Are We There Yet?: Getting Back to School

Is summer over? It somehow feels like it, even in mid-August: You should have seen the jeans and jackets at the annual North Adams Downtown Celebration on Wednesday! I'm not convinced summer is over quite enough to take the air conditioner out of the window, but I did see a red leaf on the ground the other day.

The other way we know fall is around the corner, of course, is the thought of going back to school. Or, for our region's 5-year-olds, going to school for the first time. This week, there are two events geared toward those boys and girls who will be starting their school careers this fall.

First, on Friday, Aug. 16, the Family Resource Center is hosting its annual "I Rode the Bus" event at the Haskins Center on Route 8 in North Adams. Children will learn about school bus manners; take a 10- to 15-minute bus ride; participate in circle time; listen to a short story; and create an art project. Every child that attends will receive an "I Rode the School Bus" sticker and book.

Riding the bus for the first time can be a scary, exciting time for kids, and this is the perfect way to prepare them. My daughter attended this two years ago when she was entering kindergarten, even though we were not putting her on the bus to school that year, but it prepared her for the future possibility.

The event is free but registration is required at 413-664-4821.

The following day, on Saturday, Aug. 17, the Berkshire Museum, in collaboration with Transition Team of Pittsfield and Berkshire County Head Start, is hosting "WeeMuse: Countdown to Kindergarten" from 5 to 7 p.m.

This event also will include a school bus ride, as well as model classrooms and activities that invite children and their parents to have a typical kindergarten experience. Adults can ask staff "teachers" questions they may have about the kindergarten registration process, child development milestones, and how to help their child be ready for school.

At 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., families can watch Arthur's younger sister get help from her family and friends as she prepares to enter kindergarten. Presented by City Stage Company and in partnership with the Boston Children's Museum, the show is free but tickets are required and can be obtained beginning at 5 p.m.

The whole event is free; visit berkshiremuseum.org for details.

Not ready to think about school year? Then what better than watching the boys of summer! The Lenox Library is hosting its annual "Baseball in the Park," a large screen under the stars that will be showing the Boston Red Sox playing the New York Yankees. Families are invited to bring chairs and blankets and celebrate this famous rivalry that right now looks like maybe — just maybe — will be going Boston's way this year. (Did I just jinx them?)

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.; the event is free and traditional ballpark food will be available for purchase.

One more taste of summer happens mid-week this coming week when the Dalton CRA hosts a "Summer Beach Party" from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20. There will be activities and games that will make you feel as if you are enjoying an evening at the beach, with waterslide fun, Frisbee competitions, games, snacks and refreshments.

The event will be held at Pinegrove Park in Dalton, which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this summer for a Girl Scout picnic. What a lovely location for a party, and had a great way to make you think that summer really is not coming to an end — colored leafs on the ground and all!

Berkshire County native Rebecca Dravis of Williamstown is a former journalist who now works for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. She can be reached at rdravis@verizon.net.