According to the calendar, Fall begins on Sept. 22, but really Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. In Chicago it’s when the beaches and outdoor pools close, outdoor concerts and movies wind down, and the kids return to school. If you obey traditional fashion rules, it’s time to put away summer attire: no more white pants or sandals. But it is often the most beautiful month, and each day of September warmth feels like a gift. As you celebrated American workers on Labor Day Monday, we hope you bid a fond farewell to summer.
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Featured Activity Theme: Watermelons
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Read: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli or A Watermelon in the Sukkah by Sylvia Rouss
Create: A paper plate watermelon. You need a large paper plate, and 4 colors of tempera paint: red, light and dark green and black. With a small foam brush, paint the center of the plate red, and the outer circle light green. Add stripes of the darker green. Use a Q-tip to make black seeds. When dry, cut into wedges or halves. If you don’t want the paint mess, you can do something similar with dot markers or paint stix, and black marker seeds.
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Explore: Watermelon seed spitting contest! Buy a seeded watermelon—it might take searching, but they are around. Then go outside to spit the seeds while eating it. See who can send it furthest!
Watch: Raffi singing about “where the watermelons grow.” Nobody does it better! Down by the Bay
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Parenting Community Updates
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| “Crafternoons”
Fridays through September 19, 3:30–4:30 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ (970 E. 58th Street, 3rd Floor) Features a simple craft for little children, a more complicated one for big kids and grown-ups, as well as a coloring corner, toys for pre-crafters, and drinks and snacks for all.
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Stories in the Park
Stories, songs, fingerplays and snacks for all ages. Come to the final summer Storytime on the 16th and choose a free book, courtesy of our friends at the Campus Bookstore.
Family Mixer Saturday, September 20, 3:00–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD Headquarters (970 E. 58th Street, 3rd Floor) Come and connect with fellow families at this free monthly gathering. In celebration of the new school year beginning, we will be giving away treat-filled pencil cases.
PhD Childcare Stipend A reminder that the Fall deadline for the childcare stipend application is coming up on Friday, Oct. 3. PhD students with a gross family income of $100,000 or less are eligible.
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Ideas from your Neighbors
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Shared by Hyde Parkers and UChicago families via various community listservs
UPCOMING EVENTS:
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| Library Community Day
Saturday, September 13, 12:00–3:00 p.m., Regenstein Library, 1100 E. 57th St. South Side and UChicago community members are invited to the 2nd annual UChicago Library Community Day. Children (accompanied by adult) can enjoy tours, picnic treats, facepainting, crafts and Storytime. Register here.
NPAW Ice Cream Social
Friday, September 19, 1-3pm, UChicagoGRAD HQ. National Postdoc Appreciation Week ends with an Ice Cream Social. Partners and children are welcome. FREE; RSVP requested on Grad Gargoyle or via meredithmcmurray@uchicago.edu Thanks for all your contributions, postdocs!
57th Street Children’s Book Fair
Sunday, Sept 28, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., 56th & 57th Street between Woodlawn & Kenwood Ave. Now in its 38th year, the book fair includes performances, free crafts and giveaways, and of course many, many authors and books! childrensbookfairofhydepark.org
South Side Science Festival
Saturday, Oct. 4, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Crerar Quad (58th & Ellis). With 100 incredible hands-on demonstrations, the 4th annual the festival is your chance to try it all. Learn from experts in the field as UChicago scientists share fun, funny and strange science for all ages. FREE. To help with planning and supplies, please RSVP. southsidescience.event.uchicago.edu
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ONGOING EVENTS:
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s Markets are all over Chicago in the summer months, and many have special activities for kids. If you haven’t gone yet, there’s still time! Visit chicago.gov/farmers_market for a comprehensive list; the local ones are:
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- 61st Street Market (61st & Dorchester) on Saturdays 9am–2pm through Oct. 25
- Hyde Park Farmer’s Market (54th & Lake Park) on Sundays from 9am–2pm through Sept. 28.
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Free Water Lead-Testing Kits available
If you’re worried about the age of the pipes in your building, you can order a free test kit from Chicago’s helpful 311 system here. 311.chicago.gov/s/article/Water-Lead-Test-Kit
Working Families Lending Library.
Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park (55th & Woodlawn.) Graduate Students United and Augustana have a “Working Families Lending Library” in the lobby of the Church. There are lots of useful kids’ items; take what you need, leave what you can Andyarcher@uchicago.edu
Help stock Love Fridges
Augustana is also the location of one of 2 “Love Fridges” in Hyde Park--the other is at Congregation Rodfei Zedek (52nd & Hyde Park Blvd.) Those in need can help themselves any time. A recent HP Herald article noted that donations are down, so please make contributions if you are able. please make contributions if you are able.
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- Hyde Park ABC’s. An adorable toddler board book featuring many area locales—written by a neighbor who is a new dad! Ages 2-4
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Maya and the Robot. Multi-hyphenate UChicago faculty Eve Ewing wrote this story of a 5th grade Chicago scientist who finds an abandoned robot. Ages 8-10
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- The Wright 3. This series of young reader books features Lab School sleuths, and one of their mysteries is set in the Robie House. Ages 10-13.
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Newsletter ideas and contributions are welcome!
lmacgregor@uchicago.edu
Laura MacGregor
UChicagoGRAD Parenting Community Coordinator
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