Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

City of Newton Outdoor Programs for Kids

Nature Spotters
Spend select Saturdays exploring the river, searching for bugs, learning about local habitats and discovering nature. Nature Spotters will take part in fun-filled activities including trail walks, nature games, crafts, stories, and much more.

  • Feb. 21- Nature’s Winter Habits
  • March 21- Animal Tracking
  • April 25- From Seed to Seedling

Time: 2:00 – 3:15 pm Grades: K-5 Fee: $12 per class
Registration: activityreg.com For more information about Nature Spotters call Newton Parks and Recreation at 617-796-1525.

Outdoor Adventure Summer Program 2015
The Outdoor Adventure Summer Program at Nahanton Park offers 2nd – 6th graders a two week environmental awareness experience. Come spend time discovering the natural world, making new friends, fishing, canoeing, and playing fun games.

  • Session 1: June 29th-July 10th
  • Session 2: July 13th- July 24th
  • Session 3: July 27th- Aug. 7th
  • Session 3.5 Aug. 10-14th

Monday-Fridays: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, extended available until 3:00 pm. For more information check the Newton Parks and Recreation Website at newtonma.gov/camps.

Free Toddler Program at Sunday School for Jewish Studies

The Sunday School for Jewish Studies welcomes 2-and-3-year-olds and their parents to a celebration of Judaism through creative arts and play. Please come and join the fun! This free, family program will be held on one Sunday in February, March and April from 11:00 am to noon at the Oak Hill Middle School.

For additional information about this free Toddler program and once per week Pre K – 7th grade Hebrew school, please contact Dori Stern at principal@sundayschoolforjewishstudies.org or 617-264-8855 or visit www.SundaySchoolforJewishStudies.org.

Exciting new Middle School program

Bridges: Our Smarts Uniting Students and Local Seniors

This award-winning, intergenerational program is designed to promote mutual respect,
understanding and friendship between middle school students and older adults. Together,
we will complete simple, fun projects that promote shared perspectives and interesting
discussions. Prof. Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence or “smarts” theory is central to the program. This theory proposes that people have eight intelligences or “smarts” in varying amounts: body, logic, music, nature, people, picture, self and word. Each week we will explore these “smarts” through activities related to nature and the Farm.

This program will run for 6 weeks at Newton Community Farm, beginning March 5th.
Fee for the General Public: $126.00, for Friend of the Farm: $113.00

For information and to register, please visit www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/education  or contact Alison Scorer at education@newtoncommunityfarm.org.

NCE Debate Institute

Do you think your child would benefit from debate? Critical thinking skills cultivated by debate are important for academic success, and recent studies demonstrate that children who participate in debate programs have 30-60% increased admission rates to elite colleges. But most of all, debate is a whole lot of fun; it’s a great way for kids to meet new friends and talk about important ideas.

This summer, the NCE Debate Institute will be holding a two week workshop for students who want to try debating. NCE Instructors are all former debate champions (including three MA State Champions) with years of coaching experience. The NCE curriculum covers every aspect of debate — from public speaking, to argumentative writing, to advanced research skills. Open to all MA students. Beginners are welcome. Visit newtondebate.com for more info.

Reading/Writing Tutor Available

Former Brown and Newton South parent who has tutored several students from Brown and Newton South is currently available for some additional students. She has extensive experience as a reading and writing tutor, and currently work in the Newton Public Schools on the Newton North side of town.

Amy is available after school and early evenings for tutoring. If interested, please contact Amy McMahon at: amymcm@rcn.com.

Writing Tutor available

Is your student stressed out over school papers or college applications? Do you wish s/he had more one-on-one writing help? Are you looking to improve essay composition skills?

Celina Siegel,  a Newton South alum and Oberlin College student, is an adept English and writing student with a passion for editing. She has a strong track record of working with both high school students and fellow college freshmen, especially regarding persuasive analytical essays and essays for the Common Application. She can help make writing more fluid, more persuasive, and more succinct.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, feel free to email at csiegel@oberlin.edu, or call 617-775-7591.

Art Classes for Children, Adults at Arsenal Ctr for the Arts

The Arsenal Center for the Arts begins the new year with an exciting program of winter art classes and workshops for adults and children beginning the weeks of January 12 and January 19. The full listing and schedule of course offerings is available online.

Adult offerings include a range of media and techniques for both beginning and more advanced students, with both morning and evening classes: Art Sampler, Acrylics, Expressive Watercolor, Monoprints, Ceramics, Drawing, Folk Assemblage, Poetry through the Four Seasons, Jewelry-Crafting and more.

Children’s classes (offered for four age ranges through teens) include Clay for Kids, Let’s Paint, Mixed-Media, Comics & Cartoons, Wheelthrowing, Intensive Drawing and more. Fun Parent/Child workshops for ages 2+ are also available.

Classes are held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown, with free parking and access to public transportation. Scholarships and Membership discounts are available. To register online, visit the Center’s website or call 617-923-0100, ext. 8309.

Enrollment Open at Wellesley Theatre Project

The Wellesley Theatre Project is enrolling now for classes and performance opportunities for children in grades K-12.

Acting
Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre Dance
Improv
Productions

Upcoming productions include Honk! Jr. for 2nd – 5th grade and Urinetown: The Musical for 6th – 12th grade.

Information about offerings and registration is available on the WTP website.