Research on depression and anxiety in adolescents

Genesis Vergara, a research assistant with the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Lab at McLean Hospital,  is involved in conducting a research study to improve the understanding of mental illness in youth.

At present, they are recruiting adolescents aged 14-15 years with depression or anxiety to participate in research designed to better understand brain connections and mental illness.  Adolescent participants will be administered a clinical interview and self-report questionnaires, and eligible participants also will receive an MRI brain scan.

Please find attached a letter from the director of this lab, Dr. Randy Auerbach, detailing the study further: Letter.  If you have any questions, please contact Genesis at 617-855-4290 or gvergara@mclean.harvard.edu.

Big Night planning is going well – we still need your help!

The date is set: Saturday, May 20th
The venue is beautiful: the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown
Ticket sales will be available in early April. Stay tuned for more details.

Now we need all the help we can get to make our biggest fundraiser of the year a great night for all!

Please consider making a donation to our silent auction. Tickets to sporting events, gift cards for services, restaurant gift certificates, vacation getaways, jewelry, artwork, a dinner or cocktail party, memberships etc. are all appreciated. Or you might want to sponsor a portion of the evening? Click here to donate to the online auction or become a sponsor.

You can also help by soliciting local businesses for an auction donation. Click here for a printable business solicitation letter and donation form.

If you want to help with the planning, our next committee meeting will be Monday, March 27th, at Beth Panella’s house, 5 Channing Road in Newton Center. Please contact Beth at beth.panella@comcast.net for more information.

Thank you,
Tammy McKenna and Beth Panella – your event co-chairs

Spring Sports at Bigelow: registration and info session this week

Girl’s Softball

Meeting on Monday, 03/27 in Mr. LaBrache’s room: 218. Open to 7th or 8th grade girls interested in trying out for the softball team.

Track and Field

The deadline for registration AND  paperwork is Wednesday, 3/29. Students who do not meet the registration requirements by this date will NOT be able to participate.  More information here.

Spring Cleaning!

Yay Spring Cleaning!  Cradles to Crayons needs your help to collect gently used shirts, shorts, pants, pajamas, socks, hats, shoes sizes infant to adult medium, and NEW underwear.

There will be donation boxes in homebases starting in the next week.  

If you have questions please contact 8th graders Emily H and Ru-yao from Project 351 or Ms. Ahern in the guidance office.

Not quite ready for kindergarten?

Begin your child’s journey to school and lifelong learning at Bowen. Enrollment in Bowen’s Pre-K Program is now open for Fall 2017.  Bowen’s Pre-K program offers a unique opportunity for a third year of pre-school. Pre-K combines an exciting mix of academics and social skills, taught by a dedicated team of educators. Older 4’s and young 5’s work toward goals comparable to those in kindergarten, but at a modified pace in a much smaller community with a 7:1 child teacher ratio. This class of 14 quickly becomes a cohesive group working and playing together with enthusiasm. The program runs Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-1:00 pm.

Parents are welcome to visit the school to observe firsthand how their child will benefit from Bowen’s Pre-K program. For more information about Bowen’s Pre-K program, please contact Bowen’s Director Nina Tebaldi at 617-332-3923 or visit www.BowenCoop.org for more details and our online application form.

For questions, please contact Nina Tebaldi at 617-332-3923 or director@bowencoop.org.

Reschuled Meeting of the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education

The Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education is having its next meeting on March 20th. This meeting is a rescheduling of the March 14th meeting which was canceled due to snow.

“Everything you always wanted to know about Student Services and Special Education in Newton and were afraid to ask” The NewtonSEPAC Board Officers invite you to join an open conversation and Q & A session. No topic is too small or insignificant. The agenda will include a presentation of proposed amendments to the by-laws, and then an open conversation with questions and answers. All NewtonSEPAC meetings are free and open to the public.

Please rsvp to rsvp.newtonpac@gmail.com and include a topic of interest, if possible.

March 20th
7:15 pm Light refreshments and networking
7: 30 –  9:00 pm General Meeting
The Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Room 210

Studio of Engaging Math & STEAM summer program!

Come learn about the math classes & STEAM summer program. Play games, solve puzzles, and win prizes! STEAM is a summer program in July and August for children ages 6 – 12. Broaden your child’s exposure to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The fun and intimate, hands-on activities of the classes strive to excite and inspire participants about STEAM, creating enthusiasm that will spill over to schoolwork and school choices in future years. Classes include introduction to programming, building and modeling, arts and crafts, logic puzzles and board games.

OPEN HOUSE:
March 26th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
320 Washington Street, Suite 301, Brighton

*Studio of Engaging Math is a K-8 after-school math program. The small groups and expert teachering provide an ideal environment for developing critical thinking and advanced problem-solving skills.

JCC All Camps Fair

Meet the day, overnight, and specialty (arts, sports, technology, science) camp directors and register for Summer 2017 at the All Camps Fair.  No charge for camp fair. Everyone is welcome. JCC camp options for boys and girls from preschool to high school, with transportation from many locations in Greater Boston:

Day Camps/Programs
Camp Grossman
Camp Kaleidoscope
JCC Specialty Camps
Empow Camps
JCC Early Learning Center preschool summer programs
JCC Kids’ Choice School Vacation Programs
Overnight Camp
Camp Kingswood
Camp Kingswood Zohar Special Needs Inclusion and Vocational programs

Register on March 26th and receive a $36 credit, per camper, for 2017 camp tuition with your deposit — $50 if your child enrolls in two camps! For more information, visit bostonjcc.org/camp or contact camp@jccgb.org or 617-244-5124.

March 26th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Leventhal-Sidman Center, 333 Nahanton Street,  Newton