Triangle TRACKS received this information about an upcoming discussion at the N.C. Museum of History.

On Christmas morning in 1946, thousands of scampering feet raced through hallways to discover new toys as shiny as tinsel on the trees. Bicycles, trains and wagons once again appeared under the… Continue

You and your child can explore together in these hour-long classes. A variety of topics are offered throughout the year including Dinosaur Detectives, Astronaut Academy, A Bear’s Backyard, Down on the Farm and more. Classes are offered for ages 2 1/2 to under 4, and for ages 4 through 6. Click here for additional information.

Pre-registration required: Call 919.220.5429 ext. 313

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon," the highly anticipated sequel to "Twilight," arrives in theaters today. You can view the trailer and additional information about the movie, based on the books series by Stephanie Meyers, at this link… Continue

Just in from the WCPSS Communications Department:
Facing a potential funding gap of $20 million for the next fiscal year, this afternoon WCPSS Superintendent Del Burns called for his senior management team to prepare plans for cutting its Central Services operations.

In a briefing for reporters, Burns outlined anticipated cost increases and revenue declines for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. "We are in the midst of our budget planning process and given what we see in the leading indica… Continue

The Charlotte Observer via the Associated Press is reporting that a California-based advocacy group, the Center for Environmental Health, found lead levels that exceeded federal limits in a Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit, a Disney Tinkerbell Water Lily necklace, a Dora the Explorer Activity Tote, two pairs of children's shoes, a boys belt and a kids' poncho. Mattel has stated that it licensed the Barbie name to Bell Sports for the bike accessory kit found with high lead, but didn't make or sell… Continue

Just in from the museum's press office: “We are grateful for the community’s response to this year’s Santa Train fundraiser. Tickets are sold out,” said Laura Hayden, Santa Train organizer and the director of the annual fund. Tickets went on-sale to Museum members on November 16, and to the public yesterday. Nearly 8000 tickets were sold out by 9:30 this morning.

“Last year we sold out in two weeks. That’s why we added more trains this year, totaling 400 more seats for the event. We wanted to e… Continue

Wake County Schools Senior Director of High School Programs Ruth Steidinger gave a presentation at two recent Board Advisory Council meetings (BAC 7 and 8) about grading at the secondary level, during which there was a discussion about possibly changing middle and high school grading practices to ensure they are a true reflection of student achievement. I've attached Steidinger's presentation, as it is public information since it was presented at both BAC meetings. There are a number of alternat… Continue

A baby pot bellied pig named Auggie arrived at the Museum of Life and Science this past Saturday. “He is absolutely adorable,” comments Sherry Samuels, the animal department director. Auggie weighed a hefty 20 lbs when he arrived at the Museum. He will go through a thirty day quarantine period before joining Mi… Continue

Is it a good idea for children to occasionally be allowed to sip drinks with alcohol? Some parents believe that introducing children to alcohol at home will prevent risky drinking when children become teens. Other parents think that sipping drinks with alcohol only makes risky drinking more likely in the teen years. Many parents are not sure what’s best.

Are you a mom with an 8 to 10 year old child? If so, RTI International is developing a new family health education program called Magical M… Continue

When you follow your dreams and achieve the goals you set for yourself, you can be a better overall person - and that means you become a better parent, too. That's why I want to share something my friend Hollace Dowdy is involved with. She is part of an inspiring company that empowers men and women to discover their passions, strengths and skills through "Success Team Workshops." These workshops, very simply, put your dreams and wishes into priority through a group setting of 6 members who help… Continue