The kids may be on spring break but the school news never stops. As we teased in our end-of-the-week wrap up last Friday, the Department of Education has announced changes to its grade promotion policies and the New York State Education Department has canceled its contract with the controversial inBloom. But there's even more school news afoot, including updates on Gifted & Talented admissions and an extension for pre-K applications.

In other non-education-related news, we've got the scoop on a new downtown community center, FREE kids' activities at the Brooklyn Flea, a new location for Macy's annual Fourth of July Fireworks, the delay of a long-awaiting carousel and the end of the line for a pair of NYC institutions.

Although we already published a roundup of the best new summer camps debuting in 2014, we've since learned about so many other promising programs we decided to write a Part II! These seven brand-spanking-new camps cater to a wide variety of ages and interests. While my STEM-loving nine-year-old is particularly excited about the offerings at the Museum of Mathematics and Brooklyn Game Lab, there are enriching programs for tots at Pono and Creative Dream, plus science programs, offbeat athletics and more.

Be sure to check out our jam-packed Camp Guide for info on lots of other summer programs in NYC as well as sleepaway options. We even have a Camp Directory, which allows you to search for programs by interest, age and area.

Keep in mind: Many camps offer discounts if you sign up for multiple weeks, so check the official websites for more info.

Nothing says weekend mornings like a big stack of fluffy pancakes. When else can you get away with chocolate and whipped cream for breakfast? Although a morning staple, pancakes can be eaten any for any time of the day. New Jersey is home to many delicious and family-friendly pancake restaurants, with varieties that range from sweet, like chocolate chips and fruit, to savory, like bacon and cheddar cheese. With portions as big as your plate, you won't leave hungry, nor empty-handed. Pancake restaurants are often a road-trip destination for my family. From diners to specialty houses, here’s how New Jersey’s best pancake joints stack up:

We continue our month-long focus on Astoria, Queens with an in-depth look at its parks and playgrounds. Its namesake green space—the beautiful, 60-acre, waterfront Astoria Park—is unquestionably the neighborhood's crown jewel boasting NYC's largest outdoor public pool, a popular playground and great photo ops with the Hell Gate and RFK Bridges.

But there are other smaller Astoria parks and playgrounds worth checking out, too. Some even offer FREE summer programming and beloved annual family festivals. Here are 9 parks and playgrounds to explore in Astoria, Queens.

No matter what age, little girls love to have their hair, make-up and nails done — they get a thrill from a new coat of pink polish, braids in their hair and sparkles in their eye shadow. Throw in some fashion, cake, karaoke, and dancing and you will have a birthday party fit for your little diva. If this is the type of party that will put a twinkle in your little girl's eye, look no further because we have complied a list of some of the best places that will host a spa birthday party in Suffolk County. And for more inspiration, check out our Long Island Party Guide.

These days, the only things my daughter wants to talk about are spring break and Easter fun. But every NYC public school parent I know can't stop talking about all of the huge education-related things that have gone down this week, from the many protests against high-stakes testing throughout the city; to the New York State Education Department's decision to cancel its agreement to share students' private data with inBloom; to the NYC Department of Education amending its grade promotion policy for third to eighth graders so that passing the ELA and Math Assessments is no longer the main criteria for moving up. (That last one is still pending the approval of the Panel on Educational Policy.)

Clearly we public school families have a lot to digest, although I doubt we'll want to spend too much time on all that over spring break when there are so many awesome things to do. My daughter and I are planning a staycastion packed with museums, theater, egg decorating and leisurely afternoons in the park. But lots of our friends are hoping to get out of the city for a day trip or two. Awesome tri-state area getaways to consider include this weekend's annual Sheep-to-Shawl Festival at Philipsburg Manor in Westchester, laser tag fun on Long Island and New Jersey's iPlay America indoor amusement park and arcade. Checking our regional sites is always a great way to spark your destination inspiration.

Whatever you end up doing with your time off, we wish you and your family lots of memorable adventures! Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: