West metro school briefs

Education conference Education paraprofessionals and aspiring teachers are invited to a Winning Strategies Conference 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Normandale Community College, 9700 France Av. S., Bloomington. The conference will focus on behavioral strategies, classroom management, learning styles and special needs.

Cost is $15, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Register at www.ecsu.k12.mn.us/registration through March 26 as long as there is room available.

Art explores Serengeti The International School of Minnesota is presenting "An Evening for Art" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the school, located at 6385 Beach Road in Eden Prairie.

Featuring art of animals of the African Serengeti, the event will include works by students in grades K-10 portraying the African plain and its wildlife, as well as a documentary of some of the oldest film from Africa shot circa 1927 and an inside look at how the school teaches art.

International School art teacher John Bramble chooses a theme each year that all students can portray in art. This year, Bramble assembled a life-sized likeness of a patio of a Tuscan villa that visitors will be able to view. The still life has been used as a drawing subject by students.

"An Evening of Art" is free and open to the public.

Scholarship fund gives blacks, Latinos a boost Minneapolis native Camille Thomas recently established a scholarship fund for highly motivated black and Latino students who are graduates of the Minneapolis public schools. The award provides up to $3,000 to first-year college students including those who are studying abroad and are interested in the health field. Applications must be postmarked by April 1.

For more information about the scholarship or an application, call the district communications department at 612-668-0230 or PHYTT for Life Youth Center at 612-821-2383.

'Revue' raises money for scholarships The efforts of about 300 volunteers from the Osseo School District to raise scholarship money for graduating seniors is about to pay off in the 2009 Wastebasket Revue.

It's the 42nd year of the variety show, which is written and produced by district employees, from cooks to administrators, community members and others. Over the years, the Wastebasket Revue has raised more than $849,000 in scholarships. Last year, $34,000 was awarded to 17 students.

This year's Wasketbasket Revue theme is "USO ... Home Away From Home." Shows are set for 7:30 p.m. April 16-18 and April 23-24 and 2:30 p.m. April 19 and 25 at Park Center High School auditorium, 7300 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and K-12 students. The ticket hotline is 763-391-7205. For more information, go to www.district279.org/wbr.

Benilde student's film earns some acclaim Andrew Christenson, a 12th-grade student at Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park, received an Honorable Mention in C-SPAN's national 2009 "StudentCam" video competition.

Christenson was recognized for his video "Wind Energy: Harnessing the Power." He will receive $250.

His video can be viewed at studentcam.viddler.com/videos/watch.php?id=96d8c5f0.

The top 27 videos will air on C-SPAN beginning at 5:50 a.m. on April 1. The student winners also will be interviewed at 8:30 a.m. daily during C-SPAN's Washington Journal.

More than 1,900 students from 41 states submitted nearly 1,000 entries. The top subjects were 1) the economy, 2) education, 3) alternative energy, 4) climate change and 5) the Iraq war, the war on terror, and national security.