Category Archives: Community Notes

Centre Street Food Pantry Kids’ Club

The Centre Street Food Pantry is introducing a new initiative to bolster our Kids Club program and we are hoping that the elementary schools in Newton can help make this program a success. Some of your schools have already contributed to this program and we really appreciate your participation!

As some of you know, we distribute around 100 Kids Club bags to families with children under 18 each time the Pantry is open. In an effort to better manage the influx of bags, we are recruiting schools, churches, temples and other local organizations to commit to contributing a minimum of 30 bags for a specific week. Your school can do this as often or a little as you choose. Some schools recruit a specific grade to participate; others make it a school-wide event.  It would be most helpful if bags could be dropped off on Mondays, as our distribution day is Tuesday. Of course, we can accommodate you any time if Mondays are not convenient.

The bags should be doubled bagged with handles and contain: 

1 jar jam/jelly
2 boxes mac n’ cheese
1 box of cereal
1 six-pack of applesauce or fruit cups
2 packs of cereal/granola bars 
1 large bag of pretzels/chips

The items are also listed on our website. If your school  is interested in participating in this great project, please sign up here.
Deborah Elliott will get back to you to confirm drop-off date and answer any questions. You can also contact her directly at kidsclub@centrestfoodpantry.org.

Repurpose Your Unwanted Home Goods

Do you have gently used or new household items doing you no good?  Please consider donating blenders, toasters, queen and king bedding, pots, pans, dishes, cooking utensils, silverware, towels and other basic household necessities.  Welcome Home in Newton Centre collects home goods and redistributes them, at no cost, to people who need them.  Please be sure your items are clean and not rusty, torn, stained, chipped or broken before donation.

Please contact us to schedule a dropoff appointment or make a request for items at www.welcomehomemass.org.

Invitation to Joint FORJ Event (NNHS & NSHS): Building School Community Through Affinity Spaces

Building school community through affinity spacesNewton North and Newton South’s Families Organizing for racial Justice (FORJ) chapters are hosting a joint event to discuss how we are building school community through affinity groups on Thursday, January 27 at 7-8.30pm. Students, teachers and administrators will be discussing the history of affinity groups, what they are (and what they are not), and how they function in our schools for various members of our community. All members of the Newton community are welcome, not just those with a connection to these high schools! Please click here to RSVP, and you will receive a Zoom link on the day of the event.

Thanks so much!
FORJ NNHS & NSHS Planning Committee

English Language Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC) Meeting – February 3rd

The English Language Parent Advisory Council will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

ELPAC supports ELL families districtwide and collaborates with schools and districts to improve the ELL programming. 

Meetings are held every other month. Interpreters and/or same language groups are provided with RSVP by January 31, 2022. The February 3, 2022 meeting topics are: Newton Free Library Resources & ACCESS Testing.

RSVP to the meeting here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjxQInxlKSYX_TVwVp5Dr6B4jKC0BBOqXxixNPI91VayV5pw/viewform

Once you RSVP, you will be sent a Zoom link to attend the meeting virtually.

Attached please find translated invitations. Email invitations have also been sent to ELL families from the district ELL office.

Newton Girls Softball Registration is OPEN for K-8th Grades

Newton Girls Softball Rec League registration is open for girls in kindergarten through 8th grade.  Come be part of a team! Supportive coaches teach the fundamentals of softball and help build confidence, determination, and resiliency. There is a place for girls of all ability levels. http://newtongirlssoftball.org/

Early-bird discount for sign-ups before Feb. 1. Please email info@newtongirlssoftball.org if you have any questions. 
Hope to see you in spring! 

Little League Registration Open

Newton SouthEast Little League Spring Registration Now Open

NSELL offers fun and exciting baseball programs for players in grade K through 6. Rising kindergarteners are welcome in our T-ball program. The season runs from late April through the end of the school year and the league serves players who reside or attend schools within district boundaries of Memorial-Spaulding, Mason-Rice, Bowen, Angier, Countryside and Zervas.
Register by February 4th to ensure your child’s space.

Click here to register. Questions? Contact the league by Email or check out our Website.

Adaptive Dance Program – Dance Academy in Newton

The Dance Academy in Newton has recently launched an amazing new adaptive dance program for kids with developmental delays, ASD, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and other learning disabilities. We have a class for ages 1.5-5 and a class for ages 6-10 starting this January! Attached is a flyer about the program and there is more info on our websitehere. Contact holly@siagel.com to learn more.

Accepting Pre-K Applications for 2022-23 School Year – Newton Early Childhood Program

Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) is now accepting applications for students for the 2022-23 school year. NECP will be moving to its new location at 687 Watertown St. midway through next year. The fully renovated building will be completely customized for NPS’ littlest learners! If you have a preschool-age child and would like to learn more about enrolling in this fantastic program in an amazing new space, please visit the application process section of the NECP website at: www.newton.k12.ma.us/NECP.