The Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO’s annual online auction is now live at: www.biddingforgood.com/masonrice. The auction has something for everyone…discounts on summer camps, kids classes, birthday parties, fitness memberships, tickets to games and shows, museum passes, gift cards to local of salons, stores, and restaurants…and SO MUCH MORE!
The auction will run through January 28th, with proceeds supporting the over 450 students at Mason-Rice.
Centre Street Food Pantry is located at 11 Homer St., Newton Centre. Their mission is to provide consistent access to nutritious food to over 350 families per month in a dignified and sensitive environment.
• They serve families from Newton, Brookline, Brighton, Watertown, Waltham,
Needham, Wellesley, & West Roxbury.
• Possible times for volunteering include: Monday mornings (8:00 – 9:30 am);
Various shifts every Tuesday (11:00 am – 8:00 pm); or the 1st Saturdays of the
month (10:00 am – 2:30 pm). Shifts are 2 hours long.
• Tasks include unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, helping clients shop
at the pantry, carrying filled bags to the curb, or cleaning up.
• Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to volunteer and those 12-15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while at the pantry and during the training.
• A short one-time training is required to volunteer. Go to this webpage to register: https://www.centrestfoodpantry.org/get-involved-2
• For more information, contact Volunteer@centrestfoodpantry.org.
Join FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) for True Story Theater, an engaging and interactive event.
This will be an enlivening follow-up event to the city-wide MLK celebration on Monday. With the help of the True Story Theater , the group will further explore Newton’s 2020 theme of “Know Your Neighbor”. Come learn and connect as the theater troupe performs the spectrum of our lived experiences as residents of Newton – stories that delight and challenge us to think more deeply about what it means to live in neighborhoods that are truly inclusive.
All are welcome; Suggested ages -middle school and up. RSVP HERE: True Story Theater
January 23rd 7pm -9pm
Newton North High School Little Theater, 457 Walnut Street
For more info about the organizations involved visit these websites:
https://forjnewton.com/
http://harmonyfoundationnewton.org/
http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/health/commissions/human_rights/default.asp
MLK Day of Service Event
The Y is partnering with The Second Step to host a volunteer event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Using the items collected during the recent supply drive, volunteers will sort and organize items into “blessing bags” for families in need. All are welcome to participate in this community-wide, family friendly event. The event will start with a short presentation from The Second Step at 10:00 am, followed by bag stuffing (Note: This event ends when all bags have been stuffed).
January 20th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Kids Night Out
Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with qualified staff members for a Kids Night Out. They’ll order pizza for dinner and keep the children entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports. $25 per child for Y members and $30 for the community. A 20% discount is offered per child for those with two or more children. Go out for the night and take advantage of this low-cost alternative to hiring a babysitter. Everyone wins!
February 7th, 6:00 – 10:00 pm
February Vacation Week is around the corner!
February 18th – February 21st
West Suburban YMCA
276 Church Street, Newton
Check the Teens and Tweens flyer for a complete listing of events.
FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON
Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.
February 1st and February 2nd, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Information: 617-796-1450
STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Winter.”
February 1st, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Information: 617-796-1450STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
Our free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Winter.”
February 5th, 10:30 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Information: 617-641-9142
HAIRDENTITY EXHIBIT OPENS
Explore the history of hair – how we wore it and what it means from 1840 to 1980 in this exhibit of artifacts and photos from Historic Newton’s collection. See how hairstyles reflect fashion trends as well as personal choices and beliefs. Also find related accessories, including mustache cups, jeweled hairpins, curlers, and Afro picks.
February 13th through December 31st, during museum hours; exhibit included in museum admission
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Information:617-796-1450
STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Valentines.”
February 15th, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Admission: Free
Information:617-796-1450
STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Valentines.”
February 19th, 10:30 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Free
Information:617-641-9142
SCHOOL VACATION WEEK DROP-IN PROGRAM
Learn about colonial Newton with hands-on activities designed especially for elementary school children. Join us to make a diorama of an 18th century home, fashion your very own tricorn hat or corn husk doll, and test your knowledge of the 1700s with colonial trivia and games.
February 19th and February 21st, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Included in museum admission
Information: 617-641-9142
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and get excited for the March 3rd Massachusetts primaries by joining the League of Women Voters of Newton for this inaugural event! Adults and students in grades 8 and above are invited to participate.
This is a FREE event; no expertise is needed, just a will to challenge yourself and have some fun– You’ll test your knowledge of civics; federal, state, and local government; and the women’s suffrage movement.
Participants will work together in teams of 3-4 people. Form your own team or register as an individual and we will assign you to a team.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams. Refreshments will be provided.
For more information and to register, go to lwvnewton.org/civics-challenge or see the Facebook Event!
March 1st, 3:30 – 5:30 pm
Cabot School Cafeteria
Join the 52nd Annual MLK Community Celebration. The program theme this year focuses on Knowing Your Neighbor.
•Featured performances will include Newton North’s Jubilee Singers, The Treble Singers, The Gospel Love Tones, and Newton’s first MLK Day Community Choir!
•Hear the voices of Newton Public Schools students as reflected in their Monologue Projects.
•Following the event, The Harmony Foundation and MLK Day Planning Committee will co-host a Community Reception (coffee and refreshments) and an Engagement and Activism Fair–Learn more about important local organizations and ways to become involved in Newton, and get to know your neighbors!
•Story Starters of Newton will host a story time and craft for younger kids (with their caregivers) starting at 10:30 am.
•The Rotary Club of Newton will also be collecting toiletry items to donate to Newton’s Food Pantries.
January 20th, 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
The First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street, Newton Centre
Cradles to Crayons annual MLK Day Clothing Drive is looking for donations of gently used or new clothing, shoes, and coats to be dropped off at participating Police Stations including the Newton Police Department and the PD Annex.
Donations are being accepted now and participation by those in our community who are able to would make a great difference to this initiative. Please help Cradles to Crayons and the children in low-income situations whom they serve with these essential items free of charge.
Check out the flyer here: MLK Day Clothing Drive
For questions, please contact Chris Bavaro at cbavaro@cradlestocrayons.org
According to a NPR/Ipsos national poll, over 80% of parents support schools teaching about climate change – yet less than half of teachers report doing so.
If you would like to see climate change curriculum brought into the K-12 curriculum at all grade levels and across subject areas within Newton Public Schools, please consider joining other parents, students, and educators in signing this petition: http://chng.it/5n6hcSM8kc
Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the petition about who you are and why you are signing. This petition can be signed by adults and kids, so please spread the word to your friends and family!