Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

Support 2009 South Grad and NPS Employee Jason Agress’s Boston Marathon Run for NSF

Jason Agress, 2009 Newton South graduate is running the Boston Marathon to support NSF.

Newton Public Schools truly made a difference for Jason Agress. An alumnus of Memorial-Spaulding, Oak Hill, and Newton South (Class of 2009), his experiences as a student in Newton helped him to discover and pursue his passions, as well as gain the skills needed to succeed.

Now Jason is connected to NPS in his role as a Network Media Specialist for the district. Through his work, Jason has gained a deep appreciation for the excellent resources – including dedicated faculty and staff – that Newton is home to, and which provided for his own first-rate public school experience. No stranger to marathon training, Jason has worked with the Dreamfar High School Marathon program for the past three years as a mentor and Team Leader at Newton South.

“Through training for the marathon, it is gratifying to help Newton students experience the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving a huge goal and learning important life lessons in the process.” says Jason.

Come out on Monday, April 21st at Heartbreak Hill and to cheer on Jason! A group of supporters will be on the Commonwealth Ave. berm between Sumner St. and Chestnut Terrace. Follow Jason’s Progress at http://boston2014.jasonagress.com.

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens @ the Newton Free Library

Saving Mr. Banks Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch Saving Mr. Banks on Tuesday, April 22nd at 3:00 pm. The film tells the story of how P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, half-heartedly meet with Walt Disney who wanted to adapt her book for the big screen. Rated PG-13, runtime 125 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Rockets: There and Back Again
Create an air rocket that launches across the room, and engineer a way for a payload to return safely to Earth. Join a hands-on workshop at the Newton Free Library in Druker Auditorium on Thursday, April 24th at 2:00 pm that explores the science behind rockets and space exploration. Use your imagination to plan, build, and test your own design. Please be advised that this workshop uses latex balloons. Presented by the Museum of Science and open to grades 6-12. Space is limited, register (required) at http://newtonfreelibrary.net/steam/.

Thor: The Dark World Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch a screening of Thor: The Dark World on Friday, April 25th at 3:00 pm. Thor returns to do battle in this big-budget comic-book adventure. Rated PG-13, runtime 112 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Mini-Creator Faire
On April 26th from 1:00-4:00 pm, the Newton Free Library will be hosting a mini-Creator Faire in Druker Auditorium to kick off the unveiling of the new MakerBot 3D printer to the community and begin a year of programming for all ages related to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) initiative from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

The Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, traditional crafters, artists, musicians, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers and students. It is a place for creators to show their work and interact with members of the community. Come experience a fun, interactive afternoon at the library, and get involved in the rebirth of Do-It-Yourself. Meet the Makers: http://www.newtonfreelibrary.net/steam/mini_faire.php

Magic and Music at Boston’s Symphony Hall

“Bon Voyage”, a special concert for families of all ages featuring music and magic from around the world. The concert features Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s talented young musicians and “Matt the Magician”.

See objects magically appear, pass through each other, and transform before your very eyes, while your ears enjoy the talents of over 100 amazing young musicians. You even get a chance to conduct the orchestra right from your seat!

Adults: $20.00, Kids under 18 years old are free (limit 4 per family. To get free kids tickets, phone SymphonyCharge 888-266-1200.) For regular tickets, please purchase here: http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/56084/?utm_source=Bon+Voyage+evite+4.15.14&utm_campaign=Bon+Voyage+evite&utm_medium=email

Saturday, April 26th, 12:00 Noon
Symphony Hall

New Volunteer Project – Recycling Education

Green Decade Newton, in collaboration with the City of Newton Department of Public Works, is seeking numerous volunteers (16 years and older) to walk in pairs around Newton’s neighborhoods, while adhering “recycling education stickers” onto all residential green bins, during the spring and summer months. Maps will be provided and work will be conducted primarily in the morning hours.

The “Recycle Sticker Project” will help remind everyone of what may or may not be placed in our green bins. Funding for the stickers has been provided by Green Decade, Whole Foods Market and Waste Management with a goal to raise awareness about recycling…not only to benefit our environment, but to also reap substantial financial savings on the cost of disposing the City’s trash.

So, if you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to help increase participation in Newton’s recycling program, please contact info@greendecade.org to volunteer.

An Open Conversation: A Lecture Series for Parents of Teens

Part II: Success Under Stress
The session will address how our definitions of success as a high-achieving community can contribute to the stressors in our lives. We can’t eliminate stress, but we can strive to teach our children to manage it in healthy ways.

The Newton Free Library and Newton Youth Services will be hosting a five-part series of
workshops for parents around the topics of wellness, stress management, and
communication.  Presenters will include mental health professionals and experts in adolescent development and communications. This series is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 30th, 7:00 pm
Druker Auditorium
Newton Free Library

Newton Community Preservation Program

Newton’s CPC will meet on April 30th at 7:15 pm in City Hall Room 209. This agenda includes possible funding votes on Farlow Park (CPA request $476,780) and the Historic Burying Grounds (CPA request $208,007).

For additional information, see www.newtonma.gov/cpa: “Committees & Meetings” for the full agenda, “Proposals & Projects “ for the full text of all proposals. Contact Alice E. Ingerson, Community Preservation Program Manager, aingerson@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1144.

STEM Summer

The program takes place at MassBay Community College on our Wellesley Hills campus. This program is offered for Middle School Students (entering grades 7 and 8) and they are still accepting registrations.

The program provides middle school students (entering grades 7 and 8) an engaging and hands on STEM experience. Participating students will use creativity and teamwork to explore outer space. This program will provide middle school students an exciting introduction to various STEM careers and allows them to develop new skills. Students will work on small projects collaboratively to investigate, create, and design information relating to “space”. Students will get to work in our science and technology labs and learn to use Math and Science concepts to solve challenges.

For more information on all of the summer 2014 information please go to: http://www.massbay.edu/summer. To learn more and to register for the STEM Summer program please go to: http://tinyurl.com/middle-stem.

Jazz, Hip Hop and Creative Dance Class

Dancers will learn the basic elements of Jazz Dance and Hip Hop set to today’s popular music. Along with dance technique instruction, they will be given the opportunity to creatively express themselves through open ended movement. The class will include stretching exercises, progressions across the floor and sequences of age appropriate choreography that will build week to week.

This fun, lively 45 minute class is offered to students who danced with us last season as well as new students. Ages 3 to 5 yrs. on 6 Fridays, 1:15 pm-2:00 pm , $72.00

Class dates: May 2, 9, 16, 30, June 6,13. To register, please follow the link below:
http://www.wabanlibrarycenter.org/category/classes/

Waban Library Center
1608 Beacon Street, Newton

Kapparate Computer Camps Accept Younger Students – Lexington MA

(Early registration – before May 15 – will get $50 discount)

· Computer camps during private and public school breaks
· Broad exposure to computer science. Hands-on and project-oriented
· April public school break camp (April 21-25)
· Summer camps (June – Aug)
· Kapparate camp tuition qualifies for FSA
· General information about camps: https://www.ktbyte.com/camps#campschedules
· Camp registration: https://www.ktbyte.com/home/register
· Contact: inquiry@KTByte.com or 818-748-8848 for questions
· Projects done by previous campers: http://showcase.kapparate.com/about-showcase/

Kapparate Computer Camp Curriculum
· For elementary students age 9-11:
Learn how to do amazing things with your computer, from creating your own website, making audio/video, and game modding. No computer experience required.

· For middle and high school students age 12 and up:
Students spend the first half of the camp learning computer science and programming topics through projects involving music, video, encryption, games and math. During the second half , students do a project individually or in groups, and make a presentation on the last day of the camp. The best project will be awarded a prize.

Acappelooza V – Tickets On Sale Now

Come to Countryside PTO’s extremely popular Acappelooza! It’s a family-friendly
a cappella concert, featuring Canada’s premier professional vocal band, Cadence, the
Union College Eliphalets, along with Newton North High School’s Forte and Newton South High School’s Newtones.

General admission: $12.00, Reserved premium seating: $20.00. Proceeds
benefit the Countryside PTO. Acappelooza always sells out, so get your tickets soon
at www.seatyourself.biz/countrysidepto. Questions? Contact annekalis@yahoo.com.

Friday, May 16th,  7:30 pm
Newton South High School Auditorium