Tip of the week - Recipes

Smoothie (featuring a secret ingredient that packs a punch!)

If you have a picky eater on your hands, getting him/her to eat healthy can be a challenge. A smoothie is a quick and easy way to sneak in some extra nutrition into your child's diet. Smoothies are great because you don't have to follow an exact recipe; you can customize them for your child's taste.

Here's a recipe submitted by a fellow Keystone parent. You will never guess the secret ingredient in this recipe - it's Kale!

Ingredients (all organic or local as possible):

• 2 stems Kale - destemmed and shredded
• 1 Banana, cut up into pieces
• 1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries (fresh also works)
• 1/2 + 1/2 cup Milk of choice (or a blend of Coconut and Hemp Milk)
• OPTIONAL: Hemp Protein powder
• WAY OPTIONAL: 1/4 Avocado, cut up into chunks
• Note: Instead of bananas and blueberries, you may substitute the fruits that your child prefers.

Steps:

1. In a blender, blend (to as smooth as possible) to liquid Kale leaves. The more liquid they are, the more chance of hiding it.
2. Add Banana, blueberries and 1/2 cup milk
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Add more of the fruits and milk as needed and blend to the correct consistency your child likes.
5. OPTIONAL: Add the protein powder and/or Avocado.
6. Add more milk and a sweetener such as Honey or Maple Syrup.
7. Blend some more and serve up this delectable and nutritious treat!

Makes 1-2 servings.
Recipe Courtesy Ms. Leela Obilichetti

To share your "clever" recipes, email keystone.parents@gmail.com.

Tip of the Week - Events

Past Events

Winter Sing-a-longs

You are invited to bring your family and friends to the winter sing-a-longs. Join us for 45 minutes of singing, dancing, and playing instruments to your favorite songs. The fee is $8/family. No sign up is required.

Sing-a-longs will be held at 9:30 am (only) on the following dates andlocations.

Knights of Columbus, 40 Summer Street, Maynard, MA (Corner of Nason andSummer Sts.)Thursday, December 10 and 17

Union Congregational Church, 218 Main Street, Groton, MA (Rte. 119/GrotonCenter)Wednesday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 22

See you all there!

Mister Vic and Pat978-897-0874mtofav@comcast.net

Festival of Trees
Date: November 21, 2009 - December 5, 2009
Location: Methuen, Massachusetts

Website: http://www.methuenfestivaloftrees.com/

The Festival of Trees, an annual event, was begun to fund the restoration of the Tenney Gatehouse. It is a magical event held annually by the Festival of Trees, Inc., to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season. Event details are on the web site.



Town Halls Benefit Concert
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center

The Town Halls Benefit Concert will feature talented local artists including Nova Scotia Celtic Band Tri, Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band, Anna Dagmar, Yoke Shire, Dance New England Celtic Dance Troupe and more. The goal of the concert is to raise funds to revitalize Chelmsford’s historic town halls.


Tickets ($10 adults; $5 children under 12) are on sale now at www.mktix.com, Music Academy of Chelmsford, the Chelmsford Town Clerk's office and Chelmsford's Community Education office. For more information, contact townhallsbenefit@yahoo.com.



"James and the Giant Peach", by The Peacock Players
Directed by Medina Mahfuz
October 16th-18th, 2009
Location: Nashua

Watch a fabulous group of child actors who do amazing, professional quality theatre.
An imprisoned boy! A magical peach! Insect friends! An incredible journey! The amazing adventure of James Henry Trotter will fulfill the fantasy of anyone who has ever dreamed of escape. Roald Dahl's story comes hilariously to life in this delightful dramatization that reveals the wickedness of some, the goodness of others, and the indecision encountered by many when they are faced with crises.

SHOWTIMES:
FRIDAY @ 7PM
SATURDAY @ 2PM & 7PM
SUNDAY @ 2PM
Get tickets and more info:http://www.peacockplayers.org/

Art Miles Project - Sunday September 20, 1 PM to 3 PM
Location: Keystone Montessori School
Bring your friends to Keystone's celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace. We will be creating an art mural and creating peace flags to celebrate peace. Parents and children can enjoy painting and community. As part of the Art Miles Project, our mural will be sent to Egypt where it will be displayed on the pyramids. Click below to read more -
http://www.examiner.com/x-20451-Boston-Montessori-Learning-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Celebrate-International-Day-of-Peace-making-community-art-mural


5th Annual Farm Fair - Saturday, Sept 26 Noon - 4:00 PM
Location: Barrett-Byam Homestead
Rain Date: Sunday, Sept 27
http://www.chelmhist.org/calendar.htm

Parents, here's a suggestion for a fairly low-key, low-cost event that your kids might enjoy. If you go, do let us know if your family had a good time. Read on....

A family day of cider making and tasting, hay rides, tours of the Barrett-Byam Homestead and Watts-Stevens Education Center and more. Special music will be provided for entertainment and the Chelmsford Art Society will display the creations of numerous local artists. Demonstrations of flax production will fascinate the children as they try their hand at some of the chores they may have had to do, including beating and combing. A cider making demonstration allows children to make apple juice.

Kick-Off Meeting - All Parents are invited

All Keystone parents are invited to the kick-off meeting.
Date & Time: September 29, 2009, 4 pm to 6 pm
Location: Classroom 6
The agenda: Elections to determine board members, KEMPO calendar, Planning for annual United Nations Day dinner.

Welcome to all parents!!

KEMPO extends a warm welcome to all parents entering the 2009/2010 school year!
New parents, let us know how we can help, as you get to know your child's school!

KEMPO Meeting

Come to a meeting!
Our first meeting is scheduled for September 15th at 3 pm. The school provides free childcare to parents who attend KEMPO meetings. Everyone is invited to attend and add input; please don’t be shy! KEMPO’s calendar will be available online by the end of September ‘09.

KEMPO invites parent volunteers

KEMPO's board for 2009/2010:
Co-Presidents: Diana Lawton and Radhika Pillai
Secretary: Leela Obilichetti
Treasurer: Nandita Agarwal
Officers and chairpersons are elected at the beginning of the year by Keystone parents.

A special thank you goes out to all parents who have offered to volunteer their time for KEMPO this school this year. Your support is invaluable.

KEMPO invites all parents to join the organization.
Becoming involved is a great way to make new friends, gain experience in a non-profit organization, and have fun at the same time! The amount of time you choose to spend volunteering is entirely upto you.
If you are interested in volunteering at KEMPO, then please send an e-mail to keystone.parents@gmail.com, indicating your interests.

What is KEMPO?

• KEMPO stands for Keystone Montessori Parents Organization.
• Our goal is to provide a warm and inviting community for our children to thrive in, and to give them access to the best teaching practices and materials.
  
• All Keystone Montessori School parents are members. The KEMPO board and committees are made up of parent volunteers.
• KEMPO sponsors social events throughout the year such as the Ice Cream Social, annual U.N. Dinner, Fall/Spring Socials, End-of-year School Picnic. KEMPO also occasionally provides an avenue for parents who own businesses to showcase and sell their products during some events, and donate 10% of proceeds to KEMPO.
• KEMPO raises funds to enhance your child’s education and make improvements to the school without raising tuition.
  
• Projects that KEMPO has funded include: additional materials for the classrooms such as bead cabinets, the limited-access security keypad for the office, the peace-pole planted on the playground and additional funds for teachers to attend the American Montessori Society’s national conference.
  
• This summer, KEMPO was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Horne Family Foundation. The grant has made it possible to establish a new Music and Arts program in all Keystone’s classrooms, utilizing new musical instruments and art materials.
  
• KEMPO is registered as a 503© non-profit organization; all contributions to KEMPO are tax deductible.
  
  
  
  

$20,000 Horne Family Foundation Grant Awarded to KEMPO

/grant%20press%20release.doc

See the Press Release in the Lowell Sun here -
http://www.lowellsun.com/schools/ci_13281976

Welcome to all Keystone families!

KEMPO extends a warm welcome to all Keystone families

entering the 2009-2010 school year!

Welcome to Keystone Parents Blog!

Welcome to the new Keystone Parents Blog & Website!