named one of the nation’s “greenest” universities by The Princeton Review in its annual rating of environmentally-friendly institutions. This is the second year in a row that ASU made the list.

The Princeton Review (http://www.princetonreview.com/green-honor-roll.aspx) named 15 colleges to its “2010 Green Rating Honor Roll” – a list that salutes the institutions that received the highest possible score – 99 – in this year’s rating tallies.

ASU offering over 100 classes to high school seniors

Arizona State University is offering more than 100 classes to qualified high school seniors, to give them a head start on a university career. Students can test their academic interests and explore majors and career options, before they begin freshman year.

The Collegiate Scholars Program offers courses in every college of the university at all four campuses. Eligibility is based on GPA, class rank and test scores. Once eligibility is confirmed, students may apply for admission and register. For a full listing of courses, visit http://promise.asu.edu/csp.

For more information, e-mail Mark Duplissis at mark.duplissis@asu.edu or call (480) 965-2621.

Law school info. session

An information session is being offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Phoenix School of Law, 4041 N. Central Ave., Room 300, where faculty members will speak to prospective students on how be successful in law school.

This event is free, and lunch will be served. Parking is available in the garage, directly east of the building.

For more information, visit www.phoenixlaw.edu or call (602) 682-6800.

SMCC offers variety of classes in Sept.

South Mountain Community College is offering a variety of classes at several locations starting in September.

For information, call (602) 243-8393.

SMCC offers G.E.D. high school equivalency testing

South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St., is offering G.E.D. testing for individuals who do not have a high school diploma and are seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Candidates must be at least 16 years of age. Those under 18 must bring a notarized letter of consent from a parent or guardian, along with an official letter of withdrawal from their last school attended. The G.E.D. testing fee is $75, with a $15 re-test fee for each subject area. Testing is by appointment only, and pre-registration is required prior to testing. Pre-registration takes place on Monday afternoons between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Testing takes place on Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tests are available in English, Spanish and large-print. Special accommodations are available for examinees with documented disabilities.

For more information, call (602) 243-8188.

Reunion planned for DV’s 1st graduating class

The Desert Vista High School Class of 1999 will have its 10-year class reunion on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Rustler’s Rooste. Spread the word, and come reminisce with old friends! More details will be available soon.

For information, e-mail reunion committee members at DVHSreunion1999@gmail.com or visit them on mySpace and Facebook. 

Hampton Inn supports parents with ‘Cash for College’

The excitement of visiting college and university campuses just got a boost with Hampton Hotels’ “Cash for Colleges” contest to award families with funds for their college-bound children’s tuition.

To be entered automatically into “Hampton’s Cash for College Sweepstakes,” parents simply need to book a stay at www.hampton.com/collegetours and enter promo code CAMPUS now through Dec. 7. Two lucky winners will receive $5,000 each, to be used for college expenses. The first grand prize winner will be announced in September, and the second grand prize winner in December.

For more information, call Donalie McIntire, general manager of Hampton Inn Phoenix, Chandler (7333 W. Detroit St. in Chandler) at (480) 753-5200.