KidsOutAndAbout's weekly e-newsletter |
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Save the Date Fri, Jan 23: Kid's Night Out January! New Years Party! at Art Center of Rochester LLC Sat, Jan 24: Danny Go! Dance Party! at Henrietta Public Library
Sat, Jan
24: New Year's Carnival at Eastview Mall Sun, Jan 25: Skate with the Amerks at DICK'S House of Sport at Eastview Mall
Mon, Jan 26: Diocesan
Youth Night at Bishop Kearney High School
Thu, Jan 29: Raptor Connections at Helmer Nature Center
Fri, Jan 30: FREE Build Night at Bricks ROC!
Fri, Jan 30: The Sound of Music at Greece Athena Performing Arts
Sat, Jan 31: Full Moon Snowshoe at Helmer Nature Center at Helmer Nature Center
Sat, Jan 31: Mercy Idol! at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women Fri, Feb 6-Sun, Feb 8: Between the Lines at Stages (3rd floor theater at the Auditorium) Mon, Feb 16: Video Game Creation Workshop at The Strong Museum
Mon, Feb 16: Winter Vacation Program at Central Rock Gym Rochester |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their own ability to
navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the redder the
light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the universe is doing
what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Connect more. Do more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Joyful Learning. Boundless Potential. The Harley School is a highly personalized, college preparatory program for approximately 470 students in Nursery-Grade 12. Attend the Kindergarten-Grade 4 Open House, Saturday, January 24 at 2 pm and discover The Harley School in person. Learn about our philosophy, meet our faculty and Lower School division head, tour campus, and find out more about admissions and financial aid. Click here for info and to register: https://www.harleyschool.org/janoh
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Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts is a tuition-free public charter school for grades K–6. At RA learning is joyful, rigorous, and creative! Academics are enriched through the arts and grounded in a deep commitment to social-emotional learning, ensuring we educate the whole child. With support from our school therapy dog, Remy, students grow with confidence and belonging. Schedule a tour by emailing Mrs. Moyo-White at moyowhite@renacad.org or calling (585) 225-4200 ext. 209. Apply by April 1 for better chances in the 2026-2027 lottery at GoodSchoolsRoc.org or renacad.org.
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Need a fun, productive, and engaging activity for your child during February break? The Video Game Creation Workshop returns to The Strong from February 17–21, with two series for ages 8–11 and 12–17. These five sessions, led by Dennis McCorry, Digital Games Hub Coordinator at the RIT MAGIC Center, provide a window into STEM-based career fields and encourage a lifelong love of play. Participants will learn about game design and rules, visual art and animation, and audio to create their game. Previous programming or coding experience is not required. All sessions take place at The Strong Museum Play Lab.
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Looking for great experiences for your kids for Winter Break in the Rochester area? Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Winter Break camps taking place here in mid-February!
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January 17–25, 2026: Ten years in the making, the world-premiere musical adaptation of the beloved and heartwarming P.D. Eastman book Are You My Mother? takes flight! Written and composed by TYKEs’ own artistic team, the classic story of a newly hatched baby bird in search of its mother bursts on stage with a parade of colorful and endearing characters, an outstanding score and plenty of hilarious antics. Based on one of the top 100 books of all time, this heartwarming, high-energy production celebrates curiosity, courage and the unbreakable bond between caregiver and child. Ages 3+. Shows at 11am and 2pm.
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Join us for our Open House! Sunday, January 25th, 2026 from 10:30am to 12:30pm Registration for new families will begin the following day, January 26th. Summerville Nursery School prides itself on embracing the whole child and family. Through a cooperative learning environment, top notch teachers and careful attention to the child’s development through the preschool years, our program is built on play. Children in our program enjoy circle time, free choice play, crafts, stories, and lovingly guided interaction with their peers and adults. Our goal is to help children express their full personalities, develop positive social skills, acclimate to different adults and begin gaining educational skills in a group environment.
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Looking for a great way to spend a Saturday evening? Head to the Blue Cross Arena to cheer on the Rochester Americans as they hit the ice for another thrilling hockey matchup! With fast-paced action, fan giveaways, and an electric atmosphere, an Amerks game is the perfect way to make unforgettable memories. Don your red, white, and blue, grab some popcorn, and get ready to shout “Go Amerks!” Check out the full schedule and grab your tickets at https://amerks.com.
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January 23, 2026, 6-8:30 pm at Art Center of Rochester: Even after New Year’s, kids still know how to party! Kids will enjoy playing silly games, getting creative with art activities, and sharing plenty of delicious pizza from Two Ton Tony’s with friends. This is a fun way for kids to celebrate the new year together, make memories, and have a great time in a space made just for kids. Come ready to play, create, and enjoy! Open to ages 5-12.
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Come One, Come All – families are invited to our Annual New Year’s Carnival! Join us for face painting, bounce houses, carnival games, balloon animals, & more!
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Saturday, Jan 24 at 10:30am: Head to Henrietta Public Library for a dance party inspired by the popular children's entertainer Danny Go! We’ll dance, sing, and play along to your favorite Danny Go! songs! This event is designed for children ages 2-6. No registration required.
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A FREE Morning of Music & Dance Exploration Homeschool families are invited to experience a fun and inspiring morning at The Hochstein School! Children ages 3–12 can explore music and dance through hands-on classes, live performances, and instrument try-outs—all in Hochstein’s historic downtown building. No prior experience is needed, just curiosity and enthusiasm!
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Creative Movement is a joyful way to explore self-expression through music and dance. Through this program we will also be shaping and growing a ballet community of diversity and inclusion, the kind of community Draper Center wishes to provide for all its students. Ages 3-4. Registration encouraged. Classes through 1/10-2/7.
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Every Saturday from January 17th through February 21st at 10 AM and 1 PM. Bundle up and join us for a family-friendly 1-mile snowshoe trek through marshes, grasslands, and forested trails. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just curious about winter wildlife, this inclusive outing is perfect for all ages (5+). If there is no snow, we'll still hit the trails for a wintery walk!
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On the 4th Friday of every month parents can enjoy a night out while the kids participate in our Kids' Night Out. Sign your kids up in advance for a night of fun with staff lead climbing, games and activities. Pizza dinner will be provided. For ages 7-13.
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Public skating (often called public skate or open skate) is a relaxed, all-ages session where anyone can enjoy time on the ice—no experience required. It’s a great way to try indoor ice skating for the first time, practice your stride, or enjoy a family skate together in a comfortable, climate-controlled arena. Sessions are recreational and non-instructional, making them ideal for beginners and casual skaters.
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Lace up your skates and join us on the Ice Rink Sunday, January 25th, 2026, 12pm-1pm!
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Donate any clean, gently used promwear, jewelry, shoes and accessories to the Arts Center Box Office between Jan 19-Feb 1, 2026,Wed-Fri, 2-5pm or self-service drop-off evenings and weekends.
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Stay warm and safe out there!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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