Student Art Extravaganza

       The galleries at Guild Hall will be bursting with color starting on Saturday when the first part of the annual Student Art Festival opens to the public with a free reception and performances from 2 to 4 p.m. Artwork by children in kindergarten through eighth grade will be featured through Feb. 23. The second part of the exhibition, featuring art by high school students, will run from March 1 through April 20.

       Students from Bridgehampton to Montauk and even Shelter Island will be represented in the show. Children in kindergarten through eighth grade who are inspired by what they see on the walls can take advantage of the open studio time in Guild Hall’s Boots Lamb Education Center most Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon till 5 through Feb. 23.

       A student film competition will run concurrently with the exhibitions. A screening is planned for April 6, when judges from the East End film and television community will award prizes in three age-group categories.

       The museum also has a Valentine cookie workshop on tap for Feb. 8 and school break workshops on the schedule from Feb. 17 through 21. Admission to the museum is free throughout the Student Art Festival.

Get Moving

       Parents and their young children can move and groove together in two new early childhood music and movement classes starting this week at the Ellen Johansen Music Studio. Dance With Me, a family music class for toddlers 15 months to 3 years old, will be offered on Fridays from 9:30 to 10:05 a.m. A Tuesday session of the class, at the same times, started earlier this week. The cost is $275 for 15 weeks, including family home materials.

       Also starting tomorrow is Suncatchers, a class for 3 and 4-year-olds that emphasizes imaginative stories and the development of listening skills. It runs from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and costs $325 for 15 classes, including home materials.

       Registration can be done online at ellenjohansenmusicstudio.com or by calling Ms. Johansen at 418-5497. The studio is on Stratton Square in East Hampton Village. Ms. Johansen has been teaching music to young children there and elsewhere for 25 years.

Pie in the Sky

       Pizza making will be on the menu tomorrow afternoon at Fresh Hamptons in Bridgehampton during a fund-raiser for the Wing It Project, founded by Anastasia Gavalas, a parenting educator. From 4 to 5:30 p.m. children will create their own set of wings they can wear with Ms. Gavalas, and make their own pizza with Todd Jacobs, the restaurant’s chef.

       The event is free, but donations will be taken for Ms. Gavalas’s project, which, according to her website, “promotes a response to the vast disparities of educational opportunities for children throughout the world.” The restaurant is on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. Reservations for tomorrow’s program can be made with [email protected] or by calling 516-523-1504.

Flubbermania

       Science can be really fun. Without polymer chemistry, for example, there could be no flubber. What’s flubber, you ask? On Saturday at 10 a.m., kids 6 to 12 can find out at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. Flubbermania, a workshop on the secrets of polymer chemistry, will have kids creating this slimy, gooey mix, which is made from household ingredients.

       Kids will learn about natural polymers found in things like hair, cellulose in trees, and DNA, and synthetic ones like you might find in nylon, plastics, and epoxy. There is a $3 materials fee for the workshop, which is designed to supplement the state’s intermediate-level science curriculum.

       Crystal Possehl will lead a family winter beach walk in Hampton Bays for the museum on Saturday at 1 p.m. Reservations are required for all programs.

Sing a Song

       Christine Cadarette is offering free beginning vocal lessons for teens on Saturday at the Amagansett Library. The sessions are part of a teen music month co-hosted with Crossroads Music and will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Ms. Cadarette has worked on Broadway shows and with such performers as Roger Daltrey of the Who.

       Earlier in the day, at 3:30 p.m., families can listen to a cow story at the library and then make their own cow and moon crafts. Reservations have been requested for both programs.

Sew Much Fun

       Children 6 to 10 will make animal and monster “softies” during a hand-sewing workshop on Saturday at the Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton. Vanessa Geppert will oversee the class, which starts at 10 a.m. and costs $15, or $5 for museum members.

       Painting on frozen paper can yield some unexpected results and kids can see for themselves during a workshop that morning at 10:30. Participants will experiment with different surfaces and paints to see what they come up with. The cost is $18, or $7 for museum members.

       Self-portraits will be the subject of a drop-off workshop on Monday at 10:30 a.m. for kids 6 and older. After listening to Karen Katz’s “The Colors of Us,” kids will make mixed-media self-portraits with the help of Karen Hogan. Parents can stick around or come back at the end of the workshop.

Wee Warriors

       Susan Verde, a children’s book author and yoga instructor, will lead a yoga story time for kids 5 and older at the East Hampton Library on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This is a kids-only program, so Mom or Dad will have to busy themselves elsewhere.

       A polar bear story and craft time is scheduled for next Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. for children 4 to 6 with an adult.

Tea and Fleece

       There will be tea, treats, and stories for children 4 and older at the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. For kids 8 to 12, the library will hold a 3D art workshop Tuesday evening at 7. Kids will use paper, pencils, and markers to make their drawings “jump off the page.” Children in seventh grade and above can drop by Saturday through Jan. 25 to make a no-sew fleece hat.

       Teens learning to drive should mark their calendars for Jan. 25, when the library will host a five-hour prelicensing course, a requirement for those planning to take a driver’s test. Participants must have a valid learner’s permit. The cost is $45. Advance sign-up is required for all programs, which are free unless otherwise noted.

New for Mommies and Kids

       A new Mommy and Me program for mothers with children 4 and younger will start on Wednesday at the Most Holy Trinity school building in East Hampton. The nine-week program will focus on education, nutrition, and parent-child bonding, among other things, and will also include yoga for moms and kids. Child care will be provided.

       The sessions will run weekly from 11 a.m. to noon through March 26, with a break on Feb. 19. The school building is at 44 Meadow Way. More information is available by emailing [email protected] or by phone at 324-0134, extension 732.

       Few braved the Arctic temperatures on Tuesday night, when the East Hampton School Board unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Keith Malsky, the assistant principal of John M. Marshall Elementary School. The resignation came as a shock to several staff members and administrators across the district’s three buildings.

       Over the past 12 years, Mr. Malsky has held a variety of administrative positions, working as both the assistant principal at East Hampton High School and the principal of the Middle School before going to John Marshall. Since his resignation concerned a matter of personnel, no further information was made public.

       Early Wednesday afternoon, Beth Doyle, John Marshall’s principal, sent an email to families. In it, she congratulated Mr. Malsky on his forthcoming retirement. Ms. Doyle also mentioned her pending maternity leave later this spring, assuring parents that she would be gone for six weeks, “barring any medical complications.”

       In the meantime, she wrote that the assistant principal position had been posted, and that she hoped to fill it prior to her maternity leave. She also noted that Robert Tymann, the district’s assistant superintendent, would fill the role of interim principal during her absence.

       Later in the meeting, during the second opportunity for public comments, Claude Beudert, who teaches special education at East Hampton Middle School, expressed surprise at the news, along with a handful of colleagues.

        “I wish him luck and hope it allows him to spend time with his family and I hope he pursues a career in working with kids and adults,” said Mr. Beudert.

       Mr. Malsky resigned in a letter dated Jan. 7. The resignation will not take effect until Feb. 14.

       Also on Tuesday night, the board voted to terminate the employment of Michael Rivas, a custodial worker, effective Dec. 4. Devon Grisham was appointed in his place for a probationary period of 26 weeks, beginning on Jan. 8. He will be paid an annual salary of $42,352. Mark Field, who has been a custodial worker for some time, was moved to a higher grade, also for a 26-week probationary period. His salary, currently $74,033, will increase by $15,000 annually.

       Medical leaves were approved for James Carter, a custodial worker, Kathy Dodge, a paraprofessional, and Marcela Cardona, an elementary school teacher.

       The board also approved a shared sports agreement between East Hampton and Sag Harbor. Whenever possible, the two districts combine students to play on several teams.

       Joe Vas, the district’s athletic director, announced that the Kendall Madison Foundation, an East Hampton-based nonprofit, has donated two treadmills and three elliptical machines to the high school’s fitness center, and has pledged an additional $15,000 worth of equipment.

       The board adjourned after about 35 minutes, though not before accepting a donation of 32 young-adult books from Jeanne McDermott, a resident of the district. It will meet next on Jan. 21, starting at 6:30 p.m.

More Music

       The beat goes on at the Amagansett Library on Saturday night, as teen music month continues with performances by Skylar Kelleher, Supply Side, and Spectors. Ms. Kelleher, a singer-songwriter, will play originals and covers. Supply Side, which includes members of the East Hampton High School Jazz Band, will do the same, and Spectors will be making their debut, playing good old rock ’n’ roll.

       The music will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Performances, which are co-sponsored by Crossroads Music, will continue on Saturdays through the end of the month. Soft drinks are provided free of charge.

       Younger kids and their parents may want to stop by the library that day at 3:30 for a penguin story and craft time. Advance registration has been requested for both programs.

It’s a Wrap

       Chicken burritos will be on the menu at the Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton on Saturday. During a cooking class from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., kids will prepare their own burritos and guacamole and salsa to accompany them. The cost is $25, or $15 for members. Would-be chefs have been asked to register in advance.

Hat Trick

       Children don’t need to know how to sew to make fleece hats on Wednesday at the East Hampton Library. Those 4 and older can use fleece and yarn to create a hat that will keep them warm all winter. The program runs from 4 to 5 p.m., and advance sign-up has been requested.

Talk to the Animals

       The South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton will introduce kids to animals in and out of the museum this weekend. On Saturday at 10 a.m., children will have a chance to help feed the museum’s various creatures while also learning something about them and their diets.

       A family seal walk is on the agenda on Sunday at 2 p.m., when a museum representative will lead a trek to the Montauk spot where seals tend to sun themselves on their favorite boulders. Reservations are required for both programs. Binoculars or spotting scopes have been recommended for the latter.

       The Wainscott School District has been criticized in a state audit for amassing a budget surplus of $2.4 million, an amount that is 68 percent of its current budget and 17 times more than allowed by law.

       The audit, conducted by the office of the state comptroller, determined that the district had consistently overestimated expenses and underestimated revenues dating back to July 1, 2007, and excoriated it for increasing the property tax levy by an additional $325,000 during that same period. In addition, auditors found fault with the district for failing to develop a multiyear plan to address the problem of its growing surplus.

       On Monday, David Eagan, the school board president and an East Hampton attorney, said the district recognized that some “rebalancing” had to be done, but took issue with the state’s findings, saying that the district does have a five-year plan in place to reduce both the surplus and taxes.

       “This was no conscious effort to hoard money at the expense of the taxpayers,” he said, explaining that Wainscott typically budgets for unexpected increases in the number of students and has seen its enrollment swing with changes in the house rental market.

       Mr. Eagan said the state law that limits the amount of surplus a district can have on hand to no more than 4 percent of its budget was misguided and “arbitrary,” in that it does not suit the needs of a small district like Wainscott.

       The district educates students in kindergarten through third grade in its own school and pays tuition for its older students to the East Hampton schools. Tuition costs range from about $25,000 for the majority of students to upward of $60,000 for those in special-education classes. Because of a fluctuating population, Mr. Eagan said it was difficult to predict how many students to budget for in any given year.

       Under state law, Wainscott would have been allowed to have a surplus of about $140,000 this year, an amount Mr. Eagan said could have been easily exhausted if more than two special-needs students had moved into the district.           

       In a written response to the comptroller’s findings, Mr. Eagan stated, “Based on our unique circumstances, we cannot ascribe to the one-size-fits-all approach that is reflected in the report, and we fundamentally disagree with the report’s characterization of our budget estimates as being ‘unrealistic’ and ‘misleading.’ ”

       On Monday, he said the district would continue managing its finances as it saw fit, noting that for the past two years it has reduced its budget — “the cumulative percentage was the largest we’ve seen on Long Island” — and would continue to do so until it reduced the surplus to a more reasonable level.

       He added that school board members were not worried about the state taking action against the district because typically the punishment comes in the form of a reduction in state aid. Since Wainscott receives less than 1 percent of its budget in aid, any reduction would have a minimal impact, he said.

       Mr. Eagan said the school had recently built an addition and also absorbed a 33-percent hike in East Hampton tuition rates, and still managed to stay within the state-mandated 2-percent tax cap.

       “We don’t have programs and staff to cut like other districts,” he said. “We have a smooth tax rate that is the lowest among the sending districts. I think our taxpayers appreciate what we do.”

Teen Music Month

       Tomorrow night will mark the beginning of Monster Music Month at the Amagansett Library, a series of free concerts and musical events for teens co-sponsored by Crossroads Music.

       First up in the series, performing from 7 to 8:30 p.m., will be Sara Hartman, a local singer-songwriter who is home on break from the Berklee College of Music. Also performing Saturday are Clark2, the duo of Clark Hamilton and Jackson Clark, playing jazz, R&B, and other favorites on guitar, and the indie rock group Method 2 Madness, featuring Yori Johnson, Rick Nardo, Thomas Bennett, and Jackson Clark. The music will continue each Saturday in January from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Soft drinks will be provided.

       Families can stop in to the library at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday for a snow globe story and craft time. Advance registration has been requested for both programs.

I’m Melting!

       Melted snowman cookies will be on the table during a session for kids 4 and older tomorrow from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the East Hampton Library. Kids will use icing and other sweets to decorate the cookies. Reservations have been requested. Children under 7 should be accompanied by an adult.

Vroom, Vroom

       Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. A workshop at the Children’s Museum of the East End on Saturday will have kids 6 to 10 planning, building, and racing their own rubber-band-powered cars. The program runs from 10 a.m. to noon and costs $15, $5 for members. Space is limited and advance sign-up is required. The museum is in Bridgehampton.

Making the Grade

       The John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor is offering general writing and research help to teenagers on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. starting this week. Oliver Peterson, a journalist and certified art and English teacher, will help students with writing and research projects across disciplines. Snacks will be provided. Advance registration has been requested.

Strokes of Genius

       Children 7 and older who love to paint can learn different techniques and processes while painting in a variety of mediums during a four-week workshop at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. Lori Colavito will teach the class, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays this month. The cost is $150, or $120 for Parrish members. Advance registration is a must.

For the Birds

       Why do birds’ beaks come in different shapes and sizes? Melanie Meade will help kids 5 to 7 answer those questions and more during a program on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. In the workshop, kids will use simple tools in the same way that birds use their beaks to understand how important this body part is. Advance registration has been requested.

Dance, Dance, Dance

       Girls 8 to 15 with a love of dance will have a chance to develop and direct their own dance theater pieces during an intensive one-day workshop on Jan. 25 with the Neo-Political Cowgirls.

       Held in the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, the workshop will begin with journaling, then move on to body awareness and creative movement exercises. It is designed for the girl “who loves to be creative or needs to be creative, has a lot to say or could use some inspiration to find the courage to share her ideas,” according to a flier. At its conclusion, participants will present short dance pieces for family and friends.

       The cost is $30 per student. Advance registration is required through Guild Hall.

Dog Arias?

       Springs School fourth graders are hard at work on this year’s opera, “Dogs Don’t Talk,” which they will perform on Guild Hall’s John Drew stage from Jan. 15 to 17.

       The opera program, coordinated by Sue Ellen O’Connor, is in its 17th year. Each year, the production is entirely student run, with the help of parent volunteers. Students are the actors, writers, composers, makeup artists, costumers, and set designers, and even handle their own public relations.

       So mark your calendars, theatergoers. The opening night performance will begin at 7.

Get Out of the House

       Kids who need to get out of the house after the holiday will find plenty to do at local libraries over the next few days.

       At the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton, kids in seventh grade and above can make New Year’s wish fortune cookies today and tomorrow during library hours, or stop by at 2 p.m. tomorrow to create silhouette wall art. Reservations are required for the latter.

       New Year’s Eve will come early at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor, where kids of all ages are invited for games, dancing, treats, and a countdown (to noon, that is) on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Registration is not required.

       Families can make a pinecone birdfeeder following a story time at the Amagansett Library on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Advance sign-up is required.

       Salt dough snow families are on the agenda at the East Hampton Library on Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. during a program for kids 4 and up. Next Thursday, Joyce Raimondo will lead the same age group as they turn the letters of the alphabet into word paintings.

Gustafer at the Goat

       Morgan Taylor will bring his Gustafer Yellowgold multimedia show for kids to the Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

       The show is a mix of live music, animated illustrations, and storytelling, focusing on a little yellow “guy from the sun who landed in the Minnesota woods.”

       Tickets cost $12, $10 for members and grandparents, and $8 for siblings and children under 3. Goat on a Boat performs in the parish hall of the Sag Harbor Episcopal Church, Route 114 and East Union Street.

      Middle school can be cruel enough without also having to contend with the slings and arrows of social media, or the insults and judgments that originate online but routinely manifest during the school day.

       As of January, partly as a response to cyberbullying and also to the fairly widespread sense that students remain tethered to devices during school hours, East Hampton Middle School will institute a new policy on student-owned electronic devices.

       The “no display during the school day” policy, as it is being called, will forbid students from using cellphones, iPods, earphones, headphones, and other devices during the day.

       It is a departure from the existing policy, which currently allows middle school students to use their devices before school, at recess, and during lunchtime.

       Increasingly, students are sneaking screen time into other parts of the day, with some girls reportedly stashing their phones on the insides of fur-lined Ugg boots for stealth access.

       “This policy has been some time coming,” said Charles Soriano, the middle school’s principal, in a conversation earlier this week. Early Friday morning, he sent an e-mail alert to parents, updating them about the change. “Over the past year, I’ve witnessed a number of incidents with phones, where students are either over-sharing or bullying someone. Impulsivity and electronics don’t mix. It’s a toxic combination.”

       Though students are still likely to remain tethered to such devices during after-school, weekend, and evening hours, Dr. Soriano sees it as his responsibility to set limits during the part of the day he can control. “It can lead to situations where children are hurt and bullied and teased and made fun of,” he said.

       The new policy, which was created by the school’s site-based committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, staff members, and parents, will go into effect once students return in January. From Jan. 6 through 10, the school will offer a one-week grace period, during which time students will be given reminders and warnings, but no formal consequences.

       But for the remainder of the year, from the moment students enter the building until the dismissal bell rings, cellphones must be in either off or silent mode and stored in lockers or on their person (but hidden from sight in either a backpack or pocket). Should students fail to adhere to the new policy, a series of disciplinary actions will ensue, from confiscation of the device to detention to in-school suspension.

       “The decision was a wise one and long overdue,” said Marie Klarman, whose son is in sixth grade. “Kids don’t need to be in 24/7 contact with their peers.” She considers her son to be in the minority of students not in possession of a cellphone.

       Ms. Klarman said she has watched a generation come of age glued to their screens. “Whether texting and Tweeting or on Facebook, these kids are sleeping with their phones and bringing them to the table when they’re not supposed to,” she said. “It leads to antisocial tendencies and behaviors. Children don’t know how to communicate outside of typing a note. The art of conversation is being lost.”

       Partly, she sees it as a developmental hurdle. Recent research has shown that the frontal lobe of the brain, or the region that governs decision-making and self-control, doesn’t fully develop until the mid-20s.

       “They’re sending around these half-clothed ‘selfies’ and they have no idea this stuff is out there forever,” said Ms. Klarman. “You can say it until you’re blue in the face, that you can destroy your life, but until the frontal lobe develops, the child truly believes they are invincible.”

       Courtney Garneau, a site-based committee member and mother of a sixth-grade student, is similarly in support of the new policy. She said that when students could use their phones during recess and lunchtime, many teachers and staff observed that students preferred to text, send photos, and Instagram their peers, rather than socialize in person.

       With two children at the John M. Marshall Elementary School, Ms. Garneau thinks it’s a policy that should be extended to the district’s younger grades as well.

       Adam Fine, the principal of East Hampton High School, said the high school has had a “no display” policy for many years. However, since September, he has shifted away from the policy, now permitting the devices so that students can use them as Internet-enabled learning tools. Though allowed in the hallways, Mr. Fine said that teachers govern their use during class time.

        “Personally, I would like to expand their instructional use,” Mr. Fine wrote in an e-mail. “I feel we have an untapped resource that can be used to improve teaching and learning.”

       In recent years, several districts around the country have successfully adopted Bring Your Own Device policies, which allow students to bring in smartphones, laptops, and tablets to use during class. Meanwhile, other districts have also adopted 1-to-1 programs, where districts supply each student with his or her own device. At the last school board meeting in early December, members intimated that resources devoted to technology would likely comprise a significant portion of next year’s budget debate.

       So far, neither Ms. Garneau nor Dr. Soriano have received much in the way of pushback. And for parents concerned about being able to contact their children during school hours, Ms. Garneau said that many will simply have to revert to the old way of doing things.

       “If I need to get a hold of him, I will just call the school,” said Ms. Garneau. “Like everyone did before we all had phones.”

       “If people need to call their parents, they can just go down to the office,” said Talia Albukrek, 12, who is in the seventh grade and a member of the student government. Earlier this year, she received an iPhone as a birthday present.

       Though generally in support of the policy, Talia considered one potential downside — not being able to document things happening during the school day, whether through pictures or video.

       Dr. Soriano is the first to concede that his students are digital natives, accustomed to growing up in an interconnected world where devices have always been present. He believes his teaching staff is uniquely tasked with demonstrating acceptable use, and denoting special times when such devices might help to enrich and enhance lessons.

       “We’ll reevaluate at the end of the year and see where we stand,” he said.

Starting in January, high school juniors and seniors will have an opportunity to study creative writing while also obtaining three college credits, as part of the Young Scholars program being offered at Stony Brook  Southampton. The deadline for applications is Jan. 3.

The course will cover creative writing across multiple genres — from fiction to poetry to scriptwriting, with participants reading contemporary works, giving a public reading, and attending regular events alongside accomplished authors.

The Introduction to Creative Writing course will meet on Wednesday evenings, from late January until mid-May. The cost is $250.

Julie Sheehan, who directs the M.F.A. in creative writing and literature program at Stony Brook Southampton, can be contacted with questions at [email protected]. Applications are available online at stonybrook.edu/ugadmissions/forms/YSP.pdf.

Y.M.C.A. Winter Camp

       The Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter is offering a full-day winter vacation camp for 5 to 12-year-olds on Monday, next Thursday, and Friday, Dec. 27. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and kids will do arts and crafts, play games, watch movies, and enjoy free play and other activities. The cost is $65 for one day, $124 for two, or $180 for all three. Advance registration is required.

Games, Stories, Workshops

       The Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton will host a morning drop-off program during the holiday break for 3 to 6-year-olds. Sessions, held Monday, next Thursday, Friday, Dec. 27, and Jan. 2 and 3 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, will include games, story time, and a workshop. The cost is $85 per day per child, or $75 for members of the museum.

       The museum is having a holiday cookie workshop for 2 to 6-year-olds on Saturday. It includes a story. The start time is 10:30 a.m. and the cost is $25, or $15 for members.

       The museum’s gingerbread house workshops originally scheduled for Dec. 14 were canceled because of snow and have been rescheduled for Sunday at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. The cost is $30 per house or $20 per house for members. Advance registration is required for all museum programs.

“The Night Before Christmas”

       The Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre in Sag Harbor will present “The Night Before Christmas” on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $12, $10 for members and grandparents, and $8 for siblings and children under 3.

Holiday Tree for Birds

       Families will decorate a holiday tree for birds on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. Using seeds, suet, and dried fruits, participants will also make holiday treats for birds that they can take home to their own outdoor trees. There is a $3 materials fee for the program, plus the cost of museum admission.

       Young scientists 8 to 11 can gain a deeper understanding of microbiology during a program on Sunday at 10 a.m. Lindsey Rohrbach will teach kids about the fascinating world of microorganisms — how they recycle waste, create food, and can be found in every part of our planet. All of the museum’s programs require registration in advance.

Loads to Do at Libraries

       Local libraries will have plenty to keep kids busy in the lead-up to Christmas and the days after it. The Amagansett Library will celebrate the arrival of winter with a Winter Festival story and craft time on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

       A Winter Wonders family time with crafts, games, and other fun is on the schedule Saturday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Montauk Library.

       At the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton kids of all ages can drop in anytime today or tomorrow to design their own wrapping paper. Tomorrow from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. kids can make winter ornaments. Movies and crafts for kids 4 and up are on tap at the library on Monday at 2 p.m. And starting next Thursday kids in seventh grade and above can stop by to make paper New Year’s wish fortune cookies.

       Joyce Raimondo will lead a Winter Wonderland art program for kids 4 and older next Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the East Hampton Library. On Friday, Dec. 27, kids 4 and older can make marshmallow wreaths there from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Those under 7 should be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are a must for all programs.

       Kids 9 and older who want to spend some time delving into the world of Minecraft can do so on Friday, Dec. 27, at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor. From 10:30 a.m. to noon, all things Minecraft will be covered, with a discussion about the different choices and styles of this educational game and the computer as well as app editions to play. Early reservations have been suggested.

    Even if you’ve never seen Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” you’ve probably had its most iconic song, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” stuck in your head at some point this holiday season. Two local companies will present their versions of the Christmas classic this weekend.

    Studio 3 in Bridgehampton will bring “Mixed Nuts” to the Bay Street Theatre stage in Sag Harbor tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2. The Hampton Ballet Theatre School, also in Bridgehampton, will perform “The Nutcracker” at Guild Hall tomorrow at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7, and Sunday at 2.

    Studio 3’s production, described as “a holiday ‘Nutcracker’ with a twist,” is set in the 1920s. Professional dancers from Festival Ballet Providence will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for students, and can be purchased at the door or in advance by e-mailing [email protected].

    Sara Jo Strickland, the director of the Hampton Ballet Theatre School, did the choreography for the Guild Hall production, which features costumes by Yuka Silvera and lighting design by Sebastian Paczynski. Adrianna de Svastich and Nick Peregrino of Ballet Fleming in Philadelphia will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier.

    Advance tickets cost $25 for adults and $20 for those under 20 at hamptonballettheatreschool.com. Tickets at the door are $30 and $25.