Here's what's happening in U-46 schools this week

Here is what's in the news for the week of Oct. 26 at Elgin Area Unit District 46 schools. Seniors 62 and older living in the district may attend U-46 plays and concerts for free if they pick up a platinum card from Paula in the Communications office. Call (847) 888-5000, ext. 5040 to order one now. Visit u-46.org.

Red Ribbon Week

• This is Red Ribbon Week, a special time to talk about substance abuse prevention. Participating schools are Bartlett, Elgin and Streamwood high schools; Canton, Eastview, Ellis and Tefft middle schools; and Laurel Hill, Ontarioville and Parkwood elementary schools. These schools will all have an assembly or lunch hour dedicated to this week.

Board meeting

• On Monday, the U-46 Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. in Room 140 at the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The public is welcome.For information, visit the "School Board and Community" link at u-46.org.

Elgin High

• On Thursday and Friday, Neil Simon's comic fable "Fools" will be presented at 7 p.m. in the Elgin High auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive. There will also be a Saturday matinee at noon. Tickets are $4 per student, and $5 per adult.

• On Friday, Elgin Bartlett and Streamwood high schools will be judged on public service announcements created during the Red Ribbon Week period. Elgin High will host a showing of "Hip Hop Detoxx" to learn about hip hop music and the lyrics associated in the songs.

Larkin High

• Students from Larkin High School are throwing their annual Halloween Safety Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the school, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin. Students who are part of Health Occupation Students of America are organizing the fair. TThis fair is for children in the neighboring schools to come play games and learn safety tips before they go out and trick-or-treat that night.

South Elgin High

• This entire week and through Nov. 6, the service club (IATD - I Am The Difference) is conducting its fourth Thanksgiving Food Drive. The public is welcome to drop off donations in the main office. The food collected will be used to create Thanksgiving care packages for South Elgin families who are struggling this holiday season.

Canton

• On Thursday, Canton, Eastview, Ellis and Tefft middle schools will have their Red Ribbon Week anti-drug messages judged during homeroom by organizations from the community. There will be a first- to third-place winner for the most creative message.

Eastview

• On Thursday, the Eastview Middle School orchestra will present its "Spooktacular" concert at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria, 321 N. Oak St., Bartlett. The students will be dressed in costume and there will also be a spooky light show to accommodate the music. Baked goods will also be available for purchase to help raise funds for the orchestra program.

Ellis

• On Friday, students and staff at Ellis Middle School in Elgin will enjoy the first PBIS celebration.

Larson

• On Thursday, Jerry Zimmerman (Mr. Freeze) will offer the science students a learning experience in cryogenics at 1 and 2:15 p.m. at Larson Middle School in Elgin. Also on Thursday, the school's Fall Festival, sponsored by the student council, will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., where students can enjoy an open gym, karaoke and bingo.

Garfield

• On Friday, the Family Involvement Committee will host a Literacy Night for students and their families from 6 to 7: 30 p.m. at Garfield Elementary School in Elgin. Fall Festival activities will follow including games and prizes.

Harriet Gifford

• On Monday, Harriet Gifford kindergarten students will join in a school tradition to "hunt" for their prized pumpkins in the decorated outdoor classroom at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

• On Friday, students and their families will participate in the "Monster Mash" and "OctoBear" Fest from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gym. There will be games, dancing and the traditional costume parade which begins at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Hawk Hollow

• On Friday, Hawk Hallow Elementary School in Bartlett will celebrate Halloween with a Fall Festival including a costume parade for kindergarten through second grades at 1:15 p.m. The other classes will have room parties at 1:30 p.m.

Highland

• On Friday, Highland Elementary School will host their Fall Fest from 6 to 8 p.m. Students and their families will be wearing Halloween costumes, play games, enjoy a hot dog dinner and a DJ.

Illinois Park

• On Wednesday, Parents as Teachers will host a drop-in play group for families with children birth through age 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Illinois Park Early Learning Center, 1350 Wing St., Elgin.

Laurel Hill

• On Wednesday at 10 a.m., Laurel Hill, Ontarioville and Parkwood elementary schools will have their Red Ribbon Week classroom posters judged by different organizations in the community, such as Renz Addiction Center, Hanover Township Mental Health Board, Boys and Girls Club, Centro de Informacion, and Elgin Gang and Drug Task Force. The rooms with the most creativity and best anti-drug messages will win first- to third-place prizes.

Lowrie

• On Monday, Parents as Teachers will host a drop-in play group for families with children birth through age 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Lowrie Elementary School, 264 Oak St., Elgin.

McKinley

• On Thursday, Parents as Teachers will host a drop-in play group for families with children birth through age 5 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at McKinley Elementary School, 258 Lovell St., Elgin.

Sunnydale

• On Friday, a "Hoot N Howler" event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sunnydale Elementary School gym, 716 Sunnydale Blvd., Streamwood. Families are invited to attend, dressed in costumes if they choose. Food will be available for purchase.

Washington

• On Friday, students in kindergarten through third grades will dress in costumes in the afternoon and will participate in a parade around the school at 2 p.m. Parents are invited to watch. Fourth- to sixth-graders will attend a movie at Marcus Theaters in Elgin.

Woodland Heights

• On Thursday, Parents as Teachers will host a drop-in play group for families with children birth through age 5 from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. at Woodland Heights Early Learning Center, 900 S. Park Blvd., Streamwood.

In other news

• Congratulations to Hawk Hollow Elementary School fourth-grader Talia Jacobson and second-grader Truman Jacobson on winning three first-place, one second-place, and one third-place trophies in the 2009 Diamond National Karate championships in Minneapolis recently.