Category Archives: Community Notes

Open house for Highlands After School Program

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting 5 Open House events for interested families on the following days:

March 12th, March 18th, March 26th, April 6th, and April 9th, all 5:30-6:30 pm. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year.Come see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafterschool.org

Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

K- 5th grade parents’ forum on March 22nd

On March 22nd , Newton Public Schools will host a forum entitled “Talking to Children about Race: Why and How?” The session, designed for a K-5 parent audience and led by Horace Mann Elementary teacher Mike Feldstein and METCO director Maricel Sheets, will:

  • Allow reflection of your own experiences around issues of race and racism
  • Demonstrate the importance of early conversations with children on race
  • Provide “how-to” help for guiding children and answering challenging questions
  • Highlight resources available to help parents and families navigate the issues

The forum will be held at Angier Elementary, 1697 Beacon Street from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. An RSVP is not required, but will help the district plan for materials and activities.

Please RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/eDB56M2MEcUz7aUX2

Announcement for parents on the south side of town

Every year, as part of our efforts to encourage intercultural learning, we invite twenty international students to join us at Newton South. This is our fourth year running this program, and we’ve hosted students from all over the globe. This year, we have students from a variety of countries including Italy, Colombia, China, Brazil, Spain, Thailand, Indonesia, and Germany. We’ve had a blast getting to know these students and they’ve added so much to our community.

I am writing to you because our wonderful south side families are an important part of this program. Families who open their homes and hearts to these students make this intercultural learning experience possible. Past families have told us how much they have gotten out of the experience. Connections are made that last well beyond the duration of the visit.

We are already starting to think about Fall 2017. We have wonderful families who have hosted in the past returning and we are looking for a few new families as well. In our effort to attract great families, we are working with a company called Educatius International.

If you would like to learn more about being a host parent, you can contact Claudette Rowe from Educatius International at claudetterowe.educatius@gmail.com or 508-246-7028. If you would like to know more about the visiting international student program at Newton South, you can contact me.

Please consider hosting an international student! You’ll be supporting this great program and past host families will tell you what a wonderful experience hosting an international student can be for everybody involved.

Best wishes,

Kara Veley
Guidance Counselor
Visiting International Student Program
Newton South High School
veleyk@newton.k12.ma.us
617-559-6516

Seekig after school babysitter

Seeking caring, responsible, and enthusiastic babysitter for 2 children, ages 11 and 9 years. Babysitter must have a car to pickup children from school and transport them to activities on Tuesdays 2:30-6:00 pm, Wednesdays 2:30-6:15 pm, and Thursdays 4:00-6:00 pm.

Candidate would ideally be able to continue working with our family for 6-12 months or more. Payment $20-25 per hour.  Please contact Henry at hpelish@gmail.com if interested.

Newton South Stage presents “RENT”

The colorful characters of RENT measure life in love as they find themselves surrounded by art, loss, AIDS, and the everyday struggles of East Village bohemia in 1989. RENT‘s rock music and unique style changed the face of theatre when it premiered twenty years ago and is still as fresh, inspiring, and relevant as ever today. RENT includes themes and language that may not be suitable for children under 13.

Please go online at southstage.org to purchase tickets.

This show is expected to sell out, so don’t wait, get your tickets today! Each night of the show, the South Stage Annual Silent Auction will be open for bidding before the show, during intermission and after the show. Come check out amazing items including Red Sox tickets, professional theatre tickets, and amazing experiences like “Chef for a Day” at Comedor!  Highest bidder as of Saturday night, March 18th wins–you do not need to be present to win.  All proceeds benefit South Stage.

Newton South Seasholes Auditorium
March 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 pm

Knee slapping bluegrass tunes

The Foggy Mountain Consort mixes old instruments with contemporary ones, along with old styles in a fresh approach, in their bluegrass and traditional North American rhythms. Join us in dancing or just listening in this showcase of some knee-slapping local entertainment and artistry.

Tickets, $15 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, and Historic Newton members. For details and to purchase tickets, please click here: Tickets

March 19th, 2:30 pm
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
286 Waverley Avenue

Before pantsuits…

Women makin’ it work.

Spanning more than 350 years, the stories of the women who lived at the
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds illuminate women’s experiences from the Native people and first European settlers through the revolution and early republic, up into the 20th century. As part of Women’s History Month, learn about how women took ownership of their lives and circumstances and how their experiences differed across time, race, and class. Free.

March 18th, 2:30 pm
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
286 Waverley Avenue, Newton

Sign Up for Creativity, Friendship and Summer Fun!

If you are looking for a nurturing overnight summer camp where your creative 9 to 16-year-old can combine all the fun of a traditional sleepaway camp with high quality instruction across multiple arts disciplines and activities, it’s not too late to check out Maine Arts Camp, on the campus of Colby College in Maine.

Maine Arts Camp is a small, inclusive camp community led by experienced professional instructors and mature dorm counselors, with a 3:1 camper/staff ratio. Its stunning Colby College location provides access to several art studios, a theater, two dance studios, a full commercial kitchen for cooking programs, Johnson Pond, a photography/film studio, tennis courts, and much more. Your child can enjoy an individualized schedule of activities chosen from a huge range covering visual arts, theater, music, dance, culinary arts, individual sports, film making, photography, and creative writing.

Enrollment, limited to 100 campers per session, is filling fast, so sign up soon! Choose from 2 or 4 week sessions in July. For more information, visit www.maineartscamp.com and/or contact Rick Mades, Camp Director maineartscamprick@gmail.com, or Anabel Cable at mainearts.anabel@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting.

Click here to download a flyer.

Letter from the Superintendent

February 28, 2017

Dear Newton Community:

Over the past few days and weeks, I have received questions from community members about how recent federal actions on immigration and transgender guidelines impact our school community. These messages have expressed anxiety and uncertainty, as well as a desire to know where the Newton Public Schools stands in light of these events.

Regardless of federal actions, the Newton Public Schools strongly reaffirms our commitment to create welcoming, supportive, and safe school communities for all students and staff, no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status.

Last week, the Newton City Council voted to become a “Welcoming City,” a city that protects all residents, regardless of legal status. In the same spirit, the Newton Public Schools welcomes all students, no matter where they were born or how they arrived in Newton.

As I visit our schools, I find students from all over the world who are learning and thriving in our classrooms. It is this diversity that gives all of our students such a rich and powerful student experience. The global community in our schools is preparing our students to thrive and succeed in a global world.

Diversity is not solely defined by race or ethnicity; it is multi-faceted, affording us the opportunity to teach acceptance, appreciation, and respect for each and every individual. To this end, I am proud of the real progress we have made in creating welcoming and safe spaces for our transgender students at all levels. Just recently, I had the privilege of listening to a transgender student speak about his experience. It was gratifying to hear about the comfort and acceptance he feels among his peers and within his school community. This reflects the commitment of our staff, our students, and our families.

We are fortunate in Massachusetts to be backed by state statute that ensures protections for all students and prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Our NPS non-discrimination policy also specifies the rights and protections for gender identity and we have created the appropriate spaces in schools so that transgender students feel safe and comfortable.

We will continue to work hard every day to create school communities in which all students and adults feel safe and supported. Thank you for your partnership and for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools