Newton Schools Foundation’s Annual Appeal Is Underway-Featuring a Challenge Match from Current and Former Board Member: MAKE A GIFT TODAY!
This year, the Newton Schools Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary—and the $2.5 million raised from generous, private donors in support of our public schools. To mark this milestone, we have embarked upon an ambitious goal: to raise $4 million over the next three to five years to support the implementation of Century Classrooms in all our schools. The 21st Century Classroom includes an interactive whiteboard, student response systems, a teacher tablet, software, and professional development to maximize the benefits of the technology. 21st Century Classrooms are proven to improve standardized test scores, help facilitate 100% student participation, and provide immediate feedback on student outcomes.
We’re asking all of Newton to join us in this exciting initiative: Every dollar you give before December 31st will be doubled! If you act now, you can DOUBLE your gift to the Newton Schools Foundation thanks to a challenge match of $50,000 and growing from current and former Foundation board members. Click here to visit our website, www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org, where you can give quickly and easily! To learn more about the Newton Schools Foundation and the 21st Century Classrooms initiative, please see our .
Child Assault Prevention Program (CAP)
New training to begin in late January
The Child Assault Prevention (CAP) program in Newton is looking for committed and dedicated child advocates to present its personal safety curriculum in local elementary schools.
Join up with current and experienced volunteer Prevention Specialists to teach children to recognize and respond to verbal, physical and sexual assault and abuse. Potential volunteers are community members who believe that children have the right to information, skills and the support of adults. We offer a flexible schedule to volunteers who enjoy teamwork and can make a yearlong commitment of two or three mornings a month. The training has been revised to more easily fit with busy schedules.
For information or to set up an interview call Gail Sommer, 617-969-5906, x143 or email, [email protected] Newton CAP is a program of Newton Community Service Center. Visit our webpage at www.ncscweb.org for a description of the program and of the volunteer Prevention Specialist position.
Events
Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, will be Theatre Ink’s inaugural performance at the new Little Theatre at Newton North. Directed by Derek Butterton and Mercer Gary, Eurydice is the story of a newly-married husband and wife split apart by death. Eurydice reminisces with her long-dead father in the Underworld; Orpheus searches desperately for a way to reach his love. A nasty yet interesting Man sews temptation and cruelty. Three Stones watch events unfold, snickering, commenting, insulting, advising and weeping. And as the two young lovers draw ever closer to reconnection, the story rises to a conclusion that is at once deeply fantastical and utterly true.
December 9th, 10th and 11th at 7:30pm. LittleTheatre at NNHS, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville. Tickets $7 at www.theatreink.net or 617-559-6406.
Celebrate the Launch of Newton’s Lab! Tuesday, December 7 at 4:00 PM, Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street, Newtonville, MA 02460. Newton’s Lab, the innovation laboratory of NPS, sponsored by Needham-based PTC, is a partnership between schools, communities, and businesses. The goal is to provide students and teachers with an opportunity to innovate, implement, and scale education initiatives that are centered on real world issues and solutions. There are several successful programs already part of the Newton Lab: The Greengineers program gives students the opportunity to apply business and engineering practices in order to develop alternative fuels and recycled products. The Ligerbots are a FIRST Robotics team led by 50 students from Newton South and Newton North, teachers from both schools, and mentors from PTC and other companies. Teachers partner with the Lab to pilot innovative programs and facilitate teacher education. Our founding members, PTC, the product development company, contributes over a million dollars in engineering software, expertise on professional practices, and mentoring to the school community. Join PTC and NPS at 4pm to hear the vision of the Newton’s Lab from community leaders. ~And see demonstrations by students of the programs already active in the Lab.~ Light refreshments will be served. Come and support innovation! Please RSVP [email protected]
Please join fellow Newton families at this Sunday’s Celebrate Newton crafts fair at Newton South. Shop for jewelry, artwork, crafts, wearables, or edibles, or just come enjoy the live music, crafts for kids, and warm community spirit. The fair is a celebration of Newton’s great talent; it features artists who are also Newton residents, and, yes, Newton teachers too. Proceeds benefit Newton Community Education.
The Community Preservation Committee will hold a public hearing for the following proposals on Wednesday, December 15, starting at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Cafeteria (Basement): 61 Pearl Street (housing, $665,000), Historic Burying Grounds, Tomb Repair & Conservation (historic resources, $614,461). The meeting will also include a working session & possible funding vote for the proposed Early Architecture Survey. For details see the website at www.newtonnma.gov/cpa or contact Alice Ingerson at [email protected], 617.796.1144.
Sports
Register Now for GCKS Spring Soccer
Garden City Kindergarten and Pre-K Fall Soccer registration begins December 1, 2010.
Children in Pre-K (4-5 years old) and students entering Kindergarten this Fall are invited to participate. GCKS provides an introduction to the game of soccer; teaching a variety of basic skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. Team sizes are limited to 10 players in each group.
Registration is limited to 80 players per league. Spring session runs Saturdays, from April 9 thru June 4, 2011. Practice/games are held Saturdays from 9:30-10:30 am for the Kindergarten league and 10:45-11:45 am for the Pre-K league. Games are played on the field at Burr School, Pine Street in Auburndale. Volunteer parent coaches are needed. No experience is necessary and training will be provided.
Cost is $60 per child. GCKS is a joint venture of Lincoln-Eliot & Franklin School’s Parent Teacher Organization. Proceeds benefit both schools PTO programs. To register, email [email protected]. Registration forms can also be downloaded at www.lepto.org or www.franklinpto.org. For more information, call L-E School parent Melanie Varady at 617-244-5773 or Franklin School parent Deb Rooney at (617) 630-8520. Registration deadline is Friday, March 11, 2011. Space is limited.
Sunday programs at the Newton South Recreation Complex
The Newton Parks and Recreation Department is offering a variety of Sunday programs at the Newton South Recreation Complex starting in January 2011. This state of the art Recreation Complex will feature sports, fitness, and recreation programs for all ages. The Newton South Recreation Complex is located at the Newton South High School and programs will begin Sunday January 9, 2011. Pre registration is required and can be done online at www.activityreg.com You can also check out our website at www.ci.newton.ma.us/parks or call Channon Ames at the Newton Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 796-1529 for more information.
The BC Lady Eagles Soccer School will be holding their winter clinic for girls ages 6-14 during December 27- December 31st, 12noon-5:00pm in the BC Bubble. Come join us for soccer fun and development. Online registration may be found at: http://bceagles.cstv.com/camps/bc-w-soccer-camps-winter.html.
Parenting
Tutors
Former Newton teacher ( grades 2-6), with tutoring experience spanning grades 1-10, available for tutoring this Fall. I have taught and all areas of the curriculum with an underlying focus on organization skills. Referrals available. If interested, please contact Judy Caragher, 508 359 2010.
Certified Reading Specialist with M. Ed in Reading Education, trained in Lindamood, Phono-Graphix, & O.G. I specialize in remediating students who read at or below a 2nd grade level. Ages 4 to 9. $35.00 per hour. Formerly employed by “The Learning Lab @ Lesley.” I also tutor math to kindergartners and 1st graders, using the well-researched SRA Number Worlds method. $30.00 per 45-minute lesson. First two lessons free for both reading and math (includes assessment). Excellent references. Christine Mandell: [email protected] (617-323-4709)
Call Y3K TUTOR IN YOUR HOME today, When schoolwork goes the wrong way! Our many years of experience in teaching and educational consulting has developed the right way to motivate, the right way to teach, be understood, and be remembered. We tutor special ed. such as ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, and gifted. We also tutor regular ed. and test preparation. All subjects and ages are taught. Parents can now receive 25% off the first lesson. Call 781-492-8700 or log on to www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com
Music
Flute Lessons: Experienced, nurturing flute teacher invites students of all ages and levels. Please visit my website at www.newtonfluteteacher.com Barbara Nakazawa (617)527-4413 (Complimentary trial lesson)
Keys for Kids piano lessons. Small groups organized by age (4-11). Outstanding methodology. Experienced, certified instructor. Proven success. Keys for Kids goes beyond ordinary piano lessons: it teaches well-rounded musicianship. Fall registration. Contact: [email protected] or (617)527-4942 www.NewtonKidsLoveMusic.com
Reading and Math Tutor. Certified Reading Specialist with M. Ed in Reading Education, trained in Lindamood, Phono-Graphix, & O.G. I specialize in remediating students who read at or below a 2nd grade level. Ages 4 to 9. $35.00 per hour. Formerly employed by “The Learning Lab @ Lesley.” I also tutor math to kindergartners and 1st graders, using the well-researched SRA Number Worlds method. $30.00 per 45-minute lesson. First two lessons free for both reading and math (includes assessment). Excellent references. Christine Mandell: [email protected] (617-323-4709)
Classified Ads
Donate Bikes to ‘Roll It Forward’ Boston Bikes and the Boston Public Health Commission have announced their new Roll It Forward initiative to collect, repair, and distribute up to 1000 bikes to Boston’s neighborhoods by the spring of 2012. Roll It Forward is funded by a stimulus grant from the National Institutes of Health to make cycling a more accessible transportation option for all communities. By distributing bicycles and providing proper bike safety education, Roll It Forward will promote a healthier lifestyle of increased physical activity and fewer trips by car. You can donate bikes by December 10 to Roll It Forward at various locations throughout the Boston area, including Eastern Mountain Sports at 300 Needham Street in Newton (617-559-1575).
Registration is now underway for Winter classes with Newton Community Education. Coming up at Williams we have Robotics with Legos on Mondays, Pottery on Wednesdays, Chess and Chinese Club on Thursdays, and our new Wicked Gross Science on Fridays. Check out our family programs this fall (Family Quilt, Meet the Instruments, cooking specials The Way of the Chocolate Chip and Two Continents: Four Dumplings), and our classes for older elementary schoolers, like Create a TV Show, Fencing, Robotics, Sewing, Archery, new classes Music Technology and Animation, Babysitting; and more. We have some great sports offerings including Dodgeball, Futsal, and Basketball, and for younger kids we have indoor Saturday Sports Jams (and T-Ball, coming this spring). If you’re looking for great winter and spring vacation programs we have those too. As always, we have a wide variety of classes at schools throughout Newton, and we welcome kids from all schools at all of our classes. For more information or to register, call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org. Be sure to look through our huge selection of adult classes too.
Kids Take Action (KTA) is a program created at the Mason-Rice School to give students a chance to take action to address problems they see in the world. Heading into its fourth year at Mason-Rice, KTA is an after school opportunity for a group of elementary school students to help with local and global problems as part of a team. Students who participate in KTA learn about issues along with inspiring ways that other kids are helping, and then take action themselves. The group is run by volunteer teachers and parents and meets after school every few weeks. Prompted by requests, one of the KTA co-founders, Olivia Mathews, is starting a nonprofit organization to assist others in bringing KTA programs to their schools. To launch a KTA team, contact Olivia Mathews at [email protected] to discuss how to do it. If selected as a pilot site, materials and support for starting a KTA program will be free of charge in 2010-11, but there may be a required annual membership fee from schools for participation in subsequent years. More information is also available at www.KidsTakeAction.org
Knit One … Chat Too: Adult, children, mother/child knitting groups/lessons offered during the day, after school and at night. Please contact Margot Rendall at [email protected] or 617-965-9857 (cell: 617-851-5105).
Step Ahead Basketball is offerings after-school and Saturday classes for ages 7-13. Classes are skilled based and focus on the fundlementals of the game. All classes are held in Newton and are offered: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. For more information please contact Coach Smith at [email protected] / 617-909-5990 — Or visit www.asahoops.com
Are you looking for a babysitter? Pat is currently a babysitter during the afternoons for a Williams family, and she is also available in the early evenings and on weekends. Please call her at 617-834-4494.
Peirce School Family Does Pet Sitting! While you are on business trips, vacations, day outings, etc., give your dog a fun time, too! Your puppy/dog will be well cared for while you’re away. Your pet will be fed, walked, pampered, played with~ in short, will be having fun! We’re a family with two kids; 17 and 11 years old. We’ve had our own dogs before and now we are opening our hearts and home to pet sitting while folks are away. We have been doing this service for several years and it works very well for the animals and for our kids, too! We will only take one or two at a time, if you wish for your pet to vacation with a friend (!), so please schedule your time ASAP. Reasonable rates. [email protected] or 617-527-6654/617-081-0400
