Save the Date: Bigelow Civics Day 2020

Our 8th grade students invite you to join us for Bigelow Civics Day 2020. See how these young changemakers are addressing community issues!

Since late-January, our 8th graders have been exploring strategies for effective advocacy of real community issues to apply their knowledge of government, citizenship, and the lawmaking process. Topics range from drug use to recycling programs to mental health. At this event, students aim to share their work and their plans with city leaders and parent constituents. They need to lobby for your support, hear your suggestions, and then revise and implement their tactics. Your attendance will greatly aid their efforts, their engagement, and their impact!

  • Wednesday March 18th
  • Bigelow Middle School, 42 Vernon Street
  • 8:30-8:40 Welcome Message in the library
    8:45-10:00 Interactive Student Presentations

Please RSVP and/or send questions to 8E teacher Jean Singers: singersj@newton.k12.ma.us

Yard Sign Contest: “Distracted Driving”

Given Governor Baker’s recent signing of the Hands-Free Driving Bill , the Safe Routes to School Yard Sign Contest theme will be “Distracted Driving.” The contest opened on February 25, 2020, and the deadline for all submissions is March 27, 2020. Click here for complete contest information as well as entry submission.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program’s Yard Sign Design Contest is a way for students to use their creativity to help promote safe roads for cyclists and pedestrians in their communities. Students create and submit a design for a yard sign that brings awareness to distracted driving, focus their designs on eliminating distracted driving, especially in and around school zones.

Monday, March 9: Conversation with District Superintendent

The PTO invites all Bigelow caregivers for a conversation with Superintendent Dr. David A. Fleishman and members of the School Committee about what is happening in the District, including future enrollment news.

The PTO will be raffling off two tickets to Big Night and parents can bring in auction items for collection.

Monday, March 9th, 7pm @ the Bigelow Library.

Newton FORJ Book Group (Families Organizing for Racial Justice)

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
February 25th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Newton Free Public Library, Room B
Adult discussion

White Fragility
by Robin Diangelo
April 29th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Newton Free Public Library, Room B
Adult discussion

There is no childcare at these events.
Contact Jennifer Dirga at jenniferdirga@gmail.com with any questions

Paid part-time opportunity at Centre Street Food Pantry!

Part-time paid Volunteer Manager position at the Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton Centre (12 -15 hours per week including working at the busy pantry every Tuesday 4:00 – 8:00 pm and possibly Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm). When not on site, the job requires working remotely and timely communication with a diverse population. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic, good planners, kind, calm under pressure and have experience in volunteer management or training. The person should be able to comfortably carry bags of groceries or boxes of food. Send resume to info@centrestfoodpantry.org.

Spring Programs at Newton Community Farm

Kid focused:
Farm Tuesdays for ages 7-11. Meets Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, March 31st – May 26th (no class April 21st). An after school program on NPS early release days: meet the new chicks, get the learning garden started, play games and make snacks.

Budding Chefs for ages 7-13. April vacation week, Tuesday – Thursday, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, April 21st – 23rd. Cook up delicious treats in the historic barn and spend time outdoors in the learning garden and with new flock of chicks!

Farm Sprouts for ages 2.5 – 5 with an adult and Farm Babies for ages under 2.5 with an adult.  Sing songs, read books and learn about the farm in spring. Meet the new chicks and search for signs of spring as the farm comes to life!

For adults and families:
Master Your Gut, Sunday, March 15th, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Meet Jay Vilar, a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner, and learn about the importance of your gut health in this brand new workshop. Enjoy samples of probiotic, prebiotic, and fermented foods and drink while you learn.

Spring Has Sprung Cookbook Potluck Dinner, April 1st, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Join members of the farm community to celebrate food and farming. Spring’s potluck dinner will feature Alison Roman, author of Dining In and Nothing Fancy. In addition to these two fabulous cookbooks, many of her fresh recipes can be found in full on her website.

Family Baking,  April 5th, 10:30 am -12:00 pm. Get ready for spring holidays with this fun day of baking in our historic barn. Use spring ingredients like rhubarb and chamomile to make baked goods the whole family will enjoy.

Seasonal Pasta Making, April 30th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Make fresh pasta with farm ingredients to enjoy with others in this adult cooking workshop.

Farm Photography,  May 30th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Join award-winning photographer, Karyn Novakowski, to tell the story of your food from seed to plate and beyond through photographs.

For more information on any of these programs, email education@newtoncommunityfarm.org or call the office at 617-916 9655.

Civics Challenge

Join the LWVN Civics Challenge! This is meant to be a true community builder for anyone in Grade 8 or older. There will be snacks and prizes, including a MA State House tour for the winning team.

Anyone who registers as an individual will be placed on a team OR groups of 3 or 4 may register as a team. The registration deadline is February 28th.

For more information visit https://lwvnewton.org/civics-challenge/

Registration at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcwgcU6SArR79FLjjlPyqPCG1fUcVSaQEJD02tbnBd-BtgQA/viewform

See a flyer at https://lwvnewton.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-Civics-Challenge-flyer.pdf

March 1st,  3:30 – 5:30 pm
Cabot School

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall is for girls ages 10 – 13. The six week series starts soon. This wonderful, girls’ empowerment program is just right for when girls need a safe, welcoming, judgement free zone! Program includes yoga, mindfulness, breath work, creative expression and self-reflection and it generally sells out, so sign up if interested. Class is led by Tracy Affonso and Amy Hrobak, both experienced, adolescent educators, mindfulness and yoga instructors as well as Amy is a licensed social worker with a specialty in teens. Please reach out to liz@artemisyoga.com or call 617-393-3590 if you have any questions

Fridays, March 6th – April 10th,  4:00 – 5:30 pm
Registration fee: $150 for six week series, not a drop-in program
Register or learn more at https://www.artemisyoga.com/classes/kids-teen-classes/
Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

Here’s what some recent girls said: “I liked being able to be myself and talking about things without worrying what others would think.”, “I really learned some new ways to be kind to myself in the self-care day.”, “Amy and Tracy made it fun to come to class and I was able to meet some nice, new people.”, “I liked the vision board project!”

Newton Theatre Company production of Pinocchio

This winter, Newton Theatre Company is thrilled to partner with Pazzi Lazzi Troupe, a local performance group, to create a lively adaptation of the classic Pinocchio. In his quest to become a real boy, the wooden puppet Pinocchio must overcome temptation and danger with the help of his loved ones. Told in the style of commedia dell’arte, a classical Italian style of physical comedy, this energetic production is sure to be fun for the whole family!

Appropriate for all ages! Tickets available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pinocchio-a-commedia-adventure-tickets-90251702271?ref=weblink

Pinocchio: A Commedia Adventure, created with Pazzi Lazzi Troupe
February 29th, 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and March 1st,  3:00 pm
The Union Church in Waban