U-46 briefs
Board meeting
On Monday, Oct. 6, the Elgin Area School District U-46 Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 140 at the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. The public is welcome. For details on the board, visit the "School Board & Community" link at U-46.org.
Open houses
On Monday and Tuesday, the high school academies will hold several open houses for current seventh- and eighth-grade students and their parents to visit any of the district's five high school academy programs. The open houses will be held at each high school beginning both days at 7 p.m. and again at 8:15 p.m. This schedule allows families to attend more than one open house. For details, call (847) 888-5000, ext. 5356.
Elgin High School
• On Monday, Oct. 6, students and staff celebrate homecoming week with "Western Day" by dressing in a Wild West theme.
• On Tuesday, Oct. 7, students will dress as their favorite movie villains.
• On Wednesday, Oct. 8, "Class Color Day" will be celebrated. The powder puff football game begins at 7 p.m. at the stadium.
• On Thursday, Oct. 9, "Mobster Day" is where students dress in mobster or "Roaring '20s" attire.
• On Friday, Oct. 10, is "Maroon & Cream Day" with a pep assembly in the Elgin High field house at 2 p.m., followed by a tailgate party at the stadium at 3:30 p.m. The sophomore football game begins at 5 p.m. with the crowning of homecoming king and queen between games at 7 p.m., followed by the varsity football game at 7:30 p.m.
• On Saturday, Oct. 11, the homecoming dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at Elgin High.
Ellis Middle School
• On Thursday, Oct. 9, students and their parents are invited to attend College Night at Elgin Community College from 6 to 8 p.m. In order to promote the new "No Excuses University" program recently implemented at Ellis, students are allowed to wear college shirts to school every Friday to promote college awareness.
•At all drop-in events for PAT (Parents as Teachers), families can just "drop in." Children (birth through age 5) can play with other children without leaving the security of their parent's side. A certified Parent Educator hosts each play group and provides suggestions and guidance to help parents understand how their children grow.
Illinois Park Early Learning Center
• On Wednesdays, a parent support group in Spanish will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the school, 1350 Wing St. in Elgin. Baby-sitting is available. You do not have to call ahead.
• On Fridays, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a drop-in play group from 9 to 11 a.m. at the school at 1350 Wing St. in Elgin.
Independence School
• On Thursdays, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a drop-in play group from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 200 Taylor St. in Bartlett. Use the main entrance.
Lowrie Elementary
• On Mondays, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a drop-in play group from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the school at 264 Oak St. Enter through door 1.
McKinley Elementary
• On Thursdays, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a drop-in play group from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at 258 Lovell St. in Elgin. Use the main entrance.
Woodland Heights Early Learning Center
• On Tuesdays, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a drop-in play group from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. at 900 S. Park Blvd. in Streamwood.
• On Thursdays, a parent support group in Spanish will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the school, 900 S. Park Blvd. in Streamwood. Baby-sitting is available. You do not have to call ahead.
In other news
• On Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, PAT (Parents as Teachers) will host a family drop-in and open gym with bilingual staff at Gifford Street High School, 46 S. Gifford St. in Elgin.