Komansky Room
Monday, April 3
It’s an old adage, that many high school-age students can do advanced trigonometry but not balance a checkbook.
Tom Henske is out to change that.
On Sunday, March 26, Henske, Westport resident and a leader in the financial industry for nearly three decades, will bring his Total Cents program to the Library’s Trefz Forum for a talk, followed by a panel discussion with fellow experts. The goal: to help parents, grandparents, and guardians get comfortable with teaching their kids about money and the importance of finances.
The event, Raising Financially Savvy Kids with Tom Henske, will begin at 2 pm in the Library’s Trefz Forum. The event is free; registration is encouraged.
“It's fitting that The Westport Library jumped at the chance to bring financial literacy to the forefront of parents in our community,” said Henske. “Everyone sees the clear value and importance of developing good financial habits in our children. It's time for parents to take ownership of this part of their child's development, and that effort is going to start on March 26.
“My hope is that Westport becomes the epicenter for teaching parents how to talk to their kids about money, and in doing that, we will change the way our entire country addresses this important topic.”
Joining Henske in conversation will be Caroline Barney, author, inspirational speaker, and parent of two Staples High School students; John Lanza, author of The Art of Allowance and an expert of youth financial literacy; and Kathy Soderholm, former Wilton High School personal finance teacher and founder of The Good Bookkeeper, a full-service bookkeeping company specializing in nonprofit organizations.
[Related: See the Raising Financially Savvy Kids event listing for full bios on all the panelists.]
Henske's efforts with Total Cents include a book, It Makes Total Cents: 12 Conversations to Change Your Child’s Financial Future, published in 2022, and a podcast he developed in collaboration with the Library. Total Cents is also active on TikTok, with videos produced in collaboration with Total Cents interns from Staples High School.
“Tom’s knowledge and expertise is exceeded only by his passion for finance and teaching kids how to be responsible stewards of their own futures,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “Add that up and you have a session that promises to be informative, engaging, and fun. Plus, Tom brings with him an all-star panel well-versed on communicating to parents and with kids from the youngest ages. You won’t want to miss this event.”
Event information:
Raising Financially Savvy Kids with Tom Henske
Sunday, March 26, 2 pm
The Westport Library (20 Jesup Road)
Register here.
Higgins Room
Tuesdays, 4:45-5:15 pm
March 7 -May 9
No program on April 11
Relax with Mrs. Olson, a kindergarten teacher from Greens Farms Elementary School, after a day at school. We will read stories, sing songs, and do some fun activities.
For kindergarteners and first graders.
No registration necessary.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
March 17
10 am- 5 pm
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by visiting the Children's Library and doing a fun craft! Just drop in.
Winter Reading is Back!
January 9 - March 4
Warm up with a GOOD BOOK and join us this winter for a fun reading program.
Help us decorate the Library by earning mittens as you log your reading minutes. We will display the mittens in the library for all to see! Read anything, anytime, anywhere. Earn a FREE BOOK by reading 500 minutes.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
Fridays at 9:30 AM through December 10 (No program 11/26 and 12/3)
Tuesdays at 2 PM through December 14 (No program 11/23)
For pre-walking babies under age two with an adult
Songs, fingerplays, bouncing, lifting, and a book! Designed for babies and their adult.
COVID PRECAUTIONS:
Masks are required for everyone age 24 months and older. This includes vaccinated patrons. In order to restrict the number of people in the Komansky Room, you will need a ticket to enter. CHANGE IN TICKET PROCEDURE: TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED OUTSIDE THE KOMANSKY ROOM BEGINNING 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE PROGRAM.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10-10:30 AM
October 5-28
For walking children under age two with an adult.
Nursery rhymes, stories, and play for children moving about on their own.
COVID PRECAUTIONS:
We will have Toddler Mother Goose outside on Jesup Green for as long as weather permits. Please bring a blanket for your family to relax and stay socially distant. As we bring back indoor programming, we face restrictions needed to keep everyone safe. We will be following current guidelines for social distancing and masks for everyone age 2 and over. This includes vaccinated patrons. To enable distancing, we need to restrict the number of people in a room. We will be using the Komansky Room on the middle floor of the library, located behind the stage. For programs in the Komanksy Room, you will need a ticket to enter. That ticket can be obtained from the Children's Department beginning one hour before the program. Entry to the Komansky Room will be only by the door to the left of the stage. After entering the room, we ask that you and your child maintain a distance of three feet from other participants.
Higgins Room
Join us for a poetry month celebration featuring the finalists of the Westport Garden Club’s poetry contest: “Seeds, Trees, and Bees... Oh My — Celebrating the Diversity of Nature.”
The young poets will read along with Westport’s poet laureate, Jessica Noyes McEntee. A workshop will follow, where you can write your own nature-inspired poetry with specimens provided by the Garden Club!
Community Partners:
- Westport Arts Advisory Committee
- Westport Garden Club
Finalists from the WGC contest move on to the regional contest sponsored by Federated Garden Clubs of CT and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
Komansky Room
Saturdays, 10-10:30 am
March 4 - April 29
No program April 1
For ages birth to 5 years old with an adult
Start off your Saturday with lots of movement, songs, and a story. Bring the whole family!
No registration required.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
Komansky Room
Saturdays, 10-10:30 am
March 4 - April 29
No program April 1
For ages birth to 5 years old with an adult
Start off your Saturday with lots of movement, songs, and a story. Bring the whole family!
No registration required.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
Komansky Room
Saturdays, 10-10:30 am
March 4 - April 29
No program April 1
For ages birth to 5 years old with an adult
Start off your Saturday with lots of movement, songs, and a story. Bring the whole family!
No registration required.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
Komansky Room
Saturdays, 10-10:30 am
March 4 - April 29
No program April 1
For ages birth to 5 years old with an adult
Start off your Saturday with lots of movement, songs, and a story. Bring the whole family!
No registration required.
The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider giving to the Library so that we can continue to offer events like this one. Your donation is tax deductible. Donate Now!
