Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

The Newton Ligerbots are going to the World Championships

The Newton Ligerbots are going to the World Championships, but need your financial support.

The LigerBots are the joint robotics team of Newton North and South High Schools, which competes in the FIRST FRC competition. The team has had a great season this year. They won the District competition at Worchester Polytechnic, and came in second at the Northeastern competition. This earned them a spot at the New England Championships at Boston University. On Monday, after the BU event, they were invited to go to the World Championships in St. Louis on April 23-26 (less than 1 week away).

However, this is the best the team has ever done and the additional expense of going to St. Louis was quite unexpected. The LigerBots have received a number of supplemental grants from our generous sponsors, but there is still a very large shortfall. The team families are ready to pay substantial amounts to make this happen, but not everyone can afford it. The team has members from all parts of Newton and all income levels.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the LigerBots to help offset the cost of the trip. You can donate online at http://ligerbots.org/support/ . Alternately, you can send a check to the Newton Schools Foundation http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/support/support-donate.html and please be sure to write “LigerBots Championship” on the check memo so that the money is earmarked for the LigerBots.

If you want to learn more about the team, the web site is http://ligerbots.org
You can see videos of many of the LigerBots’ recent matches on the home page. The LigerBots are Team 2877.

Thanks for any support you can provide.

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens

April Vacation Week Programs for Teens @ the Newton Free Library

Saving Mr. Banks Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch Saving Mr. Banks on Tuesday, April 22nd at 3:00 pm. The film tells the story of how P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, half-heartedly meet with Walt Disney who wanted to adapt her book for the big screen. Rated PG-13, runtime 125 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Rockets: There and Back Again
Create an air rocket that launches across the room, and engineer a way for a payload to return safely to Earth. Join a hands-on workshop at the Newton Free Library in Druker Auditorium on Thursday, April 24th at 2:00 pm that explores the science behind rockets and space exploration. Use your imagination to plan, build, and test your own design. Please be advised that this workshop uses latex balloons. Presented by the Museum of Science and open to grades 6-12. Space is limited, register (required) at http://newtonfreelibrary.net/steam/.

Thor: The Dark World Movie Screening
Teens are invited to watch a screening of Thor: The Dark World on Friday, April 25th at 3:00 pm. Thor returns to do battle in this big-budget comic-book adventure. Rated PG-13, runtime 112 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Mini-Creator Faire
On April 26th from 1:00-4:00 pm, the Newton Free Library will be hosting a mini-Creator Faire in Druker Auditorium to kick off the unveiling of the new MakerBot 3D printer to the community and begin a year of programming for all ages related to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) initiative from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

The Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, traditional crafters, artists, musicians, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers and students. It is a place for creators to show their work and interact with members of the community. Come experience a fun, interactive afternoon at the library, and get involved in the rebirth of Do-It-Yourself. Meet the Makers: http://www.newtonfreelibrary.net/steam/mini_faire.php

New Volunteer Project – Recycling Education

Green Decade Newton, in collaboration with the City of Newton Department of Public Works, is seeking numerous volunteers (16 years and older) to walk in pairs around Newton’s neighborhoods, while adhering “recycling education stickers” onto all residential green bins, during the spring and summer months. Maps will be provided and work will be conducted primarily in the morning hours.

The “Recycle Sticker Project” will help remind everyone of what may or may not be placed in our green bins. Funding for the stickers has been provided by Green Decade, Whole Foods Market and Waste Management with a goal to raise awareness about recycling…not only to benefit our environment, but to also reap substantial financial savings on the cost of disposing the City’s trash.

So, if you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to help increase participation in Newton’s recycling program, please contact info@greendecade.org to volunteer.

An Open Conversation: A Lecture Series for Parents of Teens

Part II: Success Under Stress
The session will address how our definitions of success as a high-achieving community can contribute to the stressors in our lives. We can’t eliminate stress, but we can strive to teach our children to manage it in healthy ways.

The Newton Free Library and Newton Youth Services will be hosting a five-part series of
workshops for parents around the topics of wellness, stress management, and
communication.  Presenters will include mental health professionals and experts in adolescent development and communications. This series is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 30th, 7:00 pm
Druker Auditorium
Newton Free Library

STEM Summer

The program takes place at MassBay Community College on our Wellesley Hills campus. This program is offered for Middle School Students (entering grades 7 and 8) and they are still accepting registrations.

The program provides middle school students (entering grades 7 and 8) an engaging and hands on STEM experience. Participating students will use creativity and teamwork to explore outer space. This program will provide middle school students an exciting introduction to various STEM careers and allows them to develop new skills. Students will work on small projects collaboratively to investigate, create, and design information relating to “space”. Students will get to work in our science and technology labs and learn to use Math and Science concepts to solve challenges.

For more information on all of the summer 2014 information please go to: http://www.massbay.edu/summer. To learn more and to register for the STEM Summer program please go to: http://tinyurl.com/middle-stem.

Kapparate Computer Camps Accept Younger Students – Lexington MA

(Early registration – before May 15 – will get $50 discount)

· Computer camps during private and public school breaks
· Broad exposure to computer science. Hands-on and project-oriented
· April public school break camp (April 21-25)
· Summer camps (June – Aug)
· Kapparate camp tuition qualifies for FSA
· General information about camps: https://www.ktbyte.com/camps#campschedules
· Camp registration: https://www.ktbyte.com/home/register
· Contact: inquiry@KTByte.com or 818-748-8848 for questions
· Projects done by previous campers: http://showcase.kapparate.com/about-showcase/

Kapparate Computer Camp Curriculum
· For elementary students age 9-11:
Learn how to do amazing things with your computer, from creating your own website, making audio/video, and game modding. No computer experience required.

· For middle and high school students age 12 and up:
Students spend the first half of the camp learning computer science and programming topics through projects involving music, video, encryption, games and math. During the second half , students do a project individually or in groups, and make a presentation on the last day of the camp. The best project will be awarded a prize.

Essay Contest

Topic: Why bookstores are important to you

Open to all 6th graders in the Brown, Day, Oak Hill, and Bigelow Middle Schools. All essays must be type-written and double-spaced (handwritten essays will not be accepted). Each entrant needs to include his or her email and phone number so they can be contacted if they win. The essay should be no less than 200 words and no more than 250 words.

By submitting an essay, the entrant agrees to have their essay posted on the New England
Mobile Book Fair’s website and Facebook page. With consent by the entrant and his/her legal guardian(s), their name will accompany the posted essay.

Your essay must be received by the New England Mobile Book Fair by May 9, 2014.

Essays may be submitted via mail to:
82-84 Needham Street
Newton Highlands, MA 02461

Or via email to: fran.nembf@gmail.com

The winner of the contest will be decided by the staff of the New England Mobile Book Fair
and announced no later than May 30, 2014. The winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate and the two runners-up will each receive a $10.00 gift certificate. For additional information please refer to the website: www.nebookfair.com

 

Mini-Creator Faire, Saturday, April 26th, 1:00-4:00 pm

The Newton Free Library will be hosting a mini-Creator Faire in Druker Auditorium to kick off the unveiling of the new MakerBot 3D printer to the community and begin a year of programming for all ages related to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) initiative from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

The Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, traditional crafters, artists, musicians, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers and students. It is a place for creators to show their work and interact with members of the community. Come experience a fun, interactive afternoon at the library, and get involved in the rebirth of Do-It-Yourself.

April 26th, 1:00-4:00 pm

Get Hands On at the BU CityLab Science Program

Gann Academy in Waltham is excited to once again host the Boston University School of Medicine CityLab Biotechnology summer program. This program provides an opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding of basic techniques and concepts related to DNA science. While working in teams, the students assume the role of a biotechnology company and work together to design and carry out an investigation to solve problems in biotechnology.

New this summer is the Solving Science Mysteries program designed for rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders. Students will solve problems by applying the same techniques and concepts of genetics and molecular biology used in modern research laboratories. Students will solve a crime scene mystery, test for genetic disorders and much more.

For more information, visit http://gallery.mailchimp.com/cb4bec1e3173c650acfd51ab0/files/MS_SL_at_Gann.pdf
or http://www.bumc.bu.edu/citylab/summerlab/curriculum/

Math Summer

Summer is a great time to catch up, keep up and get ahead in Math.

Mathnasium Learning Center in Newton Highlands offers individualized math summer programs in a fun, relaxing environment. Schedule your math tutoring sessions vacations and camps. Save $50 when you register by May 31st.

Visit  www.mathsummer.com or call for Free Trial 617-340-3665.