Newton Teen Mentoring Service

Check out the new company, MentorBuddies, a tutoring business which enables parents of young children (typically ages 5-13) to browse, contact and book lessons with Newton teens in academics, sports, music, and more! The website has over 85 highly qualified mentors for parents to choose from, primarily from Newton North and Newton South.

At $25.00/hour, Newton parents can have their children mentored by varsity and state-ranked athletes, talented musicians, and honors/AP students. Kids who use MentorBuddies benefit from having an older successful teenage “buddy” as a role model. MentorBuddies was started by a junior at Newton North to connect local talented teens with younger students in the Newton public school system for fun, educational, and affordable at-home lessons.

To learn more, see MentorBuddies.com or contact info@mentorbuddies.com.

Summer STEM Opportunities

Nationally Recognized KIDS 4 CODING enters its fourth summer season in Massachusetts and will be offering programs at Bentley University and Leslie University in Cambridge.

KIDS 4 CODING is an affordable option for families who are seeking quality, academic summer activities for their children. Highly interactive and multidisciplinary modules – new every summer – are developed by KIDS 4 CODING in collaboration with teachers and industry professionals to lead campers through fun, age-appropriate projects and challenges that develop skills in game creation and modification, programming techniques, robotics, and other computer science and engineering areas.

Weekly programs are supervised by MA certified teachers and taught by experienced instructors who are passionate about technology. Students enhance their logical thinking, problem-solving, mathematics application and creative abilities in a collaborative, entertaining format.

For ages 7 -16. More information and discount code available here: Flyer

Half-Day Programs $329.00, Full-Day Programs $599.00. To register visit https://www.kids4coding.com/

Project 351 Clothing Drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons

Each year three students are chosen as ambassadors to represent our school district for a statewide initiative called Project 351. We join other students from all 351 districts for a yearlong leadership and service program. Project 351 aims to “transform communities, elevate kindness, advance social justice, and gain the courage, compassion, and capabilities to lead change.” The Cradles to Crayons clothing drive is an annual part of this program.

This year the drive is from 3/27-4/5, so please clean out your closets and donate those gently used items to Cradles to Crayons, a wonderful, local organization. If you are able to do a little more, new socks, underwear, and pajamas are especially appreciated!

Clothing Wish List (please new or gently used): 

  • Youth sizes 0-20 and Adult sizes small and medium
  • Winter coats and spring jackets
  • Like-new shoes, sneakers, winter boots (infant/child sizes 0-13 and youth/adult sizes1-10)
  • New socks and pajamas

Clothing will be collected in the students’ home base classroom. Please contact Hannah Ireland spkireland@gmail.com with any further questions.

Bigelow Teacher Runs the Boston Marathon for NSF

Brooke Brady, our own special education teacher at Bigelow, is training to run the Boston Marathon. She is committed to raising $5000 for the Newton Schools Foundation!  Even though this week was Newton Public Schools’ February break, she took no days off!

This is the link to her fundraiser page: 
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/brookes-boston-marathon-run

As a native of Boston, she grew up watching the marathon as a spectator, cheering on the runners. Now, she will be a participant anticipating the crowd’s support, as she makes her way up Heartbreak Hill.

Message from Brooke
“I am proud to have been chosen to run for Newton Schools Foundation. The Foundation supports new curricula and learning opportunities that foster high achievement for all students.
“As a special educator in Newton for the past fifteen years, I have had the opportunity to strengthen my skills and see first hand the positive impact that these programs have on our students. The funds raised go directly to the professional development of the staff, and programs for the students.”

Donate To Brooke’s Run

Bidding for the Lincoln-Eliot auction is now open

The Lincoln-Eliot PTO Auction is officially open!

Whether you’re looking for something unique for yourself, searching for a gift for a special someone, or looking to add a little adventure to your life, you’re sure to find something in their auction which runs through March 29th.  Thank you for your support!

You can conveniently access the site using your computer or phone!

Web: https://www.biddingforgood.com/lepto191
Optimized for mobile: https://bforg.com/lepto191

Add your input about Food Services at Newton Schools

On March 28th, the School Committee working group in charge of hiring the new food services management company for Newton schools will be interviewing representatives from Sodexo and Whitsons (the two companies that sent proposals) in order to determine which vendor we will be moving forward with once the current contract with Sodexo expires later this year.

While the interview is not open to the public, Matthew Miller from the School Committee feels that the parent/student/community voice needs to be heard. As such, they have assembled a form to collect questions.

Please send your questions and/or comments here: https://goo.gl/forms/4Fq3vABGNG6zJwrq2

Bidding for the NECP Online Auction begins March 28th

The Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP), Newton’s only public preschool, hosts its largest school fundraiser of the year starting March 28th.

Get ready to bid for great deals on restaurants, summer camps, birthday parties, gym memberships, and more! Over 100 amazing items from across Newton and the Boston area. Auction proceeds will fund education enrichment programs, community-building events, and classroom materials for our city’s youngest learners.

Visit NECPPTO.ORG/AUCTION. Bidding ends April 6th at 9:00 pm. Good luck!

Alexandra Levie will run the 2019 Boston Marathon for Understanding Our Differences!

Support Alexandra Levie as she runs the 2019 Boston Marathon for Understanding Our Differences! Newton-based charity Understanding Our Differences (UOD) has a runner in the 2019 Boston Marathon. Alexandra Levie of Gloucester is running to raise money for UOD in support of their mission and to help grow and update the program for the next generation.

UOD’s is a model, interactive disability awareness curriculum that teaches children to see the whole person and better understand the disability. The Understanding Our Differences program educates schools and communities and fosters respect and inclusion for people of all abilities.

The curriculum covers Blindness and Low Vision, Deafness and Hard of Hearing, Autism, Physical Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Chronic Medical Conditions including Allergic Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes, and Epilepsy.

Understanding Our Differences is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a national leader in disability awareness education, with unique expertise developed over its 40-year history.

Alex is a graduate of UMass Amherst and will complete her Masters in Public Health at Boston University in May. She believes in the mission of UOD and has volunteered at presentations of the UOD curriculum in Newton. She’s a busy young woman but training like a pro for Marathon Monday! Please support her at UOD with a donation at https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/alex-levie

Bigelow Special Education teacher will run 2019 Boston Marathon for Newton Schools Foundation

Brooke Brady, Newton Public Schools special education teacher, will run this year’s Boston Marathon to raise funds for Newton Schools Foundation (NSF). Her goal is to raise $5000 to support NSF-funded programs in the Newton Public Schools.

Ms. Brady, as she is known throughout the halls of Bigelow Middle School, is an avid
runner, having completed multiple half-marathons. This year’s Boston Marathon will be her first full marathon.

“I’m proud to have been chosen to run for Newton Schools Foundation,” Brady added.
“As a special educator in Newton for the past 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to strengthen my skills and see first hand the positive impact that NSF-funded programs have on our students. The funds raised go directly to the professional development of the staff, and programs for the students.”

NSF is committed to expanding opportunities for all students in the Newton Public
Schools.   NSF-supported programs include initiatives in the areas of STEAM (science,
technology, engineering, art and math), sustainability, literacy, civics, the arts, cultural and social/emotional development, and closing the achievement gap.

To donate to Brooke’s run please visit Newton Schools Foundation’s website,
http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/ .

Plugged In’s April Vacation Camp

Plugged In’s April Vacation Camp is open to ages 11-18 of all skill levels. Students will get placed in a band with band members their age and skill level. Each band will write and record a song and make a music video. On the last day, bands will perform in a livestream performance from Plugged In for friends and family to watch online.

The Plugged In Band Program is a unique non-profit rock band program in Needham teaching kids of all skill levels and needs about using music to help others. In addition to ensemble band classes, private lessons, songwriting workshops, summer camp and community performances, five times a year students perform in benefit concerts that raise money for causes and organizations chosen by the students themselves. Plugged In provides a nurturing and supportive community to which young musicians of all levels and needs feel a sense of belonging, have an opportunity to express and be acknowledged for their musical interests and a chance to use their music to help others around the world.

Registration is also open for Plugged In’s 2-day Songwriting Workshop on May 25th  & 26th and Summer Day Camps in July and August. Registration for private lessons is ongoing. Registration and more info about all Plugged In programming is at www.pluggedinband.org.

Founded in 2002, Plugged In now has over 150 students from all over Massachusetts. Some of our students experience emotional and learning difficulties, such as ADD, depression, and low-self-esteem and/or have special needs such as autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. In the loving and non-competitive atmosphere at Plugged In, all differences are transcended through a shared passion for music, the teamwork involved with using music to help others and an atmosphere of compassion and fun.