News & Events

Some planned activities and events to look forward to this coming month are as described.

Special Activities:

WASC Field TripWASC Field Trip. The children of WASC take a walking tour of Auburndale Square! Auburndale is one of the thirteen villages of Newton, MA. Auburndale Square is the location of the Plummer Memorial Library, which was built in 1927 and is now run by the Auburndale Community Library, the Turtle Lane Playhouse, which debuted its first theater production in 1981, and many historic sites, such as Whittemore's Tavern which is the oldest standing house in Auburndale, and small businesses, such as Tom's Pizza and Wally's Ice Cream. Three separate trips, categorized by age grouping, will be provided on Monday, June 13th (Grades K-1), Friday, June 17th (Grades 2-3) & Monday, June 20th (Grades 4-5).

Ed SullivanEnd of the Year Show - Spring Fling. Our End of the Year Show is spectacular in every sense of the word! Join us at the Williams Elementary Theater on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 for our grand finale end of the year show. The Williams After School Club proudly presents "Thursday Night Live". This two hour limited engagement performance will have you on the edge of your seats as the children of WASC deliver an entertaining experience you'll never forget with this musical dance performance ensemble incorporating everything late night television. Doors open at 6:45 PM and show starts promptly at 7:15 PM. Food and refreshment tables are available for all in attendance concluding the show.

Summertime PartyEnd of the Year Party. Our final summer send off! Join us on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 for this fun-filled afternoon. This event comes with ice cream, pizza and soda, along with a variety of activities, music and dancing. For entertainment, we have Stephen Brennan the Deejay, Tattoo Artist & Magician, which turns out to be an amazing afternoon for all the children of WASC.

WASC Big TopWASC Big Top. Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, get ready for the greatest show on earth – WASC Big Top. Our end of the year grand finale circus show will be rolling into town on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, from 4:30 PM to 5:45 PM. This special production is brought to you by Simply Circus and features performances by the children of WASC.

Watch Out For ChildrenEnd of the Year Goodbye. We all made it through another fulfilling year. Nine strong years and running. It is now time to say goodbye to all the families of WASC of 2010-2011. For those of you who will be graduating from the Williams After School Club and moving on to your next academia adventure, we all congratulate you in your present success and wish you all the best with our most heartfelt wishes for an even more successful future. We hope that your stay with us, spanning any extent of time – long or short – will always be remembered as a wonderful experience. For those of you who will be taking a short summer break and rejoining us next year, we look forward to seeing you next September 2011. Please be sure to continuously check our website over the summer to stay informed of all administrative and tuition payment deadlines. The WASC staff wishes everyone a safe and healthy summer. Enjoy!

great outdoors month:

Great Outdoors MonthGreat Outdoors Month – National Get Outdoors Day. Great Outdoors Month helps to highlight the benefits of spending time and volunteering outside to individuals, families, communities and the nation. For example, through recreational activities such as biking, fishing, walking, and nature watching, we can enjoy the outdoors while maintaining a healthier lifestyle. In addition, volunteerism for environmental education programs, local parks and nature conservancies helps to sustain park trails, restore wildlife habitats and protect our environment for future generations.

June 2011 will be the eighth annual Great Outdoors Month celebration.

GO DayIn addition, June 11, 2011, is National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day). GO Day is an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. Participating partners of this program offer opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY:

Drive-InAmerican Drive-In Theater: A Short History. The first Drive-In Theater was invented by Richard M. Hollingshead. Richard worked out the details by experimenting in the driveway of his home in New Jersey by mounting a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car to project onto the screen he had nailed to trees in his backyard. He placed a radio behind the screen for sound, and then started to test his idea. He liked what he saw and heard.

The popularity of drive-ins across the U.S. rose to its highest count of approximately 5,000 by 1958, and was considered a popular family night activity. The 1960's and 1970's saw a decline in new drive-ins, with some closing altogether. The novelty heyday of the drive-in as a family outing was gone. Many drive-ins which stayed in business dismantled their playground equipment in the 1970's since fewer families were attending, largely due to many of the movies targeting a teen or adult audience. The existence of drive-ins in the 1980's started out fair but waned before the end of the decade due to low attendances and the inventions of the Cable TV and VCR. Something happened in the 1990's where the number of drive-in closings slowed down. Many existing drive-ins expanded with twin or triple screen viewing options.

The start of the new millennium has sprung a whole new generation of families with children rediscovering the drive-ins, just like the crowd of the 1950's. Rediscover the drive-in theater nearest you and enjoy this American tradition.