Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 10/7/2019 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update:

  • Staff training during the first early release of the year went smoothly.

  • On October 22nd, 5:30-7pm at Newton North, State Senators Cindy Creem and Jason Lewis, Senate Chair on the Joint Committee of Education, will be presenting information about the Student Opportunity Act. The public is welcome.

  • The Boston Globe published an article about civics education, which featured students and faculty from Bigelow Middle School.

NPS Updates

  • Liam Hurley, Assistant Superintendent/Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, presented a draft of the updates to the FY20 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which included, among other things:

    • A higher estimate of construction costs for the Countryside and Franklin schools due to construction cost escalation.

    • A Recommendation for Oak Hill Addition to accommodate higher enrollment projections. Currently, $3,000,000 of that funding would be requested in the CIP, with an addition $500,000 from NPS over three years.

  • EDCO Update: School Committee Member Diana Fisher Gomberg presented a summary of updates.

Other Updates

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Monday, October 21st at 6:00pm.  Please note this meeting begins at 6pm instead of 7pm.  There will be no public comment at this meeting to ensure that the Committee members can address the agenda items and leave promptly at 7:45pm to attend the Mayor’s Budget and CIP meeting at City Hall at 8:00pm. Extended public comment time will be available at the following meeting (November 4.)

At the meeting, we will receive the Preliminary Enrollment Report as well as data from our Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

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. On the district Facebook page, you can find videos of past “Virtual Office Hours,” which are held once a month and provide the community with the opportunity to ask questions through the FB Live format.

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

Opportunity to meet School Committee candidates

Come talk to some of the School Committee candidates about environmental sustainability in Newton Schools when they join the Green Newton School Connections monthly meeting to share their views and answer questions.

Please RSVP to schoolconnections@greennewton.org

School Committee members are in a position to impact sustainable practices in school facilities – including energy savings, waste management, and promoting a healthy environment for all – and to create opportunities to strengthen the environmental literacy of our students and staff.

The regular meeting will go from 3:45 – 4:10 pm and candidates will join from 4:10 – 5:00 pm. Each candidate will have 2 minutes to introduce themselves before we open the discussion for Q&A.

Currently confirmed candidates: Emily Prenner, Tamika Olszewski, Margaret Albright, Kathy Shields, Anping Shen.

October 10th,  3:45 – 5:00 pm in the third floor arc area of the Newton Free Library.

NOTE: Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Residents can vote for all school committee candidates regardless of ward. Learn more about the School Committee here: www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee.

Newton Police Department Community Conversation!

To Middle and High School Students and parents,

The Newton Police Department invites you to a Community Conversation!
See attached flyer here: flyer and RSVP here: https://forms.gle/RbYDxxhJq8dZcAdu7

The group will discuss police/community relations, focusing on interactions and perceptions that influence those involved with particular attention to our citizens of color.

Participants wil include Police Superior Officers, Parents, Students, METCO Staff, NPS Staff and the conversatipns will be facilitated by Vanessa McClinchy, Educational Consultant, Program/Leadership Development Specialist, Speaker, Trainer, and Author

If you have any questions please email Community Engagement Officers Officer Lau jlau@newtonma.gov, Officer Ferolito bferolito@newtonma.gov or the FORJ Liaisons for this event: Tamika Olszewski , Karen Carroll Bennett, Angela Pitter or Amy Behrens.

October 16th,  4:00 – 6:00pm
Newton North High School Cafeteria

Art with a Twist

Create art in a maker space with local artist who will guide you through a different experience each session. Learn about materials and techniques in a space that encourages you to develop your own creativity. Enjoy a relaxed evening, with beer and wine available for purchase. Come with your best friend, a date, or with your own creative spirit!

All materials provided; tuition includes one drink. Registration required. Event is for 21+. ID required. See https://newartcenter.org/product/art-with-a-twist-friday-nac-faculty/ for registration.

Mixed Media|Drawing|Painting
October 18th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton

Advocating opportunity

Ali Wolf, Laura Towvim and Heather Tausig (NPS parents) invite you to the upcoming local meeting of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.

Join the newly reorganized local group (Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Needham, and Waltham) to connect with other area members and learn about the steps you can take to protect our communities and decrease gun violence.

Please RSVP: https://act.everytown.org/event/moms-demand-action-event/26676/signup/?akid=&source=mda-web–event-search For more information, feel free to contact Heather Tausig at Heather.Tausig.ma@gmail.com or Ali Wolf at aliwolf.ma@gmail.com.

October 21st, 7:00 pm
Temple Shalom, 175 Temple Street, West Newton

Newton Turkey Trot suporting two great causes

Help raise money for the Newton Food Pantry and the Travis Roy Foundation’s Ethan Wang Fund. Register by October 28th to be guaranteed a T-shirt and avoid the late fee.

Race day is November 23rd, a USATF accredited 5K at 9:00 am and the kids’ 1 mile fun run at 8:30 am.

Details, registration and volunteer info at http://www.newtonturkeytrot.org

Research study opportunity for student athletes

Boston University researchers are recruiting young soccer/hockey/swimming athletes for a research study to assess risk factors for hip injuries. You may be eligible if you play ice hockey, soccer, or swim; and are between the ages of 9 – 10 or 16 – 18 (for girls) and 10-11 and 16 – 18 (for boys).

The study involves 1-2 visits to BU for a hip MRI and motion capture session. All participants will receive a report from hip MRI and will be paid $75 for completing the study. Parking costs will be reimbursed and if interested, an animation from the motion capture can be provided as well. Evening and weekend appointments are available.

Contact us to see if you qualify: Alex Gerononimo at (617)358-3125 or movelab@bu.edu

Newton Theatre Company presents “The Witches”

The first show of Newton Theatre Company’s seventh season is sure to be the spookiest of the year! In Roald Dahl’s The Witches, adapted by David Wood,  a young orphan boy moves in with his grandmother and becomes aware of the existence of witches. He must then do whatever it takes to stop these powerful beings from eliminating all the children in England. Appropriate for children ages six and up.

Tickets available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-witches-by-roald-dahl-live-theatre-production-tickets-71311644047

Performances
October 26th,  10:00 am and 1:00 pm
October 27th,  1:00 and 4:00 pm
The Union Church in Waban

Boss Lady Boxing!

Boss Lady Boxing is a boxing, strength and conditioning program for women ages 45+. Taught by national champion boxer Dena Lawton, and trainer/coach Lisa Carusone, BLB is for women looking to make mid-life their best years yet.

BLB runs for six weeks (12 sessions) Januray 6th – Februray 12th. Learn more here: http://ilovenewton.com/boss-lady-boxing/