Hilltown Families 
KidWind & Green Dollhouse Challenge at the Western MA Science & Sustainability Expo This May, Greenfield Community College will be hosting the first annual Western Massachusetts Science and Sustainability Exposition. The...
Question and Answer Anyone have a recommendation for a local preschool? Is there a preschool your kids went to that you would recommend to other parents? Emily Gonzalez writes: Rise &...
When your child heads back to school, it's a great time to start talking with his teacher. What can you tell a teacher that will help him do his job...
Dads’ 10 Tips for the New School Year By Joe Kelly Our children and stepchildren are starting the new school year. Dads & Stepdads are a valuable resource for kids in...
Back-to-School Means Back to Healthy Eating for this Family It’s just about that time again. Time for alarm clocks and protests to sleep “just one more minute.” Time for grumbles over...
Bioblitz in the Pioneer Valley Saturday, June 5th in Springfield, MA What is a Bioblitz? A bioblitz is a 24 hour event to find, identify, and record as many species as...
Michael A. Buoniconti, Superintendent of Schools for Mohawk Trail Regional School District, Hawlemont Regional School District Rowe School District writes: Dear Mohawk School System Families, Please be informed that State Police...
GreatSchools writes: Homework: What is it good for? “Absolutely nothing!” may be your child’s retort, but it’s not just stressed-out students who are questioning its value. From parents fed up with...
USDA Backs Rewarding Schools Serving Healthy Food By Christopher Doering Schools that serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to pupils should see higher federal support rates than those serving less-healthier...
CCFC’s Guide to Commercial-Free Book Fairs Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood writes: Are you tired of all the items for sale at your book fair that aren’t books–such as toys, video...
Chester Elementary School Teacher Wish List The Chester PTO has submitted the following wish list on behalf of its teachers. Anyone who is able to supply these materials may deliver them...
Wendy V. Long, Editor of Breaking News From Gateway writes: Good afternoon: The Gateway Regional School District is seeing growing numbers of absences of students who have Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI). Health...
Mimi Stamer, President of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization writes: Funding cuts are projected for the school health services (line item 4590-0250). Please call the Governor’s office immediately at (617) 725-4000...
Helping with Homework Wondering how to help your children with homework — or how to get them to do it without a struggle? Over at PBS Parents, their post Helping with...
Parents Surveyed on Hilltown Elementary School Closings The Elementary Advisory Committee has announced that parents of school-aged children are being surveyed for input on the possible closing of some elementary schools...
100 Links (August/September 2009) Nearly every day I add recommended links to the Hilltown Families bank of on-line resources. Some of you might find these links well suited for your family,...
Today is “Back to School with Better Milk” Day of Action Our kids deserve the healthiest food possible, and parents deserve to have a say in what their kids eat. Milk...
Three ways to revolutionize your school lunch program Need help banning mystery meat from your school’s cafeteria? Get the tools you need from three organizations dedicated to serving up better lunches:...
School Lunch Updates: How the USDA Helped Bring Processed Food to School Lunch Most adults don’t have glorious memories of school lunch. It was sloppy Joes, shepherd’s pie, spaghetti with meat...
If You Give a Kid a Shovel by Joe Gillespie Have you ever watched kids dig potatoes for the first time? It is like a treasure hunt. Or experienced the joy...
Fourth Graders Boycott Cafeteria Food Fourth grade students at Nuestro Mundo Elementary School in Madison, WI started a group called Boycott School Lunch (BCSL) last fall after conducting some “gross experiments”...
Healthy, Local & Organic School Food Now School food: It’s never had a reputation for being good, but these days, it’s downright unhealthy. Obesity and a host of diet-related diseases are...
Testing of Kindergartners Is Out of Control, Says Children’s Advocacy Group in New Report Studies show standardized tests and test prep are now daily activities in many kindergartens. Why? Molly Holloway,...
Brenda Mellor of Randolph, MA writes: We recently started a backpack program in our school in Randolph Mass. While it is only in it’s third week of operation it is already...
Obama’s New Chef Skewers School Lunches Before he agreed to cook for the Obama family in the White House, Chicago chef Sam Kass was already talking about changing the way American...
Amy Kalafa of Two Angry Moms writes: Recently, Oprah did a couple of shows focusing on the emotional toll of childhood obesity. The shows were touching, powerful, and an important step...
Click here to view a lesson plan at Education World.
Change for Kids: Working With Other Nonprofits to Make a Difference In 1996, a group of friends decided to make a difference by raising money to buy school supplies for kindergarten...
New Massachusetts grant program provides essential funds for cultural field trips We have heard from Local Cultural Councils across Massachusetts that transportation costs are a growing factor in whether or not...