Administration

Ellen Weiss – Director

Hello! My name is Ellen Weiss, and I am thrilled to announce that I am embarking on my 31st year with the BASCP family. Throughout this journey, I have grown alongside the children in our program, witnessing their development and joy, just like my own.

This past summer was a whirlwind for me; instead of spending long, sunny days at Manomet Beach with my family, I found myself immersed in the bittersweet task of packing up our cherished family home in Newton. It was a labor of love as I sifted through memories and treasures, preparing for a new chapter in Ashland. I am eager to discover what exciting adventures and opportunities await in Ashland.

My passion lies in fostering a warm and welcoming environment where every child can feel like a valued member of the BASCP family. I can’t wait to create more memories and share more experiences with all of you! 

William Chamberland – Assistant Director

Hello, my name is William Chamberland, and I am excited to return for my 17th year at Bowen After School. This year, I will be leading the Comets (Grades 2 & 3) and Ozone (Grades 4 & 5) teaching teams. I am deeply committed to BASCP’s mission and dedicated to serving our community. My passion lies in fostering the social growth and development of our students.

My personal goal is to create innovative experiences through educational adventures that spark student curiosity and are supported by effective educational resources. Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries regarding your child’s experience at BASCP.

Alan Pedersen – Program Coordinator

My name is Alan Pedersen, and I’m happy to be starting my 15th year at BASCP. In addition to my administrative duties, I will spend much of my time working with first graders and kindergarteners. This summer I got to see a lot of family for a wedding in Philadelphia, which gave me the opportunity to pretend to be Rocky and run up the stairs to the Philadelphia Art Musuem. The stair running was the start to my training for my second marathon, which will be in Acadia, Maine.

Colette Ming – Administrative Assistant

Hello, my name is Colette Ming.

I am truly grateful to have been part of the BASCP Family for the past eight months. Having attended Bowen Elementary School many moons ago, it’s a joy to now be on the other side — watching and engaging with the young, kindhearted children who fill our days with laughter and light. Their smiles and innocence are the highlight of my world. I look forward to helping guide and nurture them as they grow into confident, compassionate young adults.

Stars (Kindergarten & 1st Grade Team)

Emma

Hello Newton Community,

I am very excited to join BASCP for my fifth year. This is my fourth year working as the Kindergarten Specialist. It’s been a steady, yet successful journey of implementing Social Emotional Learning and Responsive Classroom into our daily curriculum and into the staff culture. I am proud to be a part of a team that is committed to the growth and development of children as well as ourselves! On my free time I write music, workout, and read lots of poetry. I’m a huge proponent of equal education and I hope to continue my career from educating into law.  

Greg

Hello everyone! I’m Greg, and I work with the K-1 Stars. This is my fifth year working at BASCP. This school year, I’m excited to make activities that focus on collaboration!

Imge

Hi, I am Imge! This is my seventh year at BASCP. I live in Needham with my family. My hobbies are yoga, macrame, and taking long walks on weekends. I can’t wait to teach arts, crafts, and games with the first graders and kindergarteners. This will be a fun and wonderful year at BASCP!

Comets & Satellites (2nd & 3rd Grade Team)

Lou

My name is Lou and I have been a part of Newton After School for 43 years and in childcare for 49 years. I have worked with children from 18 months to high school and am comfortable with all ages. I have done almost every job in childcare there is: Assistant Teacher, Preschool Teacher, After School Teacher, Head Teacher, Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Director. Throughout it all, I have always done daily activities with children. It’s my favorite part of the job and the most fun! Activities I enjoy doing with students include sports (especially basketball and non-competitive/competitive gym games), gardening (my group once grew a 133 pound pumpkin), walking and running clubs, science, woodworking, sculpture clubs, and musical instruments. I have three children – all of whom are in their 30’s and were in the classroom with me in preschool and elementary after school. I also has three grandchildren ages 6, 6, & 9. My hobbies include vegetable gardening, going to Red Sox games, watching Patriots and Penn State football games, and playing the trumpet, harmonica, and recorder.

Maggie

Hello, my name is Maggie Paganelli.  I started with BASCP in May 2025, working with the K-1 Stars.  I am thrilled to return this year and look forward to being with the children.  My previous experience with children includes two years as a crossing guard for Bowen, and as a nanny for a couple of families with children from infancy to high school freshman.  I have two grown daughters and five grandchildren ranging in age from 7 to 13.  Being around children and helping them to develop self-confidence and be their best selves is why I am at BASCP.  When I am not at BASCP, I enjoy writing, helping with home projects, baking, playing the piano, needlepoint, and being around animals.  My relaxation spot is anywhere near a lake or the ocean. 

Allison

Hi, my name is Allison Carey, and this will be my first year at BASCP. I’ll be working with the Comets (grades 2-3) teaching team. I’m so thrilled for the opportunity to implement play-based learning and help facilitate games and activities that support our students’ social development and critical thinking skills. In my free time, I enjoy creative hobbies like multi-media art and design, interior design, perfumery, and spending time outdoors. This year I started a “no commitment/long distance” book club. I can’t wait to get our students engaged in creative, collaborative experiences!

Andre

Hi! I’m Andre, and I’m excited to be back at Bowen After School Care! After spending the past three years in the music industry, I’m thrilled to return to working with energetic kids and creating fun, engaging activities. I love board games, hands-on experiments (especially chemistry “wow” moments), and making every day a little adventurous. Can’t wait to learn, play, and explore with all of you this year!

Ozone (4th & 5th Grade Team)

Myles

My name is Myles, and this is my second year working at BASCP! I’m super passionate about music, chemistry, and games of all sorts, and I love applying that passion to creating unique experiences for students. I spent my past summer working as a head counselor at the Beaver Summer Camp, and I’m looking forward to applying everything I learned to elevate the amount of fun we have every day. It is my hope in continuing my work to make after school something any kid can look forward to every day. I cannot wait to see you on the floor!

Michael

Hello, my name is Michael Silvia and this is my first year working at BASCP! My background is Theatre Arts with a focus on acting. I have a passion for musical theatre, Disney movies and lore, and Dungeons and Dragons. This past summer I worked as an Actor/Deckhand on Boston Harbor City Cruises Codzilla. I am super excited and looking forward to a great year!!!

Coleman

Hi everyone! My name is Coleman and I work with the 4-5 Ozone. This is my second year working at BASCP, and I also happen to be a former BASCP student and Bowen Elementary School Graduate. My focus as a teacher is to spread joy and seek out what brings joy to each of our students, as well as, to teach, instill and model positive values to take forward while at Bowen and beyond.


Sean

Hello I’m Sean DiMarco!  Newton native, Newton South alum, and a proud BASCP staff member since May of last school year. I’m thrilled to be returning for my first full school year here.

I got my start working with children as a CIT at Chestnut Hill Creative Arts and Sports Camp when I was 15 and I’ve kept coming back, now as a Senior Camp Counselor. That experience truly stuck with me and continues to inspire the work I do.

Outside of BASCP, you’ll often find me tinkering on art projects, creating something new, or hiking with my dog.

In my time at BASCP so far, our students have made amazing sculptures, animations, video games, and even a terrarium for inchworms we found outside. They’ve written songs, scripts, jokes, poems—and that’s just the beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing what creative adventures we dive into together this year!