Category Archives: Events

Newton Network “Members Mall,” Dec. 3

This event is also a great opportunity to expand your professional network in a friendly yet dynamic environment. The Members Mall is free and open to the public, and all participants are encouraged to bring their business cards. Any questions please contact Jane Hirschhorn at janehirschhorn@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 3rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street

“Beautiful Music for Ugly Children,” Dec. 15

Please join a special meeting of Books & Brownies, the Newton Free Library’s parent/guardian and teen book club in the second floor Teen Area!

The group will discuss Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, which received the 2014 Stonewall Award from the American Library Association, given to a book of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.”

Monday, December 15th, 7:00 pm
Newton Free Library

BMUC tells the story of Gabe, a high school senior with a serious love of music, who is learning to leave Liz behind – the person everyone has known him as until now. We hope you’ll join for a great discussion and of course, brownies!

Books & Brownies Teen Book Club

Please join a special meeting of Books & Brownies, the Newton Free Library’s parent/guardian and teen book club in the second floor Teen Area! The group will discuss Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, which received the 2014 Stonewall Award from the American Library Association. It’s an award given to books of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.” BMUC tells the story of Gabe, a high school senior with a serious love of music, who is learning to leave Liz behind – the person everyone has known him as until now. We hope you’ll join for a great discussion and of course, brownies!

Monday, December 15th, 7:00 pm
Newton Free Library

Newton Network event

The Newton Network is hosting a Members Mall. Come learn more about the high quality goods and services the members offer their customers and clients. Enter the free raffle of select members’ items and services. This event is also a great opportunity to expand your professional network in a friendly yet dynamic environment. The Members Mall is free and open to the public, and all participants are encouraged to bring their business cards. Any questions please contact Jane Hirschhorn at janehirschhorn@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 3rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

For information about Newton PAC, please go to the Newton PAC website: www.newtonpac.org . If you have questions for the Newton PAC Board, please email info@newtonpac.org

Topics to be presented in 2014-2015:

Panel discussion on mental health, with emphasis on depression in children and adolescents
Assistive Technologies workshop with Kayla McAllister, NPS staff
Screen time for children with disabilities: What is recommended? What is too much?
Telling your child about their disabilities / diagnoses
IEP in a fishbowl
Understanding Neuropsychological Testing and Evaluations

Future Newton PAC meeting dates:

December 10th
January 8th
February 5th
March 4th
April 15th
May 14th
June 2015 – Sixth Annual Special Educators Awards Ceremony, Date TBA

Question, Persuade, Refer; QPR for Teens and Young Adults

Our community has been affected by suicide. Newton Cares: Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health is working diligently to train as many people as possible in the suicide prevention technique called QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer. The more people who know how to act, the more lives may be saved. Please consider being trained.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) teaches ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency and how to get a person at risk the help they need. Participants will learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, offer hope, and get help & refer.

Please register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QPRJan6. This upcoming training is specifically being held for teens and young adults.

January 6th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Visit www.newtonma.gov/youth for additional information.

Save these Dates

Newton Inspires 2015
Please save Wednesday, January 21st for the fourth annual Newton Inspires-An Evening of Ideas and Community, when some of Newton’s most talented, captivating, and forward-thinking individuals will convene to talk about topics that inspire them. It’s not to be missed!

GELF Dinner
Please save Saturday, March 21st for the 6th annual Global Education Leadership Fund dinner at Newton North High School. Details to come.

The Growth Mindset

Come to a Parent/Guardian workshop on getting up to speed on the growth mindset.

Have you heard that Newton Public Schools is asking teachers and staff to explore how
encouraging a “growth mindset” can motivate students to learn? Do you know that the research-based growth mindset is useful for all ages and in all settings—school, home, work, athletics?

Newton North School Council and PTSO invite ALL parents/guardians to a fun and engaging evening exploring the growth mindset. As Principal Jen Price shows you how Newton Public Schools faculty are being trained in the use of the growth mindset, you’ll learn:

 Effective ways to give praise

 Useful methods for encouraging children and teens to try new things and accept

challenges

 Constructive ways to respond to failure

 Successful strategies for creating a parent-teacher dialogue about students’ development

You will also have a chance to apply the growth mindset during an interactive challenge.
To learn more about the growth mindset, read The Significance of Grit . or view this Ted Talk by Angela Duckworth.

December 3rd, 7:00-8:30 pm
Newton North High School cafeteria

Great Winter Programs

Newton Parks and Recreation has a lot of great winter programs for children and adults. Check out the Newton Parks and Rec website at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/parks
for information about our upcoming winter programs for children and adults. Some programs include:

December Vacation Programs
– at the Lower Falls Community Center December 29th, 30th, 31st and January 2nd for children in grades K – 6. Participate in sports, arts and crafts, inside games, and more. Each day features a fun special event. 8:30 am – 3:30 pm with extended day options.

– Thundercat Sports December 26th, 29th, 30th and 31st for children ages 6 – 12. Play a variety of sports including basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball and more. 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

– family movie day at the West Newton Cinema December 29th and 30th. Enjoy a movie, popcorn and drink all for one low price. Tickets are sold at the West Newton Cinema starting at 10:00 am with the movies starting at 11:00 am.

Newton South Recreation Complex
– located at the Newton South High School, this Recreation Complex offers a variety of activities for youth and adults on Sundays including tennis, badminton, sewing classes, engineering with lego, fencing, thundercat sports, archery, workout facilities, and more.

Ski and Snowboard Program at Nashoba Valley
– For grades 5 – 12. Learn to ski or snowboard with lessons at Nashoba Valley Ski area. Already know how to ski or snowboard? Join us for the lift ticket only option. Transportation to Nashoba Valley is provided from Newton. This program runs on Fridays from 5:45 pm – 10:15 pm.

Camp Fair
– See what Newton Parks and Recreation and Newton Public Schools have to offer your child in Newton for the summer of 2015. 12:00 – 4:00 pm at the Newton North High School in the cafeteria.

For more information about any of these programs, please contact Channon Ames at 617-796-1529 or at cames@newtonma.gov .

Celebrate Newton Craft Fair

Come to Celebrate Newton, the holiday craft fair sponsored by Newton Community Education. More than 50 local artisans will be selling hand-crafted jewelry, fabric arts, photography, soaps, culinary treats, glass work, tote bags, and more. Local musicians and choral groups will perform throughout the day, providing a lovely backdrop while you shop. There will even be a kids craft table and food available for purchase, so bring the kids and make a day of it.

Shop locally this holiday season and buy one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family at Celebrate Newton. Please visit celebratenewton.com for more details and a complete listing of the artisans who will be selling their work. Net proceeds from the fair support NCE’s scholarship fund – admission $3 (kids under 12 are free).

December 7th, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Newton South High School