spouses&partners@mit is now a part of MIT Medical's Center for Health Promotion & Wellness!

Welcome

Please check upcoming events on the Calendar and the newest advertisements posted on the Bulletin Board. Both pages are updated regularly!

Read about spouses&partners@mit in your language here.

The October-December issue of the Bridge is now available!

What's new

spouses&partners@mit news

Join MIT FamilyNet!

Join our new social networking website for MIT families: http://familynet.mit.edu

Search for other families who live near you, speak your language, share your background or special interests
Find families who want to exchange childcare, share nannies, form play groups or start car pools
Search for MIT affiliated babysitters
Join interest groups (toddler group, grad moms, adoptive families, English study) or start a new group
Participate in forums (Pregnancy, Parenting & Family Life; Buy, Sell, Reuse, Services offered/wanted; Newcomers; Stuff to Do) by reading and posting topics.
Find out about interesting events and activities at MIT and in your groups.

All MIT affiliates and/or their spouses/partners can register to become members. If you don't have an MIT Athena account, you will need to use your spouse's MIT certificate to sign up. But once you are registered, you can use your username & password to log in from any computer.

If you have any questions or problems, you can click on the "contact us" link on the site or email us directly at mfn@mit.edu.

International Chatting - November 24

Mondays, 3-5 p.m. in 4-146
Attending this group is a great way to meet new friends. To help people whose first language is not English, the group decides light discussion topics in advance to initiate conversation, e.g. places to visit in Boston; our weddings; national dishes, etc. To add variation to the meetings, the group also decides in advance what other activities it would like to do, e.g. go on trips, discuss a chosen article or learn English from native speakers. This is a unique opportunity to learn about other cultures and swap ideas about living in Boston. Children are welcome.

Questions? Contact Roberta Pizzinato at 617-661-0656 or rpizzinato@hotmail.com

7 Steps to Raising a Bilingual Child - December 2

Tuesday, December 2 from 6-8 p.m. in the Bush Room (10-105)

Discover how the brain learns more than one language
Explore common myths about raising bilingual children
Get answers to frequently asked questions

Naomi Steiner, M.D. is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician who works with bilingual families at Tufts Medical Center and is the author of “7 Steps to Raising a Bilingual Child”

Questions? Contact Jennifer Recklet at 617-253-1614 or reck@med.mit.edu

spouses&partners@mit weekly meeting – December 3

Wednesday, December 3: 3-5 p.m. in the Eastgate Penthouse
Topic: The 2008 Election
Professor Charles Stewart, III, from MIT's Department of Political Science, will share his insights into the current presidential election and answer your questions. Child care provided.

spouses&partners@mit weekly meeting – December 10

Wednesday, December 10: 3-5 p.m. in the Eastgate Penthouse
Topic: Book Discussion "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"
Join us for an indepth discussion Mma. Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni and the many interesting cases Mma. Ramotswe solves. Child care provided.

Are you reading "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"? Join our online discussion at http://spouse-coord.livejournal.com/

Annual Holiday Party - December 12

Friday December 12 from 5-7 p.m. in E23-297
Bring your whole family and celebrate the end of the semester and the holiday season. Please bring a sweet or savory treat to share. If you would like to participate in the holiday "grab bag", please bring a wrapped, unlabeled gift (value under $5). All are welcome!

If you can help set up or clean up at the party, please contact Jennifer Recklet at reck@med.mit.edu or 617-253-1614.

Upcoming Events

Friday After Thanksgiving Chain Reaction Event - November 28

Friday, November 28 from 1-4 p.m. in the Rockwell Cage Gymnasium

Whether it's the reaction induced between one creative contraption and another equally crafty contrivance, or the joyful reactions sparked on the faces of the spectators, the MIT Museum's Friday After Thanksgiving (F.A.T.) Chain Reaction is a one-of-a-kind, got-to-be-seen-to-be-believed engineering feat.

Artist/inventor Arthur Ganson masterminds the choreography of this Rube Goldberg-machine, assisted by MIT student teams and participants who range from Girl Scout troops to artists and engineers. Spectators talk to the teams, engage in spontaneous contraption making (materials supplied on site ) and fill the seats waiting for the magic moment when all the machines are linked up setting off a chain reaction with a surprise ending.

A great family event – "kids" of all ages enjoy watching, playing and making things at F.A.T. Last year over 1,500 people attended this unique event - come on time to be assured of a place to watch. Your admission also gets you into the MIT Museum and the new museum store. Have fun!

See all of the details at http://mit.edu/museum/programs/fat2008.html

Holiday Wreath Making - December 3

Wednesday, December 3, 9-11 a.m. in W20-306
Wreath makers, new and experienced, are needed to help with the greenery design and assembly on Wednesday, December 3. Come and help for as long as your time permits.

Experienced crafter Brenda Blais guides our group of volunteers through the process of making these wreaths on their wooden frames. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn if you have never done something like this before and the balsam fragrance in the air makes this a delightful way to begin the holiday season.

During the years when Carl Taylor Compton and his wife Margaret lived at the President’s House (1930-1949), the League began the tradition of making the three evergreen wreaths to hang above the doors at the 77 Massachusetts Avenue entrance to the Institute during the holiday season. Today, the League also decorates the artificial wreaths that hang in Kresge Auditorium.

Please contact Brenda Blais at 617.253-3656 or email bmblais@mit.edu to volunteer and learn more.

Winter Wellness Classes at the Center for Health Promotion and Wellness

Registration has begun for our winter wellness classes here at the Center for Health Promotion & Wellness. Classes include prenatal yoga, pilates, tai chi, and more. All classes meet once per week for 10 weeks. As always, MIT Health Plan Members receive a discounted rate for all classes.

For more information on the classes offered and to download registration forms, please visit our NEW website http://medweb.mit.edu/wellness/classes/ or stop by our office, E23-205.

November issue of the Newcomers Almanac is now available online

Thanks to the International Scholars, the MIT community has access to the Newcomers Almanac, a newsletter for newcomers to the United States. November topics include the Presidential and state
elections, Thanksgiving, and the rules of American football..

Link to the newsletter at http://web.mit.edu/scholars/news.html
You will need a MIT certificate to access this newsletter.

Are you a woman who is not Jewish who is raising Jewish children? You are not alone!

Mothers Circle- a program for women like you - is coming to Cambridge, MA!

The program provides an introduction to Jewish parenting, practices, beliefs, values and the "how-to's" of Jewish family living. More than just a class, group members explore their responses and experiences with a non-judgmental group of peers who share their unique challenges and perspectives. The group will meet for 16 sessions over about 8 months.

Throughout the year there will be events that will include partners, family and friends. Participants will have access to a national listserv for Mothers Circle participants in the 25 groups throughout the country.

Free childcare can be provided.

To enroll or for more information, contact Elana Kling Perkins at 781-647-5327 or ekperkins@jfcsboston.org

Elana Kling Perkins, LICSW
Coordinator, Interfaith Family Resource Center
Jewish Family & Children's Service
1430 Main Street,Waltham, MA 02451
781-647-5327
eperkins@jfcsboston.org
jfcsboston.org/comm_programs/interfaith_resource.cfm

Community Service Opportunities

Read the detailed bulletin from the MIT Public Service Center:
http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc/news/bulletin/