Category Archives: Community Notes

Knitting Classes in Newton Centre

NPS parent Mary Ann Hill is offering two knitting classes beginning in late February. She’s taught knitting off and on for the past 8 years in a variety of settings, including Newton Community Education, and blogs at SaltwaterHillKnits.

Beginner Knitting

Would you like to learn to knit?
Do you know the basics but are ready to move beyond a scarf?
You’ve got knit & purl stitches but don’t know how to bind off or fix your mistakes?

In this class, you’ll make a lovely hat and develop a strong foundation of skills so that you can continue knitting many different types of projects with some confidence. You will learn how to: cast on, knit, purl, decrease, increase, knit back and forth, knit in the round, knit on double-pointed needles, bind off, and read a pattern.

6 Tuesday mornings: Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1
9:30am – 11:30am
Cost: $90

Materials needed: Approximately 175 yds heavy worsted wool (approx 4-5 stitches per inch on size 8-10 needles), size 9 16″ circular needles, size 9 double pointed needles, locking stitch markers, darning needle. **Class size limited to 8 **

Becoming a Fearless Knitter: Intermediate Knitting

This class is for knitters with some experience who are ready to learn something new and become more confident. If you are working on a project of your own and/or are ready to challenge yourself with cables, lace knitting, chart reading, socks, or other knitting skills, this is the class for you. We’ll work in an open workshop setting where instructor and fellow knitters support each other to create and finish knitting projects.

6 Thursday mornings: Feb. 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
10:am – noon
Cost: $90
** Class size limited to 8 **

To Register:

Email instructor  with your contact information, knitting experience (if any), and — for the intermediate class — what you’d like to learn. Payment information, address, and a list of materials needed for the first class will be sent promptly.

 

February Events at Historic Newton, Jackson Homestead

WEAVING WORKSHOP
A Vacation Week Family Program
February 19, 2:00 PM

Have you ever wondered how people made cloth at home before store-bought cloth was available? Want to try weaving your own cloth? Join Beth Guertin, a weaver and teacher of weaving for over twenty-five years, in this hands-on workshop. Watch a demonstration of loom-weaving techniques, and then give it a try yourself!

Cost: $25 per family ($20 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register. At the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street.

TELLING STORIES THROUGH STAINED GLASS
A Vacation Week Family Program
Thursday, February 20, 2:00 PM

Stained glass has been around for over a thousand years as a striking medium for telling stories. Join us in our beautiful exhibit about local stained glass artist Charles J. Connick’s work to explore ways that this art form can tell stories, then create your own stories and make a stained glass craft to take home.

Cost: $25 per family ($20 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register. At the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street.

A CITY OF VILLAGES-THE 2014 NEWTON HISTORY SERIES
Voices of Newtonville: A Village History
February 27, 7:00 PM

Come explore the history of Newtonville from its rural beginnings, through its suburban development as a railroad stop, to the changes brought by the construction of the Mass Pike. Harvard graduate student and Historic Newton educator Tracy Lindboe will lead us through the development of Newtonville using historic images and narratives from past Newtonville residents. Co-Sponsored by Historic Newton and the Newton Free Library. At the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free.

Summer Camp 101: Educational Forum for Parents, Feb. 26

Enrolling your child at day camp or overnight camp is a significant and sometimes complicated decision. This informational evening will assist families who are exploring camping options for their children. It is neither a sales pitch, nor a camp fair, but a unique opportunity for parents to hear from experts in the field.

Camp 101: An Educational Forum for Parents
Wednesday, February 26th
7:00 to 8:30 PM
Zervas Elementary School

A local camp referral agent and four camp owners and directors, representing a day camp and girls, boys, and co-ed overnight camps, will participate. In addition to answering your questions, this diverse panel will address a broad range of topics including:

• benefits of camping
• types of camps available & differences between them
• practical strategies for matching your child to the right camp
• ways to assess your child’s readiness for camp
• questions to ask a camp’s owners and directors
• how camps extend and enrich the work going on in schools

Parenting Our Daughters drop-in discussion, Feb. 25

Parenting Our Daughters, a discussion, support and activist group open to all Newton mothers of tween/teen daughters who are interested in figuring out how to best empower and support our girls, invites all to its February meeting.

Drop-in Discussion Group – Tuesday February 25 from 7:30-9:00 pm

• Open to all mothers of tween/teen girls in Newton
• Share any concerns related to raising your daughter with a group of other supportive moms

Meeting at Samadhi, 796 Beacon St, Newton Center. For more information or to RSVP, please contact: Kim Gallaugher via email  or 617-558-0092 or visit the Parenting our Daughters website.

Comedy Sportz Boston & Cabot’s Show, Feb. 19

Mystery Café comes to Newton for February vacation week for a “Comedy Sportz Boston & Cabot’s” show to benefit Newton’s Athletes Unlimited   If you like Whose Line Is It Anyway? then you’ll love ComedySportz, a fun, fast-paced comedy show that’s great for the whole family.

Wednesday February 19th
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Post 440, 295 California Street in Newton

Come see two teams of “Actletes” battle for laughs — and points — as they make up scenes, games and songs on the spot, with audience participation and suggestions incorporated into the act.  Halftime will feature free sundaes from Cabot’s Ice Cream for all.

The cost is $10.00 per person or $25 per family, which includes the show and ice cream.  Pay cash at the door or with checks payable to Athletes Unlimited.  All proceeds to benefit Newton’s Athletes Unlimited program, which supports year-round recreation to over 250 children and adults with disabilities.

Please call the Newton Parks & Recreation Department at (617)796-1527 for more information.

Summer Camp 101: An Educational Forum for Parents

Enrolling your child at day camp or overnight camp is a significant and sometimes complicated decision. This informational evening will assist families who are exploring camping options for their children. It is neither a sales pitch, nor a camp fair, but a unique opportunity for parents to hear from experts in the field.

A local camp referral agent and four camp owners and directors, representing a day camp and girls, boys, and co-ed overnight camps, will participate. In addition to answering your questions, this diverse panel will address a broad range of topics including:

• benefits of camping
• types of camps available & differences between them
• practical strategies for matching your child to the right camp
• ways to assess your child’s readiness for camp
• questions to ask a camp’s owners and directors
• how camps extend and enrich the work going on in schools

Sponsored by the Zervas Elementary School P.T.O.
February 26th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Zervas Elementary School
30 Beethoven Avenue, Waban

Indoor Farmers Market, Tuesday, Feb. 11

The Newton Farmers Market offers a wide variety of goods including fresh produce, meats, seafood, organic eggs, coffee, tea, spices, jams & jellies, pickles, hot popovers & bread, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, Lilies, lavender items (including soaps, lotions & pillows) and gluten free baked goods.

Every Tuesday, November-June
1:30-6:00 PM
Hyde Community Center
90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands (accessible by T)

We now accept EBT/SNAP/credit and debit. Tell your neighbors and friends to check us out! more information, please call 617-796-1525.

Free February Vacation week gym events for Middle School kids

Mark your calendar and join the fun!

  • Monday, February 17: Team Indoor Sports Skill Building Workshop
  • Tuesday, February 18: Team Dance Workshop
  • Wednesday, February 19: Frisbee Show & Workshop
  • Thursday, February 20: Self-Defense Workshop
  • Friday, February 21: Hip Hop Dance Workshop

From 2:00 -4:00 pm at the Hyde Community Gym, 90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands

Sponsored by The Newton Partnership and the Hyde Community Gym. For more information call: 617-527-3308

Call for Nominations: Newton Schools Foundation Celebrates Excellence

Newton Schools Foundation Celebrates Excellence at its Second Annual Spring Gala

Newton Schools Foundation invites the community to submit nominations for honorees to be recognized at its Second Annual Spring benefit gala, Celebration of Excellence, May 3rd at Newton North High School. The Foundation will honor people who have made a positive impact on the Newton Public Schools.

The benefit will feature the comic genius of Jimmy Tingle, gourmet fare generously donated by local restaurants and the music of Loose Change, a band of Newton educators, not to be missed!

Nominees may include employees and alumni of the Newton Public Schools, and Newton community/business leaders. Anyone can submit a nomination by the deadline of March 15th. Submissions of 150 words or less must include your name and email address and the name and email address of the nominee, as well as the following information:

  • For NPS long-standing employees/retirees:
  1. The name and address of the Newton school where the nominee works or worked
  2. A statement explaining what positive impact this person has made on the Newton Public Schools
  • For NPS alumni:
  1. The Newton school(s) that the nominee attended
  2. The name and address of the person’s business, if applicable
  3. A statement explaining what positive impact this person has made on the Newton Public Schools
  • For Newton community/business leaders:
  1. The name and address of the person’s business or organization, if applicable
  2. A statement explaining what positive impact this person has made on the Newton Public Schools

Submit nominations by March 15 to info@NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org or Newton Schools Foundation, c/o Celebration of Excellence, 246 Dudley Rd., Newton Centre, MA 02459. For more information on the Celebration of Excellence, visit www.NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org

PAC Meeting on Writing Measurable IEP Goals

Have you ever wondered how to write a better IEP for your child, one that has goals that can be readily understood and measured?

Please come to a meeting of the NewtonPAC on the topic of Writing Measurable IEP Goals with Brenda Dater of the Asperger’s Association of New England. This workshop will provide practical information on how to write better IEP goals and objectives to meet your child’s needs. She will address the main areas that are often covered in an IEP, and will examine examples from real IEPs to determine if they are measurable. You will leave with the tools that you need to analyze your child’s current IEP and to develop goals that are easy to understand, implement and measure. All NewtonPAC presentations are open to everyone, and are free of charge.

February 11th
Education Center, Room 210
100 Walnut Street, Newton

Networking begins at 7:15 pm., and the presentation will begin at 7:30 pm. Any questions, please email Eileen Sandberg at Eileen.sandberg.newtonpac@gmail.com.