Defending champs return to defend Bunco title in Teacher Games

The third annual Teacher Games will include its high level of enthusiasm, and that will be evident in the competition of Bunco scheduled for the CasaBlanca Resort.
Returning to defend the Bunco championship will be a team from Myrtle Tate Elementary, a Las Vegas school which captured first-place money of $2,000 last year.
“We’re coming back this year,” said Beth Van Slyke, a speech therapist at Myrtle Tate, which is situated near Lamb Boulevard and Carey Avenue in Las Vegas. “My sister Tracy Wilson of Pa Pa., Mich., near Kalamazoo is also joining us,”
Other team members include pre-Kindergarten teachers Blanca Guzman and Kim Troy; and art teacher Kat Schlagheck.
Van Slyke said the money won last year was split among five departments including Art, Speech, Pre-kindergarten, Early Childhood Special Education and Physical Education.
In addition, funds were used to provide for field trips, t-shirts and food, books for the students and art supplies.
“We also saved about $500 to reimburse other teachers who want to go to the next Teacher Games,” explained Van Slyke, who has been in education for seven years.
Black Gaming executives anticipated a big turnout for Bunco, which has proved so popular at the CasaBlanca that past events have attracted participants from Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, California and Idaho.
“This year’s Bunco competition will have an estimated 50 entrants,” said Bernadette Anthony, sales relations manager for Black Gaming. “So far, we have teams from several states.”
The Teacher Games will conclude Sunday. The 2010 schedule also includes co-ed softball, bowling, poker, golf, billiards, Texas Hold ‘Em Poker; 3 on 3 basketball and a 5K run.
Further information regarding other Teacher Games events can be found at www.mesquiteteachergames.com or by calling Anthony at 888-711-4653, ext. 31.

CAPTION: The team of Myrtle Tate Elementary returns to defend its title in the third annual Teacher Games Saturday in the CasaBlanca Room of the CasaBlanca Resort.

CONTACTS: Mike Henle, 702-279-3483; Bernadette Anthony, 888-711-4653, extension 31.