Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Boston Tutoring Services, in-home instruction

Boston Tutoring Services, LLC offers one-on-one in-home instruction for K-12 students throughout Massachusetts.

Services include Private School Admission Test Preparation (ISEE/SSAT), SAT Test Prep, and Academic Subject Tutoring for students in grades K-12. Experienced tutors are largely Massachusetts Certified Teachers with Master’s Degrees or higher. Tutors have been trained to deliver instruction customized to each student’s needs.

More information is available online or by calling (781) 248-4558

Newton Beijing Jingshan School exchange seeks host families

If you and your family have ever wanted to know more about China, this is an extraordinary opportunity for you! The Newton Beijing Jingshan School Exchange Program is seeking families to host students and teachers during the fall semester of the 2013-2014 school year. This is a great chance to learn about Chinese culture while sharing your own family’s culture and traditions. Participants all speak English and are eager to learn about and take part in American family life. Beijing Jingshan exchange students and teachers arrive mid-September and depart mid-January. Students attend regular classes at the high schools. Teachers teach in our schools.

To explore this unique opportunity, please check out the website http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/jingshanexchange/hosting or contact: Michael_Kozuch@newton.k12.ma.us .

Freelance Players Launches Theatre Troupe in Newton Corner

The Freelance Players, a theater company dedicated to the production of original musical theater by young people for audiences of all ages, is launching a Newton Troupe this fall. The program is for children ages 8 to 12. Children with little or no acting experience are encouraged to audition. Vocal and acting technique, movement and dance training, improvisation and character development are all part of the rehearsal process. The Troupe will produce an original musical each session, with a production in January and one in May.

The Freelance Players, Inc. was founded by its current Executive Director Kippy Dewey in 1974, when she was directing theater at the Charles River Creative Arts Program in Dover. Freelance programs use theater to foster trust, imagination and self-esteem in young people. The ensemble approach nurtures risk-taking, mutual respect, and cooperation among students. One of the organization’s greatest achievements is the sense of confidence and accomplishment that each young actor gains from belonging to Freelance and performing publically. The Freelance Players, Inc. runs Troupes in Dover (Mondays), Jamaica Plain and Cambridge (Tuesdays), Needham (Fridays) and Brookline (Fridays).

The Freelance Players Troupe also meets in Brookline, on Wednesdays and is for young people ages 12 to 16 who have had previous experience in theater. The Players also produce two shows a year (December and May). Professional directors, musical directors, and choreographers staff all of the companies.

The Newton Troupe will meet on Mondays, 3:30 to 5:45, at the Grace Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton MA 02458 Children of all acting/singing abilities are encouraged to participate. Auditions will be held by appointment on September 9th at the church. To schedule an audition call Kippy Dewey, 617-232-1175. For more information visit www.freelanceplayers.org .

Sunday School

The Sunday School for Jewish Studies is now accepting registrations for grades K-7 for the 2013-2014 school year. The Sunday School is an independent school offering a once-a-week program for children in the greater Boston area. Located at the Oak Hill Middle School in Newton, the school is committed to providing a Jewish education that fosters a strong sense of Jewish identity for children and families with diverse traditions of Jewish observance.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation is available but not required, and students may enter in any grade. Interfaith and nontraditional families are welcome. For additional information, please visit the website at www.SundaySchoolForJewishStudies.org or call 617-264-8855.

Summer drama, art and music

Newton Youth Players is delighted to announce its new location of The Newton Cultural Center at Newton City Hall! The popular theatre program for children in grades 2 – 6 still has a few spaces available for the production of “Oliver”. Visit www.newtonyouthplayers.com for more information.

Time for Partners is a delightful art and music class for children 18 months to 4 years, accompanied by an adult. The summer location is the Franklin Elementary School at 125 Derby Street. David Polansky is the beloved music teacher, and Kim Jaques and Mary Bruno the wonderful art teachers of this long-running, excellent program. There are still a few spaces left for the summer program. For more information, please visit www.newtonculturalcenter.org.

Summer Programs at Newton Community Farm

Looking for summer programs for your children, preschool to grade 9?

Check out Newton Community Farm’s offerings, which focus on food, fun, and farming!

Back by popular demand Farm Sprouts (preschool & kindergarden), Little Diggers (entering grades 1-2), Farmer in Training (entering grades 3-5), and Socially Aware Young Farmers (entering grades 6-9).

Preregistration is required for all classes. Registration closes one week before class start date.

Beautiful Creatures, Warm Bodies, Crafts & More at Newton Library

Beautiful Creatures Movie Screening, Saturday, June 1, 2:00 pm
Based on the popular teen series by Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl, the Newton Free Library will be screening “Beautiful Creatures” on Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 pm in Druker Auditorium The film is rated PG-13 and runs for 124 minutes. Open to ages 13 and up.

Teen Crafternoons, Wednesdays, June 5 and 19, 3:30 pm
Get creative on Wednesdays, June 5 and 19 at 3:30 pm in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library where we will be hanging out working on crafts. For more specific information on what we will be creating check the teen Facebook page!

Warm Bodies Movie Screening, Thursday, June 6, 7:00 pm
The Newton Free Library will be screening “Warm Bodies,” a zombie romance movie, on Thursday, June 6 at 7:00 pm in Druker Auditorium. The film is rated PG-13 and runs for 98 min. Open to ages 13 and up.

Teen Korean Cultural Volunteer Outreach: Music Performance, Sat., June 8, 2:00 pm
Come to the Newton Free Library on Saturday, June 8 at 2:00 pm for an afternoon of music and poetry provided by the students of the Korean Cultural Volunteer Outreach program. A group of teens ages 15 to 19 who work to spread Korean culture, they will perform children’s songs preceded by brief presentations on the background and cultural importance of each piece. They will also present the poetry collection which they translated and illustrated. The organization has donated Korean books to local libraries and published their first book last year titled When the Tiger Used to Smoke.

*Questions? Email Liz, the Teen Librarian, at teensATnewtonfreelibraryDOTnet or call the Newton Free Library at 617-796-1360. All programs are free and open to the public, parking is free. The Newton Free Library is handicap accessible.

End-of-Year Events at Newton Boys & Girls Club

Proud to be Me Pageant – Wednesday, May 29th at 6:30PM
All year long the young girls who have been participating in our girl’s programs have learned about proper manners, restaurant manners, poise and self confidence. We end the season with a pageant where the girls step on stage, describe themselves, perform a talent and answer a question about current events. This pageant teaches girls to be PROUD of who they are and who they will become. Please come support our girls!!!

Talent Show – Thursday, May 30th at 6:30PM
Kids ages 6 – 18, will have a chance to perform a talent that they have been practicing and feel comfortable with. Bring your whole family to this FREE event. There will be singing, dancing, playing instruments, and a variety of other performances. If you are interested in performing contact Dawn Proia by email.

Awards Night – Tuesday, June 4th at 6PM
This year we once again combine the Junior Awards and Teen Awards into one night. Members have participated in over 100 programs and we will present the trophies for 14 major awards that night. We will be serving dinner and families are encouraged to attend.

All Major Award Winners have received their letter at the beginning of May. Major Award Winners must attend Awards Night!

Our new Youth of the Year, Jordan Kithcart, will address the crowd. Parents and Club supporters are encouraged to join us as we celebrate the many accomplishments of our members over the past year. If you would like to attend the AWARDS night, please pick up your FREE tickets at the front desk. You must RSVP to reserve a seat.

End-of-May Offerings from Historic Newton

Historic Newton offers the following special programs and events during the month of May:

Thursday, May 23, 7:30 PM
HISTORY BOOK CLUB MEETING
This month’s book selection is Choosing War: The Lost Chance for Peace and the Escalation of War in Vietnam by Fredrik Logevall. Recognized as a major work and a touchstone for any future discussion of the origins of America’s military escalation in Vietnam, the book exploits a wide array of new sources to explore America’s Vietnam policy. Well written and accessible, it cogently and systematically undermines the argument that America’s military escalation in Vietnam was in any way inevitable or necessary. The book club is free and open to all, new members are welcome.

In addition, current exhibitions include:

Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Antislavery in the North: a three-dimensional learning center with hands-on activities and information about colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, and local abolitionists.

An Architect Ahead of Her Time: Annie Cobb (1830-1911): Arguably the first woman architect in America, Cobb succeeded in fashioning a career for herself in the male world of building in a time when women’s work was mainly limited to the home.

Newton and the Civil War: showcasing Newton residents in the Civil War. Also be sure to visit our new Women’s Fashions of the Civil War Era exhibit.

New music school

Announcing the grand opening of the Maestro Musicians Academy at the Young Israel of Brookline in Coolidge Corner. Expert lessons in violin, viola, and cello. Perfect for children ages 4 and up.

Stellar faculty with emphasis on developing the potential of every unique student. Sign up for one week of our introductory sessions from 4:00-5:30 p.m. on June 24th-30th, July 22nd-28th, and August 19th- 25th.

Contact Artistic Director Daniel Broniatowski, D.M.A. at 857-756-5230 or view the website. Parent tested, child approved!