Learn about issues related to fair elections and more

Join members of the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) to hear the latest on issues related to fair elections, including voter suppression, gerrymandering, absentee ballots, automatic voter registration and more, when LWVN hosts Lisa Danetz at their next topic meeting.

Newton resident Lisa Danetz, a public policy consultant for philanthropic foundations, has worked in the voting rights, money in politics, and democracy field as an expert, advocate, and lawyer for over 15 years. Her work has focused on improving election administration and increasing the political participation of disfranchised groups within our society through public policy research, litigation, executive and legislative advocacy, and public education. Ms. Danetz is the former legal director of Demos, a New York-based public policy center, and also worked at National Voting Rights Institute.

A question and answer session and open discussion will follow after Ms. Danetz’s presentation. RSVPs to info@lwvnewton.org are appreciated!

February 28th, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Durant Kenrick House, 286 Waverly Avenue, Newton

Girls Empowerment Program

Artemis Girls – Stand Strong, Stand Tall guides girls to seek their own true voice with yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, creative expression and self-reflection.

When girls feel confident about their bodies, their self-worth and their intelligence and they have practiced how to handle self-doubt and adolescent stresses, they have an opportunity to go into the world and fully express themselves — as girls, as women, as humans.

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall creates a safe space for girls ages 10-13 to build strength of body, mind and spirit while developing the skills of communication and self-respect to empower and inspire girls. Classes include weekly yoga and mindfulness, group collaboration and games and independent thinking coupled with an art, journal or other creative activity centered on themes such as:

· Body Confidence and Self-Respect
· Stress & Self-Care
· Emotional Awareness
· Identity & Labels
· Honest, Healthy Friendships & Social Stamina

The program meets weekly in a 90 minute session on Friday afternoons co-taught by Amy Hrobak and Tracy Affonso, both experienced school educators and youth yoga and mindfulness instructors. Fee: $150 Please email liz@artemisyoga.com if you have any questions or call 617-393-3590.

March 1st – April 5th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

To learn more or to register, CLICK HERE.

FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice ) City-wide Meeting – March 12th

Everyone is invited to the next FORJ City-wide Meeting to explore the relationship between housing, equity, and race. There will be a discussion, short video, and an interactive small group activity that could work for kids 2nd grade and above. Younger kids are welcome to be in the room to color or sit with their parents but they might not follow all the content. Hope to see you there! Feel free to bring interested friends.

RSVP HERE for March 12th
March 12th, 7:30 pm
Angier Elementary

Attention 5th Grade Parents

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, is hosting 4 Open House events for interested families. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join to see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program.

For more information please contact Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafter-schoolprogram.org.

March 6th, March 18th, April 4th, and/or April 14th, 5:30-6:30 pm

Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

Free practice tests: SATs, ACTs, SSATs, and ISEEs

Summit Educational Group is a tutoring company in Newton who helps provide 1-1 tutoring and classroom instruction to hundreds of students in the Boston area and the surrounding suburbs.

Every weekend they offer free practice tests at their office for the SATs, ACTs, SSATs, and ISEEs. Check out the website for the dates and times https://mytutor.com/one-on-one/free-practice-tests/#1445903007466-5b9be84a-24ff

Temperatures may be down, but grades can still rise!

Tutors available at ActiveMinds tutoring

• Effective, personalized, in-home tutoring in Greater Boston

• Serving Newton and surrounding towns for the past 12 years

• Offering all academic subjects and standardized test prep (SAT/ACT, ISEE, SSAT)

Reserve your tutor today! Call 617-227-2225 or email
info@activemindstutoring.com to learn more about their expert tutors.

Visit http://www.activemindstutoring.com/testimonials.html

Summer Camp at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton

Camp Boys & Girls Club focuses on the WHOLE experience of Camp, which allows them to fully implement quality programming that is unique and fun.

There are five sessions each summer and each session has a unique theme and field trips. During the days, campers will be engaged with sports, arts & crafts, project-based learning activities, service learning, creative projects that are site specific at the Club, sports Clinics and much more.

Visit newtonbgc.com for more information and camp registration.

Congratulations Alexandra Etscovitz – Elementary Art Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Alexandra Etscovitz, just named the Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. Alexandra Etscovitz has been teaching at Memorial-Spaulding Elementary School for 15 years, the same school she once attended as a child…..

Read more about her and this prestigious award from the Massachusetts Art Education Association here: MAEA

The MAEA Board of Directors are looking forward to honoring and celebrating the 2019 MAEA Art Educators of the Year.

The awards ceremony has been scheduled for March 16th, 11:00 – 11:50 am in Meeting Room 310/Center at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Registration for the NAEA Convention is NOT required to attend the MAEA Awards Ceremony which is open to the public.

Auditorium Renovation

Have you noticed how tidy our auditorium seems this winter?  Did you attend your child’s concert in what seemed like a much larger venue last month?  If so, then you are enjoying the first steps in a school wide effort to improve our precious community resource – the Bigelow Auditorium.

This shared space is constantly in use as both a performing arts venue and a classroom. It hosts grade level assemblies, CASC presentations, Band, Orchestra, Chorus, city wide singing groups, in-school Drama class, after school Drama club, parent meetings and more.  

As of January 2019, the improvements below have been completed:

  1. A large storage container was bought and installed behind the theater to store large set pieces and seldom used props out of the auditorium, and to clear the hallways of such items as ping pong tables and boxes of extra books
  2. Pest extermination was completed
  3. Crumbling steps outside emergency exits were repaired
  4. Ripped and damaged stage curtains were replaced and rigging was brought up to safety code
  5. Spotlights were purchased (thanks to the PoPS) that will be in use for the upcoming Shrek musical

And there is much more to come. In conjunction with NPS, we hope to improve the safety and functionality of the space even further. A few of the items on our wish list: new tech booth, safety lighting in the aisles, improved acoustics, updated stage lighting, stronger overhead lighting in the audience area, fresh paint, and new carpet.

All these improvements, as well as future upgrades, are possible thanks to the planning, coordination and advocacy of the Bigelow Committee for the Improvement of the Auditorium as well as your generous financial support to the Bigelow PTO and the Parents of Performing Arts Students (PoPS).

Thank you!