Tag Archives: 2012 DC Fall Festivals

January 30, 2017 · 4:25 pm

Open House Events at Creative Minds International Public Charter School

The DC public school lottery is currently open, and many District parents are exploring the selection of educational options for their children. And as a parent who has been through it more than once, I highly recommend taking advantage of opportunities to attend Open House events. It’s a great way to get a better feel for a school — you can get a look at the facilities, ask specific questions, and meet some of the people who will potentially be part of your child’s life.

Coming up in the next few weeks, Creative Minds International Public Charter School, which serves students from preschool to middle school, will be hosting two Open House events. The first will be held on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:15pm. And if you can’t make it on a weekday evening, there will be another Saturday, February 25, at 3pm.

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Founded five years ago by Golnar Abedin, Ph.D., Creative Minds initially launched with preschool and elementary programs, and they’ve been such a success that Abedin expanded the school into 6th grade this year, and will add on 7th grade next year, continuing with 8th after that. The school strikes a unique balance in education by taking a global approach to learning, while always maintaining focus and attention on the individual student.

The global component is one that Abedin believes to be important in an international city like Washington, DC. Through the lens of this type of curriculum, students gain an understanding, appreciation, and respect for differences of all kinds, making them confident, culturally aware individuals capable of succeeding in a diverse and global society.

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Creative Minds has designed an engaging program based on an international, project, and arts-based curriculum that includes foreign language instruction as well as standards-based literacy and mathematics. Students receive a well-rounded education that integrates both the arts and STEAM, all under the instruction of passionate teachers dedicated to the social, emotional, and academic success of their students.

More information about Creative Minds International Public Charter School is available on their website. And, of course, you can get even more insight at one of the Open House events.

Creative Minds International is located within the historic Sherman Building at 3700 North Capitol Street, NW.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Creative Minds International Public Charter School, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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Huzzah for Ren Fest!

How often do you encounter a scene like this?

I love Ren Fest. But if you’ve been reading my blog long enough, you already knew that. Every fall, I express my fervor for the medieval time trip through dedicated posts and weekly recommendations to go during its seasonal run. We made our first visit of the season there this past weekend, and I say first because we’ll definitely be going back for more merriment. You can get more background on Ren Fest (and my love for it) here and here. And you can view some scenes from this year’s faire at Revel Grove below. And be sure to scroll all the way down for logistics and tips. Huzzah!

Where it all starts (and ends…this was shot on the way out)

The charming grounds of Revel Grove are a delight in itself

Getting medieval on that turkey leg

Fantastic jousting action!

Buy wear for the faire while you’re there

Little ones love the pony rides and parents love the cost: free!

Just a guy shoving a sword down his throat into his stomach

Hands-on in the House of Reptiles

Sasha enamored by bubbles, Owen by the bubble lady

Renaissance band jam

Good times in the Boars Head Tavern

The Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place at Revels Grove in Crownesville, Md, running every weekend through October 21 from 10am – 7pm. Admission is $17/ages 16 and up, $8/ages 7-15 thru September 16, then $22/ages 16 and up, $10/ages 7-15 from September 22 – October 21. Free for ages 6 and under.

When you go:
– Bring a stroller or carrier for little ones, as there’s a lot of walking. I recommend a stroller that navigates over dirt paths easily.
– Get a map and schedule on your way in to help you navigate and plan your day
– If there’s show you really want to see, get to the stage a few minutes ahead of time to get good seats so the kids have a good view.
– You might encounter less crowds on Sunday, when many folks are watching football
– Plan to spend on extras like food, games, and fun for kids (all reasonably priced but it can add up)
– Let the kids dress up! Princesses, knights, fairies, pirates will fit right in.

The 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival

Last week, when I posted a compilation of fall festivals taking place around the DC area, I purposely excluded a big one. That’s because the annual Library of Congress National Book Festival deserves a post all its own. The DC tradition, a celebration of books, reading, and literature, consistently draws hundreds of thousands of people to the National Mall every year, giving book lovers of all ages a rare opportunity to interact with and get their books signed by their favorite authors.

This year’s event will take place September 22-23 with the theme “Books that Shaped America, ” inviting authors and the public to share their favorite books that shaped who they’ve become. More than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators from all literary genres will make presentations on the Mall throughout the weekend.

So, I know at least one 6-year-old who is going to particularly excited about the Festival this year when he finds out the author of his favorite book series is part of the event, and I bet there are lots of kids who will be thrilled along with him. Mary Pope Osborne, creator of the wonderful Magic Treehouse books, is among the children’s authors who will be presenting. (I, too, am pretty psyched to meet the writer whose stories pique Owen’s imagination and help foster his zest for reading.)

Many more celebrated authors of books for young and old will be there — you can view the complete lineup and schedule of presentations on the Festival website. And a KFDC tip: If you really want to get a spot in a pavilion to see an author, plan to arrive to their presentation early, as space fills up fast. And if you want to pick up a copy of their book for signings, there will be a whole pavilion dedicated to book sales.

Super Reader to the rescue at last year's festival

And that’s not all you’ll find at the Festival. There will be family storytelling events and reading-related activities for kids in the Let’s Read America pavilion; popular PBS characters on hand to greet children and pose for photo ops; the Gateway to Knowledge truck, which houses some of the top treasures and information about the millions of resources in the Library of Congress’ collections; the Digital Bookmobile, where visitors can explore download services from community libraries nationwide at interactive learning stations; and a 50th birthday celebration for Clifford the Big Red Dog.

The public is invited to enjoy this all rain or shine on Saturday, September 22, from 10am – 5:30pm and Sunday, September 23, from 12 – 5:30pm. Admission is FREE. For more information, visit the Library of Congress website.