Category Archives: Community Notes

One Love, People Get Ready!

Newton Family Singers Celebrate the Music of Bob Marley

Lively Up Yourself, pack the minivan, and join the Newton Family Singers as they perform
irresistible reggae tunes from Bob Marley. Adults $10.00/children $8.00, tickets can be purchased online. Family-friendly, live music! See a flyer here: NFS. For questions email admin@newtonfamilysingers.org

In addition to enjoying a great concert, all net proceeds will be used to rebuild the Island Health & Wellness Center, a non-profit affordable medical facility that was destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, so that its medical staff can continue to serve their patients on the Caribbean Islands.

The Newton Family Singers is an intergenerational family chorus that brings together families and friends of all ages to sing American folk music.

Family friendly Holiday concert

The New Philharmonia Orchestra will present their annual holiday program CELEBRATIONS!  This family-friendly concert will feature the All City Treble Singers performing holiday classics and students from the Boston Ballet School Newton Studio, will dance to excerpts from “The Nutcracker.” Following the concert will be the always popular Instrument Petting Zoo!

Tickets are $10.00 for students/children and $18.00 for adults. Visit www.newphil.org for more info and to purchase tickets.

December 10th, 3:00pm
First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street, in Newton Centre

Newton Parks and Rec Winter programs

Sign up for a class at the Newton South Recreation Complex. Located at Newton South High School, this program offers classes for youth and adults on Sundays from January 7th – February 11th. Sign up for Science Robotics, Quick Start Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Badminton Instruction, Family Badminton, Pickleball, Open Workout, Walking and Weights and more. Registration is available online at activityreg.com then click on Massachusetts, then Newton Parks and Recreation. Email Channon Ames DiCiurcio at cames@newtonma.gov with any questions or check out http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/parks/indoor_recreation_centers/south.asp

December Vacation Programs for children in Kindergarten – 6th grade at the Lower Falls Community Center. It’s like summer camp in the Winter! Enjoy a variety of activities including sports, arts and crafts, inside games, gym, creative writing and more. Each day features a fun special event. Sign up by day or for all 3 days on December 27th, 28th and 29th.  Standard day 8:30 am – 3:30pm or extended day 8:15 am – 5:30 pm available.

Registration is available online at activityreg.com then click on Massachusetts, then Newton Parks and Recreation. Email Channon Ames DiCiurcio at cames@newtonma.gov with any questions or check out http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/parks/vacation.asp.

December School Vacation Camp

No plans for December school vacation week? JCC Greater Boston’s School Vacation Camp offers busy families flexible scheduling, early drop off/extended day, lunch options, and tons of fun.

Kids choose from activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts, dance, cooking, board games, rock climbing and more. Special highlights include bingo, bowling, talent show, and a New Year’s Eve party with DJ. Come for one day or as many days as you would like!

Everyone welcome. CIT positions for grades 7-9 available at a reduced rate (please call for
details). Early bird rates available. Register at bostonjcc.org/schoolvacations. For more
information, visit bostonjcc.org/schoolvacations , contact schoolvacations@jccgb.org or call 617-558-6529.

December 26th – 29th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Children’s Learning and Development Study

The Cognitive Neuroscience Group at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston is recruiting children who are (or are soon turning) 8 – 10 years old to participate in a research study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This is a longitudinal study that follows children over a period of 3 consecutive years with the goal to
improve understanding of learning in children.

The study consists of 1 in-person visit (about 2.5 hours) per year for 3 years. During this visit, children play several games on the computer and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visit includes safe and noninvasive EEG recording. The day after the visit, kids complete a quick follow-up task from a home/library computer.

Payment is $60 per year. There is free all day parking provided at the Navy Yard. Please email cnglead@mghihp.edu or call 617 643-4821 if you are interested or if you have any questions.  Additional information can be found at: https://clinicaltrials.partners.org/study/feedback_learning.

Writing Tutor Available

Does your student become frustrated or intimidated by writing assignments? Jane
Hirschhorn can help them become a more successful writer. In her more than 20 years of
tutoring experience, Jane has worked with students of differing abilities from middle
school through graduate school. Jane tailors her approach to make the best use of each
student’s strengths to help them move through the writing process with calm and
confidence.

Jane is also available for help with college essays. For more information, please contact Jane at jane@jbhtutoring.com or at 617-957-7208. You can learn more about Jane at  jbhtutoring.com.

Elementary Level Tutor Available

Creative teacher with over 18 years of teaching in Newton, MA and Denver, CO public schools. Excellent at reaching a rapport with students one on one. Successful with helping children who are struggling with reading and early writing. Enjoys helping with long term projects in all subjects. Utilizes hands-on learning techniques to help children grasp complex concepts. Contact Peggy Sunshine at psunshine1@icloud.com.

Quick survey to save the planet

Help a Robotics Team of 4-8th graders (including an Angier student) that is participating in the First Lego League (FLL). They are working to reduce the amount of water people use on their lawns. By answering the following questions on this 3-5 minute survey, you can support this research and their efforts to save the environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “if the average sized lawn in the United States is watered for 20 minutes every day for 7 days, it’s like running the shower constantly for 4 days or taking more than 800 showers.” Please help them gather this information so they can find out how to help the environment and hopefully you.

Click here to complete the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X268WQT

Creating Successful Students

Middle school parents and students are invited to “Creating Successful Students” to learn strategies for reducing academic stress, conquering procrastination, and strengthening executive functioning skills at home. Specific strategies include:

  • Managing nightly homework
  • Short-term and long-term assignment planning and time management
  • How to get “unstuck” when having trouble initiating tasks
  • How to organize papers, assignments, belongings, and more.

Workshop will be presented by Dan Levine and Melissa Wilson of Engaging Minds, an after school learning center with locations in Newton and Natick. The strategies presented will not require purchasing services from Engaging Minds. Please RSVP to qetchie@newtonma.gov