Images: The Week in Pictures

   Woodland Primary School's kindergarten students in Gages Lake watch the Jumpers on Fire team from Loves Park.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

   First graders Brenna Hornsey, right, and Lucas Kallieris, work on an experiment during the "What's The Matter" program by High Touch High Tech Monday for first grade students at Butterfield School in Libertyville. The kids learned about changing physical properties with a hands-on experiment using crystals and colored water.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

   Natalia Remter, left, and Katherine Caronis mix color into water during the "What's The Matter" program by High Touch High Tech Monday for first grade students at Butterfield School in Libertyville.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

   I saw a few kites hanging in the garage this week and it got me thinking about how much I'm looking forward to warm temps and bright summer colors. Then I remembered the fun and colorful photos I took during the last week of summer at the Geneva Park District's annual Kite Festival and thought I'd share. Tania Oldham of Geneva takes a photo of her son, Lucas, as his biplane kite soars at Peck Farm Park.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   Fourth grade students, Alice Gramlich, Lilia Carman, Zach Bertrand, and Ajani Rowland work on their electro magnet project as teacher Dee Dee Aldrich looks on at Churchill School. Glen Ellyn School District 41 is proposing to combine classes as part of the Think Tank initiative, in an effort to better focus on science, math, and literacy instruction.
Mark Black | Staff Photographer

   Fourth grade students, Michael Rossi Nathan Navarro, Mario Vences, and Luke Sullivan work on their an electricity science project at Churchill School.
Mark Black | Staff Photographer

   Rep. Tammy Duckworth visited Elgin VFW Post 1307 on Wednesday night to offer encouragement for efforts to raise funds for medical centers for wounded soldiers. Here, she shares conversation with Elgin Marine vet Walt Telford.
Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer

   A jogger struggles through the rain on the Prairie Trail Tuesday afternoon near the Lake in the Hills Airport.
John Starks | Staff Photographer

   Woodland Middle School seventh grade student Jack Hodapp and Dist. 50 Superintendent Joy Swoboda roam the halls of Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. Hodapp shadowed Swoboda as he was "Superintendent for a Day."
Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

   Fitness Equipment Services movers James Dunning, left, and Fernando Silva, remove exercise equipment from the New Lakeview Fitness Center Wednesday in Vernon Hills. The former YMCA closed last year and fitness equipment from the Vernon Hills Park District Sullivan Center will be moved to this site.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

   Three-year-old Madalynn Kerley with her sister Melody, 4, and mother Michelle, all of Palatine, enjoy the swing and sixty-degree temperatures at North School Park in Arlington Heights Tuesday, then on Wednesday, snow and freezing rain took their place.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

   Becky Fritz, 16, of Geneva, left, plays with her piano teacher, Stephanie Spolum, of St. Charles, while playing the Star Spangled Banner in Elgin Community College Arts Center's American Grands XVIII concert on Saturday, January 26. Almost 500 performers of all talent levels and age groups from throughout the area were in the three performances.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   The Elgin Community College Arts Center presents their American Grands XVIII concert on Saturday, January 26.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   Clay Scheck, 4, of Wauconda, rolls clay with help from his grandmother, Barbara Lane, during the "Play With Clay; Small Discoveries" program at the Lake County Discovery Museum in Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

   On Tuesday, visitors of the Lakewood Dog Exercise Area near Wauconda were enjoying temperatures in the 60's. Thursday's temperatures were radically different. Mundelein resident Tony Farina bundled up against the cold and visits with a German Shepherd who paid him a visit.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

   Outgoing Mundelein Police Chief Ray Rose hugs Mundelein fire department administrative assistant Jen Rogers during a retirement ceremony at the police station Thursday. It was Rose's last day on the job after serving for 20 years as police chief.
Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

   Connor Cummings and his twin Katie Cummings, 7th graders, say the Pledge of Allegiance alongside Staff Sgt. Heather Smith, who paid a visit to their school for a flag ceremony as part of Catholic Schools Week at St. James School in Glen Ellyn on Thursday. Students brought things like Beanie Babies, socks and granola bars for Operation Gratitude, an organization which will send care packages for the troops overseas.
Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

   Kindergartners at St. Joan of Arc Elementary School in Lisle perform a play called Choices Count as part of the village's annual character counts program.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer

   Michael Woods, 12, of Crystal Lake, adjusts his safety goggles before trimming invasive brush at the Kane County Forest Preserve's new Creek Bend Nature Center at LeRoy Oakes in St. Charles. Woods and fellow sixth and seventh graders from Harvest Christian Academy spent a few hours at the center as a school elective.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   Lia Baldini, 4, of Huntley, participates in a dance during Einstein Academy's pancake breakfast and pajamas day Friday. The breakfast kicked off the Elgin school's annual participation in the Pennies for Patients fundraiser to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   For Lutheran Schools Week, St. Matthew School in Hawthorn Woods held a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser event. Ninety students in preschool through eighth grade participated in the event to raise money for the American Heart Association.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

   Mark Himmel of West Dundee clears his and his neighbor's sidewalk on Washington Street on Saturday. It took him about 30 minutes to clear the few inches of snow that fell overnight into Saturday.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   People started gathering at 6:30 am at the Woodstock Square gazebo on Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, to see if a groundhog will see it's own shadow. The city is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the filming of the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   Volunteer Alexis Romero, 16, of Lake in the Hills, helps Durryiah McFadden, 4, of Elgin, make a bead bracelet at the eighth annual Black History Family Festival at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin Saturday. This year's theme was, "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind." Romero's mother, Erica, is on the committee that organizes the event.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

   Jack Elich, 7, top, and Connell Lyon, 7, both of Naperville, enjoy a run down Rotary Hill in Naperville.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer

   Nimla Durum her son Aksel make their way up the snow covered Mundelein Community Park sledding hill.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

   With Punxsutawney Phil looming large in the background, Abi Guzman cuts out her own paper groundhog during the Groundhog Day Party at the Fremont Public Library.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

   Doug Pekny and his daughter Noelle, 8, of Glen Ellyn, enjoy the day sledding at Newton Park in Glen Ellyn Sunday.
Mark Black | Staff Photographer

   Ellen Benes, 5, of Glen Ellyn, takes a ride at Newton Park in Glen Ellyn Sunday.
Mark Black | Staff Photographer

   Five-year-old Harrison Zhang, of Brookfield, bowls during the Fourth Annual Football Sunday Benefit for the Little Angels Center for Exceptional Care at Arlington Lanes Bowl Sunday in Arlington Heights. The fundraiser was hosted by the Schaumburg-Hoffman Lions Club and featured unlimited bowling, a buffet and a silent auction.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer