Local high schools will perform holiday songs at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 760 S.E. Maynard Road, Cary throughout the month of December:

• Holly Springs High School Chorus at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12

• Cary High School Orchestra at noon and 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14

• Cary High School Concert Chorus at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.

East Cary Middle School Information Night for Prospective Parents

East Cary Middle School will hold an information night for prospective parents for the 2013-14 school year at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in the school auditorium at 1111 S.E. Maynard Road, Cary.

Cary High School Winter Concert

The Cary High School Performing Arts will hold its winter concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in the Cary High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students and $15 for families. Reserved tickets are not available.

Cary High School Book Fair

Barnes & Noble Booksellers will hold a book fair from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at 760 S.E. Maynard Road, Cary. Cary High School’s orchestra and chorus will perform. Proceeds will benefit the Cary High School Performing Arts Booster Club. Participants may also buy books online Saturday, Dec. 15 to Wednesday, Dec. 19, at BN.com/bookfairs. Enter book fair ID 10890580 at checkout.

Penny Road Elementary to hold tours for kindergartners and new students

Penny Road Elementary School will hold tours for kindergartners and new students at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 10900 Penny Road, Cary. Students will be able to tour the school, visit classrooms and meet the principal. Kindergarten registration will begin Monday, Jan. 7. Parents will need to bring a registration pack available online, certified copy of birth certificate, proof of address and a photo ID of the parent.

Two Apex teachers win Wake Electric Bright Ideas education grants

Wake Electric recently awarded 24 teachers in Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Nash and Wake counties with Bright Ideas education grants, totaling more than $49,844 in grant monies. The grants will be used for a variety of classroom programs throughout the school year.

Two Apex teachers won grants. Jennifer Causey of Laurel Park Elementary School won a grant for the “Yamaha Music in Education Piano Keyboard Lab” and Carrie Jones of Middle Creek High School won a grant for “Electrified by STEAM.”

Bright Ideas grant applications are collected each year through mid-September and winning proposals are selected in a competitive evaluation process by a panel of judges. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2013.

Cary student receives white coat

Andrew Waltersdorf of Cary received his white coat at a ceremony on Nov. 18 at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, Ga. Waltersdorf is a first-year osteopathic medical student. The white coat ceremony marks a student’s entrance into medical school.

Cary American Legion High School Oratorical Contest

Cary American Legion Post 67 is seeking high school students to enter the National High School Oratorical Contest, which will begin January 2013. The Post-level contest should be held in early January, the District-level between Jan. 19-27 and the Division-level contest between Feb. 9-17. The Department-level contest will be announced at a later date.

The purpose of the contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States; develop leadership qualities; learn the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently; and be prepared for the duties and responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The National Contest first, second and third place winners will receive $18,000; $16,000 and $14,000. Each state winner who participates in the first round of the national contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Those that pass the first round will receive an additional $1,500.

For details, call 919-481-4811 or 919-469-3010 or visit www.legion.org/oratorical.

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 7383 of Cary is holding a Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest for local high school students. Each entry will be judged on the originality of concept, presentation and patriotism expressed. One entry per student; art teachers must sign entry forms. National scholarships will be awarded to the top eight entries, with top prize a $10,000 scholarship. Entry deadline is March 31, 2013. To enter the contest, visit www.ladiesauxvfw.org/programs/scholarships.html.