Category Archives: Community Notes

Art, Theatre and Music Workshops

Art, Theatre and Music Vacation Workshops at the Arsenal Center: Watertown’s Arsenal Center for the Arts has February Vacation covered with Monster Mash- Art, Theatre and Music Workshops for children in grades K-5. A Friday afternoon showcase concludes the program.

Visual Art workshops:

  • Morning or Afternoon: Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls, mixed-media sculpture for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5.
  • Morning or Afternoon: Monsters, Inc., crazy cartoons, drawing, painting and more for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5.

Theatre and Music workshops:

  • 9:00 am – 12 noon: Cyclops Singing, Monster Songs & Sounds (Grades K-2),
    Shapeshifting, Monster Acting Academy (Grades 3-5)
  • 1:00 – 4:00 pm:Monster Mischief Acting Academy (Grades K-2), Monsterhouse Sing & Scream (Grades 3-5)

Supervised Lunch Available. To register online, go to www.arsenalarts.org/education or call 617-923–0100, ext. 8309.

February 17th – 20th. Classes are held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown, with free parking and access to public transportation. Scholarships and Member discounts are available.

The post Art, Theatre and Music Workshops appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

February and April Break Camp

Now Enrolling For February, April, and Summer Break! All classes will be held at the studio in Wellesley Square, next to the Boloco!

Join the staff of Wellesley Theatre Project for a three-day workshop including a master class in Auditioning, Scene Study, and Musical Theatre. Students will leave with audition techniques, an understanding of how to approach a scene, and learn a dance to a musical theatre favorite. At the conclusion of the workshop, students will present their work in a “Shareformance”.

Click Here for More Information! http://www.wellesleytheatreproject.org/february-and-april-break-camps/

February Break (February 18th – 20th) Theatre Arts Camp!
2nd –  5th Grade, 9:00 am – Noon
6th – 12th Grade, 1:00 pm – 4:00pm

April Break (April 22nd – 24th) Theatre Arts Camp!
2nd- 5th Grade, 9:00 am – Noon
6th-12th Grade, 1:00 pm – 4:00pm

The post February and April Break Camp appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

Summer Farm Camp

Registration is now open for youth summer programs at Newton Community Farm.

Support your local farm, the last working farm in Newton, by registering today for one of these fun and unique summer programs. All programs spend time outdoors learning through hands on activities, about the farm and the food we produce. Fun, friendly and farm fresh snacks, what more could you want?!

For more information and to register please visit www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/education

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Summer Music Camp

Plugged In’s Music That Matters Summer Camp includes band class, songwriting, recording a song for a CD, music video, workshops, offsite events, and performance opportunities. Each session ends with a benefit concert that raises money for a charitable organization chosen by the students themselves. Plugged In provides a nurturing and supportive community to which young musicians feel a sense of belonging, an opportunity to express and be acknowledged for their musical interests and a chance to use their music to help others around the world.

Session I dates: July 6-17
Session II dates: July 20-31
Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (extended hours available)
Registration ends when MTM reaches capacity (25 students per session) or on June 6th.

For more information, please email sandra@pluggedinband.org, call 781-956-4281 or visit http://www.pluggedinband.org/programs/summer-program/.

The post Summer Music Camp appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

Angier Project Update and Waban Area Council Meeting

There will be an Angier Project Update meeting on February 12th at 7:00 pm at the Waban Library Center. The Waban Area Council will hold its monthly meeting immediately following at 7:30 pm. Please visit www.wabanareacouncil.com to view the agenda.

The post Angier Project Update and Waban Area Council Meeting appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

Try outs for B2L AAU Spring Basketball

B2L AAU is holding try outs for Boys basketball on March 1st. With experienced coaches from top colleges in the Boston area, B2L provides an opportunity for boys and girls to develop skills, knowledge and love of the game in an environment composed of positive reinforcement that teaches respect, discipline, sportsmanship, commitment and hard work.

B2L teams typically practice at Fessenden School twice a week with games on weekends. For more information please see http://basketball2thelimit.webs.com/.

The post Try outs for B2L AAU Spring Basketball appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

February Vacation activities

The Newton Parks & Recreation Department is offering family activities over February Vacation:

  • There is a family trip to Disney On Ice – Frozen on Monday February 16th.
  • Family movies days are planned on Feb 18th and 19th at West Newton Cinema featuring Paddington and Dolphin Tale 2.
  • The department is also hosting the “Greatest Family Bingo Night Ever” event on February 18th at Post 440, 295 California Street. Players can win Boston Celtics tickets, Red Sox tickets, ski passes, restaurant gift certificates and more. Doors open at 6:00 pm and concessions include $1 a slice Sicilian pizza and $1 for a build your own Cabot’s sundae. Bingo will run from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm and includes 10 bingo games. Families and players can purchase 3 boards for $6.00 or 9 boards for $15.00. All proceeds benefit Newton Athletes Unlimited.

To learn more about any of these programs visit newtonma.gov/gov/parks then click on school vacation programs.

The post February Vacation activities appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

Youth Services Upcoming Programs

Taking Care of Ourselves and Our Teens: Reducing Stress and Enhancing Resiliency
February 3rd, February 24th, March 3rd, and March 24th, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Newton Free Library

Back by popular demand!! This four-session wellness program for parents of adolescents developed by the world-renowned Benson-Henry Institute of Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital teaches self-care skills to help cope with stresses of everyday life and aims to leave parents with a renewed sense of control and well-being. For all Newton residents or parents of teens attending school in Newton.

Topics will include:
* The physiology of stress and how it affects the body
* Self-care strategies to reduce stress and increase your resilience
* Relaxation techniques
* Easy ways to reduce or stop stress-inducing thoughts
* Tips for modeling these skills for your teens, help reduce their stress and build their resilience too

Must attend all four sessions. Free to attend but registration is required at newtonma.gov/youth. Space is limited.

Stressed Teen? Learn some helpful and healthy ways to relax
February 3rd, February 24th, March 3rd, and March 24th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Newton Free Library

Branching off the parent program will be workshops pertaining to teens and teen stressors. The four sessions will be directed to teens and will help teach them to cope with stresses of everyday life coming from school, home, social media and other pressures. It will teach teens to have a better sense of control and well-being. During the course teens will learn what stress is, how it affects the body, strategies for self-care, relaxation techniques and easy ways to reduce or stop stress-inducing thoughts.

Must attend all four sessions. Free. Space is limited. Registration is required. Visit www.newtonma.gov/youth to register.

Improving Academic Effectiveness
February 5th, 6:00-7:30 pm
Newton Free Library

Engaging Minds Learning Center (a local learning and tutoring center) has been instrumental in providing tools for students in order to help them learn effectively. The basis of this program is to teach the idea of “executive function” and the skills which it embraces. Executive functions are the essential self-regulating skills that we all use every day. They help us plan, organize, make decisions, shift between situations or thoughts, control our emotions and impulsivity, and learn from past mistakes. This program is FREE and includes: an explanation of the term “executive function” and why these skills are important in school and in other aspects of education in today’s fast paced world, tips and strategies geared towards parents and teachers in order to help strengthen students’ skills, real life applications and take home toolkits to maintain effective learning. Free, drop-in, no registration required. Two separate sessions, do not need to attend both.

Mayor’s STEM Night
February 12th, 6:00 pm
Newton North High School Cafeteria

Mayor Setti D. Warren has started a new event series with local STEM industry businesses featuring an interactive, participatory experience to spark Newton students’ interest in STEM. These nights are a time for our students to get their hands on the latest technology, hear from local innovators and get excited about all that STEM has to offer. Each evening will be a partnership with a local business in the STEM field and will involve a speaking program as well as an interactive workshop for young people. This is a wonderful opportunity to expose students to potential career paths!

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Knitting & Crochet Club for Ages 10 & up

Join other kids, ages 10 and up, for an ongoing Knitting and Crochet Club at the Newton Free Library.

Thursday, Feb. 5
7:00 – 8:30pm

We have crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn and the know-how to teach the basics of crocheting. Or, bring your own project.

Refreshments will be served. Open to ages 10 and up.

The post Knitting & Crochet Club for Ages 10 & up appeared first on Newton PTO Council.

NEW: Minecraft Club at Newton Free Library, Feb. 4

The NEW Minecraft Club begins in February at the Newton Free Library! Come play Minecraft with your friends on the library’s server.

Thursday, February 4 & 18
4:00 – 5:30pm
meets in Computer Center on 2nd floor

We’ll have different challenges each week. Don’t have an account? No problem! Use one of the Library’s.

The Club will meet the first and third Thursdays of every month.
For grades 6-12. Online registration is required. Contact Liz at 617-796-1380 or by email  teens<at>newtonfreelibrary <dot> net.

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