February Newsletter

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2025! We’ve kicked off the year with a bang, as we welcomed back all of our kids and staff. January has been packed with exciting, hands-on activities that have kept everyone engaged. Our students dove into the world of coding during the Hour of Code, where they learned the basics of how coding works, from creating simple programs to understanding the logic behind it. And for those with a competitive streak, our different video game clubs brought out the best in everyone with friendly challenges that had kids showcasing their gaming skills and teamwork.

In addition to all things tech, our Multicultural Cuisine Club was another hit. Kids got to explore vibrant dishes from around the globe, broadening their palates and cultural understanding. We also launched our Movie Club, where students watched films and had lively discussions about the plot and characters, sparking new ideas and perspectives. For those with a creative side, we offered a range of arts and crafts activities, from making their own stickers to sculpting adorable clay animals!

It’s been an unforgettable month, and we’re just getting started ... here’s to many more fun experiences ahead!

This month we are excited to announce our Kid and Staff nominees: Joshuel and Isaiah!

Joshuel has been nominated for his outstanding work during Educational Time. Whether it’s completing his homework or finding other educational activities when he's finished, Joshuel is always eager to learn. He’s always open to exploring new things both during choice time and outside of it.

Isaiah has been recognized for his fantastic leadership and the engaging choices he offers, often leaving kids eager to continue their activities even after choice time ends. Isaiah has also been a big help during Educational Time, working with a small group of kids to keep them on track and motivated. Both Joshuel and Isaiah have truly stood out this month, and we’re proud to celebrate their contributions.

New month, new fun activities!

Every day of the week, we create lesson plans according to our daily themes:

Movement/Mindfulness Monday: Activities to get the body moving, whether it's yoga and connecting with their minds, playing kickball, or a game of capture the flag.

STEAM Tuesday & Thursday: Science, math, technology, arts and crafts, oh my! These activities focus on creativity and building.

Service Learning Wednesday: Activities focused on giving back to our community, whether it's making a card for the elderly or picking up trash in our neighborhood!

Fun Friday: Activities based on all things fun! The activities range from cooking and baking to playing at the park.

We are so excited to be back at school this new year, we had a great vacation but we really missed our teachers! With it being a New Year, we have gotten some new choices that have really engaged us. Some of the choices were: The Giving Project, Beyblade Club, and Winter Art Club. But we still have oldies but goodie choices like: No Bake Club, Bubbleology, and Science w/ Ruff Ruffman. We are excited for our February Schedule, even though we love being in school we are ready for some more fun and field trips during vacation week. Praying for the summer as the winter comes to an end. Some choices we are really excited to do are: Chess Club, Coding Club, and Puzzle Club. We cannot wait to see what the month gives us and what we are willing to give to others within the month.

Lightson has shown so much growth within the month of January, between improving his leadership skills and working hard at educational time. He has really put in the work and truly deserves to be acknowledged for it. We are proud of him and can't wait to see him flourish even more!

Charlene has stepped up as a Senior Staff member in the month of January, having her plans on time and making fun but educational choices. She has also been a great support system for the staff and children in an emotional and educational sense. We are grateful for her being here and ready to see what she continued to go on a do!

New month, new fun activities!

Every day of the week, we create lesson plans according to our daily themes:

Movement/Mindfulness Monday: Activities to get the body moving, whether it's yoga and connecting with their minds, playing kickball, or a game of capture the flag.

STEAM Tuesday & Thursday: Science, math, technology, arts and crafts, oh my! These activities focus on creativity and building.

Service Learning Wednesday: Activities focused on giving back to our community, whether it's making a card for the elderly or picking up trash in our neighborhood!

Fun Friday: Activities based on all things fun! The activities range from cooking and baking to playing at the park.

This month we welcomed back familiar faces from kids in day groups and kids from the community. There’s nothing quite like reconnecting after ending the year with an awesome gift-giving party! Our night groups were packed with a variety of fun options, keeping everyone entertained and engaged. One standout activity was our epic video game challenges, where the kids and even the staff joined in for some friendly competition, showing off their skills and sharing lots of laughs along the way. Beyond the structured activities, we also offered some creative downtime with bracelet making and coloring, giving kids a chance to relax and let their imaginations run wild. And of course, no night group is complete without tasty snacks to enjoy while hanging out! It’s been a fantastic start to the month, and we can’t wait for more fun and memorable moments together!

Happy Birthday to our Kids!

C 2/9

Kayon 2/22

E 2/11

Happy Birthday to our Staff!

Tracey 2/2

Kevin 2/8

Holidays

Valentine's Day 2/14/25

President's Day 2/17/25

The MLC & MELC will be open as early as 1:00 pm:

• Somerville Public Schools: Every Wednesday
• Prospect Hill Academy: Every Wednesday
• Medford Public Schools: Feb 5th
• Stoneham Public Schools: Feb 14th

Thank you for understanding that the MLC & MELC will be closed. We appreciate your consideration during our planned closing on the following days:

Monday February 17th - President's Day

MLC & MELC will be open for enrolled youth from 7:30am-5:30pm for the following days:

Tuesday February 18th through Friday February 21st - February Vacation

Our Parent Meeting will be on Monday, February 10th

• Meetings are on the second Monday of the month unless stated otherwise.
• Parents are responsible for picking up their children at 5:30 pm, eating family dinner together in the community room, and signing them back in for childcare during the meet
• PIP Committee Monthly meeting will be on Monday, February 24th , from 6:00- 7:30 pm at the Mystic Learning Center.

• The wild Robot (Peacock)
• Elemental (Disney Plus)
• Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse

A Snowtubing Experience is coming your way this February. Stay tuned for more details—location, date, and all the info you need will be available soon! Keep an eye out for updates!

Check out our link tree for all of our happenings: https://linktr.ee/MysticLearningCenter

As of January, MLC and MELC have openings for school-age children (youth ages 5 in kindergarten through 13). Give us a call (617-623-0110) or send an email (info@mysticlearningcenter.org) if you have any questions or are interested in enrolling your child(ren).

We're licensed by Massachusetts to provide child care for youth between the ages of 2.9 -13 years old. Youth with special needs can attend up to age 16. Click the link below for more info.

** At the moment we aren't accepting children under 5 due to not having a Lead Preschool teacher.

The Human Service Division of the City of Somerville Department of Health and Human Services is now available to take online referrals for services through a new online contact form. Referrals may be completed by individuals directly seeking services, parents or guardians, service providers, or community partners.

The services provided are available at no cost to Somerville residents of all ages and include:

• Supportive counseling for individuals and families
• Briefcase management
• Service coordination for individuals and families
• Information and Referral to services
• Including mental health services, utility and benefits assistance, workforce development, housing support, youth services, financial literacy, legal assistance, survivor services, literacy, and language development, public health services, substance misuse services for youth.

• School consultation, support, and advocacy