School Daze: Screening of "Race to Nowhere" and Other Events Coming Up

With so much talk of finances and budget cuts, the flurry of great events and activities going on at Montclair's schools this month and next often gets lost in the shuffle. 

Here is just a sample of events to post on your calendar:

Charles H. Bullock Elementary School

—The school will offer a screening of the popular documentary “Race to Nowhere” on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. The tickets will be available for $10 plus handling through www.racetonowhere.com. This event is open to the  public and the school at 55 Washington Street can seat 600 people. The school encourages friends and neighbors to attend. The last three showings of this documentary in Montclair have sold out, so buy your tickets early!

Mount Hebron Middle School

—Mount Hebron will host its first annual "Y" night at the Park Street YMCA called"Summfit! Reach Your Peak at the Y" on Feb. 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Y will be open to Mount Hebron students only with a wide variety of activities including swimming, basketball, dodgeball, zumba, spin, dancing, and bingo on the schedule. The Teen Fitness Arcade with Trazor, Sports Wall, and DDR will be open as well. Healthy light snacks will be served. Please contact Sue Obaditch at obaditch@comcast.net if you can help with this exciting NEW event! Permission slips went home in backpacks and will be posted on the PTA website. Advance purchase tickets are $15/child. Money and signed permission slips may be returned to homeroom teachers or the office. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $20. No child will be able to attend the evening without a signed permission slip and payment. Scholarships are available.

Montclair Kimberley Academy

—The MKA Upper School Fine and Performing Arts Department presents Once Upon a Mattress on March 4, 5 and 6 in the Weiss Auditorium, 6 Lloyd Road in Montclair. Don't miss seeing this enchanting, comedic musical fairy tale based on Hans Christian Anderson's perennial favorite, The Princess and the Pea. A devious queen, a cursed king, a perfect prince, a remarkable princess, a jester, a wizard—and, of course, a happy ending, together with a memorable score and fantastic set, guarantee that this is the perfect production for the whole family. Show times are Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee performance on March 6 at 2 p.m. General seating is $12. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ticket Hotline at 973-509-3927, through student purchase at the Upper School or by ordering online at www.mka.org/musical. For more information, contact director Nicole Hoppe at nhoppe@mka.org.

—The Parents’ Association of The Montclair Kimberley Academy invites you to join them on Thursday, March 3 for "Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in a Modern World," a fascinating and thought-provoking evening with Dr. Wade Davis, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. This event, which is open to the public and free of charge, is part of PAMKA’s Academy Forum series. Davis is the author of 14 books and his many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series produced for the National Geographic Channel. This event will take place in The Montclair Kimberley Academy Middle School Auditorium, 201 Valley Road in Montclair, (please enter via the Brunswick Road parking lot) at 7 p.m. A selection of the speaker's books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Please note: there is a March 10 snow date. For more information, contact 973-509-7997 or visit www.mka.org.

Glenfield Middle School

— On Friday, Feb. 18, Glenfield’s Seventh Annual African-American Career Day will offer students the opportunity to meet with successful Glenfield parents and Montclair community members as they discuss their particular careers.