April showers bring
May flowers
Rosanna Paribello, Director
Main Office, 167 Holland St. Rm 132- Somerville, MA Adriana Guereque, Assistant Director
Phone: 617 625-6600 x 6970 Fax 617 629-5512 Gina Miranda, Student Services Coordinator
Dana Gordon, Clinical Coordinator
Early Release Wednesday
May 8, 22
June 5
Adventure Summer Program
July 7 to August 9
8:15 AM to 4:15 PM
Students register only
Parent Resources
Please read the updated Parent Handbook 2022-2023 for new tuition policies and rates.
Use this link to access the Parent Information Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A-8IXov-vrimaWSVQTOjLTcSQDGEoyRh?usp=sharing
You can pay your child’s afterschool tuition online at: https://www.ezchildtrack.com/parent2/ParentLogin.aspx?c=esp&FromTab=Y
You can also pay by check to the afterschool coordinator or through your online bank.
In our commitment to making our program as available as possible, we continue providing financial assistance for families. If you need information, please contact
Adriana Guereque at aguereque@k12.somerville.ma.us You can also contact the Site Director in your student school. Thank you for all your support to Community Schools – being with your children makes us all happy!
Counselor’s Corner
Dana Gordon
As we come back from April vacation, we are beginning to prepare for the end of the school year and the many emotions it can bring. This time can be an exciting one for our families and students as they celebrate the progress of a completed year and plan for travel adventures, new camp activities, or quiet home time together in the summer! Yet, it is also a time of transition for our students which can be twinged with nostalgia, anxiety, and stress. Change can be hard and the end of a school year signals the ending of an important school community and preparation for a new one in a few months. If your student is having a hard time, acknowledge and normalize their feelings, as affirming their emotions can help them feel valued and more confident with the upcoming changes. Please reach out to your teachers for some help if you are seeing behaviors or emotions that concern you. The more we all understand what may be going on, the more we can help with this tricky time of year.
Albert F. Argenziano
Site Director; Elizabeth Bell
Assistant Site Director; Brianna Arevalo
Sresha Pradhan, Anabella Pena, Makaila Witham, Yasmin Almeida, Ileana Perlera , Etta Resnick, Ana Cortez, Keala Arciero, Sana Kazemi, Gianna Bottiglio, Bryan Rodriguez, Lauren Quinn
Happy April Argenziano families!! We are ecstatic about the spring season and the beautiful warm weather it brings! Session 3 is in full swing and we have welcomed some new clubs like Spanish is Fun, Masterpiece Makers, and Mythology. We are getting lots of outside time, playing soccer, and also having fun with chalk outdoors. Let’s check out what each grade level is up to.
*Parents/Guardians: With temperatures starting to get warmer (but with crisp air later in the day) please continue to send a light jacket or sweatshirt. Please label your child's belongings. Also, if you have magazines at home that you would like to donate to our college club we would appreciate it. Thanks so much for your donations and support!!
Pre-K (Ms. Keala)
Aloha Ohanas,
Group one enjoys the warmer weather which welcomes everyone to go outside and play. As we enter Spring, Pre-K has experienced activities of rainbows, flowers, and butterflies. Students learn about respecting themselves and others and identifying emotions. Several kindergartners participated in a final show for Veggie Circus as session two ended. I am excited to present brain-body connections and integrate movement activities soon for our pre-k students. Happy Spring!
Me Ke Aloha,
Ms. Keala
K-2nd grade (Ms. Sana, Ms. Ileana, Ms. Ana, & Ms. Lauren):
Ms. Lauren- Welcome to Lego Building! In this club, each week we will work on a new project to build something with legos in a small group. Some we have worked on already include amusement parks, making a “dream house”, and a restaurant.
Students have the opportunity to spend time with peers, work on some fine motor skills, and most of all teamwork! Lego Building gives kids a great opportunity to gain a sense of accomplishment without pressure, use some problem-solving, and most of all have fun.
3rd-5th (Ms. Etta):
Group 4 jumped right into new clubs and warmer weather of Session 3. We have been enjoying soccer and football when we are outside and a lot of Uno when we are inside. Also, all of the clubs have had an exciting start!
In Game World the children were so enthusiastic that we started creating our own games on the first day instead of starting game creation after April break as I had originally planned. We still have a game of the day to play (such as chess, checkers, Mancala, and Uno) to offer ideas for our own games. The children’s games are diverse and so creative! I’m so excited to watch these games take shape and look forward to playing them on the last day of clubs!
In Exploring Mythology we have begun with Greek myths and the children are very knowledgeable. We also learned about a few solar eclipse myths from around the world in honor of this year’s solar eclipse. Then the children made their eclipse myths. These myths were very thoughtful and intriguing. I’m looking forward to fleshing out these creative mythologies as the club goes on.
In Spanish is Fun the children are having a fantastic time and learning some useful Spanish. The children eagerly look forward to the club every week. The parachute games seem to be a highlight of each day.
In Design It, Build It, Sell It! We have been creating fun models with k’nex, and then “sell” the products we have built with a sales pitch in front of the group. The themes so far have been cubes and the solar eclipse. All of the creations have been very enjoyable and creative and the sales pitches have been very thoughtful and engaging. I’m looking forward to the next presentations.
All in all, Session 3 of clubs has started strong and we are looking forward to the warmer weather!
Each club offered a different kind of fun, and we are all looking forward to the next session of clubs and the rest of the school year!
Arthur D. Healey School
Site Director: Amanda Oppman
Assistant Site Director: Alexander Walters
Nicholas Triant, Suri Gonzalez, Christopher Thompson,
Aidsa Rivera, Ishaya Williams, Jaqueline Medrano, Johana Maldonado, Ludwing Perez
Hello families!
We have been thoroughly enjoying the Spring season here at the Healey. On the days when we got a break from the rain, we took full advantage of some well-deserved time on the playground. Our final session of the year started, and the kiddos are enjoying their latest selections of clubs. We brought back several fan-favorite clubs like Art in Spanish, Parkour, and Farrington Nature, and a new club called Spanish Is FUN! The students have been actively engaged in all the provider-planned lessons and those planned by the after-school staff. Before April break, we also celebrated as a group with our Spring Fling. Students gathered in the cafe on our last half-day and participated in various spring-themed crafts and STEM activities. Read below for some of our staff-led club fun.
Ms. Suri:
Pre-K worked their way through the whole alphabet over the last few weeks. We have been working really hard at playing fairly with each other and have had tons of fun during our free choice using the puppets, dramatic play area, moon sand, and cars. We are working on more practice for some of our favorite letters including A and J. We turned the letter A into some fierce and beautiful alligators and made some awesome jellyfish for he letter J!
Mr.T:
Session 3 is off to an amazing start! In soccer club, we have been learning the basics of the game and working to understand the importance of teamwork. In Art with Fruit, we have used watermelon, pineapple, and strawberries to make different creations. Thus far, we have made snakes and will be making butterflies and hedgehogs in the coming weeks. Lastly, in Aquabeads Club, students have done an amazing job with slowing down and taking their time to make their creations. Many students want to rush, and I have emphasized the need to be patient and not rush. Keep up the great work!
Mr.Walters:
In this session, Mr. Alex is teaching two clubs for the younger students: SMArt and Power Hour. SMArt stands for stories, movement, and art. In each class, we read a different story and then participate in either an art activity or a movement activity based on the story we read. So far, we have read stories like “The Lazy Boy”, “Peter Pan”, “Aladdin,” and “The Jungle Book”. We created origami trees, played a game where we needed to save Tinker Bell, made our magic carpet as a group, and had an animal race. For Power Hour, we are determined to get moving! We have played variations of common games like tag, turning them into “banana tag”. We became zookeepers and had to rally all our escaped animals back to their spots. We switched up traditional dodgeball into 3-ball, where if you have hold of a ball, you can not move. We can’t wait to keep creating and moving in our clubs this session!
Miss Annie:
Outdoor play club
Warmer weather has allowed us to spend our club time outside on the playground. We’ve played what time is it, Mr and Mrs fox? Rainbow tag, and students led their own game of sandman. This past week, instead of our typical games we were able to enjoy the solar eclipse with all of the other students.
Coloring and Design Club
Students continue creating their coloring page designs, trading theirs with others, and practicing mindful coloring. Many students’ designs are seasonally inspired, full of flowers, bird nests, and other spring-themed items. Others reflect an individual’s interests, and some finished pages include a plate of sushi with lots of pieces to color in Spider-Man and Roblox characters. Students are also learning to make abstract designs, incorporating straight and curved lines together to create patterns with room for plenty of coloring.
Book club
We are reading the mysterious Benedict society as a group for the book club. So far, our four main characters, each an extraordinary child, have undergone a series of tests to prove their intelligence, selflessness, and resourcefulness. We take breaks between chapters so students can ask questions, make predictions, and give their own interpretations of what has happened so far. We are all excited to find out what happens in our book next, and students agree that some sort of spy adventure is to come!
Benjamin G. Brown School
Site Director: Kelsey Kent
Assistant Site Director: Tamica Connor
Ashley Marks, Marie Cheney, Katherina Dinka, Grace Barton,
Kasey Hoebermann, Stephanie Idelfonso, Kelliann Marks, Karen Oppman
April Newsletter
Spring is in the air! We have been loving the fresh air, beautiful sunshine, and outdoor activities! We are taking the students out to the parks, bike paths, and gardens, we finally get to do outdoor dismissal! We love to be outside! Here are some highlights of our groups outside!
Spring is in full swing, and so are session three clubs! Students and teachers appreciate the change in clubs. It provides students and teachers with new energy and interests throughout the year! Let’s take a peek at what some of our clubs have been up to!
In sensory science, we explore fun experiments and sometimes incorporate a little art. The kiddos get to make slime, snow, cool fidgets, and more. We always like to make fun of things using some science. In one club the kiddos made planets using perler beads!
The bowling club has taken off and boy are these kiddos mini pros. We have started going to flatbreads for bowling on Friday. We get to take a nice walk there and we are learning how to play but also how to count and add our scores. It's a fun way to build our confidence in addition and gross motor skills.
Probably the coolest thing that happened this month was the eclipse. We were lucky to have the PTA and family come to volunteer and help us put on an amazing event. We all got to go outside make crafts and watch the eclipse happen. It was so cool to see the eclipse in a safe way. Can't wait to see it in another 20 years! It was one of the best moments this month and it was fun to do it with families and friends.
Enjoy the outdoors and let's see what happens next month!
East Somerville Community School
Site Director: Yolanda Andrade
Assistant Site Director: Diana Posada
Raymond Corsini, Janice Pousland, Joanne Simon, Sonia Barahona, Mario Quiroz, Sarah McClelland. Estefani Medrano, Tashmeer Michel, Daniel Louis, Deni Matias Martin, Ashley Castro, Olivia Oliveira, Destiny Andrade, Sharon CAstellon
Wow! We can’t believe April is gone and May is around the corner. What a special month! We hope that each of you had a chance to spend time with family and friends over the break. We are thrilled to share that our eclipse event at our afterschool was a resounding success! It was truly a remarkable experience for everyone involved. Not only did the students get to witness a rare astronomical phenomenon, but they also learned about the science behind eclipses and the importance of proper eye protection when viewing such events. Equipped with their special glasses, students observed every delicate movement as the moon traversed the path of the sun.
We want to extend our gratitude to all the parents who joined us in experiencing this unforgettable event with their children. Your presence made the occasion even more special, and we appreciate your support in enriching the educational experiences of our students. To our teachers and staff, thank you for the tremendous hard work you do daily and for keeping the students safe! We believe that experiences like these are invaluable in fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around us.
In preparation for this momentous occasion, students had the chance to delve into books about eclipses, gaining insight into what to expect and the science behind these breathtaking occurrences. Filling their brains with knowledge, they eagerly awaited the wonderful spectacle. Following the event, students gathered to share their reflections and pose questions. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to deepen their understanding and engage in meaningful discussions.
April Camp was super fun and a fantastic success! The students had an incredible time and were able to participate in a wide range of engaging activities such as cooking, STEAM, movement and art. They embarked on two exciting field trips, enjoyed a day of bowling, and explored the wonders of the science museum. The camp was a great opportunity for students to learn, bond, and have fun outside their regular school day. We are grateful for the chance to create such memorable experiences for them.
REMINDERS
Please ensure to join our ESCS Afterschool class on the REMIND.COM APP, if you haven’t. It is the fastest way to get updates on sudden weather changes and news.
With the change of weather, we would like to stress the importance of students wearing the appropriate outerwear. Our goal is to have students go outside every day if the weather permits.
Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center
Site Director: Micheal Horowitz
Assistant Site Director: Sarthak Khamal
Bryan Convey, Ana Treska, Neelam Sehil, Mei Idris, Jaqueline Gaffney, Alaa Bautkhourst, Joao Detoledo, Ana Taveira, MamataChalise
April showers have dominated the weather except for the day of the eclipse and the day after. April also brings April vacation. Themes have run along the lines of “Spring”, “Spring Insects”, and “Underwater Animals and Habitats.”
Classes have read books like Hello Spring, My Spring Robin, Let It Rain, Buzz Buzz Buzz, The Grouchy Ladybug, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, and Mister Seahorse. Projects related to the readings have included handprint fish puppets, paper plate aquariums, paper bag jellyfish, butterfly handprint art, Q-tip daisies, tissue paper flowers, free hand spring pictures, cut-and-paste ladybugs, and tissue paper bees.
We continue to have lessons on big feelings and dealing with big feelings. We also focus on what it means to be kind, and how to solve problems with your friends.
The eclipse came in the midst of all of this. All the Capuano afterschool groups got outside to witness the eclipse with protective eyewear. There were lessons for all groups about what a solar eclipse is and solar eclipse safety. Children then did a variety of solar eclipse projects.
April vacation is here. If your children are not coming to our program, we hope you have a great week! If your children are coming to our program, we hope that they enjoy their time with us!
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Site Director: Allison Pelletier
Assistant Site Director: Emmaline Lipka
Kelly Lopez, Nicole Tolbert, Ethan Hallet, Savannah Paul, Maureen Nichols,
Emma Oppman, Mary Lou Hodgdon, Laura Modhal, Silvana Dinka, Jolene Charles, Nicolee Chavez
Hi Everyone!
It is hard to believe we are winding down the end of the school and have just about 2 months left of school. We have had so much fun in After School this year and it continues as we move through session 3.
We enjoyed viewing the Eclipse during After School. It really was so neat to witness this phenomenon with our students. Big thank you to all of our parent volunteers who helped make sure students kept their glasses on so that they didn’t harm their eyes. I hope that all the students we had with us in After School that day remember viewing the Eclipse at school. And of course, those of you who traveled to the full eclipse, I am sure you all will remember that forever!
Session 3 is in full swing. Students are learning a variety of circus tricks in veggie circus and working on their routines. In the gardening club, students have enjoyed digging in the dirt and finding worms. They will plant seeds soon (it’s been too cold to plant but we will be soon)! Students in the Debate club have been learning all about respectfully arguing points with one another. They have debated dress codes/uniforms in school, pineapple on pizza, and a few more fun things!
Students in our pre-k class have been having a lot of fun too. They made “seed bombs” out of dirt, clay, and wildflower seeds. They will plant them in the ground and water them. A variety of wildflowers will grow. Students in DEILAB (our outside provider Lego and engineering club) have made cars, testing how far they will go down an incline, they have also made Lego creations that fly through the air on a string. They are having a great time being creative and using their imagination.
We have also had fun playing in the cafeteria on half-day Wednesdays. Students love using our different manipulatives to build and explore. Recently, using the brain flakes a bunch of students created a sushi restaurant and they have been “selling sushi” to other students and teachers in the cafe. It has been so fun to see their imagination come through.
We are hopeful that the end of April, May, and June will have less rain than we have had in March and the beginning of April so that we can enjoy outside time even more!
Thank you again for all your support for our program. If you have any questions, etc, please let us know!
Alison and Emmaline
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
Site Director: Deijah Euvrard
Assistant Site Director: Daniela Garcia
Latifa Mortady, Nathalya Castillo, Rue Romero, Tanty Koita, Rosa Palma, Teddy O'Brien , Mariah Jones, Maria Henriquez, Ariana Melendez, Leonardo Fuentes, Seline Pierre, Nehemie Simon
Happy April!
This session we focus on renewal, growth, and exciting possibilities for our students. We got the opportunity to view the Solar Eclipse with the students, which was by far a highlight for all! While the promise of warmer days are on the horizon, we kindly remind you to send your children to school with jackets, as the spring weather can still be quite cool.
Pre-K/Kindergarten
PreK and Kindergarten have been spending time learning about butterflies and their evolution! They got to read books like “Waiting for Wings” and “Caterpillar to Butterfly”. They were able to demonstrate what they learned through cute crafts such as building a caterpillar out of their name and making butterfly symmetry art.
Grades 1st-2nd
Friends this session have been spending loads of time outdoors with the nice weather. Many clubs have taken their crafts and activities to the playground. Students have been able to participate in outdoor experiments and interactive art. They even got to do activities with yummy treats like their Earth Day craft; Layers of Soil and creating a Pinata full of candy!
Our older kiddos have been introducing outdoor activities to their daily schedule. We are taking advantage of the nice weather by doing homework and reading outside every Tuesday. This new addition to our schedule allows the older kids to enjoy the weather while being productive and reaching their homework goals. It also allows the after-school teachers the opportunity to engage with students on a playful level through play-based outdoor activities.
REMINDERS
-please remember to label all of your student(s) belongings!
-Please let us know if your student(s) will be absent!
-Please make sure to join our WHCIS After School class on the REMIND APP.
★ We kindly request your attention to emails! Important announcements and details about upcoming events or activities are regularly shared through email. By staying vigilant and regularly checking your inbox, you ensure that you stay well-informed
West Somerville Neighborhood School
Site Director: Joshua Leibovitz
Assistant Site Director: Seana Read
Jane Fabiano, Darly Pierre, Gianna Amari, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Joseph Amari, Katherine Yanes, Riley Williams, Henry Duarte, Teodor Todorov, Frank Leone
Hello Families!
Welcome to our April Newsletter!
Welcome back Spring showers, blossoming flowers, and warmer weather. We have now entered Spring and welcomed Session 3 of our afterschool. We hope everyone has enjoyed their break and is ready to rock the last few months until summer!
Let's give a round of applause to our Pre-K friends! Our friends have been enjoying themselves in afterschool with so many activities that we never have time for nap time. Our students have been enjoying themselves with their own version of clubs, ranging from Yoga, painting, activity stations and even Show & Tell on Fun Fridays. We even decided to make our own Unicorn Playdough, Gold Dust Slime, and more. We sure did get a little messy but I promise no apparel was dirty. Ms. Jane and Ms. Darly even have us dancing to Zumba, and making sure we are always moving. I even think we might be on America’s Best Dance Crew.
Now entering the newsletter we have our future Bruins stars, & Las Vegas Aces. Let's give a round of applause to our Kinder-2nd graders! Between the break happening and Session 3 starting, our friends have been having a blast. With so many new clubs at our school, including Chess, Checkers & Basketball, Brick Builders, Hockey Stars, and more, there’s always something to jump into. Our friends loved every minute of it, learning the fundamentals of basketball with famous basketball players, learning chess from Beth Harmon, and learning the fundamentals of hockey. When they aren’t learning about sports, they are taking their time trying to win against the teachers in our new TV show “Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader”. I will be the first to tell you that 1 + 1 doesn't equal 2, but 11. It has been amazing to see our students get together and have a fun time in clubs with their friends, new and old.
It’s hard to believe we only have a few more months left in the school year, but the 3rd-6th graders are making the most of our time together every day! Even if our Spring Break plans didn’t include traveling anywhere, we still got to experience other cultures in the Wonders of the World club. Paris might be 3,500 miles away, but we brought the Eiffel Tower to our doorstep (a.k.a. made a model out of popsicle sticks and toothpicks that I’ve been told was equally impressive to the real thing in terms of architectural grandeur). Mini Golf Club is practicing their putting AND honing their construction skills by creating a new course every week and turning our gymnasium into a golfing green. Admission is free (for now), but be sure to stop by and check out this hidden gem every Thursday before word gets out and crowds start lining up down the block! The fun doesn’t just happen during clubs, though—we had SUCH an amazing time checking out the solar eclipse on April 8th! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we were lucky enough to enjoy together, and we’ll have that memory for the rest of our lives.
REMINDERS
-Please make sure to join our WSNS Afterschool class on the REMIND APP. Please email me for the code! It is the fastest way to get updates on sudden weather changes and news.
-With the change of weather, make sure to pack water and a sweater on colder days.
-Packing extra clothes for our younger friends in case of an emergenc\