LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield Community Schools (LCS) is ramping up its programming, offering several new spring programs and extending its summer program from six to nine weeks.
“We are trying to bring back some of the in-person activities little by little,” said LCS Director Sarah Perkins. “Things have been going well and it was great to see so many happy children and parents at our April vacation programs. They were all so excited to have options for their children during the week, and it really went extremely well. We are hoping that will carry over into the spring and summer.”
Community Schools offers year-round before- and after-school programs and its popular summer SOFA (Summer of Fun Activities) program.
Perkins said feedback from parents and children during last year’s SOFA program led to the decision to add three weeks to the summer program.
“We are trying to fulfill a need,” Perkins said. “We learned last year that August was a long month and, not only the kids but the parents were looking for activities and, in some cases, there was a daycare need as well.
“So we looked at the calendar to see if we could make it possible to extend the program deeper into the month, and found we could do it.”
Perkins said the decision to add three weeks to the SOFA season has resonated with parents. During the first two weeks of registration, several programs have already sold out.
Several new programs have been added, including an academic refresher for children in grades K-2. Another new offering is focused on the social-emotional needs of students. The program is designed to teach children how to regulate their bodies and learn self-coping strategies.
Upcoming spring programs include the Springtime Tournament of Champions — an action-packed class with kids participating in a variety of games, such as dodgeball, handball, street hockey, soccer, football, basketball, and many others in a special tournament setting.
In addition to learning the fundamentals of these sports, we will have exciting discussions about current events in sports, good sportsmanship, and improving our sports skills together as a group. Each participant will receive a daily pack of cards.
The program is open to grades 5-8 on Tuesdays from April 27 through May 25 from 2-3 p.m. Grades 3-4 are scheduled for Thursdays from April 29 through May 27 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Registration is limited to 20 students with an $85 registration fee.
Yoga for Little Athletes with Melissa Gemmell features an outdoor class aimed at getting kids moving and teaching them important life skills.
Classes will include yoga activities to help with strength, flexibility, and balance to complement any sport. Movement will be combined with a focus on topics such as teamwork, kindness, optimism, and good nutrition.
Children will practice positive affirmations, gratitude, and techniques to calm the body and mind, which they can apply toward sports, school, and family time.
“It’s all about de-escalation to reduce stress by teaching the kids how to learn de-escalation strategies that can be used at home and school,” Perkins said.
Classes are open to students in kindergarten to second grade on Mondays through May 24 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Huckleberry Hill School.
The program is open to both Huckleberry Hill and Summer Street students.
The registration fee is $75 with a maximum 12-student registration.
Scholastic Aptitude Test preparation (SAT) classes are also underway with math preparation taught by Audrey Coats.
The class reviews number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability. There will be homework in the form of practice sections each week; practice is essential for students to increase their readiness for the exam.
Classes are scheduled for Mondays through May 24 from 6-7:30 p.m.
The course fee is $145 with a 20-student maximum registration.
The SAT verbal preparation class taught by Joey Puleo focuses on sentence completion, critical reading, essay writing, revision, grammar, and mechanics.
Test taking strategies and skills include timing, skipping, and accuracy, and will be covered through diagnostic and practice exams.The course will be held on Thursdays from April 29 through May 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. The course fee is $145 with a 20-student maximum registration.
For more information, call 781-334-5814 or email [email protected].
