The next All Around This World session, Jay Sand’s songs, rhythms and movement extravaganza for kids, starts tomorrow. This time Jay and the little ones will be having a look and listen to Eastern Europe and the Baltics. The 45-minute classes are aimed at kids 0-8 and are divided into age categories.

The full schedule is here. The winter session runs through March 5 and includes a holiday break from December 20 – January 2. All of the classes take place in Jay and family’s West Philly living room.

Jay and friends will also also be holding events at two local shops over the next few weeks. The first, with Cat’s Pajamas’ Emily Bate, will be at Milk and Honey on Saturday, December 11 at 2 p.m. This is a free workshop, but space is very limited. RSVP here. Another, a workshop with the Eastern European women’s vocal ensemble Svitanya,  is Sunday, December 12 at 4 p.m. at the Green Line Cafe at 45th and Locust. This workshop costs $10 for one child, $5 for first sibling and $3 for second sibling. More to come on the others.

Construction of the new playground at Alexander Wilson Elementary School (1300 South 46th), a project that has been years in the making, began today.
A member of the construction crew that was beginning to assemble the playground equipment said that phase would be done by Friday, “if all goes well.” Another crew will then lay down a rubber ground surface.
The playground has been near the top of the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) wish list for many years and became a reality after a $50,000 grant from the Hamels Foundation, the charitable organization run by Phillies Pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi. The grant was the Foundation’s largest made to a Philadelphia public school this year. Mary Goldman of the SHCA’s Youth and Education Committee was instrumental in arranging the funding for the playground. Community members from the school and a variety of organizations have been raising funds for the playground for about 20 years.
The 183-square-foot facility will provide 21 activities and will be able to accommodate about 70 children at a time.