Education briefs

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 10, 2014

Partners In Learning Child Development and Family Resource Center invites parents, providers and educators to attend its annual special needs mini-conference May 3.
“We are proud to host this event each year to provide information and support to those in our community who care for and educate children with special needs,” said Executive Director Norma Honeycutt. “This year’s presenters will provide a wide range of great information for parents and educators.”
This year, author Susan King will return as keynote speaker. King is a wife and mother of four adult children. She will share her journey as the mother of a young man with autism. King is the author of “Optimism for Autism.”
Breakout sessions will include a parent panel, fine motor tips, information from educators, advocacy advice and information on family dynamics.
The event will be held 8 a.m.-noon May 3 at Catawba College’s Ketner Building and is free and open to the public. Free child care is provided upon request.
For more information visit www.epartnersinlearning.org .
Livingstone College will host its annual Children’s Book Festival 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26 on the campus green.
The event is free and open to children ages 3 to 12. Each child will be able to select two books.
The festival’s purpose is to encourage a love and appreciation for books and reading. The event offers free food and entertainment including storytelling, bounce houses and other activities.
For more information, call Livingstone College at 704-216-6118 or 704-216-6120.
The West Rowan Future Healthcare Professionals Student Organization went to Hickory in November for the District 7 conference and competition.
Winners included Kayla Mills, first place, medical math; Yeslin Alpizar, third place, extemporaneous health poster; Gloria Jaquez, third place, medical terminology; Kandice Quarles, third place, researched persuasive speaking; and Cole Childers, top six for nursing assistant. These students qualified to compete at the state-level competition in March in their respective events.
At the North Carolina conference, students competed against others across the state. State winners included Mino Panchit, top 10 finalist for epidemiology, and Yeslin Alpizar, top 10 finalist, extemporaneous health poster.
This was West Rowan’s first year competing under the guidance of Allyson Cline-Bell, health science teacher and club adviser, who the club said in a news release “spent countless hours helping prepare students not only for competition, but also to be the best future health care professionals they can be.”
Stanly County Public Library hosted the 34th annual Quiz Bowl competition Saturday at Gray Stone Day School.
Gray Stone Day School was this year’s winner. Team members include: Catherine Blake-Harris, Preston Bowers, Taylor Earnhardt, Margaret Ericson, Jacob Furr, Billy Haque, Caroline Lowder, Jonathan Matthews, William Nicks, and Jennie Wagner. The Gray Stone Knights are coached by Sheri Efird and Sarah Richardson.
The other three competing teams were from West Stanly High School, North Stanly High School and South Stanly High School.