EDITOR'SNOTE       The number of day camps in the United States has grown by almost 90% in the past 20 years, according to the American Camp Association, a national organization that tracks camp trends and accredits summer camps. That organization also determined that: • More than 12,000 camps exist in America. More ... Bay State Parent magazine was named best parenting publication in North America by Suburban Newspaper of America.       This is the third time the magazine has earned this honor - 2007, 2006, & 2004. Submitted into the editorial contest was the March 2007 issue, which featured a special report on childhood obesity, a report on the state of breastfeeding in Massachusetts, More ... LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR       Dear Bay State Parent, I would like to find out where I can get a copy of the August issue in Peabody. I have been to several stores and libraries that you list as having your magazine, and I can't find it anywhere. Also, I am on the board of the North Shore Mother's of Multiples and would like ... More ... SPECIALNEEDSPARENTING It Is Important to Include Students with Disabilities in MCAS BY sue lovejoy      Spring can be a stressful time of year for parents, students, and teachers alike, as many public school students are required to take the MCAS. For parents of children with special needs, navigating the maze of MCAS regulations can be overwhelming. The Federation for Children with Special Needs is... More ... ASKTHETEACHER Preparation is the Key to MCAS Success BY amy benoit       Chances are if you have a child in a public or charter school, you have heard of MCAS, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. This spring, children in grades 3- 10 will be administered specific grade level tests, measuring their understanding of core subject matter. More ... MCAS Testing Schedule       Source: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/cal.html More ... ASKTHETEACHER GOING GREEN! ENERGY MATTERS BY amy benoit       Editor's Note: This is the third of a three-part series on recycling & Massachusetts schools efforts to be Green. This part focuses on public schools in the Bay State. More ... "We Didn't Even Know What We Didn't Know." Adoptive Parent & Author of Six Books Shares Her Insights To Help Others Through Challenging Process BY marguerite paolino       Jayne Schooler and her husband David didn't plan to become foster parents. It could have been chance that brought that first foster child into their lives. Maybe, as Schooler believes, it was part of God's plan for them. "It wasn't on our to-do list," she said. "But a young man asked us a quest... More ... Circle of Friends MARCH CALENDAR OF ADOPTION-RELATED EVENTS Listings are arranged alphabetically by organization.       Adoption Associates 1163 Walnut Street, Suite 2, Newton Highlands 02461. 617-965-9369, www.adoptionassociates.org Pre-register for all programs. March 2: Sharing our Adoption Stories. Fun, creative arts workshop for elementary school age children and parents. Meet other adoptive families just l... More ... MARCH'S CHILD       Jordan, who is from a Caucasian/Latino background, is a bright, friendly, outgoing boy, with big, beautiful, brown eyes. He has been at a residential facility for a little over one year, and has made significant progress. He is described as kind, polite, "a love," and very appreciative of the few... More ... 35th Annual Conference To Feature New & Hague- Qualified Workshops BY marguerite paolino       Many adoptive and pre-adoptive parents seek out the wide array of workshops at the annual New England Adoption Conference. And, as always, the 35th conference will have plenty to interest them, whether their children are tots or teens. More ... TWEENTOTEEN Coming of Age Rituals BY leslie castillo      Tami Bloomstein reflected upon her son's Bar Mitzvah with pride. She said she could almost see him growing up before her eyes at his ceremony at the Temple Am in Framingham. It was important to Zachary to do well. More ... Coming of Age Fashions       Photography by Steven King Models Provided by John Robert Powers, Boston Hair, Make Up and Manicures courtesy of The Cosmetology Department, at Worcester Technical High School Fashion Coordinator, Alisa Neely, stylescout. More ... BEHIND THE SCENES OF Coming of Age photos BY jeffrey w. boudreau       Our "Coming of Age" fashion shoot showcases fashions for those formal moments in life when children play a different kind of dress-up. In some cultures the transition to adult is celebrated in a very formal way. For many others there are Sweet 16 parties and proms that mark the change less speci... More ... Get Organized! Mom of Six Launches Magazine To Help Other Moms Create Order & Simply Life at Home BY jennifer lefferts       With six kids piled into a small home in Needham, Megan McQuivey can't be disorganized. She's always looking for ways to simplify her life and has turned to a new resource for tips and advice -- Organize magazine. More ... 10 Things Any Mom Can Do in a Weekend To Get Organized BY joyce dorny       1) To keep the toy room clutter-free, buy a case of clear plastic shoe boxes (I particularly like The Container Store's brand) and separate the Legos, Barbie accessories, matchbox cars, etc. In just a matter of a few hours, you can have the chaos under control. More ... Are Toys & Children's Clothing Cluttering Your Home? Spring Is the Perfect Time To Sort, Purge, & Clean BY jennifer lucarelli       For most kids, birthdays and holidays are the best time of the year. For most parents, they dread the additional toys and clothes that children receive and wonder where they will store them or how to get rid of them. Shrewsbury mother of three Michelle Duke said she goes through their playroom ... More ... Trying To Score the PERFECT Camp Experience Lacrosse Camps & Sports Camps for Girls on the Rise BY neil brett       As the snow and cold, biting winter winds of March give way to softer spring breezes, the countdown to June and the anticipation of balmy summer days occupies both parents and children alike. For children, summer is a reprieve from school bells and homework assignments - and time for endless ho... More ... HOW MUCH CAMP IS TOO MUCH CAMP? Should You Consider Overnight for the Whole Summer? BY carrie wattu, illustrations by jade nellans       "I am a person, who is totally in love with my daughter," said Crystal Tropeano, "We are so close that it is painful inside of me to picture her leaving for the summer. More ... How To Select The RIGHT CAMP For Your Child BY marguerite paolino       For the typical middleschooler, life revolves around friends and all the electronics that go with socializing with them. And for most of the year, Rebecca Harrison is just as attached to her cell phone and just as glued to the TV as her peers. When it comes to summertime, however, this 13-yearol... More ... 8 Tips From Camp Professionals & AN Experienced Parent BY Marguerite Paolino       Deciding where to send your child to camp requires research and planning. Here is some advice from camp professionals - and an experienced parent - on what to think about as you go through the process: • Go by word-of-mouth. More ... SHOULD YOU SEND SIBLINGS to the Same Camp? BY donna morin miller       Maybe it's the research that shows an organized summer camp experience has positive effects on the self-esteem of children, or maybe it's your own fond memories of summer camp, whatever the reason, you've decided to send your children to summer camp this year. But should you send them together or ... More ...