Monthly Archives: June 2012

Brookline Music School’s summer programs

Brookline Music School’s summer programs (June 25-August 23) offer private instruction and classes for babies to adults. Summer is the perfect time to try out the various programs. Children can sample a variety of musical instruments or take a beginners course. Teenagers can play with other musicians and record a four-song cd or take private lessons. Adults can take as many lessons as they choose or play music with others.

For the summer 2012 schedule, session dates and rates visit www.bmsmusic.org or call (617) 277-4593. Brookline Music School is located at 25 Kennard Road, Brookline, MA 02445.

Waban Neighborhood Area Council forming, Meeting June 20

The team organizing the Waban Neighborhood Area Council will be holding an informational meeting at the Waban Library on Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00pm.  Neighborhood Area Councils provide a “voice of the village” in City government and can help address a variety of local issues.  Please come to hear lessons learned from representatives of the Upper Falls and Newton Highlands councils, and help us to form a vision for Waban.  Please contact Chris Steele at steelch@yahoo.com with any questions.

Green Decade School Outreach Meeting, June 11

The last meeting for the year of Green Decade School Outreach will be on Monday, June 11, at 7:45pm at the home of Eric Bobby, 334 Auburndale Ave.  The agenda is to review and agree on next year’s proposed plan:

  1. Support 3 themes:
    1. Waste Reduction – increase participation in recycling at all schools; participate in the compost pilot; roll-out a city-wide catalog reduction program
    2. Agri/Garden/Food initiatives – continue to foster connections with Newton Community Farms, leverage Whitson’s Food Service, and support outdoor school gardens
    3. Outdoor Classrooms – learn from Countryside’s outdoor learning initiative and expand the long-term planning for other schools eg Burr
  2. Grow outreach channels and communication:
    1. Participation at PTO council
    2. Secure representation from 100% of elementary schools and at least 1 middle school
    3. Regular meetings with City of Newton and School District
    4. More communication eg Green Decade newsletter and Tab
    5. Regularly compile and share green updates e,g., Eco-teams opportunity

Summer Art Workshops at the Arsenal Center

The Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown has Art Workshops for 5 & 6 year olds; 7 – 10 year olds; 11+ in Painting, Clay, Dolls, Mixed-Media, Printmaking, Drawing, Comics, Jewelry, Puppets and more.  These week-long sessions run from June 18 – August 24 with morning and afternoon sections. Call 617-923-0100, ext. 309 to register.   Visit www.arsenalarts.org for workshop descriptions.

Highlands After School Program (6th-8th grade)

Are you looking for after-school activities for your 6th-8th grader in September? There is an after-school program, open since 2008, for Brown and Oak Hill Middle School students. The Highlands After-School Program provides a safe, supervised, enriching after-school environment that meets the needs of middle school children, with a home base in a lovely building in the heart of Newton Highlands and daily use of the Hyde Gym. Transportation is arranged from the middle schools. Activities include: sports, cooking arts & crafts, field trips, community service, time to hang with friends and homework. Space is limited … enroll today. For additional information contact: Rochelle Acker, highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or call 617-999-4617 or www.highlandsafterschool.org

Summer Volunteer Opportunities with Newton at Home

Summer Volunteer Opportunities with Newton at Home! Newton at Home, a member organization dedicated to helping Newton seniors age in their own homes, is looking for volunteers who can help senior citizens over the summer.

  • We need drivers who can give rides to seniors. Make a new friend while helping someone get to a doctor’s appointment, the supermarket, a social event or the airport.
  • We need young people who are available to mow a Newton senior citizen’s lawn once per week during the summer. No need to commit to the entire summer!

Volunteer as much as you can at your convenience, and know that you have made a difference in a Newton senior’s life. You’ll meet interesting people and share great conversation along the way! If you are willing and able to help, please call Julie Plaut Mahoney, Ph.D., Coordinator of Volunteers, Newton at Home 617-795-2560 or volcoord@newtonathome.org.

June Teen programs at the Newton Free Library

An Evening with School of Rock Boston’s Jazz Ensemble, Tuesday, June 5, 7:00 pm in Druker Auditorium
Founded in 1998, the School of Rock (SOR) is the nation’s premier performance-based rock music after-school and weekend program. Boasting over seventy branches nationwide and three in Mexico, SOR teaches guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, drums, and combines weekly, private music lessons and group band rehearsals for children ages 6 to 18. To date their students have played thousands of concerts to more than 100,000 people at such legendary venues as The Roxy, The Big Easy, and BB King’s Blues Club in Times Square. Boston is the first SOR to host a jazz spin-off program. Join them at the Newton Free Library on Tuesday, June 5 at 7:00 pm for a free concert under the direction of Pat Speece. All are welcome.

Teen Summer Reading Program Ice Cream Party Kickoff, Tuesday, June 26 at 3:00 pm, patio outside Children’s Room (Druker Auditorium rain location)
Kids in grades 6-12, celebrate summer and the Newton Free Library’s Teen Summer Reading Program at an ice cream parry. Register for the Teen Summer Reading Program, pick up a handout, learn about online sign-up and how you can win prizes! This year’s theme is Stretch Yourself @ Your Library. Try reading a new genre, listening to an audiobook, or reading a cookbook so you can try a new recipe.

Questions? Email Teen Librarian, Liz Rowland, lrowland@minlib.net.
For more information call the Newton Free Library @ 617-796-1380

Theatre Ink Proudly Presents “Nitrous Oxide” and Playwrights”

June 7 & 9: Nitrous Oxide is a group of strange hybrid beings from deepest space: students that not only act, but also write sketch comedy — short comedic scenes that focus on telling jokes based on comic situations. Sketch comedy troupes include Saturday Night Live, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and Derrick Comedy. Directed by Graham Techler and Jack Reibstein. Thursday, June 7th and Saturday, June 9th, 7:30 pm in the Little Theatre

June 8 & 9: The 5th Annual Playwrights’ Festival is an all student-written, directed and produced collection of ten-minute plays, directed by Abby Holtzman, Emma Weisberg, and Kelsey Fox. Friday, June 8th, at at 7:30PM and Saturday, June 9th, at 2:00PM in the Little Theatre.

Tickets $8 for students, $10 for adults at Theatreink.net

Honor Thy Teacher

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” ~ Henry Adams

It’s that time of year again to honor exceptional Newton teachers and staff who have touched your child’s life. The suggested donation is $25 per teacher/staff member. Newton Schools Foundation celebrates Newton Public Schools teachers and staff by:

  • Notifying honored teachers and staff of your gift
  • Listing all honored teachers and staff in the Newton TAB and Patch
  • Sharing honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals
  • Ensuring your donations go to support teaching & learning in Newton schools.

To honor a teacher or staff person go to www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org.

Artwork on drab electrical boxes

Have you noticed the gorgeous artwork that has been beautifying the city
on those drab electrical boxes? There are more boxes that can be painted!
If you would like to submit your design to paint one, please submit your
application soon. The deadlines are June 15 and August 1. The application
is on line at www.newtoncommunitypride.org or on the City of Newton
website/Government/Cultural Affairs/Mayor’s Office for Cultural
Affairs/Public Art RFP:NewtonSERVES Box Art Project. Call 617-527-8283 for
more information.