Valley middle schools vie in Science Bowl

Six middle schools from across the Valley will compete Feb. 27 at Fresno State to represent the region for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science’s 26th annual National Science Bowl.

The winner of the regional competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Science Bowl from April 28 to May 2.

Edison Computech Middle, El Monte Middle, Granite Ridge Intermediate, Jack G. Desmond Middle, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle and Quail Lake Environmental Charter will be competing Saturday.

Correction: An earlier version of this story, based on information from the U.S. Department of Energy, said the competition would take place Jan. 30.

Child-care providers honored

The Fresno County Office of Education recognized 87 outstanding early care providers on Friday at Veterans Memorial Auditorium as part of the Early Stars Program.

The Early Stars Program is a rating system that assesses the quality of child care providers in Fresno County for children up to age 5. Parents interested in rated child care programs can visit www.earlystars.org for more information and a list of rated sites.

Library hosts study abroad event

Students interested in learning more about intercultural education and opportunities to study and live abroad will have an opportunity to do so during the AFS informational event on Wednesday.

AFS/USA is a worldwide nonprofit organization that exchanges more than 10,000 students among more than 50 countries. Students who have studied abroad previously will be in attendance to answer questions about their experience, including yearly, semester and summer AFS programs overseas that feature school exchange, community service and more.

The event takes place at Woodward Park Regional Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is open to middle and high school students.

Auction to benefit Madera scholars

The Madera County division of the California Retired Teachers Association will host a live/silent auction in Madera on Feb. 3 to raise money for its scholarship fund.

The annual fundraiser starts at 9:30 a.m. with a light lunch at the John W. Wells Youth Center at 701 E. Fifth St. in Madera, said communication chairwoman Kathleen Yowell. Auction items include baked goods, gift baskets, plants and seasonal gifts. The fundraiser is open to the public.

The division plans to award scholarships to seven Madera County high school seniors in June, Yowell said.

Porterville hosts Black History Month event

Porterville College will host a presentation for Black History Month on Feb. 5.

The program is called “Growing on the Side of the Road: Historically Black Settlements in Central California” and will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in the PC Theater at the college, which is at 100 E. College Ave. in Porterville.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Robert Simpkins at 559-791-2464.

Correction: An earlier version incorrectly said the college’s spring semester begins Feb. 5. The semester began Jan. 16.

Financial aid, DREAM Act workshops set

College of the Sequoias in Visalia is offering prospective students workshops in the 2016-17 FAFSA and DREAM Act applications.

FAFSA is a free application to determine a student’s financial aid eligibility, and the DREAM Act application is completed by students who do not meet federal eligibility requirements but qualify to apply for California state aid.

The Hanford campus presentation and workshop is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 in room V105. The Tulare campus event is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 18 in Building B, Room B121. The Visalia campus event is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 22 in Kern 714.

Those attending the workshops should bring the following: 2015 income tax return, W-2, last pay stub, or 2014 income tax return (student and parent); spouse’s income information (if married); records of untaxed income; Social Security number. Students and parents must also create a FSA ID. It replaces the PIN previously used to sign a FAFSA.

For more information, contact Financial Aid Outreach Specialist Amy Pimentel at 559-737-6178 or amypi@cos.edu.

This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Valley middle schools vie in Science Bowl."