News: Mayoral Control Ends (Kind Of), Free Theater Program, Green Schools Petition, Beach Week, More

Last week we kicked off the summer season with some great giveaways: tons of passes to Playland, Sahara Sam's and the first of our Summer Dinner Party Giveaways (don't forget you can enter to win every week this summer in our Summer Activity Guide). Now, this week is Beach Week on Mommy Poppins. We've written about our top 5 family friendly beaches near NYC and the beaches of Staten Island, but all this week we'll be bringing you more tips, recommendations and guides for the best beaches in and around New York City.

In other news, the school year has ended, but the big news about public schools hasn't. Last week Bloomberg lost mayoral control, or did he? Find out more about this and also a petition to make school cafeterias more green, how to make your own mini magnetic travel games, the new celeb family moving to Park Slope and a totally free summer arts program for kids:

Good Bye Mayoral Control, Hello Mayoral Control: Albany effectively ended Bloomberg's Mayoral Control by failing to act and a new Board of Education was hastily formed and voted to appoint Joel Klein as Chancellor with complete unilateral control of the NYC school system. Uh, OK. [via NYTimes, GothamSchools, HuffingtonPost]

Parents have started a petition to remove styrofoam food trays from NYC public schools.in an effort to make schools more green.

Make your own magnetic travel games in an old Altoids tin. Easy, cute and cuts down travel clutter. [via Instructables]

Park Slope is abuzz over rumors that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick may be moving with their 3 kids into a Prospect Park West townhouse that recently sold for $8.45 mil. [via NYPost]

CUNY's Creative Arts Team Junior Youth Theatre is running a free summer intensive theater program for kids aged 10-14 (grades 6-8). Students will learn theater skills through games, activities, and improvisation and create original theater to share with friends and family. Moreover, all participants are guaranteed a spot in the free after school program. The summer program is from August 24th-August 29th, 9:30-1. No experience is necessary. Call 212 652-2828 for more information. Spaces are limited, so act fast (get it?).