Rosanna Paribello, Director
Main Office, 167 Holland St. Rm 132- Somerville, MA Adriana Guereque, Assistant Directo
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
Students all around the world celebrated the benefits of Social Emotional Learning on SEL day, which occurred on March 3rd. This year’s theme was “Skills for Success, Ready for the Future'' to emphasize how developing SEL skills equips us to navigate daily challenges and be successful in our lives. Part of what makes SEL so valuable is that it acknowledges that all learning is social and emotional. SEL fosters our positive relationships with others, strengthens our ability to be kind and empathic, and creates a beneficial environment for academic growth and progress. In addition, research shows that connection to a safe, supportive, and inclusive school community is key to future achievement. We are proud to be a part of your students’ community and play a role in their success by teaching and supporting SEL at all of our sites!
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 March Argenziano families!! Session 2 is coming to an end and we will be starting Session 3 clubs next week! We had lots of fun and learned new skills this session but are looking forward to the warmer spring weather and diving into new clubs. 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 March everyone! This past month, the pre-k students have been working on their math and pattern recognition skills by learning card games such as Uno, Go Fish!, Slapjack, and memory match. They have also used their imaginations to creatively explore mythical creatures by building their own unicorns, making mermaids out of gluten-free play dough, and twisting pipe cleaners together to make mini fairies. Finally, we explored the changing of the seasons by making bird, butterfly, and bug crafts and moving our bodies with plant life cycle yoga. Happy spring!
K-2nd grade (Ms. Etta, Ms. Lauren, Ms. Sana):
Happy March! Our K-2nd kids have been enjoying the additional daylight and warm weather every chance we get. In Soccer Stars, our students have been showing amazing growth in their skills and abilities on the field, while having fun with friends and working on their sportsmanship. Students have been able to explore their creative and relaxation skills in Peaceful Painting, where we talked about mixing different paint colors, using different tools such as crayons and different brushes to incorporate in your art, and having the freedom to work on your own ideas as well. Reading Corner was another great club this session, giving students the chance to unwind in a quiet space, practice their reading skills, while also spending time with friends. We are excited to see what new activities and adventures we will have in Session 3!
3rd-5th (Ms. Ana & Ms. Ileana):
In Lego Building, students have been enjoying expressing their creativity and teamwork skills by working together to build Lego creations! Each week we've explored different themes and let students have time to socialize with new and old friends, and the opportunities to come up with their own ideas and creations. Gym Games has been another fun club each week where kids release their energy, learn new sports skills, and enjoy time with friends.
In Lego Building, students have been enjoying expressing their creativity and teamwork skills by working together to build Lego creations! Each week we've explored different themes and let students have time to socialize with new and old friends, and the opportunities to come up with their own ideas and creations. Gym Games has been another fun club each week where kids release their energy, learn new sports skills, and enjoy time with friends.
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,
Happy Spring Hawks!
The sun is shining and we are enjoying all the warmer moments we have had this month. Students' spirits are lifting now that the clocks have been turned and we can enjoy the playground again for dismissal.As a reminder to families, when you arrive for dismissal, if students are on the playground, please continue to sign them out in the cafeteria before leaving.We wrapped up our session 2 clubs this month and started our final session of clubs for the year. Can you believe in just 2.5 months this year is over? Check out of teachers below for what to expect in session 3!
Mrs. Suri (PreK)
Peek has spent the month of March learning about different types of animals. We focused on animals that hibernate and animals that migrate. We loved learning how animals like bears survive the winter and where animals like birds travel when it gets cold. We recently started exploring things that move and had so much fun making airplanes. We have done a lot of playing this month and discovered we have some puzzle pros in PreK!
Ms. Maria (K-2nd)
Comic book creation
The club's objective is to create a comic book. The students have been working really hard to create their comic. As we get towards the end of the semester, we can really see how their stories have been evolving. I can see that they really enjoyed being in this club and I hope to teach this club aging in the future for the kids that didn’t have the opportunity to join us this semester. /
Crafts
So far in this club we have been able been going great. We have been able to great several creative crafts. Sometimes they think the crafts are going to be easy to make but when they actually start doing crafts, they realize that it’s gets a little bit challenging. This makes the final project even more rewarding.
Hero’s power
It’s no secret that the gym related clubs are always the student's favorite. They view this time to play these favorite games while being with their friends. We came a long way since the first class, and I hope they enjoyed playing the new games we had.
Board games genius
Board game genius is one of favorite class among the students. They enjoy playing the games, but they also use this opportunity to be social with their friends. They have more freedom to actually interact with friends of the choice and play the games they are more interested in.
Painting
Sometimes this class gets little bit messy but that also means that their paints have the best they can imagine. They really enjoy mixing different colors together and that always leaves us with the most colorful designs. I hope they pursue paint as a hobby.
Mr. T (3rd-6th)
I cannot believe spring is right around the corner! Our session 2 winter clubs have been a blast, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that I am ready for the weather to consistently warm up and to get outside a whole lot more! Here is a little information about what we have been up to lately in 3rd-6th grade:
Over the past couple of months in Master of Games club, students have enjoyed playing different types of board games and "Jeopardy" as a whole group. For the past two weeks, I even created a "Healey School" themed Jeopardy game that incorporated facts about students, teachers, and random information about the school. We had so many laughs and the kids had a great time guessing the correct clues about some of their classmates! In Art with Fruit, we made hedgehogs, rocket ships, bunnies, and so much more using several types of fruit (and chocolate chips)! Mr. Walters and I were always so pleasantly surprised to see that all the fruit would get eaten each week and none of it would ever go to waste. Lastly, in my Flag Football club, the kids have done a fabulous job of displaying sportsmanship and learning how to play different positions on the field.
Looking ahead to Session 3, I will be offering a Trivia masters club, where I will test the students' knowledge on various topics. In Mr. T's All Stars, we will hopefully get to go outside to play different "gym-themed" games. Lastly, I will be running a club entitled "Michelangelo Magic", in which students and I will use clay/Model Magic to make different crafts and sculptures. See you all then!
-Mr. T
Mr. Alex (3rd-6th)
Myths & Legends: The 3rd-6th grade students have been having a great time in Myths & Legends club. In the first few meetings, we discovered the creation story of the ancient Greeks, including the creation of the first human-like beings by Mother Earth and Father Sky - the Titans. We explored the myths of the Titans and Cronus, the creation of the cyclops, and the pantheon of gods and goddesses. Then, we delved a bit into each of the gods and goddesses of this pantheon, and their related stories, including Perseus and Medusa, and Hades and Demeter. Last week, we had a massive game of gods and goddesses dodgeball, in which each student chose to be a certain god or goddess from the pantheon - the dodgeballs became their unique powers, and "temples" were built (forts) and the gods and goddesses were "resurrected" after getting tagged out. For our final meeting of the club,students were able to brainstorm and create their own god or goddess, assign it special powers, a lineage, traits, and weapons and tools, and be able to share this creation and their own myth surrounding this character to the other students! It was a blast having your kids in Myths and Legends club this session!
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
SPRING FORWARD! Brown Afterschool has anticipated the longer days that spring brings. We’re eager to begin our final session of clubs that are filled with nature inspired activities and appreciation for our outdoor neighborhood community spaces. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s review what we’ve been up to in session two. Session two flew right by! This club session was jam-packed with great activities and fun! Let’s highlight a few as we say goodbye to Session Two!
First up is Snowscape. Snowscape is a K-2 club led by Ms. Ashley, here are some highlights she’d like to share: "Another amazing session is in the books. This time around the students learned all sorts of new art techniques as well as challenging themselves with different movements. Creative Collaboration challenged their creativity by working together, while movement games made them challenge their abilities of teamwork. Snowscape was all about having snowless fun in the winter with some fun, creative and exciting crafts like button snowflakes. They learned all sorts of mixed media arts and craft styles. Full STEAM Ahead challenged their minds as well as their thought process to create some amazing scientific crafts. We learned all about space, volcanoes, and animal life cycles. We were able to learn all sorts of new things while having fun at the same time. I am so excited for the fun and learning to continue in session 3."
Next is Reader’s Theater. Reader’s Theater is a 3-5 club led by Mrs. Phillips, here are some highlights she’d like to share: “Reader’s Theater was offered to our 3-5 group in hopes to give students the opportunity to collaborate and bring stories to life through expressive reading, imagination and fun! Over the weeks students in this club learned how to read, interpret and perform different types of scripts. For our final project, students were tasked to collaborate, create props and perform their very own scripts! This was an absolutely amazing experience to observe the club goers amongst three different grades working together and building confidence!”
Yippee! We’ve received an update on the Young Artists: Monster Madness Contest! Many of our after school students received a copy of the book series that featured their creation. A copy of the book series with the featured creations have been added to the Brown School library.
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
Spring into Learning and Fun! As the seasons change and the weather warms up, our afterschool program is buzzing with excitement. March has been a wonderful time of growth, exploration, and hands-on learning for our students. We are so proud of their enthusiasm and creativity as they engage in new activities every day.
Our young PreK students have been diving into the world of dinosaurs, exploring different species, habitats, and fossils. Through interactive lessons and hands-on activities, students have been making their art dinosaurs, and learning fun dinosaur facts. Their curiosity and excitement make learning a thrilling adventure. Letter tracing has never been more exciting and whipped cream has taken over. Our students have been strengthening their writing skills in a fun and delicious way—using whipped cream! This sensory activity has been a huge hit, helping little learners develop fine motor skills while having a blast. The giggles and smiles say it all.
Clubs all around us are also having a blast. Indoor soccer, as always, is always a fun time with friendly scrimmages taking place led by our very own soccer stars. Our space explorers are ending the session off with having the opportunity to take a look into space with a microscope and MetroRock is finishing strong by participating in the big course.
As we wrap up another season of afterschool clubs, we want to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students and instructors. From music and art to sports and STEM, each club has provided enriching experiences that have helped students build skills, confidence, and friendships. We’re so grateful for another successful session and look forward to what Session 3 will bring us.
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
March is a month of change. The length of the day is increasing at the fastest rate of the entire year. Daylight savings start at the same time that it is light later, adding to the feeling of change. The weather is also getting warmer but is very changeable. At the Capuano, classes have been doing activities centered around Daylight Savings, Frogs, Spring, Dinosaurs, Friendship, Safari, and Houses Around the World.
Speaking of change, we also have two new teachers, Ms. Yes and Ms. Rute. Both new teachers are in the Kindergarten classroom, welcome!
Classes have been doing lots of reading and activities. They have read a diverse selection of books like “Telling Time with Big Mama Cat” by Dan Harper, “From Frog to Tadpole” by Wendy Pfeffer, “Sammy and the Dinosaurs” by Bernard Most, “The Three Little Pigs” by Steven Kellogg, and “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, a true classic. Projects related to the readings have included a day and night sorting, coloring, cutting and pasting activity, a frog life cycle project, making a fantasy T-Rex, making and painting a cardboard house, making animal paper plate masks, making safari binoculars and making strawberry friendship patch paintings.
Classes have been doing lots of reading and activities. They have read a diverse selection of books like “Telling Time with Big Mama Cat” by Dan Harper, “From Frog to Tadpole” by Wendy Pfeffer, “Sammy and the Dinosaurs” by Bernard Most, “The Three Little Pigs” by Steven Kellogg, and “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, a true classic. Projects related to the readings have included a day and night sorting, coloring, cutting and pasting activity, a frog life cycle project, making a fantasy T-Rex, making and painting a cardboard house, making animal paper plate masks, making safari binoculars and making strawberry friendship patch paintings.
The children play and have fun-time too – children build fantasy toys with our manipulatives during choice time at the beginning and end of the day, and classes are getting outside more and more frequently.
March is passing by. By the time you read this, Spring will be here!
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
March is off to a busy start but we are excited for warmer weather, more outside time, gardening, and a lot more!
I wanted to extend a thank you to all families who have purchased stuff for us off our wish list, it is all very appreciated!
Ms. Laura’s Clubs
Kids in Laura's clubs are having lots of fun! In Life Size Art, we have hung our indoor story walk. Passing students and teachers have been curious and have enjoyed reading the story. We have been making cool structures and reading about architecture, too. In Free the Books, kids have been making more great art related to the books we have been reading. Kids Changing the World club kids have been making designs inspired by book covers. In Designing for Good, kids are excited about finishing their book. Chill Out Club kids have been relaxing and reading on bean bags. Also, they have made beautiful mandalas with glitter, colored pencils and small beads. Everyone is tapping into their creativity and making amazing art.
Ms. Dinka’s Clubs
Unbelievable but we are at the end of session 2.
Students at ASL club have demonstrated a high interest in learning mostly basic words but with great pleasure.
Students can sing: their name, alphabet, numbers, colors, members of the family, numbers 1-20 and a bunch of animals too.
Communication from a distance without interruptions or knowing more about this community was the primary purpose and it was successfully completed. At our last hour we had a guest, Ms. Sunny, the Library aide at the Kennedy, who speaks sign language. Students enjoyed the conversation and signed together. What a lovely relationship was built.
Ms. Emmaline’s Clubs
Ms. Emmaline has really enjoyed sharing her passion of quilting and knitting with the students. We have been hard at work learning how to use a sewing machine to create our after school quilt. Along with quilt making, students are also learning how to knit scarves. They are knitting during snack, free time, while waiting for their turn on the sewing machine, and some are even taking their knits home to work on them. Students are now to the point of teaching eachother how to knit. Ms. Emmaline is so proud of how passionate these students are and is so excited to see what else we can create together!
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
We are thrilled to introduce our newest therapeutic specialist, Finnegan Doherty! We are so excited to have him join our team, and we know he will be a fantastic addition to our community.
As we welcome the long-awaited month of March, the promise of spring is just around the corner. Can you believe it? After such a wonderful and unforgettable winter season, we're eager to dive into all the exciting activities, events, and updates planned for this month.
We’ve loved every moment of the winter, but we’re more than ready to keep the momentum going with all the fun and learning awaiting our after-school students in March! Stay tuned for what's to come – it's going to be a month to remember!
Pre-K/Kindergarten
March Brings New Adventures and Possibilities!
Our preschool and kindergarten students are especially excited about the month of March! Not only are we welcoming the start of Session 3, but we’re also opening up the possibility of exploring new clubs. Our little learners have shared their enthusiasm for the current activities and are eager to dive into something fresh!
During session two, our students had a great time exploring their creativity through a variety of exciting clubs:
🎨 Art Club
In Art Club, the students brought their wildest imaginations to life, creating beautiful drawings on canvas and experimenting with various art techniques. The artwork they produced was nothing short of inspiring!
🎬 Cinema Kids Club
In Cinema Kids, our budding filmmakers learned video editing skills, adding background sounds, images, and effects to their previous recordings using the green screen. The creativity flowing in this club was amazing, and it’s clear that many future directors and editors are in the making!
🛠️ Deilab Club
In Deilab, the students explored the world of engineering and design by building complex structures using Legos. They especially loved creating “claws” and exploring how things work, while developing their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
🏃 Parkour Sessions at East Somerville Park
With the arrival of warmer weather, our students have been spending time outdoors, participating in fun and challenging parkour sessions at East Somerville Park. They’ve been discovering new ways to move and push their limits while getting active and having fun with friends.
It’s been an unforgettable session filled with creativity, learning, and plenty of fun. Our students have truly blossomed through their activities, and we’re excited to see where Session 3 will take them next as they embark on new club adventures!
1st Grade
First Graders' Fun-Filled Session Wrap-Up
Our first graders had an absolute blast this session, and we couldn’t be more excited to share their journey with you! They were all smiles in our Little Builders, Mini Challengers, and Origami clubs, each offering a unique blend of learning and excitement. Here’s a quick recap of their adventures:
🧱 Little Builders Club
In Little Builders, our students’ imaginations were put to the test as they constructed incredible structures. From towering castles to intricate bridges, the creativity and problem-solving skills on display were truly impressive. Who knew building could be so fun?
⏱️ Mini Challengers Club
In Mini Challengers, the pace was fast, and the challenges were even faster! Our first graders took on exciting activities that tested their speed, agility, and creativity. Whether it was a timed race or a brain-teasing puzzle, they worked together to overcome every obstacle with energy and teamwork.
📄 Origami Club
Origami Club was a big hit, with students folding paper into intricate shapes, from cranes to flowers, with each fold a new lesson in patience and precision. The club was a fantastic opportunity for them to explore both art and mathematics in a hands-on way!
It’s been a session full of creativity, laughter, and lots of learning. Our first graders have shown incredible growth, both individually and as a team. We can’t wait to see what the next session has in store for them
3rd-6th Grade
As we wrap up an amazing Session 2, we want to extend a huge thank you to all the students for their hard work and enthusiasm! From hands-on projects to exciting challenges, it's been a fantastic few months of growth and fun.
Now, we’re gearing up for Session 3, starting next week! With the weather getting nicer, our Wildcats are eager to spend even more time outside. We've got even more exciting activities and new experiences in store, and we can't wait to dive in! Let’s make Session 3 the best one yet!
2nd Grade
Our second graders have had a blast exploring all the exciting clubs the after-school program offered this Session 2! They’ve truly embraced the challenges and opportunities, but many are already excited for what’s coming next in Session 3. One standout favorite has been Kickstart Kids club, where students not only learned essential skills like ball control, dribbling, and passing, but also teamwork, discipline, and respect.
While they’re sad to say goodbye to fun clubs like Pokemon Master and Smash Bros, they’re definitely ready to tackle new adventures and challenges in the upcoming session. We can’t wait to see what new opportunities Session 3 holds for these eager learners!
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
If you haven’t noticed yet, winter has finally packed its bags, and spring is here, ready to shine on us! With the warmer weather, jackets are being put away, and spring cleaning is just around the corner. Afterschool at West has been amazing indoors, but now it's time to let the kiddos run free on the playground and enjoy the sunshine—maybe even catch a glimpse of a rainbow above us!
Our Pre-K students have been especially excited to see more sun and enjoy the fresh air during dismissal. They’ve been having a blast learning how to play soccer and football, saying goodbye to the snow, and gearing up for their next big adventure with Kindergarten, Here I Come! —because let’s be honest, they all want to grow up so fast! When they’re not outside playing tag with Ms. Jane, they’re busy perfecting their dance routine for Sing 3! That’s right—you heard it here first! Our students will be featured on the big screen, teaching the new dance routine for the movie. We couldn’t be prouder of them!
Our Kinder, 1st & 2nd graders are getting ready to say farewell to their Session 2 clubs and hello to a brand new roster of options in the final session of the school year. As International Dance Club wraps up its second session, we’re taking a flight back home to the United States and North America, celebrating our roots through movement and rhythm. Meanwhile, in Winter Wonder, students are making the most of the chilly season before spring arrives—building igloos out of marshmallows and LEGO before the "warm weather" melts them away! Over in Basketball Club, it’s game time! Players are putting their hard-earned skills to the test in an exciting final matchup. STEAM Club has been a hub of creativity and innovation, where students designed sturdy bridges, built speedy cars, created mesmerizing lava lamps, and even painted with shaving cream! It’s been a fantastic session full of learning, laughter, and hands-on fun!
March was an action-packed month for our 3rd–6th graders, with clubs bringing creativity, strategy, and teamwork to life! In Marble Racing, students engineered thrilling race tracks using recycled materials, testing gravity and speed in exciting competitions. Our Kid Detectives cracked secret codes and mastered disguise techniques in their spy-themed adventures. The laughs never stopped in Live from Afterschool, where students wrote and performed hilarious sketch comedy skits. The Art of Discovery blended creativity and science with colorful chromatography experiments and nature-inspired paintings. Skillers
Soccer players sharpened their dribbling and passing skills through fun challenges and mini-matches. Comic Book Club members crafted their heroes and villains, bringing original stories to life, while Dungeons & Dragons adventurers embarked on epic quests, using teamwork and imagination to navigate magical worlds. These are only a few of the exciting clubs we have here at Afterschool, with many other exciting activities happening simultaneously each day. It’s been a fantastic month, and we can’t wait for more fun ahead!
Page updated
Report abuse