Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Holiday Gift Drive

The City of Newton Health and Human Services Dept. and The Village Bank are teaming up again for the annual Holiday Gift Drive. Please help by donating gifts for children ages newborn to 10:

  • New, unwrapped toys
  • Gift cards from local Newton merchants

Donations will be accepted from November 12th – December 10th. Your gift will benefit deserving Newton families this holiday season. You can drop off donations at the following Village Bank locations:

Auburndale – 307 Auburn Street
Newton Highlands – 56 Winchester Street
Newtonville – 332 Walnut Street
Nonantum – 411 Watertown Street
Waban –  89 Wyman Street
West Newton – 1369 Washington Street

We Still Live Here: Learning about the history and present-day experience of the Wampanoag Nation

“We Still Live Here: Learning about the history and present-day experience of the Wampanoag Nation” is an opportunity to gain knowledge as well as guidance about talking with your children about how Native Americans in the New England region have been treated and how they are reclaiming their language today. A tribe member will join  to answer questions. Children 8 and up are welcome to attend!

FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) All Schools Monthly Meeting. PLEASE REGISTER HERE: https://goo.gl/forms/d95JxnYvNZg49lwl2.  For more information, please email ericastreitkaplan@yahoo.com.

November 14th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon St, Waban

5th annual Newton Turkey Trot

Online registration for the 5th annual Newton Turkey Trot closes on November 12th! This event kicks off on November 17th (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) with a 1 mile kids’ fun run at 8:30 am followed by the 5K race at 9:00 am.  For information and to register, visit www.newtonturkeytrot.org

Not a runner? Join the fun as a volunteer! Details are in the volunteer section of the website. All proceeds from the race go to the Newton Food Pantry.

Your help needed

Centre Street Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to help staff the pantry on Tuesdays and the first Saturday of each month.  Volunteer shifts are available in two hour increments and sign up is flexible.  Tasks include stocking shelves, helping clients shop, clean up and more.

Volunteers must be 16 and older to volunteer without an adult and 12 is the minimum age with an adult. For more information, please visit the Get Involved tab here:  https://www.centrestfoodpantry.org/get-involved-2

All Newton Music School

Do you know… that Newton is home to one of the oldest non-profit Community Music Schools in the nation? Enroll yourself, or your child, at any time during the year at All Newton Music School. Experience the synergy of taking private lessons at All Newton Music School along with 800 of your friends and neighbors.

They offer lessons in over twenty instruments doing their best to be flexible and find times that work with your busy schedule:

•Piano*
•Violin**
•Viola
•Cello
•Bass
•Bassoon
•Clarinet
•Flute
•Oboe***
•Recorder
•Saxophone
•Horn
•Trumpet
•Trombone
•Tuba
•Percussion****
•Voice
•Guitar
•Bass Guitar
•Ukulele
•Music Therapy

* Piano slots available on Friday and throughout the week
** Violin slots available on Tuesday from 1:00 to 7:00 PM
*** Oboe slots available on Monday Afternoons
**** Percussion slots available on Tuesday and Wednesdays

The faculty has degrees from Juilliard, New England Conservatory, The Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music and more! Request lessons for you or your child in under 60 seconds online: https://www.allnewtonmusicschool.com/inquiry or by phone 617- 527-4553.

Other programs include:

FREE Early Childhood Drop-In Classes each week – Spend Thursday Mornings with your children (ages 0 – 5 years) and enjoy instructor and entertainer Ken DoRosario! Musical Mornings combines rhythm instrument play and exploration to live music and seasonal songs, musical movement, story, and active listening. No Charge but must RSVP on website as space is limited.

Thursdays,  11:00 – 11:45 am

Rock Bands for Grades 4th and up! Performing with others is an essential element to any musical education. With a professional coach, students (ages 9 and up) will learn performance skills, improvisation, communication as a group, as well as practice techniques. All bands will participate in live performances throughout the year, including one in a professional venue.

Rock Bands are scheduled throughout the week. For more information, visit https://www.allnewtonmusicschool.com/rock/

Winter is Coming!

Winter is Coming! Playing an instrument is a great indoor activity during the cold months.
The Conservatory at Highlands is here to help! With music lessons you can stay motivated with fun songs and have fun making great music.

The teachers are experienced, patient, kind and supportive and they can help musicians of any age reach their goals. Try learning an instrument along with your child in parent/student lessons. It is an amazing and educational activity for the family.
Book time in our state-of-the-art recording studio for audition tapes or other projects!

Sign Up/Inquire Here (no commitment necessary)  or contact by phone 617-903-0944  or email info@highlandsconservatory.com

The Conservatory offers music lessons on almost all instruments, including: piano, voice, violin, viola, cello, guitar, drums, bass, saxophone, flute, clarinet, trombone, baritone, oboe, ukulele, and even harmonica! Sign up for rock bands, which meet weekly; or record in our state-of-the-art recording studio with audio production lessons and more!

The Conservatory at Highlands is locally owned and operated and offers a 21st-century music education that is equally inclusive and challenging taught by the best musicians in Boston. The Conservatory is your community music school, where we can all learn and develop the craft of music together. Stop in and check out their unique space at 51 Winchester Street, Newton Highlands.

Feel free to e-mail info@highlandsconservatory.com with any questions.

Tutor available

Former Brookline and Concord teacher with 25 years experience (grades 1-12,) as a classroom teacher, middle and high school English teacher, Reading Specialist, and executive functioning specialist is available to tutor students in elementary, middle and high school in academic subjects, reading, writing, study and organizational skills.

SAT / ACT / SSAT / ISEE test prep.  Experienced with gifted and special needs students. Build skills and confidence. Excellent parent and professional references.  Please contact Cynthia Carpenter to discuss your child’s needs. You can reach her at cscarp@gmail.com  or 978-952-8871.

Curious about studying abroad?

Are you curious about studying abroad and the financial and educational benefits?  Want to hear about some of the options not only in Quebec but greater Canada?  Then join fellow parents and students for the following:

– Advantages to study in Canada,
– Who can apply and the application process
– What to expect when you get to Canada
– Specific information related to living & studying in Québec (education system, steps to take to study in Québec, learning French, etc.).
– Who can work during studies or after graduation, and how to apply

Validated parking will be available for the meeting.  Sign up:

A Guide to College Abroad in Canada – w/Consulate General & Quebec Delegation!

Monday, Dec 10, 2018, 6:00 PM

Canadian Consulate
Three Copley Place, Suite 400 Boston, MA

10 Members Attending

For this meetup we have two guest speakers – Marc Jacques and Josée-Anne Labrie to discuss applying to study in Canada (and some additional information specific to Québec) as an international student, getting your study permit, finding out about working while you study or after you graduate, extending your stay, etc. Topics: – Advantages to study i…

Check out this Meetup →

December 10th, 6:00 – 7:45 pm
Consulate General office, Copley

November events at Historic Newton

BOOKER T. JONES IN CONCERT

As the architect of one of the first racially integrated rock bands (Booker T. and the M.G.’s), Booker T. Jones set the cast for modern soul music. He created classic hits like “Green Onions,” and backed artists ranging from Otis Redding to Willie Nelson. Join an unforgettable concert featuring the legendary Jones, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and his band performing “Songs and Stories from the Birth of Soul.”

Purchase tickets for individual seats and sponsorships through www.newtonma.gov/BookerT. For more information please call 617-796-1450.

November 17th, 7:30 pm
Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street

MUSEUM STORE SUNDAY / MEET THE MAKERS

Get a head start on your holiday shopping when the shops at the Jackson Homestead and the Durant-Kenrick House offer a 25 percent discount on museum store merchandise. Also Meet the Makers! Artists from Newton will show and sell their work from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (1:00 – 3:00 pm authors including Barbara Berenson, Ken Bresler, Beryl Gilfix and Lenna Kutner will be stationed in each museum and you can purchase directly from them.

The shop selection includes posters and maps of Newton, Historic Newton’s custom-made ginger-pear jam, books about the Underground Railroad and abolition, interactive toys, and hand-made candles. Each purchase supports the mission and programs of Historic Newton. Museum Store Sunday takes place at 700 museum stores around the world.

Admission is Free. For information, call 617-796-1450

November 25th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue

STORYTIME – THANKSGIVING

Come learn how Native people in Massachusetts grew their food. We will read a tale about the Three Sisters, the story behind growing corn, beans, and squash together. Preschoolers and their caregivers will have the chance to interact with our own three sisters crops and make a corn husk doll. Admission is Free. For information, call 617-641-9142

For a complete schedule of ongoing Storytime events, go to www.newtonma.gov/story.

November 28th, 10:00 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds