Category Archives: Community Notes

CodeCampKidz

CodeCampKidz cordially invites you to learn the skill of Web Development in a fun, achievable and self-paced way! Join the group weekly at the Microsoft Store and code under the guidance of an expert! The 1st two sessions are FREE! You’ll go on a tour through various programming languages and toolkits, connecting the dots and learning how it all fits together. Each week you attend you will work through a new project learning new code and techniques! You will then apply what you have learned to your own personal project(s) as you move through the levels. You will write real HTML, CSS & Javascript code progressing from the basics to more advanced topics, building skill and self-confidence along the way.  No experience is required. Open a gateway to your future and register today! This month:

HTML Basics (est. 15 min for lesson series) Learn the basic tags needed to create a valid page. Your Project: Create your first page and show it to the world. Please submit a code review before moving on. (est. 15 minutes)

CSS Basics (est. 15 min for lesson series) Learn how to create and apply CSS styles to achieve effects. Your Project: Create your first CSS style and apply it. Please submit a code review before moving on. (est. 15 minutes)

CSS Box Model (est. 15 min for lesson series) Learn about borders, margin & padding and how they affect the spacing of elements. Your Project: Use your browser’s “developer tools” to manipulate margin, padding and other elements on a page. A code review is not required for this project. (est. 15+ minutes)

London Bridge at Night (est. 20 min for lesson series) Learn about graphic images, links, background colors, font colors & page centering. Your Project: Build your first page. You will go up to Google and source images to reference on your page. Please submit a code review before moving on. (est. 30+ minutes)

Working with Text & Backgrounds (est. 30 min for lesson series) Learn various CSS properties for manipulating text on the page, creating page backgrounds and using professional icons with Font Awesome. Your Project: Replicate an example page but customize it to your liking by changing the Font Awesome icons, background graphic and text. Please submit a code review before moving on. (est. 30+ minutes)

Working with Tables Lists & iFrames (est. 30 min for lesson series) Learn how to construct various types of HTML table structures, ordered & un-ordered lists, and iFrames using YouTube as an example. Your Project: This is a MAJOR project and your opportunity to use everything you have learned so far to create your own themed page. When you are finished the goal is to “show it to the world” and get your page indexed on Google. Please submit a code review before moving on. (est. 60+ minutes, this dev challenge usually requires a full class session)

Youth Programs at the Microsoft Store

Create Digital Art with Fresh Paint Beginner
Students 8–12 will learn to create and share their own digital art with the Fresh Paint app for Windows 10. They’ll explore the basics of Fresh Paint, using lifelike oil and watercolors, pastels, and more to craft their own creations.
January 10th, 17th, 24th, or 31st, 5:00-7:00 pm

Create Digital Art with Fresh Paint Intermediate
Students 13 and older will use an array of tools to create lifelike paintings, original drawings, collages, and so much more. They’ll explore more advanced skills like blending paint colors and layering mixed media to create their own unique works of art.
January 11th, 18th,25th or February 1st, 6:30-8:30 pm

Minecraft Events
Minecraft Build Challenge: This free workshop at your local Microsoft Store lets players of every age join a team to create something epic before the clock runs out.

Minecraft Hour of Code – Designer: Program animals and other Minecraft creatures in your own version of Minecraft.

 

Minecraft Hour of Code – Adventurer: Use code to take Alex or Steve on an adventure.

 

Upcoming STEAM workshops at the Newton Free Library

Art Robots, January 12th, 4:00 pm, Druker Auditorium: Students become electrical engineering artists through the challenge of constructing an art-creating robot from simple circuits. Girls will learn and discuss elements of electrical engineering and different forms of art. Girls will design and build a “robot” that will autonomously create art using littleBits. This workshop is led by the Science Club for Girls. For girls in grades 5-7. Register online.

STEM Workshop, January 14th, 1:00 pm, Druker Auditorium: Join a Moms as Mentors® STEM workshop that offers interactive team-building and bonding activities for girls and moms. Build Bridges! mini-workshop features an enjoyable, hands-on STEM activity. Come have fun with your daughter and leave with take-home tools to help nurture your daughter’s interest in STEM! For moms and girls in grades 6-8. Register online.

Python Workshops, January 18th, 25th, and February 1st, 8th, and 15th, 4:00 pm, Computer Center: Can Python programs be fun to write? YES! In these workshops we will work individually and as a class to write a few fun applications in Python. No prior experience in coding is necessary. This is a series of five workshops. Students who attend at least 4 out of 5 sessions will receive a certificate of completion. Grades
7-12. Register online.

Teen Coding Meetups, January 22nd, 2:30 pm, Meeting Room A: Do you know the basics of coding and are now looking to extend your skill set while meeting like-minded teens in an informal environment? Keep on coding at our new series for teens. Open to any teen with an understanding of the core elements of coding: variables, conditionals, loops, and functions. No registration required, just drop by! There are a limited number of laptops, so please bring a laptop if you can. Upcoming Meetups: January 8th & 22nd, February 5th, 12th & 26th, March 12th & 26th, April 9th & 23rd, May 7th & 21st, and June 4th.

Teen Summer Program Expo

Newton South High School will host the Annual Teen Summer Program Expo. This event is FREE and open to the public. Find the perfect summer experience for middle and high school students. Meet directors of more than 60 enriching summer and gap year programs in the U.S. & abroad. Programs for every budget and every interest include academic, adventure, teen tours, community service, internships, sport instruction, language immersion, arts/theatre/music, STEM and college prep programs. Efficiently cut through the overwhelming amount of information online and make informed decisions about programming, safety, & supervision. For more information contact Laura@TeenSummerExpos.com

February 6th, 5:30 – 8:00 pm (Snow date: Tuesday, February 7th)
Newton South Cafeteria

An Introduction to Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving parenting approach

Do you ever feel frustrated with your child? Find yourself shouting often and imposing punishments or rewards in reaction to challenging behavior? Do you wish you had a more effective parenting approach that also helps to build a better relationship between you and your child?

The Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) parenting approach provides parents with concrete tools to better understand and parent their kids in the face of day-to-day challenges – e.g., getting to school, homework, screen time – and more serious challenges.

CPS helps parents to:

  • Foster positive relationships with their child
  • Reduce their child’s challenging behavior
  • Solve problems collaboratively and proactively
  • Build their child’s skills in self-regulation, communication and problem-solving

For more information and to register for an upcoming CPS workshop in Brookline or Needham, please visit BeTheParentYouWantToBe.weebly.com

Greetings

Greetings from the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs!

We are excited to announce that the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs has a new weekly column in the Newton TAB. It is called ‘Spotlight On…’ and it showcases all the arts in Newton. This is an opportunity for you also to promote any cultural or artistic person, activity or group you are involved with.

Please send an email to Linda (lplaut@newtonma.gov) before Wednesday, for publication in the following week issue of the TAB, with one or two sentences (60 words or less) sharing this information. Last week’s column featured a call for sculptors for the upcoming Festival of the Arts. If you, or someone you know locally is a sculptor and would be interested in being part of the outdoor sculpture exhibition at Newton City Hall, please visit this link http://www.newtoncommunitypride.org/festival/sculpture.html

As always, keep checking our new free on-line calendar of the Arts at www.newtonartscalendar.org for everything cultural going on in Newton. And keep an eye on www.newtoncommunitypride.org for the Spelling Bee and Heartbreak Hill Road Race registrations, and the Tanglewood Marionettes “Cinderella” in February vacation.

Linda and I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

Jeannie Smith, Associate Director
Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs

First Day… on the Second!

Featuring live performances from Magician Evan Northrup, The Tim Hall Experience, Fortunes from Father Time, and a Broadway Sing-Along! With Visual and Performing Arts workshops for children to experiment with paint, paper, collage, performance, movement, and more!

This event is free to the public and open to families with children of all ages, a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be gladly accepted. RSVP to let us know you’re coming. To sign up to sing on stage at the Broadway Sing-Along, register here!

First Day is brought to you in part by Watertown Savings Bank. For more information, please visit MosesianArts.org

January 2nd, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Wishing all of you a very happy holiday season from WCT! Please consider giving the gift of the arts this holiday season by supporting the center with a donation.

Donate 

If you’d rather not donate online, feel free to mail a check to:
Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts,
321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472

For Children up to age 6, Drop-in Art and Story time

Drop-in Art and Story Time with a Time for Partners Art Teacher for children up to age 6 with an adult.

December PlaySpace with Paula Gannon
Tuesday: December 27th

January PlaySpace with Terry Curtin
Tuesdays: January 10th, 17th, 24th
Wednesdays: January 18th, 25th
Thursdays: January 19th, 26th

January PlaySpace with Paula Gannon
Friday: January 27th

February School Vacation PlaySpace with Paula Gannon
Wednesday, February 22nd
Friday, February 24th

$10 per child/$25 family (pay on-site)

9:30 am – 11:00 am
Newton Cultural Center at City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd floor Rear Auditorium