Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Starting School or Pre-School with Food Allergies?

Parents need to do some homework first. Entering pre-school or kindergarten is a big step for every child and parent, but poses special challenges if the child has food allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter is sponsoring a meeting for parents to learn how to address these issues. There is no charge to attend and pre-registration is not required.

Guest speaker Jan Hanson, founder of Educating for Food Allergies, LLC, has been providing consulting services and educational workshops to parents and school personnel since 2001.  There will be time for questions and discussion following her presentation.

Tuesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

AAFA New England organizes educational support group programs throughout the region, publishes a newsletter, and runs a telephone resource and referral line for people coping with allergies and asthma. For more information or free fact sheets about managing food allergies at school or child care, call 781-444-7778 or see www.asthmaandallergies.org.

After School Enrichment Program Open House

Bright Pearl Chinese and Arts After School Enrichment Program  provides a safe and enjoyable environment for elementary children to spark cultural discovery through art, education, and engagement.  Their Mandarin language class offers a thematic curriculum developed through years of teaching experience. Students will develop their Chinese language skills in a fun and productive environment. The extra activities cover the spectrum of traditional arts such as arts and crafts, Chinese brush painting, singing, drumming, dancing, and martial arts. The wide exposure to fun activities allows all children to maximize their potential.

They will host an open house on Sunday April 20th from 12:00-2:00  pm at GBCCA. Please visit the website for more information  www.brightpearlacademy.com.

Sunday, April 20th, 12:00 -2:00 pm
437 Cheery Street, Newton

Are you looking for Jewish learning for your child?

Kesher Newton now enrolling for Fall, 2014. Kesher Newton is an after-school program that offers a hands on and indepth approach to Jewish learning for students in grades K-7! Now located on Hammond Pond Parkway, convenient to Newton, housed inside the building of Congregation Mishkan Tefila, Kesher’s warm and inviting new space accommodates its expanding student base and its many family activities.

Kesher Newton is a nationally-recognized alternative to traditional Hebrew School, where children learn Jewish culture and Hebrew language in a spirited, camp-like environment. Kesher’s innovative curriculum challenges students intellectually, while fostering Jewish commitment, joy of learning, and active community participation.  Kesher Newton is an independent pluralistic community that is welcoming to all.

For more information, contact Kesher Newton at 617-244-5390 or email info@keshernewton.org .

Are you concerned about your child’s academic performance?

Do you want to learn how to improve and maintain their grades?

Brain Excel specializes in providing individual training to improve attention, memory, and reasoning. Certified trainers assess and target these cognitive skills through customized exercises to improve your child’s academic performance.  They are also introducing a Group Brain Training where your child may train for free!

To find out more contact us at info@brnxl.com or 781-530-6677 or www.brnxl.com.

LatinSummer Camp

Introducing “LatinSummer Boston,” a two-week summer enrichment program that provides students in grades 1-7 a unique chance to learn about Latin and the classical world! Creative and enthusiastic instructors will provide a wide array of exciting and hands-on activities that introduce students to many varied aspects of classical and conversational Latin, Greco-Roman mythology, and Roman culture and daily life. No prior knowledge of Latin or Classics is required.

LatinSummer Boston will run from July 21st – August 1st, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm   at The Brimmer & May School in Chestnut Hill. Registration fee is $295 with significantly reduced rates also available depending on financial need. Tee-shirts provided! Registrations are accepted by mail or online through May 31st. For more information and to register, please visit www.ascaniusyci.org/boston – this summer, let’s carpe diem and do as the Romans did!

This week is the Newton Youth Summit, March 26th

Comedian Kevin Breel — a 20-year-old activist working in the area of depression and mental health — will speak at Newton’s third annual Youth Summit, Wednesday, March 26th from 6:00 -9:00 pm at the Newton North auditorium.

See Kevin Breel’s TEDx talk, “Confessions of a Depressed Comic” and learn more at his website, www.kevinbreel.com. 

The Summit is open to teens, parents, and other community members and will focus on youth/adult communications, difficult conversations, and the results of the first two Summits.  The Mayor’s Youth Summits are sponsored by the Newton Youth Commission, City of Newton Health and Human Services Department, and The Newton Partnership to focus on challenges and solutions facing Newton teens.

NewPAC presentation on Reading and Language Based Learning Difficulties

Please join the April meeting of the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education, for a presentation on Reading and Language Based Learning Difficulties Steve Wilkins of the Carroll School.

IMPORTANT: Because they anticipate a large turnout for this meeting, please RSVP with the number of people attending to PAC.reading.meeting@gmail.com.

April 8th, 7:30 pm
Room 210 of the Education Center
100 Walnut Street, Newton

Networking and refreshments will begin at 7:15 pm.

Steve Wilkins is Head of School at Carroll, a K/1 – 8 school in Lincoln, MA for children with language based learning difficulties, including dyslexia. With more than 35 years of experience in the field, Steve is passionate about children who learn differently and celebrates their strengths while striving to provide a creative, experiential, outcomes-based curriculum that educates the whole child. Steve and Carroll are actively engaged in important brain science research that is helping educators understand why and how children with dyslexia learn differently. Steve’s talk will lay out the best thinking about how children learn or don’t learn to read, what kinds of interventions are most effective, and cutting edge studies that piloting new curricula to address working memory and other associated learning issues. More than an educator, Steve is a champion for kids who learn differently and what they have to offer the world.

Films and discussion about suicide prevention

More than Sad: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Movie & Presentation
April 1st, 6:30-8:30 pm

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the nation’s leading organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes. AFSP has developed an educational program to help community members and concerned adults learn more about teen suicide and how they can play a role in its prevention. Join a screening of More Than Sad: Suicide Prevention Education for Teachers and Other School Personnel followed by a presentation with a clinician on hand to answer questions. The program will take place at the Newton Free Library in Druker Auditorium. View two 25-minute films that are endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists and are listed on the Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention. Participate in a discussion based on a manual that integrates the films into a comprehensive suicide prevention program. The program is open to the public.

Supporting Our Teens and Promoting Healthy Dating Relationships

Malcolm Astley, father of the late Lauren Astley, and a panel discussion with representatives from REACH, Journey to Safety, BARCC, and Kim Coney, NSHS School Resource Officer.

This event is sponsored by REACH, Journey to Safety, BARCC, The Second Step and the Wellesley Hospital.

April 7th,  7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Newton South High School Auditorium