Does your child like to engineer, draw, act or build?

Does your child like to engineer, draw, act or build? If so, your kids are going to LOVE Destination Imagination. Over 350 Newton students have participated in this life changing program and this year is going to be the biggest yet!!

Registration is now open!

What is DI? (watch an intro video for parents)

This year’s 2017 – 2018 Challenges!!! (Show your kids these videos)
Technical Challenge
Scientific Challenge
Engineering Challenge
Fine Arts Challenge
Improvisational Challenge
Social Action Challenge

Please email any questions to: matthew@newtondi.net

Grab Some BBQ at Whole Foods and Support Our Schools

Enjoy a BBQ lunch at Whole Foods Markets at Four Corners and Newtonville and support Newton Schools Foundation. For just $5 you’ll get a beef or veggie burger, chips, and a drink, and Whole Foods will donate 100 percent of your purchase to NSF and match up to $1000!

August 11th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Newtonville – 647 Washington Street
Four Corners – 916 Walnut Street

www.NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org

Still time for College Prep this summer!

There’s still plenty of time to work on college prep before the school year starts! Come take an SAT or ACT practice test at the Library. They’ll also be offering a College Essay Writing Workshop in August as well!

SAT & ACT Practice Tests, August 12th and 19th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Druker Auditorium:

How will you score? Find out by taking full-length SAT and ACT practice tests under realistic testing conditions proctored by the Princeton Review. Try your hand at the types of questions you’ll see on the real tests and get a personalized score report highlighting your strengths and areas of improvement. We’ll be offering this two Saturdays in a row, so you can have the chance to take both tests if you would like, or take one test twice! Register online for August 12th  and for August 19th.

How to Write Great College Essays, August 15th, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium:

A lot of great kids write average college essays—essays about “life lessons learned from football” or “how my trip to Europe broadened my cultural horizons.” Better tales are there for the writing. This workshop will show you what admissions officers really look for in great college essays, and offer suggestions for finding and sharing your best stories. We’ll even share the five most over-used topics you must avoid and give you tips on how to start (and even finish) your essays this summer. Join Abby van Geldern, of Collegewise Newton and former college admissions counselor at RPI, for this great workshop. For teens and adults. Register online.

Historic Newton events of interest to children and families

August 16th, 10:30 am
STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS: AT HOME AT THE HOMESTEAD
The Jackson Homestead has been occupied for over 200 years, and has seen many changes come to Newton. The Little House by Caldecott Award winner and Newton resident Virginia Lee Burton tells the story of a house similar to the Homestead. Explore the theme of home, and imagine life from a house’s perspective in this fun program. For children ages 18 months to 6 years and their caregivers. Includes free entrance to the museum after the program.

August 28th, 10:30 am
STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS: FREEDOM
Today we will read the Caldecott Award winning book Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine based on a true story of one man’s unique, creative escape from enslavement. Preschoolers and their caregivers will be given an opportunity crawl inside Henry’s Box and see other artifacts about freedom seekers around Boston. Includes free entrance to the museum after the program.
Location: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Admission: Free

September 2nd and 3rd, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON
Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.
Locations: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Free

October 1st, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 pm
HAYFEST
Come enjoy 19th century crafts at the Jackson Homestead! Learn through hands-on activities how Newton families lived in the 1800s. Try your hand at butter making, cider pressing, and candle dipping. Jump into a burlap sack for a race or play the hoop-tossing game of graces. Join us for a day of old-fashioned fun for the whole family.
Location: Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Admission: Free

Spanish Tutor available for summer catch-up or advancement!

• Fluent in Spanish
• Massachusetts licensed/certified
• 6 years teaching experience
• BA Latin American Studies: Brown University
• MA Teaching: Boston College
• CAES School Leadership/Administration: Boston College
• Newton Highlands resident
• Available Services:

o Spanish language and literature (all levels)
o Organizational skills
o Study skills

Contact Libby Sands at libby@libbysands.com or 617-256-4780

Upcoming Mayoral forums

Get to know the candidates for Mayor of Newton. The preliminary run-off vote is coming up soon on September 12th. Please see this (at least partial) listing of opportunities to hear the candidates discuss their priorities and solutions for challenges facing the City.

  • Green Decade: August 3rd,  7:00 pm (7:45 pm start) – The Farm
  • League of Women Voters Newton: August 9th, 7:30 pm – NewTV (No live audience)
  • Newton-Needham Chamber: August 10th, 8:00 am – Wells Park Auditorium (rsvp required)
  • Coleman House:  August 14th, 1:30 pm – 677 Winchester Street
  • Senior Center:  August 15th, 7:00 pm – Newton Senior Center
  • U-CHAN: August 23rd, 7:00 pm – Eliot Church
  • Newton Democratic City Committee:  August 24th, 7:00 pm – War Memorial, City Hall
  • Transportation & Housing Mayoral Forum (Sponsored by Bike Newton, Engine 6 and Green Newton):  September 7th, 7:00 pm – War Memorial, City Hall

– credit to Bryan Barash for compiling this list

Student-Run Cookie Business – $5 Half Batch!

Newton Cookie Service is a local subscription business owned and operated by three high school students from Newton South: Greg Umansky, Charlie Mirabile, and Cameron Gilchrist. Newton Cookie Service delivers fresh baked cookies directly to its customers every Sunday, or biweekly.

Try out a half batch for one week, for just $5! The normal cost of a half batch is $6 dollars per week. To try it out, email newtoncookieservice@gmail.com with your name and address! There is no commitment or minimum number of weeks.

Summer Yoga for kids

Summer kids yoga with Tracy Affonso is being held on Thursdays at 4:30 pm at Artemis Yoga in Watertown. Tracy is a former NPS teacher who is a popular kids’ yoga and mindfulness instructor.

Drop-in (as your schedule permits) if you are looking for something after camp or in the late afternoon. Classes will run for the next 8 weeks. Ages: 5 to 12. Sign up for all classes or just a few, please register online by clicking here.

Thursdays, July 6th to August 24th,  4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

Affordable SAT Private Tutoring for Summer 2017!

Looking to get a head-start on SAT preparation for your child? Winston Tutors is here for you!

Founded by a recent Newton South graduate and UC Berkeley student who has developed a unique approach to tackle the SAT, Winston Tutors promises RESULTS for your child at a competitive price. Students who have initially struggled with the SAT have seen their score increase by 300 points from just a few sessions.

With over three years of experience helping high-school students achieve their full potentials, Winston Tutors will guide your child to success through an individualized study plan. For inquiries, please contact Winston Jiang at 617-309-7910 or at wtjiang7788@yahoo.com.

References from past and current students are available upon request.

Meals for kids

Free summer meals for kids are available throughout the summer at various locations, please see the flyer attached for more details, visit www.meals4kids.org or call 1-800-645-8333.

Also this summer, the Newton Farmer’s markets are accepting SNAP benefits and the food pantries in Newton are offering extra food for kids. See the Newton Health and Human Services webpage for more details.