Mindful Parenting Series

Mindful Parenting Class starting soon. Do ever lose it with your kids and then feel guilty and surprised at how your emotions got the best of you? You are not alone. Come join a 4-part Mindful Parenting series that will help you understand how to become more aware of your own and your children’s internal states.

As a result, you will identify ways to respond in more “mindful” ways that bring about connection, clarity, and mutual understanding in your family. You will get to think about real-life situations, practice new ways of thinking and responding, and assess your responses during our classes so that you walk away more confident, competent and mindful as a parent and person. This class is appropriate for parents of children of any age and will be tailored to the group who joins. Session Fee: $109.00. The fall session sold out, so sign up quickly!

Sign up here: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=208968&stype=-8&sView=day&sLoc=0&sTrn=100000040&date=02/15/17

February 15th, March 1st, March 15th, March 29th,  7:30 to 9:00 pm
Classes will be held at Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

Instructor Amy Behrens, M.Ed. is a certified parent coach and educator who taught in middle schools for 11 years and who currently runs workshops and coaches parents to help families experience more happiness and connection in their daily lives.

February Break basketball

ASA Hoops is hosting a February Vacation basketball Clinic at the Brown Middle School in Newton. This clinic is for boys and girls ages 7-15, and will run from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm daily. Last year’s clinic did sell out, those interested are encouraged to pre-register at: www.asahoops.com/clinics. For questions email: Coachb@asahoops.com.

“Talking to Children about Race: Why and How?”

On Wednesday, March 22nd, Newton Public Schools will host a forum entitled “Talking to Children about Race: Why and How?” The session, designed for a K-5 parent audience and led by Horace Mann Elementary teacher Mike Feldstein and METCO director Maricel Sheets, will:

  • Allow reflection of your own experiences around issues of race and racism
  • Demonstrate the importance of early conversations with children on race
  • Provide “how-to” help for guiding children and answering challenging questions
  • Highlight resources available to help parents and families navigate the issues

The forum will be held at Angier Elementary, 1697 Beacon Street, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. An RSVP is not required, but will help the district plan for materials and activities. Please RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/eDB56M2MEcUz7aUX2.

Chemistry tutor available

Chemistry Tutoring with “The Chem Coach”. Need a tutor so your student is successful with chemistry? The Chem Coach is for you. She has been tutoring for 10 years, is passionate about chemistry and want students to like learning science! “The Chem Coach”  has a degree in chemistry, teaching and industrial experience and her daughters graduated from the Newton Public School System, so she knows the schools. Please contact Jean Lindsay-Dwyer at 617-584-8885 or TheChemCoach@gmail.com

Letter from the Superintendent

Dear Newton Community,

Over the past few years, the Newton Public Schools have undertaken the important work of addressing issues of race, bias, and culture. We have a number of exciting initiatives underway for both staff and students. Recent events in our community and across the country have made this work more important than ever.

Earlier this year, I was approached by a group of parents interested in learning more about how we extend the work we are doing in the classrooms to the home and to the larger Newton community. To that end, I am pleased to invite you to a community forum: “Talking to Children about Race: Why and How?” to be held on Wednesday, March 22 nd at 7:00 p.m. at Angier School (1697 Beacon St.).

The session, led by Horace Mann Elementary teacher Mike Feldstein and METCO director Maricel Sheets, is designed for a K-5 parent audience and will:

  • Allow reflection of your own experiences around issues of race and racism
  • Demonstrate the importance of early conversations with children on race
  • Provide “how-to” help for guiding children and answering challenging questions
  • Highlight resources available to help parents and families navigate the issues

As one who has participated in Mike and Maricel’s workshops, I can tell you that they are lively, engaging and meaningful. Our country is becoming more diverse and we are fortunate that many of our students are exposed to differences at a young age. As a school district, we must continue to help our students develop positive racial identities and attitudes so that they can comfortably and productively navigate in all settings. There is no greater gift we can give our children than ensuring that they are prepared to be active, engaged, and respectful citizens of our diverse world.

An RSVP is not required, but it will help us plan for materials and activities. Please RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/eDB56M2MEcUz7aUX2

I hope to see you on Wednesday, March 22nd .

Sincerely,
David Fleishman

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – TOMORROW, Feb. 1

Please remember to drop off all items either at Stacy Schwartz’s home, 15 Park Ave. Newton, until 10 PM this evening or at the teacher’s lunchroom at Bigelow no later than 10:30 AM tomorrow (perishables can be placed in the refrigerator there).

YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP to donate or volunteer by clicking HERE.

  • It is most helpful if items are brought in recyclable containers. Please send in your favorite lunch food!
  • Salads, sandwiches, entrees – whatever you think our wonderful teachers and staff will enjoy.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Stacy Schwartz at staschwartz@gmail.com or Magda Duchnowska at froggiemagda@hotmail.com.

Thank you again for helping us show our appreciation for our teachers and staff.

Big Night 2017 – Planning Committee

We need YOU to make Bigelow’s Big Night – the biggest FUNdRaising event of the year – a roaring success!

Please consider joining the planning committee – we will need to pick a theme for the night, generate some ideas for the entertainment, set up a timeline, pick point people for donation collection, etc.

See some of the pictures from last year’s Big Night below – the theme was “Bigelow Speakeasy” and everyone had a fantastic time while raising more than $15,000 for the school!
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The PTO members who have been most active with the Big Night planning will be leaving Bigelow this year, so wee need new 6th and 7th grade parents to join the planning committee and become familiar with how the event is run so that it can continue to be a success in the coming years.

We realize that everyone has a multitude of demands on your time – you can make Big Night planning as large or small a time commitment as you would like. There are many tasks – small and large, and any help is appreciated!

High School Start Time Working Group update

The High School Start Time Working Group reported on feedback from stakeholders about scenarios under consideration and made a presentation to School Committee on January 23rd. The report on community feedback has been reissued to included feedback from Newton Public Schools teachers and staff and a presentation has also been posted.

Please visit the Newton Public Schools web site for full information:
www.newton.k12.ma.us/laterstarttime