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.

Bartlett High

• On Saturday, the Bartlett High School graduation begins at 8 p.m. at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Elgin High School

• On Thursday, the Elgin High School Orchestra presents its spring concert at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin. They also will be saluting their graduating seniors.

• On Saturday, graduation begins at 11 a.m. at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Larkin High

• On Monday, the Larkin High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy will present a Vocal Night at 7 p.m. at the school, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin.

• On Wednesday, an authentic 1920's Great Gatsby Picnic, complete with music, will be held on the front lawn from 8 to 9:15 a.m. and again between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on and off. Juniors in Darlene Castelvecchi's English classes will collaborate with Books at Sunset's owner Judi Brownfield.

• On Saturday, the Larkin High School graduation begins at 2 p.m. at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

South Elgin High

• On Saturday, graduation begins at 5 p.m. at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Streamwood High

• On Wednesday, the Streamwood High School senior class will travel to Chicago for a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan.

• On Saturday, Streamwood High graduation begins at 8 a.m. at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Abbott

• On Friday, the End of the Year Dance will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gym, 949 Van St., Elgin. Admission for seventh-grade students is $5; eighth-grade students will be admitted for free.

Ellis

• On Thursday, students at Ellis Middle School in Elgin will take a trip to Great America for the day.

Larsen

• On Thursday, students at Larsen Middle School in Elgin who have met all the requirements will take a field trip to Great America.

Garfield

• On Tuesday, the annual school picnic and field day will be held at Garfield Elementary School, 420 May St., Elgin. Students will participate in games in the morning, followed by lunch. After lunch, a DJ will be spinning records in the parking lot until 2 p.m.

Highland

• The Highland Elementary sixth-grade recognition and awards luncheon will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett.

Horizon

• On Thursday, the annual Field Day will be held on the Horizon Elementary School grounds, 1701 Greenbrook Blvd., Hanover Park.

Laurel Hill

• On Wednesday and Thursday, Laurel Hill Elementary School will present "Annie Jr." at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 1750 Laurel Ave., Hanover Park. There are a limited number of reserved tickets available at no cost.

Lincoln

• On Tuesday, student council members at Lincoln Elementary School in Hoffman Estates will host Sgt. Bryan Anderson of the United States Army during an assembly from 9 to 10:30 a.m. He is the country's only surviving triple amputee after serving in Iraq. He has overcome many obstacles and is an inspiration and a hero to us all. $1,000 worth of pennies was collected by the student council to raise money for the school and for the Wounded Heroes fund. Students will share the particular significance the penny has in our nation's history. To honor Sgt. Anderson, the student council will present a check for $600 to the Wounded Heroes Fund. For information on the Wounded Heroes Fund and how you can help, visit the Web site at www. woundedheroesfund.net.

Lowrie

• On the morning of May 21, Lowrie Elementary School will hold its annual all-school Olympics. Students in kindergarten through second grade will participate in a variety of events held at the school, 264 Oak St. in Elgin. Students in third to sixth grade will participate in their events at Grolich Park. These events are run by adult volunteers. In the afternoon, a volleyball game between sixth graders and teachers will be held at the school.

Nature Ridge

• On Thursday, the sixth-grade students at Nature Ridge Elementary School in Bartlett will take a field trip to Navy Pier in Chicago. They will explore architectural sites via Lake Michigan on the "Mystic Blue" boat.

Spring Trail

• On Friday, the annual Field Day will take place at Spring Trail Elementary School, 1384 Spring Valley Drive in Carol Stream.

Sycamore Trails

• On Monday during school hours, the fifth-grade students at Sycamore Trails Elementary School will present a "Living History" for the other students. They will also do a presentation for their families from 6 to 7 p.m. that night at the school, 1025 Sycamore Lane, Bartlett.

In the news

• Trish Arnsten's eighth-hour class at Larsen Middle School in Elgin were the winners of the city of Elgin's mascot naming contest for their Dynamic Duo. The class's names of Leftover Larry and Reusable Rick won the contest. The city will be using the mascots to promote recycling and reducing trash at various city events. The mascots paid a visit to the class to deliver their reward, which was a field trip to a recycling center and landfill, along with lunch.

In addition, the seventh-grade SWAS students were scheduled to be recognized by the city council and mayor on May 14 at Elgin City Hall. They would receive a recycled glass award, a formal proclamation by the mayor, individual certificates of recognition by the department of public works and gift bags.

• On May 7, Fremd High School hosted its annual Chicagoland "4x5" art show which featured the work of 40 schools. There were 1,200 individual works of art, each measuring 4 by 5 inches. U-46 students won the following awards: Bartlett High School -- Robert Aguilar, first place in painting; Elgin High School -- Claire St. George, honorable mention in photography; South Elgin High School -- Steven Erst, third place in mixed media, Melissa Bayert, third place in drawing; and Larry Cummins, third place, 3-D Relief; Streamwood High School -- Paige Testa, honorable mention in photography; and Eric Stasiorowski, honorable mention in 3-D.

• Joe Corcoran, principal of Harriet Gifford Elementary School in Elgin, was named a recipient of an award of excellence in the 2008 Distinguished Service Awards Program sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. The statewide distinguished service award program honors individuals who have consistently gone the extra mile on behalf of their schools and whose efforts have enhanced education and conveyed its importance to the community at large. Corcoran has created a friendly community hub at Harriet Gifford where children stay after school involved in activities, parents attend evening and Saturday parenting classes, and the whole family comes to family nights when special activities are intertwined with homework help and literacy efforts. During the summer months, he opens the library once a week so students can check out books and as many as 50 children a day come to the playground to play and hang out under adult supervision. His multiple partnerships with community groups and businesses help bring the resources to make these programs possible.