Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

Green your Halloween

Green your Halloween at Newton’s first ever Pumpkin Smash.  What will you do with your pumpkin after Halloween? You could put it in with your yard waste, but how much more fun would it be to smash it?

This family friendly event will be focused on options to manage food waste in Newton. All smashed pumpkins will be composted. By composting your pumpkin, you are reducing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating a valuable amendment for our soils. It’s going to be a smashing time! For more information visit: www.newtonma.gov/recycling, checkout the flyer: Pumpkin Smash or see the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/463493014244634/

November 2nd, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Newton City Hall War Memorial Circle

SAT & ACT Classes- Few Spots Remaining

Sexton Test Prep & Tutoring offers SAT and ACT courses to prepare students for college entrance exams. Each course is designed to give your student a complete overview of all sections of the SAT or ACT. By completing our course, students will become familiar with strategies and improve their knowledge of the most commonly tested topics. Space is limited to 16 students per class so be sure to reserve your spot today.

Fall SAT Class
Sexton is offering a 12-hour SAT course to prepare your student for the December SAT. This class will be taught by Ben Sexton, Founder and Owner of Sexton Test Prep. This class will be on Mondays, 7:00 -9:00 pm starting on October 28th. For more information or to sign up for our fall SAT Class click here: SAT

Fall ACT Class
Sexton is offering a 12-hour ACT course to prepare your student for the December ACT. This class will be taught by Roxanna, one of our Master Tutors. This class will be on Sundays, 4:00 – 6:00 pm starting on October 27th. For more information or to sign up for our fall ACT Class click here: ACT

Reading Specialist available

Christine Mandell specializes in creatively remediating students who read at or below a 2nd grade level. She’s a certified Reading Specialist with an M. Ed in Reading Education, 15+ years of experience, and training in Phono-Graphix, Lindamood, & O.G.

Child-friendly lessons incorporate games, toys, and children’s own stories. Free initial assessment. Ages 5 to 7 only. Excellent references. $40.00 per hour. Formerly employed by “The Learning Lab @ Lesley.” Please contact Chris at Birdsongviolin@gmail.com or 617-323-4709. Visit ChristineMandell.com to learn more.

Think Big! STEM Networking Event, Oct. 26, Grades 6-12

Middle- and high-school students are invited to Think Big! at the the Newton Free Library on  Saturday, October 26, 2PM-4PM, to meet local STEM professionals and talk informally (over ice cream from Cabots!) about challenges, satisfactions, and career paths in the wide range of STEM fields. It’s free and space is limited, so register now. It’s sponsored by the Newton Free Library, NewtonSTEM, and the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club to celebrate Massachusetts STEM Week. You can see what earlier Think Big! events were like in November 2015, March 2018, and October 2018. For more information, email info@newtonstem.org.

Oct. 26, 2:00 pm
Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium

Team Believe’s Pumpkin Patch and Bake Sale for Best Buddies!

Haven’t got your pumpkins yet? Come to Team Believe’s “Pumpkin Patch with a Purpose” where you can pick up beautiful jack o’lanterns just in time for carving AND help raise funds for a fantastic cause!

Every penny you spend on the inventory of gorgeous pumpkins and gourds from Wilson Farms will help to make a difference in the life of a person living with an intellectual and developmental disability. Ditto for the delicious baked goods and apple cider donuts, and super-cute mini-pumpkin spice bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Enjoy warm spiced apple cider, get creative with Halloween and Thanksgiving crafts, have fun and feel good about it! Gotta love Fall!

Any questions, please email anabelcable@comcast.net.

October 20th,  11:00 am – 3:00 pm
232 Collins Road, Waban (just off Chestnut Street)

Newton Theatre Kids’ registration now open

Registration for Newton Theatre Kids’ winter show, Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, is now open!

Newton Theatre Kids (NTK) is an exciting opportunity for children in grades 2-5 to explore and cultivate a love of theater. The highly experienced staff provides a nurturing environment in which kids can feel comfortable and confident while expressing themselves through acting, singing, dancing, and scenery-making. At the end of each session, families are invited to watch their children perform a fully staged and costumed production specifically tailored to the program. Whether your child dreams of being a thespian or simply wants to try something new, NTK has a place for them.

To register your child or learn more about the program, please visit https://www.newtontheatrecompany.com/kids.html

Leading Cancer Researcher, Sex Therapist and Climate Change Activist

are among the headliners at the 2019 Newton Inspires, a free community event!

A dozen Newton luminaries will share inspirational anecdotes, experiences, and expertise at Newton Schools Foundation’s (NSF) 9th annual Newton Inspires: An Evening of Ideas and Community.  Since 2011, Newton Inspires has gathered Newton residents for this showcase of Newton’s talent, creativity, and intellect.

This year’s program features headliners Charles Fuchs, MD, MPH, director of Yale Cancer Center and physician-in-chief at Smilow Cancer Hospital; Elliott Kronenfeld, social worker and certified sex therapist; Melissa Ludtke , author, journalist, rower, and climate change activist; Nanette Fridman, M.P. , J.D., leadership coach, author, and organizational strategist; Lise Johnson, M.D., pediatrician; and John Summers, vice president and chief technology officer at Akamai Technologies.
Rounding out the roster of speakers are:

  • Karen Day – author
  • Giovanni G. Fazio, Ph.D. – senior physicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  • Kemp Harris – singer, songwriter, storyteller
  • Stephen Honig – attorney, writer
  • Suzanne Kreiter – staff photographer, Boston Globe
  • Tova Mirvis – writer
  • Angela Pitter – CEO, LiveWire Collaborative

The event is FREE to Newton residents and $15.00 for non-residents. Space is limited so register early at www.NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org.

November 12th, 7:00 –  9:30 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Newton South High School

New Website and App!

Whitsons just launched their FD Meal Planner website and app. It’s a great new tool for families to not only view menus, but also access nutritional information for all meals provided in the Newton Public Schools. Perhaps most importantly, it shows allergen information and allows families to “build” meals based upon their student’s needs.

There are a few things to note:

  • The FD Meal Planner is linked from the “menus” button on the district and schools homepage. However, your browser must allow “pop-ups” so that when you plug your school name into the search bar, you see the schools populate below the bar. Please make sure “pop-ups” are enabled on your selected browser.
  • The FD Meal Planner App is available for Apple and Android. Once you download and open the app, you will be prompted to create an account. You must create an account to access the menus for your school.

NPS is excited about this new tool offered by Whitsons. Please be sure to let your Food Service Advisory Group representative know if you have any questions! Or, visit this page on the district webpage to provide feedback via the Google Form: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/799