It may be Back to School time, but choosing a school to send your child to can happen any time throughout the school year. Whether your child is moving on from daycare, elementary, middle school, or simply a better educational fit is needed, searching for one can be a complicated…
Read MoreNew York State Summer EBT Food Benefits: Who is Eligible & How to Redeem Them
New York State Summer EBT Food Benefits: Who is Eligible & How to Redeem Them School is out for summer, but hungry bellies don’t take vacations. Starting this month, New York State is providing eligible families with food benefits via the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program to alleviate…
Read MoreHow to Stay Cool in and Around NYC During a Heat Wave
[caption id="attachment_392410" align="alignnone" width="724"] Getty Images[/caption] How to Stay Cool in and Around NYC During a Heat Wave Summer is officially here, and the heat is on. Last week, NYC experienced a 4-day heat wave or “extreme heat event,” with triple-digit heat indexes and temperatures into the 90s. We are…
Read MoreChoosing a Middle or High School in New York: Helpful Tips & Guide
[caption id="attachment_365918" align="alignnone" width="795"] Photo by Max Fischer/pexels.com[/caption] Choosing a Middle or High School in New York: Helpful Tips & Guide As the parent of a child in high school and another in middle school, I can tell you these are some important years. Your babies have outgrown their baby…
Read MoreFight Summer Learning Loss (a.k.a. the Summer Slide)
It’s July, summer is in full swing and kids are having fun! This is certainly the time of year for beachy days, swimming and more warm-weather fun, but it also tasks parents with fighting the “summer slide”—a decline in learning and academic skills that some kids might experience during the…
Read MoreStaten Island Stores Offering Free or Cheap Classes for Kids
Things are expensive these days, even when it comes to fun recreation activities for kids. But did you know there are many major retailers on Staten Island that offer free or cheap classes for kids? It’s true! From craft classes to digital design workshops, there are many retailers on the…
Read MoreCatholic Schools: Everything You Need to Know
Catholic Schools: Everything You Need to Know Choosing a school for your child is always a time-consuming, challenging process. If you have been considering a Catholic School future for your child - to save you time (and stress!), we’ve got the scoop on Catholic Schools in New York City…
Read More12 Free Things To Do with Toddlers on Staten Island
Looking for some fun, free things to do with your little one? Well look no more! We put together some awesome activities you can do with your toddler on Staten Island that are fun, educational, engaging—and free! There are so many free activities for toddlers on Staten Island that can…
Read MoreHow to Help Your Child Become an Excellent Reader
A child who excels in reading can excel in almost anything! There are so many benefits to consider when it comes to reading. Children who read often increase their vocabulary, expand their knowledge and see an improvement in their overall academic performance. And there are many fun ways you can…
Read More40+ Fun and Free or Cheap Things to Do with Kids in Staten Island
They say the best things in life are free! If your family is saving up for an exciting vacation or a few fun road trips this year, every cent counts. That’s why we’ve rounded up a bunch of our favorite local activities you can do with your kids throughout the…
Read MoreNYPL is Giving Away 500,000 Free Books This Summer
Oh summer! It’s wonderful. And nothing says summer quite like lounging on the beach with a gripping novel. And this year, beach reading is even better, as the New York Public Library (NYPL) launches its Summer at the Library initiative. As part of the initiative, families can enjoy a suite…
Read MoreHuguenot Mom Pens Children’s Book About a Sneaky Squirrel
Maria Dellaventura, a Huguenot resident, loves squirrels. So much so that an adorable squirrel is the star of her new, self-published children's book Nobody Likes a Pest. About Nobody Likes a Pest The story is about Sneaky Seymour, a very neighborhood-savvy squirrel who's always looking for a snack. As a…
Read More14 Engaging Activities for Toddlers on Staten Island
Activities for toddlers on Staten Island If you have a toddler, you probably search often for things to do together that are fun, engaging and educational. There are many options for activities such as this on Staten Island where your child can play, learn and discover. A bonus is that…
Read More12 Inexpensive Activities for Teens on Staten Island
Inexpensive Activities for Teens on Staten Island With all of life’s demands, it can sometimes be hard to spend enough time together as a family. As a parent, you worry about paying bills, work, school and so much more. Creating more family time is even more challenging if you have…
Read MoreNew Charleston Library Opens on Staten Island
Calling all bookworms! The New York Public Library (NYPL) opened the brand-new Charleston Library today on the South Shore, and it's a must-see for Staten Islanders of all ages! Voracious readers will love the extensive book collection, which features approximately 20,000 covers. But there's more to check out here than…
Read MoreYour Guide to Staten Island Libraries: Hours, Locations and More
Did you know that there are 14 libraries on Staten Island? It's true! And these days, libraries offer so much more than just really good reads for all ages, including kids. Staten Island libraries provide access to computer technology, periodicals, and other forms of media to educate and entertain. Whether…
Read MoreNew Yorkers Can Rejoice: No More Late Fees at the NYC’s Public Libraries
NYC’s public libraries will no longer charge late fees for overdue books and other circulating materials, library and city officials announced this week. Existing overdue charges have been erased from all patron accounts, allowing New Yorkers a clean slate at the library. All three of the city’s library systems—New York…
Read MoreAquariums Near Staten Island
Dive into an undersea adventure at one of these aquariums near Staten Island in New Jersey or New York, where your family will encounter sharks, sting rays, moon jellies, clown fish, whales and other marine life. Rainy day or you just don't feel like going out? Scroll down for some…
Read MoreNYPL Libraries in Staten Island
[one-half-first] North Shore Branches St. George Library Center Children’s Room/Media 5 Central Avenue • 718 442-8560 Mon 8-8 • Tues 8-8 • Wed 8-8 • Thurs 8-8 • Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-5 Port Richmond Library 75 Bennett Street • 718 442-0158 Mon 10-6 • Tues 10-6 • Wed 10-6…
Read MoreMayor Bill de Blasio Announces Free Childcare for 100,000 NYC Students
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that NYC will provide free childcare for 100,000 students on the days they are not learning in classrooms to help families manage the hybrid online and in-person schooling in the fall, according to AMNY. The city will utilize community centers, libraries, cultural organizations,…
Read MoreHow to Borrow Library Books in Staten Island During Covid-19
This summer of social distancing is the perfect time to create (and finish) a summer reading list—whether it's for you or for your child. Luckily, some New York public libraries have recently opened for curbside pickup so you can safely borrow as many books as your heart desires. Safely Visiting…
Read MoreAt-Home Learning Throughout Summer
With the majority of schools across the country closed, many parents are feeling the stress of taking more active roles in their children’s education. As time away from the classroom extends into summer, parents also face the challenge of helping their children maintain what they’ve learned through a summer of…
Read MoreTeachers’ Top Needs for 2019
Great classrooms don’t happen by accident. Teachers across the country work hard to build vibrant, energizing learning environments for their students, which often means everything from microscopes to pipe cleaners, graphic novels to oboes, class pets to field trips and much more. As a result, teachers spend more than $1…
Read MoreSummer Library Reading Kickoff Parties
Kick off your summer reading adventures with exciting parties at every local library in Staten Island. Here’s this year’s lineup. Click here for hours, locations and phone numbers for individual branches. Dongan Hills Library • Thursday, June 6 • 1pm & 3:30pm 1pm: Explore the science involved in rocket construction…
Read MoreToy Drives, Food Pantries and Other Volunteer/Donation Opportunities in Staten Island for the Holidays
Toy Drives, Food Pantries and Other Volunteer/Donation Opportunities in Staten Island for the Holidays The holiday season is a wonderful time to show how thankful you are for life’s blessings by giving to those who are less fortunate. There are many ways to give back to the community and plenty…
Read More12 Weeks of Summer – Week 4!
Summer is only 12 weeks long, so get out and enjoy as much of it as you can with your family before you blink and it's over. Staten Island is home to are TONS of events, (even FREE ones) including classic favorites mixed with some exciting new offerings, to keep…
Read More12 Weeks of Summer! Week 1
Summer starts this week! The kids are still in school but the last day is so close you can practically taste it. Long days at the pool or beach, warm summer nights laughing with friends, lazy mornings sleeping in and watching cartoons, ice cold popsicles for snack time...it's all right…
Read MoreTake Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
Empowering Kids for a Bright Future Despite significant strides in recent years, women today earn twenty-one percent less than men according to a March 8, 2017, report by Sonam Sheth and Skye Gould on BusinessInsider. Women also continue to be underrepresented in the boardroom, top executive positions, and the fast-growing…
Read MoreLibrary Card Sign-up Month
“A library card,” says the American Library Association, “is the most important school supply of all.” September marks not only the start of a new school year. It is Library Card Sign-up Month, which began in 1987, when Secretary of Education William J. Bennett said “Let's have a national campaign...every…
Read MoreCommunity & School News July 2016
Fourth of July Travis Parade Happy Independence Day! The annual Fourth of July Travis Parade is celebrating its 106th anniversary this July. The parade is one of the longest running Independence Day celebrations in the country. This year’s Grand Marshal will be NYC Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo. The ceremony…
Read More2018 Summer Reading Programs
It's no easy task to keep your kids reading regularly (or at all) once school is out for summer. While some kids are natural readers, others may need a little extra motivation to crack open a book during the break. So here's a list of reading programs that offer up…
Read MoreMommy and Me Classes for Baby and You
Babies. There’s so much build-up to their arrival: nine months of pregnancy, the baby shower, the nursery, the baby-moon, the overflow of excitement, the nerves, the excruciating labor. At the end of it all, there’s a baby – this tiny crying, cooing, peeing, pooping, milk-drinking, sleeping blob of cute. After…
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