Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

Social Media and Our Youth: A VIRTUAL Mental Health Forum

On Sunday, May 1st, the Becca Schmill Foundation will present “Social Media and Our Youth: A VIRTUAL Mental Health Forum,” at 2:00 pm EDT. Please join us for this free event which includes two consecutive and informative panels featuring nationally recognized and esteemed researchers, child/adolescent mental health professionals, teachers, and youth advocates. Panelists will discuss the significant evidence linking social media use to the skyrocketing increases in rates of clinical level depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and eating disorder cases among adolescents, the impact screen overuse is having on children’s ability to focus, and what changes are needed to reverse these trends. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A at each session.

This mental health forum follows on the heels of President Biden’s State of the Union statement, in which he acknowledged the harms of social media. Furthermore, in the pre-speech Fact Sheet, the White House states “..[T]here is mounting evidence that social media is harmful to many kids’ and teens’ mental health, well-being, and development. As the Surgeon-General has said, ‘…[T]hese tools can pit us against each other, reinforce negative behaviors like bullying and exclusion, and undermine the safe and supportive environments young people need and deserve.’“

To learn more about the event and to register for free click here. To learn more about the Becca Schmill Foundation, please visit www.Beccaschmillfoundation.org.

Registration Available Now – Tim Mayotte Tennis Newton – Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture

Former world top ten player and Massachusetts native, Tim Mayotte, is overseeing Newton’s city-wide tennis-in-the-parks programs.

Registration is open for summer camp, after-school and weekend junior tennis programs. Beginners to advanced players – red, orange, green and yellow ball classes.

Schedules, registration: www.newtontmtennis.com.

Locations: Angier, Warren, Newton North, Newton South.

Newton Food Pantry – School Break

With the upcoming school breaks, The Newton Food Pantry wants to make sure that anyone experiencing food insecurity knows how to get help, even when school is not in session. Two easy options are the Newton Food Pantry and the Newton Community Freedge.  

The Newton Food Pantry is now serving over 1,800 Newton residents at our renovated City Hall basement location, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue. Clients are able to shop for the items they want and need, selecting from a variety of dry goods, fresh produce, dairy, proteins, personal care items and culturally-relevant foods. Walk-in shopping hours are every Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm.

Shoppers at the Newton Food Pantry must be Newton residents (or they can be Newton-based college students or staff), provide proof of residency and complete a New Client Registration Form, found 
here. 

The Newton Community Freedge is at 420 Watertown St. The Freedge is a free refrigerator & pantry stocked by community and local businesses in the parking lot of Central Drapery & Dry Cleaner.  It can be accessed 24 hours a day by anyone.  No forms or Newton residency required.   

Additional information about the Newton Food Pantry and Freedge can be found, translated in 4 languages, on our Get Help  page. 

11th Annual Newton Inspires to Showcase Creativity in the Classroom and Honor our True Inspirations: Newton’s Teachers and Staff

Tuesday, May 3rd from 6-8 pm at Angier Elementary School

Newton Public Schools teachers and staff will be the center of attention at the 2022 Newton Inspires event presented by Newton Schools Foundation.  On Tuesday, May 3rd from 6-8 pm at Angier Elementary School, our emcee former WGBH host Barbara Howard will lead a live conversation with NPS teachers, who will discuss their work in the classroom and what keeps them inspiring our students to learn and achieve.  Tuesday, May 3rd is also Teacher Appreciation Day.

Join other community members for lite fare, musical performances, testimonials and a short film highlighting some of the NSF grants that are being implemented in all of our schools.  Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased here.  NPS teachers and staff are invited as NSF’s guests.

This year’s lead sponsors are Northland and The Village Bank. Individuals and businesses wishing to support public education in Newton through a Newton Inspires sponsorship can visit  https://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/sponsor-newton-inspires/. All proceeds go to Newton Schools Foundation, which funds grants to allow teachers to try new approaches in the classroom, professional development for educators, and programs that address inequities associated with race, income and social identity.

Newton Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to advance excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools. www.newtonschoolsfoundaiton.org

Pickleball Clinic

I’m a Physical Education teacher at F. A. Day Middle School and I would like to get the word out about an exciting 2 day clinic I’m offering during April vacation.  It’s for grades 4-8 on April 21 and 22 from 9:00-12:00 at Day Middle School.

Pickleball is a combination of ping-pong, badminton and tennis and it’s the fastest growing sport in America with 4.5 million people playing it. It is easy to learn and multi-generational. Many older people play and now it’s moving to the youth population!  

Thank you,
Amanda Church
F.A Day Middle School

Inclusive Summer Day Camp – Music That Matters – Registration Open

Plugged In’s Music That Matters Summer Day Camp.  Music That Matters includes band class, songwriting, recording a song, music video, workshops, offsite events, and performance opportunities. Each session ends with a benefit concert that raises money for a charitable organization chosen by the students themselves. Students are grouped in bands by age, skill level and musical interest.

Ages: 11-18
Hours: 9:00-3:00 (extended day available)
Session 1:  July 11-22
Session 2: July 25 – August 5

Plugged In is a unique, inclusive nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham where young musicians of all levels and needs are welcome. More information and online registration can be found at www.pluggedinband.org.

School Committee Resolution on FY23 Budget

On Thursday, March 31, 2022, the School Committee passed a resolution expressing our concern that the proposed FY23 budget, including 4 million dollars worth of cuts to balance the budget with the allocation of funding provided by the City, will have a serious negative impact on the students of Newton.  

The text of the resolution is as follows:

“Because this is a critical time in the lives of our Newton students as we are emerging from two pandemic years, the 4 million dollars worth of cuts in the proposed FY23 budget to reach the allocation are too deep and too painful.  We do not believe we can shift 4 million dollars of cuts from other areas of the budget that would make them less painful – shifting cuts would just cause different pain, but deep pain nonetheless.  Therefore, the School Committee resolves that the current budget allocation of $262,070,208 is not enough to run the schools without serious negative impacts on our kids.”

The resolution passed 8-0-1, with Mayor Fuller abstaining.

The School Committee is hosting office hours this Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please login via Zoom using the following login information:Join Zoom Meeting
https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/81283294592

Meeting ID: 812 8329 4592
Passcode: 449186

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81283294592#,,,,*449186# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,81283294592#,,,,*449186# US (New York)

Please note that the entire School Committee will not be present and attending members may be limited in their responses given the constraints of Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

If you wish to submit a question in advance, please use this form: School Committee Office Hours Registration and Questions Form

Please note that we will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, April 4th and all members of the public wishing to make a statement regarding the budget will be heard.  If you wish to speak at this public hearing, please fill out the form linked below with your name and address.  The form will close at 6:00 pm on April 4, 2022.

Form – Request to Speak at Public Hearing on the FY23 Budget

There will be an opportunity to sign up in “real time” during the meeting by using the “raise your hand” feature on Zoom. Speakers will be called in the order in which they signed up, first come-first speak, followed by those who raise their hand during the meeting, or at the discretion of the Chair.

Ultimate Frisbee for Elementary, Middle and High School

There’s now an Ultimate Frisbee BUDA program for nearly every age group (sorry, toddlers!) in Newton. Programs meet on Sundays, and we will be returning to Newton North this season. Note that the 6-8 program will also have a recommended practice session one evening per week.

All programs will run from April 24 to June 19, 2022. There will be no formal program on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29.

Contact Burt Granofsky, BUDA Newton Youth Ultimate, if you have any questions: burt.granofsky@buda.org

Nonprofit Youth Rock Band Program – Spring Session begins February 28

The Plugged In Band Program Spring Session begins February 28 (both in person and virtual).  Plugged In is a nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham where young musicians of all levels and needs are welcome. Students are grouped by age, skill level and musical interest.  I am emailing you in the event you know of any youth ages 8-18 who could benefit from participation in this unique, non-competitive and fun music program. More information and online registration can be found at www.pluggedinband.org.

Spring programming includes in person or online Band Classes, Songwriting and Production, Intro to Digital Audio Production, Creating Music with Coding, Livestreaming 101 and Amped Up: Planning a Youth Music Festival (more details below). 

Plugged In combines music education, philanthropy and diversity in a creative and collaborative environment where students gain music education, self-esteem, connection and community and are prepared for a life of civic participation in an inclusive society.