NW suburban family calendar

Events specifically for children or teens as well as those for, including classes, park and library programs, music, dances, family fitness events, battles of the bands. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.

Schaumburg High preschool openings: Schaumburg High School has several openings available during the 12:15-1:45 p.m. session of preschool. The preschool meets Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from early February until late May. Children must te 31/2-5 years old, toilet-trained and current immunization records must be provided. $100, plus a $25 registration fee. Call Emily Wydra at (847) 755-4736.

Baby-sitting Clinic: Sign up for the Oct. 3 Red Cross Babysitting Clinic continues at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. The educational session covers basic child care, emergency action, first aid and more. Participants must be Mount Prospect residents, who are 11 years old by the program date. $15 registration fee applies. Register in person at the library's registration desk.

Teen Center Des Plaines: The Des Plaines Teen Center and Game Room are open 2-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays. For a schedule of special events or information, call (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Sept. 28

Half Day of Play: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines. Free bussing to the center for an afternoon of gym sports and games, arts and crafts, Baggo, outdoor play and pizza lunch. For grades one-eight. $21-$26. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

U-46 Board of Education: Meets 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, Educational Services Center, 355 W. Chicago St., Elgin. Public is invited to attend this open meeting. u-46.org.

Sept. 30

Parenting a Child with Special Needs: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, JCFS, 1156 W. Shure Drive, Arlington Heights. Parents support one another as they discuss the stresses and challenges involved in parenting children with special needs. Ongoing weekly group. $15 per session. For information, call Pamela, (224) 625-2804.

Preschool Fall Festival: 5:45-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, Leisure Center, room 108, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines. Fall festival fun and games class for ages 3-6 includes stories and crafts, more. $15-$19. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Magic Class: 5:15-6:10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. Magic class for ages 5-12. Lean trick with coins, cards, ropes and mind reading. $17-$22. For information, (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Rock Band Competition: 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, Rasmussen North room, Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road. Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to compete in teams of four in a Rock Band 2 competition. Register as a team or join others to form a team at the competition. Attendees will also learn about a new Music Venturing Crew that will be holding additional Rock Band 2 competitions, forming real bands, and teaching sound, video and lighting techniques. To register, (847) 923-3191 or teenservices@stdl.org.Oct. 1Massage therapy information session: 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 1, ECC Advanced Technology Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. ECC representative share information about the entrance requirements, admission process and employment prospects of the Massage Therapy program. To register, call (847) 214-7385 or elgin.edu/schedulevisit. Baby Signs: 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, Palatine Public Library District, 700 N. North Court. Learn how to communicate with babies and toddlers with simple signs for words. To register, (847) 358-5881 or palatinelibrary.org. October Gym Jam: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, Meineke Recreation Center, Schaumburg. DJ, games, races, activities for grades five and six. (847) 985-2143 or parkfun.com.Oct. 2Oktoberfest: 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, American Legion Hall, 122 W. Palatine Road, Palatine. Traditional German food, music and beer sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion. $10 at the door. (847) 359-1606. Oct. 3Autumn Harvest: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, North School Park, Eastman Street and Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Petting zoo, scarecrow building contest, storytime, face painting, more. (847) 577-3000 or shpd.org. Extreme Sports Weekend: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, Camelot Park, 1005 E. Suffield. Rock climbing and paintball for ages 11-14. $95-$142.50. (847) 577-3000 or ahpd.org.Andy Anderson Homecoming Pancake Breakfast: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 3, Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St. $5 adults; $3 students and children under 12. Tour De Des Plaines bike ride: 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, Prairie Lakes Park, 510 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. 12.5-mile bike ride through the city of Des Plaines. Begins and ends at Prairie Lakes Park. For information, Colin, (847) 391-5410.Pumpkin Fest: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. Craft show, music, face painting, moonwalk, children's games, pumpkin patch, more.Oct. 15Guitar Hero tournament: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, South Barrington Community Center. South Barrington Park District Guitar Hero Tournament for kids in middle and high school. Prizes, refreshments. $5 per person. Register before Thursday, Oct. 15 at (847) 381-7515 or sbpd.net. Oct. 16QUEST Days Off School Program: Meet 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, South Barrington Community Center, for a trip to Navy Pier which includes a scenic boat cruise. For grades six-eight. $40-$45. Bring money for lunch. To register, (847) 381-7515.Little Limelight Cafe: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, Tripp School, 850 Highland Grove Drive, Buffalo Grove. Students in grades 2-8 will perform. Acts can be instrumental or vocal, dance, solos, duets or small groups. Visit vbg.org.Oct. 22QUEST Days Off School Program: Meet 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, South Barrington Community Center, for a mystery trip. For grades six-eight. $40-$45. Lunch included. To register, (847) 381-7515.Oct. 23QUEST Days Off School Program: Meet 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, South Barrington Community Center, for a trip to ESPN Zone. For grades six-eight. $40-$45. Lunch and game card included. To register, (847) 381-7515.Fall Carnival: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, South Barrington Community Center. Family Halloween event for all ages includes carnival type games of skill, movie, popcorn, lemonade. $3 per person includes 10 game tickets. Additional game tickets five for $1. Registration required before Friday Oct 16 to (847) 381-7515 or sbpd.net.Nov. 6QUEST Days Off School Program: Meet 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, South Barrington Community Center, for a trip to Navy Pier which includes a scenic boat cruise. For grades six-eight. $40-$45. Bring money for lunch. To register, (847) 381-7515.Nov. 13QUEST Days Off School Program: Meet 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, South Barrington Community Center, for a scavenger hunt and movie. For grades six-eight. $40-$45. Lunch included. To register, (847) 381-7515.undatedEducation registration: Congregation Kneseth Israel is now taking registration for the new school year. Torah school for pre-K-high school, adult education classes and an award-winning youth program 6-12 are offered. The synagogue is at 330 Division St., Elgin. For information, contact the synagogue office, (847) 741-5656 or visit the Web site, www.ckielgin.org.Help for preschool: A free or reduced tuition program for families with unemployed parents is being offered by Christ the King Lutheran Preschool, 100 W, Michigan Ave. in Palatine. A family with one unemployed parent will be offered half price tuition; if both parents are unemployed, the child will receive free tuition. This will remain in effect for as long as is necessary. This will allow the child a chance for fun and to be in a nurturing environment. It will allow the parents a chance to go on interviews, actively job search and some time to relax. Unemployment brings an extremely stressful environment for families, this will allow for break. The tuition relief is available for all preschool programs, including the afternoon KinderClub. In addition, free or reduced tuition is available to military families. Those deployed in the states will be offered half tuition rates; those deployed overseas, free. For more information, contact Valerie Schultz, director, at (847) 358-0230 or visit www.ByFaithAlone.org.Tutor. com: Youth Services Department at the Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm Street, Prospect Heights will have a new online service. Tutor.com connects to a real-time live tutor in an online classroom to work one-on-one on homework, studying, test prep, etc. Available daily from 2- 9 p. m. via the library's Web site phpl.infoBefore and After School Care program: Weekdays, 6-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m.; nonschool days (except major holidays), 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Lutheran Church of the Cross, 2025 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Open to children ages 5 through 12. For details, call (847) 437-5176.Preschool registration: Noah's Ark Christian Preschool and Kindergarten, 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington, is currently registering new students for the 2009-2010 school year. Classes are available for children ages 2-6. Noah's Ark is a ministry of Barrington United Methodist Church. Call (847) 844-3738 for more information. Jewish youth programs: Beth Judea offers programs for third-graders through high school students, regardless of their Jewish affiliation. Kadinkers is the youngest youth group and is for students in third - fifth grades. It meets once a month on a Sunday after Sunday school. Yearly dues are $18. Kadima is the youth group for students in sixth - eighth grades. Kadima meets once or twice a month. Yearly dues are $35. United Synagogue Youth is the youth group for all high school students. This teen group meets on a weekly basis for an assortment of activities. Yearly dues are $40. For more details on these groups, contact Aaron at (847) 634-0777, ext. 114. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.Creative Corners Preschool registration: Registration is in progress for the Des Plaines Park District Creative Corners Preschool 3-year and 4-5-year classes at the Administrative and Leisure Center, 2222 Birch Street. Call (847) 391-5700 or visit desplaineparks.org.Preschool fall openings: The Elk Grove Park District has openings in its 2 1/2 and 3-year-old fall classes, 225 W. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village. For registration or information, (847) 364-7224 or elkgroveparks.org. Queen of the Rosary preschool: Queen of the Rosary School, Elk Grove Village, is currently accepting registration for its 3- and 4-year-old preschool program. For information, to schedule a visit, or to register, call Claudia, (847) 437-3322.