West school briefs: Blake hosts anti-bullying event, art exhibition

Blake hosts anti-bullying event, art exhibitionThe Blake Upper School's Justice League will host its second annual Stand Up, Speak Out event Thursday at 7 p.m.

During this student-led, anti-bullying event, students will be asked to sign the Stand Up, Speak Out pledge, which calls on students to do what they can to reduce bullying in their school environments.

Metro-area students from all schools are invited to attend the event, which will feature student song, dance and spoken word performances and video presentations. The Upper School campus is located at 511 Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis. For more information, contact: justiceleague@ blakeschool.org

Also, "Challenging Assumptions," a new exhibition at Blake's Martha Bennett Gallery, begins Thursday with a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. that is open to the public. The reception will take place at the gallery located on the Blake Upper School campus.

The exhibition, which features paintings, sculpture, photographs, ceramics, textiles, drawings, prints, posters, video and decorative and functional objects, will run through Nov. 16. The public is invited to visit the gallery on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Thursday, Nov. 1, the Blake student-led Justice League will host a discussion about the art featured in Challenging Assumptions. The talk will be held at the school from 11 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. and is open to the public.

For directions or more information, please visit Blake's website at www.blakeschool.org or call 952-988-3420.

School superintendent speaks on diversityEdina school Superintendent Ric Dressen will speak twice this week on how the district is educating a student body that is more diverse in age, income, race and culture.

Both meetings, which are sponsored by the League of Women Voters Edina, run from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Schools host 'Lights On' celebrationThe Bloomington Kids' SAFARI after-school program will host a Lights On Afterschool celebration from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Oak Grove Elementary, 1301 W. 104th St.

All Bloomington families are invited to celebrate the importance of leaving the "lights on" after school. The evening will also celebrate Kids' SAFARI's 25-year anniversary as Bloomington's elementary after-school program. Evening activities will include a performance by the Teddy Bear Band.

This October, more than 7,500 communities will celebrate Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event organized by the Afterschool Alliance to celebrate the importance of after-school programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.

Bloomington Public Schools offer before- and after-school programs called Kids' SAFARI at each of the city's 10 elementary schools. The focus of the program is to help children discover friendship, independence and confidence through art, science, music, sports, academics and recreational activities.

The Patriots Pen contest asks middle school students -- grades six through eight -- to write a 300-400 word essay based on the theme, "What I would Tell America's Founding Fathers." The national winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a trip to Washington, D.C.

The Voice of Democracy contest challenges high school students -- grades 9-12 -- to voice their opinion in a 3- to 5-minute audio essay based on the theme, "Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?" The winner from Minnesota will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for a $30,000 scholarship.

The deadline to enter is Nov. 1, 2012. All contestants will receive a pizza party sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1296 and the Ladies Auxiliary.

Teachers also will have the opportunity to receive recognition with the VFW's National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. All current K-12 teachers are eligible for nomination. Fellow teachers, supervisors or other interested individuals, with the exception of relatives and self-nominees, can submit nominations.

Additional information including registration can be found on the VFW's website at www.vfw.org.

In addition to saving lives, donations will help send students to college. Memorial Blood Center is providing scholarships to college-bound Hopkins High School students who volunteer during the blood drive. The number of scholarships given will depend on the number of blood donations received during the drives.

The first blood drive is scheduled for today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the second drive is scheduled for Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The goal for the drive is 144 units of blood and 112 units of blood, respectively. Both drives will be held at Hopkins High, 2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka, in the old gym.

Parents and community members can schedule their donation time and fill out their health history online at allstarclub.mbc.org/mbc/mobilesch/sc.php. Sponsor code is 1505. Donors are encouraged to sign up online prior to donating. It typically takes one hour for a person to give blood.

If you have questions, contact Hopkins school nurse Bobbi Pointer at 952-988-4494 or bobbi.pointer@hopkins schools.org.

Kindergarten information fairFamilies with children eligible to attend kindergarten in fall 2013 are invited to attend the Osseo Area Schools Kindergarten Information Fair on Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Edinbrook Elementary, 8925 Zane Av. N., Brooklyn Park.

Enrollment Center advisers and other staff will be on hand to meet families and answer questions.

The fair also will feature family activities, such as a short school bus ride, a book fair, a CreativeCorner and face-painting. A free lunch will be offered, and Spanish and Hmong interpreters will be available.

For more information, contact 763-391-7086 or welisten@district279.org.

Blessed Trinity's Tour Day setAll families with children going into or ready for preschool through third-grade are invited to Blessed Trinity's Tour Day on Monday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The event will be held at Blessed Trinity's Penn Campus at 7540 Penn Av. S. in Richfield, just north of I-494 and the Penn Avenue exit.

Call 612-866-6906 to RSVP or go to www.btcsmn.org to learn more about Blessed Trinity.

ST. LOUIS PARK

Benilde-St. Margaret stages musicalThe Benilde-St. Margaret's drama department will present this year's fall musical, "Working," Oct. 26-28.

Show times are 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 28. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and children under age 5 are free.

Purchase tickets by visiting www.BSMschool.org/drama. Directions to BSM are available at www.BSMschool.org/directions.