Two years ago my, then 6 year old, daughter asked me if she could have a Chinese-themed birthday party. Blame the Mandarin program at her school or blame me for making her continue Spanish so she could continue to translate for her mother during family get-togethers. This theme then began to travel to other parts of Asia, with origami paper cranes, fan dancing etc. So we decided to include Japan and Korea and I am so glad we did, as we both learned a lot and the party was a huge hit! Continue Reading
The latest in touching and inspiring videos. This was uploaded last week by a family who writes:
“Our eight-year-old blind-autistic son Jacob enjoying some fine acoustic guitar by a musician in downtown Lawrence, Kansas on May 13, 2012. Tyler … Thank you so much for letting Jacob feel the music”
Best known for the catchy theme song to the family classic, Where in The World is Carmen Sandiego, Rockapella has taken the art of contemporary A cappella to new heights by melding it with rock-and-roll and mellifluous Motown harmonies. The group has also produced a series of acclaimed CDs that cover soul, rock, jazz and R&B numbers. “The best musical instrument of all is the human voice – and if you’ve seen Rockapella, you know that’s the truth,” says USA Today.
Rockapella will be at NJPAC, as part of its Family Time series (this show is recommended age 11 and up) on Saturday, May 19 and Barista Kids has a Family 4-pack of tickets to the 2 pm show to give to one lucky family!
With Springfield Avenue Partnership as the host and Walgreens as the presenter, Maplewood MayFest will celebrate its 11th Anniversary on Sunday, May 20.
Highlights of MayFest 2012 will include petting zoos and four ponies to ride, a kiddie train and inflatable rides, a balloon animal maker and lots of fun activities for kids. A Classic Car Show will display custom and special interest cars. More than 100 vendors, artists, crafters and civic associations, live music provided by some of the area’s hottest bands plus great food representing the diverse community that lives, works, shops and dines along Springfield Avenue will complete the scene at one of Maplewood’s largest and most anticipated community events.
The following is an Op-Ed by Ann Schnakenberg a Clifton, NJ mother, who has joined with other parents to form the Clifton Asserting Parental Rights (C.A.P.R.) group. C.A.P.R is currently fighting the Clifton Board of Education, which has proposed a new school uniform policy for Clifton Public Schools.
NJ Schools are experiencing a serious bullying problem, but the burgeoning problem that I am referring to is probably not the one you are thinking of. Although we live in a state with the toughest anti-bullying law in the nation when it comes to protecting the rights of students and children, somehow along the way the parents were overlooked. ‘Parental Rights’ is the new hot topic. It is nowthe adults who have the bullying problem.
Throughout the state of New Jersey and all across the nation parent’s rights are being challenged by school boards who are all too willing to overstep their boundaries and enter into traditional parental territory. The main cause of this new bullying dilemma in New Jersey is a law that encourages the adoption of mandatory uniform standard dress code policies. At its heart is a new social reform movement that has been flooding our country’s public school systems: the Uniform Standard Dress Movement. This is the latest educational fad to capture the attention of public school administrators and parents alike.
Maplewood seems to be the Queen of Flash Mobs. Check out this cool video from last weekend’s Art Walk featuring some really great dancing kids from CHS, and some grown-ups too.
Glen Ridge Grows is an afternoon of appreciation. Student art and music will be placed in several public and private gardens on Sunday, May 20.
Just pick up your map at Ridgewood Avenue School and start your walk. The route ends at Glen Ridge High School (the site of the New Senior Patio and Rain garden) where there will be a raffling off of shade trees, local vendors will be at your service, and student-grown-organic herbs will be for sale. Refreshments will include artisanal tacos by Taqueria Autentica and cold treats from Scoops. Don’t cook that night… end your evening at Fitzgeralds 1928, where they will donate $1 for every patron that turns in their ticket, further supporting Glen Ridge Grows.
Every suburban home owner knows about the dangers of radon, the colorless, odorless radioactive gas that lurks within our four walls and causes an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Fortunately, radon reduction systems in the home can keep hazardous levels of radon at bay. But what about in other public places? A recent report on the Today Show found that in many radon “hot spots”, schools have not been tested for the presence of radon. The investigative team contacted 40 schools in parts of Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey (see the list of schools they reached out to here) that are located in a radon Zone 1, areas that have the highest potential for elevated radon levels.
No one likes tests, but last week kids at Montclair’s Charles H. Bullock School were treated with healthy snacks from Clif Bar during NJASK testing. “Yum!”, “Delicious!”, and “Really good!” were several ways Charles H. Bullock School (CHB) students described their treats, which were donated by Clif Bar, one of the only private, sustainable and organic energy bar companies.
“Since intense concentration requires a significant energy expenditure, refueling with foods containing high quality ingredients is key,” states Christine Langton, CHB’s school nurse. “All of Clif Bar’s products have organic ingredients and are free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup, making them an excellent snack choice.”
The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health (CAECMH) at Montclair State University will host the Todd Ouida Children’s Foundation Annual Conference, focusing on “Enriching the “Everyday Leaders” Who Support the Mental Health and Well-Being of Infants, Children, and Families” on Wednesday, May 16.
