Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Train the brain

Neuroscience opens up powerful new possibilities to enable every student to become a more effective learner. Brain Excel offers programs designed to train and strengthen core cognitive skills like memory, attention, processing speed, logic and reasoning. Face-to-face and online one-on-one training sessions are fun, structured, challenging and interactive.

Brain Excel’s unparalleled, personalized and innovative training targets specific cognitive areas to empower each student to excel. For further information, please contact Patricia at Brain Excel by email: matt@brnxl.com or cell: 603-770-2186.

Actors needed for Watertown Children’s Theatre

Watertown Children’s Theatre is looking for actors for the world premiere of Reigning Cats and Dogs by local teacher and composer Steve Bergman.

The production is open to third through sixth graders and though orientation has already passed, we are still accepting registrations through January 2nd.

If cost is a deterrent, the WCT tuition assistance fund has been established and recently re-funded to help children to participate in arts programming who may not otherwise have the ability to pay. This fund could help families in full or partial tuition assistance.

Please pass this on to friends or colleagues who may also know of interested actors, so as many children can participate in this world premiere as possible.

To register and for more information please visit the WCT website.

S.M.ART School Private Tutoring, Classes

Since 2002, S.M.ART School has been offering a broad range of classes and private tutoring, from basic math and SAT I & II preparation to the advanced areas of mathematics that help develop analytical skills and important work habits.

S.M.ART offers a deep conceptual approach to math that leads to self-confidence and efficiency in solving problems. The program specializes in small class sizes (up to 4 students) and one-on-one tutoring, focusing on each child’s individual needs and talents while making room for peer learning and communication.

Classes include:

* Math for all ages and levels, including preparation for the SAT I & II, MCAS, SSAT, GMAT, GRE and other major standardized tests

* English: Reading and Writing skills, SAT prep

* Physics, Chemistry – help with schoolwork, SAT prep

* Chess (Branch of Gulko Chess Academy); “Chess and Math Together” Program

Contact Info: S.M.ART School; 1320 Centre Street, #201A, Newton Center, MA 02459
Website: www.smart-school.com

Physics tutor available

Newton resident and a high-school physics teacher; former US Physics Team coach; 20+ years of teaching experience, doctorate with a focus on problem-solving in physics; AP Physics Exam Reader, AP Physics College Board consultant.

Experience in teaching high-level problem-solving skills, preparation for standardized tests. Interactive approach, low stress, high efficiency. Sessions in Newton for all levels of high-school physics: general support, problem solving skills, preparation for SAT II, AP.

For more credentials, please click here:
http://www.weston.org/schools/hs/sci/apphy/korsunsky/documents/Korsunsky-CV-2011_000.pdf

For more information, please contact: korsunbo@post.harvard.edu .

Winter Vacation at Arsenal Center for the Arts

The Arsenal Center for the Arts is offering two programs during school vacation for children grades K-6:

Dec. 29 – 30: Children can find inspiration in the works of famous artists, then make their own masterpiece in The Great Artists (Grades K-6) class. Sign up for morning and/or afternoon classes as different projects are offered each time.

December 31: Try It! (Grades K – 6) is a fun, one-day workshop that gives kids a chance to try out a variety of media and learn new skills. Sign up for the morning and/or afternoon session as different projects are offered each time.

Children will be divided into groups by age. Ask about Supervised Lunchtime. Scholarships available.

To register online, go to the Arsenal Center for the Arts’ Education page or call 617-923–0100, ext. 8309.

Upcoming Programs offered by Youth Services

Suicide Prevention Training (QPR) for Teens
January 6th, 4:00-6:00 pm, Newton Free Library

Our community has been affected by suicide. Newton Cares: Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health is working diligently to train as many people as possible in the suicide prevention technique called QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer. The more people who know how to act, the more lives may be saved. Please consider being trained. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) teaches ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency and how to get a person at risk the help they need. Participants will learn how to: Recognize the warning signs of suicide, offer hope, and get help & refer. This upcoming training is specifically being held for teens and young adults. Please check our website for trainings for adults or for other upcoming training dates. Please register by visiting www.newtonma.gov/youth.

Taking Care of Ourselves and Our Teens: Reducing Stress and Enhancing Resiliency January 27th, 6:00-7:30 pm, Newton Free Library

Back by popular demand!! This four-session wellness program for parents of adolescents developed by the world-renowned Benson-Henry Institute of Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital teaches self-care skills to help cope with stresses of everyday life and aims to leave parents with a renewed sense of control and well-being. For all Newton residents or parents of teens attending school in Newton.

Topics will include:
* The physiology of stress and how it affects the body
* Self-care strategies to reduce stress and increase your resilience
* Relaxation techniques
* Easy ways to reduce or stop stress-inducing thoughts
* Tips for modeling these skills for your teens, help reduce their stress and build their resilience too

Sessions 2-4 will be held on February 3rd & 24th, and March 3rd from 6:00-7:30 pm. Must attend all four sessions. Space is limited, register (required) at newtonma.gov/youth.

Stressed Teen? Learn some helpful and healthy ways to relax  January 27, 4:00-5:30 pm, Newton Free Library

Branching off the parent program will be workshops pertaining to teens and teen stressors. The four sessions will be directed to teens and will help teach them to cope with stresses of everyday life coming from school, home, social media and other pressures. It will teach teens to have a better sense of control and well-being. During the course teens will learn what stress is, how it affects the body, strategies for self-care, relaxation techniques and easy ways to reduce or stop stress-inducing thoughts. Sessions 2-4 will be held on February 3rd& 24th, and March 3rd from 4:00-5:30 pm. Must attend all four sessions. Free. Space is limited. Registration is required. Visit www.newtonma.gov/youth to register.

 Improving Academic Effectiveness February 5th and April 9th, 6:00-7:30 pm, Newton Free Library

Engaging Minds Learning Center (a local learning and tutoring center) has been instrumental in providing tools for students in order to help them learn effectively. The basis of this program is to teach the idea of “executive function” and the skills which it embraces. Executive functions are the essential self-regulating skills that we all use every day. They help us plan, organize, make decisions, shift between situations or thoughts, control our emotions and impulsivity, and learn from past mistakes. This program is FREE and includes: an explanation of the term “executive function” and why these skills are important in school and in other aspects of education in today’s fast paced world, tips and strategies geared towards parents and teachers in order to help strengthen students’ skills, real life applications and take home toolkits to maintain effective learning. Free, drop-in, no registration required. Two separate sessions, do not need to attend both.

Upcoming Teen Programs

Books and Brownies, December 15th, 7:00 pm, 2nd floor Teen Area:
The group will discuss Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, which received the 2014 Stonewall Award from the American Library Association. It’s an award given to books of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.” BMUC tells the story of Gabe, a high school senior with a serious love of music, who is learning to leave Liz behind – the person everyone has known him as until now. Please join for a great discussion and of course, brownies!

Create Your Own Light-Up Card, December 16th, 3:30 pm, 2nd floor Teen Area:
Learn some elementary electronics, and how to create fun and flexible circuits on paper. You’ll be able to make holiday cards or pictures that light up.

New NNHS Book Club! December 18th,  2:30 pm (during X Block):
This new Newton North book club will be meeting every other month for a book discussion in the NNHS Library. Come to the first discussion (and brownies!) to talk about Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes.  For any questions, email Ms. Dalbec at: erin_dalbec@newton.k12.ma.us or Liz at: teens@newtonfreelibrary.net.

Family Game Night, December 30th, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium:
Staying around town for the holiday season? Keep warm at the library where we will be hanging out, eating pizza and playing board games. Open to all ages.

NewPAC presentation

The Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education (NewtonPAC) is sponsoring a presentation by attorney, teacher and former head of the Board of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) Dan Ahearn. The topic will be Basic Rights in Special Education, and the meeting will be held on December 10th at 7:30 pm in room 201 of the Education Center at 100 Walnut Street in Newton.

Networking and cookie-eating will begin at 7:15.

Introductory Training in Think: Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Approach

Do you ever feel frustrated with your child? Find yourself shouting often and imposing punishments or rewards in reaction to challenging behavior? Do you wish you had a more effective parenting approach that also helps to build a better relationship between you and your child? Then this training is for you.

Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving parenting model is a revolutionary, evidence-based approach created by MGH’s Dept. of Psychiatry that provides parents with concrete tools to better understand and help children (ages 3-18) with challenging behavior. It’s based on the understanding that many kids lack the skill, not the will, to behave well – specifically skills related to problem solving, flexibility and frustration tolerance. For more information and to register for an upcoming training, please visit: http://www.betheparentyouwanttobe.weebly.com

Next Level Up Tutoring

Build Fundamentals, Encourage Positive Study Habits, Provide Academic Perspective

We have almost reached the midpoint of this school year. Have you addressed your child’s academic needs or concerns? Contact Next Level Up Tutoring for a free in-home consultation. Call 781-540-1123 or email info@nextleveluptutoring.com.  Visit the website to learn about their approach and philosophy.

Next Level Up – Helping all students reach their PEAK potential.