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Boys & Girls Club #14, Photo by Jerome Beaner
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Chess Festival East of the River
Chess Challenge in DC, an academic after-school program bringing the game of chess to children in Washington, DC, held its first-ever Chess Festival at the Richard England Boys & Girls Club on Benning Road NE on Nov. 21. The goal of the event was to create an opportunity for the participants from all 13 program sites to interact with each other for a day of chess games, instruction, simul exhibitions, chess movies and other activities and prizes. Nine of Chess Challenge's sites are located in Wards 7 & 8, including the Boys & Girls Club. For more information on Chess Challenge, call 202-363-2008 or visit chesschallengeindc.org.
Living Classrooms Anacostia River Clean-Up at Kingman Island
Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region hosted a Debris Clean-up and Anacostia Celebration event that brought 150 youth and adults to the Anacostia River along the shoreline of Kingman Island on Nov. 6. The cleanup was followed by a picnic lunch and awards ceremony, emceed by Living Classrooms’ President and CEO James Piper Bond, where “Living Legend Awards” were awarded to Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Shell Hydrogen, and Dottie Yunger, the Anacostia Riverkeeper, for their work on behalf of the Anacostia River watershed and community. The clean-up educates youth about the enormous impact that debris has on the health of the Anacostia River, which receives more than 20,000 tons of trash annually. Participants included students and teachers from River Terrace (just blocks from Kingman Island and the Anacostia River) and Turner Elementary, elected officials, representatives from federal and state agencies; corporations; non-profit organizations, and the event sponsors. For more information, please visit www.livingclassroomsdc.org and www.kingmanisland.org.
‘Scoops of Sunshine’ for Garfield Elementary
This year, James A. Garfield Elementary is a SAM school. SAM (School-wide Applications Model) is a data-based approach that directs all school, family and community-based resources together to focus on improving academic and social outcomes for all students. A positive behavior intervention strategy of SAM that Garfield has implemented is the Ram Reward System. Students earn Garfield bucks as a school-wide effort by demonstrating appropriate behavior in school and adhering to school rules. As a school, once the students have reached a designated goal, they receive a celebratory event for their efforts. Our initial goal was set for 100 bucks. Once the students earned 100 bucks, their reward was an ice cream treat. We were fortunate to have The Sunshine Creamery, a neighborhood shop at 3221 23rd St. SE, donate ice cream to our 279 students. To recognize the student's achievement, Ms. Tonda Wright (owner) and her staff came to Garfield to scoop ice cream. Our children were thrilled to receive such a refreshing treat! The Garfield Community would like to thank Ms. Wright and The Sunshine Creamery for the generous donation of Italian Ice. Ms. Wright's commitment to children and the community made our first incentive a huge success. – submitted by Tashima Hawkins
Capitol Christmas Tree
The lights on the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit during a ceremony held Dec. 8, 5 p.m., on the West Lawn of the US Capitol. This year's tree is an 85-foot blue spruce from the White Mountains of Arizona – this is the first time Arizona has given the annual Christmas tree to the US Capitol. The tree is lit daily from dusk to 11 p.m., through Jan. 1. Free, no tickets required. www.capitolchristmastree2009.org.
Fourth Annual Holiday Concert and Sing
Join the Capital City Symphony, American Youth Chorus and the Congressional Chorus for the Atlas Performing Arts Center's Annual Holiday Sing on Dec. 13 – an H Street holiday tradition! Performances are at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Note: a certain jolly old elf will make an appearance at the 3:30 p.m. performance.) Tickets are free but must be reserved. Please call the box office to reserve seats. 202-399-7993. 1333 H St. NE. www.atlasarts.org.
Boogie Babes at Sova Espresso
Grab your little one and boogie on down to Sova Espresso to see Mr. KnickKnack, Groovy Nate, Mr. Skip and Oh Susannah! The Boogie Babes show schedule for this month is as follows: Dec. 7, Mr. KnickKnack; Dec. 17, Groovy Nate; Dec. 21, Mr. Skip. All shows start at 10:30 a.m. Sova Espresso is located at 1359 H St. NE. $5/child (cash only, pay at the door). Check website for updates: www.boogiebabes.com.
Developmental Screening for Children
As a program of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Early Stages identifies possible developmental delays in children ages 3-5 years old and recommends appropriate services to address those delays. Early Stages' services are available free of charge, whether the child goes to public school, private school or has not yet entered the school system. Early Stages' outreach team is also available to appear before groups to discuss early intervention and developmental delays. For more information, visit the Early Stages website at www.earlystagesdc.org or call Early Stages at 202-698-8037.
A Christmas Carol
Visit Ford's Theatre and begin an annual holiday tradition with a Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” now through Jan. 3. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. This production is appropriate for ages 5 and up. $30-$62. 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833, www.fords.org.
ZooLights Shine at the Zoo
ZooLights, the National Zoo’s annual winter celebration, shines with thousands of environmentally friendly lights and animated exhibits from Dec. 4-13 (Friday through Sunday nights) and Dec. 18-Jan. 2 (every night except Dec. 24, 25 and 31), 6-8:30 p.m. These larger-than-life displays feature many of the zoo’s most popular animals; fun activities and live entertainment will entertain the whole family. $5-$8. 202-397-7328, www.fonz.org.
Nutcracker Performances
Catch performances of “The Nutcracker” throughout the month of December. The Washington Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” by Septime Webre Dec. 10-27 at the Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-783-4000, www.warnertheatre.com. Tickets start at $27.
Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker – 10th Anniversary
An annual Capitol Hill tradition since 2000, Momentum Dance Theatre’s Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker brings its lively mix of holiday sparkle, Latin rhythms, jazz and hip hop to local stages. More than 25 area children join Momentum’s professional company in a contemporary retelling of the Nutcracker story. Public performances: Dec. 12, 3 & 8 p.m. and Dec. 13, 3 p.m., at Stuart Hobson Middle School 410 E St. NE. $18/adults in advance; $20/adults at the door; $15/youth (10 years & over), seniors (65 & over), students (with ID); $10/children (under 10). Dec. 19, 3 & 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, Md. Tickets and information for all shows: 202-785-0035, www.momentumdancetheatre.com.
Children’s Programs at NCM
The National Children’s Museum will host the following activities for children in December at the National Harbor’s Launch Zone (unless otherwise noted).
- Wee Wonders' Winter Wonderland: Dec. 8 & 15; 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Children (ages 2-3) discover what happens in winter including winter weather, ice and snow, and how different animals adapt to the changing season. Parents and caregivers can explore winter alongside their child with activities that typically include stories, games, art, music, experiments, drama, and movement. $10/child. Pre-registration and advance payment required by the Friday prior to the event. Call 202-675-4120 or e-mail RSVP@ncm.museum to register.
- 'Tis the Season: Saturdays through December. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Children can participate in a variety of holiday arts and crafts, which will include assorted decoration and card making. Activities will vary each week and some may be repeated. Free.
- Cryogenics Science Show: Dec. 5, 12, 19; 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. Children will explore really cold temperatures in a 30-minute demonstration and learn about the properties of dry ice and liquid nitrogen and watch as these super-cold substances transform everyday objects. Free. Takes place in the Gaylord National Resort Atrium, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.
- Ginger Bread House Making Workshop. Dec. 6, 13 & 20; 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Join the National Children’s Museum at Gaylord National Resort where children can make gingerbread houses to take home. $25/hotel guests; $30/local residents. Space is limited, but there is no preregistration for the workshop. The workshop takes place at Gaylord National Resort, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.
NCM is located at 112 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. 301-686-0225, www.ncm.museum.
Seasons of Light
Learn the history and customs of Ramadan, Devali, Hanukkah, Sankta Lucia, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas/Christmas, and a First Nations tradition of Winter Solstice during Discovery Theater's most popular performance of the year – Seasons of Light – through Dec. 22, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. (1 p.m. shows on Dec. 9, 11, 16 & 18; noon on Dec. 12) at the Ripley Center. The Dec. 12 show is a family special show with holiday cookie tasting following the performance. Purchase tickets in advance. $4-$10. 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 202-357-3030, www.discoverytheater.org. |
