Children Age 5-18

Welcome to Schools in the United States

 An overview of navigating your child's school in the US: English | Spanish | Dari | Pashto 

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

• Registration for new students

• Online Kindergarten registration for each fall typically opens mid-January, with applications due by the end of March to be included in the school choice lottery.   Parents get notified of  the school of their Kindergartener via email around end of April.   

  • There is a general information session via zoom just before mid January.   Every school holds 1 information session about what is special about that school, between end of January and mid March. 

  • All information including process info, recording of the general information session, all dates,  sign-up link to be included in email updates so you get alerted of upcoming dates,  and links to register can be found here.         

  • If you have any questions, please contact the Elementary Registrar, Candace Doncaster, at registrar@abschools.org  or 978 264-4700 x 19201.

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School

After-School List

Ideally start looking for after school in April for the next school year.

• Acton-Boxborough Community Ed Extended Day Program 

  • website    978-266-2525

  • In each elementary school and 15 Charter Rd. Admin Bldg 

  • Kindergarten till 6th grade.  7-8:50am,  3:20-6pm (Wednesdays 12:50-6pm).  Fixed schedule only.    Drop in available for some no school days and school vacations

  • Pre-registration starts April/May.  Waitlist available, first come first served - no exceptions.

  • Limited financial help available first come first served - apply early here (vouchers no longer accepted).  

Students may take the bus to a licensed childcare provider for after-school care. (Parents must submit a Permanent Bus Pass.) These programs qualify: 

• Fun Learning Place After School Care 

  • 12 Concord Rd, Acton - school bus brings kids

  • https://funlearningplace.org/      978-837-8840

  • Kindergarten till 8th grade.  After school till 6:15pm

  • Bilingual staff: Chinese

• Peter Pippos Karate Center 

  • 3 Post Office Square , school bus or Peter Pippos bus brings kids 

  • https://www.peterpipposkarate.com   978-631-0750 

  • Kindergarten till 8th grade.   After school till  6:00 pm. 

If you can have somebody bring your child to Maynard, the following is a very cost effective option:

• Beyond the Bell at Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley 

  • 212 Great Rd., Maynard .  You must bring your kid(s) to Maynard, no bus.

  • www.bgcav.org    978-461-2871 

  • Kindergarten till 12th grade.   Open 2:30-6:00 (so a slight gap with AB Schools schedule for Wednesdays - talk to the director). 

  • $80/year membership allows students to come for FREE every day.   (Interest-free loan program available to pay for services.)

Find more info on childcare (incl after school) assistance from the tab "Cost Saving Programs" on this website.

Local non-profit organizations for families with children aged 5-12

• First Connections' Quarterly Newsletter has info on local (free) events and activities for families with children (all ages).   You can find it here (Scroll down, under "At a Glance") 

• The Macaroni Kid website lists local activities and events here.

• Acton-Boxborough Family Network

  • Service, and cultural opportunities for families and their young children ages 0-8.    Our members live in Acton, Boxborough, and many neighboring towns.  If the membership fee is a hardship for any family, ABFN offers a reduced or waived fee. Direct them to contact membership@abfamily.org. All inquiries will be kept confidential.

• Community Playground List

• Danny's Place Youth Services

  • Inclusive and supportive programming for all youth ages 8-18.  The programs fall into 3 core areas: Self-exploration and life skills, mental health and wellness, and community building and leadership.  The cost is waived if the family cannot pay, no questions asked

• AB Community Ed  

  • after-school programs, vacation and summer programs, also reservation of school buildings and facilities.  No sliding scale or grants, Doli Atamian grants are accepted.

• Acton Recreation Department 

  • after-school programs, vacation and summer programs, also reservation of Nara Park Beach, Camp Acton (where you can go camping) and  other town sport facilities.  No sliding scale or grants, Doli Atamian grants are accepted.   Register here  for programs

• Boxborough Recreation Department organizes summer programs and some youth sports.  Sliding scale might be possible.  Doli Atamian grants are accepted.

• Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley : 

  • provides  summer and winter programs,  after-school programs, and birthday parties, all in Maynard.  Sliding scale cost, payment plans offered.

  • provides a free "Virtual Club with MyFuture" – a mobile-friendly social platform with access to over 250 Boys & Girls Club program activities in areas such as STEM, leadership, and the arts. 

• AB STEAM  (formerly AB PIP STEM) 

• Acton Chinese Language School

• Acton Tamil School

• AB Cub Scouts: for boys and girls ages 5-10 or grades K-5;

• Girl Scouts for girls ages K - 12th grade - email JoinABGirlScouts@gmail.com or check out gsema.org

• Scouts BSA for boys and girls ages 11-18 or grades 5-12

• Discovery Museum  

  • A hands-on museum for children and their caregivers that blends science, nature, and play.  Fully accessible campus and giant treehouse, free events for families with disabilities, at-home STEAM activities (available online in 6 languages), free adult speaker events, grandparents blog and more!  First Friday evenings are free for everybody. $1 admission fee for EBT/WIC cardholder and up to 5 additional guests. Discount library passes.    Is on the Boxborough MART ($1) bus route (you can switch from the Acton CAT (free) to the Boxborough MART bus at the South Acton railstation).

• Acorns to Oaks Horsemanship Center aims to provide a place that fosters positive physical and mental health for people and horses by providing equine-assisted learning and community events,  horseback riding lessons and boarding.

• All 3 libraries (Acton Memorial Library, Boxborough Sargent Memorial Library, West Acton Citizen's Library) are free and open to residents of any town.  All 3 have many free programs for children, teens and adults.  They also have a growing number of non-English books and audiobooks.

• Doli Atamian Campership Program 

  • grants for summer camps and beach passes

• The Miracle League of MA 

  • gives children (ages 5-22) with special needs a chance to play baseball

• Destination Imagination helps local teams develop and present solutions to project-based STEAM challenges

• The Paul Center in Chelmsford - provides unique educational, social, and recreational programs to individuals with disabilities and their families.

• Be SMART for Kids -  prevent child gun deaths and injuries

• See below for youth sports

• Check the social media groups under "Events & Adult Activities"

• SPARK Kindness 

  • A nonprofit convener, educator, resource, and friend—and the biggest fan of our community's shared strengths. SPARK Kindness hosts speakers, parenting groups, community activities, and support for free, whenever needed.  Together we can make sure no one feels alone, bullied, unsupported, or unconnected—every day and especially in the most challenging times.

• The Think Give Project's social and emotional learning program inspires students to be thinkers, upstanders, and changemakers

• Wildflowerforkids - helping  children who have lost a parent rediscover life

• The Children's Room - grief support for children, teens and families

• AB SEPAC has a list of community resources for children with special needs here.

• This is just a list of non-profit offerings.  There are quite some for profit businesses providing offerings for children.  You can find them by searching the internet, in the Acton Business Directory or in the Business Directory Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce.

Local non-profit organizations for tweens and teenagers

• Danny's Place Youth Services

  • Inclusive and supportive programming for all youth ages 8-18.  The programs fall into 3 core areas: Self-exploration and life skills, mental health and wellness, and community building and leadership.  The cost is waived if the family cannot pay, no questions asked

• AB STEAM  (formerly AB PIP STEM) 

• Acton Chinese Language School

• Acton Tamil School

• MABLE SWE Next Club - Free Engineering programs for girls grades 5-7 from Maynard, Acton, Boxborough, Littleton.

• All 3 libraries (Acton Memorial Library,  Boxborough Sargent Memorial Library , West Acton Citizen's Library) are free and open to residents of any town.  The Acton and Boxborough libraries offer multiple programs for tweens and teenagers.  They also have a growing number of non-English books and audiobooks.

• Acton Recreation Department (including Nara Park & Beach and Camp Acton where you can go camping).  Register here for programs

• AB Community Ed  (after school, holiday and summer programs, also reservation of school buildings and facilities)

• Doli Atamian Campership Program - grants for summer camps and beach passes

• AB Cub Scouts: for boys and girls ages 5-10 or grades K-5 ;

• Girl Scouts for girls ages K - 12th grade - email JoinABGirlScouts@gmail.com  or check out gsema.org

• Dance and Theater

  • Youth Dance Classes - Acton Women's Club Ballroom Dancing – a tradition for AB 5th graders and up – sign-up as of June 1 for fall 

  • Open Door Theater -  theater for adults, children, and people with disabilities

  • There are quite some  private dance and theater businesses in Acton and Boxborough!

• Driver's Education: can start as of 15 years and 9 months.   Via AB Community Ed or private.

• Acorns to Oaks Horsemanship Center aims to provide a place that fosters positive physical and mental health for people and horses by providing equine-assisted learning and community events,  horseback riding lessons and boarding.

• The YV Art Museum and Contemporary Arts International next to Nara Park  offer art programs as of age 14+

• Destination Imagination helps local teams develop and present solutions to project-based STEAM challenges

• Children age 12 - 18 can ride alone with parent's permission on the free MinuteVan Dial-a-Ride and the CAT shuttle bus in Acton .  Children age 10+ can ride alone on the $1 Boxborough MART bus.

• The Miracle League of MA - gives children with disabilities a chance to play baseball,  other kids can volunteer as a buddy as of age 12

• Be SMART for Kids -  prevent child gun deaths and injuries

• See also below for referee opportunities in town youth sports for teens

• Check the social media groups under "Community Connections"

• AB SEPAC has a list of community resources for children with special needs here

• This is just a list of non-profit offerings.  There are quite some for profit businesses providing offerings for children.  You can find them by searching the internet, in the Acton Business Directory or in the Business Directory Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce.

Youth Sports 

Find all information here.

Activities to do at home 

• Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley  

  • Free virtual club - MyFuture - web platform with over 300 activities for kids to do at home in 14 program areas such as STEM, leadership, and the arts.

•  Discovery Museum list of at-home activities to do with kids

• AB PIP STEM at home STEM Activities

• AB Transition to School Resources

• Acton library children's storytimes and activities on YouTube Channel, and other online programs and resources

• Boxborough Library craft instruction videos and other programs for children

• Boston Museum of Science at Home

• William James Virtual and at Home Activities

Parental Hotline and Parenting Groups

• Parental Stress Hotline- Call 1-800-632-8188 (available 24/7 in all languages)

• Wayside Virtual Parent Groups: for parents and young adults ages 16-25

• Free Parenting Groups: Parents of multiples, Ages 1-3, for Spanish Speakers, and more

• 4-Week Parenting Groups: for kids <7, for Exec. Functioning, Reducing Anxiety, and more 

• Parents Helping Parents Groups: various online support groups for parents 

• Free Cartwheel Parenting Webinars designed to help caregivers and family members with practical and actionable information on mental health topics affecting youth and families today.  Cartwheel is the AB School's mental health partner.

Car Seats

• Children age 5 till about 9 to 12 should still have a car seat.  A forward-facing car seat should be used till the age of 5-7 depending on the height and weight on the label of the car seat.  A booster seat should be used until the seat belt fits them properly (when the lap belt is across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt is across the center of the shoulder and chest (not the neck/face or off the shoulder).  This happens typically around the age of 9 to 12.

• Find general information about carseats and child's passenger safety at this CDC website

• Find the right car seat for your child based on age, height and weight at nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat  

• Follow these tips to install your carseat