Social and emotional health and well-being are essential to a successful middle school experience. But what should parents do when things aren’t going well? Dr. Jordanna L’Esperance, clinical and school psychologist at Bigelow Middle School, and Bigelow’s Counselors will discuss the resources available for students at Bigelow and within the Newton Community at the next PTO meeting on Wednesday, April 4, 7pm, at the Bigelow Library. Parents are encouraged to send questions prior to the evening to Dr. L’Esperance, or ask them during the meeting. Questions may be directed to her at jordanna_l’esperance-chouinard@newton.k12.ma.us.
Outreach Club and SEGA School for Girls Event
Note from John King, Bigelow Grade 6 Geography Teacher
“The Bigelow Outreach Club will be celebrating our “sister-school” relationship with the SEGA School for Girls in Tanzania this week. During 4th Block on Thursday and Friday (March 22nd and 23rd), we will have tables set up in the Cafeteria during lunch. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of our relationship with SEGA and to raise funds through the sale of crafts and other items. Students are invited to stop by and learn about upcoming events, and to support the school with their purchases. All proceeds go directly to the SEGA School, which provides a quality education for at-risk girls in Tanzania. Stop by and make a difference!”
Navigating the Cyber World: Tuesday 3/27
The Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. presents:
“Navigating the Cyber World”
This will be an informative Parent Workshop sponsored by the Brown Middle School PTO and the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. Geared for parents, this workshop reviews the challenges that may arise through use of the Internet, social media and smart phones. It is important for parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences from cyber bullying, sexting and revealing identifying information to strangers. This event is offered to all Newton middle school parents.
When: Tuesday, March 27th 6:45-8:00 pm
Where: Brown Middle School Auditorium
Address: 125 Meadowbrook Rd, Newton
March 24th Newton Family Conference Postponement
Dear NPS Community,
On Monday night at the School Committee meeting, I shared with the community that the district is postponing the Family Conference scheduled for Saturday, March 24th. A new date has not yet been set, but we aim to reschedule the event in Fall 2018.
We are disappointed to postpone the conference as it has been such a valuable experience for participants in previous years. However, there are March for Our Lives events in Boston and across the country now occurring that afternoon and some of our facilitators and participants would like to attend. In order to have a successful conference, it is essential that we have the right facilitators there to share information and guide the conversations.
The Newton Family Conference is one way in which the Newton Public School District is seeking to create culturally responsive school communities. While the conference is postponed for now, our work with faculty and staff around Courageous Conversations on Race will continue, as laid out in our six-year plan. Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) will also continue to support parent/family groups as they seek to explore issues of race in their individual schools.
We look forward to continuing this work through the end of the year and hope that we will see you next fall at the Family Conference.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Donor Will Match $25,000 for Calculus Project in March!
The Calculus Project at Newton’s middle and high schools is closing the achievement gap in higher-level mathematics. Newton Schools Foundation is honored for the third consecutive year to have a very generous donor who will match up to $25,000 in contributions from the community to the Calculus Project during the month of March.
The Calculus Project has been transformational for Newton students. Since the program’s 2013 launch, enrollment growth in higher-level mathematics among traditionally underrepresented student groups has been significant:
• Hispanic student enrollment has increased 70 percent.
• African-American student enrollment has tripled.
• Low-income student enrollment has increased nine-fold!
Additionally, the enrollment rate of Calculus Project 9th graders in honors math exceeds that of total Newton Public Schools 9th graders, and is nearly twice the rate of 9th graders who were eligible for The Calculus Project but did not participate.
Here’s how the program works: Students selected to participate in the Calculus Project attend intensive small-group summer classes to preview upcoming curriculum, boost their math skills, foster attitudes that support academic risk-taking and perseverance, and cultivate relationships among peers in the program.
The 2018 summer program includes instruction in Computer Science, field trips to STEM-related companies, and college campus visits for rising 11th graders with a focus on STEM majors and careers, During the school year, students receive mentoring and after-school academic support. The program also uses lessons and activities designed to improve self-perceptions about academic accomplishment. Currently serving 138 students, the Calculus Project will reach full scale next year with five cohorts of students in grades 8-12.
At a cost of $1,000 per student for a full year of programming, the Calculus Project’s success depends on a public-private partnership between the Newton Public Schools, private foundations and corporate donors, and the Newton community through donations to Newton Schools Foundation. To learn more about this innovative program that’s making a meaningful impact for Newton students, or to make a donation, visit www.NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org.
Psychological First Aid training
Free Psychological First Aid training. Psychological First Aid has long been established as the gold standard of disaster responses. Created by a global team of experts, it is the only intervention endorsed by both the World Health Organization & the U.S. government for use in the aftermath of traumatic events.
The goal of this comprehensive two-day training is to prepare participants to deliver basic behavioral health disaster response skills following large-scale disasters or critical incidents, such as homicides, suicides, accidental deaths, & similarly distressing events.
This program is free & open to all. Nursing CEUs available. Registration is required. To sign up, go to region4bvolunteer.org and register as ‘guest’. For more information, view this flyer.
March 13th and 14th, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
345 Walnut Street, Newton
Newton Power Choice Program
The City of Newton is developing a plan for a new electricity program called Newton Power Choice, which will provide an opportunity for Newton to significantly increase the amount of renewable energy in the community’s electricity supply. Newton Power Choice is a form of group purchasing known as an electricity aggregation.
Newton Power Choice will provide:
- Greener electricity
- Price stability
- Consumer protections
- New electricity choices
As a program participant, you will have greater control over the environmental characteristics and price of your electricity supply. You will receive a standard amount of renewable electricity automatically, above the minimum amount required by state law, without choosing any of the options. (The standard amount is still to be determined.)
Or you can choose to:
- Opt up to 100% renewable electricity.
- Opt down to receive no additional renewable energy electricity above the state law requirement, but retain the program benefits of price stability and consumer protections.
More than 125 communities in Massachusetts are already engaged in electricity aggregation. But no other community has done what Newton is doing, which is to undertake an ambitious campaign to persuade electricity customers to opt up to 100% renewable electricity. Newton aims to have many more customers getting all of their electricity from New England renewable projects than any other community.
Participating and opting out: All Eversource Basic Service customers will be automatically enrolled. But participation is not required. Electricity customers may opt out of the program before being enrolled or at any time with no fee or penalty.
For more details on Newton Power Choice, see www.newtonpowerchoice.com.
Newton Area Flag Football League registration is open
Newton Area Flag Football League (NAFFL) is a new youth sports league offered during the spring season. All games are coached, refereed and scored. Registration guarantees each player 8 games, including playoffs. Divisions are available for kids ages 5 – 12. More information can be found on the website and on the attached flyer.
As Newton parents and community members, the founders believe NAFFL offers:
- a safe environment and sport
- respect for rules
- fun while still being competitive
- boosts confidence and perseverance
- builds community
- weekly exercise
- an understanding of the importance of playing/working together as a team – good sportsmanship
The season begins May 6th at Daly Field on Nonantum Road. Games take less than one hour and are held on Sunday afternoons between 2:00 and 7:00 pm.
Newton Community Education Spring Classes
Sign up now for the spring SAT College Prep classes:
SAT Math Review – 5 Mondays, March 19th – April 23rd, 6:30-8:30 pm at Newton North
SAT Verbal Review – 5 Wednesdays, March 21st – April 25th, 6:30-8:30 pm at Newton North
SAT 2 Chemistry Review – 4 Tuesdays, May 1st – 22nd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton North
SAT 2 Biology Review – 4 Wednesdays, May 2nd – 23rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton South
NCE is also offering the following college related programs for parents:
De-Stress the College Funding Process – April 10th, 7:30 – 9:00 pm at Newton South
You Can Afford College If… – April 25th at Newton South, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
Navigating the Student-Athlete College Search and Recruiting Process – (2 session program) May 1st & 3rd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton North. Parents and students welcome.
For more information about these programs, or to register, visit newtoncommuityed.org or call 617-559-6999.
Leadership and Public Speaking Workshop
Lumos is running a 2-day Debate Workshop during April Vacation Break. Your child will study public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership with experienced instructors.
The class is lots of fun and very active – a good class even for shy or quiet kids. The class is open to students Grades 6-9. For more information call 617-901-4564. Register at: camp.lumosdebate.com/workshop/