Is your child in grades 6 – 8?

The Project CARY (Cognitions, Affect, and Regulation in Youths) Team at Harvard is seeking youths and their parent/caregiver to participate in a paid study.

What is this project about?
The team is looking at past life experiences, the development of youths’ emotions and self-regulation, and the role these things play in how youths cope with and respond to typical types of stress experienced in daily life. Participating in this project may help them to
better understand how youths’ emotional and cognitive development and their life
experiences influence one other. They hope that this information will help understanding of what factors promote youths’ positive emotional health and cognitive development.

What does your participation involve?
You and your child will be asked to visit the laboratory at Harvard University for a session that will last up to two hours. You and your child will fill out some forms, and your child will participate in a number of activities, some of which are on the computer. You will be compensated $50 and your child will be compensated $30. Travel reimbursement may be available.

For more information, contact:
Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum, M.A.
Harvard University
33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 857-600-2503, Email: projectCARY.harvard@gmail.com

Tutor/Coach available

Tutor/Coach, retired from the Wellesley Public Schools and currently working at MassBay Community College, is available to tutor K-5th grade reading, writing and math. She also work as an educational coach for middle school, high school and college age students (note taking, organizational skills, summarizing, self-advocacy). Please contact Haralie at 617-630-0608 or at haralie@gmail.com.

REMINDER: NPS Gift Policy

In this holiday season, please remember the Newton Public Schools gift policy. A gift from the entire class may not exceed $150 value for the whole school year. A gift from an individual must have only sentimental, not commercial, value – no gift cards, for instance.

Any gift for use in the classroom must comply with the NPS equity policy.

Newton Holiday Craft Show

It happens every holiday season…“What can I get for Aunt Sarah? My next-door neighbor’s baby? My boss?” With 40 talented artisans displaying their one-of-a-kind treasures, you are sure to find something for the most discerning person on your shopping list at the Newton City Hall Holiday Craft Show on Saturday, December 5th, from 10am – 5pm. Admission is Free! As you wander the many hallways of Newton City Hall, you will discover stall upon stall of beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, hats and scarves, pottery, cards, glass works, ornaments, paintings, purses, delicious chocolates and cheeses and so much more that will help you solve your gift giving challenge this year.

Be sure to pick up a map when you arrive as the booths are tucked into every nook and cranny of the building and you don’t want to miss any! With ample free parking on the streets around City Hall; both east and west entrances will be open. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Newton Food Pantries. For more information, please visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org or call 617-796-1540.

December 5th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Newton City Hall

Holiday Lighting Ceremony

After you have strolled through all the delightful artisan booths at the Holiday Craft Show, and crossed several names off your holiday shopping list, come back (or stay) for the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at 5:00 pm. Join in the Community Sing-along with the Stacey Peasley Band to get into the Holiday mood, and enjoy free hot chocolate, tea (courtesy of David’s Tea of Chestnut Hill) and cookies as you watch Mayor Warren flip the switch that will turn the City Hall grounds into a twinkling winterland.

The Holiday Lighting Ceremony is outside, so make sure to bundle up! Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Newton Food Pantries. For more information, please visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org or call 617-796-1540.

December 5th, 5:00 pm
Newton City Hall (front entrance)

Register now for Newton Girls Softball

Registration is now open for Newton Girls Softball, a recreational league for Newton girls (residents or girls who attend Newton Schools) in grades K-7. Register soon for guaranteed placement and pair-me-with requests. For more information and to register, please visit www.newtongirlssoftball.org.

The league welcomes players of all skill levels and will provide your daughter with an experience that fosters positive self-esteem, team spirit, and individual growth through personal achievement and as a team member.

The wildly successful Kindergarten T-Ball program continues this year. Register your daughter now, you’ll be glad you did.

2016 Registration Dates:
January 31st: Deadline to register without paying a late fee.
February 28th: Deadline to register with guaranteed placement and pair-me-with rights. A $15 late fee will be applied.

Newton Family Singers sing the music of Johnny Cash and the Carter Family

When Johnny Cash wed June Carter, the Man in Black married into the First Family of Country Music. The Carter Family defined country music with their plain spoken lyrics and Maybelle Carter’s distinctive guitar picking style. The Carters were the first country music stars… and Johnny Cash was the biggest, with records like I Walk the Line and Ring of Fire.

Sing along to those Cash hits, as well as Carter favorites Keep On the Sunnyside and Can the Circle Be Unbroken when the Newton Family Singers sing the music of Johnny Cash and the Carter Family. Tickets can be purchased online at www.newtonfamilysingers.org.

December 13th, 4:00 pm
Newton South High School

Newton Community Farm – Early Release Special…

Early Release Special, preschool Farm Sprouts and a January cooking program:

The holidays are here but there are still a number of opportunities to come and enjoy educational programs for kids at Newton Community Farm. For more information and to preregister (required) please visit www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/education

Coming in December:

* Late Fall Farm Sprouts – Tuesdays December 1st, 8th and 15th, 10:00 – 11:00 am
* Early Release Special – Holiday decorations – Thursday December 3rd, 1:30 – 3:00 pm

2016 Programs!!!! Get a head start and sign up now!!

December 10th Newton CPC Public Hearing on $3.3 Million for Newton Highlands Playground

The next Community Preservation Committee meeting includes a public hearing on the Parks & Recreation Dept.’s request for $3,320,000 in construction funding for Newton Highlands Playground at Winchester & Dedham Streets.

The full proposal and December 10th agenda are online at www.newtonma.gov/cpa. For assistance, contact Program Manager Alice Ingerson at 617-796-1144 or aingerson@newtonma.gov.

December 10th, 7:00 pm
City Hall, Room 204

An evening with Amy Cuddy

An Evening with Amy Cuddy at the Druker Auditorium: Learn how to take on all of life’s challenges with more presence! You have probably seen Amy Cuddy’s TED talk online (over 29 million people have!). Now you have a chance to see your Newton neighbor do an onstage workshop for members of the community, along with a special performance by the student musicians of the West Suburban YMCA Center for the Creative Arts (YCCA).

All attendees will receive a free copy of Amy’s forthcoming book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges. Please register online.

Tuesday, December 1st, 7:00 pm
Newton Free Library