News: STEM City? Mini Maker Faires Arrive and Computer Science Push at Schools

9/24/15 - By Jody Mercier

Good news for budding Makers everywhere: A nationwide series of Mini Maker Faires will arrive in NYC this fall. A partnership between Barnes & Noble and Make: Magazine will bring mini workshops that encourage kids to experiment with technology like robotics and 3D printing to city stores November 6-8.

Of course, don't forget that the massive World Maker Faire kicks off on Saturday, September 26, in Queens at the New York Hall of Science. (It's a Mommy Poppins September GoList and top weekend event pick.) 

A weekend workshop is one thing, but Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to make sure NYC kids have access to computer science every day with a new city school initiative. Read on for the scoop on this and other parenting news this week, including Midtown's new food hall and the best ways to navigate city streets during the pope's visit.

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  • Barnes & Noble joins forces with Make: Magazine to bring mini maker faires to the masses, offering three ways to get involved: observe new maker technology demos, meet Makers showcasing their projects or collaborate with other Makers to create something new. 
     
  • Mayor de Blasio unveiled plans to mandate every NYC public school offers computer science classes to kids, an option already available at many private and elite public schools.
     
  • Elsewhere at the DOE: Registration for the 2015 Fall Parent Conferences at the Tweed Courthouse is open. Expect grade-specific presentations, free breakfast and babysitting for ages 4 and up. 
     
  • The pope's visit is going to cause headaches for travel Thursday and Friday, so be advised of all the street closures that will affect your commute.
     
  • School children at Our Lady Queen of Angels are prepping for their meeting with the pope– East Harlem
     
  • Speaking of travel, your New York driver's license may not be a valid ID to board a plane come 2016—even for domestic flights! 
     
  • If you're wondering just how many students opted out of testing at your child's school last spring, Chalkbeat put together an interactive map.
     
  • Midtown has a new food hall serving everything from pizza to lobster rolls. – Midtown East
     
  • School rezoning in Brooklyn has prompted a parental dispute. – Dumbo 
     
  • There's a new maternity store for fashionable mamas-to-be in Brooklyn. – Park Slope

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Photo by SparkFun Electronics via Flickr.