Newton South English Teacher will run 2020 Boston Marathon for Newton Schools Foundation

Jasmine Lellock, Newton South High School English teacher, will run this year’s Boston Marathon to raise funds for Newton Schools Foundation (NSF). Her goal is to raise $5000 to support important programs that enhance students’ educational experience in the Newton Public Schools.

Jasmine began running in 2003, when her students encouraged her to run some laps
with their indoor track team. That spring, she ran her first 26-miler, the Cape Cod Marathon, and she’s run 12 marathons since.

“Students inspired me to start running, and they’ve been part of my journey ever since,”
said Jasmine. She coached the Randolph High School track team and ran the Providence
Marathon twice alongside members of the Newton South Dreamfar Team. This year she met her life goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon–by 8 seconds!

“I feel honored to run my first ever Boston Marathon for Newton Schools Foundation,”
said Jasmine. ”NSF supports programs that encourage high achievement for all students, and as a teacher at Newton South High School, I’ve personally experienced the benefits of their work,” she said. “Students in my class have participated in the Courageous she said. “Students in my class have participated in the Courageous Conversations About Race program, which NSF funds, and I’ve attended several professional development workshops through the Teachers as Scholars Program, funded by a grant from NSF, I’ve also been part of NSF’s annual Honor Thy Teacher recognition program.”

“We’re thrilled and privileged to have Jasmine run for Newton Schools Foundation,”
said Marcia Tabenken, NSF co-president. “Her commitment to helping students achieve success in the classroom and on the track makes Jasmine an ideal ambassador for NSF in this year’s Boston Marathon.”

NSF is committed to expanding opportunities for all students in the Newton Public
Schools, by funding programs in three broad areas: New and promising initiatives, professional development opportunities for teachers, and programs that close gaps in achievement and opportunity. NSF-supported programs span all grades, preschool-high school, and include the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), sustainability, literacy, civics, the arts, and social/emotional development.

To donate to Jasmine’s run, click
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/jasmines-boston-marathon-charity-run

Jasmine will host a trivia night fundraiser on March 12th, 7:00 – 10:00 pm at Baramor, 45 Union Street, Newton Centre To purchase tickets at $40.00 per person, please Venmo @Jasmine-Lellock.

Newton Schools Foundation is a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization, whose mission is to advance excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools by funding promising initiatives, professional development, and programs that close gaps in achievement and opportunity.

Newton Porchfest 2020 Sign ups are open!

Spring is just around the corner. Let’s get ready for Porchfest 2020!

PorchFest is an afternoon of music performances on porches and driveways around Newton. Porchfest 2019 included 100+ musical groups performing all over Auburndale, Lower Falls and in Waban Center.  They hope to match or exceed the number of performances this year!

NewtonPorchfest 2020 is scheduled June 6th (raindate June 7th).

Participate in Porchfest as a

•Host:  Sign up to host a band on your porch, lawn or driveway.  PorchFest will take place in Auburndale, Lower Falls and Waban Center.
•Performer:  Are you a singer-songwriter, part of a jazz quartet, rock band, or dancer?  All forms of musical talent, all ages are welcome!
•Volunteer:  They’d love your help!
•Donor:  Newton PorchFest is funded entirely by donations.  Any and all donations are welcome.

Sign up to participate or to learn more about Porchfest 2020 at https://newton.porchfest.info/

Come to the 31st Annual Project Manna Concert

Temple Emanuel is hosting the 31st Annual Project Manna Concert this month.  This benefit concert supports the Mass Ave Baptist Church’s food pantry and soup kitchen in Cambridge, MA.

This concert is a celebration of Gospel and Jewish Music.  Fabulous choirs raise their voices in song at this festive celebration of diversity, as local Gospel and Jewish choirs come together to make joyful music for an important cause.  Tickets are $20.00/adult, $15.00/student and seniors.  Purchase your tickets online today at   https://www.templeemanuel.com/product/project-manna-concert-tickets/

March 24th. 7:00 pm
385 Ward Street, Newton

Update on Jesse Appell’s Fundraiser

Read on for an update on the result of the fundraiser – Comedy for a Cause with Jesse Appell in February. Donation on the night of the show and tickets sold at Newton North reached $8,684, and online tickets and donation accumulated to $3,600.  The Newton exchange school, Jingshan School in Beijing, has asked us to donate all the funds raised for their students to Wuhan as well. Therefore checks of these funds have been made out to WeStar Corp,  a Weston-based non-profit organization that purchases medical supplies and ships to Wuhan and surrounding cities in Hubei Province.

Jesse Appell, Henry Turner, the Newton North principal, along with Emily Donahue, teacher from Peirce Elementary School, and David Minichiello, teacher from Memorial Spaulding Elementary School went to WeStar headquarters last week and packed our supplies for Wuhan. Some Chinese AP class students also participated in this meaningful mission! Please see the attached pictures.

If you were not at the show, the video below will give you a glimpse of the night. You may also enjoy Jesse’s interview with WBUR’s “Here and Now.” These videos are broadcasted on China’s major news media and picked up by many social media as well. Video of the fundraiser.

The organizers of the event are immensely humbled and touched by the efforts, kindness and generosity that our community has demonstrated and feel very grateful for being part of this collective endeavor for humanity.

Children’s learning, language and development study opportunities

The Cognitive Neuroscience Group at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston is recruiting children between the ages of 8 and 12 years to participate in research studies funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Study 1. This is a longitudinal study that follows children over a period of 3 consecutive years. The goal is to improve understanding of learning in children. The study consists of 1 in-person visit (about 2.5 hours scheduled on weekdays and weekends) per year for 3 years. During this visit, children play several games on the computer and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visit includes safe and noninvasive EEG recording. The day after the visit, kids complete a quick follow-up task from a home/library computer. More information can be found at https://clinicaltrials.partners.org/study/feedback_learning

Study 2. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the learning patterns of children with typical and atypical language development. The study will involve 2 visits to the lab at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. During the visits, children complete a battery of cognitive and language-based assessments, play several games on the computer and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visit includes safe and noninvasive EEG recording.  A visit will last about 3 hours. A week after the second lab visit your child will be asked to complete follow up tasks on a home computer or a mobile device. Researchers are looking for children who were late to develop language, and who still receive services for language or learning difficulties. More information can be found at https://rally.partners.org/study/does_your_child_stru

Payment is $60 for each in-person visit to the lab and there is free all-day parking provided at the Navy Yard. Results of your child’s cognitive and language-based assessments are mailed to you. Please email cnglead@mghihp.edu or call 617- 724-7363 if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Isabel Fitzpatrick and The LEAD Study Team

This Week: “Twelfth Night,” Bigelow’s winter musical

Come see the Bigelow’s Winter Musical, Twelfth Night! Bigelow is the first school in New England to produce this new musical! The show is fun, funny and only 90 minutes long with a 10 minute intermission. If you wish to attend the show, you can buy tickets at lunch or at the show. The tickets cost US$5 for students and US$10 for adults.

Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
The Public Works Musical Adaptation,
conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and  Shaina Taub

Thursday March 12th at 7:00pm
Friday March 13th at 7:00pm
Saturday March 14th at 12:00pm and 7:00pm

More at the Bigelow Drama website.

Super Bake Sale Thank you!

Thank you to all those that donated goodies for the Super Tuesday 8th Grade Bake Sale! And a Super Bigelow thank you to those that volunteered their time at the table: Radha Muthian, Chichi Grove, Olena Sargsyan, Vicki Spetter, Una Simmons, Karen Markson and several 8th grade students.

We raised over $400 for the 8th grade end of year activities!

Big Night Will Have Online Bidding!

For the first time ever, the PTO is proud to offer online bidding for the Big Night Auction! Benefits include preview of items for our online and LIVE auction, remote bidding, outbid notifications, easy checkout and much more!

HOWEVER… For this to be a success WE STILL NEED ITEMS for the Big Night 2020 Auction. We are asking every grade to donate 20 items. Please help us reach our goal!

Do you have something you would like to DONATE to our auction at the Big Night??  Tickets to sporting events, gift cards for services,  restaurant gift certificates, vacation get aways,  jewelry, artwork, a dinner or cocktail party, memberships etc are all appreciated.  Click here to donate.  Please submit your donation items by March 10th.

You can also help by soliciting a local business for an auction donation.  Click here for a printable business solicitation letter and donation form.

Go to bigelowpto.org/big-night-2020-auction-items-request for more information. Please contact Chairpersons, Cheryl Abramson (cherylzabramson@gmail.com) or Alexia Giannakopoulos (alexiag5@yahoo.com) if you have any questions.

Tickets are on sale! Get yours today and consider sponsoring the event!

Register as a Bidder