West school briefs: Christina Hester is new principal at Cooper High School

Robbinsdale Cooper High School will get a new principal this summer.

Christina Hester was selected by the school board March 4 to replace Michael Favor, who will become the district's new director of student services and secondary schools. They both start their new positions July 1.

Hester has worked as principal of Robbinsdale Middle School and Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School, assistant principal of Cooper High School and principal of North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale's Skyview Middle School.

The Orono High School band will present its annual pops concert on Saturday, March 16.

It will feature performances by each of the high school bands, with student-directed entertainment during breaks in the program, which will take place from 7-9 p.m. at the high school.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and $3 for children ages 5-10.

Washburn Elementary School Principal Jon Millerhagen is the new executive director of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association starting July 1.

Millerhagen is in his 16th year at Washburn and previously was a principal in Austin, Minn., and teacher in the Luverne and Forest Lake school systems.

He will replace P. Fred Storti, who is retiring after 11 years as the group's executive director.

A school opening this fall is touring area public libraries and other community spots to meet with prospective families.

Alexander Prep School Director JJ Vold will share information on the school, which will have grades 6-10 and will be housed at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Meetings are: 10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Waconia Public Library; 1-2 p.m. Saturday at Minnetonka City Hall; 3:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday at Mound Public Library; 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Victoria Community Center; 7-8 p.m. March 21 at Excelsior's Dunn Brothers; 10-11:30 a.m. March 23 at the Shakopee Public Library; 1-2 p.m. March 23 at Eden Prairie Community Center; 3:30-4:30 p.m. March 23 at the Chanhassen Public Library, and 4:30-6 p.m. March 26 at the Mound Public Library.

St. David's Center will host a free session on "Introduction to Social Thinking: Intervening when social thinking doesn't come naturally," on March 28.

The session will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the center, 3395 Plymouth Road in Minnetonka. The event is free and open to the public.

Register by March 22 online at www.stdavidscenter.org/ces or contact the center at 952-548-8627 or events@stdavidscenter.org. Childcare is available for St. David's Center parents and must be requested at registration.

Junior high school students at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School will perform Disney's "High School Musical Jr." starting Thursday, March 14.

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday at the school, at 13505 Excelsior Blvd. in Minnetonka. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8.50 for students under age 18. Call 952-443-2498 for ticket information.

A free college fair for high school students and their parents will take place from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Edina High School.

Representatives from nearly 100 educational institutions and other organizations will be available to answer questions and provide information for post-high school planning.