“Genuinely
EXTRAORDINARY! ... A circus for all and by all!”
—The New York Times
“The most inclusive show on Earth, Omnium is a beautiful celebration of unity! A place where everyone can feel like they belong.”
—Arlington Catholic Herlad
Queens Theatre presents Omnium Circus
I’m Possible
The visionary Omnium Circus returns to Queens Theatre with I’m Possible! Everyone is in on the action in a spirited limit-defying & life-affirming spectacular with award winning artistry, memorable music, a heartwarming story & a beautiful mosaic of performers representative of our population.
Sat, Nov. 9th at 2:00pm Sat, Nov. 9th at 7:30pm Sun, Nov. 10th at 3:00pm
Tickets: $27-$37
Purchase tickets at: www.queenstheatre.org
Box Office: (718) 760-0064
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12:00pm-6:00pm and 2 hours before performances.
Queens Theatre
14 United Nations Avenue South
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Queens, NY 11368
FREE PARKING
SUBWAY: Shuttle from the 7 stop at Mets-Willets Point, before/after performances.
Giving Thanks by Giving Back
It’s hard to believe the holiday season is upon us already. While December will be one filled with endless to-do lists and last-minute shopping, this month is more like the calm before the end-of-year storm.
As we gear up for everyone’s favorite daylong food marathon known as Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the things we should be grateful for in our lives. One of the best ways to express gratitude is by helping others in need, and there is no better time than the holiday season for doing just that. After a brutal hurricane season down south, many residents in Florida are displaced and in desperate need of supplies and donations, so we have Ways to Help Hurricane Victims (page 6).
I used to think November was early to start your holiday shopping, but these days I meet people who are done before the summer is over! While I will never be one of those people, I can start crossing people off my list early while supporting local businesses at a Holiday Fair or Market (page 24).
Planning holidays and birthdays at the same time is the definition of stressful. If your child has a birthday coming up, we’re sharing some of the best venues for hosting birthday parties in our area (page 22).
Our latest Special Needs Resource Guide is here (page 15), featuring tips for both at home and in the classroom, along with helpful directory listings.
Thankful for all of you!
Jeannine
Share your feedback and ideas about family life in New York! Email us at editorial@newyorkfamily.com and tag us at #newyorkfamily
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How to Help in Hurricane Aftermath
By Alex A lutter
Last month, Florida was pummelled by two catastrophic hurricanes, leaving mass destruction in their wake. Many Florida residents are displaced and, tragically, some hurt and even killed by the devastating storm. Many have absolutely nothing left, losing all their pocessions to the angry storms.
Many of us recall being in a similar seemingly-hopeless situation after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The way many communities came together to heal in the days, weeks, and months following Sandy’s destruction was a testament to how generous and caring New Yorkers can be. Although we are hundreds of miles away, we can still help our friends in Florida who have been impacted by these unprecendented events. Any donation of any size will help in rebuilding communities that have lost so much.
Here are some ways you can aid in hurricane relief efforts.
American Red Cross redcross.org
The Red Cross has deployed hundreds of disaster workers to the grounds of affected areas from Hurricane Helene. Through their donation portal, you can donate any amount to the victims of Hurricane Helene. $10 is the minimum online donation. All donations are tax-deductible. Another way to donate through the American Cross is to text the word HELENE to 90999.
Salvation Army give.helpsalvationarmy.org
The Salvation Army is aiding in hurricane relief by providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to both survivors and rescue workers in all affected areas. 100% of your donation goes to disaster relief. On their donation portal, you can donate to both Hurricane Helene and Milton victims.
Americares my.americares.org
Americares helps get medical needs and
supplies to the victims of Hurricane Helene. You can make a one-time donation or monthly payment to help fund medical supplies and deliveries in affected areas.
Baby2Baby
baby2baby.org
Baby2Baby is a nonprofit organization that is helping families affected by hurricanes get essential supplies such as formula, diapers, blankets, and more.
Save the Children savethechildren.org
Save the Children is dedicated to helping and saving families in all emergency situations. They currently have an emergency fund open to help the families from Hurricane Milton who have been left with no power and destroyed homes.
Florida Disaster Relief
volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf
The Florida Disaster Relief has been created to directly support communities during and after emergencies. Donations will fund various organizations that specialize in the communities’ disaster relief.
Feeding Tampa Bay Disaster Relief donate.feedingtampabay.org
Tampa Florida was hit by Hurricane Helene and is now projected to get hit even harder by Hurricane Milton. By donating to Feeding Tampa Bay’s disaster relief efforts, you will be helping communities that have been devastatingly affected. Feeding Tampa Bay
Disaster Relief allows you to donate a onetime gift or a monthly amount.
The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations
The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is accepting monetary donations for grants. These grants are currently being utilized to support nonprofit organizations that are directly serving affected communities.
Send Relief sendrelief.org
Send Relief is deploying teams to aid communities in the South affected by the hurricanes. Your donations will aid in the gathering of supplies such as meals, water, temporary roofing, flood recovery supplies, and more.
Samaritan’s Purse samaritanspurse.org
Samaritan’s Purse International has started a five-site response to Hurricane Helene. Donations will help thousands of volunteers be able to assist and help communities hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
The Humane Society of the United States secured.humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States is dedicated to helping animals in emergency situations. Their team is operating mobile veterinary clinics to assist animals in need during this time as well as supplying essential supplies.
A World of Possibilities for Students at Kew-Forest
Proud to be an International Baccalaureate Candidate School*
m“ommy, today I’m going to be a risk-taker.”
Her son’s announcement was Ms. Yvonne Peña’s surprising introduction to the real-life effects of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Lower School students at The Kew-Forest School*, where her son is in first grade. She was even more surprised to see him submerge his head during his bath, something he had always been afraid to do. “That was when I really began to understand the power of the IB learner profile,” she shared with the International Baccalaureate Organization’s visiting consultant, who evaluates KewForest’s program and progress.
Go, Jaguars!
At Kew-Forest, Lower School students focus on a different learner profile attribute each month to become inquirers, open-minded, and reflective, representing three of the ten learner profile attributes. As they move into Middle School, students deepen their understanding of these attributes through the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), with interdisciplinary projects designed to provide a richer learning experience.
A favorite among sixth graders last year was their interdisciplinary study of jaguars - the school mascot! Middle School science, history, and dance teachers teamed up to create a learning experience exploring the relationship between human societies and native wildlife, showing how these interactions impact ecosystems and cultural identities.
Why
the International Baccalaureate Programmes?
The borough of Queens is arguably one of the most diverse communities in the country, and Kew-Forest reflects that diversity with students representing over 60 nationalities and more than 30 languages spoken at home. But diversity is just the starting point at Kew-Forest, where they have long been known for providing an exceptional education and
community for the students of Queens. As an IB candidate school, they aim to take that even further.
The International Baccalaureate, founded in 1968, started with the Diploma Program (DP) and later introduced the Middle Years Program (MYP) in 1994, the Primary Years Program (PYP) in 1997, and the Career Program (CP) in 2012. Together, these four programs offer an internationally renowned curriculum for students ages 3 through 19.
A Force for Good in the World
By seeking IB authorization, Kew-Forest will join a global network of schools that share the mission of nurturing globallyminded students, focusing on the whole child, teaching students to see others as partners in the world, prioritizing interdisciplinary and inquiry-based learning, and preparing young people to address the challenges of our time. The school’s commitment to intercultural learning –emphasizing collaboration, agency, and inquiry – ensures students grow into leaders and community members who embody the founding mission of being “a force for good in the world.”
As a candidate school, Kew-Forest’s faculty and administration spent the past year engaging in professional development, refining an already-strong cur-
riculum (as reflected in the impressive college acceptances of recent graduates), and implementing IB practices in and out of the classroom. IB consultants visited the campus, met with faculty, students, parents, and administrators, and concluded that Kew-Forest is ahead of the curve and well on its way to achieving IB World School status. The school is very excited to seek authorization this winter to officially become an IB World School for the 20252026 school year.
To learn more, join their upcoming Open House on November 16 (Middle & Upper School) or November 23 (Lower School) To register visit kewforest.org/visit.
*The Kew-Forest School is a candidate school** for the PYP and MYP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.
** Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.
Meta’s Teen Accounts
Will the new rollout revolutionize online safety for kids?
BY THALIA FERNANDEZ
Last month, Meta launched Instagram Teen accounts, and we had the opportunity to speak with a member of the Meta team and get some insight into what these new accounts will bring to families. This latest rollout of teen accounts is the first of its kind and a new approach to the mounting concerns about the influence of social media on today’s teens. As teens are tackling loneliness and social media pressures, parents are left questioning how they can help, and Meta aims to provide that support. The question remains: will these accounts truly impact teen safety online?
Growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health have
prompted actions at both the state and federal levels. Last year, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stressed the need for parents to monitor their children’s social media habits. In June, New York Governor Kathy Hochul passed two bills to make social media safer for kids. The federal government is also working on the Kids Online Safety Act to address issues such as bullying and harmful content. Parents nationwide are worried about the lack of online safety measures for children on social media platforms and are calling for these platforms to do something about it.
Meta, among several social media platforms, has faced criticism for not having adequate systems in place for teens. However, they are now the first to roll out protections.
This approach could shift the social media landscape and begin to ensure children’s safety, but it’s honestly too soon to tell. However, what we do know is what these new accounts offer parents, how this all started, and everything you need to know about Teen Accounts.
We had the opportunity to speak with Liza Crenshaw, a member of the Meta team, to understand what these accounts provide to parents and Meta’s goals with Teen Accounts.
What are some standout features that parents should know about?
Teen Accounts were designed specifically with parents’ concerns in mind. We talked to so many parents around the world about what their worries were when it came to their teens using social media. We heard that they have three big concerns: one is contact, who their teens are talking to; two is content, are teens looking at content that is too mature or sensitive, and three is time, is [a] teens’ time being well spent on the app; are they scrolling for too long, using it overnight, or
during school.
With those three big concerns in mind, we designed Teen Accounts’ protections to adjust those things. We will be turning teens’ [accounts] into private accounts automatically. We’ll also be sending reminders when teens have been on the app for 60 minutes. We’re turning on a feature called sleep mode, which mutes notifications overnight and sends auto-replies in DMS. [For example], if someone messages them [the reply will] say, “[this person] is in sleep mode right now; they’ll get back to you in the morning.”
We’re taking steps to limit who can message teens. Teens will only be able to be messaged by people that they follow or who they’re already connected to. That really cuts down on strangers who might be messaging teens and adults who aren’t really appropriate for teens to talk to. We’re also turning on our hidden words feature, which limits bullying or offensive comments in DMS. It’s really a full suite of protections that are built in and automatically on with Teen Accounts.
Will these new features be easy to navigate for parents?
Yes, so again, we did design this with parents in mind. We wanted to make sure that parents didn’t feel like they had another burden being added to their plate but that they could really have the confidence to know that their teens are able to use Instagram safely from the get-go. The idea with teen accounts is that teens are automatically placed into age-appropriate protections, and parents don’t even have to do anything.
However, if teens under 16 want to change any of the protections, they do have to get a parent’s permission to do so. Parents can be reassured that their teens can’t escape these protections unless they give their permission. But we also know that some parents want to be more involved in their day-to-day teens’ online lives, so we added additional features that parents could choose to use, including messaging insights; parents can see who their teens have been chatting with in the past week. They can’t actually read their teen’s DMS, but they can see who they’ve been talking to and whether the teen has any shared connections with those people.
Which is actually one of my favorite features because I heard from a lot of parents who think this is great because they can see if [for example] someone they know has been
“Particularly for younger teens, they see this as an opportunity to build trust with their parent and figure out a way to navigate social media together versus just having the parent have complete oversight and control.”
bullying their child in school sends [their teen] a message, then that’s an opportunity for the parent to say “hey I saw that you were chatting to [this person], I know you guys have had conflicts, what’s going on there?”
But it still lets teens have their own freedom and autonomy to send messages without feeling like their parents are peeking over their shoulders.
Today, kids have Finstas or Fake Instagram accounts where they lie about their age. How will these accounts work around that?
So, from the get-go, we knew that Teen Accounts wouldn’t work unless we were preventing teens from lying or getting around this. So we built a ton of different ways to prevent from lying. For instance, if a teen tries to change their age from under eighteen to over eighteen, for example, if they say, “I don’t want to be in a teen account, I’m just going to say I’m 25”, we will require them to verify their age either with an ID or with a video selfie that estimates their age on the back end.
We’re also building out what we call an age prediction model that uses thousands and thousands of signals, including the type of language that teens use, who they’re talking to, and how old their friends are, to actually really accurately estimate how old a teenager is. If we see that there’s a mismatch between the age the teens told us they are and the age our model predicts them to be, then we’ll place that person into protections automatically out of an abundance of caution.
We think about it as a multilayered approach because it’s really challenging to get
age right, so we’re going at it from a bunch of different angles.
These accounts are currently only available in specific locations but are expected to be introduced globally in 2025. Should we expect to see additional features added to these supervised accounts?
We might. Right now, we’re just really focused on getting this out and right to the tens of millions of teens that will get these changes. It’s a really fundamental change to teens’ experience on Instagram, and we want to get this right first and foremost.
We expect there might be some bumps along the way, but we want to iterate and make sure that we get people into these protections, and then we’ll figure out what’s next.
We’re interested to know what the feedback from teens has been like. How do they feel about the integration of Teen Accounts?
It’s actually really interesting because we had a hypothesis internally that teens would hate this and not really want to be placed into these protections.
But actually, what we heard and what we’ve been hearing since the rollout is that teens themselves also don’t really want to get unwanted contact in their DMS; they really don’t want to see [certain] content. So they’ve actually welcomed the changes to an extent, and I think particularly for younger teens, they see this as an opportunity to build trust with their parent and figure out a way to navigate social media together versus just having the parent have complete oversight and control.
It’s really a way to start conversations. Younger teens, in particular, [feel] they can establish some trust with their parents, they can have some boundaries in place, and gradually maybe the parent might relax some things, and give them a bit more freedom.
We feel like this is an opportunity for parents and teens to start to establish a twoway conversation in a way that still feels safe and age-appropriate, and again lets teens use Instagram for all of the good things like discovering new artists they want to follow, connecting with classmates, talking to friends and family. I think sometimes, people forget all of the good things that come from social media, so our goal with this is to preserve the good and minimize the bad.
For more information on Instagram Teen Accounts, head to about.instagram.com.
Major Upgrades Planned for CMOM
Children’s Museum of Manhattan announces move to an expansive new UWS location
By Thalia Fernandez
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), a New York City familyfriendly staple, announced this week that it has launched the final phase of its $300 million campaign for its new home on the Upper West Side. Along with this week’s announcement, CMOM revealed what this stunning new location would look like and when we can expect doors to open.
Giving New Life to a NYC Landmark CMOM aims to expand and reach more families throughout the city and plans to do so in a century-old church at 361 Central Park West. Originally known as The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, CMOM acquired this historic and neglected space in 2018. The New York City church, considered a historic landmark, will be transformed into a brand new space. After renovation, the 80,000-square-foot building will offer a spacious, picturesque sanctuary that will significantly increase CMOM’s visitor capacity.
The original plan for this historic landmark was to turn it into condos. After the city rejected the plan, CMOM acquired the forgotten space and is looking to preserve special elements of the church while transforming it into an artistic hub for all families.
Dava Schub, CMOM Chief Executive Officer and Museum Director, shared, “This historic structure will be transformed into
a dynamic seven-story magical castle on the park for all our City’s children, as CMOM invests in setting every child up to thrive. Over the years, CMOM has brought research-based learning experiences to millions of children at our museum and to children where they live and learn, in partnership with City shelters, Head Start programs, settlement houses, hospitals, the Department of Correction and beyond. With our new home, we will be able to do even more to nourish the whole child through play, artmaking and exploration.”
Funding the Historic Move
The campaign for the newly renovated location has received substantial contributions from various supportive donors. Founding
Board Chair Laurie M. Tisch’s donation reached a total of $50 million, along with the City of New York’s allocation of $46.1 million from the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Office of the Manhattan Borough President. Additionally, the Bezos Family Foundation has shown support for the campaign by providing generous gifts to CMOM totaling $30 million.
Laurie M. Tisch shared, “I am thrilled to announce that our 96 & WOW campaign has exceeded all expectations, with $200 million now raised toward our $300 million goal as enthusiasm spreads for the new CMOM. My personal contributions, donated as a capstone to decades of philanthropy dedicated to education, total $50 million, which I have given in the belief that this is the single most important project for the future of New York.”
Tisch continues, “We know, from study after study, that the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning and the social, emotional and cognitive development of a child is laid in the earliest years. In fact, 90% of a child’s brain development happens before they turn five. Too many children in our city enter school without the foundational skills and experiences they need to
thrive in the classroom. The new CMOM will be committed to giving parents and caregivers tools to help set up children for success in school, in life and in their communities.”
A Peek Inside the New CMOM
The project will involve architects FXCollaborative and exhibit designers THG, who will be working together to bring to life a vision developed by CMOM in collaboration with its council of national early learning advisors.
The ground-floor lobby will feature amenities such as a stroller check, a café with healthy options, and a museum store with unique toys, books, and art activities for children of all ages. The museum’s second will floor offer hands-on experiences and immersive technologies for children to explore the “Wide Wild World”, learn about science, and develop inquiry-based skills.
The third floor of the museum’s great hall will focus on the theme of “What Will I Create Today?” and will provide children with opportunities to engage in various creative activities such as painting, writing, cooking, and designing. The centerpiece of the exhibit
will be a multi-level creativity lab, offering STEAM experiences, including painting, clay making, science experimentation, and coding. The space will also feature a hands-on cooking area, the Cocina Kitchen, a readingand-writing lab, and more.
The fourth floor will have floor-to-ceiling circular windows for children to sit, read, and wonder. It will also feature an interactive water and sound experience for children to create and perform music using instruments from around the world. Adjacent galleries will provide flexible spaces for educator-led programs on music and science.
CMOM’s new facility will also feature a permanent performance space and a theater where the museum will continue collaborating with over 50 arts institutions in NY to bring some of the city’s best art experiences to our families. The museum will also offer daily enrichment classes in arts, science, music, and movement. At the top of the building, a terrace will allow families to take in a stunning view of New York City and Central Park.
The new CMOM is expected to open in 2028.
New York’s sullivaN Catskills
At just 90 miles from NYC, New York’s Sullivan Catskills is holiday-ready.
Start your visit by fueling up with Catskill-icious goodness. Restaurant Week is on through November 11. It’s an opportunity to sample farm-fresh 3-course lunches and dinners from $29.95-$44.95 at Blue Fox Motel, Cellaio, Kenoza Hall, Lotus, Roscoe Mountain Club, Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery, Tavern on Main, The Arnold House, The DeBruce, The Heron Restaurant, The Homestead Restaurant+Lounge, and Yagsur’s Café at the Museum at Bethel Woods.
As you wander the charming small towns, watch for the hand-painted sculptures on the Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail, a tribute to the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival held here in 1969. To help guide you to each dove location, download the trail map at SullivanCatskills.com.
If you’d rather someone else prepare your family’s Thanksgiving meal, consider spending Thanksgiving at Kenoza Hall, Villa Roma, Callicoon Hills, The Bradstan at The Eldred Preserve, Chatwal Lodge, North Branch Inn, The Arnold House, or Roscoe
Mountain Club. Then, see Peace, Love & Lights at Bethel Woods starting November 29. It’s a 1.7-mile drive-thru holiday light show running through December 29.
Better yet, come the weekend before and bring your family to The Farmhouse Project’s Holiday Maker’s Market on
November 23 and 24 in Callicoon. It’s a modern interpretation of the traditional craft fair with artisans throughout the region. To book your trip, visit SullivanCatskills.com. You’ll also want to download the Sullivan Catskills Go App, a valuable tool to guide you to the fun.
Get in the holiday spirit in New York’s Sullivan Catskills.
Start your adventure at Peace, Love & Lights — a Bethel Woods
drive-thru holiday light show through December 29. Kids love to walk with alpacas and pet our goats. And everyone loves a Catskill-icious hot cocoa or apple cider. Restaurant Week is October 28-November 10
RochesteR , NY: A WiNteR WoNdeRl ANd foR fAmilies
For NYC families seeking a memorable winter getaway, Rochester, NY offers a perfect blend of snowy adventures, cozy experiences, and indoor fun—just a few hours away. When the city is draped in a blanket of snow, Rochester transforms into an idyllic winter wonderland, providing the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle.
Embrace the Outdoors
Families can immerse themselves in winter magic at Mendon Ponds Park, offering ice skating, sledding, and guided snowshoeing tours through serene, snowcovered landscapes. For a thrilling day out, head to Bristol Mountain for skiing and snowboarding with runs suitable for every skill level, or experience the exhilarating snow tubing park.
Step Back in Time
At the Genesee Country Village & Museum, families can explore the largest living history museum in New York State, where the winter months bring historical holiday celebrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, and 19th-century
winter traditions. It’s an interactive way for kids to learn about history while enjoying a charming winter atmosphere.
Indoor Escapes from the Cold Rochester’s renowned Strong National Museum of Play and Rochester Museum & Science Center keep kids entertained for hours. The George Eastman Museum offers a cozy respite to explore photography’s rich history in the restored mansion of Kodak founder, George Eastman.
Seasonal Fun
With 140+ annual festivals and events in Rochester, NY there is always something fun and exciting taking place and winter is no different. Don’t miss Roc Holiday Village with complimentary ice skating, arts and crafts for kids, local boutiques and vendors, and more!
With its mix of outdoor adventure, rich history, and family-friendly festivities, Rochester, NY offers the perfect winter escape, ensuring unforgettable memories for families of all ages. Learn more at visitrochester.com.
Come soar. Come smile. Come see what all the excitement is about. Rochester, NY is the perfect family getaway for unique and extraordinary adventures.
Did we mention the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, and games? Pack your bags and hit the road for an unforgettable trip in a destination full of surprises. With fun for every family, every season of the year, playtime tends to last a little longer in our backyard. Learn more at visitrochester.com.
Winter escape in the Lake GeorGe area
If you’re looking for a winter escape, check out the Lake George Area in the Adirondacks. Featuring three premier ski resorts – Gore, West, and Hickory - ‘Ski the 3’ should be on your winter list of must-dos! Gore Mountain, the largest ski resort in New York State, has seven mountains with a total of 14 lifts, 108 trails, and a 2537’ vertical. West Mountain is family-owned and operated with 25 trails for skiing and boarding, as well as a tubing park. Hickory Ski Center offers a vintage ski experience with a vertical drop of 1,200 feet and challenging and expert-level trails.
The Lake George Area is a host to many winter events, festivals, and carnivals. Every weekend during February, the Lake George Carnival features a chili cook-off, outhouse races, an ATV poker run, and the famous Lake George Polar Plunge. Another annual carnival is held at Brant Lake, where broomball tournaments, human foosball competitions, and hockey shoot-offs take place.
Enjoy the annual Ice Bars in and around Lake George as sculpture-like ice creations accompany local events, like the Adirondack Pub & Brewery’s Funky Ice Fest. Attendees can
frequent hosted ice bar parties at venues like The Gem, the Lagoon, and the Sagamore. If watching sports is more your speed, enjoy puck-passing, net-catching hockey at the Cool Insuring Arena. The Eastern Conference Hockey League and affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, Adirondack Thunder, takes the ice to deliver hard-hitting thrills every game.
Dedicated to promoting “The Original
Vacation,” the goal of the Lake George Area is to promote travel and tourism to the over dozen towns and hamlets that make up Warren County, known as the “Southern Gateway to the Adirondacks.”
Learn more about Lake George at visitlakegeorge.com, on Facebook @ TheLakeGeorgeArea, or Instagram and TikTok @lakegeorgearea.
Helping Your DifferentlyAbled Child Succeed
BY JACQUELINE NEBER
Good parent-teacher communication is crucial for any successful school year, but being on the same page becomes even more important when your child has a learning disability. There are a few steps–from understanding your rights to communicating on a regular basis with your child’s teacher–that can help ensure your child has the best year possible, arming you and your child with the knowledge to succeed in and out of the classroom.
Know your rights and speak up. Parents are entitled to receive information about special education from their schools and teachers—reading up and staying informed is the best way to advocate for your kid.
When attending Committee for Special
Education meetings, annual review meetings, or parent-teacher conferences, if you don’t understand something, ask questions.
Communicate with teachers frequently.
Kathy Devine and Emily Cole co-teach at an elementary school in Long Island. They say parents of students with special needs must be extra communicative with teachers.
“We would like to know sooner when things might be happening at home, whether it’s medication changes or maybe something in the home life has changed,” Cole says.
When it comes to homework, “reach out to us as soon as possible so that we’re not waiting until the end of a trimester to know [kids are] struggling,” Devine says.
Another tip? Write a letter describing your child and his needs at the beginning of the year.
Understand Individualized Education Plan goals.
Equally important is understanding your child’s IEP goals—which can differ from her classroom goals.
This difference often confuses parents who see their student accomplishing goals on one end of the spectrum and not the other.
Involve your child.
Cassie Reilly, Transition Coordinator at a Long Island high school, suggests involving your kid in IEP and parent-teacher conferences. Being open with kids from the time of diagnosis helps them stand up for themselves and understand their learning disability does not make them inferior to others.
Be sensitive to difference.
Parents should understand their kids might be different at home than at school, Reilly adds. And, even more importantly, their kids might have an atypical path toward success. Communicating with teachers is key to understanding how your kid can progress in the best way.
Is your child struggling with: School? Attention? Socializing? Tantrums? AREAS OF SPECIALTY
•Learning Disabilities
•ADHD
•Autism
•Developmental Delays
Help with:
•Anxiety, Depression, behavioral issues
•Families in court over custody, education or legal reasons
• Extra time on tests, both in classrooms, SATS, ACTS, SHSATS
• IEPs, 504 plans, private school placement
• Forensic (injury, special education, child custody, immigration) cases
• Medication management
Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a renowned and widely sought expert in the field of mental health and neuropsychology, leads the clinical team at CTM. Our doctors are trained to help not only the child but their ecosystem in supporting their needs. Well-being, emotional and academic, goes hand in hand, and we can guide you to both. Please call or visit our website to learn more.
We accept most commercial insurances* credit cards, cash, Venmo
* GHI, Cigna, 1199, Aetna, United Healthcare, BCBS/Anthem, Magnacare
How To Choose a Babysitter for a child with special needs
By Dana GreenBerG
My son has autism, so when I need to leave him with a babysitter, I am extremely picky about who that person is going to be. There are so many things that go through my head as a parent of a child with special needs. Who can I trust with him, especially since he has limited verbal skills? Will his babysitter understand his wants and needs? Will he be happy and engaged while I am gone? Over the years, I have come up with a system for choosing a babysitter that has worked well for us. This is how I do it.
Where to Find Babysitters
There are some very good places that you may not have thought of for finding sitters for kids with special needs.
I contact local special education schools and therapy centers, both of which are wonderful resources for this. Try calling them, and you will usually be put in touch with the right person to help you out, such as a social worker or psychologist. When you speak with that person, let them know exactly they type of person you are seeking as a babysitter. Let her know how old your child is and anything else you think may be important to share. You will find that many teachers, teaching assistants, and therapists are looking to earn extra money. The social worker or psychologist can circulate your contact information among the staff. One of the best reasons to get sitters from these places is that they are already fingerprinted and have had background checks done. Referrals from other parents with special needs children can also work as a great resource for finding people. I find that we parents are each other’s best sources of information. You can fully describe your child to other parent without feeling like you need to hold anything back. With that information, they will know if they have someone who would be a good fit.
Meet as Many Candidates as Possible
I like to meet as many potential sitters as I can. You may find that different people or personalities work better in different situations. I have some sitters that I prefer to use if they will be staying at home with my son and others that I prefer to use if they will be doing an outing with him. It is great to have choices, and not everyone may feel comfortable taking him out.
Another reason I like to meet a variety of people is more basic: We all need back-up. You just never know who will be free when you need someone. There have been times when I have gotten to my fourth call before getting a yes. I certainly was glad I had my list of trusted babysitters to call upon when that situation came up. The bigger the list you can compile, the better it will be in the long term. It is important to know that you have multiple great, trusted people to call upon.
Conducting an Initial Interview
After compiling my list of who I would like to meet, it is time to have initial interviews with them. The first time I meet a new person I prefer to do it alone, just me and them, without my son present. That’s because my son has very good receptive language and I do not like to talk about him in front of him. At these meetings, I like to tell the candidate all about
my son--his likes, his dislikes, his routines, what makes him happy, what bowl he likes for his snacks, that he likes ice cubes in his water, everything and anything that might be important to know while watching him.
I truly feel that I cannot give a sitter too much detailed information. I need to be his voice. We can also discuss how much I will pay. This is also the candidates’ opportunity to ask me anything that they want. Based on how this meeting goes, I will decide if I want to continue the process with each person I meet.
Check References
Now that I have done initial interviews, it is time to check references for those I am highly interested in hiring. It is a good idea to do this regardless of where someone’s full time job is. You may want to speak with someone else for whom they babysit (or babysat in the past) or maybe a supervisor or co-worker at their current job. Have your list of questions prepared before you make the calls.
You should feel free and comfortable to ask anything; after all, this is your child’s welfare we are talking about. Ask specific questions about the candidate’s interactions with children, how they’ve handled certain situations, and the like. I always like to ask about punctuality, too. This is the opportunity to get a feel for whether this person may be the right fit and if you want to
continue moving along with them.
Meeting My Child
Assuming the references check out, I next schedule a meeting between the potential new sitter and my child. The meeting takes place in my home. I will prepare my son the best I can, by telling him the person’s name and that they are coming over to see where he lives and what he likes to play with. Once they arrive I will make the introduction. I will show them around, pointing out where my son likes to hang out and where his favorite snacks are, for instance. I will go over how we do certain things, and our routines. I want all his babysitters to be comfortable handling anything that may arise while I am out.
This is another instance in which I have a list ready so I do not forget anything that may be important. Discussing all of these details in depth at this time will make it a lot easier the first time I go out and leave him with this person. I will not have to take the time then to go over everything from scratch, and instead we can just do a review.
This is also the chance to see how they
interact with him. I pay close attention and try to feel the vibe. Usually I can tell at this point if a particular candidate would be a good match for my son.
Joining Us for an Outing
For those sitters who might take my son out, I will invite them to go on an outing with us. This is where I will train them on how to be outside with him, which is a very different situation than just staying indoors. There is a lot to know: He likes to scare birds, he may not want to hold your hand, he will constantly ask you how many more blocks you’re going. How will the babysitter react to all of this--or whatever else may come up while outside? His safety must be the priority. This person will need to be on high alert the entire time. I need to feel 100% confident that this sitter is up to this task, and they need to be prepared for the unexpected with him. I will guide them through this outing and see how they feel, and again ask if they have any questions or concerns.
The Babysitter’s Commute
Where a sitter lives is important to me. Just
because you are identifying candidates via a school or center it does not necessarily mean that they live nearby. I need to know that all candidates can independently get to and from my apartment. I need to make sure they understand that they will need to leave enough time for the trip. If you have a younger child, you will not want to have to pack them up to pick up or take the sitter home, especially at night. I find that most sitters can come and go on their own, but this is something I like to confirm before hiring someone. It is always good to make sure you are on the same page about anything that you think is important.
This is my process, the steps I like to go through when choosing a sitter for my child who has special needs. Every question is important and no detail is too small to mention. Make your lists, and do whatever it takes to put your mind at ease. Who we leave our children with is one of the most important decisions we make as a parent. We need to feel comfortable and confident with our decisions so we can go out and have peace of mind.
autism b ehavioral consulting Services
Karen Bottalico, SAS, SDA 516-851-8330
kbottalico2002@yahoo.com
An Educational Consultant serving Queens and Long Island and the NY Metro area. Working directly with families, services include: Evaluating placement and service options; Accompanying parents throughout the entire CPSE or CSE process which includes meetings, screenings, observations and extensive education history reviews. Other services include Staff Training, School-Based Consultation, FBA Assessment and BIP Implementation, ABA and Verbal Behavior Training Techniques, Behavior Management Strategies, Home/School Intensive Behavior Intervention Services, Crisis Intervention and Prevention, Home-Based Services and Parent Education Training.
comprehend the m ind P.c . 114-20 Queens Blvd., Suite CS 2, Forest Hills 718-441-0166
comprehendthemind.com
Comprehend the Mind is a
group of neuropsychologists who diagnose and assess a variety of conditions. Neuropsychological, educational, speech and language, and psychiatric evaluations are performed to help you understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and plan for their educational success and emotional well-being.
family Speech center
25-32 168th Street, Flushing 718-939-0306
familyspeechcenter.com
familyspeechcenter@verizon. net
Certified Speech-Language Pathologists evaluate and diagnose children to identify specific speech, language or swallowing difficulties. Services include speech-language evaluations and treatment for individuals with articulation and stuttering problems. Assessment procedures depend on the age of the client; very small children are assessed in an informal play-based environment. Medical plans and Dept. of Ed IEP’s are accepted for both preschool and schoolaged children.
The Gillen b rewer School
410 East 92nd St 212-831-3667
gillenbrewer.com admissions@gillenbrewer.com
The Gillen Brewer School offers students pre-K to 8th grade an academic-therapeutic approach to special education. Their mission is to educate and support students to become confident, independent, and engaged learners. Their program features a hands-on, language-based curriculum that integrates speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and social groups into each child’s schedule. Children from across NYC are immersed in learning that is developmentally appropriate and socially engaging.
long i sland Speech
Nine locations 844-5-SPEECH lispeech.com
Long Island Speech is the leading speech therapy provider on Long Island with 9 locations in Nassau and Suffolk County. They specialize in Myofunctional Therapy, PROMPT, Voice Disorders, Fluency, Augmentative Communications, Articulation, Feeding Therapy, Auditory Processing, Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders and so much more. Long Island Speech participates with most major health insurance companies and offers evening and weekend hours.
The Parkside School
48 West 74th Street, Manhattan 212-721-8888
alevinger@parksideschool.org parksideschool.org
The Parkside School provides a nurturing and dynamic learning environment for students
with language-based learning differences and disabilities. Through a robust curriculum integrating academic, social, and emotional development, Parkside helps children thrive and achieve their full potential. With a specialized team of teachers and therapists, and a strong sense of community, Parkside fosters growth in a supportive setting, encouraging independence and a love of learning.
Queens Theatre
14 United Nations Avenue South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park 917-566-0969
queenstheatre.org boxoffice@queenstheatre.org
Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens Theatre is welcoming to all families. They present a wide range of performances at low ticket prices, including many for young audiences, from Omnium Circus to Pete the Cat. QT prioritizes accessibility, routinely offering ASL interpretation, Audio Description, Touch tours and more at performances. The facility is wheelchair accessible, parking is free, and a shuttle runs between the 7 stop at MetsWillets Point before and after performances.
SteppingStone Day School
77-40 Vleigh Place Kew Gardens Hills 718 591-9093
steppingstonedayschool.com
37 years ago SSDS opened its doors to provide services to children. The schools have remained true to the original vision which embraced the sentiment that “All children can”. SSDS continues to be at the forefront of best practices in early childhood services.
QueeNS kiDS’
7 BeST
Birthday Party Places
Planning a birthday party for your child can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming. With so many options available, choosing the perfect venue can make all the difference in creating a memorable celebration. From whimsical indoor play rooms to scenic outdoor spaces, the right location sets the stage for fun-filled activities and priceless moments with friends and family. We’re sharing some of the best kids’ birthday party venues in your area, highlighting unique features, capacity, and themes that cater to a variety of interests and age groups. Below you will find options that offer everything from interactive experiences to all-inclusive packages, ensuring you find the ideal spot that fits your budget and party size while giving your child an unforgettable birthday party they will treasure for years to come.
Blue Man Group
Astor Place Theatre
434 Lafayette Street
800-BLUE-MAN
blueman.com
Want to party like a Blue Man? Whether you’re celebrating a 5th or 50th, the birthday packages promise an unforgettable experience. For groups of 10 or more, get the ultimate ultra-cool gift for your birthday buddy and guests and create a memorable adventure. The birthday packages include party bags, photo with Blue Man, one canvas spin art (birthday child) and personal birthday greeting on LED board. Don’t miss your opportunity to rock, laugh & party with Blue Man Group!
Clowns.com
200 Meacham Ave., Elmont 516-577-0000
inquiries@clowns.com
Clowns.com
Clowns.com has been the premier choice for kids entertainment in the Greater New York area for over 15 years. Their fantastic children’s entertainers sing and dance, spin ko -
sher cotton candy, play bubble games, make balloon animals, provide face painting, and end with a fun magic show! Add concessions like snow cones or kosher popcorn to make your guests’ taste buds dance; it’s a blast for everyone! Hundreds of bounce house options bring every party to the next level, and you can complete your party’s theme with a special appearance from your child’s favorite tv show or movie character. No matter what the theme of your kid’s birthday party is, Clowns. com will make it a memorable one.
Dave and Busters
Multiple Locations
888-300-1515
daveandbusters.com/us/en/bookings jessica.foley@daveandbusters.com
With kid-friendly menus, stellar Power Card deals to play tons of arcade games, and a one-of-a-kind experience, what’s not to love?
Dave & Buster’s has everything you need for an unforgettable party. Birthday packages are available for groups of all sizes. Book online at your convenience, or work with one of D&B’s professional party planners to tailor your experience. Mention “Best Birthdays” to get an extra $20 in game play for the guest of honor when booking a kid’s birthday package at any one of their 10 area locations.
L.I. Adventureland
2245 Broadhollow Rd., Farmingdale
631-694-6868
adventureland.us
BirthdayParties@adventureland.us
Prepare for an unforgettable celebration at Adventureland Long Island, where party experts are on hand to help you plan the best
party ever, from birthday parties, graduations and communions to year-end celebrations! Adventureland features heart-pounding rides, endless games, delicious food, and fun. Guests can choose from Adventureland’s fantastic party packages, carefully tailored to their needs. Little adventurers will be all smiles as they zip around on roller coasters, splash on the water rides, and test their skills at thrilling games. When it’s time to refuel, Adventureland’s mouthwatering food options will keep everyone satisfied.
Monster Mini Golf
645 Stewart Ave, Garden City 516-279-4433
monsterminigolf.com/locations/us/ny/gardencity-long-island gardencity@monsterminigolf.com
As you step into the world of monsters, prepare to be greeted by friendly human staff, who will help you customize every aspect of the party according to your child’s preferences. Monster birthday parties are designed to create an unforgettable experience for your little one and their friends. They are filled with laughter,
excitement, and plenty of monstrous fun, with private party rooms complete with spooky decorations. There are 2 great locations in Garden City and Deer Park, NY.
NY Kids Club
Court Square: 44-16 23rd St.
347-382-9829
courtsquare@nykidsclub.com
Long Island City: 4545 Center Blvd.
347-448-5802
longislandcity@nykidsclub.com
Celebrate your child’s special day with an unforgettable birthday party at NY Kids Club! The parties are 90 minutes of non-stop fun, creativity, and excitement filled with music, movement, and laughter, all led by enthusiastic and highly trained instructors. Choose from thrilling themes like Space Kids, Unicorn Extravaganza, or Cool Construction Crew—each crafted to spark joy and keep kids entertained! Whether it’s bouncing on trampolines or dancing up a storm, every child is sure to have the time of their life. The state-of-the-art facility is all yours for the duration of the party, giving little ones the perfect space to explore and play.
NY Kids Club takes care of everything from setup to cleanup, and their team tailors every party to the birthday child’s preferences, making each celebration one-of-a-kind.
Wildlife Conservation Society Education
Bronx Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, New York Aquarium and Central Park Zoo 2300 Southern Blvd
800-433-4149
wcs.education/birthday
bronxzoo.com/birthday-parties
BZeducation@wcs.org
Celebrate your little party animal! Planning your child’s best day ever is easy with family-approved party packages in a fun and educational setting. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s aquarium and zoos each offer different educational birthday programming. Parties include park admission for your group, space to celebrate, exhibit experiences, up-close animal visits and more. WCS Educators bring learning to life with fun hands-on activities that keep kids engaged. Party package themes, prices, availability, and offerings vary at each park.
Clowns.com
NYC Holiday Shopping
By New york Family
It’s the holiday season in NYC, and no one does holidays better than we do! There are countless holiday markets around the city for people to not only get their shopping done but also to experience a unique winter wonderland like nowhere else in the world. Check out these festive holiday markets, and be sure to check newyorkfamily.com for updates as we add more fairs, markets and holiday fun all season long!
Manhattan Crafts at the Cathedral 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street
Dec. 6 - 8
Crafts at the Cathedral offers a distinctive holiday shopping experience within the aweinspiring walls of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. With over 85 artisans offering handcrafted items in ceramic, glass, wood, fabric, and jewelry, this market allows visitors to explore unique items while surrounded by the grandeur of one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals.
The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Oct. 25- Jan. 5
Weekdays, 11 am- 8 pm
Sat.- Sun., 10 am- 8 pm
Known as Manhattan’s Winter Wonderland, the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is the pinnacle of holiday markets in NYC. The Winter Village includes free admission to the ice skating rink, and food and drinks. The Holiday Shops by Urbanspace are open-air markets inspired by those found in Europe and include almost 200 artisanal vendors. Other activities include a Curling Cafe & Bar, Cozy Igloos, and, of course, the tree lighting. While the holiday shops will only be around until Jan. 5, the winter village will be open through March 2.
Grand Central Holiday Fair
Vanderbilt Hall- Grand Central Terminal
89 E 42nd Street
Nov. 11 - Dec. 24
Mon.- Sat., 10 am- 7 pm, Sun. 11 am- 6 pm
Only a short walk away from Bryant Park (and always only a train ride away) is the Grand Central Holiday Fair. This event is a six-week-long celebration of small businesses that guarantees the best of NYC’s holiday cheer and talent. This year’s fair features a 6,000-square-foot indoor artisan market packed with unique handmade jewelry, pottery, amazing artwork, and more.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
59th Street and Central Park West Dec. 3- 31
Mon. - Sat., 11 am-8 pm, Sun. 11 am- 7 pm
Internationally known as one of the most beautiful and elegant places for holiday shopping, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market is back! This holiday market contains countless aisles of art, jewelry, home decor, and food all from local vendors, and is the perfect place to do all of your holiday shopping.
Union Square Holiday Market
University Pl & E 14th St
Nov. 16 - Dec. 24
Weekdays 11 am-8 pm, Sat. 10 am-8 pm, Sun. 11 am- 7 pm
With over 160 vendors including local craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneurs, organizers say that this year will be better than ever! Each year, millions of people browse the aisles of this unique, eclectic holiday experience. There is something for everyone at Union Square.
Uptown Holiday Market
Jackie Robinson Bandshell
116 Bradhurst Avenue
Dec. 5-26, Thursdays, 4-10 pm
Embrace the holiday spirit at this holiday market which showcases local makers, crafters, and food vendors showcasing their one-of-akind offerings. Browse handmade items, savor delicious treats, and enjoy a lively community atmosphere while supporting local businesses.
Grand Holiday Bazaar
100 West 77th St at Columbus Avenue
Sundays, Dec. 1-22, 10 am- 5 pm
With over 300 amazing local artisans and dealers, the Grand Holiday Bazaar is the perfect place to find unique gifts you cannot find anywhere else! You’ll find one-of-a-kind handmade holiday decorations and gifts, candles, skincare, fashion, vintage accessories, handmade jewelry, rare antique silver and glassware, and tasty artisanal chocolates.
Renegade Craft Fair
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W. 18th St.
Dec. 14 and 15
Sat. 11 am - 5 pm, Sun. 11 am - 5 pm
With over 180 talented artists showcasing their work, this event is the perfect place to explore a variety of handmade gifts that are perfect for the holiday season. Whether you’re looking for one-of-a-kind decorations, stylish accessories, or thoughtful presents, you’re sure to discover something special.
Brooklyn 7th Annual Wallabout Holiday Market
Brooklyn Navy Yard
141 Flushing Avenue
Dec. 7 and 8
The 7th Annual Wallabout Wonderland Holi-
day Market in Brooklyn Navy Yard features a winter wonderland-themed marketplace that brings the community together and supports small businesses. Shop for holiday gifts and enjoy a weekend of holiday cheer.
The Makers Show at City Point
445 Albee Square W
Nov 30 - Dec. 22
The Makers Show combines the idea of the retail market platform with values in social justice by promising a commitment to promoting equity and community investment through local markets. Founders Julie and Tiz believe in keeping resources within local economies, as well as amplifying businesses owned by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, and other underrepresented groups.
DUMBO Holiday Market at the Brooklyn Flea
DUMBO Archway
80 Pearl Street
Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas 10 am-5 pm
Located at the Brooklyn Flea Market, during
the holiday season, Dumbo transforms into a winter wonderland shopping district that includes over 40+ vintage and handmade vendors. These vendors sell a variety of items that include, but are not limited to, antiques, clothing, art, jewelry, and more!
Holiday
Market at Industry City
220 36th Street, Sunset Park
Nov. 25- Dec. 30
Mondays from 4 pm-10 pm
This festive holiday market comes to Brooklyn’s own Industry City. Local artisans, craftspeople, and food vendors will be on hand with a large selection of handmade goods, delicious seasonal treats, and unique offerings perfect for gift-giving.
FAD Market
Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, DUMBO
Weekends, Dec 7-Dec. 22, 11 am- 6 pm
With three locations at The Invisible Dog Art Center, St. Paul Catholic Church, and Empire Stores, the FAD Market is bringing the holiday spirit back to the BoCoCa neighborhood. These markets contain the
region’s most talented makers, designers, and entrepreneurs selling jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, home décor, handmade food items, and more.
Queens
BrickHouse Ceramics Holiday Market
10-34 44th Drive
Dec. 13 to 15, 5 pm
This unique holiday market in Long Island City offers a variety of handmade pottery for sale at affordable prices. Ceramic artists from all over New York participate and showcase their oneof-a-kind ceramic pieces. They can be a special gift for any art enthusiast in the family.
Bronx
Bronx Holiday Market at Fordham Plaza
1 Fordham Plaza
Saturdays, Nov. 30- Dec. 28, 4-10 pm
This fun, festive event features local artisans, craftspeople, and food vendors with all kinds of unique goodies. It’s a great chance to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts, enjoy tasty treats, and soak up the holiday spirit with family and friends.
calendar
by shara levine
Queens
10th annual Diwali festival
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 2, noon – 4 pm
wHere : Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing
aGeS: All
wHaT: Celebrate Diwali at this dance party, music, dance performances, rangoli making, Indian cooking, henna, and more.
waNT To Go?: $20; $15 member; free for children. (718) 463–7700, flushingtownhall.org
4th annual astoria Park Pumpkin Smash
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 2, 1 – 3 pm
wHere : Astoria Park, 19 19th St., Astoria
aGeS: All
wHaT: Sling your leftover pumpkins using a giant slingshot or you can grab a mallet and smash them by hand to be composted.
waNT To Go?: Free. astoriaparkalliance.org
Day of the Dead 2024
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 2, 4 – 6 pm
wHere : Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
aGeS: All
wHaT: Celebrate Day of the Dead with live performances, digital media activities, facepainting inspired by historical characters from Día de Muertos, and more.
waNT To Go?: $10-$20. (718) 777–6800, movingimage.org
Harvest Dance celebration
wHeN: Sunday, Nov. 3, 11 am – 4 pm
wHere : Queens County Farm Museum, 75-50 Little Neck Parkway, Glen Oaks
aGeS: All
wHaT: Celebrate American Indian Culture through music and dance! This event also features a Native American Craft & Food Market with authentic art, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and more.
waNT To Go?: $17; $12 ages 4-11; free for children 3 and younger. (718) 347–3276, queensfarm.org
cirque kalabanté: afrique en cirque
wHeN: Sunday, Nov. 3, 3 –4:30 pm
wHere : Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing
aGeS: All
wHaT: This high-energy production transports families into a realm that combines traditional African arts with North American modern circus performance.
waNT To Go?: $35. kupferbergcenter.org
omnium circus Presents i’mPossible
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2 –3:30 pm & 7:30 – 9 pm; Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 – 4:30 pm.
wHere : Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. South, Corona
aGeS: All
wHaT: This spirited limitdefying & life-affirming spectacular includes award winning artistry, memorable music, a heartwarming story and a beautiful mosaic of performers.
waNT To Go?: Tickets start at $27. (718) 760–0064, omniumcircus.org
Hands-on History: cast your ballot 19th century Style
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 – 4 pm
wHere : King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica
aGeS: All
wHaT: Cast ballots 19th Century style, practice writing with oak gall ink and quills, and play games including Rufus King cornhole!
waNT To Go?: Free. (718) 206–0545, kingmanor.org
Holiday Parade
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 – 3 pm
wHere : Queens Center, 90-15 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst
aGeS: All
wHaT: Embrace the magic of the holiday season and kick off the festivities with a dazzling Holiday Parade welcoming Santa to the Center.
waNT To Go?: Free. (718) 592-3900, shopqueenscenter. com
Tianyu lights festival
wHeN: Nov. 29-Jan. 19, Tuesdays – Sundays, 5 – 10 pm.
wHere : Citi Field, 41 Seaver Wy. Flushing
aGeS: All
omnium circus presents i ’mPossible at the Queens t heatre on november 9 and 10.
wHaT: This immersive spectacular will have you exploring a glowing Amazon rainforest, solving puzzles, playing interactive games, and winning prizes.
waNT To Go?: $22-$35. tianyuculture.us
Tree lighting ceremony
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 30, 5 –6:30 pm
wHere : The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Ave., Glendale
aGeS: All
wHaT: Enjoy a special visit by Santa along with a DJ, strolling entertainment, free giveaways & dance performances.
waNT To Go?: Free. shopatlaspark.com
m anhattan
The rink at rockefeller center
wHeN: See website for complete schedule
wHere : Rockefeller Center, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown
aGeS: All
wHaT: Lace up your skates and take a spin around the rink for a quintessential New York winter experience.
waNT To Go?: Tickets start at $21. rockefellercenter.com
big apple circus: Hometown Playground
wHeN: Nov. 8-Jan. 5, see website for complete schedule
wHere : Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, Amsterdam Ave. & W 62nd St., Upper West Side
aGeS: 5 and up
wHaT: This all-new show celebrates the magic and excitement of the city that never sleeps with soaring acrobats, jaw-dropping stunts, comedic mischief, and the cutest performing dogs ever.
WANT TO GO?: Tickets start at $44. bigapplecircus.com
2024 New york city veterans Day Parade
wHeN: Monday, Nov. 11, 12:30 – 3:30 pm
wHere : The New York City Veterans Day Parade, 26th St. and Fifth Ave. to 48th St. & Fifth Ave. New York
aGeS: All
celebrate diwali at flushing town hall’s 10th annual festival on november 2.
wHaT: Marching bands, military units, veterans’ organizations, and more, come together to pay homage to those who have sacrificed for our freedom.
waNT To Go?: Free. uwvc.org
98th macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
wHeN: Thursday, Nov. 28, 8:30 am – 12 pm
wHere : Parade will pass
Macy’s Herald Square, 151 W 34th St., Herald Square
aGeS: All
wHaT: Giant balloons, fabulous floats, exciting entertainers & more are joining this all-star celebration of Thanksgiving!
waNT To Go?: Free. macys. com
b ronx
kids on the move! foliage frolic
wHeN: Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 – 2 pm
wHere : Wave Hill, 4900
Independence Ave., Riverdale
aGeS: 4 - 8
wHaT: Learn about the complex process of photosynthesis and how trees use, and lose, their leaves in the fall then take part in a leaf inspired family yoga class.
waNT To Go?: $4-$10. (718) 549–3200, wavehill.org
Holiday Train Show
wHeN: Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm through Jan. 20
wHere : New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Fordham
aGeS: All
wHaT: Enter a winter wonderland featuring model locomotives and trolleys traveling through a mini city of familiar local architecture.
waNT To Go?: $15-$35. (718) 817–8700, nybg.org
bronx Zoo Holiday lights
wHeN: Nov. 22-Jan. 5, Fridays – Sundays, 3 – 9 pm.
wHere : Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx
aGeS: All
wHaT: This immersive, walkthrough experience brings majestic animals and wild places to life via millions of lights and hundreds of lanterns spread across seven different trails.
waNT To Go?: Tickets start at $26.95. bronxzoo.com
b rooklyn
eighteenth annual brooklyn children’s book fair
wHeN: Sunday, Nov. 10, 11 am – 3:30 pm
wHere : Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Prospect Heights
aGeS: All
wHaT: Meet more than 40 of your favorite Brooklyn authors and illustrators, listen to readings, watch artists sketch, get books signed, and participate in book-related art projects.
waNT To Go?: Free. (718) 638–5000, brooklynmuseum. org
lightscape
wHeN: Nov. 22-Jan. 5, see website for schedule
wHere : Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Crown Heights
aGeS: All
wHaT: This one-of-a-kind winter light show takes advantage of the natural beauty of Brooklyn Botanic Garden to create a magical, otherworldly experience in the winter Garden.
waNT To Go?: $24-$45 for adults; $12-$23 for children. bbg.org
Jalopy Theatre Presents: family music for food bank
wHeN: Saturday, Nov. 23, 11 am – 1 pm
wHere : Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St., Carroll Gardens
aGeS: All
wHaT: Join Suzi Shelton, Esther Crow, and other children’s musicians for this FUNdraiser for hungry NYC families!
waNT To Go?: $10; $5 kids. (718) 395–3214, jalopytheatre. org
Meet New NYC Schools Chancellor
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
By Danielle Ramos
Parents of children in New York City public schools learned there would be a change in leadership during a press conference on September 25. 2024 when Melissa Aviles-Ramos was introduced as the new NYC Schools Chancellor. In an unusual move, the announcement came months before she was set to start the job, and shortly after news broke that Schools Chancellor David Banks would be retiring at the end of 2024. However, Banks announced on October 2. 2024 that he would leave his position on October 16, 2024 instead and Melissa AvilesRamos will take over then.
Who is Melissa Aviles-Ramos?
In the months to come, New York City parents will surely learn a lot more about the
new school chancellor, but for now, here is a sneak peek.
Aviles-Ramos is a dedicated educator with a homegrown yet diverse background that spans multiple roles and responsibilities within the New York City Public Schools system. Though she’s held various roles within New York City Department of Education, her roots began in the classroom.
Her career in education began in 2007 when she started as an English teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in the Co-op City section of the Bronx. There she quickly demonstrated her passion for teaching and her commitment to student success. Over the years, she worked her way up through various leadership positions, ultimately becoming an assistant principal and then a principal.
During her tenure as principal, she achieved notable results. She boosted
graduation rates by an impressive 60 percent in just two years.
In addition, Aviles-Ramos holds the position of the highest-ranking Latina and Spanish-speaking official in New York City Public Schools. She currently works as the deputy chancellor for family and community engagement and external affairs.
A native New Yorker, Aviles-Ramos knows what it’s like to be a school kid in New York City navigating the challenges that come with it. Growing up in the Soundview area of the Bronx, she had a modest upbringing and was raised by a Puerto Rican single mother.
As the first person in her family to finish high school and go to college, she faced plenty of challenges along the way. Those experiences in a resource-limited environment inspired her to fight for access and opportunities for students and families in the city. Consequently, she’s committed to making sure that every child, no matter their background, has a chance to not only succeed in school but to excel.
In an interview with CBS News, AvilesRamos outlined her main focus. “Our priority is for kids to read, do math, be safe, and have access to amazing programs and opportunities that are going to lead to success after graduation,” she explained. “I can’t imagine anyone not prioritizing those things.”
She has plans for addressing school safety and as a mom of a public school student, she relates to the concerns. As a principal, she was in charge of school safety and worked to provide a safe environment for her students and teachers. “It currently is and will remain a top priority in this administration,” says Aviles-Ramos. “As chancellor, it’s my responsibility to make sure that we are working closely with our community leaders, with our families, to really define what safety looks like.”
In addition to safety, Aviles-Ramos emphasizes the importance of supporting teachers. “When we center teacher support, kids win,” she says. “That’s what is important to me.”
The incoming schools chancellor believes that by empowering educators with the resources and training they need, schools can create a more positive and effective learning environment, ultimately benefiting all students. By focusing on teamwork, safety, and creativity, she wants to create a school culture where both students and teachers can thrive.
The Kew-Forest School, a leader in private education in Queens since 1918, prepares students with the futureready skills needed to lead meaningful, purposeful lives driven to do good in the world. Our small, challenging yet nurturing environment provides individualized attention and ensures each student is well equipped for life in college and beyond.
OPEN HOUSES NOVEMBER 16 - Middle & Upper School NOVEMBER 23 - Lower School
at kewforest.org/visit