Category Archives: Events

The buzz is…the Newton Spelling Bee is back!

The fun and educational Spelling Bee for Newton elementary school children in grades 1 – 5 is back for its 11th year! If you haven’t already signed up, there are five dates for the Bees, with multiple grade sessions on each day, March 26th, 27th, April 2nd, 3rd & 9th.

Each grade session is a separate Bee with a first and second place prize donated by Learning Express. Every speller receives a goody bag to celebrate their hard work. There are just a few spots left! Please register on line at www.newtoncommunitypride.org. Cost is $10.00 per entry.

Newton has Talent needs you

In order to fund valuable youth programs (including Students of the Month, RYLA, Interact, and yearly scholarships) and community grants, the Rotary Club of Newton produces a musical talent competition called Newton Has Talent.

This year they’re trying REALLY hard to get adults to enter.  To participate in the competition, an individual (or one member of an ensemble) has to work, live, or go to school in Newton. And entries are FREE before March 1st so don’t wait!

Check out more information on this flyer.

The Chaos of Clutter: Why it Happens and How to Help

Do you have a family member or friend whose home is cluttered? Are you worried about their safety and well-being?

Join Patty Underwood (LICSW) for a workshop that will provide information about the psychological reasons why clutter happens and how you can help. RSVP is requested, not required: www.surveymonkey.com/r/clutter2

March 1st, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Newton Free Library

Newton Youth Players announcements

“Hello Dolly” has five spaces left on Wednesdays, September 5th – December 5th, with rehearsals from 4:00 – 5:30 pm. An all-time Broadway favorite, this show is the story of matchmaker Dolly Levi and her wooing of grumpy Horace Vandergelder. The setting is turn-of-the-century New York City, with its shops, famous restaurants, and plenty of young New Yorkers enjoying the scene. Popular musical numbers include ‘Put On Your Sunday Clothes’, ‘Before the Parade Passes By’, ’It Only Takes a Moment’, and ‘Hello Dolly’.

Don’t forget to set your alarms for 7:00 am on March 2nd to register for “South Pacific”! With only 22 children in each cast, the days fill up quickly. Newton Youth Players is a children’s theatre company for elementary school children who love to sing, dance, act, and construct scenery, located at the Newton Cultural Center at City Hall. Please visit www.newtontheatreplayers.com for more information and to register.

Vacation Week Family Movie Day

The Newton Parks & Recreation Department and West Newton Cinema have teamed up to offer family movies on February 22rd. Coco and Paddington 2 will run at 11:00 am.

Special pricing is $8.00 and includes movie, popcorn and drink. Ticket sales (cash only) begin at 10:00 am. See http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/87710 for more information.

Newton Highlands After-School Program Open House

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open House events for interested families. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please come and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program.

For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617, highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafterschool.org

March 3rd, March 7th, March 17th, March 26th,  April 3rd, and April 8th, 5:30-6:30 pm
Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

Think Big Networking Event

Ever wondered about the jobs people do in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math? Think Big is a chance for middle- and high-school students to network and talk one-on-one with professionals working in a variety of STEM careers such as software engineering, medicine, architecture and chemistry. Find out what they do, how they got there and whether their career might be a good fit for you!

Presented in partnership with NewtonSTEM and the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club of Newton. Refreshments provided by Cabots. For Grades 6-12. Online registration required through the Newton Free Library event calendar: http://newtonfreelibrary.net/events/.

Parents, please note that to maximize the number of students we can accomodate, adults will not be allowed in the event. If you are giving your student a ride, kindly wait in another part of the library or you may drop them off and come back to pick them up when we conclude at 4:00.

March 3rd, 2:00 pm
Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium

Evening Futsall Skills Class for Kids Grades 1-5

Kids, come to an intro to Futsal, or to improve your skills if you’re already a fan of the game. Futsal is a unique kind of indoor soccer that involves fancy footwork and quick thinking! In this class, you’ll improve your foot skills, gain confidence, and develop a better understanding of the game. Coaches will ensure that all players feel welcome, always have a ball at their feet, and leave each class having learned new moves to practice at home, or in other soccer or Futsal games.

These sessions are pressure-free and fun-filled! Class will run 6 Tuesdays evenings, March 6th – April 10th at Mason Rice Elementary School. Grades 1-2, 6:00 – 7:00 pm and Grades 3-5, 7:00 – 8:00 pm. For more information, or to register, visit newtoncommunityed.org or call 617-559-6999.

Great concert, great cause

Mark your calendars for an amazing concert featuring Gospel and Jewish music to support the Mass Ave Baptist Church’s Project Manna – hot meal program and food pantry to benefit the homeless and hungry.

Some of the groups that will be performing are the Mass Ave Baptist Church Choir, Boston
Children’s Chorus – Young Men’s Ensemble, Gospel Love Tones, Shir SHalom from Temple Shalom, Guys in Ties from Temple Emanuel and MORE! Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors. For more informationa and tickets, visit
www.templeemanuel.com/projectmannaconcert.

March 20th, 7:00 pm
Temple Emanuel, Newton

Try the Y!

Free and open to all on Mondays throughout March. Just stop by the Y at 276 Church Street with a valid ID, and they’ll waive the regular guest fees.

Early Spring Programs

Registration for Early Spring Programs is open. Programs run February 26th –  April 15. Visit wsymca.org to register online or stop by the Y’s Welcome Center at 276 Church Street, Newton, MA.

  • ·Swim Lessons for all ages
  • Youth Sports Leagues & Classes – New Teen Basketball League, Flag Football, Soccer and Karate
  • Private Music Lessons and Rock Band Program
  • Personal Training
  • New! Kids Yoga and Dance Classes

Just for Teens

The West Suburban YMCA offers a safe space for teens to connect with the YMCA community and build relationships with their peers. Drop in to open Rec Time on weeknights, Monday-Thursday from 6:00 – 9:00 pm to spend time with friends or make new ones while playing table games, board games, and Wii! Teens who are looking to make healthy changes or develop fitness goals are invited to try the Y’s Teen Fit program, Monday-Friday from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. To learn more, contact Youth & Teen Program Director, Jeremy Smith at jeremys@wsymca.org.

Sign Up for Summer Camps!

All summer long, the West Suburban YMCA keeps kids engaged and safe with camp programs. They inspire kids to work and play together, creating friendships that can last a lifetime, and make sure all kids feel welcome and comfortable being themselves. Registration is currently open for all WSYMCA summer camps! Sign up with a $100 deposit per session.

  • Day Camps – Weekly sessions, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am –4:00 pm. Daily Swim lessons are included and extended care is available both in the morning and afternoon.
  • Camp Chickami is a traditional outdoor camp located in Wayland welcoming boys and girls ages 6-15. Bus transportation is available from the West Suburban YMCA and stops throughout Newton.
  • Camp Pikati, located at the West Suburban YMCA, welcomes kids between the ages of 3-15 years with a half-day option young campers (ages 3-4). Pikati campers enjoy weekly themes in the traditional camp program, or they can participate in Pikati Sports Camp.
  • Overnight Camp – Camp Frank A. Day is located in East Brookfield and welcomes boys and girls ages 7-15. Spanning 52 acres, Camp Frank A. Day has direct lake access with a beachfront, athletic fields, modern cabins, basketball courts, climbing towers and all the facilities needed to run a fun and safe summer camp.

For more information on summer camps, come to the Y on March 3rd,  12:00 – 2:00 pm, contact campings@wsymca.org, or call 617-244-6050 x 3008.

Summer Sessions from the YCCA (Ages 12 and up)

Registration is open for the West Suburban YMCA Center for the Creative Arts (YCCA) Summer Sessions – a one-of-a-kind collaborative summer music program where participants write and record their own songs.

Participants will build and improve upon the creative skills of songwriting, filming, audio engineering, video editing, production, and instrumental or vocal performance while creating a complete, professional project featured on Spotify!  For more information, contact Kevin O’Connell at x 3208.

Session 1: July 2–13
Session 2: July 16–27
Session 3: July 30–August 10
Session 4: August 13–24

Kids’ Night Out (Ages 7-13) –  March 2nd, 6:00 – 10:00 pm

The West Suburban YMCA invites parents to bring their children to the Y for a fun and supervised Friday night program. Children will enjoy pizza for dinner and engage in games, swimming, movies and sports! Kids’ Night Out is held on the 1st Friday of each month. For more information, contact the Y’s Youth & Teen Services Director, Jeremy Smith at jeremys@wsymca.org.

Poetry and Open Mic Night –  March 2nd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Free and open to the public! Organized by Barbara Helfogtt-Hyett, of Poemworks.com, listen to local poets and sign up for the open mic portion of the evening to share your poetry. Featuring live music from YCCA musicians. This events repeats on the first Friday of each month.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs

The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is our mission to never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Please contact our Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.