Category Archives: Community Notes

From Conflict to Collaboration

A Parenting Framework That Brings Out The Best in You and Your Child

Do you ever feel frustrated with your child? Find yourself shouting and imposing consequences in reaction to challenging behavior? Imagine having a simple framework that guides you in every parenting challenge and brings out the best in both you and your child.

The Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach gives parents concrete tools to relate better to their kids, reduce challenging behavior, and build their kids’ skills in self-regulation, communication and problem-solving. See BeTheParentBoston.com/services to register for an upcoming morning or evening CPS workshop in Newton, Brookline or Natick that starts in May or for private coaching in CPS.

Jewish Middle School Program

Are you looking for excellent after-school care combined with fun Hebrew and Jewish learning?​​ Kesher Newton is the place for you!​

​​Kesher Newton, a pluralistic Jewish community that is welcoming to all, is rebooting its middle school program to provide excellent experiential education in Jewish History, Culture, Ethics and Modern Hebrew in a joyful, “camp-like” atmosphere for grades 6-8.

Come and experience the difference in Jewish education Kesher has to offer!

Kesher Newton Middles School program will run on Tuesday afternoons throughout the school year. Contact Ilana@keshernewton.org to learn more!

Parent Forum: Transgender Youth and Gender Identity 

April 12th, 7 PM – 8:30 PM, Newton North High School, Little Theater

Do you wonder how to understand and support transgender and/or gender non-conforming youth in our community? Catie Curtis, Program Manager from Greater Boston PFLAG, will kick-off this workshop by discussing the terrain of terminology used to describe the spectrum of gender identities and the challenges faced by transgender people. Next, a panel of transgender individuals and family members of gender-nonconforming youth will share their journeys, the struggles they have faced, the ways their families have been strengthened and the types of support they have found to be most helpful. The panel discussion will conclude with a Q & A with an opportunity to ask questions, clarify common misperceptions, and to reflect on how we can be better allies without judgement or alienation. All are welcome!

Empty Bowls to benefit the Centre Street Food Pantry

Help fight hunger in our community by joining us for Empty Bowls. For a $10.00 donation to the Centre Street Food Pantry, guests receive a handmade bowl of their choice, soup, bread and dessert while listening to live local music.

April 13th, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Lasell College’s Dewitt Hall, 80 Maple Street, Newton

How to talk to your kids about consent

Join Boston Globe Spotlight Team journalist Sacha Pfeiffer and panelists Jenn Abelson, Jaclyn Friedman, Casey Corcoran, and Chessy Prout in a discussion about tactics for talking to your kids about consent. For more information, visit bostonglobe.com/consent. This will be an appropriate event for teens.

April 10th, 6:30 pm (doors at 6:00 pm)
CIC Boston, 50 Milk Street, Boston
Lighthouse Room, 20th Floor

SAT Subject Test Prep

Let NCE help you prepare for the SAT II Subject Tests in Chemistry and Biology. In the Chemistry Review class you’ll review the major topics covered on the SAT Chemistry subject test, including thermodynamics, electrochemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, and nuclear and organic chemistry, which students may not have encountered in class. Calculators are not permitted for this test, so they’ll incorporate estimation into the test-taking strategies.

In the Biology Review class instructors will distill the major themes taught in the year-long high school class and cover the following topics: basic biochemistry, cell structure and function, cellular transport, energy in living systems, cell reproduction, genetics, evolution, ecology, and major groups of living organisms.

For more information on these classes, and the other college test prep programs in SAT/ACT Prep and college essay writing, visit newtoncommunityed.org or call 617-559-6999.

Chemistry Review: four Tuesdays, May 1st – 22nd , 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton North Biology Review: four Wednesdays, May 2nd – 23rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton South

Navigating the Student-Athlete College Search and Recruiting Process

If you’re a student-athlete approaching the college application process, you may be experiencing some stress. The college selection and recruiting process starts much earlier for you and can be complex and time-consuming. Instructor Nick Michael of Odyssey College Search, is here to tell you that there is a college for every student-athlete who wants to earn a college degree while playing his or her favorite sport.

Come to an overview of the college search and recruiting process and learn to successfully navigate the maze of issues facing the student-athlete. Find out what college coaches and admissions officers are looking for, and how to get their attention. You’ll leave with action steps for each year of college. To learn more or to register visit newtoncommunityed.org or call 617-559-6999.

Two-session program, May 1st and May 3rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Newton North High School

Two Massachusetts Moms Say No to College Debt for Kids

Last summer two friends were chatting about how expensive college tuition is these days and the impending mounds of debt their collective six kids were most likely going to
be faced with.

They decided plan the first ever Massachusetts Strategic Scholarship Bootcamp. Kerry Strollo, mom and event co-organizer said “This is about educating parents that you don’t have to sit idly by and just hope something down the line will work out financially for your kids. This is about early success planning so you (and your kiddos) are not panicked when they are a senior in High School on how they, or you, will afford college. Who knew kids in 7th and 8th grade can start to obtain and stockpile scholarships, and High Schoolers can earn so much they pay for their college education and then receive overpayments for living expenses after college? I didn’t, and we have 4 kids! As soon as I learned this I wanted to shout it from the mountain tops.”  Strollo added, “There are tips, techniques, and a path to finding the scholarships, however it starts with putting together a plan of action. This Bootcamp is designed to help you craft that plan for success.”

Rosette Cataldo, mom and event co-organizer looks at it though a different lens.  “I watch my kids, albeit great students, wasting time every day on the internet, Fort Nite, YouTube, Netflix…you name it. These kids must use their devices and brains for a better purpose.  I want to educate my children on how to make the internet a gold mine that works for them, their future and not just a time suck.”

This event is all about educating local parents and students at the same time and getting them aligned to work together with a plan so that the family isn’t crippled with debt. This investment in your child’s future is $49.00 per person.  Students are encouraged to join their parents. For more info please visit www.strategicscholarships.com

The Strategic Scholarship Bootcamp will be held:
May 1st, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Marriott Hotel, Newton

Harness the power of social media for positive change

Want your middle-schooler using social media in positive, empowering ways?
Here to help is Mediagirls, a nonprofit that teaches middle-school girls how to discover their self-worth and harness the power of media for positive change!

Check out their upcoming #realmediagirl workshop. The 3-hour workshop will be taught by a team of inspiring Boston University students who serve on the MEDIAGIRLS Leadership Council. Participants will learn to think critically about undermining media messages, define their self-worth, and create empowering and positive content for girls using Instagram and other platforms. Space is limited so register quickly at www.mediagirls.org/Mayworkshop.

May 12th, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington Street, Wellesley

Book Launch party

Please join the book launch party of How To Coach Girls, by Newton moms, Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley. Did you know that 70% of all kids quit organized sports by the age of 13, with girls quitting at 6x the rate of boys?

Alison Foley, Boston College’s Women’s Head Soccer Coach, and Mia Wenjen, parenting blogger at PragmaticMom.com, help coaches — both parent volunteer and professional — crack the code of how to keep girls in sports.

May 11th,  5:00 pm
Artemis Yoga, 639 M. Auburn Street.

Artemis Yoga is owned by Newton mom, Liz Padula.