Category Archives: Community Notes

High School Start Time – Open Meetings

The district is committed to gathering feedback from the community on a later high school start time – a change that could impact start and end times at ALL schools in the district. A community-wide forum was held in October and several elementary and middle schools have shared information at PTO meetings.

Three upcoming PTO meetings are open to the entire NPS community if you would like to learn more and share your feedback. Six potential scenarios will be presented (review them here.) Mark your calendars for:

Cabot Elementary (229 Cabot St.)
November 30th, 7:00 pm.

Angier Elementary (1697 Beacon St.)
December 7th, 7:00 pm

Countryside Elementary (191 Dedham St.)
December 8th, 7:00 pm

More information can be found on the district website. Please consider attending to share your feedback or email your thoughts to laterstart@newton.k12.ma.us.

Spanish Tutor available

Newton Highlands resident, fluent in Spanish, is available for the following services:

  • Spanish (all levels)
  • Organizational skills
  • Study skills

Qualifications include:

  • Massachusetts licensed/certified
  • 6 years teaching experience
  • BA Latin American Studies: Brown University, MA Teaching: Boston College
  • CAES School Leadership/Administration: Boston College

Contact: Libby Sands at libby@libbysands.com or at 617-256-4780.

College Application Tutor

Do you have a senior juggling college applications? Are you looking for someone to walk them through the nuances of Common App essays, supplements, and more?

Celina Siegel,  a Newton South alum in her third-year at Oberlin College, would love to tutor your student as they navigate the college application process. She’s a cinema studies major with a background in English and a passion for editing. She has a strong track record of working with both high school and college students, especially regarding persuasive analytical writing and Common App essays.

Via file sharing and regular Skype sessions, Celina will help make your student’s writing more fluid, persuasive, and succinct. To schedule an appointment or learn more, please contact csiegel@oberlin.edu or 617-775-7591.

Newton Cultural Calendar

The Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs is delighted to announce to launching of a new Newton Cultural Calendar www.newtonartscalendar.org.

It is a free on-line Calendar that lists any cultural events happening in Newton, and events by Newton cultural organizations that are happening outside Newton. It’s free to use, and to post. Save it on your desktop, put it on your phone, and check it out!

Newton Parks and Recreation programs

Newton Parks and Recreation has several upcoming programs this winter for youth and adults. Online registration is available at activityreg.com. Contact Channon Ames DiCiurcio at cames@newtonma.gov or at 617-796-1529 for more information. Flyer available here: Parks and Rec

Learn to Ski or Snowboard Program at Nashoba Valley
A second bus had been added for Fridays for grades 5–12. Learn to ski or snowboard with lessons at Nashoba Valley ski area starting January 6th.

School Vacation Programs in December, February and April
Sign up by day or for all 4 days. A variety of options are available for children in grades K – 6. Extended day is available at some programs.

Newton South Recreation Complex
Located at Newton South High School, the Newton South Recreation Complex offers a variety of classes for youth and adults on Sundays starting January 8th. Sign up for STEM FUNdamentals with Lego, Babysitter Training, Quick Start Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Badminton Instruction, Family Badminton, Pickleball, Open Workout, Walking and Weights and more.

Newton North Indoor Recreation
Located at Newton North High School, Newton North Indoor Recreation offers clinics, classes and lessons for youth and adults. Sign up for lap swim, swim lessons, water safety instructor course, fitness training, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball hitting clinic and more.

Camp Fair
Come see what programs are being offered in Newton for the summer of 2017. The Camp Fair will be held on January 29th at the Newton North High School in the cafeteria from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (snow date 2/5/17).

Family Trip to Disney on Ice – Follow Your Heart
Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart. Join Dory and Hank from Finding Dory, Joy and Sadness from Inside Out, the characters from Frozen and Toy Story, Disney Princesses and Mickey, Minnie and the others for this magical adventure of friendship and love. February 20th. Transportation is provided from Newton.

For children of all ages!

‘Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday’ – Directed by Melissa Bernstein

Would you like to meet Junie B. Jones, the beloved elementary school student in Barbara Park’s adored children’s books?? In this original adaptation of the hilarious book, Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim here’s what Junie’s dilemma is this time…That meanie Jim has invited everyone in Room Nine to his birthday party on Saturday – except Junie B! Should she have her own birthday party six months early and not invite Jim? Or should she move to’It’s a Small World After All’ in Disneyland and avoid the whole kerfuffle? Join the Newton Theatre Company’s zany original production of ‘Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday’ to find out! Meet and greet the characters after the show!

Friday’s show is sold out, but there are still plenty of tickets on November 12th for the 10:00 am and 2:00 pm shows at the Newton Cultural Center in City Hall. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org  or call 617-796-1540 for information.

Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”

Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is a multi-media happening. Did you know that Vivaldi, the composer of “The Four Seasons” also wrote four sonnets describing his vision of each season, replete with bird song, thunderstorms, country dancing, hunting music, harvest celebrations, snow-storms and even slipping on the ice in the dead of winter?

Prof. Daniel Stepner and his ensemble, Aston Magna, will be performing “The Four Seasons’” with art works that reflect very specific scenes described in the poetry projected as a power point during the performance, coordinated with the music. Each concerto would be preceded by a reading of the appropriate sonnet so that the art work and music will be dramatized. Tickets: Adults $19.00, Seniors & Kids $5.00 can be purchased at www.newtoncommunitypride.org

November 13th, 3:30 pm
Newton Cultural Center at City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue

Minding Your Mind

Join in an evening of introduction to Minding Your Mind of Massachusetts and presentations by Minding Your Mind young adult speakers and others who are living fulfilling lives after being impacted by a mental health issue. Leave inspired to change the conversation around mental health.

Minding Your Mind’s (MYM) primary objective is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators. Their goal is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. Treatment is available, yet only 3 out of 10 individuals needing help actually seek help. Minding Your Mind Programs move away from crisis based response to prevention through education.

Educational programs provide information regarding signs and symptoms of these disorders, in addition to stressing that they are treatable and treatment is available. Mood disorders have been identified by the World Health Organization as the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Research studies have demonstrated that over 90% of people that die from suicide have one or more psychiatric disorders at the time of their death. The second leading cause of death of individuals between the ages of 14-23 is suicide. Since the age of onset of most psychiatric disorders is typically during adolescence, it is essential that the proper information be brought to the attention of secondary school educators, counselors, students and their parents.

Minding Your Mind offers several programs for students, teachers, faculty and the community at large.For more information please contact Karen Albert at 617-431-3240 or at karen@mindingyourmind.org

Open and Free to the Public
November 16th at 7:00 pm
Newton Free Library