Litchfield wants its Purple Panthers back

Litchfield is having an all-year class reunion from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Litchfield Community Center. Tickets can be ordered through the Litchfield Tourism Office at 120 East Ryder, calling 217-324-8147, or emailing tourism@cityoflitchfieldil.com.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for those who buy the $30 tickets in advance, or 8:30 p.m. and $35 if tickets bought at the door. Live music from 6:30 to 11 p.m.

Tours of the Litchfield High School, the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, and the Shoal Creek Conservation Area will be available on Sept. 23.

Mascoutah registration

Mascoutah parents can register their students, pay fees, establish meal accounts, pick up student schedules and more in late July.

Students whose last names begin with the letters A-J are invited to register at the central office from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on July 26; the rest of the alphabet can register from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on July 27. Parents who have students with different last names may register all at once.

Proof of residency is required at registration, and student fees will be collected.

For families new to the district, call the school your child will attend. Mascoutah Elementary School is at 618-566-2152; Scott Elementary School at 618-746-4738; Wingate Elementary School at 618-746-4802; Mascoutah Middle School at 618-566-2305 and Mascoutah High School at 618-566-8523.

Dupo has new school hours

Dupo Community School District 196 schools will have its first day of school on Aug. 16. Parents and students are invited to an open house event to meet the teachers from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 15; students may bring school supplies that night.

Grade level meetings will be at 6:15 p.m. throughout the building for pre-kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades; at 6:30 p.m. for kindergarten classes; and at 7 p.m. for sixth and seventh grades.

Elementary school hours have changed for this school year. Kindergarten students will have class from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m; students who ride the bus will ride the bus with the first through sixth grades, which get out at 2:30 p.m. Junior high and the high schools will be in class from 8 a.m. to 2:54 p.m.

Registration for all students will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 3.

Contact the Dupo Community School District superintendent’s office at 618-286-3812, ext. 2117, or call the Senior High School office at 618-286-3214, ex. 2110; or go to www.dupo196.org for more information.

Police camp

Sixty students participated in the TeamIllinois Youth Police Camp, sponsored by the Illinois State Police, which featured wake-up calls at 5:30 a.m. and physical training.

“Our young people are looking for guidance and discipline,” Daron Barge, camp coordinator and Illinois State Police trooper, said in a news release. “I think our young people really do want structure.”

Students from across the metro-east took part in the week-long camp in July, including the East St. Louis Charter High School and Collinsville High School.

The main purpose of the camp according to SIUE Police Chief Kevin Schmoll, is to establish interpersonal relationships between area youth and law enforcement in hopes of creating better understanding between both groups.

“We have an especially strong community policing philosophy here at the SIUE Police Department,” Schmoll said. “We enjoy positive relationships that we build upon every year.”

The camp is based on a military model of discipline and includes para-military drills, physical fitness exercises, classroom instruction on resisting substance abuse pressures, team building principles and other life enhancing skills.

Sparta registration

Sparta District 140 is holding registration from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 25 and 27; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 26 and 28. The office will be closed on July 29. School starts Aug. 23. For more information, go to www.sparta.k12.il.us/index.shtml.

Board member wanted

Belleville District 201, which is made up of Belleville East and Belleville West high schools, is looking for a replacement for a board member who resigned. Submit a letter of interest and a resume to the BTHS 201, c/o Board Secretary, 920 N. Illinois, Belleville, 62220 by noon on July 26. The board will interview candidates and appoint one to fill the unexpired seat until elections in April.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Litchfield wants its Purple Panthers back."