CHICAGO AREA
Placement tests will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at all Archdiocese of Chicago high schools. Any 8th-grader who plans to attend an archdiocesan high school in the fall should report to the high school they wish to attend to take the test. Bring two No. 2 pencils and a check or money order for $25, payable to the school. Test results will be mailed Feb. 15. For an information brochure, including school profiles, call 312-751-5250 or visit www.archchicago.org.
DES PLAINES
The monthly program for home-schooled students will meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 17 in the Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St. A show-and-tell on old and new wool items will be followed by a project in which students will learn to felt wool. The fee is $1 per child. Registration is required. Call 847-391-5399.
DISTRICT 15
Family anger-management groups for parents of District 15 students will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, March 8 and April 5 in the Conyers Learning Academy, 2800 W. Central Rd., Rolling Meadows. The groups will explore the causes, effects and management of anger. Transportation and child care will be provided if needed. To register, call Don Sommerville at 847-963-3450 or e-mail sommervd@ccsd15.net.
DISTRICT 54
The annual Open Enrollment Fair will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 24 in Addams Junior High School, 700 S. Springinsguth Rd., Schaumburg. The fair will provide parents with information on programs of choice at eight elementary schools in the district: sign language at Blackwell, call Principal Maria Clifford at 847-357-5555; multiage classes at Dirksen, call Principal Peter Hannigan at 847-357-5600; dual-language Japanese and early instrumental music at Dooley, call Principal Thomas Dewing at 847-357-6250; dual-language Spanish at Enders-Salk, call Principal James Tohme at 847-357-6400; Hanover Highlands, call Principal Julie Colgrove at 630-736-4230; and MacArthur, call Principal Yolanda Valdes at 847-357-6650; a varied integrated curriculum with parental participation at Lincoln Prairie, call Principal Jake Chung at 847-357-5955; and the Literacy Academy at Muir, call Principal Janet Starr at 847-357-6444. Representatives from each school will discuss open-enrollment opportunities and answer questions. Parents interested in viewing the programs may visit the schools at later dates. Applications will be available at the fair. If you cannot attend, contact the school of interest or call Terri McHugh at 847-357-5028.
Spot’s Camping Trip will be the topic of the FIND (Family Involvement Nurturing Development) parent-child workshop at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Stevenson School, 1414 Armstrong Lane, Elk Grove Village. Participants will pretend to be camping as they look for bugs and critters, share a story and enjoy a campfire treat. FIND is for district residents with children ages 5 and younger. To register, call 847-803-9542, box 639.
“Become a Detective,” a monthly reading adventure using forensic techniques for 3rd- through 5th-grade boys and their dads or other men, will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Lincoln Prairie School, 500 Hillcrest Blvd., Hoffman Estates. Call club sponsors Debbie Bohn or Jan Howard at 847-357-5955.
The 5th-grade feeder school bands will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in Mead Junior High School, 1765 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village. Call 847-357-6000.
DISTRICT 200
Suggestions for names of the new elementary, middle and high schools under construction will be accepted through Jan. 19. Forms are available at all schools, the district office and on www.woodstockschools.org. Each submission should include a brief explanation of why the name should be considered. Call 815-337-5147.
DISTRICT 156
Nominations for McHenry High School Distinguished Graduates will be accepted through Feb. 16 by the school’s Distinguished Graduates’ Committee. To be considered for the award, the nominees must have graduated from School District 156 for at least 15 years and have distinguished themselves during their lives. The graduates who are selected for this award will be invited to attend the annual Academic Recognition Dinner in spring. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Swartzloff Center for Educational Services at 4716 W. Crystal Lake Rd., McHenry IL 60050. For details, call Gina Swinney at 815-385-7900.
DISTRICT 214
Wheeling High School’s SHADES Multicultural Club will present its annual variety show, “Showstopper,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the school’s Sang Theater, 900 S. Elmhurst Rd. Admission is $6 for adults; $5 for students with ID and $6 without an ID; and $4 for children. Tickets will also be sold at the door. SHADES stands for Students Helping to Accept Diversity in Every Situation. All proceeds will be used to award scholarships to graduating seniors. Call 847-718-7000.
District 214 Community Education will host a community education fair and business after hours for local businesses from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights. Donations of gently worn business clothes and toys will be accepted. Bring business cards. Register by noon Friday by calling 847-541-0170.
The Prospect High School Choir Department is sponsoring “The Princess Ball,” a daddy-daughter dance for girls ages 3 to 10 and their dads from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the high school’s field house, 801 W. Kensington Rd., Mt. Prospect. Tickets cost $15 per daddy, and daughters get in for free. Tickets also will be available at the door. Call Richard or Donna Nygren at 847-797-8635.
DISTRICT 300
Piano students in Grades 3 through 12 can register for the District 300 Piano Festival set for 6 to 9 p.m. March 6 in Westfield Community School, 2100 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Algonquin. Each student should prepare two pieces–one memorized and one with sheet music–to play for a judge. Oral and written comments will be given. Forms are available on the Internet at www.d300.org. Elementary general music teachers and middle and high school vocal teachers also will distribute forms. The deadline to enter is Jan. 31. Forms must be delivered or mailed to Cathy Storm, School District 300, 300 Cleveland Ave., Carpentersville, IL 60110. A $5 check payable to CUSD 300 must accompany the entry form. Lists of room and time assignments will be delivered Feb. 26.
LAKE AND McHENRY COUNTIES
Friends of Volo Bog is offering two $1,000 college scholarships, one to a graduating high school senior and one to a current college student pursuing a natural science or environmental degree at an accredited college or university. Graduating seniors must reside in Lake or McHenry County, have a minimum B average for the first three years, and plan to attend an accredited college or university. College students must have a permanent address in either county, be graduates of a Lake or McHenry County high school with a minimum B average, be currently enrolled at an accredited college or university and have a minimum B average. Application packets are available at high school guidance offices; at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Rd., Ingleside; or by calling 815-344-1294. Applications are due Feb. 23.
