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
Embedded Files
April Vacation Camp
Tuesday, April 22 to Friday, April 25
@ John F Kennedy School
8:15 AM to 4:15 PM
Entrance at Sartwell Avenue
Field trips Wednesday and Friday
Parent Resources
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 Site Director 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
by Dana Gordon, Clinical Consultant
As we approach the end of the school year, we at Community Schools are aware of the many strong feelings that this transition engenders for our students. The success of a positive school year and an upcoming vacation can be exciting for them, but the reality of leaving teachers and friends and the idea of preparing for a new class or school next year can be stressful. Students also can feel disconnected and lonely during the summer without the emotional climate of a classroom that provides support, structure, and community. If your student is having a hard time, acknowledge and validate their feelings - offering them connections and affirming how they feel can help them become more confident and comfortable with the upcoming changes. Reinforcing a consistent and predictable routine at home also normalizes their emotions and reminds them of your support during this transition time. We understand this can be a tricky time of year so please reach out to your teachers for some help if you are seeing behaviors or emotions that concern you. We are happy to share this final stretch of the school year with you all!
Albert F. Argenziano
Albert F. Argenziano
Site Director; Elizabeth Bell
Assistant Site Director; Brianna Arevalo
Sresha Pradhan, Ileana Perlera, Etta Resnick, Ana Cortez, Sana Kazemi, Gianna Bottiglio, Lauren Quinn, Jennalyse Charles, Brandy Ellis, Shruti Sood
Happy April Argenziano families!! Although the weather has brought us April showers and cooler temps, we are excited 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 Ball Games & Brain Games, Make it Move, Amazing Mazes and Minute to Win It. 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 the warmer temperatures approaching it can still be a bit chilly out, please ensure your children have warm jackets, sweatshirts etc. Thanks so much for your donations and support!!
Pre-K/K (Ms. Shruti):
Happy April everyone! This past month, we have taken advantage of the rainy weather by learning about the water cycle, using the rain to help us make paintings, and making rain suncatchers! We have also celebrated the changing of the season by learning about bugs, going on a bug hunt outside, and pretending to be bugs while wearing bug crowns. We also flexed our creativity by writing and illustrating our own storybooks! We hope to spend more time outside next month as these April showers come to an end and May flowers start blooming!
K-2nd grade (Ms. Etta, Ms. Lauren, Ms. Sana):
Happy April! We’ve had a fantastic start to Session 3, and our students are really enjoying the variety of clubs we’re offering. In the Recycled Creations Club, students are learning how to turn everyday recyclable materials into something new and useful. They’ve made pencil holders, notebooks, and insect crafts using egg cartons, cans, and cardboard, all decorated with paint and their own creative touches. This club encourages students to use their imagination while also learning about the importance of reusing materials in fun, creative ways. Meanwhile, in the Wild Safari Adventures Club, students are going on a global journey to explore animals, their habitats, and behaviors. Each week, they watch a short documentary and then bring their new knowledge to life through drawing and crafting the animals they've learned about. We’re so excited to continue exploring, creating, and learning together throughout the rest of Session 3!
3rd-5th (Ms. Ana & Ms. Ileana):
Here in the Minute to Win it club, kids are engaged in different activities that must be done in one minute. This week, the students engaged in a nosedive activity where they had to move cotton balls from one side of the table to the other by only using their noses. The students are encouraged to try their best and that their mean competition is themselves.
Arthur D. Healey School
Arthur D. Healey School
Site Director: Amanda Oppman
Assistant Site Director: Alexander Walters
Nicholas Triant, Suri Gonzalez, Christopher Thompson, Samuel Macmillan, Delmis Aviles, Rafael Santos,
Virgilio Garcia, Jaqueline Medrano,, Ludwing Perez, Maria Lima Da SIlva,
While Spring may have sprung, we are looking forward to warmer and brighter days in May and hopefully a whole lot of flowers (thanks April showers!) Session 3 has kicked off and students are showing so much creativity this round of clubs. I am continuously blown away by the teamwork and patience our 1st & 2nd graders in Perler beads club are showing as they maneuver those tiny beads to create beautiful projects. Our older students have surprised me time and again with their celebration of others successes. We are so lucky we get to experience a program with your students, we hope you enjoy reading some of what they have been up to!
PreK- Ms. Suri
PreK has been having a blast at afterschool! We begin each day by reading a new story and then discussing the story, reviewing the characters, events, and what we learned. Next we have circle time where we have been working on learning things like the days of the week, letters of the alphabet and numbers from 1-10. Students then enjoy play time in the afterschool room, dressing up in the costumes and using all the toys like train sets, cars and blocks. We got to meet Mr. Rafael's baby niece during playtime last week and he was so cute and fun to play with, and we learned a little about babies too! After snack time we do fun activities, whether it's going to the gym to build with the big blue blocks, or working on arts and crafts projects. Lately, we have been working on making our own puzzles and patterns, so students have been practicing their coloring, painting, cutting, pasting and assembling skills. Some of our favorite activities have been making our own sea creatures out of construction paper, including fish and crabs, making our own construction paper bird's nest with our own bird in it, and painting and making designs with water colors and dot markers! As the weather gets warmer, we have also enjoyed making some trips outside to the tot lot playground where we play games, use the swings and climb the structure. We can't wait until the warm weather is here!
K-2nd- Ms. Maria & Mr. Mac
Perler beads- This semester our goal is for students to use Perler beads to express their imagination by creating different designs and patterns. Each class their design becomes more complex and creative. We have created four designs so far, but the favorite seems to be the animal. They each built an animal of their choice, and they turned out very impressive.
Art with fruit- In this class the students have been able to use different types of fruits to create unique shapes and designs. This club seems to be one of their favorite clubs so far because as well as creating a design they also get to eat different fruits.
Art about the world- Each class we get to visit a new country. So far, we have been able to learn more about four different countries and their cultures. After we learn facts about the countries, they get to do one of their favorite things which is to color. They get to color coloring pages related to the country we visit that day.
Lego legends-Students always have a great time at this club. They get the chance to express their imagination through the designs they create. We have worked on several different projects but the one they seem to like the most was the pirate ship and the dream house. They all worked very hard on their projects, and the result was impressive.
Handball-This club gives the students a chance to practice teamwork while practicing physical activity. Students get to improve their fiscal health and skills while having fun playing a game they really enjoy. They are always very excited about this club.
Disc Sports Club: The kindergarten, first, and second graders have enjoyed exploring the world of disc sports. So far we have spent time learning and playing Ultimate Frisbee. The students are learning how to throw and catch a frisbee as well as how the game of Ultimate Frisbee is played.. They are also continuing to develop teamwork and cooperation. The sport allows the students to practice strategizing with one another in order to score! In the upcoming weeks, we will dive into the world of Disc Golf!
Book Club: The Book club has been a huge success thus far! The students are engaged and enthusiastic about reading and creating their own stories. We have explored various literary structures such as theme, setting, and characters, as well as proper writing techniques and spelling strategies. Each student has started creating their very own stories! They started by developing characters and the setting. Now we are beginning to create the actual story! They are all doing a wonderful job adding details and making their stories longer and more exciting. At the end, they will each be able to put their stories into one collective book!
Learn to Draw Club: In the Learn to Draw club, students have been able to let their imaginations and creativity run wild. We start by following a few directed drawing videos, students' choice, then they are able to use what they have learned from the video to create their very own masterpieces. So far, we have learned to draw things like Hermione from Harry Potter, a Creeper from Minecraft, cats, and so much more! This club has helped the kiddos practice perseverance and pushes them to try things on their own. It has been awesome to see how creative and talented each and every student is!
3rd-6th- Ms. O, Mr. Walters, & Mr. T
Session 3 is off and running to a great start!
In my Trivia Masters Club, I split students into teams in order to answer new questions each week. My personal favorite game to play is a "Healey School" themed Jeopardy that I create each week. To create it, I use basic information about each student as part of the clues. We have been able to learn many new things about each other, such as the sports that we play, languages that we speak, how many siblings we have, etc. The kids have laughed so hard at some of the silly clues that I have written, and I am thrilled that we are getting the chance to get to know one another better. It is an amazing team-building exercise! In Mr. T's All Stars, we have been playing a bunch of kickball. Students have been doing great with learning the rules and displaying good sportsmanship. Lastly, in my Michelangelo Magic Club, we have been using Model Magic and clay to make unique designs. We have built the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, and also a free design. I look forward to having a great rest of Session 3 after the April vacation. Keep up the good work!
Painting Planets: The 3rd-6th grade students have been having a great time in Painting Planets! We start the club meeting each week by learning all about a planet or celestial body in our solar system, watch a short national geographic introduction video on the object so we can see it in action, and then spend the rest of the time painting our own versions of it to ambient space music in the background. In the first week, we explored the star that ties our entire solar system together - the Sun. In our second week, we studied our home and the third planet, Earth, and in the third week, we set aside the whole meeting, especially for our very own moon. In our next meeting, we will journey towards the Sun and will discover the two inner planets, Mercury and Venus, and then, after that, move outward to discover Mars and the gigantic gas giants and all of their moons that populate the remainder of our solar system. We will try to check out some asteroids and comets along the way, and if we have time, we will stop by Pluto - you're still a planet to me!
Tech Time- Our 3rd-6th-grade kiddos embarked on a technology journey with Ms.O to learn more about the positive and negative impacts technology has on their development. Students learned where technology started and what evolutions have occurred to get us where we are today. While learning to be mindful of the harms of technology, this club encourages students to use critical thinking skills to use technology in productive ways. Students participated in a graphic design challenge where two teams were the winners of a student and staff vote for a Community Schools poster. Check out the doors or halls at the Healey to see their designs! We learned about surveys and why people may use surveys to collect data. If you participated in our technology survey, thank you. You helped prepare our next task of “What do we do with the data we collect?” Thursdays have slowly become one of my favorite days thanks to this group of kiddos!
Benjamin G. Brown School
Benjamin G. Brown School
Site Director: Kelsey Kent
Assistant Site Director: Tamica Connor
Ashley Marks, Marie Cheney, Grace Barton,
El Ark, Ryleigh Martell, Emma Daly, Kelliann Marks, Karen Oppman, Sandy Mattson
We have been enjoying the longer daylight hours, fresh clubs and outdoor spaces. We are taking the students out to our community parks, bike paths, gardens and we finally get to do outdoor dismissal. Spring is in full swing, and so are session three clubs! Students and teachers appreciate the change in clubs and spaces. We’ve been eager to begin our final session of clubs that are filled with nature inspired activities and appreciation for our outdoor neighborhood community spaces. Let’s highlight a few clubs that have started in our final session.
Some of our K-2 clubs that we’d like to highlight this month are: outdoor adventure, walking and fitness, imagination station and small problems vs big problems. Outdoor adventure is a club that is offered for both our K-2 and 3-5 groups where students walk to our local parks and recreation. Walking and fitness is a club that is dedicated to walking along our neighborhood bike path.
Imagination station is a STEM based club where students can use their imagination and get creative with building, engineering, art and science. So far this session, students have learned and created blueprints and attempted to execute their plans for their “house of cards.” Students in this club have just started sculpting with clay where they were given open-ended time to create and manipulate a sculpture they want. The clay should be ready for painting by next class!
Small Problem vs. Big Problems has been a recurring mini group that Ms. Kelsey leads for K-2 throughout the school year. We’ve decided to create a whole club dedicated to this SEL subject. In this club, students will continue to engage in lessons that teach the difference between small problems and big problems. This club helps students develop skills to manage emotions, build relationships and make responsible choices!
Some of 3-5 clubs that we’d like to highlight this month are: springtime chilltime, galaxy club and kindness club. Springtime chilltime is a variant of the ongoing “chill” club that is offered to students throughout the year. We find that students enjoy the ability to have the time and space to do open-ended “chill” activities with their closest friends. However, the “chill” club is a little different this session. This club is held outside each week on the picnic tables! We’ve decided to revamp the curriculum to be nature based where students engage in nature themed lessons and activities; some of the fun things we’ve done so far include nature scavenger hunt and painted garden rocks to place in our community spaces.
Galaxy club was created for like minded students who are also fascinated by the night sky. Students in this club have been learning about a new concept each week and engage in open-ended and teacher prepped activities based on the new concept. So far, students have learned about the different phases of the moon and carved out oreos to reflect each phases; another week, students learned about what can be found inside space and manipulated play doh prototypes for each prompt; another week, students learned about the planets in our solar system and made yarn-wrapped stars, moons and planets that they can display.
Kindness club is a new club offered this year. This club was created for students to spread kindness and positive vibes at school. We begin each class with a kindness circle that students engage in an open-ended prompt for that week's topic. Students will do an activity based on that week's topic then we’ll come back together and reflect on the activity we did. For example, one of our topics was positivity. The prompt for that week was to give a compliment to someone in the circle, students then create positive post-its to leave on a teachers or peer desk and then we shared with each other who we made our post-its for, why and how spreading the positive posts made us feel. Our hope for this club is to offer students a chance to learn the importance of kindness and the impact of our everyday choices. We can make the world a better place, one good deed at a time
That’s it for the month of April! We’re really excited for the warm weather and longer daylight. We’ve started this session with good vibes and I suspect that will be the theme until the end of the school year. We can’t wait to report back next month’s fun! Have a happy holiday.
East Somerville Community School
East Somerville Community School
Site Director: Yolanda Andrade
Assistant Site Director: Diana Posada
Raymond Corsini Joanne Simon, Sonia Barahona, Mario Quiroz, Ashley Castro, Michael Chiaravalloti, Mia Rivera, Kate Simmons, Mario Valladares, Sarah McClelland, Tailyn Smith, Olivia Oliveira, David Gutierrez, Devin Andrade, Bryan Rodriguez, Jaime Albayeros, Sharon Castellon, Luzmila Magana, Bryan Rodriguez, Kayla Lopez
Dear Families,
Spring is in the air, and we’re excited to share all the wonderful things happening in our afterschool program this April! Our students are diving into engaging clubs that spark creativity, encourage teamwork, and build community. Here’s a look at what some of our amazing groups have been up to:
Our Science Club for Girls is inspiring our young scientists in grades K–6 to explore the world through hands-on experiments and fun activities. From chemical reactions to magnetic magic, these sessions are filled with curiosity, discovery, and confidence-building for future STEM leaders.
For our K–2nd grade bookworms, the Dog Man & Other Stories club has been a huge hit! Students read, laugh, and act out their favorite scenes from Dog Man and other silly stories. It’s a fantastic way to grow reading skills while having fun.
Older students in grades 3–7 are enjoying Snack & Chat, a cozy space where they can unwind, enjoy a treat, and connect with friends. Whether they’re sharing stories from their day, participating in team-building activities, or engaging in a conversation together, problem-solving in this club has become a favorite for building friendships and social confidence. Storytelling and Creative Writing club has been pretty fun for these students.
We have discussed stories about where we have traveled to and where we want to go in the future. Students were also given random prompts and scenarios and had to add to the story. Once they finish adding to their part of the story, they will be passing the story along to another student so that student can add to it if needed. When students are done, they will begin drawing a picture for the cover of their book. In sports activities, our students love every minute they can play in indoor and outdoor soccer, and so in Capture the Flag.
For those who love a good challenge, Monopoly GO! is bringing out the strategists in grades 3–7. Students are learning how to manage money, think critically, and play fair—all while having a blast competing in this fast-paced twist on the classic game.
We’re so proud of everything our students are doing and hoping for better weather ahead of us to take activities outdoors! We look forward to more laughter, learning, and connection this spring.
Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center
Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center
Site Director: Micheal Horowitz
Assistant Site Director: Sarthak Khamal
Bryan Convey, Ana Treska, Neelam Sehil, Mei Idri, Joao Detoledo, Ana Taveira, Yesenia Real, MamataChalise, Latifa Mortady, Devin Baxter, Gita Khanal, Jose Lopez, Shiarrah Murray, Julia Leandro
It is April and spring has arrived this year. The weather has been slowly getting warmer and the students at the Capuano school are enjoying more outdoor activities recently. There are rainy days as well, where they play in the gym and do physical activity videos in the classroom. Students are learning a lot about spring. Classes have been doing activities centering themes like spring, spring insects, dinosaurs, and vegetables and fruits that regrow in the spring after a cold winter.
It is April and spring has arrived this year. The weather has been slowly getting warmer and the students at the Capuano school are enjoying more outdoor activities recently. There are rainy days as well, where they play in the gym and do physical activity videos in the classroom. Students are learning a lot about spring. Classes have been doing activities centering themes like spring, spring insects, dinosaurs, and vegetables and fruits that regrow in the spring after a cold winter.
Classes enjoy reading books like “Hello Spring” by Shelly Rotner, “Splish Splash Spring” by Jan Carr, “It’s A Good Thing There Are Insects” by Allan Fowler, “How Do Insects Protect Themselves?” By Megan Kopp, “Vegetable Garden” by Douglas Florian, and more. These books keep the students engaged in themes that are common in everyday life. Some projects or activities related to the themes are: creating a ladybug craft by cutting paper plates and making wings with them, gluing a small circle on the body as the ladybug’s head and then adding googly eyes. Coloring and cutting a carrot craft, tracing the outline of our hands on the paper, then gluing the hands on top of the carrot to finish the activity.
Classes enjoy reading books like “Hello Spring” by Shelly Rotner, “Splish Splash Spring” by Jan Carr, “It’s A Good Thing There Are Insects” by Allan Fowler, “How Do Insects Protect Themselves?” By Megan Kopp, “Vegetable Garden” by Douglas Florian, and more. These books keep the students engaged in themes that are common in everyday life. Some projects or activities related to the themes are: creating a ladybug craft by cutting paper plates and making wings with them, gluing a small circle on the body as the ladybug’s head and then adding googly eyes. Coloring and cutting a carrot craft, tracing the outline of our hands on the paper, then gluing the hands on top of the carrot to finish the activity.
The students also get choice time where they use their great imaginations. Whether it is playing in the kitchen area and creating a family with an imaginary mom, dad, siblings, and pets. Making a castle with Magna-Tiles or creating a subway system by building unique train tracks. Lastly, since there have been some rainy days, classes have been enjoying the gym still, but not as much as in the winter. Since outside time has increased a lot this month, and with the weather continuing to get better, soon everyone will be saying their goodbyes to sweaters and jackets, and will begin wearing shorts and t-shirts, as April flies by.
The students also get choice time where they use their great imaginations. Whether it is playing in the kitchen area and creating a family with an imaginary mom, dad, siblings, and pets. Making a castle with Magna-Tiles or creating a subway system by building unique train tracks. Lastly, since there have been some rainy days, classes have been enjoying the gym still, but not as much as in the winter. Since outside time has increased a lot this month, and with the weather continuing to get better, soon everyone will be saying their goodbyes to sweaters and jackets, and will begin wearing shorts and t-shirts, as April flies by.
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Site Director: Allison Pelletier
Assistant Site Director: Emmaline Lipka
Kelly Lopez, Nicole Tolbert, Savannah Paul, Maureen Nichols,
Emma Oppman, Mary Lou Hodgdon, Laura Modhal, Silvana Dinka, Christopher Montejo
After school has been going smoothly at the Kennedy! We have had a lot of April showers, but are hopeful and excited for the warmer weather ahead!
We're thrilled to welcome Ms. Alison back to After School following her maternity leave! She's already an incredible mom, and we can't wait to see her continue to grow alongside baby Oliver!
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our After School families for your incredible support as I stepped into the director role. Your trust in me means the world, and I feel fortunate to work with your students every day!
Ms. Laura’s Clubs
Kids in Laura’s in clubs are having tons of fun! In Make It Up club, kids have been acting out their own stories and making accessories for their toys. Kids have been making bubble art and doing experiments in the Amazing Mixtures club! In Hang Out and Do Fun Things, kids are making cool art projects and relaxing on huge beanbags while listening to meditation music. In the Claymation club, air-dry clay techniques, using clay tools, are being explored and sets made for their animations, too. In Slime, squish, Goo kids have made butter slime and squishes. We are off to a great start in the 3rd session!
Ms. Dinka’s Clubs
So far, it has been a great success and a big pleasure to work with students and lead them through these beautiful Pilates Exercises.
This has been a great way to teach the students how to move well through common strength training moves and learning the correct technique and form. Students are enjoying all the exercises and music that they listen to while they work out. Each one of them has their favorite exercise too. Climbing the mountain is always a great way to start.
The Mindful Coloring Club is supporting students in many ways. Students are relaxed and feel comfortable, and motivated.
Ms. Emma’s Clubs
Craft and chat- so far, during craft and chat, students have gotten to work with clay and got to be creative and come up with something they want to make. In the following week, students then got to paint their creation once it had dried. We have also got to use peeler beads and get creative and got to design something that we like and have it ironed to bring home. Students have seemed to have a lot of fun during this club, getting to create different crafts and art while talking to their friends.
Beading club- During beading club, students have been given the task to create a flower of their choice, they have also been given the task to make an aquatic animal, and the following week they had the task to make a land animal of their choice. Students have had a lot of fun getting to explore and work with Perler beads while getting to be creative and making the task while making it their own and adding their own twist to it.
Lego Builders #2- In the Lego club, the students get to pick their weekly task from cards. So far during club students have had the task to make their names out Legos, that have gotten to work at a group or solo if they wanted and had to build the tallest tower they could within 30 minutes, it was very fun and exciting to watch them work to get and come up with strategies to make the tower strong but also work g fast to make it tall. It was also nice to see them work together to come up with an assembly line on who was going to do what, like students A and B get all the pieces and Students C and D put them together, then switch so everyone gets a chance to do a part. This week, students had the task to make either their favorite animal or an animal of their choice. All kids have seemed to love the idea of a different task each week, and get to be creative on how they will accomplish the task before getting the choice of free build.
Ms. Kelly’s Clubs
Hello, parents, and welcome to Session 3! I am excited to announce that spring is here, and our clubs have been flourishing so far.
In the Tinkering and Crafting Club, students have been involved in a variety of engaging projects. They have constructed slingshots using popsicle sticks and rubber bands alongside Lego figures. Additionally, we successfully created bouncy balls by applying the scientific method, which involved using a mold, adding sand, and incorporating water to shape the final product. This project was both fun and fulfilling.
On Wednesdays, the Gym Class Heroes Club enjoys the outdoors by participating in activities such as kickball and wall ball. These games, which include both team and individual sports, offer excellent opportunities for physical activity. We have provided the students with new balls to further enhance their enjoyment this spring and summer.
In the DIY Club, students have been experimenting with sensory art projects, including the creation of puffy art, which encourages creative sensory play. We have also begun using our new clay and craft oven to make Shrinky Dinks, adding another fun dimension to their creative endeavors.
Meanwhile, in the Journaling Club, students have been sharing their writings in a nurturing and comfortable setting. We have captured Polaroid photos of the students, which they have incorporated into their journals, allowing them to create lasting memories from our sessions. They have also enjoyed personalizing their journals to reflect their unique styles while responding to various writing prompts. This has fostered a wonderful sense of community and self-expression among the participants.
Meanwhile, in the Journaling Club, students have been sharing their writings in a nurturing and comfortable setting. We have captured Polaroid photos of the students, which they have incorporated into their journals, allowing them to create lasting memories from our sessions. They have also enjoyed personalizing their journals to reflect their unique styles while responding to various writing prompts. This has fostered a wonderful sense of community and self-expression among the participants.
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
Site Director: Deijah Euvrard
Provisional Site Director: Daniela Garcia
Provisional Assistant Director Maria Henriquez
Tanty Koita, Nehemie Simon, Mariah Jones, Seline Pierre, Leonardo Fuentes,Rosa Palma, Luz Janampa, Roxana Alfaro, Andrew Catallo, Ruolx Dorvilier, Finnegan Doherty
As we embrace the warmth of spring and all the blooming excitement that comes with it, we’re thrilled to share another month of fun, learning, and growth in our afterschool program. April is packed with creative projects, team-building activities, and plenty of opportunities for students to explore their passions. From outdoor adventures to hands-on crafts, we’re ready to make this month as vibrant and inspiring as the season itself.
Here’s a sneak peek at what this month has been like, and as always, thank you for being a part of our after-school community!
Pre-K/Kindergarten
This month, our Pre-K and K students have been tapping into their creativity and curiosity in truly wonderful ways across all of our clubs!
In Pencils and pallets club, they focused on drawing their favorite Disney characters—carefully observing shapes, colors, and expressions with incredible attention and joy. Over in our science-focused clubs, they took on the role of young scientists: asking questions, making predictions, and observing results with wide eyes and endless excitement.
Whether building, creating, acting, or problem-solving, our students have been putting their imaginations to the test—and having so much fun in the process!
With the arrival of spring, we've also been delighted to return to outdoor dismissal. The fresh air, blooming trees, and warm sunshine have made the end of each day even more special as students run, laugh, and enjoy the season together. It’s been a beautiful month filled with learning, playing, and growing!
1st Grade and 2nd grade
Our first and second graders have been busy enjoying a wide range of exciting activities over the past few days. From diving into new clubs to building important life skills, it’s been a month filled with discovery, growth, and plenty of fun.
One of the highlights has been the Master Chef Jr. Club, where students are learning to make healthy food choices while developing teamwork and communication skills in a hands-on kitchen setting. It's been a delightful blend of fun and valuable learning!
In addition, students have been staying active through clubs like Yoga and Sweat Squad, which help them build strength, improve focus, and boost overall fitness—all in an energetic, supportive environment. These activities are a great way to promote both physical and mental well-being.
It’s truly been a joyful and enriching month for our first and second graders, and we’re so proud of all they’re learning and accomplishing!
3rd-6th Grade
Our after-school program for our older Wildcats has been a huge hit this month, now that we’re about a month into our new clubs! Students have been diving into a variety of exciting topics while having fun with their friends. They've explored the world of superheroes, learned the fundamentals of Yoga, and even tackled the basics of American football. The fun didn’t stop there—they’ve also traveled back in time to discover pop culture from the 90s and gone even further to uncover all things dinosaurs! The kids have been highly engaged and are learning quickly. We’re excited to see what the rest of the session has in store for our curious Wildcats!
Important Reminders!:
Students go to East Somerville Park on Wednesdays
Outdoor Dismissal will be from @5:oo-5:30 at Otis St, Courtyard
Remind App- If you have not, please be sure to join our remind app for any updates and the best form of communication during the program
West Somerville Neighborhood School
West Somerville Neighborhood School
Site Director: Joshua Leibovitz
Provisional Site Director: Seana Read
Provisional Assistant Director: Yesenia Real
Jane Fabiano, Darly Pierre, Gianna Amari, Joseph Amari, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Katherine Yanes, Henry Duarte, Teodor Todorov, Frank Leone, Charles Brewer, Yasmin Almeida., Valerie Perez, Jennifer Posada, Xiomara Gutierrez, Jagdish Kaur
Can you believe it? April has flown by, and now we’re stepping into May before we know it; summer vacation will be here! It’s time to pack away those sweaters and break out the short sleeves and sunscreen. Afterschool at West has been incredible this year, and that’s all thanks to your ongoing support and the joy your children bring each day.
Let’s roll out the red carpet, our Pre-K friends are taking the stage! They’ve been having a blast from the past with Ms. Jane and Ms. Darly, exploring the world of beepers, flip phones, and even playing some old-school Splat. The kids have been loving it, though some are convinced we grew up in the dinosaur era! When they’re not exploring the past, they’re busy making giant bubbles that float with the wind, mastering new yoga poses, and playing balloon volleyball. One thing’s for sure when they head home, they’ve definitely earned a long nap!
Next up, our Kindergarten through 2nd grade explorers! They’ve been diving into exciting new clubs and loving every minute. In Passport Adventure, students are traveling the globe, learning about different cultures and traditions, and best of all, tasting the food! They recently “visited” Italy and made their own pizzas (turns out pineapple and anchovies are not for everyone!). Rainbow Art Club saw plenty of experimentation with papier-mâché, paints and construction paper as students brought a rainbow of color onto their page while relaxing and chatting with friends. Meanwhile, in Secret Agent Club, our young spies are training to be the next Agent 007. From decoding messages and solving mysteries Scooby-Doo style to sneaking through “laser” security during an art heist, the fun never stops. Don’t worry, homework comes first, and we promise no real lasers are used in the making of these missions!
Spring has sprung, and our 3rd through 6th graders are blooming with energy, creativity, and connection! One of the most heartwarming parts of this month has been watching our older students step up as leaders and role models during club time with the younger grades. It’s a truly special opportunity—not only are they setting a great example, but many are also getting the chance to bond with their younger siblings. It’s moments like these that show the strength and spirit of our community in action. We’re so proud of their kindness, patience, and mentorship. We were also thrilled to host our very first Gardening Club, led by a visiting parent! Students had a blast learning all about plant propagation, how to nurture a seed into a sprout, and creative ways to bring greenery into their homes with low-maintenance plants. In Career Quest Club, students have been diving into big dreams and real-life inspiration. From firefighters to nurses, they’ve been learning about the everyday heroes in our very own neighborhood—and how their unique skills make a difference; it’s never too early to start imagining the impact we can have on the world. And of course, our other clubs are keeping minds and bodies active! In Parkour Club, students are jumping, climbing, and challenging themselves with agility and confidence. Beading Club has been a creative haven, where kids design their own wearable art. Meanwhile, Myths and Legends Club is taking us on epic journeys through ancient stories and heroic adventures from cultures around the world. Here’s to another month of growth, discovery, and connection!
Page updated
Report abuse