Author Archives: Community Notes

STEM Offerings Moving Rapidly to Online, In-Home Learning

Provided by Newton STEM. Sign up for the Newton STEM newsletter HERE. 

Providers of STEM education and enrichment have moved rapidly to create online versions of their in-person programs for use during the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • The Innovation Institute has moved all of its spring-term courses online. Classes are starting just now, and some spaces are still available. An initial review from a parent of Grades K and 2 said her kids’ first classes were “a smashing success.” Additional courses will be added soon for Grades 8-12.
  • Mad Science offers its Loop Lab mail-order science curriculum (with a free lab coat if you use code LABCOAT19). It’s also offering daily 60-minute live online classroom sessions, available for single sessions or by the week.
  • Code Ninjas has created (and will be updating) a list of at-home STEM activity resources and is offering an at-home Hack-a-thon, tutorial videos, and daily LIVE YouTube videos. Details here.
  • Empow Studios is offering live, virtual online classes in coding, robotics, film and animation, Minecraft, and engineering.
  • The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club has moved its Curiosity Club, Keystone Club, and Torch club meetings online and will host coding and other STEM activities for elementary and middle school kids via MyFuture.net.
  • Within the next week, the Russian School of Math will have temporarily moved all of its in-person classes online, simulating in-person classes as much as possible and drawing on its seven years of experience in online learning.
  • CSRecitations has moved all of its in-person classes online, including a new summer online course in Java for Grades 8+. Class sizes are limited to five students.

School Committee Meetings and Public Comment During COVID-19

In an effort to balance our obligation to hold public meetings with the equally imperative duty to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19, the School Committee has implemented new Public Comment procedures with guidance from the Health and Human Services Department. Normally, the month of March is a busy time during which the Committee reviews, vigorously examines and welcomes numerous Public Comments regarding next year’s budget. Given yesterday’s decision to close schools, the risk of community spread posed by COVID-19 and the need to protect our most vulnerable residents, we simply cannot observe the normal process.

We hope that you understand and assist us to mitigate the risk as we refrain from large gatherings and maintain social distancing. This is not possible in the Ed Center’s School Committee chamber, which is small and easily overcrowded. Therefore, we urge members of the public not to attend in person and instead opt to watch the live broadcast on NewTV. For meetings with scheduled Public Comment, we ask members of the public to submit written Public Comment by 6:00 PM. Questions will be collated and read aloud during the Committee’s live broadcast at 7:00 PM on NewTV. Each Public Comment is limited to three minutes and must include your name and address. Please submit Public Comments to: schoolcommittee@newton.k12.ma.us.  

Upcoming Meetings:

  • Monday, March 16 at 7:00 PM, Special SC Meeting FY21 Budget. The Committee will review changes to the budget affecting Elementary and Secondary education. No Public Comment Scheduled.
  • Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM, Special SC Meeting. Public Comment Observed, up to 45 minutes. Submit written comments to the SC via email.
  • Monday, March 23 at 7:00 PM, SC Meeting. Public Comment Observed, up to 30 minutes. Submit written comments to the School Committee via email.
  • Monday, March 30 at 7:00 PM, SC Public Hearing FY21 Budget. Public Comment Observed, No Time Limit. Submit written comments to the School Committee via email.

We hope you found this guide useful. You can access all SC meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, we offer “Virtual Office Hours” once a month using Facebook Live to provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts with members of the School Committee. Videos of past “Virtual Office Hours” are archived on the district Facebook page.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

MathCounts Competition – Bigelow Team

Do you enjoy solving math puzzles and testing your math skills?  Do you like Math Team and are looking for more challenges? Come try out for the 2020 Bigelow Mathcounts+ Team.  On Thursday October 3, 4:15-5:15pm in Room 209, we will host the Mathcounts Challenge, where you will test yourself against a challenging series of math problems. Top performers from the Challenge will be invited to join the team.  If you are invited and decide to join, your commitment involves a weekly practice (held on Sunday afternoons) in preparation for the regional competitions held in February as well as other related competitions. To learn more, see www.mathcounts.org/programs/competition-series.  You must register in advance for the Mathcounts Challenge, by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/i7HDxKjUobq6atFj6.  If you are interested in participating but cannot attend the event, please register anyhow to be considered as a potential alternate. 

Express your love for animals, kindness, and compassion by donating to the Animal Rescue League

From now to the end of November, Bigelow student Macy Goodwin is collecting items for the Boston and Dedham Animal Rescue League shelters. The ARL does not receive any government grants or public funding and relies solely on supporters to help animals in need. The shelters need items from gift cards, new and gently used towels, sheets or blankets, paper towels, chew toys, to dog poop bags and cat litter. To see a full list of items click https://www.arlboston.org/donate/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. You can either drop your donations at 56 West Boulevard Road, Newton MA 02459 or Macy and her family are happy to pick them up. Please email lenagoodwin@mac.com if you would like them to pick up the items. Macy is going to make four trips from now until the end of November to deliver the items to the Boston and Dedham shelters.

Newton North Youth Cheer Clinic

Friday October 4th 6-8pm & your chance to perform at the NN Football Game on October 5th.

  • When: Friday October 4th 6-Bpm & Halftime performance on October 5th Registration will begin at 5:30pm
  • Where: NN SOAGym & NN Football Field
  • Details: Clinic will cost $30 (cash or check made out to “Tiger Athletic Booster Club”) and will include a bow (if registered by October 1st!)
  • Contact: NNHSCheerTeam@gmail.com

Equity Working Group Community Survey

Dear Newton Public School Families,

The Newton Public Schools Equity Working Group is looking for community feedback on questions relating to equity in PTO spending.  We have developed a survey that will provide us with important information to continue our work. We would very much appreciate your assistance by answering our survey.

Please click on this link to answer the survey in English. Please respond to the survey only once. It is due on June 28, 2019.  Thank you for your time and effort on this project.

Any questions or comments can be sent to the EWG: equityworkinggroupnewton@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
The Equity Working Group

Are you curious about new topics and enthusiastic about learning?

Attend Lex Splash at Lexington High School on Saturday, May 25 from 8 AM – 4 PM to gain exposure to high school level classes. Sign up for Lex Splash today, a free one-day enrichment event, to take a wide range of classes taught by Lexington High School students. From playing the ukulele, learning sign language, debating about policy issues, and understanding calculus, we have a place for you. 

This year’s Splash will take place on Saturday, May 25th, from 8 AM to 4 PM, at Lexington High School. Students can sign up at lexsplash.learningu.org.