Education in brief

Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | midnight

UNR forms press association

The University of Nevada Reno Reynolds School of Journalism has organized the first statewide association to promote excellence in journalism in Nevada high schools.

The Reynolds High School Institute will help high school teachers and advisors hone teaching skills, recognize and incorporate media trends into teaching plans and high school newspapers, and encourage students to consider journalism as a career.

The school also supports Journalism Day, an annual event for high school newspaper editors and reporters. This year Journalism Day will take place on Nov. 7.

For more information, contact Zanny Marsh at (775) 784-4783 or visit journalism.unr.edu online.

Palo Verde to help Make a Difference

The Family Career Community Leaders of America chapter at Palo Verde High School will collect new blankets and clothing for needy newborns in the valley through Oct. 24.

The effort is in conjunction with Angels in the Valley's Bundle up the Babies project for Make a Difference Day 2008.

Angels in the Valley is a nonprofit group that provides clothing and essentials to newborn babies at local hospitals.

For more information, call Judy Kuehling at 837-6062 or e-mail kuehling_difference@yahoo.com.

Public asked to review textbooks

Textbooks proposed for use in Clark County School District classrooms will be available for public review Oct. 23-24 as part of Nevada's official textbook selection process.

The textbooks will be on public display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the curriculum library at the Clark County School District Curriculum and Professional Development Center, 3950 Pecos-McLeod.

The public review process includes the opportunity to provide written comments about textbooks that are being recommended for use.

For more information, visit www.ccsd.net.

Students are National Merit semifinalists

Palo Verde High School students Ann Marie Finley, Kian Ameli and Whitney Cox have been named as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The three students' PSAT scores placed them among the top 16,000 high school students in the United States.

The students will continue to compete for the title of National Merit Scholar and college scholarship money.

Additionally, student Jeffery Parker was named a Commended Student by the National Merit Program.