Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

New Art Center Programs for Feb. Vacation and Summer

Escape to Madagascar, February School Vacation Week at the New Art Center, February 21-24, 9:00-3:30pm daily. Grades K-6. Join us during this exciting week filled with creative art and inspired learning. Escape with us to the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa! From lemurs, giant baobab trees, and cultural richness of the Malagasy people, to the amazing biodiversity of its wildlife; this vacation week will give us plenty of inspiration to paint, draw, sculpt and create rich, colorful pieces of art! Tuition $270 (4 days), siblings $255. Early drop off and extended day options available. For more information or to register: www.newartcenter.org. Questions? Call 617-964-3424.

Teen Day Program & Teen Afternoon Ceramics Program, February School Vacation Week at the New Art Center, February 21-24, 9:00-3:30pm & 3:30-5:30pm daily. Grades 7-10. Specially designed for teens who love art and want to move to the next level, our classes in Ceramics, Painting/Drawing, and Sculpture/Mixed Media, are taught by professional art educators who help teens develop and hone their skills. Small class sizes and highly individualized projects make this an excellent option for teens who want more out of their vacation week. All skill levels are welcome. Tuition $295 (4 days), siblings $280. Early drop off and extended day options available. For more information or to register: www.newartcenter.org. Questions? Call 617-964-3424.

Week-Long Summer Art Programs, at the New Art Center, June 25-Aug. 31, 9:00-3:30pm & 3:30-5:30pm. Grades 1-10. Join us during our fun and creative week-long sessions for children and teens this summer! Be inspired by exciting and educational themes in our Children’s Program for grades 1-6. Daily classes in Visual Arts, Drama, Ceramics and Sculpture/3D, give children the opportunity to learn and grow with friends while being creative and having fun! Special presentations booked weekly with our favorite community partners! Teens entering grades 7-10, have the opportunity to explore their interests and develop skills with small classes and highly individualized projects in Ceramics, Painting/Drawing and Sculpture/Mixed Media. Teen Afternoon Ceramics, for students entering grades 7-10, also gives teens more opportunity to work on hand-building skills and on the Potter’s Wheel. All skill levels are welcome. Tuition: $115-$380/wk. Early Drop-Off, Extended Day options available. To register or for more information, visit www.NewArtCenter.org or call 617-964-3424.

Highlands After-School Program for Middle-School Kids

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, has openings. Are you looking for after-school activities for your child during the cold winter months? HASP has terrific winter fun, with lots of cozy indoor activities, gym time and ice skating! SPACE IS LIMITED! For more information contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit our website highlandsafterschool.org

Web Design After School Classes

Expand your creative and technical knowledge by building your own website. Working alone or in pairs, you’ll design a simple website incorporating text, images, and links. By the end of this class you can have your own page published on the world wide web. Using HTML, pictures, and fancy special effects, you’ll be a top-notch web publisher in no time. You bring the ideas; we’ll show you how. All levels are welcome; experienced students can work on more in-depth projects.

For more info visit http://jamieb100.net/

Waban Library Center Winter Yoga Classes

The Waban Library Center Winter Yoga Classes:
Starting Tuesday January 3 and/or Thursday January 5, 2012
Join us for Yoga on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings from 8:50am-10am for 10 Tuesdays/Thursdays. Enjoy a moment to challenge yourself and breath. Cost will be $150 for a 10week session. Sign up for both, Tuesday and Thursday classes, you will receive a 10% discount. ($270 for both Tues/Thurs)Drop ins are welcome at $18 per class. Classes go for 10 Tues/Thurs starting January 3/5 – March 20/22
The Waban Library classes will be small, intimate and easily adapted to the particular interests of the individuals participating each time.
To sign up email us at wabanlibrary@gmail.com or check out the website for more details, www.wabanlibrarycenter.org

Three Suzuki Workshops in January at Brookline Music School

EVERY CHILD CAN! Introduction to the Suzuki Method
Sunday, January 8, 2012, 9:30am – 4:30pm
An introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application to Suzuki education. For parents, teachers, prospective teachers and others, this new course provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning. This course is required for all new Suzuki teachers, but open to prospective teachers, parents, administrators and all others interested in learning about Suzuki approach to education. It is not instrument-specific. There are no instrument proficiency requirements. No audition is required. For a brochure click here. 

8TH ANNUAL SUZUKI FLUTE WORKSHOP
Sunday, January 15 & Monday, January 16, 2012, 9:00am – 5:00pm
This two-day workshop features a master class, group class and ensemble or reading class each day, and ends with an informal concert. Non-Suzuki flute students are welcome to join in the fun but should be familiar with some of the repertoire from the Suzuki Method. For a brochure click here.

2012 SUZUKI FLUTE TEACHER TRAINING:
Thursday, January 12 – Monday, January 16, 2012, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Flute Book 2 (Kimberly Lorimier)
Flute Book 4 (Laurel Ann Maurer)
Over the course of five days, trainees will receive 15 hours of classroom time and eight hours of observation time, in conjunction with the 8th Annual Suzuki Flute Workshop. For a brochure click here.

For more information, visit the Suzuki page or Contact Amy Poliakoff: amyflute@comcast.net

or contact Brookline Music School at www.bmsmusic.org, 617-277-4593

Newton Community Ed classes for Middle Schoolers

Registration is now underway for Winter classes through Newton Community Education. Coming up for middle schoolers we have Lego Robotics at South on Tuesdays and Fridays, The Stockmarket Game at Oak Hill on Tuesdays and Angier on Fridays, Fencing at Bigelow on Mondays, Archery at Oak Hill on Tuesdays, and Babysitting at South on Saturdays and North over February and April vacations. Also during both vacations we are offering our ever-popular Make a TV Show program at NewTV, and during February break, new this year, we are offering Advanced Domino Physics. All our classes are for kids from all schools. We have family cooking classes: Two Continents, Many Dumplings, and The International Chocolate Chip. We also have Saturday sports options for kids ages 2 and up, and weekday afternoon sports options for younger kids, such as Dodgeball, Basketball and Sports Jam. For more information or to register, call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at newtoncommunityed.org. Be sure to check out our adult classes too, and look for our summer Kids catalog, coming in January.

Historic Newton Calendar December

  • Museum Shop Holiday Sale
  • Map Night with GIS Mapping
  • Stories in the Snow
  • Candles are Wick-ed Cool  

MUSEUM SHOP HOLIDAY SALE
During the entire month of December, find wonderful small gifts for both adults and children at the annual Holiday Sale at the Jackson Homestead and Museum, and support Historic Newton with your purchase. Enjoy 10% off all purchases such as note cards, games, DVDs and more. Members receive a 20% discount.

Tuesday, December 6, 7:30 PM
MAP NIGHT WITH GIS MAPPING
Explore the many layers of information embedded in the city’s online “Newton GIS Browser” with Doug Greenfield, Newton’s GIS Administrator. Learn if your home is in a preservation district with the click of your mouse! Or join Allison Carter in looking at our collection of historic atlases to find out the answers to questions such as: Whose farm was subdivided to make your houselot? When was your street first laid out? All ages are welcome. Free.

Sunday and Monday December 25 and 26
MUSEUM CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

Tuesday, December 27, 2:00 PM
STORIES IN THE SNOW
A Vacation Week Family Program
Greet winter with open arms at this family program. We’ll read White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, and make snow globes to take home. Kids of all ages can enjoy the warmth of the Jackson Homestead, where we’ll serve hot cider and snacks. Cost: $15 per family ($10 for members); includes museum admission, materials, and snack. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Thursday, December 29, 2:00 PM
CANDLES ARE WICK-ED COOL
A Vacation Week Family Program
Bring the whole family to this fun, hands-on workshop where you will learn how the Jacksons made candles in the 1800s, and then do it yourself! Bring your candles home and light up the dark nights of winter. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Newton Partnership: Upcoming Parent Ed Opportunities

  • “Parents Helping Parents” Support Group
  • Connecting With Your Child in a Digital World
  • Future dates   

“Parents Helping Parents” Support Group
Are you a parent or guardian feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Could you use the support of peers to help? Come to an anonymous support group run by a trained facilitator. This group will meet weekly on Wednesdays begining December 7 at Brigham House, 20 Hartford St., Newton Highlands. For more information, please call Meg at 617-926-5008 ex 108. Child care provided. FREE. http://thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Connecting With Your Child in a Digital World
Parenting in the digital age can be challenging. Social media and technology have become such an important part of your child’s daily life. Please join us for an interactive workshop where we will examine your child’s use of technology, increase awareness of the potential challenges around technology use, and learn practical parenting strategies to maintain connections with your child. The workshop will be facilitated by Middle School Prevention/Intervention counselors Amy Comeau, M.Ed. and Rolanda Prophete, LICSW. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, December 13 from 6:30-8:00 p.m at Brown Middle School, FREE. http://thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Save these dates for January/February 2012:
January 5 – The Importance of Routines in Successfully Parenting Young Children with Janet Lucey and Beverly Mobilia
January 11- Sleep and Your Child with Dennis Rosen
February 8 – From Princesses to Pop Tarts: What the New Culture of Girlhood Means for Girls and the Grown-Ups Who Care About Them – talk and book signing with NY Times best-selling author Peggy Orenstein

Details will be posted at http://thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/

Newton South Recreation Complex

Located at the Newton South High School, the Newton South Recreation Complex offers a variety of sports and educational classes on Sundays starting January 8, 2012 through February 12, 2012. Sign up for Karate, Tennis, Fencing, Badminton, Bollywood and Bhangra Dance, Engineering with Lego or a Babysitters Training Course. Online registration is available at www.activityreg.com. For more information go online to www.newtonma.gov/parks or contact Channon Ames at cames@newtonma.gov or at 617-796-1529.