U-46 school news

Here is what's in the news at Elgin Area School District U-46 schools. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.u-46.org.

Larkin High

• On Tuesday, the Larkin High Visual and Performing Arts Academy will present their annual Prism Concert, Senior Recognition and Academy Awards at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin.

• On Wednesday, the concert and jazz bands will perform their final concert of the school year at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are available the night of the performance at a cost of $5 per family, $2 per adult, and $1 per student or senior citizen.

• On Thursday, the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform under the direction of Pat Henning, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are available the night of the performance at a cost of $5 per family, $2 per adult, and $1 per student or senior citizen.

Streamwood High

• On Thursday, the Orchestra Concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the Streamwood High School auditorium, 701 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood. Admission is $1 per student, $2 per adult and $6 per family.

Abbott Middle

• The Abbott Middle School Band will present a concert at 7 p.m. Monday at Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin.

Ellis Middle

• On Wednesday, the Honor Roll Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Ellis Middle School gym, 225 S. Liberty St., Elgin..

• On Thursday, a Choral Concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Larsen Middle

• On Thursday, a Choral Recognition Concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Larsen Middle School auditorium, 665 Dundee Ave., Elgin. This concert will feature both seventh- and eighth-grade choruses under the direction of Renae Kopacz. Connie O'Kelly will be accompanying the students on the piano. Because O'Kelley will be retiring this spring, a special presentation will be made in her honor. Seventh-grade students also will be honored with special awards including leadership and musicianship awards. These same choral members will also be participating in a music competition sponsored by Six Flags Great America on May 16. Groups compete for ratings and trophies and are evaluated on tone quality, intonation, diction, technique, interpretation, balance and musical repertoire. Choral students from Larsen have walked away with many first and second place trophies over the past ten years and are confident this year will be no different!

• On Friday, the year-end dance will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school.

Heritage

• On Tuesday, the Heritage Elementary School students present the annual Expo "Spotlight on Heritage" at 6 p.m. at the school, 507 Arnold Ave., Streamwood. All student activities and projects will be highlighted. The entire community is invited to come and share their accomplishments.

Highland

• On Monday morning, Highland Elementary sixth-graders will visit Kimball Middle School in Elgin. for seventh-grade orientation.

• On Friday, second-grade bilingual classes will take a field trip to Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in East Dundee.

Liberty

• On Monday, Liberty Elementary School will host author Nikola Lisa at 9 a.m. in the gym, 121 Naperville Road in Bartlett. He will read and visit with the students.

• On Tuesday, students in fifth and sixth grade will demonstrate their musical talents during a concert for parents and friends at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

• On Tuesday through Friday during school hours, the Spring Book Fair will be held in the library. On Thursday, the Book Fair hours will be extended to 7 p.m. for the families to attend.

Lowrie

• On Monday morning, ECC's Traveling Theatre Troupe will present an assembly for grades K-6 at Lowrie Elementary School in Elgin.

• On Thursday, in preparation for the transition from elementary to middle school, the sixth-graders will be visiting Abbott Middle School in Elgin. They will be given the opportunity to tour Abbott and get a first hand look at the school they will be attending in the fall.

• On Friday, the fourth-graders will be hosting their state fair. Each student will be presenting an informational project about their chosen state. The 6th graders will be doing similar projects about their chosen country for a world's fair. All students at Lowrie will get a chance during the day to view the projects. Parents are welcome to attend from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Ridge Circle

On Friday, Ridge Circle Elementary School will host an International Family Fest for students and their families from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m..

Washington

• On Friday, the Ice Cream Social will take place from 5-7 p.m. at Washington Elementary School, 819 W. Chicago St., Elgin. Lots of food and fun will be available, including a cake walk.

In other news

• Laurel Hill Elementary School, in conjunction with Hanover Township Youth and Family Services, held a Community Resource Fair on April 23 at the Hanover Park school. Thirty-five agencies participated and more than 650 community members attended the event. The fair was organized by Karen Lowe of the Hanover Township Youth and Family Services and Paula Randant, the social worker at Laurel Hill. The Laurel Hill PTLH provided hot dogs and pop and water for a fee. The school provided healthy snacks at no cost. Face painting and games were available for children attending the event with parents. The Hanover Park Fire Department brought a fire truck to display, and students were able to explore the truck. It was great fun. The families who attended were able to get information on social services, park district services, health services and township and school district services. For information call Paula Randant at (630) 213-5581.

Returning to Timber Trails Elementary this spring for the second year is Girls On The Run. The non-profit prevention program encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and a healthy lifestyle through running. The curricula addresses physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. This is the second year that Timber Trails has hosted this program and the only one, so far, in the district. There are 20 girls from third, fourth and fifth grade enrolled this year with five coaches (Maureen Meyer, school nurse, who started the group at Timber Trails; Joan Berendt; Teresa Andrade; Lisa Burnell and Natalie Dazzo). The girls meet twice a week after school and are training hard for their first 5K race while making friends and learning to support each other along the way. Each week one girl takes on a leadership role leading the stretches and helping with materials. The girls will run in the Wondergirl 5K race in Chicago on June 7. Principal Tom Flanigan always offers the girls encouragement and some of the teachers came down last year to run with the team. The girls are doing a wonderful job, with fantastic attitudes. All the girls have really adopted the motto "learn, live, dream, run."