Credit union drives in the supplies for U-46 school

Those on both the giving and receiving ends are stocking up on school supplies this week Elgin Area School District U-46.

For the fifth straight year, Elgin's Corporate America Family Credit Union is hosting a school supply drive to gather backpacks, notebooks, calculators, markers and the like to use at Channing Elementary in Elgin.

The drive, which runs through Monday, collects supplies through today at Corporate America's Elgin Branch, 2075 Big Timber Road.

A suggested supply list for Channing students is available at the branch.

Drop off boxes are stationed in the Union's main lobby.

"Going back to school should be an exciting time for families, especially for children," Branch Manager Laura Kiriluk said in a release. "Donating school supplies is an inexpensive way to make a difference."

Tomorrow, U-46 will host its annual back-to-school fair for needy students from schools which operate on a continuous learning calendar - beginning their academic year each July and ending in June.

The fair provides Channing, Garfield and Sheridan elementary students with backpacks, school supplies and health services.

The fair is designed not only to equip students with the supplies they'll need for the upcoming year, but to equip parents with knowledge about all of the services available to their students.

Kids receive backpacks filled with pens, pencils, notebooks and erasers after their parents visit a number of booths from local social service, civic and religious agencies.

Families can apply for All Kids - state heath insurance for children from low-income families - and free or reduced-price lunches.

The YMCA of Elgin, the Community Crisis Center, Centro de Informacion y Progreso, and the Literacy Connection are among the 25 agencies who will attend this year's fair.

Saturday's fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Channing Elementary, 63 Channing Street in Elgin.

Let's get (a) physical: Illinois law changes student physical requirements for the upcoming school year.

Now, all children entering kindergarten should have an eye examination performed by a licensed physician or an optometrist within one year of Oct. 15. School districts are required to waive the eye examination requirement for low income families with children who receive free and reduced-price lunches and are eligible for public assistance such as Medicaid or All Kids state health insurance.

Students entering sixth grade this school year who got physicals between August 2006 and last September do not need to get another exam. Incoming fifth-graders also will not need to submit proof of a physical to school officials. Those fifth-graders will need a physical before entering sixth grade in 2009-10.