Musical Production – The Hobbit

Dragons, treasures, and an exciting quest await Bilbo, the dwarves, and the many others they meet along the way in The Hobbit.  This musical production features a cast of 1st through 5th graders, including Newton’s own Carly LeBlanc, Sara Manning, Julia Miller, Lauren Miller, Riley Raker, Amelia Singer, Chloe Singer, Anna Weylman-Farwell, Nicholas Weylman-Farwell, Amelia Whitehouse, and Abigail DeVoe Wright, directed by Jessica Harms.  Performances are November 18, 7 pm, November 19, 2 pm and 7 pm, and November 20, 2 pm, in the Charles Mosesian Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown.  Tickets are $12 and will be available beginning October 25th through WCT’s website at www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or at 1-800-838-3006.  For more information, visit WCT’s website or call 617-926-ARTS.

Rolie Polie Guacamole

Family Concert: Rolie Polie Guacamole
Sunday, November 6, 2:00pm
Bakalar Recital Hall, 25 Kennard Rd. Brookline
Tickets: $5/each

Brooklyn-based trio Rolie Polie Guacamole is a children’s jam band. Their songs are original and parents like the positive influence their songs have about healthy eating and staying active. 

Brooklyn-based trio Rolie Polie Guacamole is a children’s jam band who love to sing about nutritious foods like hummus, guacamole, apples and acaí berries. Their songs are original and parents like the positive influence their songs have about healthy eating and staying active. Songs like “Wake Up Shake Up,”  “Red Light Green Light” and “Swim Like the Dolphin” have kids dancing and following along to movement instructions during the show. Not all their songs are about food, some are just silly, fun and inspirational songs that remind children to “Always Brush Your Teeth.”

Newton South Little League parents

Reminder to all Newton South Little League parents: 

The Newton South Little League annual member meeting is coming up. It is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st at 7 pm at the Angier School library (1697 Beacon St).This meeting is open to all league parents as well as to all people interested in contributing to the league by volunteering.

Please come to support your little league.

Support the New Art Center

Support the New Art Center and its programming by enjoying a fun night out!

Jimmy Tingle for President! Live at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville, on November 3, 7:30pm. The funniest campaign in history! Drawing on 25 years of comedic insight, outrage and commentary, nationally-known comedian Jimmy Tingle presents his topical, timeless, thought-provoking and political reflections on life. Jimmy has the rare distinction of winning the prestigious “Best of Boston” award as both a performer in the Stand Up Comedy category (2001) and as a producer for Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater (2007). $28 in advance, $35 at the door. Register today at www.newartcenter.org, 617-964-3424.

IEP Goals and the Student: How Can We Determine Effective Progress?

IEP Goals and the Student: How Can We Determine Effective Progress? – November 3 at 7:30pm 

Special education program and placement decisions hinge on whether or not a child is making “effective progress.”  The state regulations further define effective progress, but how does the definition operate in the real world?  How can we determine what is or is not effective progress?  How do we document the presence or absence of effective progress for an individual student?  When there is disagreement about effective progress, what are appropriate ways to resolve the disagreement, and what should we avoid?

Newton parent of a child with special needs, attorney Dan Heffernan from Kotin, Crabtree, & Strong joins us to consider this perennial question and offer suggestions for parents on this issue.

The presentation will be held in Room 210 at 100 Walnut Street.  Light refreshments and networking begin at 7:15 PM.  The presentation will begin at 7:30 and end at 9:00 PM.
Visit www.newtonpac.org for more information about NewtonPAC for Special Education.

Newton Inspires: An Evening of Ideas and Community.

Don’t miss out–sessions are filling up fast!

Boston College Associate Director of Admissions Howard Singer has joined the roster of locally and nationally renowned leaders at Newton Inspires: An Evening of Ideas and Community.  The Newton Schools Foundation is sponsoring this free community event, which will take place Thursday October 27, 7-9 p.m. at Newton North High School.

More than two dozen prominent Newtonians representing an array of fields and interest areas ranging from education, business, government and economics to sports, arts, entertainment and life, will speak in small group sessions.  Participants choose three 20-minute sessions to attend. At the end of the evening, participants and speakers will gather together to debrief and reconnect over coffee and dessert.

For a complete list of speakers or to reserve a spot, go to Newton Schools Foundation – News and Events.html. Space is limited so register now.

Making Your Life “Work”: Practical Tips from an Allergist and Mother of a Child with Food Allergies

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011
Speaker: Allergist Karen Hsu Blatman, MD
7:00 p.m. at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Free.

For info, call the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America – New England Chapter at (781)444-7778.

Allergist Karen Hsu Blatman knows what it is like to live with food allergies in the family, and will offer practical tips for parents and others on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Metro-Boston Allergy and Asthma Educational Support Group, which meets at 7:00 p.m. at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The program is free and open to the public.  It is sponsored by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter.

Dr. Blatman has a child with food allergies, and will be sharing her unique perspective and personal approaches about how to make daily life “work” with food allergies in the family. She practices in the Department of Allergy & Immunology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Chestnut Hill.

“This will be a great opportunity to share strategies for staying safe and sane and get some good ideas about how to juggle the food allergy concerns of different members of your family,” said Sharon Schumack, Director of Education for AAFA New England.

AAFA New England organizes educational support group programs throughout the region, publishes a newsletter, and runs a telephone resource and referral line for people coping with allergies and asthma. For more information, or a free copy of “Eating Out with Food Allergies” or checklists for managing food allergies in school and child care, call (781)444-7778 or see www.asthmaandallergies.org.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, NEWTON CPA!

A Neighborhood Birthday Party for
Nonantum, Newton Corner, & Newtonville (Wards 1 & 2)
Tuesday, November 15th at Newton North High School

Come to a birthday party for Nonantum, Newton Corner & Newtonville: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, from 7 to 9 pm in the Newton North High School Film Lecture Hall (enter from front lobby). Refreshments provided! Meet the Community Preservation Committee, find out how Newton has used the Community Preservation Act to fund affordable housing, historic resources, open space and recreation projects, and share your ideas about what should be funded next. Bring photos of past or potential projects for our interactive maps. Questions? See www.newtonma.gov/cpa or contact Alice Ingerson at 617.796.1144 or aingerson@newtonma.gov.

Become a Newton School Volunteer

Help a Newton elementary school student learn basic mathematics concepts.  Adult volunteers are needed to tutors students in grades 2-5.

  • Tutor  a child once a week for 30-45 minutes.
  • No teaching experience is needed.
  • Tutors select their preferred school, grade, day, and time.
  • Play special math games that reinforce skills and help students gain confidence.
  • Training, Everyday Math books and learning materials, and ongoing support are provided.

For more information, please contact Ellen Bender @ 617.559.6131 or ellen_bender@newton.k12.ma.us