Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Parent Workshop

Media and the Mind

Join an interactive workshop designed to help you understand the effects of media on the brain, learn ways to set limits on media use, and know what to focus on to keep your children happy, self-aware, and healthy. Session Fee is $20, half of which goes to benefit the Waban Library Center. Instructor: Amy Behrens, M.Ed., certified parent coach and educator. Learn more about Amy at http://www.amybehrens.com/

To RSVP and get the signup sheet, please email Amy at amy@amybehrens.com or follow this link: http://www.wabanlibrarycenter.org/parent-coaching-sessions-at-wlc/.

December 13th, 7:30-9:30 pm
Waban Library Center
1608 Beacon Street, Waban

Help for attention difficulties

Attention Tutoring is a non pharmacological approach to help students with ADHD/ADD, attention and executive function difficulties, and attention difficulties and autism. This in-home tutoring program trains the brain through

  1. computerized neurofeedback attention training
  2. executive function/organization skills training
  3. relaxation breathing

Great for all ages, the program was developed by Dr. Naomi Steiner, who is a developmental behavioral pediatrician, clinician, researcher, and expert in ADHD and attention difficulties. Her research focuses on computer attention training, including neurofeedback. Lessons are delivered at home by Attention Tutoring certified tutors. For more information please email info@attentiontutoring.com or visit www.attentiontutoring.com.

Stop the Power Struggles! Become Problem Solvers!

Cindy Kaplan, MA, Parent Coach will lead a course on Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), a strength based neurologically-grounded approach that brings new ideas and hope for helping kids with challenging behavior.

CPS is a program of Think:Kids, based at MGH. Come sip some wonderful tea and coffee along with great pastries while you learn how to strengthen your relationship with your kids and learn to resolve “problem behavior” collaboratively. Cindy is a Certified Practitioner of the Collaborative Problem Solving Method.

Class will meet on Friday mornings 10:00-11:30 am starting December 2nd. E-mail Cindy at cindy@cindykcoaching.com or go to her website at www.cindykcoaching.com to register. Flyer is available here: CPS.

Raising Teens in Today’s Hookup Culture

This Is Real: Raising Teens in Today’s Hookup Culture

What does current research say about how to talk with your teens about sex? How can we have these important conversations in an honest and nurturing way?

Over the course of the evening, the group will share information, clarify our own values and share the concerns and hopes we have for our teens around sex and sexuality. Using Jewish wisdom as the foundation, we hope you will leave feeling more supported in guiding your child toward a healthy and happy young adulthood.

For more information and to register, please go to: movingtraditions.org/bostonevent http://movingtraditions.org/bostonevent. Presented by Moving Traditions in partnership with Temple Emanuel, Newton.

December 7th,  7:00 – 9:00 pm
Temple Emanuel, Ward Street, Newton

Upcoming Teen Programs at the Library

Typewriter Poetry, November 21st, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area:
Get creative with the monthly Typewriter Poetry group. You’ll be getting together to use old-school typewriters and write poems for library patrons on the spot! The group will meet in the Library on the third Monday of every month. Grades 7-12.

Books & Brownies, November 30th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area: Join the parent/guardian and teen book club and enjoy brownies! The group will discuss We Were Liars by e. lockhart. Grades 9-12 and their adult.

School Assignments: How Parents Can Help, December 8th, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium: Professional writers have editors who read their words before their work is shared. Student writers should have the same opportunity before submitting their work to teachers. Jane Hirschhorn will facilitate a program designed to help parents learn how to help their high school student with writing assignments in a way that is productive, respects the child’s ownership of his or her work and avoids some common pitfalls. Ms. Hirschhorn, a professional writing tutor with more than two decades of experience working with Boston-area students in both classroom and one-on-one settings, tutored writing at the Mount Ida College Writing Center where she was also a supervisor. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University. This program is for parents of high schoolers.

3D Printing Workshop, December 15th, 4:00 pm, second floor Computer Center: Come design something to print on the library’s new LulzBot Mini 3D printer! Grades 7-12. Registration begins November 24th.

Successful Gala benefits our community

On November 5th, the West Suburban YMCA hosted its annual gala at the Y, raising nearly $70,000 towards the Y’s Annual Campaign.

Proceeds will allow adult cancer survivors to participate in a 12-week LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program free of charge, local families to send their children to summer camp and community members to participate in swimming lessons, keeping them safe around the water.

Staying Engaged with your Child through the Teen Journey

Parent Workshop at the Waban Library Center

Come join an interactive workshop designed to help you better understand your child as she or he enters adolescence. Learn and practice skills that will help you communicate with your child through their tween and teen years.

Fee: $20.00, half of which goes to benefit the Waban Library Center. To RSVP and get the signup sheet: Please email Amy at amy@amybehrens.com or follow this link: http://www.wabanlibrarycenter.org/parent-coaching-sessions-at-wlc/

November 15th, 7:30-9:30 pm

About the Instructor: Amy Behrens, M.Ed. is a certified parent coach and educator who has been working with children, adults, and families, domestically and internationally, for over 20 years. She has three children of her own and loves helping parents find ways of turning challenges into opportunities for growth, love, and connection. To learn more about her work, visit www.amybehrens.com.

“Screenagers” is coming to Newton

The Newton North PTSO and The Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education are sponsoring a free viewing of the movie. Bring your teens for an exploration of social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction.

A panel discussion will follow with Principal Henry Turner, Joani Geltman, MSW, child development and parenting expert, and high school students.

November 29th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Newton North High School Auditorium

High School Start Time – Open Meetings

The district is committed to gathering feedback from the community on a later high school start time – a change that could impact start and end times at ALL schools in the district. A community-wide forum was held in October and several elementary and middle schools have shared information at PTO meetings.

Three upcoming PTO meetings are open to the entire NPS community if you would like to learn more and share your feedback. Six potential scenarios will be presented (review them here.) Mark your calendars for:

Cabot Elementary (229 Cabot St.)
November 30th, 7:00 pm.

Angier Elementary (1697 Beacon St.)
December 7th, 7:00 pm

Countryside Elementary (191 Dedham St.)
December 8th, 7:00 pm

More information can be found on the district website. Please consider attending to share your feedback or email your thoughts to laterstart@newton.k12.ma.us.