The Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music (MADLOM) will hold an Anansi the Spider Peace Quilt Workshop for all ages. it will be a fun afternoon of an afternoon of art and literature, with live drum accompaniment. (Saturday, May 19)
This just in from the Montclair Board of Education:
“Dear Bullock Parents/Guardians/Caregivers:
It is my pleasure to announce that Ms. Nami Kuwabara has been appointed principal of the Charles H. Bullock School effective July 1.
Ms. Kuwabara is well known to the Montclair community. She has served as a teacher at Rand/Bullock for the past 10 years. During her time in the district, she has served as chair of the School Action Team (formerly School Review), participated in numerous curricular committees, contributed to several district-wide initiatives and assumed a leadership position with the Montclair Education Association.
Verona Park was filled with families celebrating health, fun and community yesterday for the Montclair YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day. The Y promised it would be a carnival-like event and it was, but it was much more than that. There was an infectious energy in the air and people young and old joined in with hula hoop fitness, Zumba, fitness contests, Conga lines and joining together to attempt to break a Guinness World Record.
After all the festivities were done, including pottery making with MAM, face painting, Take Back the Kitchen’s delicious dip tasting (Alma really does deserve the win she had for her Edamame dip!) and more, everyone was asked to Conga out of the center of the area so that the Y staff could set up for the record attempt.
This is a jam-packed family event weekend. I know we say that often, but this REALLY is a full weekend of events. It’s going to be difficult to choose what to do. We’ve already told you about:
Jazz House Kids, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, provides the framework inside which all students can learn the skills and principles required to play, sing, and appreciate America’s original musical art form. Through music, mentoring and education JHK cultivates tomorrow’s citizens so they may build vibrant communities where they live.
In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month and the 1st International Jazz Day, Jazz House Kids is hosting a bunch of wonderful free seminars and workshops beginning on Thursday, April 26. One workshop on Saturday, April 28 is for kids in grades 1 and up–The Art of Improvisation – Hands-on Collage Making:
Montclair Community Pre-K (MCPK) opened its doors for its first group of students in 1998 and this year the first MCPK class is graduating from high school. To mark this exciting occasion, MCPK is organizing a CelebrationWalkathon, on May 6, starting at Montclair High School and ending at MCPK, to symbolically trace the educational journey from Pre-k to high school.
Gabrielle Peterson is one of the students who attended the MCPK in 1998 and will graduate from Montclair High this year. She is the president of the senior class. She will be walking in Celebration Walkathon and is encouraging others to join.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to address the Class of 2012 to talk about the status of fundraisers, and to give them information about other opportunities. I made a concerted effort to talk about the Walk-a-Thon, and it’s importance, because I knew that the student-athletes, activists, artists, and other intelligent people that graduated from the school 12 years ago could attribute a lot of their success in the Montclair School-System to their year at Montclair Pre-K. I encouraged the alumna especially to get involved, but I told the entire class to give back to the community that has given them so much. This Walk-a-Thon is our opportunity to thank the Montclair Pre-K, for its role in our education, and I hope all of my classmates take a role in the planning process so they can continue the legacy that they started,” shares Gabrielle.
We asked Gabrielle about her memories of the Pre-K and why she still supports it.
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit will hold its annual For Art’s Sake Weekend fundraiser on April 20-22. Co-chaired by Patricia A. Bell and Jenny Reinhardt, the three-day event begins on Friday, April 20, with visits to the working studio of internationally recognized artist Willie Cole, the private homes of world-class art collectors Ellyn and Saul Dennison, a silent auction for Saturday’s Blank Canvas Benefit and ending in an open house for all ages on Sunday, April 22.
Families can get creative in a variety of art-making projects, savor kid-friendly fare from the GARAGE Burgers & Fries of Millburn, and Tito’s Burritos of Summit, and take a chance on a 50-50 raffle. Music and dance performances will round out the afternoon.
Barista Kids is a proud In-Kind Supporter of For Art’s Sake Open House and I’ll be taking my family to enjoy a great day of art. You should too!:
TMMA co-owners The Zelleas with NECC president Anthony Rainone (center)
Back in January, Barista Kids told you about a new arrival to Montclair’s Grove Street commercial area, The Modern Music Academy (TMMA). Now that they are settled, TMMA is ready to expand to group classes in addition to its individual lessons. They celebrated with a grand opening last week – complete with a ribbon cutting! – attended by Mayor Jerry Fried, local business advocates, and community members.
The Modern Music Academy is gearing up to offer its first set of spring classes with offerings that include beginner guitar (for teens and adults), Glee (juniors ages 5-9, level 1 for ages 10-13, and level 2 for ages 14-17), and cover band (for teens and adults).
These group classes allow music students to get intense coaching as well as interact with other like-minded students. Classes begin May 1st and run for eight weeks. The Academy is celebrating their grand-opening by offering a free lesson to any new student who signs up for a 4-lesson package or a spring music class by Friday, April 20th. Just mention you read about them on Barista Kids!
This is a jam-packed family event weekend and the weather will be summer-like! There’s so much going on, it will be hard to choose what to do. It’s also the beginning of Spring Break for some schools, including me and my girls–woo hoo!
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Here are this weekend’s highlights:
Take a hike! In a good way at South Mountain Reservation. (Saturday, April 14)
Zumba is a huge hit for all ages, but there’s a new dance fitness craze in town called The Art of Nia.
Nia is a barefoot dance class that offers a full, mind-body-spirt workout. The website describes it as, “A combination of martial arts (Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido), dance arts (modern, jazz, and Duncan) and healing arts (yoga, the Alexander technique and Feldenkrais)” Bernadette Pleasant, a Maplewood mother and grandmother, has brought “The Art of Nia” to Arthur Murray Dance Studios and is hosting a free class tomorrow, Saturday April 14 from 2 pm – 3 pm for families with children ages 5 and up.
Bernadette tells Barista Kids that class offerings are for all ages at the moment, but she will be launching a just kids Nia For Little People class soon. She says her 8-year-old grandson takes the class often and loves it. “Anyone can do Nia. No dance or background is required,” she explains.
