It's a short school week, with Good Friday and the first night of Passover falling on the same day. Speaking of the upcoming holiday, NYC public schools may be adding another day off to its calendar soon. We've also got news of a program expansion at the South Street Seaport Museum and the chance for students to win $1,000 for their school library. Also, you'll want to hold on to your boas and tiaras, kid-lit icon Fancy Nancy is going to be a TV star!

The arrival of spring isn't the only thing greening NYC these days! We've got details on a contest to improve school green spaces. Plus, Ringling Bros. plans to retire a controversial act, one NYC public school completely reimagines homework, destination kids' stores on the move and, just as things are warming up, Disney won't let winter go with confirmation of this sequel.

Although park weather feels like it's still a ways off, it will come eventually, so the city is examining all our playground equipment in an effort to prevent accidents (and lawsuits). Another new city policy: Expect some new public school holidays on the calendar next academic year. Plus, we've got the scoop on a cool volunteering opportunity for teens, a day dedicated to no screen-time, high-school placements for next fall, a big move for a little urban farm and more.

Even though the kids were on break last week, we have lots of school news to report. We also have the scoop on a couple of cool new family businesses, kids' auditions for a circus show and a new line of funny buttons for pregnant women devised by a Brooklyn dad. Plus: England can keep their baby prince—we've got our own royal birth at the Central Park Zoo!

It's a grab bag of good and bad news this week. Let's start with the good: After a long renovation, the popular Asser Levy Playground has reopened, Disney revealed a featurette about its upcoming Frozen animated short and there's a new indoor play space growing in Brooklyn. Now the bad: One of our favorite FREE annual family festivals, the Dumbo Arts Fest, has called it quits after 18 years! We've got the details on all those stories and more in this edition of our biweekly news roundup.

We're always writing about how important it is for kids to learn to code. That's because most of the jobs our children will one day apply for will require basic coding skills. Even if your kids don't dream of becoming the next Bill Gates, computer programming can still teach them critical thinking, logic, creativity and patience. Plus, they can learn to make their own websites and video games, which is pretty cool.

It's a whole lot of good news this week! (For once, right?) We've got the scoop on three FREE summer camps currently accepting applications, Central Park playgrounds currently undergoing renovations and how your kid can audition for an upcoming Broadway show. Plus an office with complimentary childcare? Sign us up! All that and more in this edition of our biweekly news post.

If you're the type who likes to go big, New York City certainly offers some over-the-top party ideas that will make your child's birthday a magical, memorable, only-in-NYC experience for kids and parents alike.

We've come up with five Manhattan party packages where young kids can enjoy unique activities worth the splurge. You can find even more party inspiration to suit every budget in our Party Guide.