Author Archives: Newton PTO Council

Fall Tree Tour

Fall Tree Tour at Newton Cemetery

Enjoy a walk in the arboretum with Newton Cemetery arborist Julie Clements as she guides a tour showcasing the interesting variety of Fall colors. The tour will take place rain or shine.

Comfortable walking shoes, water, a camera and plenty of questions are recommended. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes. Meet just inside the main gate in front of the office. Parking is available on the cemetery roads or in the chapel parking lot. For more information, call 617-332-0047.

Suggested Donation: $10.00. The tour is free and open to all but donations to the Friends of Newton Cemetery are welcome and support arboretum education and care.

Newton Cemetery is an accredited Arboretum with the Morton Register of Arboreta.

Piano Lessons available

Gloria Jasinski has a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory and 30+ years of teaching experience.

You can learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, and sightreading and build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Have a positive and successful learning experience. Phone: 617-566-9704 or  email piano566@comcast.net

Letter from the Superintendent

Dear NPS Families,

I hope you have enjoyed the summer. It is a great pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those new to our schools.

The start of a school year is a wonderful time for anyone involved in education because it represents a new beginning. It is an opportunity to share our experience and our skills with new colleagues, new families, and new students. There is also a special excitement knowing how much we will learn from each other and from our students over the course of the year.

Summer is an important time for adult learning in Newton. We began this summer again with a powerful conference on race and achievement for Newton Educators. Among the many terrific sessions led by Newton faculty and staff, were workshops on Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain and Tackling Implicit Bias. We are committed to creating welcoming and inclusive classrooms and school communities, and we will continue this work with faculty and staff, as well as students throughout the year.

After a year of careful planning, we are proud to finally offer full-day kindergarten in the Newton Public Schools. Our kindergarten teams, support staff, and administrators have worked over the course of this spring and summer to develop a schedule for our kindergarteners that balances academic learning with age-appropriate social and emotional structures and activities.

In our continuous effort to personalize learning and leverage the use of technology, this year we are expanding our 1:1 initiative to grades 9-11 at both high schools. Students will receive a Chromebook for academic work both in school and at home. We will continue to support our faculty in incorporating best practices for technology use in their classrooms.

While academic achievement is a hallmark of the Newton Public Schools, we are just as firmly committed to the physical and social/emotional health of our students. We seek to work in partnership with you in supporting students as they navigate the pre-K – 12 years. To that end, last year we hosted a well-attended community forum on vaping, the most recent health epidemic to impact our youth. We will continue to address this issue through our health curriculum and through our school support systems. It is our plan this year to host another community forum on a topic that is relevant, timely, and useful to you as parents and caregivers. We look forward to this opportunity and will share more information once it is available.

We continue to achieve milestones on our long-term strategic plan for our school buildings. Our Cabot students will begin the year in their renovated and expanded facility. Horace Mann students will start the year in their new, permanent home at 225 Nevada St. We will continue to keep you apprised of progress as we strive to renovate and update our buildings.

One of the most important parts of my job is to be in our schools on a regular basis working with staff and students. Together with School Committee members, and working closely with our PTOs, I will again visit each of our 22 schools to speak with you about district initiatives and listen to your ideas, questions, and concerns. In addition, I will use my superintendent newsletter and social media to share more with you about all the good work happening in our district. Be sure to follow the Newton Public Schools on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As I enter my tenth year as superintendent of the Newton Public Schools, I know how important your support is to the success and well-being of our students. Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful school year.

Sincerely,
David Fleishman

For a video message, please follow this link: https://youtu.be/RiMFrrp9MAQ

“Is Our Constitution Holding Up to the Test of Time in 2019?”

“Is Our Constitution Holding Up to the Test of Time in 2019?”

Join members of the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN)  as they host a community discussion led by constitutional law professor, Jed Shugerman. You’ll be talking about our constitution and how it is holding up; is our constitution still working the way it was intended? is there still a balance of powers among the three branches of government? is the Supreme Court still an independent branch of government or should structural changes be made? what about the independence of the Fed, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice? are we near a constitutional crisis?

Jed Shugerman, a Newton resident and former Bowen PTO co-chair, is a law professor and legal historian at Fordham University in New York. He teaches torts, administrative law and constitutional history.

Jed is the author of The People’s Courts: Pursuing Judicial Independence in America (2012), on the evolution of judicial elections and politics in America. He is working on a new book, The Rise of the Prosecutor Politicians, on the history of American prosecutors and mass incarceration. His articles often appear in law reviews and major national newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, and The Atlantic. He appears on MSNBC, CNN and CBC to discuss legal issues, and he writes about law and politics at shugerblog.com and on Twitter @jedshug.

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

September 15th, 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Durant Kenrick House, 286 Waverly Avenue, Newton

Join School Connections – Next meeting August 29th

Are you looking for a way to make your child’s school healthier and more sustainable? Healthier lunches? Recycling? Come add your voice to the GN Schools Connections group.

Green Newton’s Schools Connections group provides a forum for parents, students, and educators to promote sustainability in the classroom and beyond. You are welcome to participate and share experiences and ideas that support green initiatives in our schools.

After the group reached out to the Newton School Committee about the need to improve recycling in Newton’s schools, the committee passed a new school recycling policy in the spring of 2019. In addition, this advocacy was instrumental in getting the city to consider environmental practices and waste reduction in schools when selecting a new food service vendor. Representatives of the group will also participate in discussions to improve food quality and sustainability in school cafeterias.

In June, they worked with city leaders to submit a state grant application to support the expansion of the school recycling program and they are also advocating for the city’s approval to set up textile recycling collection containers outside of each school building. For more information contact schoolconnections@greennewton.org or visit schools.greennewton.org.

August 29th, 3:45 – 5:00 pm in the third-floor arc area of the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street

Join Cub Scout Pack 355 Newton

Interested in Scouting? Pack 355 is a large, active group of girls and boys from Newton and Brighton in grades 1 to 5. Another fun year starts in September!

Sign up for updates at bit.ly/pack355signmeup or come to the info session on September 3rd,  6: 30 pm at Our Lady Church and /or  welcome BBQ on September 8th, 3:00 pm at Auburndale Cove. Please email jonflynn@newtonscouting.org with questions.

New Creative Arts Programs at the West Suburban YMCA!

The Creative Arts Department at the West Suburban YMCA fosters joy and creativity through holistic artistic instruction within a brave space, where all levels and ages are welcome to explore without fear of making mistakes.

This fall, the Y’s Creative Arts Department has several new and exciting programs that span a range of ages and artistic subjects. All programs, with the exception of Mini Musicals: Annie Jr., meet once per week for seven weeks during the Y’s Early Fall Session, September 3rd – October 20th.

Mini Musicals: Annie Jr., Ages 9-14 – The Y is excited to make its theatrical debut this fall presenting Annie Jr. This is a high energy, highly creative and imaginative program. No audition is necessary, but all participants must attend the first practice on September 4th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm. The final showcase performance will be October 27th. Rehearsals are Mondays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:30pm.

Toddler Tunes, Ages 6 mo.-3 years – Parents and caregivers will bond with their child while singing, dancing, and playing instruments, allowing for plenty of imagination and exploration through songs, games, and stories. Wednesdays, 11:15 – 11:45am.

Intro to Art and Design, Ages 4-8 – Kids will explore new mediums for expression as they inquire, design, build, and connect in this creative makerspace! Projects vary by session, but examples include birdhouses, mosaics, community murals, and neighborhood maps. This class focuses on self-expression, collaboration and project-based learning. Thursdays, 4:00 – 4:45 pm.

How To: Podcasting, Ages 10-15, Calling all storytellers! In this 7-week course, students will dive into interviewing skills, speaking techniques, and narrative process to craft a cohesive and compelling spoken story. Students will be introduced to the Y’s recording studio, where they will learn to use audio and recording equipment and basic editing concepts to bring their story to life. Fridays, 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

West Suburban Singers, Ages 16+ – Introducing the West Suburban Singers, a non-auditioned community chorus for adults at the YMCA! Come celebrate the joys of singing. Through weekly rehearsals, local performances, and diverse repertoire, we aim to strengthen and serve our community through song. All are welcome! Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

Guitar Group Class, Ages 6-11. Group lessons are a great way to start a new instrument. Learn to play guitar with a fun learning group, starting with correct technique and postures. Students will also learn to read a tab sheet and have fun with collaborative games. Tuesdays, Ages 6-8, 4:00 – 4:45 pm, Ages 9-11, 4:45 – 5:30 pm.

Piano Group Class, Ages 6-11, Learn the basics of piano and make new friends along the way in our group piano class. Students have fun with collaborative music theory and skill games while learning technique, posture, and how to read a music staff. Wednesdays, Ages 6-8, 4:00 – 4:45 pm; Ages 9-11, 4:45 – 5:30pm.

Rock Band, Ages 8+, The Y also continues to offer its long-standing Rock Band program for ages 13+ and a new Junior Rock Band class for younger musicians ages 8-12. In these classes, the groups meet once per week to collaborate as a band, rehearse, and eventually perform for the community. Schedule varies depending on student/group availability.

Registration for the Early Fall Session is open now. Sign up by calling the Y’s Welcome Center at 617-244-6050 ext. 0, or using the online registration platform. For more information about these programs, contact Sunny McGovern, Creative Arts Director, at sunnym@wsymca.org.

The West Suburban YMCA is conveniently located at 276 Church Street in Newton Corner, off Exit 17 on the Mass Pike and accessible by several MBTA buses including the 52 and 57 line.

Teen Anxiety Webinar

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free Recognizing and Managing Teen Anxiety webinar on September 25th, 7:00 – 8:15 pm. In this webinar, Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, a practicing psychotherapist and international best-selling author, will discuss the symptoms of an anxiety disorder, anxiety management skills adults can practice with youth, and ways adults can encourage teens to be a part of choosing treatment options.
This program is designed for parents, guardians, caregivers, youth workers, and any adults interested in teen mental health. Register to join the live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs.

If you are new to the topic of teen depression or in need of a refresher, please watch Understanding Teen Depression as a foundation to this upcoming webinar.
After the webinar, complete our online evaluation and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free copy of Lisa M. Scahb’s book!

For questions, please contact Arielle Cohen at 781-890-0220 or ari@familyaware.org.

Voice Lessons for Teens & Tweens

Love to sing,  but can’t figure out how to get the right sound? WANT MORE PERFORMING OPPORTUNITIES and overcome stage fright? Let Jacqueline help your student take their singing to the next level!

Fall voice lesson times available on Sundays in Newton Highlands. Emailjn@forma-music.com and/or visit jacquelinenovikov.com for more information.

Newton PTO Council 2019-08-25 15:04:47

Plugged In is a unique nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham where young musicians ages 8-18 of all levels and needs are welcome.

Fall session ensemble rock band classes begin on September 20th. Plugged In offers beginner, intermediate and advanced band classes. Students are grouped in bands based on age, skill level and preferred musical style. Band classes last 90 minutes, meet once per week for 14 weeks and are offered seven days per week. Private lesson registration is ongoing. For more information and/or to register online for all programs, please visit www.pluggedinband.org.

The Plugged In Band Program is a non-profit rock band program in Needham teaching kids ages 8-18 about using music to help others. In addition to ensemble band classes, private lessons, songwriting workshops, summer camp and community performances, five times a year students perform in benefit concerts that raise money for causes and organizations chosen by the students themselves. Plugged In provides a nurturing and supportive community to which young musicians of all levels and needs feel a sense of belonging, have an opportunity to express and be acknowledged for their musical interests and a chance to use their music to help others around the world. In the loving and non-competitive environment at Plugged In, all differences are transcended through a shared passion for music, the teamwork involved with using music to help others and an atmosphere of compassion and fun.