Turtle Lane Playhouse First Annual Youth Talent Contest
Newton Youth Only, Ages 8 to 18, Auditions March 18 and 19, Semi Finals March 20, Final Rehearsal Saturday March 27, 12:00 p.m., Finals Saturday March 27, 7:00 p.m., Perform live on our professional stage, Top prize includes a $500 savings bond. If you have a talent and would like to participate you must have your parent or guardian fill out an application. Deadline is March 10, 2010. Go to www.turtlelane.org.
Stand for Children
Like school districts across the state, Newton is facing a fiscal crisis. In FY 10 we saw a $3 million revenue loss from cuts in state aid, which followed several years of staff and program reductions when the cost of contractual and legal obligations exceeded budget increases. In the next fiscal year, we’re looking at even further cuts unless we the state sustains education and local aid funding, restores special education funding that was cut two years ago, and identify savings and efficiencies as well as new revenue sources.
Stand for Children is sending a petition letter to the Newton legislative delegation (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sfcnewton/) urging them to take a lead in fighting for adequate support for our schools this year. Because this is an election year, our legislators need to hear that their constituents are behind them when they take measures to shore up education funding—even though those measure may be unpopular with certain constituencies.
Please take a moment to read through and sign the letter. The more constituents our elected officials hear from, the stronger our message will be.
Online Rally: Make an online “sign” to send to Beacon Hill to show legislators how many people care about public education. Go to www.stand.org/ma/signs and help spread the word by asking your friends to make one, too!
Join us on March 23 for Stand for Children’s Day on the Hill. Education advocates from across the state will unite at the State House to show our support for public education. We’ll hear from speakers in the field of education policy and practice during the indoor rally, and have an opportunity to tell our legislators what matters to Newton. The event is free and open to the public, and transportation will be provided, but advanced registration is requested. For more information and to register, please visit www.stand.org/ma/dayonthehill.
Newton Parks & Recreation Dog Owner Survey.
Please help Newton Parks & Recreation Department better meet the needs of Newton’s dog owners. Complete the dog owner survey at: www.ci.newton.ma.us/Parks/DogInformation/index.htm
Vacation programs and more with Newton Community Ed
NCE has a variety of exciting and unusual programs coming up for April vacation. Sign up for Marble Machine Madness, Create a TV Show, Engineering with Legos or Painting. Older kids can choose to take our Babysitting Certification class over spring break. We also have openings in some of our ongoing winter classes. Private violin lessons are available at Mason Rice, Bowen, and Countryside. For weekend fun, young ones can sign up for Soccer Tots, Play Soccer, or our Spring Nature Walk.
Registration has begun for all our summer programs. We have some great new offerings this year, such as Check I.T. Out, Fiber Arts, Engineering Workshop, Sew…What’s New, and lots more. Plus we have our popular returning favorites like Clay Workshop, Domino Physics, and Club Invention. We have lots for middle school siblings too.
Call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org for information or to register.
Historic Newton
Sunday, March 14, 2 pm
WHAT WOMEN WORE: A FAMILY PROGRAM
What did women wear in the 1800s in New England? How was it different or similar to what they wear today? Get an exclusive view of historic dresses pulled from the museum’s collection in this hands-on program for all ages. Look at styles of the time and consider how women’s day-to-day lives would have been impacted by their clothes. Complete the afternoon by designing your own fashions for a nineteenth-century paper doll. Cost: $15 per family ($10 for members); includes museum admission, materials, and snack. Prepaid registration is recommended; call 617.796.1450 to register. Historic Newton is located at 527 Washington Street, Newton.
History Book Club Open to the Public at the Newton History Museum/Jackson Homestead. New members always welcome. Next meeting Thursday March 18th at 7:30pm when the Pulitzer Prize winning “Slavery by Another name, the Re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II” by Douglas Blackmon will be discussed. Blackmon, longtime Atlanta Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, focuses on this largely unexplored aspect of American history. At the History Museaum.
Newton’s Only Working Farm: The Historic Newton Angino Community Farm and Sustainable Local Food. The 2 and a quarter acre homestead on the corner of Winchester and Nahanton Streets was a family farm for 300 years. Generations of the Angino family farmed there from 1917 to 2005. Now it’s owned by the city and operated as a non-profit, preserving a valuable cultural and historical landscape and serving as a model for sustainable agriculture in our community. Newton Community Farm Board Member and Landscape Designer Ted Chapman gives a talk about what this special piece of land can tell us about the history of Newton and the vital role of farming in daily life. ThursdayMarch 25th at 7pm at the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free. Part of the ‘Roots in our History – The 2010 Newton History Series’
PARENTING WORKSHOPS
Cyberbullying Workshop
Is cyberbullying just for parents of older children to worry about? No. According to Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Founder and Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, parents should begin talking with their children “as soon as children begin to go online and play interactive games – usually first or second grade. It’s not necessary to frighten children; just ask them how children speak to each other – both online and offline – and discuss it if they say they see or read something that was mean or cruel.” Learn more on Saturday, March 20 8:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M. at Parenting Newton Kids in 2010: Keeping Our Kids Safe and Enhancing Learning in the Digital Age at Brown Middle School. This half day parent conference will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Founder and Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC), as well as Technology and “How To” Clinics, workshops on adolescents and cell phones, special issues of technology and children with special needs, and more. RSVP not required.
What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying and traditional bullying are closely linked. To learn more about what you can do to prevent and intervene with bullying, come to a talk by Dr. Kim Storey on Monday, March 15 7:00 – 8:30 P.M.: Eyes on Bullying: Practical Tips and Strategies for Parents of Elementary School Aged Children at Mason Rice Elementary School. RSVP not required.
“Sharing the Journey” – Support Groups starting in March for Parents Dealing with Children with Mental Health Issues.
“Why is my child so moody?” “How do I help other family members understand this behavior?” Come join with other parents in similar boats and understand the diagnosis, the myriad of services, medications and complex issues families face. Whether your family is just starting the journey or well along the path, these helpful forums will allow you to ask questions and explore answers. All groups are free of charge and held at Newton Community Service Center, 492 Waltham Street, West Newton 02465. // For parents of preschool and elementary school-age children, 10 Wednesdays starting March 10th from 7-8:30pm. Register with Susan Sklan LICSW 617-969-5906 x 125. // For parents of Middle School Children, 10 Thursdays starting March 11th from 7-8:30pm. Register with Debra Sosin LICSW 617-969-5906 x 297. // For parents of High School Children, 10 Wednesdays starting March 10th from 7-8:30pm. Register with Maggie Downing M. Ed. LMHC 617-969-5906 x 129.
The Teen Brain and Today’s Chemical Culture
Recent brain studies show that judgment, impulse control and decision-making abilities don’t fully mature until the early 20’s. Given the recent explosion of prescription and over-the-counter medications and a culture in which teen alcohol consumption is rampant, this research suggests today’s youth are particularly vulnerable to the “a pill or drink will make it better” culture. Understanding some of the intricacies and landmarks of adolescent brain development in the context of today’s complex world can aid parents in helping their teens avoid risky decision-making that can lead to dangerous patterns of behavior. On March 4 at 7 p.m. in Brookline High School’s Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium, the Brookline Public Health Department co-sponsors a free special evening of information, insight and discussion for parents and teens. More information: june_harris@brookline.k12.ma.us.
Navigating the Rocky Road of Adolescence
This popular parent series explores, with a professional facilitator, the many changes that occur during adolescence and how they affect relationships at home and at school. Four Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30pm, starting April 7th at Warmlines at the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street. This program is free for Newton residents, but pre-registration is required. Go to: www.warmlines.org.
VACATION WEEK PROGRAMS
April Vacation Week at the New Art Center.
Two programs for elementary and for middle school students, grades K-9. Painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics and drama. Extended days and sibling discounts available. For info and to register: www.newartcenter.org or call 617-964-3424.
Vacation programs and more with Newton Community Ed
NCE has a variety of exciting and unusual programs coming up for April vacation. Sign up for Marble Machine Madness, Create a TV Show, Engineering with Legos or Painting. Older kids can choose to take our Babysitting Certification class over spring break. We also have openings in some of our ongoing winter classes. Private violin lessons are available at Mason Rice, Bowen, and Countryside. For weekend fun, young ones can sign up forSoccer Tots, Play Soccer, or our Spring Nature Walk. Call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org for information or to register.
SUMMER CAMPS
JCC Kaleidoscope Creative Arts + Science Camp Open House
Sunday, March 28, 2-4pm Leventhal-Sidman JCC, 333 Nahanton St., Newton, MA
617 558-6523 kaleidoscope@jccgb.org
Meet the director, tour the facilities, and learn about this day camp where boys and girls in grades K-8 make new friends, learn new skills, stay active, and nurture their “inner artists.” CIT program available (grades 9-11). Transportation available from Brookline, Wayland and Framingham. 2010 Camp dates: June 28-August 20. www.kaleidscopecamp.org.
Farmer-in-Training
Summer Program for Middle Schoolers at Newton Community Farm – This summer program for Middle School Students (going into 6th through 9th). Spend a week outdoors with friends and staff from Newton Community Farm. Learn to plant, maintain and harvest a farm garden. Discover how food is produced and enjoy camaraderie as you work at the farm and maintain garden plots at Nahanton Park, growing food for the Newton Food Pantry. Sign up for one week or as many weeks as you’d like. Learn a lot, work hard and have fun. Mon – Fri 8:30 am to 1:30pm at Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton Street. Weekly sessions run July 5th through August 27th. Weekly fee: $135 for members, $150 others. 6 student limit per week, so sign up early. For more info or to register: www.newtoncommunityfarm.org. Questions? education@newtoncommunityfarm.org or 617-916-9655
Summer Art Programs for Children and Teens at the New Art Center.
Both elementary and middle school programs for grades K-9. Different age-appropriate themes each week; register by the week or for the full 9 weeks. Extended hours and sibling discounts available. For information on weeks and themes and to register, go to www.newartcenter.org or call 617-964-3424.
Vacation programs and more with Newton Community Ed
Registration has begun for all our summer programs. We have some great new offerings this year, such as Check I.T. Out, Fiber Arts, Engineering Workshop, Sew…What’s New, and lots more. Plus we have our popular returning favorites like Clay Workshop, Domino Physics, and Club Invention. We have lots for middle school siblings too. Call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org for information or to register.
Boston Symphony Orchestra “Days in the Arts” (DARTS) Summer Camp in the Berkshires.
Pre-application forms now available from your school’s music or visual arts teacher. This popular overnight camp for 5th, 6th and 7th graders is entering its 42nd year. For one week, August 2-6, 15 Newton students join kids from around Massachusetts in the beautiful Berkshires, a hotbed of professional arts activity. Selection is by lottery. Pre-application forms must be mailed or dropped off at the Fine Arts Office at the Education Center, 100 Walnut Street by the deadline, 5pm Friday March 19th. Questions? Contact Richard P. King: richard_king@newton.k12.ma.us or 617-559-9090.
Hale Reservation Summer Camp
For boys and girls grades 1-8. June 28-August 27. “Everything a summer camp should be”. Extended days and transportation available. Reasonable rates. Highly recommended by Newton families. Newton Community Service Center. Visit the website at: www.NCSCweb.org or call 617-969-5906 x 224.
Summer Speech and Language Program
Emerson College, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, will be offering a 6-week speech and language therapy program to students in the City of Newton with documented need for services. Supervised graduate students in speech-language pathology will provide individual, one-on-one therapy, twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 6th through August 12th at the Newton Educational Center. The fee is $325.00 for 12, one hour sessions. Spaces are limited. Applications will be available from school speech-language pathologists in March or by contacting Laura Glufling-Tham at Emerson College: (617) 824-8318 or laura_glufling_tham@emerson.edu.
OTHER STUFF
Clean out you closets and put those Prom Dresses to good use. Two Newton South Juniors are collecting “gently worn” prom dresses, shoes and bags for “Becca’s Closet”, a global non-profit that provides formal attire to students in need. Donations may be dropped off at Holly’s Cleaners, 1314 Centre Street in Newton Center by March 24th. Questions? Contact: dressdonation@gmail.com.
“Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North”. A New England Family Confronts its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in US History. Come view and discuss this award-winning film…discussion led by Newton resident James DeWolf Perry, direct descendant of this 18th century slave-trading family. Thursday March 11th 7-9:30pm. Boston College Law School, 885 Centre Street, East Wing Building, Room 120. This free program is presented by The Newton Human Rights Commission, Historic Newton/Jackson Homestead, Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs, Newton Foundation for Racial, Ethnic & Religious Harmony and www.TracesoftheTrade.org. More info at: www.newtonhumanrights.org.
7th Annual “Hoopin’ for Newton” (formerly “3 on 3 for Charity”) Sunday March 21st at 2 pm at the Newton North High School Gym. Here is one of the last chances to play in the NNHS gym. This event is for everyone who enjoys playing or watching basketball from 2nd grade right on up to adults. Girls and Boys, Men and Women. All levels of experience, beginner to college hoops. Teams are matched by experience and play for fun. This charity event benefits Newton families in need, providing seed money for Newon ASC, ONE Newton (the fund inspired by the plight of the Beatrice family and designed to help other families as well) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For more info or to reserve a place: westmanj@comcast.net or 617-285-2632.
4th Annual Winter Dinner Series to benefit programs of The Newton Schools Foundation: “Global Education Leadership Fund Dinner” Friday March 12th, to help deserving high school students take part in study-abroad programs. “Tailgate 2010″ on Saturday March 27th, funds technology in the classroom. “4th Annual Winter Dinner” April 10th, raises more funds to keep classrooms technologically up-to-date. “Turkish Delights” Sunday April 11th helps fund The Newton Schools Foundation. Find out more about these great nights out at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org.
TEMPORARY POSITION AVAILABLE – PART-TIME ADMINISTRATOR. The United Parish of Auburndale, a Congregational (UCC)-Methodist church in Newton, Mass., needs to hire a part-time administrator to manage the day-to-day needs of the parish. Duties include maintenance of the church’s web site [www.upanewtonma.org]; preparation of the weekly church newsletter and Sunday worship bulletin; some financial chores, with spreadsheet experience required; and routine office work, including telephone and e-mail communications, in support of the minister and the church. The administrator often works alone, and often comes in contact with church members’ confidential information. Common sense, tact, initiative and a sense of humor are desirable qualities for this position. This job is intended to last for three or four months, and will require a commitment of 20 to 25 hours a week. The hourly salary will be in the $12-$15 range, depending on experience. The UPA is an open and affirming congregation, and an equal opportunity employer. Applicants should send a current resume and a brief note about themselves to the Rev. Jean Alexander, at jobs@upanewtonma.org, or to
Rev. Jean Alexander
United Parish of Auburndale
64 Hancock Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02466
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