Elgin Area Unit District 46 news

Here is what's in the news for the week of Dec. 14-18 at Elgin Area Unit District 46 schools. For details, visit u-46.org. At the end of the day Friday, Dec. 18, the holiday recess begins. Classes resume Jan. 4. Seniors 62 and older living in the district may attend U-46 plays and concerts for free if they call (847) 888-5000, ext. 5040, to order a platinum card.

Bartlett High: On Tuesday through Thursday, the annual Bartlett High School Madrigal Feast will be held at Bartlett Hills Country Club. This venue is transformed to provide a recreation of the Great Hall dining experience from the Middle Ages, complete with a Renaissance feast and entertainment.

Elgin High: On Thursday, the Elgin High School music department will present a Holiday Constellation Concert at 7 p.m. in the Chester C. Alexander Auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive in Elgin. Tickets cost $8 for students and senior citizens; $10 for adults. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling (847) 888-5100, ext. 5103. Participating groups are: the Brass Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Symphonic Band, Elgin Jazz Authority, Jazz Band, Renaissance Singers, Chamber Orchestra and String Quartet. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Ecker Center in Elgin. For details, call Jonathan Bogue at (847) 888-5100, ext. 5138.

Larkin High: Larkin High School band will bring holiday music to the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditorium, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin. Musicians from the first and sixth hour concert bands, the Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble will perform. Tickets are $2 per adult, $1 for students and seniors and $6 per family.

South Elgin High: On Thursday, the South Elgin High School orchestra and choirs will present their Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. Also featured will be an elementary school choral group called Women of Note. This group is made up of students in third to sixth grades chosen by their teachers to participate.

Streamwood High: On Thursday, the music department presents a "Seasonal Serenade" at 7 p.m. at Streamwood High School, 701 W. Schaumburg Road. This concert will feature the bands, choirs and orchestra of the school. Poinsettias decorating the stage will be sold after the concert, along with wreaths and hanging baskets. This is the school's holiday fundraiser.

Abbott: On Tuesday, the bands, orchestra and choral groups will present their concert at 7 p.m. at Abbott Middle School, 949 Van St., Elgin.

Eastview: On Tuesday, choral students will present a Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. at Eastview Middle School, 321 N. Oak St., Bartlett.

Kenyon Woods: On Tuesday, Hispanic Parent Night will be at 7 p.m. in the Kenyon Woods Middle School commons and upper gym, 1515 Raymond St., South Elgin. This is a monthly meeting to discuss topics regarding middle school students and how to help them be successful in their school life.

Larsen: On Tuesday, the beginning band and orchestra students, including the feeder school students from Coleman, Lincoln, McKinley, Sheridan and Timber Trails, will present their Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. at Larsen Middle School, 665 Dundee Ave., Elgin. Also, Larsen students are reaching out to their school families through the Holiday Dinner Drive. They are asking each student to donate 25 cents or more, if they wish. They are also accepting items that would benefit the whole family, including clothing, shoes and gently used toys. All donations are collected for Larsen families only.

Tefft: On Tuesday, the band, orchestra and choral groups will present their Holiday Music Festival at 7 p.m. in the Tefft Middle School auditorium, 1100 Shirley Ave., Streamwood.

Centennial: On Monday, the Holiday Orchestra Concert will be presented at 2:45 p.m. at Centennial Elementary School, 234 E. Stearns Road, Bartlett. On Wednesday, the Holiday Sing will be presented at Bartlett High School beginning with the kindergarten students at 5:30 p.m.; first and second grades at 6:15 p.m.; third and fourth grades at 7 p.m.; and fifth and sixth grades at 7:45 p.m.

Fox Meadow: On Thursday, Fox Meadow Elementary students and staff will join together in the gym throughout the day to sing holiday songs.

Hawk Hollow: On Tuesday, Hawk Hollow Elementary choral students will present their Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. in the Bartlett High School auditorium, 701 Schick Road.

Highland: On Monday, the Recorder Club will present their holiday concert at 7 p.m. in the Highland Elementary gym, 1221 W. Highland Ave., Elgin.

Horizon: On Monday, Horizon Elementary School will present a Winter Sing at 7 p.m. at Bartlett High School. Participating grades are: first/second split, second, third, fourth, fourth/fifth split and the chorus.

Laurel Hill: On Monday and Wednesday, adult English Language Learners classes will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laurel Hill Elementary School, 1750 Laurel Ave., Hanover Park. On Tuesday, the Crossroads Kid's Club will meet at 2:15 p.m. in the gym.

Lowrie: On Tuesday, Lowrie Elementary School is hosting a No Excuses Parent University workshop to learn more about the district writing program, "Being a Writer." The workshop is from 4 to 5 p.m. at the school, 264 Oak St. in Elgin. The program will be presented in both English and Spanish.

McKinley: On Monday, the Drama Club will present Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" at 6:30 p.m. at McKinley Elementary School, 258 Lovell St., Elgin. Before the play, the McKinley Chorus will sing Christmas carols. Hot chocolate and churros will be served for only $1 per person.

Nature Ridge: On Tuesday, Nature Ridge Elementary third- to sixth-graders will present a Winter Sing at 7 p.m. at South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St.

Otter Creek: On Wednesday, an all-school geography bee will be held for the entire afternoon at Otter Creek Elementary School. On Thursday, the sixth-graders will present their World's Fair from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the multipurpose room at the school, 2701 Hopps Road, South Elgin. Parents are invited.

Sycamore Trails: On Monday, fifth- and sixth-graders will perform the musical "Jungle Book" at 7 p.m. at Sycamore Trails Elementary School, 1025 Sycamore Lane, Bartlett.

Washington: On Thursday, Washington Elementary School will hold a Book Swap. Students bring gently used books from home to swap for a ticket, which will then be traded for a "new" book. They are always looking for used books to include. If you belong to a group that could donate books, call Dawn Sharp at (847) 888-6662.