Newton’s One-to-One Program, our very own “Big Brother/Sister Program” has been matching wonderful high schoolers with children in grades one through five for over 30 years.
If you think your elementary aged child would benefit from a mentor in their life and you can you commit 2.5 hours each week to have your child meet with a high school mentor from November to May – Please contact Rebecca Young, Program Coordinator, at rebecca_young@newton.k12.ma.us or 617-315-8733.
Green Newton School Connections provides a forum for parents, students and educators to promote sustainability in the classroom and beyond. All are welcome to participate to share experiences and ideas that support the implementation of green initiatives in our schools.
Recent initiatives:
For more information contact schoolconnections@greennewton.org or visit the GN School Connections website.
Next meetings are September 12th and October 10th, 3:45 – 5:00 pm in the third-floor arc area of the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street
The City of Newton is currently undertaking a 7-month planning process to create a Comprehensive Arts & Cultural Plan for the City.
The plan, entitled Create Newton, will identify all of Newton’s arts and cultural assets – from our buildings and non-profits, to the events and festivals we host, to the local traditions and initiatives in our villages and neighborhoods. We will explore how arts and cultural goals and interests are aligned with our businesses, recreational opportunities, and commercial districts, and identify goals, set out recommendations, and seek opportunities to collaborate and expand our pool of funding.
Input from parents, and children 12 years and older, who enjoy Newton’s arts and cultural events is greatly valued.
If you haven’t already, please take 10 minutes to complete this anonymous survey to assist in the planning process: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWJW2QH
Please note that the survey is best taken on your computer and not on your smart phone or smaller device. Thank you for your time and input!
Newton’s Community Design for Arts & Culture Committee
The Waban Library Center is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Please join everyone at the WLC to celebrate this exciting milestone! This is a free community event open to everyone of all ages. Join for refreshments, games, entertainment, raffle, and a visit from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller! For more information, please visit www.wabanlibrarycenter.org.
September 21st, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
1608 Beacon Street, Waban
Grab your gear and join the 8th Annual Ride For Food in Dedham!
The Centre Street Food Pantry is recruiting cyclists, fundraisers and volunteers to help meet their goal to raise over $25,000.00. Don’t miss out on this fun and rewarding event. Join the team today to help provide supplemental food to our neighbors who need it most.
Contact Katherine Ballas at k.ballas@centrestfoodpantry.org or visit https://ride.threesquaresne.org/centrestfoodpantry2019 for more information.
Welcoming Wednesdays: Try the Y for free every Wednesday in September! Present a valid ID at the welcome desk and your guest fee will be waived.
Expanded Kids’ Corner Hours – Sunday Hours begin September 8th: The West Suburban YMCA has added 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Sunday hours to its Kids’ Corner schedule, taking effect September 8. Kids’ Corner offers up to 90 minutes of child care to members and guests who are using the Y facilities to workout. The service is free for Y family members and $5 for individual Y members or guests.
West Suburban Singers – Adult Community Choir: The Creative Arts Department at the West Suburban YMCA invites adults of all ages to join their new community choir. The group consists of individuals ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-60s. Weekly rehearsals will be held on Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, and cost is $65 for Y members, $95 for community. For more information, contact Sunny McGovern at sunnym@wsymca.org.
Family Fun Night – September 10th, 6:00-7:00 pm: Bring the whole family to the Y for some family fun time. The Y sets up games, crafts, and a bouncy house for all to enjoy. Light snacks are provided. Free and open to all. Family Fun Nights occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA – Two new sessions beginning in late September: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free 12-week, research-based physical activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health goals. The program focuses on building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, and improving confidence, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Join one of two sessions beginning the week of September 23rd. To learn more or participate in the upcoming session, contact Jane Carroll at janec@wsymca.org.
School Vacation Day Programs – September 30th: Do your kids need care on Rosh Hashanah? The West Suburban YMCA is offering full day and half day program options from both the Out of School Time program and the Sports Department. Ensure your child has a safe, fun day and you have peace of mind! Call 617-244-6050 for more information or to register.
Kids Night Out – October 4th, 6:00 – 10:00 pm: Kids Night Out is back for the school year! Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with the Y’s staff. Go out for the night and take advantage of this low-cost alternative to hiring a babysitter. They order pizza for dinner and keep the kids entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports. Open to children in grades K-5. Cost is $25 per child for Y members and $30 per child for the community. A 20% discount is offered per child for those with two or more children attending.
Fall 2019 Afterschool Program: Enroll in the West Suburban YMCA’s Out-of-School Time (OST) program for the 2019-2020 school year. OST provides afterschool care for children in grades K-8 following the Newton Public School calendar, including extended hours on Early Release Days. There are options for students to attend two, three, four, or five days per week. Transportation to the Y is available from most elementary schools in Newton including Bigelow, Bowen, Burr, Cabot, Franklin, Horace Mann @ Carr, Lincoln Eliot, and Underwood. Daily activity choices include homework support, physical fitness, STEM, the arts, free swim, age-specific clubs and more. For information about Out-of-School Time, contact Tricia Mansfield at triciam@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 ext. 3022.
Preschool Center for Youth Development: The West Suburban YMCA’s Preschool Center for Youth Development is an early education program for ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years. The year-round, full-day preschool is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and boasts a large, bright and open classroom with a secure entrance. In addition to the well-rounded curriculum, students receive a 30-minute weekly YMCA Swim Lesson as part of their enrollment. Students can enroll any time of year, provided there is space in the program. For information about Preschool, contact Tricia Mansfield at triciam@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 ext. 3022.
Work at the Y – Full-Time and Part-Time Opportunities: The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions. The Y offers great benefits, free membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow, VP of Human Resources, at lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/careers to apply online.
Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs: The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is their mission to never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Please contact the Membership Department at 617-244-6050 ext. 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.
Vibrant and busy Centre Street Food Pantry is seeking a new Pantry Manager! Be part of a non-profit that directly supports hundreds of families in Newton and surrounding communities in a kind and meaningful way. The best candidate will be flexible, great with people, deal well with details and handle lots of moving parts. This is a paid part-time position with an immediate start date. If you are interested, please send your resume to info@centrestfoodpantry.org
Check out the new FORJ Book Group, meeting monthly at various locations throughout Newton. Given that the books could be shared with older students, this group is designed for Newton Middle and High School parents/guardians, faculty and staff, in mind, however it is open to anyone who is looking to increase their awareness and connection regarding these topics.
For teachers this could be a great opportunity to think through how to introduce a particular book and get feedback in a supportive space. This will be an excellent opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and meet some new people, please consider joining! Please contact Jen Dirga with any questions jenniferdirga@gmail.com.
Click here to learn more about theFORJ Group.
As part of its mission, Newton’s Harmony Foundation (The Foundation for Racial, Ethnic and Religious Harmony) provides small grants to Newton organizations whose programming facilitates community learning, understanding, respect, and unity across the divides of racial, ethnic, religious and cultural differences. The Foundation’s scope is intergenerational with many program grants benefitting those in preschool through high school.
The Harmony Foundation is now accepting grant proposals from community groups, K-12 educational institutions and other related local organizations whose program initiatives align with their primary mission, to assist the Newton community in cultivating and valuing diversity as a unique source of community strength.
Grants typically are in the range of $200-$1,500, with an expected average grant size of $500-$750. This fall’s application deadline is September 30th. Applications may be submitted for current programs or for programs scheduled to occur in 2020.
For more information about eligibility and application instructions, please visit http://harmonyfoundationnewton.org/grants/submit-a-grant/
The IES After School Language Program is looking for an Administrative Assistant. For more information, please see Job description.