North Shore Children & Families May 2012

FREE!North Shore

Children Families

www.northshorefamilies.com

&IN THIS ISSUE

The online and print forum promoting the development of children, families and the parents who care for them.

Higher Education:What's A CollegeEducation For?

How Are We Doing?What to Look ForIs College A GoodFinancial Investment?

What Parents Can Do Now

Summer Camps& Programs Showcase!

Community CalendarEducation Feature:Austin Preparatory School

Reader Contest!See page 2!

MAY 2012

Family & Friends

Celebrating All North Shore Moms!

2 North Shore Children & Families

by Suzanne Provencher, Publisher

Happy Mother’sDay to allNorth ShoreMoms!Whether youare Mom,Mommy, Mother,Mama, Ma, Mere,Maman, Madre, Mamma –or Nanna, Nan, Nana,Grammy, Grandma, Grandmother,Granny, Nonna, Nonni, Ya-ya, Memere,Abuela, Babushka – or Auntie,Guardian, Mentor, Teacher or Friend –here’s wishing all Moms andcaretakers throughout the North

Shore a very Happy Mother’s Day!

50: I’d also like to wish some of myoldest and dearest friends a veryhappy 50th birthday in May! Thisis the year of the BIG ONE formany of my friends…and me – so

HappyBirthday to

Marybeth &Donna onMay 14 – andHappyBirthday to Tylaon May 17!Thanks, girls, forleading the way and

going therebefore me! I’llcatch up withyou soon…too soon…howdid we get hereso fast?

We have anothercontest to enter thismonth! Look for the contest“ad” on this page to see how you

can enter to win a pair oftickets to see a musical at

North Shore Music Theatre inBeverly! The deadline to enter isMay 25, only one entry per person,

please – and good luck to all whoenter!

Last chance for summer camps& programs! If you are a parent

looking for a camp or summerprogram – see pages 12-16 in thisissue – and register soon asenrollments are filling up fast! Or ifyou have a summer camp or programand if you still have enrollments to fill– our final camp showcase for thisseason will appear in our 2-monthSummer issue! To appear in ourSummer issue camp showcase, pleasesee below for the deadlines for ournext issue.

Note to All Advertisers: Our nextissue is our Summer issue –which covers 2 months – JuneAND July. Our Summer issue has abonus printing so that we may restockour highest traffic distributionlocations in early July (for our regularrates!). Our Summer issue alsofeatures our final Summer Camps &Programs Showcase for this season (seeour May Showcase in this issue!) – so ifyou need to advertise in Juneand/or July – you’ll want to planahead to advertise in ourSummer issue, as we do not havea separate July issue. To advertisein our 2-month Summer issue,please contact Suzanne byWednesday, May 16, if you requireour ad production assistance – orby noon, Friday, May 18, if you willbe submitting a completed ad byMay 22.

Thanks for spending some timewith us again – and HappyMother’s Day!

Until next month – Suzanne

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North Shore Children & Families 3

Letter from the Publisher

by Suzanne Provencher, Publisher

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

– Malcolm X

This month I am sitting in on this page for our editor, Michael F. Mascolo, PhD.As a college psychology professor at a local college on the North Shore, he isvery busy with his own students as another school year winds down.

The articles he shares in this issue are filled with lots of good information andtips for parents who are starting to think about college educations for theirchildren. And since he is a college professor and parent himself, who better toshare some inside scoop with all of you?

First up, he addresses what a college education is really for – which maysurprise some of you and add new insight that will help you navigate thisimportant and intricate process before you even know where your child mightwant to go – or where they should go.

Next, he shares some facts and statistics that rate how institutions of higherlearning are actually doing – with tips to improve your child’s collegeexperience wherever they decide to go. He also suggests the things that you

and your child should be looking at and for in the educational experience, withsome insider insight that will really give you some things to think about as youbegin your search.

Finally, he asks the question: Is college a good financial investment?Considering the high costs associated with a college education, along with theworst employment outlook in years, how much you invest should beapproached like any sound financial decision – with consideration to the ROI,the rate of return on your investment. A college education is one of the mostexpensive “purchases” that you will make, beyond your home. What is theearning potential in the field your child may pursue? Is the job outlook goodin that field now and in the coming years? To spend $160K on a 4-year collegeeducation – only to be facing a job market that will pay you $30K per year tostart, if you can even find a job – may make you think more about where andhow much you should spend.

The bottom line: research, visit campuses early, explore your financial aidoptions and meet the application deadlines. Explore scholarship opportunitieswith your child’s high school guidance department, as there are hundreds oflocal scholarships that many don’t even know exist. So ask. Inquire with youremployer and any organizations you or your children belong to, as many havescholarships available for children of employees and members. And apply foras many as you qualify for. Consider student loans. Touring a campus is notenough. Meet the professors in your child’s desired area of study. Sit in on afew classes. Is it a boring lecture – or are the students invigorated and

North Shore Children & Families

A publication of North Shore Ink, LLC© 2012. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in full or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Suzanne M. ProvencherPublisher/Co-Founder/Managing Partner

[email protected]

Michael F. Mascolo, PhD Editor/Co-Founder/Partner

[email protected]

Designed by Group One GraphicsPrinted by Seacoast Media Group

Please see our Calendar in this issue for our upcoming deadlines.

Published and distributed monthly throughout the North Shore, 10x per year, and always online.

All articles are written by Michael F. Mascolo, PhD unless otherwise credited.

Information contained in NSC&F is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Individual readers are responsible for their use of any information provided. NSC&F is not liable or responsible for the effects of use of information contained in NSC&F.

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Where to Find UsNorth Shore Children & Families is available

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Our free, monthly parenting publication is available at North Shorelibraries, schools, pediatric doctor & dentist offices, hospitals, pre-schools,

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You can find us from route 93 in Woburn – north to the Andovers & NH border –east to Newburyport & Salisbury – south to Gloucester & Cape Ann –

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Higher Education

Continued on page 19


Higher Education

by Michael F. Mascolo, PhD

Why go to college? The answer seems so obvious. We go to college in orderto prepare for a career. We go to college so that we can get a job, to makemoney, to raise a family and so forth. That’s certainly what many (if not most)of my students say.

To be sure, college has practical value. Going to college to prepare for a careeris an important reason for going to college. But it is not the only reason.Paradoxically, students who attend college for the express purpose of preparingfor a career tend to perform more poorly than students who attend college forother reasons. They may also be even less likely to gain meaningful employmentafter college. Why is this? Because career preparation alone does not preparepeople for the workplace! Ask employers about what they are looking for incollege graduates. Ask them what they think of current college graduates.Many will tell you that they feel that many college graduates lack basic skills thatare necessary in the workplace. These include higher-order literacy skills; skillsin oral and written communication; mathematical and quantitative literacy;creativity; adaptive problem solving; the capacity for critical analysis; and evenbasic background knowledge. These are not career-specific skills. The skills thatemployers want are those that are associated with a rigorous general education.

So, what’s a college education for? A good college education prepares a personto lead a good life. A good life is one that is informed, reflective and responsive.These are not simply a series of nice sounding words. A good collegeeducation strives for nothing less.

Let’s unpack these ideas a bit. A good life. What does it mean to prepare aperson for a good life? Our lives are processes that extend into the future. By

What’s A CollegeEducation For?


Continued on page 6

definition, a life is something that we cannot predict; we do not know what is tocome. Nonetheless, each day we continuously confront questions about ourimmediate and long-range futures: Where should I go from here? How should Ilive? What will make my life a good one? How should I relate to others?Ultimately, these are questions about values. A good college education is onethat prompts students to confront themselves – to articulate and clarify thevalues and beliefs that they will live their lives by. This means helping students tofind out what is important and why. It means helping students act upon theirarticulated conceptions of what is important in life.

Now how can a good college education help students build the resources thatthey need to live good lives? By informing; by prompting reflection; by teachingstudents how to be responsive to that which extends beyond their localconcerns. Let’s explore each of these important functions of a good collegeeducation.

A good college education informs the making of a good life. A good life isan informed life. I cannot make decisions about matters of importance withoutknowledge and the skills and resources to acquire knowledge. Life is big; it containsmultitudes. We learn about what is important when master teachers guide usthrough great literature, moral philosophy and history. We learn about who weare by studying how we came to be. To do this, we study our nationalnarratives and the histories of how our civilization evolved to become what it is now.

However, while essential, it is not enough to study our own histories andcultures. We cannot learn about ourselves unless we also learn about who weare not. To do this, we must confront others – other cultures, other histories,other religions and other peoples. When we do this, we learn to imagine whatit is like to walk around in someone else’s shoes. As a result, we learn toempathize with others and respect different traditions. We also learn about thelimits of tolerance – about what it is in ourselves and in others that we cannotbear. This helps to make us better persons.

And the list goes on. We cannot make decisions about how to live withoutknowing about the vulnerabilities and resilience of the earth and the ways ourbodies work. We cannot be responsible citizens unless we understand thepolitical and economic systems in which we live, and about how they differ fromother such systems around the globe. We cannot cast an intelligent vote unlesswe understand how our local lives fit into the global world. And we cannotbegin to appreciate what is good unless we begin to develop our aesthetic sense– our sense of what is beautiful and how to fill our lives with beauty.

A good college education teaches students how to reflect on their lives.Although a good education informs, information without reflection is blind. Agood college education teaches students to reflect upon what they have learned.Reflection is essential not only to understand what one has learned, but also toquestion and critically evaluate what one has learned throughout life. Onecannot teach students how to reflect merely by providing them withinformation. A student can learn a great deal through lectures and independentreading. However, the traditional lecture format to teaching is not sufficient fordeep learning to occur. Learning how to reflect on what one has learnedrequires active engagement in the learning process by both the student and theteacher.

This is where our old friend Socrates comes in. Socratic teaching honors theopen-ended process of questioning. A teacher who engages a student in Socraticdialogue is teaching a student how to reflect not only on what he or she haslearned, but also on the student’s own beliefs, assumptions and values. Here isan example of a Socratic dialogue conducted in an actual high school class*:

Facilitator: You’re offered a $500 bike for $100. You know it’s hot. What do you do?(One boy in the group takes the bait.)

6 North Shore Children & Families that’s not a bad deal at all. I need a bike.” What vision wouldyou have of yourself at this point?

Boy: Well, nowadays, from what I’ve been learning, I personally wouldfeel low. In a yesterday sense, I wouldn’t have cared. I wasyounger. I was more immature. I didn’t care.

Facilitator: Do you have a different image of yourself now?Boy: Yes. Prideful. I think more of myself today than I would have

yesterday. Because I know that there’s better for me out thereinstead of just running around stealing. You know, that’s no good,that won’t get me to where I want to go. Okay, I’ve got bigdreams and hopes. I feel like this: I can make it.(One of the participants in the group discussion can’t containherself. She speaks directly to the boy.)

Girl: But you still bought the bike! (All the kids laugh. The boy gets the point.)

In this example, the facilitator leads an open-ended discussion with a boy aboutthe morality of purchasing a stolen bicycle. Instead of simply providing a lectureor explaining why it would be wrong to purchase a stolen bicycle, the facilitatorquestions the boy in an attempt to prompt the child to explore the logicalimplications of his own thinking. When students engage in this sort of dialogue,they are not only prompted to articulate their understanding of an issue, butalso to consider changing their understandings as they come to see the inherentlimitations and contradictions of their existing knowledge. Through thisprocess, students learn to reflect on what they have heard, read or experiencedboth in and out of the classroom. This is the stuff of genuine and deep learning.

A good college education teaches responsivity. A good college educationinforms and fosters reflection. Through these means and others, students learnto be responsive. To be responsive is to be willing and able to respond to the

What’s a College Education For?Continued from page 5

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Boy: I would buy it.Facilitator: What would you do if you got caught?Boy: I bought it. I would just refer them [the police] to the person

who sold it to me.Facilitator: All right, you’re in court, and you say, “Well, it really wasn’t me.

I didn’t know it was stolen.”Boy: I didn’t.Facilitator: But wouldn’t that be a lie?Boy: I did buy it. I paid for it. I paid $100 for it.Facilitator: All right, but didn’t you know that it was stolen?

You’re on the witness stand right now.Boy: I’d have no choice but to say I knew it was stolen.Facilitator: What if you weren’t on the witness stand and you were just

talking to the cops, and they came over to the house and theysaid, “Hey, what about this bike you’ve got here. Did you knowthat it was stolen?”

Boy: Spur of the moment, I may just say, “No, I didn’t know.”Facilitator: Okay, what would make you say that?Boy: Initial fear of being locked up

(laughter from the group).Facilitator: What would you think of yourself now that you’ve said that you

would lie to the cops out of fear, that you would probably be thekind of person who would say, “l’ll go for this. $500, $100 –

HARBORLIGHT

M O N T E S S O R I S C H O O L

Continued on page 8

North Shore Children & Families 7practical and moral demands of a situation. A good college education teachesindividuals to look beyond their individual selves – or at least to see that theirown well-being is tied up with the well-being of others. A good collegeeducation teaches many forms of responsiveness, including:

• How to solve novel intellectual, practical and socio-moral problems• How to interact and work with other people• How to respond to conflicts between and among people• How to respond to the social needs of one’s community• How to act as responsible citizens of one’s nation and one’s world

Responsivity is about forging relationships. To be responsive to another person,one must be able to identify the other’s needs, problems and perspectives andact in accordance with one’s sense of the other. However, responsivity is notsimply a form of selflessness or altruism. When I am responsive to you, I give ofmyself, but I do not give myself away. Perhaps paradoxically, it is during ourresponsiveness to others that we come to feel our own vitality and sense ofinner power.

Today’s students are preparing to operate in a rapidly changing world. Thetechnologies of today will be obsolete by tomorrow! It follows that ourschools and colleges are preparing students for a world that does not yet exist(including careers that do not yet exist). How can we prepare students for aworld that we cannot yet imagine? We must prepare students for theunpreparable. This requires not only learning basic skills and knowledge todraw upon, but also learning how to learn. It requires learning to adapt andadjust current knowledge and skills to an ever-changing world.

* Elkind, D., & Freddy Sweet, F. (1997). The Socratic approach to character education. Educational Leadership, 54, 56-59.

Higher Education

How are colleges and universities doing in educating our young adults? A growing body of evidence suggests that the answer is, “Not so good.” There are good reasons to believe that many, if not most, of our colleges anduniversities are having difficulty providing students with college-level academicskills – let alone preparing students to lead informed, reflective and responsive lives.

It is often said that American higher education provides the gold standardaround the world. Students from all over the globe come to Americanuniversities for study. But this assertion is misleading. To be sure, post-graduateeducation in the United States continues to be exemplary. American researchuniversities are more productive than ever in producing knowledge and intraining young scientists and scholars. However, the same cannot be said foreducation at the undergraduate level.

In the last several decades, a large number of books have sounded the alarmthat not all is well in undergraduate education, and something must be doneabout it. Although it is easy to make assertions about the mediocre quality ofundergraduate education, until recently, solid evidence to support such claimshas been hard to come by. In their recent book, Academically Adrift: Limited

Higher Education: How Are We Doing?


Higher Education: How Are We Doing?Continued from page 7

Learning on College Campuses,sociologists Richard Arum and JosipaRoska have put forth some convincingevidence that the amount of learningthat occurs in contemporary collegesand universities has declined toalarming levels.

Arum and Roska reported findings ofa long term study assessing theamount of learning that occurs overthe college years. The researchersstudied over 2300 students from 24four-year US colleges between 2005and 2009. Students completed theCollegiate Learning Assessment (CLA)– a series of essay tasks that providemeasures of critical thinking, analyticalreasoning and written communication.They also completed a questionnaireabout the types of activities in whichstudents participated over the courseof their college years. The authorssuggest that the amount of learningthat occurred by students over thecourse of the college years was“disturbingly low”. Their findings

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showed that 45% of the students intheir sample showed no evidence ofsignificant improvement in learning overthe first two years of the study; 36% ofstudents failed to demonstrate significantimprovement over the four-year period ofthe study.

Arum and Roksa also reportedevidence that suggests academic rigorhas decreased in recent decades.Their study showed that in a typicalsemester, 32% of students did not takeany courses that required more than40 pages of reading per week. Inaddition, 50% did not take a coursethat required more than 20 pages ofwriting over the course of thesemester. 25% of students tookcourses that required neither 40 pagesof reading per week nor 20 pages ofwriting over the course of thesemester. Over the course of theirfour-year college career, half of thestudents surveyed indicated that theyhad taken five or fewer classesrequiring 20 pages of writing in a

semester; 20% reported taking five orfewer courses requiring 40 pages ofweekly reading. These findings, ifrepresentative of most institutions ofhigher learning, suggest that manystudents can pass through a four-yearcollege education without engaging inthe types of rigorous learning activitiesthat are essential for higher levelthinking and reasoning.

But the limited learning on collegecampuses is not a simple function ofthe academic rigor of college courses.It also has a lot to do with studentculture on college campuses.Research suggests that students spendfar less time on their academic workoutside of class than they did 50 yearsago. A time-honored rule of thumb isthat college students should spend atleast two hours in outside-of-classwork (e.g., studying, completingprojects, etc.) for every single hourspent in the classroom. So for atypical three-credit college course,students would be expected to spendat least six hours per week in studytime. For a full 15-credit academicload, students would be expected todevote 30 hours of time to outside of

class studying. However, between1961 and 2003, the amount of timestudents spend in academic study fellfrom 24 hours per week in 1961 tojust 14 hours per week.

What are students doing during thetime that they are not studying?Studies show that on average studentsspend between 11 and 41 hours perweek in leisure time or socializing withpeers, 12 hours per week in paid workoutside of college and 6 hours in co-curricular activities (e.g., internships,community service, etc.). One studyshowed that students spend onaverage 14 hours per week texting; 6.5hours talking with friends on thetelephone; 5 hours per week on socialnetworking sites; and 11 hours perweek watching videos (e.g., television,movies, internet videos, etc.).

In Academically Adrift, Arum and Roskaobserved that the amount of timestudents spent studying was related totheir academic performance.However, this was only true forstudents who studied alone. Increasedstudy time did not result in higheracademic performance for studentswho studied in groups. Arum andRoska believe that there is moresocializing than studying going on instudent-led study groups.

Seeking “the college experience”. Itseems that many students tend toseek “the college experience” ratherthan “a college education”. “Thecollege experience” seems to be onein which college is as much (if notmore) about social life than academicpursuits. Sadly, much of our everydayculture supports this type of thinking.Many colleges compete for studentsnot by marketing their academicofferings, but by extolling the virtuesof their extra-curricular activities andfacilities. It is not unusual to hearpeople say that much of what isimportant about college life occursoutside of the classroom. While it istrue that the social development thatoccurs outside of the classroom is animportant part of college life, weshould not regard social and academiclife as equivalent in importance. Sociallife should be a distant second (orthird, given the increasing necessity towork to support college tuition) toacademics as an aspect of college life.

Education FeatureNorth Shore Children & Families 9

Austin Preparatory School

The Two Most Lasting Gifts:

Roots and Wings, it is the cornerstone of how AustinPrep educates its students in grades 6 through 12.Founded in the traditions of the Augustinian Friars, areligious order founded in the 13th Century, AustinPrep still uses some of the earliest philosophical ideasbrought forward from Augustine of Hippo, the Order’sPatron, who lived in the 4th century AD. One of thebasic tenets of St.Augustine of Hippo, was “to lay first asolid foundation,” in order for a student to rise up andbe educated, he or she must have a solid educationalfoundation. Austin begins working with students asthey become adolescents, and as they begin to developa more developed and full understanding of theimportance of education. Augustine continued histhoughts on the education of young people by offeringthat young people needed to be fed, and nurtured tohelp them grow and become individuals able to thinkcritically and act justly in their grown up lives; “If youhave already taken on wings, let us nourish them. Maythese wings take to the heights to which you can fly.”With these two basic ideas, roots and wings,AustinPrep has set the course for the education of youngpeople since its founding 50 years ago in 1961.

Bringing Out the Best:

Our educational programs are geared toward bringingabout the best in college bound young men and youngwomen starting in grade 6 and moving all the waythrough senior year and graduation day. Weaccomplish the task of nurturing our students throughgenerous academic offerings made available in smallclasses, the average size class being 16 students. Astudent teacher ratio of 10:1 is unequalled by itsCatholic school peers, and places Austin Prep solidly inthe highly competitive pack of this region’s well known

private schools. The Austin Prepexperience cultivates all facets of astudent’s burgeoning self – moral, spiritual,social, physical and intellectual.

Who We Are:

Austin is a Catholic independent school inthe Augustinian tradition. Our familieshave found that in partnering with Austinthat the same values taught at home arereinforced and enhanced in our classes,daily activities, on the playing fields, inChapel time and in our science labs.Austin reinforces the belief that it is notonly a good thing to be smart, but it’s coolto be smart in school, to be a good kid,to try new things and to exploreopportunities as they present themselves.Our 6th through 12th grade continuumallows us to stay connected to our

students throughout the entirety of their adolescentdevelopment. Whether students enter Austin in theMiddle School or join us in their High Schoolyears, Austin friendships are life lasting ones.

Understanding Ourselves and the GreatCommandment:

Headmaster Paul J. Moran summed it up best at arecent Open House Program: “We try to help allof our students understand and appreciate theirgifts and those of their classmates and teachers.Using the academic and extra-curricularprograms, we try to inculcate self-confidence,respect, inter-dependence and a sense of moralpurpose. Our ultimate goal is to help youngpeople learn how to carry themselves as talented,purposeful, morally grounded people in a complexworld. Really, it’s all about the relations amongGod, self and neighbor.”

3-90’s Each Day:

Austin uses a simplified Block schedule, offering a corecurriculum of 6 courses in a 6 day rotation. We offer 3 - 90 minute classes daily, adding in time for a 40minute Activity Period, and a 25 minute lunch. Studentscan focus on 3 major classes and have optimal face toface time with their teachers. Small classes encouragestudents to engage with each other, to ask and answerquestions, to offer ideas. With 90 minutes of teachertime, students know they will be challenged, and theycome to class better prepared to face these dailychallenges. They are more involved in their owneducation!

Rounding Out the Experience:

At Austin Prep our students can lift their voices in ourChorus, perform on stage in the Meelia Theatre, our

very own “black box” theatre, write an article for the Legend,our School newspaper, publish a poem in our literarymagazine, volunteer at a soup kitchen or Headstart program inLawrence or Lynn, match wits with peers in AcademicDecathlon competition, learn how to make a delicious crèmebrulée, take a hike up Mt. Monadnock, or send a rocket soaringabove the football field. Students can bring a life-long love of asport to one of our 17 inter-scholastic teams, or perhaps learna new sport along the way. All of our programs, be theyMiddle or High School level, engage our students and meetthem where they are and encourage and develop skills andenhance abilities. We especially understand the importance ofathletics in the lives of young people, and at Austin, everystudent, whether an accomplished athlete or interestedbeginner, is invited and welcomed to participate in ourinclusive and championship athletic program.

What’s Next:

Equipped with a solid high school experience, college is all thatsimpler! Our graduates continually tell us that their Austinstudies thoroughly prepared them for college work, while themoral code and educational system grounded in value basedlearning prepared them to be able to make good decisions forthemselves. Austin imparts a maturity of thought anddemeanor that ushers our students into responsibleadulthood.

The information contained in this education feature wassubmitted by Austin Preparatory School, and published inpartnership with North Shore Children & Families;www.northshorefamilies.com.

To learn more about this amazing experience and tobecome a part of our vibrant and growing community oflearners, contact the Admission Office, 781-944-4900, ext.834, or email Katie LeBlanc, assistant director of admission,[email protected]. Austin invites candidatesfor Middle School and High School to contact us nowthrough the early summer as we operate on a rollingadmission basis. If you are intending to apply during thetraditional admission season in the Fall of 2012, look forAustin Prep representatives at various School Fairs in theregion in September and October, and plan to visit ourOpen House in October.

For More Information:

^


Higher Education

Going to College? What to Look for in An Educational Experience

Don’t let your education get in the way of your learning. ~ Mark Twain

Are you looking for a college for your son or daughter? What should youlook for in a college education? How can you make a decision about whatcollege or university is best for your child? The answer to this question, ofcourse, has much to do with what you are looking for in a college education.

Of course for many if not most of us, the choice of what college or universityour children will attend will have a lot to do with money. A college educationcosts money – lots of it. Families who are fortunate enough to have themeans to support a child through college will have a great deal of choices attheir disposal. Families with fewer resources often find that their choices arelimited to what they can afford. If you are looking for bang for your buck, ingeneral, the more competitive the college, the more likely your investment incollege will yield financial results (see Is College A Good Financial Investment?, inthis issue).

Colleges are often rated in terms of their “competiveness”. Competitivenessis generally defined in terms of admission rates – the percentage of applicantswho gain admission into a college. So a college with a low admission rate is

regarded as “more competitive” than one with a high admission rate.

Indeed, more competitive private colleges tend to have certain advantages:

• They tend to attract talented, higher-achieving students. The presence ofsuch students tends to raise the level of instruction and interaction betweenand among students and professors; this tends to result in a higher caliber ofeducation;

• More competitive private colleges tend to have smaller classrooms andhigher quality learning facilities;

• Most important, such colleges tend to have high quality faculty – instructorswho care about teaching and learning, and who are active and productivescholars in their fields.

However, competitive colleges have certain disadvantages as well. They are, ofcourse, more difficult to gain admission to. They are also quite expensive.

One solution to the problem of expense is to consider public universities.Each state has a flagship public university. Such universities (such as the

NOWENROLLING!

For young men & women grades 6 - 12, who seek a challenging,yetsupportive learning environment, in a Catholic, faith based setting.


University of Massachusetts at Amherst) tend have nationally andinternationally known faculty members. Because they are public universities,they tend to be much less expensive than private colleges. However, suchuniversities tend to place a higher value on faculty research overundergraduate teaching. As a result, even though the faculty might bewonderful scholars, they may not be wonderful teachers. Graduate studentsfrequently teach classes in large lecture halls. There is less one-on-onestudent-teacher interaction and a greater reliance on multiple-choice tests.This is not necessarily the best way to learn.

Regardless of whether one attends a private or public institution, it does notfollow that a student will receive a good education merely because a collegeor university is regarded as competitive. What else should one look for whenseeking a good college education?

A real core curriculum. A curriculumsimply refers to the courses thatstudents take at a college or university.Most colleges will market what they calltheir “core curriculum”. A corecurriculum is designed to teach studentsfoundational knowledge and skills thatthey will need throughout college andlife. The problem is that the vast majorityof “core curricula” are “cores in nameonly”. Most colleges adopt a system of“distribution requirements”. Studentschoose which courses they want to takefrom large lists of courses from variousacademic areas (for example sciences,humanities, social sciences, etc.).

On the one hand, this sounds like a goodthing. Students are allowed to makechoices on the basis of what intereststhem. On the other hand, the distribution requirement system virtuallydestroys the idea of a “core” curriculum. The lists of courses from whichstudents choose is generally quite large; the actual courses offered do notfollow any particular pattern. No clear themes or organizing principlesstructure a student’s selection of courses. As a result, the education thatstudents end up receiving is “catch as catch can”. Whenever possible, seekcolleges that offer a core curriculum that is as organized and coherent as possible.

Interactive and caring teachers. The faculty and the students are thelifeblood of a quality college education. Seek colleges where your child is likelyto encounter interactive teachers who are willing to guide students activelythrough their learning. Such teachers will avoid the errors of being either too“teacher-centered” (e.g., the traditional lecture and multiple-choice test modelof learning) or too “student-centered” (e.g., allowing students more freedomof choice than they are able to handle). Attend the open-house offered byyour school. Interact with the teachers. Are they dynamic? Are theyinteresting? Or are they boring? Ask them how they teach. Do they simplylecture? Do they have students write papers and do projects? Do theyprovide guiding feedback to their students?

A serious teaching and learning community. So much of learning takesplace outside of the classroom. As a result, it is important to get a sense ofthe culture that exists both in and outside of the classroom. Is this aninstitution where professors and students alike value learning? Are thereacademic talks that take place outside of class? Does faculty work withstudents on scholarly projects and research? What do students do when theyare not in class? Is this a “party school”? Are there students and groupsavailable that take learning and community service seriously?

To answer these questions, it is essential to go beyond the marketing materialsthat schools will send you. Remember, a college is trying to sell you something– something with an extraordinarily high price tag. To make intelligentdecisions about something as important as college, it is essential to lookbeyond the flashy exterior. Seek out professors and students in the programsto which your child is applying. Talk to them. Ask hard questions. Thendecide.

Summer Camps & Programs Showcase SeriesPart 3 of 4


Series continues in our Summer issue.


One Willow Road, Nahant781.581.0840

JUNIOR GOLF CAMPPGA Golf Pro David Nyman is

offering a 3 day instructional golfclinic for boys & girls ages 7-15

this summer! The camp runs for 6 weeks, June - August, on Monday -

Wednesday mornings from 9 - 11:30a.m.

The $165 fee includes: • 3 days of individualized

instruction • A professional playing lesson• Kelley Greens T-Shirt• Coupon for a free pizza from

the Kelley Greens Clubhouse

Call 781.581.0840 or visitwww.kelleygreens.com for more info. & to register!

SWING & SWIM®

HIGH SCHOOLTENNIS WEEK

Salem S T A T EU N I V E R S I T Y

Ask about our Lexington camps, too!









Celebrating 20 years of friendship and memories of a [email protected] • (603) 859-4525 www.CampBirchHill.com

Camp Birch Hillyour home away from home

Located In The Beautiful Lakes Region Of New Hampshire

Campers choose from 50 activities to create their own personalized schedule!

TWO, FOUR and SIX WEEK SESSIONS AVAILABLE

Boys And Girls Ages 6-15

Many Activities to choose:

• Land Sports• Tennis• Paintball• Dance

• Water Sports• Horseback

Riding• Go Karts

• Zip Line• Adventure• Canoeing• Golf

• Fine Arts• Climbing• Waterski• and more!

North Shore Children & Families presents the 5th AnnualNorth Shore Children & Families presents the 5th Annual

Summer Camps & ProgramsShowcase Series – 2012!

Special Showcase ad sizes and pricing are offered for this series. To learn more or to secureyour space, please contact Suzanne: [email protected] or 781.584.4569.

Final

Showcase

appears in our

Summer

issue! *DEADLINE FOR SUMMER (June/July) SHOWCASE ADS: If you require ad production assistance, secureyour ad space & submit your ad materials by Wed., May 16. If you do not require ad production assis-tance, secure your ad space by noon, Fri., May 18 – then share your completed ad by Tues., May 22.

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS!Secure your summer!

✔ Boost your summer enrollments & reach parents throughout the North Shore!✔ Over 50,000 local readers - moms & dads with children of all ages & interests!✔ Showcases run on bannered pages! ✔ Participation includes complimentary online text listing & link!

The largest camp showcases in print on the North Shore!

DON’T MISS OURSUMMER SHOWCASE!

AdSpaceCloses5/18!*

LASTCHANCE!





Regular andSummerSessionsEnrollingNow! We are math specialists who have

helped thousands of childrenworldwide not only learn math, but love math.

Whether your child is struggling to stay at grade level, has already fallenbehind, or needs to be challenged, wewill develop an individualized learningplan to ensure success.

Summer is a great time to catch up, get ahead and keep skills fresh.Flexible hours and programs availablefor all ability levels.

Call or visit to learn about our convenient and affordable options.Your neighborhood center is

1ST - 12TH GRADES • SAT & ACT PREP • HOMEWORK HELP • SUMMER PROGRAMS

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Join Us This Summer!Tara Montessori Summer Camp

provides a comforting placethat focuses on love and trust.Founded in 1988 by Toni Dunleavy, Director.

For Infants (3 mos.+) & Toddlers:features singing, reading, giggling, cuddling &tummy timeFor Preschool & Kindergarten(through age 6):features mini-sports, soccer, t-ball, bike riding& sprinkler fun

TaraMontessori

SchoolSUMMER CAMP – Infants (3 mos.) through Age 6

62 School Street, Manchester, MA • www.taramontessori.comCall today to register! 978.526.8487

2012 Summer Camp Dates:June 12 – August 16, Mon. – Thurs., 8:30a.m. – 12:15p.m.,

with extended day options available.




Our unique camps provide three hours of fun and activities in a non-competitive, nurturing environment. Each day, different creativethemes keep your child on their toes as they take part in excitingimaginative journeys. Choose one day, a few days, or a few weeks.Now Enrolling for Summer Classes and Camps.

Call Today!

Anytime, Summertime

Camps at The Little Gym.

Danvers, MA • 978.777.7977 Woburn, MA • 781.933.3388

Limited Supply of Flex Passes

Available to Pay for Your Camp Days –

Buy One Today!

www.tlgdanversma.com www.tlgwoburnma.com

• The Little Gym is the home of Serious Fun!Kids have a blast playing with their friends (that’s the FUN part), while at the same time getting all of the benefits of 3-dimensional learning:Brain Boost, Citizen Kid and Get Moving!

• Parent/child classes for infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age• Classes in Gymnastics, Sports Skills, Dance and more for children 3-12• AWESOME birthdays and fun theme-based day camps too!• Open all summer long…air conditioned, clean, safe and FUN!

BROOKS SCHOOL

NORTH ANDOVER, MA

Ages 4-12 – Four Two-Week SessionsRed Cross Swim Lessons, Outdoor Adventures, Crafts

Grades 3-8 – Six One-Week SessionsMovie Making, Game Design, Robotics, Swimming

Grades 7-10 – Eight One-Week SessionsAdventure, Performing and Creative Arts, Field Trips

CALL FOR MORE INFORMATIONTel: 978-725-6253 – [email protected]

http://summer.brooksschool.org

Fun & innovative keyboard instruction.

NOW ENROLLINGfor Summer Camp!

6 week programs offered in July & August.

Call for your FREE introductory lesson!

June 23 – Open House

Please call to register & for location.

Private & group lessons are available year-round.

Serving theAmesbury & Newburyport Areas:

Alia Mavroforos, 978.834.3104 [email protected]

www.keys-for-kids.com


If you still have slots to fill –we have one FINAL campshowcase coming up in our

2-month Summer issue,which covers June AND July!

Ad space must be reservedby 5/16 if you require ad production assistance –

or by noon, 5/18 if you will besubmitting a completed ad.

Contact Suzanne toBOOST your

enrollments today!

[email protected]

LAST CHANCEfor CAMPS &

SUMMER PROGRAMS!


Birthdays • Graduations • ShowersWeddings • Anniversaries • Births • Retirements • Holidays

All Special Occasions

Life Celebrationsspecializing in poignant, personalized eulogies –

available in prose and in verse. Celebrate your loved one's life and share their story.

Your guests will leave with smiles, fond memories and lots to talk about.

Wish you could give the person who has everything something they don't have?

The perfect gift to enhance any special occasion.

Clever verses for your invitations

and thank you notes.

Speeches, toasts and roasts.

781.584.4569 or [email protected]

Samples available.

Personalized Poems & Prose by Suzanne

Higher Education

The cost of college is skyrocketing. In the northeast, the average cost oftuition, room and board at a private, four-year college is in excess of$40,000.00. That is a lot of money. Does college pay off financially forstudents? Are the financial benefits of college worth the investment? Thisquestion is especially significant in today’s troubled economy. Graduates of theclass of 2011 have entered into one of the worst job markets in recent history.In 2011, only 21% of college graduates entered the workforce, as comparedwith 51% of college graduates in the pre-recession days of 2007.

Now, before moving on, it is essential to understand that what we are talkingabout here is the financial return associated with investing in a collegeeducation. There are many reasons to attend college. One of the reasons forattending college is to prepare for a career. Another reason to go to college isto increase one’s earning potential in one’s career. While these are legitimatereasons for attending college, despite what many people might think, they arenot the only reasons for attending college or even the best reasons forattending college. A good college education brings about benefits that extendfar beyond career preparation and income maximization. As a result, in thecase of a college education, the bottom line simply is not the bottom line.

Having made this important point, we return to the narrow question ofwhether a college education produces financial returns? Despite theskyrocketing costs of college, the answer to this question remains “yes”. It’s anincreasingly troubling “yes”, but a “yes” nonetheless.

One way to think about the financial benefits of going to college is to think ofcollege as an investment. People make investments because they believe thatthey will make money above and beyond the amount of their investment. Themoney that people make beyond that spent on their initial investment is calledthe rate of return on investment (ROI).

When we look at the rate of return of a college education, we find that not allcolleges are created equal. In general, the more selective a college, the greaterthe rate of return on investment. That is, students who graduate from morehighly selective colleges tend to earn higher rates of return (make moremoney beyond their investments) than those who graduate from less selectivecolleges.

This is shown in the graph that appears above. For non-profit private colleges,the rate of return is about 6% for noncompetitive colleges and 11% for highlyselective colleges. So even the least competitive college yields a non-zero rate

of return. The rate of return for public schools is somewhat higher than thatfor private schools, especially for noncompetitive schools. This may be becausepublic schools are generally less expensive than private schools.

How high should a rate of return on investment be to justify the cost of aneducation? After all, a family may spend $150,000 on a four-year education, butit costs money to borrow that money! A typical interest rate for anunsubsidized college loan is about 6.8%. If the rate of return for attending agiven college is less than the interest rate of a college loan, it would be moredesirable to attend a different college. This can become a problem forstudents who attend less competitive private colleges, whose rate of return oninvestment is comparable to the interest rate of a college loan.

The simple fact of the matter is that we are living in a rapidly changinginformational age. The jobs of today and tomorrow require a suite of skillsthat require students to go beyond a high school education. Lifetime incomeis highly related to level of education. The more education a person has, thehigher a person’s lifetime income. That relationship is not likely to go away anytime soon. However, there is some reason to be concerned about the capacityfor students who attend relatively non-competitive institutions to reapmeaningful financial rewards from their family’s investment in a collegeeducation.

Is College A Good Financial Investment?


Issue Ad Space Deadline Ads Due

Summer (June/July) Fri., May 18 Tues., May 22August Fri., July 20 Tues., July 24September Fri., Aug. 17 Tues., Aug. 21

2012 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

Attention Advertisers: Ask us about our …… “Try Us!” program for new advertisers

… Annual advertising frequency programs… The Annual Planner for Schools program… The North Shore Party Planner program

… Annual Summer Camps & Programs Showcase series

… Service DirectoryTarget your message to North Shore parents.

We’ve got the North Shore covered!

To explore your advertising options or to secure your space, please contact Suzanne at 781.584.4569 or

[email protected] learn more, please visit

www.northshorefamilies.com.

North Shore Children & Families is available for free each month at over 425 family-frequented locations throughout the North Shore!

Childhood Education – Guest Contributor

Partnering with Your Child’s School: What Parents Can Doby Mari Matt, Branch ExecutiveDirector of Salem YMCA

While this issue focuses on highereducation, a recent issue of NorthShore Children & Families was devotedto the issue of how to improve theeducation of our young people bothlocally and nationally. Mari Matt,Branch Executive Director of theSalem YMCA, shares some additionalsuggestions about what parents cando now to support their children’slearning and to improve the quality ofeducation on the North Shore. Agood, early foundation helps achievelifelong learning success.

Read to your young children(books, menus, appropriate magazinearticles, street signs, food and productpackaging, etc.). Let your childhear the tone of your voice as it

changes depending on what you arereading. Let them see the letters withthe sounds, and have them repeat thewords back to you. All of these areimportant pre- and early reading skills.

Read to your older children. Youneed not stop reading to yourchildren once they learn to read bythemselves. In fact, learning to readalone is only the first step to learningto read! Even though children mayknow how to read words andsentences, learning to read forcomprehension is something thatcontinues to develop throughoutchildhood and even throughadulthood. Reading aloud togethernot only teaches the value of readingand sharing ideas together, it alsohelps children to fine-tune theirreading comprehension skills.

Share some quiet time with yourchildren. Try to have some quiettime with your children every day, oras often as you can. Many of us missthe importance of simply being togetherin fostering children’s development. Ifspending calm time during dinner isdifficult, how about at breakfast orright before bed – or even a few extraminutes together before heading tothe bus or to the car. Check in with

each other and laugh together. Mykids tell me about their days and I tellthem about mine.

Remind your child thateducation is important and apriority to you. Make sure thatyour children get a good night’s sleepand they get to school on time. Makesure that they complete theirhomework – and check theirhomework. If your child is strugglingwith homework, help them or findhelp. If your child completeshomework at an after schoolprogram, check it quickly.Congratulate your child on itscompletion and re-affirm itsimportance.

It is no shame to seek help if youneed it. If you don’t have the time orthe ability to help your children with

North Shore People Are Talking About Us!

We’ve been advertising for several years now – and our ads consistentlyget a great response. We know, because we track our marketing

effectiveness with the different advertising/marketing mediums we use! Wemeasure the amount of inquiries from each advertising source, and use thatdata to identify our cost per inquiry as well as our cost per new member.(When it comes to inquiries, both the quantity and quality matter!)

We are very pleased with our partnership with this local parenting publication. North Shore Children & Families is a professional and classypublication, and Suzanne is passionate about making sure advertisementsare accurate, attractive and effective. We believe this publication is a greatmarketing source to present our message to our target customers, and we’reoptimistic that with its excellent content it will continue to be an excellentresource for area parents and local businesses.

We periodically fine tune our marketing plan, reducing investment in thosepublications that yield less value per dollar invested in them. RegardingNorth Shore Children & Families, we have increased our marketing there,because of its impact with our target demographic…that is…it gets resultsfor our businesses!

Alan Ruthazer, OwnerThe Little Gym, Danvers & Woburn

“

“

North Shore Children & Families 19their homework, don’t feel guilty. Thisis a common challenge. Find someoneelse who can help. It is better toadmit that you are too busy or don’tquite grasp their homework and thatyou need someone else to help yourchild rather than to let your childstruggle. If someone is not availableto help, or if you cannot afford a tutoror homework helper, contact yourchild’s teacher or the principal of yourchild’s school. You will find peoplewho are more than happy to try tofind ways to help your child learn.

Be involved in your child’seducation. Even if you cannot jointhe PTO or volunteer in theclassroom, your child’s teacher wantsto hear from you and wants to worktogether to help your child besuccessful and happy. Schools can alsoconnect you to additional servicesyour family may need – so don’t beafraid to ask for help when you need it.

Don’t give up. There are amazing,talented, hard-working teachers andgreat things happening in our schools.Public and independent schools are agreat resource and a wise investment.

Buy a display ad in our Summer issue at open rate –

$ave 15% off your August ad!

Or - "Try Us!" in 3 consecutive issues –

and $ave 10% off all 3 display ads! Summer issue ad space deadline is Fri., May 18 (or by May 16 if you require

our ad production assistance!); completed ads are due by Tues., May 22.Our Summer issue covers 2 months – June AND July.

See page 2 to learn more!To secure your space and $ave – contact Suzanne by May 18:

781.584.4569 or [email protected].

Summer Advertising Specials For New Display Advertisers:

Buy One - Get One 15% Off!

To see our current issue, advertising rates, sizes & more, please visit us online at www.northshorefamilies.com.

"Try Us!" – You'll LOVE Us!

engaged? Meet with current studentsand ask lots of questions. There is somuch more to explore than the largemarketing package that you receive inthe mail. You probably wouldn’t buy ahouse after seeing a photo and fancyflyer – so approach your child’s highereducation search with as much (ormore!) research and consideration asyou would when buying a house. Ahigher education is a huge investment,but you can do many things to helpthat investment pay off for yourchildren and to lessen the financialburden now and in years to come.

We also have a guest contributor thismonth, who shares what parents canbe doing now to help your youngerchildren reach lifelong learningsuccess. Parents must play an activerole from the very beginning, or theymust find others who can helpsupport their child when they can’t.It’s about more than just getting the

kids to school on time each day andglancing to see that their homeworkis done. It’s about getting involved inyour child’s education, classroom,school and school work and instillingthe importance of education in yourchildren.

Learning takes place inside andoutside of the classroom. In ourCalendar, you will find many family-friendly events and things to see anddo that are not only fun – many offer

Higher EducationContinued from page 3

a learning experience,too. Attend a recyclingevent and use thisopportunity to teachyour children about ourenvironment. Visit thelocal zoo or museums –and check out theirwebsites first as manyhave free days with noadmission fees. Join alocal parenting groupwith your young childor get involved in alocal race or fundraiser

that benefits local people in our owncommunity. Teach your children well.Turn everyday moments into learningexperiences. Encourage your childrento engage in family and communityresponsibilities. It’s never too early tostart. Today’s students aretomorrow’s leaders and visionaries.

“Children must be taught how to think,not what to think.” – Margaret Mead


Community CalendarTo Submit to our Community Calendar:Please visit us at www.northshorefamilies.com and submit your listings directly through our website.From our Home Page – click on Calendar – then click on Submit in the upper right corner and our formwill open for you to complete and submit your listings.

While we will make every attempt to post all appropriate listings in our Community Calendar, space islimited – and priority will be given to those events that are free and family-friendly – and those submitted byour advertising partners & sponsors.

Calendar listings are generally due by the 15th of each month prior and must be submittedthrough our website. If you need to guarantee that your listing will be posted – please contact Suzanne toadvertise. See our current Calendar for our upcoming issue deadlines.

To advertise, please contact Suzanne at [email protected] or 781.584.4569.

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North Shore's best kept secret & the perfect location for:

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• All Special Occasions• Wedding & Function Packages• Many Menus to Choose From

The

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781.592.3080One Range Road, Nahant

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Personalized Poems & Prose

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A Personalized PoemMakes a Perfect Gift

for Any Special Occasion

For InvitationsClever, Custom Verses

for Your Invitations & Thank You Notes

For EventsSpeeches, Toasts & Roasts

781.584.4569 suzanne

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Have an Awesome BirthdayBash at The Little Gym!

· Private party – clean, safe, beautiful facility all to yourselves.

· Instructor led – great age-appropriategames and activities.

· Stress-free for parents…we take care of EVERYTHING!Call for details.

The Little Gym of Danvers978.777.7977

www.tlgdanversma.com

The Little Gym of Woburn781.933.3388 • www.tlgwoburnma.com

The North Shore Party PlannerTo advertise, please contact [email protected].

SUMMER (June/July)ISSUE

DEADLINES!If you need ad production

assistanceAd Space Closes

Wed., May 16

If you do not need ad production assistanceAd Space Closes

Fri., May 18

June AND July Calendar ListingsDue By May 22

Please submit your listings directly through our website.

To secure your ad space:

[email protected]

781.584.4569

Birthday Party onRoller Skates!

Roller World, Saugus

781.233.3255Party Line

For complete listing accuracy, werecommend that you call ahead or checkthe websites listed. Featured listings donot constitute an endorsement from thispublisher and we encourage our readersto always do their own research.

MAY IS THE MONTH FOR: DatingYour Mate, Foster Care, Barbeques,Bikes, Blood Pressure Awareness,Hamburgers, Photographs,Recommitments, Salads, OlderAmericans, Asian Pacific AmericanHeritage, Asparagus, Asthma & AllergyAwareness, Better Hearing & Speech,Flowers, Eggs, Ducklings, MentalHealth, Physical Fitness & Sports,Strawberries, Transportation

Week 1: Nurses’ Week, PostcardWeek, Teacher Appreciation Week;Week 2: Pet Week, Police Week,Stuttering Awareness Week,Wildflower Week;Week 3: NationalBike Week, National Police Week;Week 4: Emergency Medical ServicesWeek, Backyard Games Week

APARTMENT for RENT:

2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths apartmentavailable June 1st in Nahant – just intime for summer fun and island living!See ad on page 2!

UNIQUE GIFT IDEA/WORDS FORSPECIAL OCCASIONS:

Personalized Poems & Prose bySuzanne – the perfect words toenhance any special occasion.Personalized poems as gifts, cleververses for invitations, speeches, toasts,roasts and poignant eulogies. See adon page 17.

SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CAMPS &PROGRAMS!

It’s really time to start registering forsummer camps & programs! Seepages 12-16 in this issue for lots ofgreat summer camps & programs!Take advantage of early registrationdiscounts now! Pick up our Summerissue to see more options! To advertise in our 2-month Summerissue [June/July] Showcase (finalshowcase for this season!), [email protected] by May 16!

SEEKING HOST FAMILIES FORSUMMER:

Host an international student (ages14-17) and earn up to $2,400 thissummer! See ad on page 8 to learn moreabout Educational Homestay Programs fromEducation First!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES & SPECIALOCCASIONS:

If you have or are looking for a partybusiness – locations, entertainment,

invitations, decorations, cakes, favors& more – please see our North ShoreParty Planner on page 20! To appear inour 2-month Summer [June/July] issueNSPP, please contact Suzanne by May16: [email protected] 781.584.4569.

SIGN UP TODAY:

New Advertiser Summer Specials! Ifyou’d like to try advertising with us –see page 19 for 2 special introductoryprograms (with great discounts!) fornew advertisers!

Indoor Playspace Available for ParentGroups at the Recreational EducationCenter, Pine St., Peabody. AvailableTues.-Fri. 11am-6pm; for groups with kidsages 0-16. Book a day, your group will enjoyour ball pit, climbing structures, crafts,games, puzzles & more; see ad on page 8.

JLC Advocacy is offering a free phoneconsultation for parents who needhelp with special education and IEPs.See ad on page 8.

FREE CLASSES:

Call today to schedule a FREEintroductory class at The Little Gym!Danvers: 978.777.7977; Woburn:781.933.3388.

GET TICKETS NOW:

North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly,presents musicals, concerts and kids’shows! See ad on back cover – get ticketsat www.nsmt.org today!

BOOSTYour

PARTYBusiness

HERE!

Secure your ad space by

May 16to appear herein our 2-monthSummer issue!

North Shore Children & Families 21Big Apple Circus – Dream Big! All newshow – Grandma’s Farewell Tour! Tix startat $20, shows run through May 13 at BostonCity Hall. www.bigapplecircus.org

WEDNESDAYS:

Cape Ann Waldorf School presentsMorning Glory Parent & Child Classes,meets every Wed., 12:30-2pm; $280/10wk. session. For parents/caregivers withchildren ages 20 months – 3.5 years. Call toregister: 978.927.1936.www.capeannwaldorf.org

Select Wednesdays at PEM, Salem:PEM Pals, for caregivers w/children 5+;free with museum adm., 10:30am. Fun,interactive program with books, movement,music, art & hands-on activities. Visitwww.pem.org/calendar for specific dates.

THURSDAYS:

Cape Ann Waldorf School presentsMorning Glory for the Youngest ChildParent & Child Classes, meets everyThurs., 12:30-2pm; $180/10 wk. session.For parents/caregivers with infants ages 3-19months. Call to register: 978.927.1936.www.capeannwaldorf.org

FRIDAYS:

Cape Ann Waldorf School presentsMorning Glory for the Youngest ChildParent & Child Classes, meets everyFri., 9-10:30am: $180/10 wk. session. Forparents/caregivers with infants ages 3-19months. Call to register: 978.927.1936.www.capeannwaldorf.org

Stargazing at the GillilandObservatory, free, every Friday 8:30-10pm, weather permitting; at Museum ofScience, Boston. Call 617.589.0267, updatedevery Fri. at 5:30pm, with info. about thatnight’s observing session. www.mos.org

SATURDAYS:

Parent & Preschooler Playgroup, ages2.5-5 years, meets most Saturdays, 9-10:30am, at Harborlight-StoneridgeMontessori School, Beverly. Free, butRSVP at 978.922.1008. See ad on page 7.

New Parent & Child (20 mos.-3.5 yrs.)Morning Glory Classes at Cape AnnWaldorf School, Beverly. Features play,bread making, circle games, snack &conversation. Space is limited. Registrationopen; see ad on page 6. Call 978.927.1936to register. www.capeannwaldorf.org

Bring your bottles & cans to StoneZoo, Stoneham! 10am-2:30pm,parking lot. Help the environment and aworthy cause – held the 2nd Saturday ofeach month through October. Allproceeds benefit conservation effortssupported by Zoo New England.www.stonezoo.org

SUNDAYS:

Global Gods: MultigenerationalReligious Education – Sunday Schoolfor the Whole Family. Free, ages 6-100;May 20 & 27 at Northshore UnitarianUniversalist Church, Danvers. www.nsuu.org

SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS at PEM:

Family Tours & Gallery Explorations atPEM, Salem, 11:30am-noon. Freew/museum adm.; www.pem.org.

Drop-in Art Activities, 1-3pm, freew/mus. adm. at PEM, Salem. www.pem.org

MAY 1:

May Day, Loyalty Day, Mother GooseDay, Worthy Wage Day

MAY 2:

Baby Day, Brothers’ & Sisters’ Day

MAY 3:

World Press Freedom Day

Spring Antiques & CollectiblesAuction at Lynn Museum & HistoricalSociety, 6pm preview; 7pm. Free foradults; 590 Washington St., Lynn. Fabulousselection of vintage antique & collectibleitems; cash bar. 100% of auction proceedsbenefit the Lynn Museum & HistoricalSociety’s educational & outreach programs.www.lynnmuseum.org

MAY 4:

Bird Day, Renewal Day, Space Day,Weather Observers’ Day

MAY 5:

Cinco de Mayo, Scrapbook Day


2nd Annual Strays in Need Fundraiser;$20/person. Tix on sale now at DanversAnimal Hospital, 367 Maple St., Danvers. Todonate a silent auction item, raffle item orgift certificates or to be a sponsor, contactAmy Cyr, Hospital Manager, [email protected]

SalemRecycles & the BeautificationCommittee invite all to their annual,earth-friendly spring event on SalemCommon! Morning neighborhood clean-up w/pizza for volunteers, recyclingopportunities, environmental displays, livemusic & more. To volunteer for aneighborhood clean-up (8:30am-11:30am),meet team leaders on the Essex St.Pedestrian Mall. For a list of other locationsor to organize a group to clean anotherlocation, call Ellen at 978.619.5676 forneighborhood clean-ups. From 10am-1pm,Green Programs on Salem Commonfeatures clothing & household Swap & Drop(10am-noon), recycle plastics, bags, Goodwilltextile & small household items recycling.For info. on recycling, contact Julie at978.619.5679.

CourtYard Sale at Lynn Museum,9am-1pm; free, all ages. 590 WashingtonSt., Lynn. Search out treasures, raffles,refreshments; bring your own table & sell

your items for $20/rental. Call Abby at781.581.6200 to reserve your spot.www.lynnmuseum.org

Local Georgetown Mom & Author,Maggie van Galen, Book Reading &Signing – The Adventures of Keeno andErnest – The Banana Tree, 12 noon, free forparents w/pre-K through early elementaryschool age kids. At Book Rack, 52 State St.,Newburyport.

Masters of Flight: Birds of Prey returnsto Stone Zoo, Stoneham! Through Sept.3; daily show times at 11am, 1pm, 3pm; freew/zoo admission. www.stonezoo.org

MAY 5 & 6:

The North Shore Rock & Mineral Clubinvites all to the 49th Annual NewEngland Gem & Mineral Show atTopsfield Fairgrounds. Fun for the wholefamily. Hours: May 5, 9am-5pm; May 6, 10am-4pm. www.nahant.com/nsrmc

MAY 6:

National Nurses’ Day, International NoDiet Day, Tourist Appreciation Day

MAY 7:

Astronomy Day, Tourism Day

MAY 8:

Teachers’ Day, Iris Day, No Socks Day,World Red Cross Day

MAY 9:

School Nurses’ Day, Receptionists’ Day,Train Day

MAY 10:

Clean Up Your Room Day

Nutrition & Wellness Speaker, RananCohen, 6:30-8pm, at SparhawkTheatre & Center for the Arts, 196Main St., Amesbury. Tickets are $10; majorcredit cards accepted. For parents who wantto learn how to successfully incorporatewellness & good nutrition into everyday life;Q&A follows. For tickets, email Norah [email protected] or call her at978.388.5354.

MAY 11:

Family Child Care Providers’ Day, TwilightZone Day

MAY 11 & 12:

Hunt’s 11th Annual DigitalDemonstration & Sale at Hunt’sPhoto & Video, 100 Main St., Melrose;10am-8pm. Admission & seminars are freefor teens & adults. Learn how to use & carefor your camera, polish your picture-takingskills, see new models & save! Registeronline or by phone:www.wbhunt.com/seminars or781.662.8822.

MAY 12:

Birth Mothers’ Day, InternationalNurses’ Day, Limerick Day, Kite Day


Hit the Streets for Little Feet 5K RoadRace & 1 Mile Fun Run, 8-11am, allages; $20/person or $50/family. 36 LincolnSt., Manchester by the Sea. Proceedssupport Manchester Memorial ElementarySchool Enrichment Programs. Communitycelebration follows the race; raffle drawings.For info. & to register, visit www.mmpto.org.

MAY 13:

Happy Mothers’ Day to All North ShoreMOMS! Tulip Day

Mother’s Day Festival at PeabodyEssex Museum, Salem. Features film,animal presentation, presentations, artactivity, story, art, brunch & more. For fullschedule & pricing, visit www.pem.org.

MAY 14:

Dance Like A Chicken Day

MAY 16:

If you need to advertise in our 2-month Summer [June/July] issue,with bonus distribution for ourregular rates, and if you need ourad production assistance, pleaseconfirm your ad size and submityour ad materials TODAY! You cansee our regular display ad rates, sizes,available discounts & more atwww.northshorefamilies.com.

Do you have a summer camp orprogram? Do you need to BOOSTyour enrollments?See page 14 for more info. on our 5th

Annual Summer Camps & ProgramsShowcase Series – the largest in printon the North Shore! Showcase appears inthis issue and continues in our 2-monthSummer [June/July] issue – see above & nextpage for advertising deadlines. [email protected] for campshowcase ad rates & sizes.

Boston Ballet presents the thirdannual Next Generation performance,7pm, at The Boston Opera House.Featuring students from the Pre-Professional Program and Boston Ballet II,with musical accompaniment from over 50musicians with New England ConservatoryYouth Philharmonic Orchestra. For tickets:www.bostonballet.org. Join us on the BalletBus from the North Shore studio to TheBoston Opera House – call 617.456.6380for more info.

Continued on page 22


Community CalendarContinued from page 21

Service Directory

SCHOOLS

DANCE INSTRUCTION

ENTERTAINMENT

COACHING

GEM & MINERAL SHOW

GIFTS/SPECIAL OCCASIONS

FAMILY FUN!

Big Apple Circus presentsDream Big

– through May 13at Boston City Hall

North Shore Rock & MineralClub’s 49th Annual N.E. Gem & Mineral Show

Topsfield Fairgrounds – May 5 & 6

Personalized Poems& Prose by SuzanneSpeeches, eulogies, gifts,

verses for invitations, etc.See ad on page 17!

New advertiser specials– page 19

Reader contest – page 2

FUN & FITNESS

IN THIS ISSUE

EARLY EDUCATION

Next Generation Children’s CentersLocations include Andover & Beverly

866.711.NGCCwww.ngccenters.com

Austin Preparatory SchoolReading

781.944.4900www.austinprepschool.org

Brookwood SchoolManchester

978.526.4500www.brookwood.edu

Cape Ann Waldorf SchoolBeverly

978.927.1936www.capeannwaldorf.org

Clark SchoolDanvers

978.777.4699www.clarkschool.com

Cohen Hillel AcademyMarblehead

781.639.2880www.cohenhillel.org

Covenant Christian AcademyWest Peabody978.535.7100

www.covenantchristianacademy.org

Just in Time for Summer!2 bdrm. apartment available

in Nahant – across from ocean!See ad on page 2!

APARTMENT FOR RENT

Boston Ballet School/NS StudioMarblehead

781.456.6333www.bostonballet.org/school

North Shore Music TheatreBeverly

978.232.7200www.nsmt.org

See ad on back cover!

Coaching for Couples, ParentsLife Coaching

See ad on page 19!

The Little GymDanvers and Woburn

www.tlgdanversma.comwww.tlgwoburnma.com

Recreational Education CenterPeabody

978.717.5062www.recreationaleducationcenter.com

MAY 16:

Wear Purple for Peace Day

MAY 17:

Happy 50th Birthday, Tyla!

MAY 18:

Advertising Space ReservationDEADLINE at NOON for ADS in our 2-month SUMMER [June/July, with bonusdistribution] issue! To advertise, [email protected]! Ifyou need our ad productionassistance, please confirm your ad sizeand submit your ad materials by May16! You can see our regular display ad rates,sizes, available discounts & more atwww.northshorefamilies.com. ContactSuzanne for camp showcase ad rates &sizes.

Museum Day, Bike to Work Day, NoDirty Dishes Day, Visit Your Relatives Day

MAY 19:

Armed Forces’ Day, Boys & Girls Clubs’Day, Circus Day


Step by Step performance by BostonBallet School students at their NorthShore Studio (Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA,Marblehead); free/all ages.www.bostonballet.org

Mommie’s Night Out, 6-10pm.Recreational Education Center inPeabody is hosting a Mommie’s Night Outin conjunction with the Peabody PTO forMoms to get together for laughs &relaxation; appetizers, beverages, reps. fromPampered Chef, Lia Sophia, Avon; $10/mom,proceeds benefit the Peabody PTO.

MAY 20:

Peace Day, Be A Millionaire Day, PickStrawberries Day

Ukulele Jam, 3-4:30pm atHamilton/Wenham Community House.$5/person, all ages, all levels & drop-inswelcome. Participants need the book TheDaily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living byJim Beloff.

MAY 21:

Memo Day, Waitservers’ Day

MAY 22:

Community Calendar listings’ DEADLINEat NOON for 2-month SUMMER issue!Please submit your listings for JUNE

AND JULY events directly through ourwebsite (see beg. of this Calendar fordetails).

Buy A Musical Instrument Day

MAY 23:

Lucky Penny Day

Children’s Garden Opening Day, TheTrustees of Reservations, Long Hill, 572Essex St., Beverly; 3:30-5pm. Members free;non-members $5/family. Help plant colorfulannual flowers & organic vegetables in ourmagical Children’s Garden. Space is limited,please pre-register online atwww.thetrustees.org.

MAY 25:

National Missing Children’s Day, TapDance Day

Deadline to enter to win tickets tosee a musical at North Shore MusicTheatre! See page 2!

MAY 27:

Happy Birthday, David!

MAY 28:

Memorial Day, Amnesty InternationalDay

MAY 29:

Learn About Composting Day, Paper ClipDay

Spring Concert at Cape Ann WaldorfSchool, Beverly; featuring CAWstrings program. Free; 7pm, at newcampus at Moraine Farm, 701 Cabot St.,Rte. 97, Beverly. www.capeannwaldorf.org

MAY 30:

Water A Flower Day

MAY 31:

Save Your Hearing Day

JUNE 8, 9 & 10:

Anything Goes, musical production bySparhawk Spotlights, at The SparhawkTheatre & Centre for the Arts, 196Main St., Amesbury. Performances at 7:30pmon 6/8 & 9 and at 2pm on 6/10. Tickets are$10/advance, $15 at door; group discountsavailable, credit cards accepted.www.sparhawkschool.com/theatre.htm Forgroups & to purchase tickets, email Norahat [email protected] or call herat 978.388.5354.

JUNE 9:

Tales of Mother Goose, studentperformances at 5:30 & 7pm, free atBoston Ballet School’s MarbleheadStudio at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA,40 Leggs Hill Rd., Marblehead.www.bostonballetschool.org/school.html


Glen Urquhart SchoolBeverly Farms978.927.1064www.gus.org

Harborlight-StoneridgeMontessori School

Beverly978.922.1008

www.harborlightmontessori.org

The Phoenix SchoolSalem

978.741.0870www.phoenixschool.org

Plumfield AcademyDanvers

978.304.0273www.plumfieldacademy.org

Shore Country Day SchoolBeverly

978.927.1700www.shoreschool.org

Sparhawk SchoolAmesbury

978.388.5354www.sparhawkschool.com

Tower SchoolMarblehead

781.631.5800www.towerschool.org

Waring SchoolBeverly

978.927.8793www.waringschool.org

SCHOOLS

SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS


SPECIAL EDUCATION

TUTORING

SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY

SEEKING HOSTS

ATTN: SUMMER CAMPS!

Host an Int’l. Student& earn up to $2,400

this summer!www.ef.com/ehpSee ad on page 8!

Karen J. Cronin, MS CCC-SLPMiddleton

978.239.5520

A+ Reading CenterReading Tutor/Individual Lessons

Serving the North Shore781.799.2598

[email protected]

MathnasiumThe Math Learning CenterNorth Beverly • 978.922.2200

See ad on page 15!

JLC AdvocacyLynnfield

781.334.4363See ad on page 8!

Boston Ballet School/NS StudioMarblehead

617.456.6333www.bostonballet.org/school

Brooks School - SummerNorth Andover978.725.6253

http://summer.brooksschool.org

Brookwood - SummerManchester

978.526.4500www.brookwood.edu

Camp Birch HillLakes Region, NH

603.859.4525www.campbirchhill.com

Camp QuinebargeWhite Mountains, NH

603.253.6029www.campquinebarge.com

Cape Ann Waldorf CampBeverly

978.927.8811www.capeannwaldorf.org

Glen Urquhart SchoolBeverly Farms

978.927.1064 ext. 131www.gus.org

Kelley Greens Jr. Golf CampNahant

781.581.0840www.kelleygreens.com

Keys for KidsServing the Amesbury &

Newburyport Areaswww.keys-for-kids.com

The Little GymDanvers & Woburn

www.tlgdanversma.comwww.tlgwoburnma.com

MathnasiumNorth Beverly978.922.2200

www.mathnasium.com

North Shore Children’s TheatreSalem • 781.248.9458

www.northshorechildrenstheatre.org

Phoenix Summer AdventuresSalem • 978.741.0870

www.phoenixschool.org

Shore Sports & EnrichmentCamps

Beverly • 978.927.1700www.shoreschool.org/summershore

Summer’s Edge Tennis Schoolat Salem State University

& in Lexington781.391.EDGE

Summer at TowerMarblehead

781.631.5800www.towerschool.org/summer

Summer Programs atNorth Shore Comm. Collegecommunity.northshore.edu/sod

Summer Quest at CraneIpswich

978.380.8360www.thetrustees.org/summerquest

Tara Montessori SchoolSummer Camp

Manchester • 978.526.8487www.taramontessori.com

Waring School Summer ProgramsBeverly • 978.927.8793

www.waringschool.org

Boost your summer enrollments in our 5th Annual

Summer Camps & Programs Showcase series!

Series continues in our 2-month Summer issue – space closes May 16!

GET YOUR SUMMER CAMP ORPROGRAM LISTED HERE!

See page 14!


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Documents

North Shore Children & Families May 2012