Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

Learn about issues related to fair elections and more

Join members of the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) to hear the latest on issues related to fair elections, including voter suppression, gerrymandering, absentee ballots, automatic voter registration and more, when LWVN hosts Lisa Danetz at their next topic meeting.

Newton resident Lisa Danetz, a public policy consultant for philanthropic foundations, has worked in the voting rights, money in politics, and democracy field as an expert, advocate, and lawyer for over 15 years. Her work has focused on improving election administration and increasing the political participation of disfranchised groups within our society through public policy research, litigation, executive and legislative advocacy, and public education. Ms. Danetz is the former legal director of Demos, a New York-based public policy center, and also worked at National Voting Rights Institute.

A question and answer session and open discussion will follow after Ms. Danetz’s presentation. RSVPs to info@lwvnewton.org are appreciated!

February 28th, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Durant Kenrick House, 286 Waverly Avenue, Newton

Girls Empowerment Program

Artemis Girls – Stand Strong, Stand Tall guides girls to seek their own true voice with yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, creative expression and self-reflection.

When girls feel confident about their bodies, their self-worth and their intelligence and they have practiced how to handle self-doubt and adolescent stresses, they have an opportunity to go into the world and fully express themselves — as girls, as women, as humans.

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall creates a safe space for girls ages 10-13 to build strength of body, mind and spirit while developing the skills of communication and self-respect to empower and inspire girls. Classes include weekly yoga and mindfulness, group collaboration and games and independent thinking coupled with an art, journal or other creative activity centered on themes such as:

· Body Confidence and Self-Respect
· Stress & Self-Care
· Emotional Awareness
· Identity & Labels
· Honest, Healthy Friendships & Social Stamina

The program meets weekly in a 90 minute session on Friday afternoons co-taught by Amy Hrobak and Tracy Affonso, both experienced school educators and youth yoga and mindfulness instructors. Fee: $150 Please email liz@artemisyoga.com if you have any questions or call 617-393-3590.

March 1st – April 5th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

To learn more or to register, CLICK HERE.

FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice ) City-wide Meeting – March 12th

Everyone is invited to the next FORJ City-wide Meeting to explore the relationship between housing, equity, and race. There will be a discussion, short video, and an interactive small group activity that could work for kids 2nd grade and above. Younger kids are welcome to be in the room to color or sit with their parents but they might not follow all the content. Hope to see you there! Feel free to bring interested friends.

RSVP HERE for March 12th
March 12th, 7:30 pm
Angier Elementary

Attention 5th Grade Parents

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, is hosting 4 Open House events for interested families. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join to see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program.

For more information please contact Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafter-schoolprogram.org.

March 6th, March 18th, April 4th, and/or April 14th, 5:30-6:30 pm

Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

Free practice tests: SATs, ACTs, SSATs, and ISEEs

Summit Educational Group is a tutoring company in Newton who helps provide 1-1 tutoring and classroom instruction to hundreds of students in the Boston area and the surrounding suburbs.

Every weekend they offer free practice tests at their office for the SATs, ACTs, SSATs, and ISEEs. Check out the website for the dates and times https://mytutor.com/one-on-one/free-practice-tests/#1445903007466-5b9be84a-24ff

Temperatures may be down, but grades can still rise!

Tutors available at ActiveMinds tutoring

• Effective, personalized, in-home tutoring in Greater Boston

• Serving Newton and surrounding towns for the past 12 years

• Offering all academic subjects and standardized test prep (SAT/ACT, ISEE, SSAT)

Reserve your tutor today! Call 617-227-2225 or email
info@activemindstutoring.com to learn more about their expert tutors.

Visit http://www.activemindstutoring.com/testimonials.html

Summer Camp at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton

Camp Boys & Girls Club focuses on the WHOLE experience of Camp, which allows them to fully implement quality programming that is unique and fun.

There are five sessions each summer and each session has a unique theme and field trips. During the days, campers will be engaged with sports, arts & crafts, project-based learning activities, service learning, creative projects that are site specific at the Club, sports Clinics and much more.

Visit newtonbgc.com for more information and camp registration.

Congratulations Alexandra Etscovitz – Elementary Art Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Alexandra Etscovitz, just named the Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. Alexandra Etscovitz has been teaching at Memorial-Spaulding Elementary School for 15 years, the same school she once attended as a child…..

Read more about her and this prestigious award from the Massachusetts Art Education Association here: MAEA

The MAEA Board of Directors are looking forward to honoring and celebrating the 2019 MAEA Art Educators of the Year.

The awards ceremony has been scheduled for March 16th, 11:00 – 11:50 am in Meeting Room 310/Center at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Registration for the NAEA Convention is NOT required to attend the MAEA Awards Ceremony which is open to the public.

Newton PTO Council 2019-02-15 08:53:45

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 2/11/2019 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update

New Business

  • Mary Eich, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, was joined by Steven Rattendi, Director of IT, to present an Update on Information Technology and Libraries.   This included an overview of the department, as well as information on database management, the new 1:1 laptop initiative in the high schools, network infrastructure, and G (Google) Suite Expansion.
  • Liam Hurley, Chief Financial Officer, and Julie Kirrane, Director of Business and Planning, presented an FY19 Fiscal and Operations Update showing NPS in good fiscal health.
  • Liam Hurley and Julie Kirrane also presented the Facilities Update, which included information regarding the Cabot School Building Project, the Lincoln-Eliot/NECP School Building Projects, the Cabot and Horace Mann School moves, the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program, the Lincoln-Eliot Heating and Building Envelope Project, 225 Nevada Street (Carr) improvements. They also provided updates on heating issues, the Franklin Kindergarten wing, and the revised plans for solar panels at Brown Middle School. 
  • We reviewed the System-wide goals for 2018 – 2019 followed by a mid-year check in on the Superintendent’s Goals.

Old Business

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is a special meeting on Monday March 4 at 5:30 p.m. This meeting with include a discussion of NPS’ use of academic data, as well as votes on the Countryside Statement of Interest to the MSBA and the Brown solar panels. While there is no public comment at special meetings, you can always reach us by email or phone.

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org.

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