West school briefs: Jefferson presents 'A Christmas Carol'

Jefferson presents 'A Christmas Carol'Jefferson High School will present "A Christmas Carol" this month.

The performances will take place at Dec. 13-16 at the school. Show times are 3 p.m. Dec. 16 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13-15. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. A special performance for seniors will be offered at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 for $5.

To buy tickets, go to www. brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006. Tickets also will be sold one hour before the show.

Early Learners hosts open houseBloomington Public Schools' Early Learners Academy will host open houses for new families with children ages 3 to 5.

The open house will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest Community School, 9301 Thomas Road.

The academy offers all-day child care. Registration opens to new families beginning next Monday. For more information, call Diane Simkins at 952-681-6125.

Kennedy choirs present holiday showKennedy High School choirs will present a global celebration of holiday music at their annual holiday show, Lights Around the World, this week.

Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be bought one hour before each performance. For more information, call 952-681-5000.

Complimentary matinee performances for seniors and elementary school students will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday. Cookies will be served 45 minutes prior to the show.

Due to high demand and limited seating, reservations are encouraged. Seniors with reservations will be seated first.

Youth company presents 'Narnia'The Youth Performance Company will present "Narnia" throughout December.

The performance, based on "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," started Nov. 30 and will run until Dec. 18 at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, located within the Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Av. S.

Students to perform at Carnegie HallFour Eden Prairie High School students will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in February as part of a nationwide performance of high school students.

Senior Paige Schoenherr (bassoon), and juniors Keeheon Nam (clarinet), Jacob Hann (bass trombone) and Kyle Tsuchiya (percussion) were recently accepted into the American High School Honors Performance Series.

The series showcases performers from high schools across the country. The students will travel to New York City to make up the Honors Instrumental Ensembles, rehearsing for several days before the Feb. 10 performance.

Blessed Trinity hosts St. Nicholas PartyBlessed Trinity Catholic School is hosting a St. Nicholas Party on Friday for all preschool and kindergarten students. The party will take place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at 7540 Penn Av. S. Eighth-graders will host activities, games and prizes. All visiting students must be accompanied by an adult, and guided tours are available. Call 612-866-6906 to RSVP.

Schools collect items for clothing driveThe New Hope Women of Today and Robbinsdale Area Schools are collecting items for a winter clothing drive through Friday.

Forest Elementary hosts 'Elders'Forest Elementary School in Crystal will host the "Elders' Wisdom, Children's Song" celebration at 6-7 p.m. Dec. 13.

The event honors four community elders who are chosen to represent the diversity in the school and generally are a parent or grandparent of a fourth-grader. After they share their life stories and wisdom with the students, the students write a song honoring the elder's wisdom.

They will honor: Maria de Jesus Vega Carillo, who was born in Mexico and is a single mother of three children; Charles Goah, who was born in Liberia and is a father, husband and ordained minister; Avaloy Mitchell, who was born in Jamaica and is an Olympic athlete, single mother of four children and former personal care assistant; and Kellie Kreller, who was born in Scotland and is a mother of three, a world traveler and volunteer with Russian orphanages.

The event is created by Larry Long, executive director of the nonprofit Community Celebration of Place.